USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume II > Part 65
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the erection of a beautiful residence. In time he bought one hundred acres adjoining his land and has also brought that tract to a high state of cultivation. He has sixty acres in timber and pasture land, but the remaining quarter section is devoted to the raising of grain. He seldom fails to harvest good crops and as he watches the market carefully is usually able to sell at a good price. He also raises a large amount of stock, especially hogs, and finds that by so doing he can materially increase his annual income.
In February, 1884, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Nolte, a daughter of Fred and Mary ( Keeker) Nolte. Her father was born in Hanover, Germany, where he remained until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he emigrated to the United States. After living for some time in Illi- nois he removed to Millard, Nebraska, and thence came to Nemaha precinct in 1879. He purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land which came into the possession of his son-in-law in the manner before described. He passed away in 1899. His wife was a daughter of Henry Keeker, a native of Hanover, Germany, and a mechanic by trade. He emigrated to America and returned to Germany after a short time, as he did not find conditions in this country to his liking. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have become the parents of seven children : Louisa, the wife of William Ewerth, a feed buyer of Lincoln ; August, who is farming with his father; Clara, the wife of James Jones, a farmer residing in this county; Mary, who gave her hand in marriage to Clarence Davis, a farmer of Otoc county, this state; Emma, deceased; and Martha and Louis, both at home.
Mr. Meyer casts his ballot in favor of the candidates and measures of the democratic party and his religious faith is that of the German Lutheran church. He has not only been connected with the agricultural development of his coun- try but has also been identified with its business interests, as he was one of the organizers of the Farmers Elevator Company of Bennet, of which he is now serving as a director. He has resided in this county for over forty years and remembers well the time when it was still mainly unbroken prairie. In his teens he was a cowboy on Stevens creek and often saw bands of Indians. Those pioneer days have passed away and the younger generation can scarcely realize that they ever existed, but it is fitting that a record should be made of the early history of the county and that due honor should be given those who performed the hard task of developing this new country.
FRIEND BUEL, JR.
Friend Buel, Jr., who is one of the most progressive and efficient of the younger stock raisers of Lancaster county, resides on section 33, Centerville precinct, and is engaged in feeding cattle for the market in partnership with his father, Friend Buel, Sr., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He was born in Saltillo precinct, on the 9th of July, 1885, and he passed his boyhood upon the family homestead. , He early began assisting his father, but his education was not neglected, he attended the district schools and also the schools in the town of Hickman. Following his marriage he engaged
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in operating the home place for a year, and then took up his residence upon his present farm, which comprises two hundred and ten acres on section 33, Centerville precinct, and which also belongs to his father. He gives his atten- tion to stock raising, specializing in feeding cattle for the market, and is asso- ciated with his father in that business. He has already gained a gratifying measure of prosperity and his energy, his knowledge of stock r. 'sing. and his good business judgment insure his continued success.
Mr. Buel was married in 1911 to Miss Julia Brokema, a n 've of Cook county, Illinois, and a daughter of Nicholas and Anna Brokem the former an undertaker at Hickman. Mr. and Mrs. Buel have become the p wants of two children-Marion and Blanche. Mr. Buel discharges to the full he obliga-
tions resting upon him as a good citizen. He has passed his life in Lancaster county and his stanchest friends are those who ha him
intimately since boyhood. He possesses many admirable qualiti of the most valued residents of his community.
is one
REUBEN SPRINGER.
Reuben Springer, cashier of the Farmers Bank of Bennet, has had much experience in banking and has proved thoroughly efficient in directing the affairs of that institution. His birth occurred in Indiana on the 8th of March, 1876, and he is a son of John and Mary ( Faust ) Springer, natives of ( who in 1848 removed to Indiana, where they lived until called by death. T 'in were born ten children, of whom six are living.
