USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume II > Part 68
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Edward J. Walt pursued his education in the public schools of Kansas City, Missouri, and also spent a year in the public schools of Lincoln, Nebraska. His parents were poor and in order to aid in providing for his own support he sold papers on the streets of Lincoln after school hours. When a lad of fourteen he secured a position in the piano and music store of the N. P. Curtice Company of Lincoln. His duties were to keep the store clean-sweep, dust and do other such work-and run errands. He held the job for seven years. One day Mr. Curtice came to the store in the morning and could not find his messenger boy, so supposed that he had quit the position. After searching some time Mr. Walt emerged from the cellar, coming up the back stairs covered with soot and dirt, so that he was hardly recognized by his employers He had gone to work two hours earlier that morning and was cleaning out the cellar of the store, which by this
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time he had nicely and neatly arranged. His employer saw his clothes all dirty from the work, and after he had washed Mr. Curtice asked the boy to go with him to a clothing store, saying that he wished to buy a suit of clothes for a nephew in the county who was just the size of Mr. Walt. Much to the sur- prise of the boy, when he returned home that night he found the suit there- a gift from Mr. Curtice in appreciation of his industry and the proof that he had given that he was not afraid to soil his clothes when necessary in the performance of any duty.
When Mr. Walt was fifteen years of age he became a violin player in the orchestra of the old Lansing theater, now the Oliver, in Lincoln. He played thus for many years, saving all of his money, which in time enabled him to pur- chase a home. He won promotion with the Curtice Company and afterward went upon the road as traveling representative of the house, his territory cover- ing the states of Nebraska, Colorado and South Dakota. In this way for seven years he sold pianos and musical instruments and supplies. He also organized the Eddie Walt Orchestra in Lincoln, of which all of his brothers became men- bers. It constituted an important organization in the musical history of Lin- coln, for they played for all of the leading functions of the University of Nebraska for fifteen years and for all important musical events of the city. Mr. Walt also spent twelve years with the Matthews Piano Company, selling pianos on the road, and at the time of his marriage he was presented with stock in the company as a wedding present. He was employed for six years more with that house and was made secretary of the company. When Mr. Matthews retired from the business Mr. Walt purchased the phonograph and sheet music depart- ment, and in a very small way started in the music business in Lincoln on his own account. In the meantime he had married and had become the owner of a home purchased with the savings of his earnings as violin player in the orchestra. In order to purchase his store he mortgaged his home with the con- sent of his wife, who had full faith in his ability to make good. In this way he secured three thousand dollars and made his start, basing his success upon careful attention to business and square dealing. He has since progressed step by step and is now owner of the leading piano and musical instrument house in Lincoln, while he is known far and wide as "Eddie Walt, the Music Man." He never holds any fake sales and never resorts to any of the time-worn special piano sale features in his business. He has one price for any and all who patronize him, and he now has a handsome establishment at No. 1215 O street, where he carries a large line of fine pianos and other musical instruments.
On the 28th of June, 1899, in Lincoln, Mr. Walt was united in marriage to Miss Helen Johanna Koerner, who was born at Krossen-an-der-Oder, Germany, April 13, 1877, and when two weeks old was brought to America by her parents, Hugo and Ida (Larisch) Koerner, the family home being established on a farm near Red Cloud, Nebraska. The father, who was a furrier by trade, later removed to Lincoln, where Mrs. Walt was reared and educated. Our subject and his wife have four children, all natives of Lincoln, as follows: Norman Edward, who was born April 14, 1900, and is a high school student at Lincoln ; Phyllis Johanna, whose birth occurred September 3, 1902; Edward John, Jr., whose natal day was November 21, 1900Dand Harriet Elizabeth.@born July 28 1913.
