USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Past and present of Adams County, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 6
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C. M. Redman, vice president of the Bank of Hansen, was born on a farmi near Juniata in 1885 and attended the common schools there, after which he continued his education in the Creighton Phar- macy College of Omaha and then joined his father, H. A. Redman, in business and assisted him in organizing the First State Bank of Kenesaw and later the Commercial Exchange Bank of Doniphan, serving at present as cashier of the latter as well as vice president of the Hansen State Bank. He married Clara Polensky, a daughter of Emil Polensky, of Hastings. They, too, are members of the German Lutheran church.
L. J. Berg, who was the second vice president of the Hansen State Bank although he has retired from active management, was born in Illinois in 1878, a son of Gottlieb Berg, now deceased. In the early '80s he accompanied his parents to Nebraska, the family home being established on a farm near Kenesaw, where he still resides. He is one of the extensive landowners and prosperous citizens of the county, owning now five hundred and sixty acres. He helped to organize both the Hansen and Doniphan banks but sold his interest in both in 1913 and is now living retired at Kenesaw. He married a daughter of Ed Rief, of Hall county, and they have one child.
John J. Mohlman, cashier of the Hansen State Bank, to whom we are indebted for the material concerning the institution and the history of its officers, was born in Germany in 1883 and in the year 1889 was brought to Nebraska by his parents, John and Antje Mohl- . man, who settled in Clay county, near Glenville, where the father purchased a section of land, where he and his wife still make their home. They had a family of seven children, of whom two have passed away, while those yet surviving are Fred, John, George, Anton and
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Grace, all living in Hall county with the exception of the second named.
John J. Mohlman was reared to manhood upon the old homestead and acquired a common school education, supplemented by study in Hastings College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1908. He took up the profession of teaching and served for three years as principal of schools, spending two years at Valentine and one year at Nelson. He then turned his attention to the banking business and aided in organizing the Hansen and Doniphan banks and is now vice president of the Commercial Exchange Bank of Doniphan and cashier of the Hansen State Bank, being active in the management and con- trol of the latter, while his official position also gives him voice in the direction of the former. He is a wide-awake, enterprising and pro- gressive young business man who realizes the fact that the bank which most carefully safeguards its depositors is the one most worthy of support.
In 1913 Mr. Mohlman was married to Miss Elsie Nielson, a daughter of Hans Nielson, who was formerly a resident of Valentine, Nebraska, but is now living in Copenhagen, Denmark. They have one son, Laverne, who was born in 1914. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church at Hansen, in the work of which they are actively interested, Mr. Mohlman serving as one of the trustees, and fraternally he is also connected with the Odd Fellows lodge at Hast- ings. He is a wide-awake and enterprising young business man, alert to the opportunities for the attainment of success and, like the other officers of the Doniphan and Hastings banks, occupies a very enviable position in financial circles in this county.
THOMAS G. WHITING.
Thomas G. Whiting is engaged in general farming in Juniata township and is today the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land which pays tribute to the care and cultivation which he bestows upon it. Though he started out in life empty handed, he has worked his way upward and perseverance and industry have been the salient features in his growing success. He was born in Rutlandshire, Eng- land, on the 9th of May, 1849, a son of Noel and Margaret ( Bissell) Whiting, both of whom were natives of England, where they spent their entire lives. The father served for some time as a county official
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there. In the family were six children, but the five daughters never came to the new world.
Thomas G. Whiting attended school in his native country but his educational opportunities were limited, for at the age of eleven years he began work and has since provided for his own support. He served for a time as footman in the family of a wealthy man and was variously employed in England until 1870, when he came to the United States, settling near Madison, Wisconsin. He spent two years there and in 1872 arrived in Adams county, Nebraska, after which he homesteaded on section 18, Juniata township, securing eighty acres of land to which he has added from time to time as his financial resources have increased until he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, constituting a very valuable farm to which he has added all mod- ern accessories and equipment. He is also the owner of some city property in Oklahoma. His life in this county has been devoted to general farming and his labors have been attended with substantial success. He was also one of the organizers of the Farmers Grain Company of Juniata and has been a member of its board for a number of years.
In 1872 Mr. Whiting was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hardy, a native of England, by whom he had three children, as fol- lows: George Noel, who cultivates land belonging to his father; Elva, who is the wife of E. J. Bolton and resides near Juniata; and Harry B., at home.
