USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward County, Nebraska, and reminiscenses of territorial history > Part 48
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Mr. Petsch came to the county February 22, 1877, and made his home at first on section 1, "O" precinct, but three years later he took land in section 21, in "P" precinct, where he has resided nearly twenty-five years. He is an expert in the red hog business and owns a large herd of thoroughbred Durocs. Mr. Petsch's aged parents live on the adjoining land.
Fred has been a farmer all his life and is making a success of it. And his good wife is making a success of breeding Plymouth Rock chickens. Their herd of red pigs and flock of chicks are worth a long trip to look at. Mr. Petsch is a member of the M. W. A.
MELVIN S. PITT
Was a son of the couple that first graced the marriage altar in Seward County. That marriage is noted elsewhere in these pages.
Melvin was born near Ruby, May 13. 1869. He is a farmer boy, carrying on the farm of Grandmother Long, near Ruby. Melvin seems to admire single blessedness, else he can't find the right girl.
WILLIAM ORLANDO PIERCE
One of the oldest residents of Nebraska. Was born in Randolph County, Indiana, May 8th, 1828, where he spent his boyhood days.
Was married December 31. 1849, to Miss E. S. Poor. She was born in Goosland County, Virginia, June 21, 1832. The young people came west in 1851 and settled in the wilderness of Mahaska County, Iowa, but hardly satisfied and after five years, or in 1856, they followed the west- ern trail and crossed the great river and settled in Sarpy Connty, Ne- braska. In 1868 they took a homestead just east of the embryo city of Seward. Mr. Pierce built the third residence in the little town inst east of Callender's coal yard.
Mr. and Mrs. Pierce raised eleven children, viz: Emely J., George W., Henry F .. Adelia, Mary E., Lydia I., Nettie M., Thomas E., Minnie L. and Charles W. Mr. Pierce died in 1900 at Seward. Mrs. Pierce resides at Seward.
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
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Mrs. W. O. Pierce
W. O. Pierce
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
WILLARD W. PIERCE
One of the first settlers in "N" precinct, where he located on section 18, as a homesteader in 1869. Was born away up in Oswego County, New York, where they raise icebergs in winter and rocks and blackberries in summer. Willard was born September 2, 1845, and learned how to navigate stone boats and do all other kinds of work that the York state farmer boy usually does. He did not get a gli mpse of the western star until he heard Greeley's command, "Go west, young man," then he obeyed orders and at twenty-five he struck the trail for the west. He sojourned in Illinois one year. However, he hunted up one of those good. New York girls, Miss Sarah Huffman, and was married September 10, 1867, in Wayne County, New York.
She was a Canga girl, born January 7, 1851. Mr. Pierce was a soldier. He enlisted in the 81st New York infantry but was not able to pass examination. But he was the kind of lad that was determined to have a hand in the game so he enlisted in the 9th New York heavy atillery and got several sniffs of burnt powder. Was wounded at Cedar Creek, Virginia, but he hung to the willows till the end of the war.
Mr. and Mrs. Pierce had four children as follows: Ernest W., Emmet M. F., who was killed October 9. 1874, by the collapse of a neighbor's granary ; Lela N., now Mrs. Ben Norval, and Mand A.
Mr. Pierce moved to Seward in 1886 and took charge of the Com- mercial House soon after and managed it successfully many years. He is now trying to take life easy at the cosy home in the north part of the city and finds pleasant pastime with his pigs and poultry. The family church home is with the M. E. people.
EDWIN A. POLLEY
June 26, 1849, in Hardin County, Ohio, was born the lad that de- veloped into the popular Seward jeweler. business man, and post master. He went to Monmouth, Illinois, when quite young, in 1859, where he was educated, being a classmate of the distinguished civil engineer, J. Finley Wallace, now chief engineer of the Isthmian canal. Moved on west like most wide-awake boys do, to Des Moines, Iowa, where he learned his trade and where he also made the best trade of his life in securing a wife. Was married to Miss Harriet Harrison in 1872, and to their union were born two children, Mand R, now Mrs. J. E. Morris, of Chicago, Illinois, and Edwin H., now a business man of Seward.
Mr. and Mrs. Polley came to Seward, February 1, 1873, where he opened a jewelry store in the town and has managed to keep it open now thirty-one years and we believe the thing improves with age.
Under the Harrison administration he was appointed post master of the city and in his term of four years everything ran smoothly and everybody was well satisfied. -
Mrs. Polley was born at Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1850 but her par- ents moved to Des Moines when she was a child. She was educated in the city schools. Mrs. Polley has a leading part in all matters of social culture and advancement.