Mr. Walt is a member of Lincoln Lodge, No. 19, A. F. & A. M., and is a
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thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and is now identified with Sesostris Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is head of the musical entertainment of the Shrine and is oriental band master of the Temple and also a member of the Walt Brothers Quartette of the Temple, composed of Ed J., Joe W., Fred and Reuben Walt. They have had many flattering professional offers, but they pre- fer to remain business men of Lincoln. E. J. Walt is a deacon in the German Lutheran church and since 1903 has been secretary of the English Lutheran church, in which his wife is active. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. There are no esoteric phases in his life and no unusual chapters in his history, which is the record of a man who has consistently followed out a firm and well planned purpose and through the utilization of business methods which never require disguise has won success and an honorable name.
REUBEN MORITZ WALT.
In commercial and musical circles in Lincoln the name of Walt is a familiar one and is regarded as a synonym for business enterprise and for high musical standards. A worthy representative of an honored family is Reuben Moritz Walt, who was born in Kansas City, Missouri, March 30, 1881, a son of Moritz and Elizabeth Walt, who are mentioned at length on other pages of this work in connection with the sketch of their son, E. J. Walt. Following the removal of the family to Lincoln Reuben M. Walt, then a youth of seven years, became a public school pupil and in his youthful days he also worked as a delivery boy and sold papers and shined shoes. Gradually he advanced in capability and resourcefulness and in 1901, in connection with his brother-in-law, Frank C. Wagner, he formed the firm of Wagner & Walt. Together they established in a small way a retail grocery and meat business at the corner of Thirteenth and F streets and from a modest beginning they have built up a business of large and gratifying proportions. They are today numbered among the leading retail grocers of Lincoln, their trade covering a large part of South Lincoln, and they have a firmly established business with assets amounting to more than fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Walt is also a member of the Walt Brothers Quartette of Lincoln, which has been organized for seven years. He possesses a fine tenor voice, and for five years has been tenor soloist in St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, the largest church in the city. He is also known in professional musical circles, having sung largely in Lincoln and vicinity for eight years, and he has been a member of the Walt Brothers Orchestra.
On the 25th of October, 1905, in Lincoln, Mr. Walt was united in marriage to Miss Vesta Hubbard, who was born in Nebraska City, Nebraska, on the 5th of July, 1881, and was reared and educated in Lincoln. She attended the com- mon and high schools and also the University of Nebraska of Lincoln. Her parents were Herbert and Lavina (Merridith) Hubbard. Her father, who became an early settler of Lancaster county, devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits and subsequently became a pioneer packer and retail meat merchant of Lincoln, conducting several retail meat markets here in associa-
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tion with his brother. The firm of Hubbard Brothers is well remembered by all the old settlers of the city. Herbert Hubbard passed away in Lincoln in December. 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Walt have two children, namely : Janice Eliza- beth and Herbert Reuben.
In politics Mr. Walt is independent. His religious faith is that of the English Lutheran church, and socially he is connected with the Modern Wood- men of America and with the Masons. He occupies a nice residence at No. 1236 E street, which he erected, and for twenty-eight years he has been a resident of Lincoln, where he is now most widely and favorably known.
JOSEPH W. WALT.
Among the important enterprises which give stability to business conditions in Lincoln and further the material development of the city are the Union Accident Insurance Company and the Union Fire Insurance Company, two cor- porations with which Joseph W. Walt is closely associated, being president of the former and secretary of the latter. He is well known in business circles of Lincoln, in which city he has lived from the age of two years, or since 1880. He was the fifth in a family of six children, five sons and a daughter, born to Mr. and Mrs. Moritz Walt, a record of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
Joseph W. Walt attended the public schools of Lincoln in his boyhood days and together with his brothers sold newspapers on the streets of the city when not in school. All of the brothers are self-made men and have become prom- inent in business, social and musical circles, and all, inspired by the example of their father's Christian life, have become identified with churches. They have also figured prominently in musical circles and the Walt Brothers Quartette, composed of Edward, Fred, Joseph and Reuben W., is well known in Lincoln. All possess excellent voices and they are, moreover, proficient in the use of various musical instruments. They are also public-spirited citizens, ever active in support of Lincoln's best interests, and are likewise prominently identified with the club life of the city.
