USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume II > Part 7
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CALVIN A. DIAMOND.
Interested in all those forces which work for the upbuilding and development of the community, Calvin A. Diamond was for a considerable period a valued and representative citizen of Lancaster county, and his death was the occasion of deep and wide-spread regret. Ile was born on a farm in Shelbyville township. Blue Earth county, Minnesota, in September, 1860, a son of John and Mary ( Schutt ) Diamond, who were natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively. The father was a farmer by occupation and on removing westward became one of the pioneer settlers of Blue Faitlounyy Minerosoff.@ later occupied the position of sheriff. He continued to reside in that county throughout his
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remaining days, his death there occurring in 1903. He had for several years survived his wife, who died in 1898.
Calvin A. Diamond was reared and educated in Mankato and remained with his parents until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he started out in business on his own account, becoming a clerk in a store at North Platte, Nebraska. Later he went to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where he was employed for some time, and afterward he accepted a position as traveling salesman for the firm of Steel & Walker, wholesale grocers, of St. Joseph, Missouri, remain- ing with that house for a number of years, or until the firm failed. He traveled in Nebraska in connection with mercantile lines for a quarter of a century. In 1895 he came to Lincoln where he continued to reside until called to his final rest and where his widow still makes her home. lle erected a fine residence at No. 2600 () Street and this Mrs. Diamond now rents, erecting in the spring of 1915 a residence at No. 1620 C street.
In June. 1895, Mr. Diamond was united in marriage to Miss Belle Buckworth, a daughter of Alexander D. and Emina ( Sims) Buckworth, who were natives of Ohio. The father removed to North Platte, Nebraska, at an early day and for nine years held a position in the government land office there. Before this time he practiced medicine in Illinois, and after leaving the land office he engaged in the banking business, becoming president of the North Platte National Bank. Ile represented his district in the state senate and at the time of the Civil war he served with the Union army as assistant surgeon. His life was one of useful- ness and he enjoyed the confidence and regard of his fellowmen in an unusually high degree. He passed away in January, 1897, and his wife is also deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Diamond were born three children : Herbert C., who was born December 21. 1896, and died January 11. 1912 ; Leonard B., who was born August 9, 1900, and is now attending high school ; and John A., who was born March, 28, 1902, and is also in school.
Fraternally Mr. Diamond was connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and his religious faith was that of the Episcopal church. He passed away June 1, 1909, and thus closed a life which in all respects was exemplary. Ile ever lived up to his professions, was thoroughly reliable in his business affairs and straightforward in every relation. His word was as good as a bond, and those who knew him entertained for him the highest confidence and warmest regard.
JOHN FISHER.
Among those who contributed to the material development and improvement of Lancaster county was John Fisher, who for a considerable period was con- nected with agricultural interests here. At the time of his death, March 29, 1909, he was sixty-three years of age, his birth having occurred in Carroll county, Ohio, March- 1,-1846. Ilis parents were Jacob and Gertrude Fisher, natives of Germany, who in-early Alite came to the new world, settling in Ohio, where Mr. Fisher purchased land, becoming the owner of a good farm in
MR. AND MRS. JOHN FISHER
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Carroll county, which he continued to cultivate and improve until his life's labors were ended in death in 1858. His widow passed away in 1891.
John Fisher spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the county of his nativity and is indebted to its public school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. In 1865 he removed westward, settling at Prairie City, Jasper county, Iowa, and there worked at the wagon maker's trade, which he had pre- viously learned at his old Ohio home. He was employed for some years at his trade in that county, and later he acquired a farm near Prairie City, which he owned and cultivated for nine years. On the expiration of that period he re- moved to Audubon county, lowa, where he bought land and engaged in general farming for a similar period. On the Ist of March, 1890, he arrived in Lan- caster county, Nebraska, and purchased land in Elk precinct, after which he carried on the work of the fields there until his demise.