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Mr. Polley is a member of the K. P. Was for several years grand receiver of the A. O. U. W. Mr. Polley is a public spirited citizen, always ready to lend a helping hand in matters of public enterprise. A good jovial fellow with all an enjoys the friendship of a wide circle of friends He is a stalwart republican and is ever ready to give his reasons for his faith. He attends strictly to business and is fairly successful.
. DR. JEFFERSON T. POTTER
Another New York state boy who graduated first in steering a stone boat on the old farm. (This was one necessary part of a New York boy's education. ) Was born in Courtland County, February 2, 1850. Was educated at Courtland academy and the state normal, where he commenced teaching in the same school and later in various schools in New York, and finally he found the western trail and landed in Illinois and taught in Logan and in Sangamon Counties. Now he changes his tactics and we find the young man at Syracuse in the university where he graduated with honors in the medical college and stuck out his shingle at Port Jarvis, New York, where he practiced for eight years. Was examining surgeon for the government and also surgeon for the Erie railroad. Later was special United States pension examiner for two years. Next he practiced at Mount Hope, Kansas, for eleven years, when he found the right place at Seward, and there he is contented.
The doctor married Miss May Topping June 28. 1888, at Sedgwick. Kansas. This lady is a Daughter of the Revolution, and member of the order of the Eastern Star. She was born at Morrison, Illinois, December 9, 1868.
They have one daughter, Helen L., born in Oklahoma, July 1, 1894.
The doctor came to Seward in December, 1895. He is an old time member of the A. F. and A. M., the Maccabees, the Ben Hur. and Woodmen of the World. Church home of the family is with the Con- gregationalists.
REV. JOSEPH H. PRESSON, D. D.
Is certainly one of the oldest ministers in Nebraska who began his ministerial labors in our state. Was born in Warren County. Ohio. in 1840. He came of pioneer ministerial stock. His father, a Methodist preacher, moved to Rushville, Illinois, when Joseph was six years old and country was a wilderness. Joseph says he was just a preacher's boy and nothing strange occurred in his childhood. He went to the country school and played hookey just like other boys. The year he was twenty -one the guns of Fort Sumpter thundered and Joseph heard and made haste to take part. He served under General Sherman in the famous 15th army corps and participated in all the conflicts and marches until after the capture of Atlanta, and was in the battles of Shiloh, Shelby Depot, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg,
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May 19, and 22nd, 1863, and the siege ending July 4, 1863, Jackson, Mississippi, Amsterdam Ford, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw and Atlanta, ' and went through all without a scratch although he had many close calls. Was minstered out October 30, 1864, at Chattanooga, and within the next sixty days he found the western trail and followed it to Nebraska and made Tecumseh his home for six years where he was twice elected county clerk and served four years. In Johnson County he had the honor of nailing the first lath on a wall in that new county.
Was converted and at once commenced his ministerial career in 1866. Was licensed and began at once to work for the Master. In 1871 he joined the Nebraska conference and was appointed junior preacher at Tecumseh, under Rev. A. L. Folden. Later he was sent to Plattsmouth, to 18th street church at Omaha, to Nebraska City, Pawnee City, then by special request of the official board was sent to his old home at Te- cumseh. After this, while at Tecumseh his health failed and he was compelled to seek secular employment for five years although retaining his membership in the conference. In 1886 he returned to the work of the ministry and was sent to Seward where he labored for three years with great success and to the entire satisfaction of the church and peo- ple. Next we find him at Pern. the seat of the Normal school. From there he was sent to Table Rock, thence to Pawnee City for the second time where he served three years. During those years the church doubled its membership, and he left it one of the best appointments in the conference. From there he was sent to Stromsburg and served there four years, Then went to Milford where he has been four years as pas- tor and has been invited to remain another year.
Dr. Presson has always been a strong republican. And says he never could see any sufficient reason for belonging to any other political party. He has voted for every governor of the state, except three, and those three all good men though were not of his party. Dr. Presson was elected chaplain of the House of Representatives for the legislature of 1901 and 1902, and chaplain of the Senate for 1904 and 1905. Was nominated by his party caucus both times on first ballot over all com- petitors thus showing the high esteem in which he was held by the re- publicans in the state. Dr. Presson is a man of marked ability as a public speaker and scarcely ever fails to have large and appreciative andiences; is frequently called to different parts of our state to deliver addresses on different subjects. He takes much interest in the work of the grand army and is very popular with the old soldiers. He now preaches every alternate Sunday afternoon at the soldier's home in Milford.