In his eagerness to secure a better education Joseph W. Walt pursued a business law course and a course in higher accounting, doing all of the work by correspondence and performing all of the laborious part of it at night after being employed through the day in the auditing department of the International Har- vester Company of America. He spent five years in the service of that company. which he entered in a humble capacity. His promotions, however, were rapid and he was finally made traveling auditor and general blockman at Omaha. At length he resigned a position which paid him an annual salary of over three thousand dollars and in 1907 entered the insurance field at Lincoln, starting in at a salary of one hundred dollars per month. He did this in order first, to be at home with his brothers, of whom he is very fond, and second, for the purpose of gaining a start in an independent business. He was then but twenty-five years of age. In 1911. after he had spent four years in the insurance business and had made a splendid record as the junior partner of the fire insurance firm of Williams & Walt, he was elected secretary of the Union Fire Insurance Com-
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pany, a corporation devoting their entire writings to farm business. This company has made rapid strides since Mr. Walt became secretary and at the present time has more than twenty-nine thousand farmers as policy holders. Mr. Walt's ability as an underwriter is recognized throughout the entire country and he has often declined substantial increases in salary offered by large eastern corporations in order to remain in his home city, where he and his brothers are all so highly respected. In order to facilitate and better equip the agents of the Union Fire Insurance Company in 1913 he organized the Union Accident Insur- ance Company and was made its president, a position which he still holds. This young company is also making an enviable record at the present time.
An interesting chapter in the life history of Joseph W. Walt covers his military experience. He was but sixteen years of age when he enlisted and went to the Philippines as General Wheaton's trumpeter, being first a member of the Thirty-ninth United States Infantry. He spent one year on the islands and was the youngest American in the enlisted Philippine service at that period. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, and he takes an active part in the work of the various Masonic bodies to which he belongs. He is now a member of the Patrol of the Mystic Shrine and also of the Oriental Band of Sesostris Temple of Lincoln. He possesses a tenor voice of rare beauty and would doubtless have won distinction in the operatic field had he devoted his attention to the art. He is also identified with the Elks and has membership in the Lincoln Commercial Club and the Lincoln Rotary Club.
On the 6th of May, 1903, at the age of twenty years, Mr. Walt was married to Miss Edith Haynie, of Lincoln, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Haynie, formerly of this city but now of Kansas City. They have a son, Harold Haynie, who was born March 14, 1904, and who has inherited the musical talent of his father. Although now but twelve years of age he is a fine violinist and bids fair to become the equal of his father and uncles in musical talent.
Mr. and Mrs. Walt hold membership in the First Christian church of Lincoln and he is serving on its board of deacons. Few, if any, residents of the city are more widely known and none more favorably. His life is actuated by high ideals. In manner he is genial and cordial, always ready to accord to anyone the courtesy of an interview, and his course in every relation measures up to high standards, for he is a reliable and enterprising business man, a progressive citizen, a promoter of art ideals, especially in music, and a man whose moral rectitude of character is above question.
DAVID C. HILTON, M. D.
Dr. David C. Hilton, one of Lincoln's leading surgeons, thoroughly versed · in modern scientific practice, was born near Dorchester, Nebraska, on the 22d of April, 1877, a son of John B. W. and Mary E. ( Redgate) Hilton, who are now making their home with the Doctor. The father was a craftsman, particu- larly skilled in the work of finishing circular saw's. In-1863 he wedded Mary E. Redgate in New York city, where they were born and reared. For some time
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Mr. Hilton was employed in New York and in Massachusetts. In 1876 he removed to Nebraska, purchasing a quarter section of railroad land in Saline county, which at that time seemed to contain little save grasshoppers and farm mortgages. In the spring of 1881 he was compelled to leave the family upon the farm and returned to Boston to work at his trade. During the succeeding two years the mother with the aid of her two older sons, then fourteen and ten years of age, operated the farm. She went into the fields with her boys and assisted in the work of tilling the soil and raising the crops. In this manner the farm was paid for and is still owned by Mr. and Mrs. Hilton. While in the east Mr. Hilton was employed by a physician of Arlington, Massa- chusetts, paying his board thereby, so that he brought all of his wages back with him to Nebraska. The family were handicapped by hard times in their efforts to gain a start in their new home but at length they won a substantial footing.