Reuben Springer was reared in his native state and received a g common school education. During his boyhood and youth he also assisted hi ather and thus gained valuable training in habits of industry. When twenty-( years of age he left home and came to Nebraska, where he engaged in tear ag school for two years. In Igoo, however, he entered a business college at Lincoln and after completing a course there was bookkeeper for the Lincoln Furniture Com- pany for three years. Later he was employed in the City National Bank of Lincoln as teller for seven and a half years and at the end of that time was appointed state bank examiner, which important office he filled for two years. He then came to Bennet and was for two years vice president of the Farmers Bank but since 1916 has been cashier of the institution and has had the direction of its policy. He realizes that the first consideration in successful banking is the security of the funds of the depositors and stockholders but he also under- stands the function of the bank in promoting the business development of its community and is as liberal in the extension of credit as he can be with safety. The bank holds the confidence of the public and the volume of its business is increasing from year to year.
On the 28th of November, 1906, occurred the marriage of Mr. Springer to Miss Ena Harris, who was born in Lincoln. She is a daughter of Myron and Emma (Ormsby ) Harris, the former now deceased, while the latter is still living. Mr. and) ArstiSpringer bayelibres sevyffffron W., Orion O. and Harokl W., and they own the home which they occupy.
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Mr. Springer supports the republican party and is now serving efficiently as village clerk. He holds membership in the Royal Highlanders and is well known in social circles of the town. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and cast their influence on the side of righteousness and moral progress. Hej,is highly respected because of his enterprise, his foresight, his sound common sense and his integrity and there are many who entertain for him the warmest personal regard.
.1;
MICHAEL QUINN.
inn, a well known and prosperous farmer residing in North Bluff
precinct ... ag of the excellent citizens whom Ireland has given to Lancaster
county. irth occurred in County Galway on the 3d of July, 1840, and he is a son of in and Bridget ( Lally ) Quinn, also natives of that county. The father we ed for others for some time and later purchased land, to the opera- tion of which he devoted his energies. Both he and his wife passed away on tlie Emerald Isle.
Michael Quinn, who is the eldest in a family of ten children, received a very limited education and remained with his parents, giving them the benefit of his labor until he was married. Not long afterward he sailed with his bride for the United States, landing at New York on the 25th of October, 1876. They came at once t Incaster county and located upon a farm, which he is still operating. The cour ! ; as then a frontier region and he lived in a dugout for several years. When he ne to this country he had only one hundred dollars and he had a hard time to pay for his first eighty acres, which he purchased from the govern- mient. In poeder to secure the necessary capital he sheared sheep and did any work that . could secure, at the same time practicing the closest economy. Not only did , gave financial struggles during his early residence in this county but he also had a great deal of other trouble as there were seven deaths in the family within a period of two years. Although he had much to discourage him he believed that perseverence and industry would at length lead to success and his faith proved well founded as he gained prosperity and now owns two hundred and forty acres of highly improved land. Ile personally operated the place for a long period, raising both grain and stock, but is now leaving the greater part of the work to his son. He expects, however, to continue to reside upon the farm until called by death.
Mr. Quinn was married in 1870 to Miss Bridget Donlan, who was born in Ireland and who died on the 10th of January, 1889. She was the mother of the following: John, who is a traveling salesman and resides in Tennessee ; Mary, the widow of Con Mahoney, who was engaged in the hotel business in El Paso, Texas: Michael, who is a stockman and butcher living in Denton, Nebraska; Patrick, who is farming in Cherry county, Nebraska : Kate, the wife of Frank Morgan, a resident of Little Salt precinct ; and Helen and Margaret, deceased. In July, 1890, Mr. Quinn was again married, Miss Margaret Hanley, a native of County Cork, Ireland, becoming his wife Ofo their union were born three children, namely: William, a resident of Grand Island, Nebraska ; and
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Helen Eliza and Daniel. twins, the former of whom is deceased, while the latter resides at home. The wife and mother died on the 20th of January, 1900, and in 1906 Mr. Quinn wedded Mrs. Margaret Curtis, the widow of a Civil war veteran. She has also passed away, her demise occurring in 1912. Since her death a niece of Mr. Quinn has kept house for him, coming to this country from Ireland in order to look after his household affairs.
Mr. Quinn is independent in politics, preferring to follow the dictates of his own judgment than to support candidates because of their party allegiance. His religious faith is indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Roman Catholic church. His life has been busy and well spent and the leisure which he now enjoys is well deserved.
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FRANK E. SPADER.