Politically Mr. Whiting is a stanch republican, having supported the party since becoming a naturalized American citizen. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his ability, have several times called him to public office. For four years he served as county commissioner, was justice of the peace for two years and has been road supervisor and school director. Both Mr. and Mrs. Whiting were members of the Episcopal church, but about five years ago he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, whose death was deeply regretted throughout the community as well as by her immediate family. She had indeed been a faithful companion to him, and to her he attributes half that he pos- sesses. She shared with him in the hardships and trials of pioneer life in the days when they came to the county and their home was a little dugout. Afterward they had a sod house before they were able to build the more commodious, modern residence which Mr. Whiting later erected upon the farm. He put out one of the early orchards of the county and added all the improvements to his place and through all was encouraged by his wife, who ably managed the household affairs and indeed proved a helpmate to her husband. Mr. Whiting is con-
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nected with the United Workmen lodge of Juniata and with the Bank- ing Life of Lincoln, Nebraska. He has always been interested in community affairs, cooperating in movements and measures for the public good, and wherever he is known he is held in high regard be- cause of a well spent life.
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W. L. SUCHA, M. D.
Dr. W. L. Sucha, of Hastings, a well known surgeon of Nebraska, utilizes all of the latest discoveries and scientific developments of surgical science in the practice of his profession and has won a notable and enviable position as one whose skill places him in the foremost ranks. He was born on the 31st of March, 1884, in Schuyler, Nebraska, a son of Frank and Mary Sucha, who were farming peo- ple. The family came to this state in 1879 from Shelbyville, Illinois, and after devoting about a quarter of a century to general agricultural pursuits the father retired from active business in 1903. He and his wife celebrated their golden wedding in October, 1915, having trav- eled life's journey together for a half century, during which their love and confidence has increased as the years have gone by. They became the parents of eleven children, six sons and five daughters.
Dr. Sucha, after attending the district schools, continued his studies in the Schuyler high school and afterward attended the Fre- mont Normal College, from which he was graduated with the Bach- elor of Science degree. He thus secured a broad foundation for professional learning and entered upon the study of medicine at Creighton University at Omaha, from which he was graduated on the 2d of May, 1908. He afterward served as interne in the Omalla Gen- eral Hospital for a year and subsequently practiced medicine at Orleans, Nebraska, for four years. He then went to Chicago, where he took post-graduate work, devoting his time to surgical clinics under the direction of J. B. Murphy, one of the greatest surgeons of the United States. He also added to his experience by professional service in Mercy Hospital. In February, 1914, he came to Hastings, where he now confines his attention to surgical work, performing both major and minor operations. His ability has brought him to the front and his laudable ambition along professional lines keeps him in touch with the latest discoveries of the science.
On the 1st of June, 1909, Dr. Sucha was united in marriage to Miss Irene Muldoon, a daughter of James K. Muldoon, of Omaha.
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Both are devout communicants of the Catholic church. Dr. Sucha also belongs to Hastings Council of the Knights of Columbus and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is interested in all that pertains to the progress of his community, supporting every political and public measure for the general good. Along professional lines he is connected with the Republican Valley Medical Association, of which he has been president, the Nebraska State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He enjoys motoring and hunting as a means of recreation and when leisure permits employs his time in that way, but his first duty is always his profession and each year he takes post-graduate work in order to keep abreast with the trend of the times.
WILLIAM H. BURKE.
William H. Burke, who is a successful farmer of Highland town- ship, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land, was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on the 28th of December, 1869, and is a son of Patrick and Catherine (Gleasure) Burke. The father was born in Ireland and was there left an orphan, both of his parents dying during his boyhood. He came to America in 1849, when twelve years of age, being brought to this country by friends, and grew to man- hood in Michigan. He engaged in farming there but following his marriage, which occurred in the Wolverine state, he went to Gales- burg, Illinois, where he worked on a railroad until 1881, when he removed to Adams county with his family, which numbered four chil- dren. His wife was born in Denmark and was a daughter of Henry Gleasure, a representative of the same family of Gleasures that estab- lished the first Methodist Episcopal church in the United States. Mrs. Burke's father farmed in Michigan for a number of years and was successful in his chosen occupation. Mr. Burke died upon his farm in this county when sixty-five years of age but his wife is still living and makes her home in Hastings. All of their children are still living, namely: Rosa, who is teaching school in Chicago; William H .; Thomas G., who is retired and lives in Nevada; and Hattie, the wife of Len Patterson, a resident of Idaho.