Dr. Hilton pursued his education in public schools and in the West Division High School of Chicago, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896. He afterward matriculated in the University of Nebraska, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1900, and in 1901 the Master of Arts degree was conferred upon him. The same year he became a student in Rush Medical College of Chicago and completed the course there with the class of 1903, having had a year's credit for his work in the Nebraska State University. Having won his diploma, he returned to Lincoln for practice on the 18th of August, 1903, and the recognition of his ability gained for him immediate and steady advancement. In 1914 he gave up the practice of inter- nal medicine and has since concentrated his entire effort and attention upon surgical work, having advanced to a position of distinction in that field. During his senior year in Rush Medical College Dr. Hilton had served as surgical assistant in St. Mary's Hospital and prior to being made externe in that institu- tion he was pathologist at the United Hebrew Charities' Dispensary, so that with his theoretical training he combined active practice and was well qualified for important professional service at the time that he opened his office in Lincoln. From the beginning his interest has centered in surgical work and he is today one of Nebraska's most skilled surgeons. In October, 1915, the title of Fellow of the American College of Surgeons was conferred on him at Boston, Massachusetts. He is a member of the Lancaster County Medical Society, the Missouri Valley Medical Society and the American Medical Asso- ciation. That his interests cover still broader scope is indicated in the fact that he is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and belongs to the Nebraska Art Association, to the Nebraska State Historical Society, and to the Nebraska Ornithological Union, of which he has served as president. Immediately following his arrival in Lincoln he was made super- visor of the science department of Cotner University, which position he filled in 1903-04, and for several years he was an instructor in the department of anatomy of the Nebraska State University.
In August, 1900, Dr. Hilton was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Luella Barr, of Omaha, a daughter of Mrs. Sarah (Cole ) Barr. Mrs. Hilton was born in Vincennes, Indiana. Februar@62, 48sonand By her marriage has become the mother of three children, as follows: Blossom Virginia, whose natal day
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was October 7. 1904: Ruth Acacia, born September 28, 1908; and Hiram David, whose birth occurred on the 22d of November, 1913.
Fraternally Dr. Ililton is connected with Lincoln Lodge No. 19, A. F. & A. M., with the Chapter, Commandery, Consistory, the Mystic Shrine, and the Order of the Eastern Star. He has been made a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in Scottish Rite Masonry. He belongs to the Acacia Fra- ternity and the honorary scientific Society of the Sigma Si. He is a member of the East Lincoln Christian church in which he has served as an elder for several years. High ideals have actuated him in every relation, being manifest in the practice of his profession, in his activity for the improvement of public interests and for the intellectual and moral uplift of the race.
CHARLES HENRY ARMANN.
Charles Henry Armann, who is successfully engaged in farming the family homestead in Centerville precinct, Lancaster county, has never had occasion to regret his choice of an occupation, for he has found agricultural pursuits con- genial as well as profitable. His birth occurred in Zaleski, Vinton county, Ohio, on the 10th of May, 1878. His father. Henry Armann, was born in the city of Bremen, Germany, March 21, 1838, and remained there until he was sixteen years old, when he came to the United States, landing in New Orleans. For a short time he resided in Cincinnati, Ohio. There he followed the cabinetmaker's trade, which he had learned in Germany, and later he went to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he worked in the mines and also as a wagon maker in the employ of the mining company. Subsequently he went to Kentucky, where he followed his trade for some time, after which he returned to Ohio. He worked in the coal mines there and also gave some attention to cabinet work, specializing in making coffins. Following the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in 1861 in the Fifty- sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and remained at the front until the close of hos- tilities. He fought in the engagement at Fort Donelson, participated in the capture of Fort Henry, in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth and in the Vicksburg campaign. In the engagements which preceded the taking of that Confederate stronghold he was twice wounded, losing part of one finger and being shot through the head. He recovered from his injuries, however, and after the close of that campaign was assigned to convey prisoners to Ship Island. During the early period of his military service he was in General Hancock's corps and General Osterhaus' brigade, but he was at length transferred to General Banks' com- mand and went on the famous Red River expedition. He also served under General Franz Sigel and was a member of what was known as the Pioneer Corps. He was in all of the battles of the Red River campaign, including that of Pleasant Hill, and subsequently went to New Orleans, where he was discharged in December, 1864. He returned to Cincinnati and soon afterward went to Scioto county, Ohio. In 1865 he reenlisted for another year, this time becoming a member of the Eighth United States Regiment. He was assigned to the defense service and remained with the colors until the end of the war.