Mr. Presson is a broad minded intelligent man and is unusually apt in his illustrations. He is not only an able preacher but is a ready and forceful speaker on the platform. He is benevolent. No tramp goes from his door hungry. Was married in the year 1866. Three sons were born. The eldest, Cloyd E,, is now living in San Francisco and is en- gaged as postal railway clerk and is one of the the brightest men in the service. He was for a time chief clerk at Honolulu and has been
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promoted from time to time. George Harrison, the second son is now one of the leading merchants in Stromsburg, Nebraska. The third son, Clark Woodman, was accidentally killed at the age of twenty-two. He was at the time clerk in the Farmer's and Merchants' bank at Stromsburg. He was a bright and happy young man and a universal favorite where he was known.
Mr. Presson was born of a stalwart family of Maine yankees. His great grandfather Merrill lived to be over one hundred, His great grandmother Merrill lived to be ninety-nine years old. His grand- father and mother Presson lived to the age of eighty-five. His father and mother are still living; aged eighty-nine and eighty-six and are in possession of all their faculties. They are living and keeping house in Anburn at the present time.
ALBERT PROCKNOW
Was a German boy born April 25, 1862, and found his way to this land of better promise in 1881. Like a sensible hoy which he was he came straight to Seward County and settled in "J" town near Ruby. Where he found a prize in the person of Therese Bernecker and married April 27, 1887. She was born in Grant County, Wisconsin, June 9, 1867.
They have eight children, viz: Oscar R., Louisa F., Hulda M., Minnie D., Herman W., Erma, now dead; Elsa and Albert. The Lutheran church is the family church home. Mr. Procknow is a well to do farmer.
Grandfather Ruldolph Bernecker, Mrs Procknow's father, makes his home with the family. He is now eighty-two years old. He came with his young family from the Fatherland to Wisconsin in 1860. The old gentleman is hale and hearty, enjoying life the best he can.
ANTON PLUMPER
A Prussian by birth, but an American by practice. Was born March 3, 1838, and made his way across the ocean when a young man of twenty-two and landed at Crescent City in June, 1860. Came to Seward in 1882, March 1st and here found his best girl and married Miss Effie Gruss. She was born in Christian Connty, Illinois in 1858.
They have four children, viz: Lotta, now Mrs. Aug. Rurup; Wm. Mckinley and Lillie C.
Mr. Plumper got to this conntry in time to take a hand in the great war and enlisted in the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry and smelled burnt pow- der at Batonrouche, Mobile and Vicksburg and at other places.
He located in section 1, "F" town. Is a farmer. Belongs to the G. A. R. Church home is with the Catholics.
PETER REDIGER
A young business man of prominence in Milford, who has grown from early childhood upon our own prairies. Was born May 14, 1875 in Woodford County, Illinois. His parents found the way to Seward
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County in 1879, and bought railroad land near the Amish church west of Milford and here Peter grew to manhood and was educated in the schools of the neighborhood. With the progressive and restless spirit of all our best young men he must go to Colorado, and try mining in 1889. In 1900 he returned to Milford where he managed a restaurant for two years. In December, 1903, he bought an interest in the great mercantile establishment, where he seems right at home with a pros- perons and growing trade.
January 9, 1901, he united his fortunes with Miss Lena Summer of Milford, who was born and raised in Seward County. They have one child, little Frieda May. The church home of the family is with the Amish Menonites.
Alexander D. Ritchie
A pioneer on the great upland prairie between Blue River and Lincoln Creek in town 12, range 1, east of the 6th P. M. "D" town in Seward County, Nebraska.
Mr. Ritchie was a prominent figure in his day in Seward County.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
He was a man of some means, and he was one that made his means a blessing to all his neighbors. He bought and improved section 11 of railroad land and put it in a good state of cultivation and built, we believe the first substantial frame dwelling house in "D" precinct, where he resided until February, 1883, when he moved to Seward where he lived until his death. He was much interested in sheep and was the first to introduce a fine herd in the county.
Mrs. A. D. Ritchie
Mr. Ritchie was a man much interested in political matters. His independent nature often rebelled against what was known as machine politics. He was a strong republican, but was often at variance with party leaders, and always had the conrage of his convictions. He was a man of great energy, and was a man of deeds as well as words. For twenty years his influence was a prominent factor in the county. He helped to organize the bank at Beaver Crossing and became its first president in 1888.