William H. Burke attended the city schools of Galesburg, Illi- nois, and following the removal of the family to Adams county, Nebraska, attended the country schools near his home. As his age and strength increased he aided more and more in the work of the
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farm and after reaching mature years took charge of the operation of the place. Subsequently he bought a quarter section across the road from his present farm but in 1904 disposed of that property and pur- chased the farm on section 16, Highland township, which he still owns. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres and as the land is naturally fertile and in a high state of cultivation he seldom fails to harvest good crops. He raises wheat, corn, oats and alfalfa and also keeps on hand some stock, averaging from eight to ten head of cattle and from twenty to thirty hogs. He has erected all of the buildings upon the farm with the exception of the residence and has otherwise im- proved the place.
Mr. Burke was married on the 29th of November, 1894, to Miss Mabel Houser, a daughter of George and Emily Houser, of High- land township. Her parents were formerly residents of Iowa but are now living in Linden, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Burke have become the parents of three children: Rollin, who was born December 23, 1895; Maurice, born December 11, 1900; and Kenneth, whose birth occurred on the 8th of September, 1906. Mr. Burke is a stanch republican and works loyally to secure the success of that party at the polls. He is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Hastings.
HENRY B. DAILY.
Henry B. Daily was one of the leading carpenters of Kenesaw and won an enviable reputation for skilled work and business integ- rity. He was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of May, 1838, of the marriage of John and Catherine (Becker) Daily. His parents, who were natives of Pennsylvania, went to Putnam county, Illinois, with their family in 1853 and three years later removed to Des Moines county, Iowa, where both passed away. The father devoted his life to farming and met with a good measure of success in that occupation.
Henry B. Daily attended the common schools and also assisted his father with the farm work. He remained at home until the 21st of October, 1861, when he enlisted in Company E, Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battle of Shiloh and on a forced march between Pittsburgh Landing and Corinth was rup- tured and was forced to remain for six months in camp. He was then discharged on the 10th of June, 1862, on account of disability
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and returned home. He worked as a hired hand until 1872, when he came to Adans county, Nebraska, and located in Kenesaw. He turned his attention to carpentering, which he followed successfully until his death in May, 1897. He took a great deal of pride in his work, which was always well done, and the demands upon his services were heavy.
On the 2d of February, 1865, occurred the marriage of Mr. Daily and Mrs. Anna (Landis) Daily, a widow of his brother. She was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of February, 1838, and is a daughter of Christian and Anna (Funk) Landis, who were also natives of that county. In 1850 the family removed to Des Moines county, Iowa, and there both parents passed away. Mrs. Daily's first husband was also a soldier of the Civil war and while serving as a teamster during the siege of Vicksburg his saddle mule fell with him. He was very badly injured and also contracted swamp fever, from which he died in the Cumberland Hospital at Nashville, Tennessee. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. Daily were born four chil- dren, namely: Alice, the wife of O. I. Roberts, who resides near Prosser; John W., a resident of Jones county, Iowa ; Emma, at home; and Joseph L., who lives in Wheeler county, Nebraska.
Mr. Daily was an adherent of the republican party and served acceptably as assessor. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church and was also identified with the Grand Army of the Republic. He always discharged to the full all obligations resting upon him and took a public-spirited interest in the general welfare. He was a man of sterling worth and the circle of his friends was almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
HENRY J. C. MEYER.
Henry J. C. Meyer, who owns two hundred and forty acres of the north half of section 20, Blaine township, was born in Harrison county, Indiana, on the 22d of November, 1852. His father, C. Meyer, was born in Germany but emigrated to the United States in young manhood and in 1833 settled in Indiana, where he was married to Elizabeth Reinhart, also a native of Germany. In his early days the father was a turner and later became identified with agricultural pursuits.
Henry J. C. Meyer attended the common schools until he was six- teen years of age, when he put aside his textbooks and devoted his
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entire time to assisting his father with the work of the farm. Two years later he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and there found employ- ment in a furniture factory, so continuing until he was twenty years old. He then went to Troy, Indiana, and was engaged in making furniture there for six months, after which he was for a short time a resident of New Orleans. On returning north he went to Marshall county, Illinois, where he rented land until 1888, which year wit- nessed his arrival in Adams county. For a time he rented a farm but as soon as his resources would permit purchased his present place in Blaine township. He has always worked hard and his industry and careful management of his affairs have enabled him to acquire a com- petence.