Frank E. Spader owns one of the best improved and equipped farms of Lan- caster county, comprising two hundred and forty acres adjoining Waverly, and is engaged in stock raising on a large scale. He is a native of Tingsryd, Sweden, born on the 16th of January, 1880. His father, August Spader, was born in that place on the 2d of May, 1856, and on reaching mature years turned his attention to farming, which he followed in his native country until March, 1894. He then emigrated to the United States and located in North Bluff precinct, Lan- caster county, Nebraska, where he followed agricultural pursuits for a number of years. He still owns a good farm in that precinct, but since December, 1908, has resided in Sweden, enjoying well deserved leisure. He also owns valuable real estate in that country. In his early manhood he served the required term in the Swedish army. His wife was born in Sweden in 1859, and also survives. They became the parents of five children, of whom four are living : Frank E .; Alfred, a farmer of Rock Creek precinct, and Alban and Oscar, residents of North Bluff precinct.
Frank E. Spader began his education in the public schools of Sweden and later attended school in Rock Creek and North Bluff precincts, Lancaster county When nineteen years of age he began farming on his own account, although he continued to live at home for three years. At the end of that time he took up his residence upon a farm in Rock Creek precinct, which he operated for four years, when he rented land in North Bluff precinct. He remained there until March, 1910, when he came to his present farm, which is situated just eighty rods from the corporation line of Waverly. He raises more hogs than any other man in the county, specializes in the Duroc Jersey breed, and he also raises White Faced Hereford cattle. He has made a careful study of everything pertaining to stock raising and is recognized as an authority upon the subject. He has improved his farm with excellent buildings, the machine shop covering twelve hundred square feet, the barn eighteen hundred square feet, the hay barn twenty- four hundred square feet, the corncrib twelve hundred square feet, the hog barn twenty-four hundred square feet, and the main structure of the residence being fifty-six by thirty feet in dimensions. He also has a wood-house sixteen by six- teen feet, with a cement- ice pit beneath. All of the buildings are thoroughly
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BARN ON THE SPADER FARM
RESIDENCE OF FRANK- E. SPADER Digitized by Microson ®)
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modern in design and equipment. He also owns stock in the Farmers' Implement Factory at Plano, Illinois.
Mr. Spader was married on the 26th of November, 1907, to Miss Hilma Warner, whose birth occurred in Rock Creek precinct, and who is a daughter of S. G. and Alida ( Floodman) Warner, both natives of Sweden. About 1870 they came to America and homesteaded in Lancaster county, and her father is still engaged in farming. The mother also survives. Mr. and Mrs. Spader are the parents of six children : Agnes A., Warren A., Doris A., Fern L., Alta V. and Frank David.
The republican party has a stanch adherent in Mr. Spader, but he has never sought office. He was reared in the Lutheran church, but attends the Congrega- tional church at Waverly and takes an active interest in its work. He belongs to the Farmers Union and cooperates heartily with all movements which have as their object the enrichment of country life and the increased efficiency of farm methods. He is still a young man but has gained a degree of prosperity that many of his seniors might well envy, while his progressiveness and enterprise insure his continued success.
FREDERICK ALBERT EGGER.
Frederick Albert Egger is one of the leading residents of Centerville pre- cinct, and has gained an enviable reputation as a stock raiser, specializing in breeding registered shorthorn cattle, Percheron horses and Duroc Jersey hogs. A native of Lancaster county, his birth occurred in Saltillo precinct, on the 13th of July, 1881, and he is a son of John Frederick and Matilda ( Grossman ) Egger, natives respectively of Canton Bern, Switzerland, and Pomerania, Ger- many. The father grew to manhood in his native country, but in 1866 came with his parents to the United States. In 1869 he became a resident of Nebraska and has met with gratifying success as a farmer and stock raiser in Lancaster county, his holdings now comprising one thousand acres of improved land. He was married on the 30th of April. 1880, to Miss Matilda Grossman and they have ten children : Frederick Albert, Emma Mary, Anna Mary, Rudolph John Jacob, William John, Alta May, Edith, Bertha Louisa, one who died in infancy, and Hilda Marie Johannah. Further mention of John F. Egger appears else- where in this work.