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Mr. Ritchie was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2, 1824, but he saw away beyond the sea a brighter light and when a youth of nineteen he bade adien to his old home with all its endearments, and found his way to the better land of the broad stripes 'and bright stars, and made his home at Waukegan, Illinois.
On January 11, 1847, he was married to Miss Harriet Hoyt at Chi- cago, Illinois. She was an Ohio girl born August 22, 1826, in Me- dina, Connty.
There were born to them five children : Hon. W. E. of "D" town: Alonzo D. of Hale, Missouri ; Franklin C., now deceased; Alice G., now Mrs. D. S. Jackson of Nebraska City and Jennie H., late Mrs. H. B. Cummins of Seward, Nebraska.
Mr. Ritchie died at Seward, April 25, 1892, and Mrs. Ritchie died at Seward, February 2, 1904.
These good old people were among Seward County's best builders and their names are held dear by a great host of the people.
HON. W. E. RICHIE
One of our most prominent and prosperous farmers of "D" pre- cinct. Was one among the first settlers to invade that wilderness prai- rie in 1870. It seemed so far from everywhere then, but Mr. Richie has lived to see great changes. Now "the solitary place" is made glad and the drove of elk an antelope that galloped over the plain have long since given place to the lowing herds of the farmer.
Mr. Richie was born at Wankegan, Illinois, October 21, 1847. Married Miss Hattie Radford of the same place. She was born Jann- ary 1, 1849. Seven children were born to them : George C., John, now dead ; Charles A., Mabel A., now Mrs. Chris Evenbough ; Elizabeth E., now Mrs. Wm. Dickenson ; Alice G., and Ruth.
Mr. Richie came to Seward County in 1870, and from that time to the present, he has been a factor in the development of the county. In 1891 he was elected to represent the county in the legislature and in 1889 was elected state senator for Seward and Butler Counties.
Mr. Richie has long been identified with the Seward County Agri- cultural Society and is now it s president.
JAMES A. REAMS
A Pennsylvania hoy that tired of the rocky hills and coal smoke of that rough region and strayed westward and landed in Iowa at twelve years of age. Was born in Clearfield County, March 6, 1853. You know when a boy starts west he can't well stop till he lands in Ne- braska. So in 1878 we find James in "M" precinct and one of the best things he found was a Nebraska girl and of course married Miss Sophia F. Buck, November 27, 1878 at Seward. She was born November 16, 1859 in Scott County, Iowa, and came to Crete, Nebraska in 1873.
They have two daughters, Eleanor and Ida M. both accomplished
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yonng ladies. They reside in "N" precinct six miles east and sonth of Beaver Crossing.
Mr. Reams is a member of the I. O. O. F., and M. W. A. The church home is with the Evangelical church at Beaver Crossing.
HON. ROBERT C. RHEA
Says he was "an Easter egg" born April 23, 1848 in Preble County, Ohio. In early childhood found the way to Knox and Marshall Conn- ties, Illinois. Mr. Rhea enlisted in the regular army in Angnst, 1867, and served to August, 1870. Was discharged at Atlanta, Georgia. Then he came west and settled on section 25, "N" town. November 11; he married Miss Hester Morgan, daughter of Daniel Morgan at the Morgan home near where Ruby now stands. Mrs. Rhea was born Sep- tember 1, 1858, in Jackson County, Iowa, and came to Nebraska near Nebraska City in 1859 and to the Blue river in 1861. She thinks in 1860. On this point authorities differ.
Mr. Rhea represented Seward County in the Legislature in the sessions of 1893-1894. M :. Rhea worked for Samuel Manley at the time he was killed in 1876 at Ulysses, Nebraska. He has been honored with three terms as supervisor from "N" precinct.
AUGUST RIECHMANN
A German boy born at Hanover, October 30, 1857. Landed on our shores, May 14, 1874 and found the right place (Seward) in 1875, when he commenced clerking for Joel Tishne.
July 14, 1885. he married Miss Mary L. Oesterling of Dakota City, Nebraska. She was a Sioux City, Iowa, girl born October 2, 1862.
They have two children: Annie, now Mrs. B. B. Campbell and Bonnie, yet at home.
Mr. Riechmann is a clothier's salesman in Seward. He served Seward County two terms as county clerk.
CHARLES RICENBAUGH
Born in Juniatta County, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1840. Went with parents to Reading in early childhood and at ten they found their way to Wisconsin; halted at Milwaukee, but made permanent home at Madison.