It was on the 2d of May, 1867, that Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Dianna Beck, a daughter of Michael and Catherine ( Houck) Beck, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Her father was a farmer by occupation and in 1855 removed to Jackson county, Iowa, his daughter, Mrs. Fisher, being then eleven years of age, her birth having occurred in Pennsylvania, June 22, 1844. Mr. Beck continued to engage in farming in Jackson county, Iowa, throughout the remainder of his days. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, January 31, 1817, and died on the 10th of April, 1870, while his wife's birth occurred in Westmoreland county, that state, December 9, 1813, and she was called to her final rest August 21, 1877. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher were four children: Catherine W., who was born September 26, 1860, and died October 31, 1870: Minnie Mary, who was born February 14, 1871, and is now the wife of John Densburger, residing on a farm in Elk precinct, Lancaster county ; Isaac F., who was born October 25. 1872, and is also engaged in farming in Elk precinet ; and George A., who was born November 17, 1874, and owns and operates the home farm in Elk precinet.
Following her husband's death Mrs. Fisher removed to Lincoln in October, 1914, and erected a residence at No. 1325 1) street. Mr. Fisher always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and voted with the demo- cratic party. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church, in which he served as deacon for many years, taking an active part in all branches of church work. His life conformed to its teachings, and he was ever honorable and upright, meriting the esteen and confidence of all with whom he came in contact.
CHRISTIAN A. THORP.
Christian A. Thorp, of College View, is a man of much influence in the work of the Seventh Day Adventist church as he is editor of the Evangeliets Sendebud, or Gospel Messenger, a Danish-Norwegian paper published by that denomination. He was born in Farsund, Norwayon theboth of aquar of @ son of Knud and Katrine (Nielsen) Knudsen Thorp, both natives of Norway. The father, Vol. IT -4
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who followed agricultural pursuits during his active life, passed away in that country in March. 1904, and his wife died there in September, 1912.
Christian A. Thorp was reared and educated in the land of the midnight sun and learned the cabinetmaker's trade, which he followed until 1887, when, at the age of twenty-three years, he emigrated to the United States. He followed his trade in Chicago for two years, after which he became a student in the Battle Creek College at Battle Creek, Michigan, which is conducted by the Seventh Day Adventist church, and after remaining there for a year he engaged in missionary work under the direction of the mission conference of that church for one year. He then entered the office of the Review and Herald at Battle Creek, beginning as a typesetter and advancing until in 1896 he was made editor of the Evangeliets Sendebud, which was at that time published at Battle Creek. In December, 1902, the printing plant was burned and the publication of the paper was then transferred to College View, Nebraska, where in 1903 the International Publishing Association was organized. In the fall of 1914 this concern became the international branch of the Pacific Press Publishing Associa- tion of Mountain View, Colorado, which issues papers in three lagnuages. Mr. Thorp has continued as editor of the paper since he first took charge of it in 1896 and he has made it an important factor in the development of the Seventh Day Adventist church throughout the middle west and northwest. He is in close touch with the various branches of the work of the church, is thoroughly grounded in the principles for which the church stands, understands clearly the function of the denominational press, possesses the power of discrimination and the literary taste necessary to the editor and is recognized as a leader in church journalistic circles. Beginning in August, 1916, the plant will be located at Brookfield, Illinois, to which place Mr. Thorp will remove.
On the 25th of March, 1891, Mr. Thorp was married to Miss Mary Andresen and to their union have been born four children: Arthur C., who graduated from Union College with the class of 1914 and is a musician by profession and is located at Chicago, Illinois; and Lewis P., Ruth and Esther, all of whom are students in Union College.
Mr. Thorp supports the democratic party at the polls and takes the interest of a good citizen in public affairs although he has never been an office seeker. lle is chairman of the book committee of the public library and has been very efficient in the performance of his duties in that capacity. He has served as an elder in the Seventh Day Adventist church and at all times has its interests closely at heart.
REV. GEORGE M. GATES.