Mr. Armann then returned to Ohio and took up his residence in Vinton
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county, where he conducted a general store. Later he removed to Portsmouthi, Ohio, and operated a brewery there for some time, but at length removed to Zaleski, where he was employed in the car building shops of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad until 1880. He then came to Lancaster county, Nebraska, and purchased two hundred and forty acres on section 17, Centerville precinct, which was unimproved railroad land. He soon returned to Ohio, and in 1883 came with his two eldest sons to Lancaster county and began placing his homestead under cultivation. They also erected a residence and in the following spring Mrs. Armann and the other children arrived here. Mr. Armann was actively engaged in farming until 1899, when he retired, but he resided upon the homestead until 19to. He then removed to Lincoln and there he made his home until his death, which occurred on the 12th of May, 1916. On the 18th of April, 1866, he married Miss Mary Deutchel, who died February 22, 1875. Of the five children born to them one died in infancy and another at the age of seven years. Those still living are : Frank, a resident of Wheatland, Wyoming ; and Mrs. Dora Betten and Abraham, both residents of Martel, Nebraska. Mr. Armann was again mar- ried in September, 1876, his second union being with Mrs. Ruhamah Livingstone, a sister of his first wife and a native of Walsa, Germany. She was nine years of age when she accompanied her parents to Ohio, where her father worked in the furnaces for a time and later turned his attention to farming. She is still living and makes her home in Lincoln. The children of the second marriage are : C. H. Armann and Mrs. Emilie Wittsbruck, both of Martel. By her first marriage Mrs. Armann had four children, who are still living, namely: Mrs. H. H. Sieck, of Lincoln ; Mrs. S. F. Griffin, of Martel; and Frank and John Livingstone, both of Martel. Besides these children there is also a foster son, William Siecksmeyer, of Martel.
Charles H. Armann has resided in Lancaster county since 1884 and received the greater part of his education in the public schools here, although he attended school for six months in Ohio. As a boy and youth he assisted his father on the home farm and after reaching mature years continued to work for the latter until he was twenty-six years old. Ile then took charge of the operation of the home- stead and has since farmed that place, with the exception of one year, which he spent on the Pacific coast. He understands thoroughly the methods of farming which are most efficient in this section and as he is energetic and businesslike he has met with a gratifying measure of success. He grows the usual crops and also raises shorthorn, Red Polled and Holstein cattle and Hampshire hogs.
Mr. AArmann was married in Lincoln on the 19th day of March, 1903, to Miss Emma Mae Griffin, who was born in Centerville precinct on the 14th of Septem- ber, 1883. Her parents, S. S. and Mary Emma ( Walker) Griffin, were both born in Jowa. The mother has passed away, but the father is still living and is recognized as one of the leading citizens of Lancaster county, Nebraska. He founded the village of Martel and owns and operates a grain elevator there and also conducts a general store under the name of the Martel Mercantile Store. To Mr. and Mrs. Armann have been born two children : Delton Leroy. whose natal day was the 24th of October. 1903 : and Esther Treva, born March 12, 1905.
Mr. Armann is a stanch republican in politics and for two years has served in the office of deputy ta assessor eHe is a member Of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally belongs to Damocles Lodge, No. 60, K. P., at Hickman,
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