History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 7

Author: Shumway, Grant Lee, 1865-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., The Western publishing & engraving co.
Number of Pages: 1056

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in which organization the mother of Mayor McCreary continues to be active. Of their family of five children three survive: Craig, who is associated with his brother in business ; Frank A., who is mayor of Scottsbluff, and Lula, the wife of William Bentley, who is a merchant at Morrill, Nebraska. After their marriage in Pennsylvania, James McCreary and wife moved to Ohio, from there to Illinois, and in 1873 to Nebraska. Mr. McCreary homesteaded in Buffalo county and lived on his land there until 1890, when he moved to Shelton, and from there came to Scottsbluff in 1915. 1192387

Frank A. McCreary spent his early life on a farm and attended school at Shelton, where he later embarked in the mercantile business and remained so occupied for five years. In 1899 he came to Scottsbluff county and re- mained one year at Gering, in business as a general merchant, then came to Scottsbluff and formed a partership with George B. Lift. Within a year he bought his partner's interest and continued the business alone for another year, when his brother Craig also came to Scottsbluff. Since then the brothers have been associated under the firm style of Mc- Creary Bros. The business has been expanded to include undertaking, while in the handling of general hardware, furniture, rugs, quees- wars and musical instruments, no other house in the county approaches them in complete lines or value of stocks.

In 1901 Mr. McCreary was united in mar- riage to Miss Madalaide Robb, who was born in Texas, daughter of Seymour Robb, former- ly sheriff of Cheyenne, Wyoming. They have one child, Lorraine, who is attending school. Mrs. McCreary is a member of the Presby- terian church. Mayor McCreary is a Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner and belongs also to the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. Since early manhood he has been zealous in the interests of the Republican party, and on numerous occasions has been selected as its candidate for public office. He was a member of the first village board of Scottsbluff, and served one term as coronor of this county. On April 1, 1919, he was elected mayor, and being a thorough business man as well as public- spirited citizen, commanding the support of the best element of the public, Mayor Mc- Creary will undoubtedly give the city an ad- mirable administration. With the added pres- sure of public responsibility to his business cares, he decided to part with his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres of irrigated land, and a satisfactory sale has recently been ef- fected.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

FRANKLIN E. NEELEY, cashier of the Gering National Bank, came to the institution in this capacity, in May, 1910, at which time he had the distinction of being the youngest bank cashier in the state of Nebraska. Mr. Neeley has continued with the bank ever since, an obliging yet careful, conservative official who holds its interests paramount, although necessarily giving some attention to other en- terprises in which he is individually concerned, and to the duties that several public offices im- pose.

Franklin E. Neely was born at Fremont, Nebraska, August 21, 1890, a son of Robert F. Neeley, one of the old and substantial resi- dents of Scottsbluff county. Mr. Neeley is indebted to Fremont, Gering, and Omaha for thorough educational training. Following his graduation from the Gering high school in 1907, he entered Creighton College, where he took a business and a law course. His bank- ing experience began in 1909, at Sheridan, Wyoming, shortly afterward transferring to the Scottsbluff National Bank, where he re- mained a year and then came to the Gering National Bank as an executive. His early life had been spent on a farm, but his talents so unmistakably indicated a business career that it was the part of good judgment to educa- tionally prepare for commercial life. For eight years Mr. Neeley has been in charge of the finances of Gering, being both school treas- urer and city treasurer. He also supervises the management of three farms.

In 1916 Mr. Neeley maried Miss Ruth Car- roll, who was born at Butte, Montana, moved later to Michigan, but was educated in the University of Nebraska. She is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Neeley is a Scot- tish Rite Mason and a Shriner. In his polit- ical views he is a Democrat with independent tendencies.

SEVERIN SORENSEN, who is one of the best known men in the brick industry at Ger- ing, Nebraska, has built up a fine business as a brick manufacturer and contractor since he came to this city in 1908. He has supplied brick for many off the finest structures here and has a solid reputation as a business man. Mr. Sorenson was born in Denmark and lived there until he was thirteen years old.