Rev. George M. Gates, who has devoted much of his life to the work of the ministry and who is also well known as an attorney and also handles real estate and loans at University Place and Lincoln, was born in Henderson county, Illinois, June 26, 1859. a son of David and Edith ( Rust) Gates. The father, a native of Ohio, was educated and reared to young manhood in Henderson county, Illinois, and wa's there inarried on the 6th of May, 1858. Later he removed with
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his bride to Pottawattamie county. lowa, where he engaged in farming until 1878. That year witnessed his arrival in Richmond county, Nebraska, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for ten years. At the end of that period he removed to Nuckolls county, Nebraska, where he made his home with his son William. His last days were spent at Table Rock, Nebraska, where he passed away at the home of his son George. He had long been a member of the Christian church and enjoyed the high respect and goodwill of all who knew him. His wife was born and educated in Henderson county, Illinois, and passed away at Big Grove, Iowa, October 19, 1872. She too was a devoted member of the Christian church and her life displayed many sterling traits which endeared her to all. In the family were six children: George M .; William V., a farmer of Nuckolls county, Nebraska; Frank, who died at the age of thirty years; David, living in Los Angeles, California; Harry, who died at the age of twenty years ; and Anna, the wife of O. L. Campbell, of Fairfield, Nebraska.
George M. Gates was a lad of eight years when the family removed to Jowa, where he resided until 1876. He then returned to Henderson county, Illinois, and worked on a farm for two years. In 1878 he removed to Salem, Nebraska, where he was employed at farm labor during the summer months, while in the winter seasons he attended school. Subsequently he went to Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, and at odd times worked at the barber's trade, thus earning the money that enabled him to meet the expenses of his college course. He next took up the study of law with Judge Shoenheit, of Falls City, Nebraska, and afterward attended the State University of Kansas at Lawrence, being graduated from that institution with the class of June. 1884. He located for practice at Stella, Nebraska, where, in addition to following his profession, he edited a paper for four years. He next entered the ministry at Brownville, Nebraska. and later was in charge of the churches at Crab Orchard. Syracuse, Elk Creek, Blue Springs, Peru, Table Rock, Fairmont and Lincoln. In the last named place he was pastor of Emanuel church for three years and on account of failing health was obliged to retire from the ministry. He then located at University Place where he opened a real estate, loan, insurance and law office, and to that business has since devoted his attention. He has secured a good clientage and is building up a business of substantial proportions.
On the 16th of August, 1883, Mr. Gates was married to Miss Celia A. Clark. who was born near Mount Vernon, Iowa, where she was reared and educated by a Methodist Episcopal minister, having been left an orphan in early girlhood. She supplemented her public school course by study in Cornell College. By her marriage she has become the mother of seven children. W. Edgar, secretary and treasurer of the Whitebreast Lumber & Coal Company of Lincoln, married Fannie Noyes and has a daughter Lois Celia. Cecil C., who is associated with his father in business, married Mary L. Miller of Lincoln and has a son, George Lawrence. Bernice E. is the wife of J. M. Showalter, principal of the schools of Norfolk, Nebraska, and they have two sons, Richard and Eugene. LeRoy M .. residing on a ranch near Chadron, Nebraska. married Mattie Tavener of Oakdale. Nebraska, and they have a daughter, Doris. G. Milton, who is engaged in the automobile business in Scribner. Nebraska, married Lois Goodie of Afton, lowa. Lloyd E. is attending high schoolzeFrances (Rlia, ARCYosINA the family, is also in school.
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Not content to wholly give up his ministerial work Rev. Gates has been engaged in preaching during the past three years at Malcom and Hickman and on alternate Sundays during the last year and a half at Stella and Vesta having these two charges at the present time. In politics he is an earnest republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, recognizing the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship. He is a York Rite Mason and he also has four sons who are worthy exemplars of the craft. Mr. Gates is frequently heard upon the lecture platform, his lectures being the result of broad travel and study. His most popular lectures are on the Yellow- stone, Lincoln and the Battle Flags of the Republic, Alaska, through which country he has traveled quite extensively, Under the Stars and Stripes and Under the Mexican Flag. He is a fluent and interesting speaker ever commanding the attention of his auditors and his teachings and his influence are a potent factor for uplift and for good wherever he is known.
ANDREW ROHRBACH.