Frederick A. Egger completed the course offered in the public schools of Sal- tillo precinct and was also for two years a student in the College of Agriculture at the State University of Nebraska. After leaving that institution he began farming for his father on the old Egger homestead on section 31, Saltillo pre- cinet, but after his marriage took charge of a three hundred acre farm on sec- tion 27. Centerville precinct, which also belongs to his father. He is still operating that place and is concentrating his energies upon stock raising, grow- ing only enough grain to feed his stock. He breeds full blooded shorthorn cattle and his herd of registered shorthorns is, as large as any in the county. He also raises registered Percheron horses and Duroc Jersey hogs and ships a number of carloads of hogs annually. He thoroughly understands the importance of Vol. 11-32
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scientific feeding and housing and is one of the leaders in that line of activity in eastern Nebraska. He also has other business interests being one of the organizers and treasurer of the Farmers Grain & Lumber Company at Sprague; a director and stockholder of the Bank of Sprague, which he also helped to organize ; a member of the Sprague Ilardware Company ; and a stockholder in the Farmers Telephone Company at Martel.
On the 6th of March, 1906, occurred the marriage of Mr. Egger to Miss Mable Wilterding, at the bride's home in Buda precinct. She was born in that precinet and is a daughter of John and Emma ( Lorton ) Wilterding, natives of the Netherlands. On emigrating to the United States they homesteaded in Buda precinct, but after living there for many years removed to Muleshoe, Texas, where the father died in 1913 and where the mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Egger have become the parents of four children: Bernard. Delbert, Donald and Myra, all natives of Centerville precinct.
Mr. Egger casts his ballot in support of the candidates and measures of the democratic party where national issues are at stake but otherwise votes inde- pendently. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs, and she has served capably as superintendent of the Sunday school at Sprague. Mr. Egger is much interested in the public school system and for five years has been a member of the school board of district 77. Fra- ternally he belongs to Hickman Lodge, No. 256, A. F. & A. M., to Damocles Lodge No. 60, K. P., and Rosemary Chapter O. E. S., to which his wife also belongs. It is such men as he, young, enterprising, progressive and businesslike, who are rapidly making Nebraska one of the leading stock raising states of the Union.
ABNER L. DOUGLAS.
Abner L. Douglas was nearing the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey when death called him on the 2d of May, 1912. His birth occurred in Bradford, Maine, November 6, 1838. His parents were also natives of the Pine Tree state and were of Scotch descent. The father was a farmer by occupation and always lived in Maine, passing away in that state. His wife died in 1862, while the Civil war was in progress.
Abner L. Douglas was reared and educated in Maine and he, too, was num- bered among those who defended the Union cause in the darkest hour of our country's history, having enlisted in the First Maine Cavalry, while later he served with the signal corps, being connected with the army for about five years. The following year, or in 1866, he removed westward to Illinois and taught school altogether for fourteen years, most of that time in Illinois but for a period in Iowa. Subsequently he purchased land in Montgomery county, Iowa, and there carried on general farming for five years, at the end of which time he went to Kansas and took a claim, making his home in that state until 1809, when he retired and removed to Lincoln. Indolence and idleness, how- ever, were utterly foreign to his nature and he could not content himself without some occupation. He therefore established a grocery store which he conducted for three years and then again put aside business cares.
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On Christmas day of 1873 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Douglas and Miss Emily Robertson, a daughter of Moses and Margaret ( Robins) Rob- ertson, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. At an early day they removed to Illinois, where the father carried on farming until his death, which occurred in August, 1884. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in June, 1863. Their daughter, Mrs. Douglas, was born in Warren county, Illinois, December 7, 1851, and by her marriage became the mother of six children, as follows: Winona, who is the wife of Frank Melick and resides in Lincoln, Nebraska; Jennie R., the wife of L. H. DeBrown, of Lincoln ; May F., living in San Francisco; Vera L., at home; Harry L., who passed away on the 17th of June, 1888; and Otis, whose demise occurred in April, 1801. In 1906 Mr. Douglas erected a home at No. 1510 Poplar street, where his widow still resides. In politics he was a republican, believing firmly in the principles of the party, and at one time he served as justice of the peace in Kansas and also as a member of the school board in both Kansas and Iowa. He passed away after a long illness May 2, 1912, in the faith of the Methodist church, of which he had for many years been a loyal and consistent member. His death was deeply regretted in Grand Army circles and in the Odd Fellows order, to which he belonged, and also by others who had met him in business or social relations. His entire career measured up to high standards and the principles which ever governed him were such as in every land and clime command respect and honor. Ilis word was as good as any bond and he ever sought to inculcate in his life the teachings of the Golden Rule.