The parents of Mr. Sorenson were Jens P. and Christiana (Jensen) Sorenson, natives of Denmark. They had ten children and Severin, who was born November 21, 1855, was the fourth in order of birth. They came to Ameri- ca and settled at Avoca, Iowa, June 22, 1869,

where the father worked at brickmaking, mov- ing later to Harlan, in Shelby county, where both parents of Mr. Sorenson died. They were members of the Baptist church.

Severin Sorenson attended school in Den- mark and after accompanying his parents to the United States, worked for three years on an Iowa farm. He knew that his father's trade was a good one and chose the same for himself, learning brickmaking at Council Bluffs, where he worked four years. He then located at Harlan, Iowa, where he began con- tracting and remained until 1882, when he transferred his business to Minden, Nebraska, where he made brick and engaged in brick con- tracting until 1889 and then moved to Denver, Colorado. At that time business prospects in his line were very promising at Denver and Mr. Sorenson accepted many large contracts, on the most of which he lost heavily when a business panic paralyzed all industries. Hence, when he came to Gering in 1908, Mr. Sorenson practically had to begin all over again. He has much more than retrieved his fortunes since coming here and is in comfartable circum- stances.

On August 2, 1881, Mr. Sorenson was unit- ed in marriage to Miss Anna Markusen, who was born also in Denmark, and they have the following children, a large family, the mem- bers of which are respected wherever known: Carl, who is a carpenter and bricklayer, at Gering; Herman, who is in partnership with his father; May, who is the wife of Bernee Knudson, of Denver, Colorado: Emma, who is the wife of Dr. Warrick, in the garage busi- ness at Scottsbluff; Louis, who has but re- cently been discharged from military service, entered the National army in December, 1917, was first assigned to duty in Texas, later in New York and still later in England, where he was in the air service; Peter, who entered military service in the fall of 1917, remained in the training camp at Fort Funston until he was honorably discharged in January, 1917; Anna, who is the wife of R. W. Smith, now a farmer northwest of Morrill, but previously the contractor who built the Fraternity build- ing at Gering; and Otto, Martin, Raymond, Walter and Helen, all of whom live with their parents. Mr. Sorenson has never been an office seeker, but he is intelligently interested in public affairs and gives ihs political sup- port to the Democratic party. He is a member in good standing of the Gering lodge of Odd Fellows.

L'. Petite

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

CAPTAIN ALBERT M. PETITE, one of Nebraska's most gallant sons who twice has responded to his country's call and offered the greatest gift a man possesses, his life, as a soldier of the United States, is one of the best known and most popular of the business men of Scottsbluff county and the city of Scotts- bluff itself where he has been in the real estate business for many years. The captain is a true American patriot in whose veins flows the blood of a long line of French ancestors who played an important part in France and later in the French settlements of America, and the representative of the present generation but lives up to the high standard attained by the forebears of his race and as Theodore Rossevelt so often has said "blood will tell."

Albert May Petite was born at Fon du Lac, Wisconsin, June 13, 1868, just at the close of the Civil War and it may be that some of the iron resolution, indomitable courage and de- termination, a spirit that permeated the north during that memorable conflict may have en- tered into his mental make up for he has proved himself a veritable son of Mars. His ancestors were among the French settlers who came to Wisconsin at an early day when the thoroughfare to the West from Quebec and Montreal lay up the great lakes, down Green Bay, then known by the French name of "Le Baye," up the Fox river to "the portage" now Portage and thence down the Wisconsin to the Mississippi. The descendants of these fine old French families are still to be found along this old route and a fine race they have proved to be. Albert Petite received his excellent educational advantages in the schools of Iowa, and it was from that state that he enlisted when President Mckinley called for volun- teers at the outbreak of the war with Spain. After entering the service in 1898 he was as- signed to the Second Regiment, United States Engineers for service in Cuba, as first lieuten- ant of his company. Following the close of the Cuban campaign he took part in the re- construction work accomplished by the United States before turning over the island to the Cuban government, and for some time was in charge of the old fortress Moro Castle and also of Cabanas, which guard the entrance to Havana harbor. Captain Petite has many in- teresting stories to tell of the greusome dis- coveries made by him while in charge of the work of cleaning up and putting in a sanitary condition, these old fortresses which for hun- dreds of years under the Spanish regime had been landmarks of terror and dread to the inhabitants of the Island. During the Philip-