Andrew Rohrbach was a man whose upright life gained him confidence and high regard in the various communities in which he lived. His widow is now a resident of Lincoln and several of their children make their home in Nebraska. Mr. Rohrbach was born in Russia, June 26, 1827, a son of William and Julia Rohrbach, who were natives of Germany. The parents were farming people in the old country and never came to America.
Andrew Rohrbach was reared and educated in Russia and about 1848 came to the new world, settling first at Burlington, Iowa, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade, which he had previously learned in his native country. He remained in Burlington for five years and then removed to Border Plains, Iowa, where he resided for six years. On the expiration of that period he went to Fort Dodge, where he was also in business for thirteen years, and later he removed to Sedalia, Missouri, where he spent the succeeding eight years. He next became a resident of Kansas City, Kansas, where the remainder of his life was passed, his death there occurring December 4. 1800.
It was on the 28th of October, 1861, that Mr. Rohrbach was united in mar- riage to Miss Emma Galer, a daughter of John and Martha ( Miller) Galer. who were natives of Ohio. AAt an early day they removed westward to Illi- nois, and in Bureau county, that state, Mrs. Rohrbach was born February 12, 1844. Her father there engaged in farming until 1850 when he removed to Webster county, lowa, where he purchased land and carried on general agricul- tural pursuits throughout his remaining days, his death occurring on the 22d of July, 1800, when he was fifty-six years of age. His wife survived him for a number of years and her funeral was on the same day on which President Garfield's funeral occurred. To Mr. and Mrs. Rohrbach were born eight children : John B., now residing in Kansas City; Julia E., the wife of William Booth, residing at Paulette, Nebraska; Etta W., the wife of Edwin, Scoville, residing at Clarkson, Nebraska; William HI., living, with his mother : Mildred, who died Jantar @Tis- Florence! the Wife of T. M. Gwinn, residing at
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Jumbo, Arkansas; Nina, the wife of William Murray, a resident of Omaha ; and Nellie F., the wife of Charles Reardon, whose home is at University Place, Nebraska.
In his political views Mr. Rohrbach was a stalwart republican, always giving allegiance to the party. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church and he guided his life according to its teachings, being ever an upright, honorable man, whose word was to be trusted and whose life was characterized by many acts of kindliness. In the year 1899 Mrs. Rohrbach removed to Lincoln, where she has since made her home, residing now at No. 2040 Q street. In the inter- vening period of seventeen years she has made many warm friends and is widely known here.
THEOPHIL H. BERG.
Theophil H. Berg, city clerk and auditor at Lincoln and one of the efficient men in public service in Lancaster county, was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, October IS, 1879, a son of John and Emilie ( Beimdick) Berg. The father, a native of Germany, was brought to America by his parents during his infancy, while the mother was a native of Missouri, born of German parentage. In 1882 they came with their family to Nebraska, arriving in Lancaster county on the 3d of September. Mr. Berg soon afterward purchased a farm ten miles west of Lincoln and resided thereon until 1915, when he sold the property and is now making his home with his children, his wife having departed this life on the Ioth of October, 1901.
Theophil H. Berg was educated in the public schools and in the fall of 1900 came to Lincoln, where he entered the Lincoln Business College, desiring to prepare for work other than that of the fields. On the 9th of May, 1901, he accepted a clerkship in an architect's office, but had occupied that position for only a few months when business became slack and his services were no longer needed by his employer. He then went west to Montana and Wyoming, where he was engaged in railroad survey work. In April, 1002, he returned to Lincoln, where he entered the employ of Leach & Plymm, architects, with whom he had formerly been connected. That he returned to their service is indicative of the fact of their appreciation of his faithfulness and loyalty during the first period of his connection with their business. Subsequently he became associated with the firm of H. O. Barber & Sons, grain merchants, and was thus connected with the grain business until 1905. On the 25th of February of that year he was appointed assistant city clerk under Thomas Il. Pratt, so continuing until March 1, 1907, when he was appointed assistant secretary of the Commercial Club. He rendered efficient service in that connection until January 9. 1908. at which time he resigned to accept the appointment of deputy clerk of the district court, remaining in that office until May 15. 1913, when he was appointed under the commission form of government to his present important position, that of city clerk and auditor. It is a matter of record that all of his advancements in public and civic life have cometio vid Berg Miorodoff @on his part-a recognition of his ability and trustworthiness.