GEORGE A. ANDERSON.
George A. Anderson met with a gratifying measure of success as a farmer and at the time of his death owned a valuable tract of land in Mill precinct. His birth occurred in Sweden, on the 21st of March, 1854, and he was a son of Andrew Anderson, a lifelong resident of that country. He received his education in his native land and when fourteen or fifteen years of age began working for others. After a few years he came to the United States and spent the first winter in Indianapolis, Indiana, but at the end of that time went to Chicago, whence he removed to Virginia, Illinois. He engaged in farming in that locality for about twelve years but in 1894 came to Lancaster county, Nebraska, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres in Mill precinct. He resided thereon until his death and brought the place to a high state of development. He subse- quently secured an additional eighty acre tract and derived a gratifying income from the operation of his farm.
Mr. Anderson was married in March, 1883, to Miss Caroline Peterson who was born in Sweden and is a daughter of Peter Carl and Marie Elizabeth (Brax) Freg, also natives of that country. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson became the parents of seven children, as follows: Ida Juliet, at home ; Mabel B., the wife of Frank Samuelson, a farmer of North /Bluff precincto Nellie: " the wife of Martin Axelson, who is now spending his fifth year in Alaska as a missionary ; Philip, who is farming part of the home place and who married Amy Holquist ;
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Esther Phyllis, the wife of Charles Warner, of Waverly precinct, Richard A., who is farming part of the homestead ; and Ruth J. H., who is teaching in Mill precinct and resides at home.
Mr. Anderson cast his ballot in support of the candidates and measures of the republican party but never aspired to office. The principles which guided his life were found in the teachings of the Swedish Mission church, to which he belonged, and his proved integrity won him a high place in the respect of his fellowmen. He passed away on the 24th of October, 1911. His wife still resides upon the home farm of four hundred acres.
HELMER CONRAD HANSEN.
Many of the enterprises which have most signally benefited the farmers of Lancaster county have been established through the initiative, energy and public spirit of Helmer Conrad Hansen, who can always be depended upon to further financially, and with his time and advice, the movements calculated to promote the community welfare. He recognizes the value of cooperation among farniers and organized the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, the Farmers Bank of Bennet and the Farmers Elevator Company of Bennet, and he is also a moving factor in the improvement of the roads in the county. Ile is actively engaged in farming and his place in Nemaha precinct is one of the model farms of the county.
Mr. Hansen was born near Christiania, Norway, on the 18th of October, 1858, a son of Thor and Thea ( Andersen ) Hansen. The father was born near Christiania, August 26, 1832, and after completing his public school education worked as a machinist and cabinet maker. He was a railroad engineer for a time, but gave up that work and turned his attention to cabinet making which he followed in Norway until 1865. He then crossed the Atlantic to Quebec, Canada, making the voyage on a sailing vessel. He did not remain in the Dominion long, but came to the States and located in Oconto county, Wisconsin, where he secured work, filing saws in a mill owned by Holt & Balcom. After leaving the employ of that firm in 1866 he was connected with the furniture business for about a year, but in the fall of 1867 came overland to Nebraska. He farmed in the vicinity of Dunbar for a time and later worked in Nebraska City, after which he came to Lincoln. Late in 1867 he took up a homestead of eighty acres on section 14, Nemaha precinct, Lancaster county, and built a farm house, twelve by fourteen feet, of cotton wood lumber, which he hauled from Nebraska City. His wife and children resided upon the farm, although he continued to work in Lincoln for several years. In 1872 he turned his atten- tion to the cultivation of this land which yielded him a good return. Subse- quently he bought an adjoining eighty acres and from time to time purchased other land, acquiring title to extensive tracts. In 1889 he went to Abbott, Colo- rado, where he owned a large ranch, remaining there until 1894 when he dis- posed of that property and took up his residence in Lincoln. He lived retired during his remaining days dying in 1905!CHis wife who was in her maiden- hood, Miss Thea Andersen, was born in Norway on the 5th of March, 1837
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