pine Insurrection, Captain Petite served in the islands under Colonel-now General-Bullard as first lieutenant of the infantry, Thirty Ninth regiment and was twice wounded in a battle near Manila. When peace was finally established in the Philippines, the captain re- signed from the service to return to peaceful pursuits. After returning to the United States he returned to his home in Iowa where he en- gaged in handling real estate until 1910, leav- ing in that state his son William C. Petite of Des Moines, who has two children, William C., Jr., and Mary Louise, and a daughter, Grace Celia, the wife of Donald McGiffen of Fair- field, and they have one son, Donald, Jr.

Coming to the Panhandle in 1910, Captain Petite located in the city of Scottsbluff, opened a real estate office and was engaged in busi- ness here alone until he formed an association with the Payne Investment Company after which he handled the land and water right end of the business for the firm. In politics Cap- tain Petite has been a member of the Republi- can party since he cast his first vote, has taken a somewhat active part in local political circles but has never been willing to accept public office himself, but ever throwing his influence to the man be believed best fitted to serve the people.

On November 23, 1910, Captain Petite mar- ried Miss Ruby L. Wildy, who was born at Lenzburg, Illinois, March 23, 1887, the daugh- ter of Albert and Carrie W. (Dueker) Wildy, early settlers of Scottsbluff where they now re- side. Mrs. Petite's father built the first two- story building in the town and thus is num- bered among the honored pioneers of this sec- tion. When he first came to the Panhandle Mr. Wildy took up a homestead in Box Butte county where he operated a frontier hotel for the accommodation of travelers as towns were few and far apart and people could make the trip from one to the next in a day. This first land was homesteaded in 1887 and it was but recently that Mr. Wildy disposed of it at a most satisfactory figure. Later a postoffice named Melinda was established on his ranch, his wife being the first postmistress. He and his wife are charter members of the Methodist Epicopal church, to which both Captain and Mrs. Petite also belong. Mrs. Petite has one brother, Clinton D. Wildy, cashier of the American State Bank of Scottsbluff.

Captain Petite did not entirely give up mili- tary life upon his discharge from the army and upon returning home he became captain of a company in Fifty-fifth Regiment, Iowa Na- tional Guard, thus a third time entering the

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

service of his country and of the state. When the United States declared war against Ger- many he again placed himself and his services at the disposal of his country and volunteered for any branch of the army where he would do the most valuable work in prosecuting the war. While in Cuba and later in the Philip- pines he had much and valuable experience in the quartermaster's department as to make him valuable to the government. He passed the physical requirements for this branch of the service and was commissioned captain of the quartermaster's corps being detailed as assist- ant to the general superintendent United States Army Transport Service for the Port of New York, February 14, 1918. As one of the prominent and patriotic men of Nebraska and the Panhandle it is but just to the citizens of this section that they should know what an important part his service has played and in a history of the Panhandle the work of a man of this section should be told. For this reason we give a brief resume. There has been so much waste - wanton waste and extrava- gance-in many departments of the army since war was declared that it should be known that one department at least has not only been paying its own way, but which, up to date, has earned hundreds of thousands of dollars for the administration's coffers. The thrifty group of workers who have accomplished this are a group of governmental workers - mostly of- ficers - in the army machine, a department that has received scant credit for the tremen- dous work they have done because of waste- fulness during the war. It is the labor em- ployment branch of the army, and when the record of its service is written, though it may . be garnished with silver chevrons, denoting ex- clusively at home service-the public will be proud to acclaim it. Captain Cox is in charge of the bureau and under him in charge of a special department is Captain Petite. No bet- ter summing up of his work can be made than that of a New York newspaper which we take the privilege of quoting. "The amount of money can not be figured to the dollar-but it is certain that it has totaled nearly $1,000,000 in the employment department alone .- All this money is saved by the insurance and compensa- tion department, under the direction of Captain Petite, a veteran officer who has proved himself adept in his new calling as he was in the numerous campaigns in which he participated. Captain Cox supervises the establishment, which has three floors in the Dey Street Build- ing - 54 Dey Street. - One hudnred per cent efficient himself, he has with him a staff as