Charley enlisted in Company I, 23d Wisconsin volunteer infantry. Was in seven battles, the siege of Vicksburg, ate hard tack with Banks and Grant. Was at Arkansas Post, at Carring Crow, Lousiana, at Fort Spanish and Mobile.
Married Miss Charlotte Meyers at Madison, September, 1867. She was a German girl born June 29. 1846. Eight children were born, viz : Solomon W. A., Daniel, now dead ; Ida E., now Mrs. A. Clark; David, now dead; James E., Norman A., Prudence, Ella K. and Joseph.
The family made their home in Seward County in 1870, and settled
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
four miles east of Seward. Has a splendid farm. Church home with M. E. people. Mr. Ricenbaugh has proved to be one of our most suc- cessful farmers. He owns four hundred acres of very valuable and well improved land.
Residence of Mrs. S. E. Richmond
RUSSELL B. RICHMOND
Had his birth place among the rocks of the cold Green Mountain state, February 9, 1835. in Windham County. He had a roving disposi- tion and at six he strayed across the line into the old Bay state; when a young man he found and captured Miss Sarah E. Mowrey, May 20, 1857 in Franklin County. She was born in Leyden, Massachusetts, March 7, 1839. They have two sons, viz. William A., a farmer of "L" precinct and Lonis W., a traveling man.
The young people saw the bright western star and followed it to Kane County, Illinois, in 1863, where they halted twenty years, when a new inspiration struck them and in 1883, we find them on a beautiful farm in "L" precinct, Seward County.
For the last six years they have retired from active labors of farm life and occupy a beautiful home in Utica. Mr. Richmond has his place with the I. O. O. F., and the Rebeccas.
Church home is with the Presbyterian people. A picture of their home adorns the head of this page.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
DAVID RIVERS
Born away up among the snow banks and chilling blasts of Minne- sota at Hastings, March 15, 1862. A few years later the River flowed sonthward to Kansas, where he found his best girl. Miss Anna A. Rich. So David got "Rich" in Kansas "you know. "
They were married at Clyde, April 18, 1888. Mrs. Rivers was a native of the Old Granite state. Born January 21, 1868, at Cornish and took the western trail in youth and came to the country of great rivers and splendid prairies.
They are the proud parents of four children, viz: Blanche, Elvira, Clayton and Ralph.
They came to Seward in 1888, May 30, on a wedding trip and Seward looked so good to them that they chose it as their home. Mr. Rivers bought a broom factory in 1896. thus helps our people to sweep clean. He is a member A. O. U. W., and the M. W. A.
David is a pretty good kind of a river to have and we are ready to welcome all such peaceful rivers within our landscape.
JACOB ROTH
A Canadian boy born June 28, 1875. Came to Iowa in childhood. In 1897 he strayed over into Illinois and there found Miss Lena Guth and was married February 28th. She was born October 30, 1871, in Illinois. They have four children, viz : Amos, Alvin, Clara and Sadie.
They came to the Amish settlement in 1887 and located in "N" precinct on the P. J. Goodrich homestead. Mr. Roth is a farmer and his church is with the Amish Menonites.
VALENTINE L. ROTH
A native of Livingston County, Illinois, born January 16, 1880. His parents came to Seward County in 1883, when Valentine was but three years old, and the lad has grown up here and February 20, 1902, he captured Miss Lydia M. Staufer. They were married at the Amish church. She was born January 25, 1883, on section 5. "O" town. They have one little one, Melvin G.
Mr. Roth has grown up in the Amish settlement and knows some- thing of the labor of developing a new country. Church relations are with the Amish people.
WILLIAM ROYER
Born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, March [8, 1865, and dug around amongst the stumps, stones and brush of his native burrough until 1888 when. all of a sudden he had a serious attack of western fever and we find him at Seward looking for a job. Ed McIntyre came to the rescue and afterwards he was with Charley France at the Windsor hotel, where he not only got wages but Charley's sister and was mar- ried to Miss Emma France, one of Seward's best girls in 1898, October
.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
5th. Mrs. Royer was born at Laporte, Indiana, in 1863; came to Seward in 1890, where she assisted in the management of the hotel. They have one nice baby girl, Elizabeth. It seems that Mr. Royer has increased his stature nearly a foot since the babe came to bless the home.
En 1900, April 1st, he received his appointment as postmaster at Seward and seems to be giving good satisfaction . Mr. Royer is a public spirited citizen ; we understand that he is a republican in poli- tics at least we see President Roosevelt's picture in the postoffice, but of course we will let him have his way as long as he gives us plenty of mail.
CHRIS A. RUCKSDASHEL
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