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On the 26th of September, 1906, Mr. Berg was married to Miss Clara A. Kapke, of Lincoln, whose birth occurred in this county, and their children are Helen Ruth and Harold Theophil. In his political views Mr. Berg is a repub- lican, strong in his advocacy of the party principles yet never bitterly aggressive. He is well known in fraternal circles as a member of Lincoln Lodge, No. 54, A. F. & A. M., of the Knights of the Maccabees, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the loyal Order of Moose. lle also belongs to the Lincoln Commercial Club and cooperates heartily in its well devised plans for the upbuilding and benefit of the city. He and his wife are members of the Evan- gelical church and he is serving on its official board. In the work of the church they take an active and helpful interest and their influence is always on the side of progress and improvement.
PHILIP A. SOMMERLAD.
Philip A. Sommerlad is a popular and well known citizen of Lancaster county and that his fellow townsmen have confidence in his ability and integrity in public affairs is indicated in his election to the office of county treasurer, which position he is now filling. He is a native son of Nebraska, having been born in the town of Arago, Richardson county, August 27, 1868, but from the age of three years he has resided continuously in Lincoln, having been brought by his parents to this city in 1871. Ilis father, the lon. Henry William Sommerlad, was a native of Germany and when a youth in his teens came to the new world with a brother and sister. He lived for a few years in Buffalo, New York, and was there mar- ried. He afterward removed with his wife and three young daughters, who had been born in the Empire state, to Arago, Nebraska. Previous to that time he had served as a member of a New York regiment in the Civil war and it was soon after this that he journeyed westward. He had been a resident of Arago for but a brief period when his wife died, leaving to his care a family of three daughters and a son, namely: Helen, now the wife of Will H. Bowen, of Jacksonville, Oregon; Elizabeth, now the wife of Samuel I. Wilson, of Talent, Oregon : Caroline, who married George H. Griffis and has since passed away, her death occurring at her home in Los Angeles, California, where her husband still resides : and Henry William, now a resident of Livingston, Mon- tana. For his second wife the father, Hon. H. W. Sommerlad, married Miss Christina Scherrer, also a native of Germany. This marriage was celebrated in Buffalo, New York, and to them were born five children, of whom the eldest, a son, died in infancy. The other four are Sophia, now the wife of Robert D. llaney, of Denver, Colorado: Philip .A .; Catharine, who married Frank Simon- ton, of Redcliff, Colorado, where she passed away about 1896; and Charles, who died at the age of twelve. The family became a prominent one in Richard- son county. Nebraska. The father was called upon to represent his district in the state legislature for the term 1860-70. In 1871 he removed to Lincoln and at his death in 1873 was serving as receiver in the United States land office. He was also the owner of a brewery which he built in East Lincoln soon after his removal to theRaguized by Microsoft ®
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Philip Augustus Sommerlad was reared and educated in Lincoln, where he attended the public schools to the age of fourteen years, after which he worked for a few years on farms in the vicinity of Lincoln. He also herded cattle and still later was employed by Walter G. Bohannan, who conducted a hotel. At the age of nineteen years he became fireman at the heating plant of the Lincoln postoffice, spending one winter in that way. He next secured a position as mail carrier on the city force and acted in that capacity for four years. Later he pursued a course in bookkeeping in the Lincoln Business College and afterward was employed as a bookkeeper by the Western Newspaper Union of lincoln for eleven years. lle spent a year in the office of Miller & Paine in the credit department and for five years was the bookkeeper for the L. D. Woodruff Printing Company and during the last two years was also secretary and one of the stockholders of that concern. In November. 19II, he was elected county treasurer on the republican ticket and was reelected in 1914, so that he is now serving for his second term, which will expire in January, 1917. His reelection indicates clearly the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow towns- men, who appreciated the worth and value of his first term's service.
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