capable." Captain Petite is still in the service at the office in New York, while his wife has remained at Scottsbluff looking after their property. She is much better equipped for this work than the ordinary woman as she was reared on a pioneer Nebraska homestead where by circumstances she was forced to grow up self-reliant, to be quick of thought and action. She attended a "soddy" school house while her parent lived on the ranch before coming to take advantage of the educational facilities of the town of Scottsbluff and had early learned of avenues in which to direct her energies as well as resourcefulness and thrift. Even before her marriage she displayed unusual business abili- ties for she became a successful dealer in horses, having learned their qualities and value on the home farm, and by this business made enough capital to build a fine ten-room house, which she conducted as an European hotel. Since Captain Petite has been in the army she has had charge of their joint interests and during the past year has managed them so well that she is now operating three large apartment houses in the same manner, always having a waiting list of tenants. Her entire family is well known in county and both she and the captain hold an estimable place in the community where they are regarded as two of the most patriotic, substantial and progressive citizens as they support most liberally all move- ments for the civic and communal welfare.

PETER O'SHEA, who has the reputation of having developed a larger acreage of land than any other man in Scottsbluff county, has been engaged in the real estate business with offices at Scottsbluff, since 1907, but his many interests have made his name well-known through the valley. Mr. O'Shea was born in Pike county, Missouri, January 23, 1864, the son of Patrick and Anna (Nolan) O'Shea, notable names in Ireland, where the father was born on the shores of Lake Killarney, and the mother in County Tipperary. They came to the United States in 1847, in one of the old slow-moving sailing vessels, but were landed safely in New Orleans, Louisiana. From there they came up the great Mississippi as far as St. Louis, where the father secured work with a construction company building levees on the river, remaining in St. Louis for seven years. Afterward Mr. O'Shea worked at Clarksville, Missouri, and from there on down into Louisiana. In 1874 the family came by wagon to Madison county, Nebraska, where the father bought land in the hope of

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

comfortably rearing his family of nine chil- dren. During the early years in Madison county the struggle was hard and the first crops were devoured by the grasshoppers. Better times came, however, and at the time of his death, he left an estate worth $60,000. Both he and wife died on the Madison coun- ty homestead, his life being prolonged to nine- ty-three years. He was a man of strong po- litical as well as religious convictions, being identified with the Democratic party, and faithful to every observance of the Catholic church. Of his surviving children, Peter is the fourth in order of birth, the others being : Thomas, in the banking business at Madison, Nebraska; Edward, identified with the Home Savings Bank at Madison ; Ella, who resides with her brother Edward at Madison; and John J., of Newman Grove, Nebraska, re- tired banker and real estate man.

Peter O'Shea was ten years old when his parents located in Madison county and there he received his schooling. In that section and at that time, no one took any particular pains to interest and amuse youths that were strong and sturdy, but no doubt Peter, with lads of his acquaintance did not work on the farm all the time even under the strictest discipline, but found occasional means of recreation. Work, however, was the order of the day, and while yet young Peter started to labor as a miner and continued in that line for six years. Afterwards, for seven years he was in a grain business at Humphreys, Nebraska, and from there, in 1907, came to Scottsbluff. Here he embarked in the real estate business, also in- vested in a ranch and went into the cattle business, and in all his udertakings has done remarkably well. He possesses what is called business foresight and this natural faculty has ruled his judgment in his large land invest- ments. At one time he bought 1,700 acres of land and has developed every acre of it.

In 1900 Mr. O'Shea married Miss Matilda Fricke, who was born and reared in Nebraska ; and they have three children: Helen, John and Frank, the two younger being yet in school. Mr. O'Shea and his family are mem- bers of the Roman Catholic church. Immersed in his business, Mr. O'Shea entertains no de- sire for public office, but he is too enterpris- ing a citizen not to recognize the value of po- litical convictions and heartily supports the Democratic party.

THEODORE D. DEUTSCH, has been practically identified with all the great irriga- tion projects that have been of so much import- ance to the people of Scottsbluff and adja- cent counties. He began to build ditches in 1891 for the Tri-State Company, and contin- ued until 1909, although, prior to coming to Scottsbluff county, in 1886, he had been in- terested in different sections of the country along similar lines in connection with railroad- ing. Mr. Deutsch is widely known for his enterprise, his public usefulness and his exten- sive ownership of valuable lands.

Theodore. D. Deutsch was born February 28, 1861, in Richland county, Wisconsin, the son of Daniel and Catherine (Lewis) Deutsch, the former born in Manheim, Germany, Feb- ruary 28, 1821, and died in 1896. Both came to the United States with their parents who settled first in Ohio and then moved to Wis- consin, where the grandparents died. Daniel Deutsch was a cooper by trade. In Wisconsin he was employed for some years by the gov- ernment, to operate boats used in clearing the channels of Wisconsin rivers. In religious faith he belonged to the Mennonite sect, while his wife was a member of the Catholic church. In 1872 they moved to Iowa, where he bought land and both died there. Of the five children three are living: Theodore D., whose home is at Scottsbluff ; Anna, the wife of Eli Swihart, of West Newton, lowa; and Albert, who lives on the old home place in Iowa.

Theodore D. Deutsch obtained his education in Iowa and remained a farmer until he was about twenty years old. In 1880 he began to work at railroad construction and helped build the grade for the old Diagonal road from Wat- erloo to Des Moines. In 1884 he went to Washington and remained on the Pacific coast for two years, engaged in teaming at Walla Walla for several months. From there he went to Yakima and built grade on the North- ern Pacific road, and when that job was finish- returned to lowa. Finding no business open- ing to please him in the old neighborhood, he remained only one month, before locating at Elk Point, South Dakota, where he went into the cattle feeding business. In the meanwhile he homesteaded in Banner county, Nebraska, having the honor of naming that county, but later sold his homestead there for $1 per acre. In March, 1886, he came to what is now Scottsbluff county, Cheyenne at that time, and was one of the county commissioners when Scottsbluff county was organized. From the

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

beginning of the plans for the building of the great irrigation ditches to their completion, Mr. Deutsch was active in the work. He has been identified with all the ditch building in this section and additionally built five miles of the grade for the Burlington railroad. Mr. Deutsch has been engaged in the real estate business since 1909, has a large loan business to which he gives close attention, and not only owns valuable city realty but has eight hun . dred acres of fine irrigated land in the valley.

In 1888 Mr. Deutsch married Miss Laura Ammerman, who was born in Pennsylvania, and they have two daughters: Blanche, the wife of Joseph Kottall, who died April 21, 1919; aod Edna, who resides with her parents. Mrs. Deutsch and Mis Emma are members of the Christian church. In politics Mr. Deutsch is a Democrat. He was one of the first county commissioners of Scottsbluff and continued in that office for thirteen years. He is one of the older members of the Masonic fraternity at Scittsbluff, and belongs also to the Modern Woodmen.

Without a sense of humor, the trials and tribulations of the pioneers might often have weighed heavier than was the fact. Few of them in recalling events now passed fail to re- member amusing occurence that are worth the telling and none are more appreciative of a joke, even upon themselves. This is the case with Mr. Deutsch when he refers to early hardships, when even getting married entailed considerable thought and inconveni- ence no was to be contrasted with the easy methods of the present. After receiving the consent of the lady he wished to wed, he started of on a hundred and fifty mile horse- back ride to secure the license, and on the way home stopped at a town emporium and in- vested in tow white shirts, unusual posses- sions, from which he promised himself much satisfaction. He had yet another horseback ride to take, one of a hundred miles, to secure a preacher. When the latted arrived, in order to do the occasion honor, Mr. Deutsch lent one of his precious shirts to the minister for the ceremony, who was held in a dugout. Possibly, Mr. Deutsch reminisces, the latter thought the shirt a gift as he never saw it again.

HARRY S. FIESBACH, president of one of the largest mercantile firms of Scittsbluff, has been actively identified with the busi- ness for the past ten years. He is a man of marked business ability and his large enter- prise is conducted along the lines of personal

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 7

Author: Shumway, Grant Lee, 1865- Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., The Western publishing & engraving co. Number of Pages: 1056

Author: Shumway, Grant Lee, 1865-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., The Western publishing & engraving co.
Number of Pages: 1056