Mr. Meyer was married on the 6th of October, 1888, to Miss Anka Valentine, a daughter of Harm and Trintze (Betten) Valen- tine, early settlers of this county. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyer, namely: William R., who was born on the 20th of August, 1892, and who is assisting his father; Christian L., who was born January 21, 1894, and is at home; Lorena, who was born July 2, 1898, and is now attending high school at Hastings; and Louisa, who was born November 24, 1903, and is a pupil in the South ward school at Hastings.
Mr. Meyer supports the republican party at the polls and keeps well informed as to the questions and issues of the day. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Evangelical Luth- eran church at Hastings. His sterling personal worth has gained him the respect of all who have been brought into contact with him and his efficiency as a farmer is generally recognized.
JUDSON BURWELL.
Judson Burwell, who arrived in Adams county in May, 1871, took up his homestead in Juniata township and has since, or for a period of forty-five years, continued to reside upon that place, which he has brought to a high state of development. A native of Ohio, his birth occurred on the 18th of October, 1843, in Elmira, Fulton county. His father, Friend Burwell, was born in Addison, Vermont, on the 22d of . September, 1814, and died in 1901. His parents were Henry and Annice Burwell. Friend Burwell was married in Williams county, Ohio, to Harriet S. N. Reynolds, who was born in Vermont in 1822
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and died on the 13th of March, 1850. She was a daughter of Stephen and Samantha Reynolds.
Judson Burwell was reared under the parental roof and received his education in the public schools of his native county. On the 21st of April, 1861, he enlisted at Waterville, Lucas county, Ohio, in Com- pany I, Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which went into camp at Cleveland. A short time later the command went to Columbus, where the men were armed, and some time in May they proceeded to Parkersburg, West Virginia. On the 3d of June, 1861, they took part in the battle of Philippi and they were also in the engagements at Laurel Hill and at Carricks Ford, Cheat river. His term having expired, Mr. Burwell was discharged on the 13th of August, 1861, at Toledo, Ohio, but on the 18th of the following October he reenlisted at Wauseon, Fulton county, becoming a member of Company E, Sixty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This command went into camp at Napoleon, Henry county, Ohio, where they remained until January, 1862, when they proceeded to Columbus to secure their arms and then left for the front. On or about the 1st of February they took boat at Cincinnati and landed in the vicinity of Fort Donelson on the 13th of February, 1862. The regiment was assigned to Colonel J. M. Thayer's Brigade, which was a part of General Lew Wallace's di- vision, and the command remained in that division until Corinth, Mis- sissippi, was evacuated. Subsequently they went into camp at Bolivar, Tennessee, but on the 5th of October, 1862, they participated in the battle at Hatcher's Run. In November they became a part of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, and from that time until October, 1864, Mr. Burwell took part in all of the campaigns of the Army of the Tennessee, the most notable being those around Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Atlanta, Georgia. His term of service expired on the 28th of October, 1864, when he was honorably discharged and returned to civil life. Two of his brothers gave their lives in defense of the Union. Henry S. was a member of the Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry and was killed near Iuka, Mississippi, and James, who belonged to the Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was fatally wounded at Chickamauga.
After leaving the army Mr. Burwell made his way to Kosciusko county, Indiana, where he engaged in farming for a year. He then removed to Michigan and after working on a farm there for a year he returned to Indiana, where he remained until the 4th of May, 1871. He then started for Nebraska and arrived where Juniata now stands on the 8th of that month. He went to Lincoln and filed on the south- east quarter of section 2, township 7 north, range 11 west, on the 15th
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of May and had the distinction of being the first man to take up a homestead in that township. He still owns the farm and is still super- vising its operation. He has proved very successful as an agricultur- ist, being at once practical and progressive in his methods, and his well directed labors have yielded him a gratifying income.
Mr. Burwell was married on the 29th of December, 1867, in Kos- ciusko county, Indiana, to Miss Mary A. Robinson, a native of that county and a daughter of James and Rachel (Anderson) Robinson, who were born respectively in Kentucky and Ohio. To this union has been born a daughter, who is the wife of J. E. Wiltrout. They have two living sons, Chester J. and Ora B., both of whom are married. Chester married Elizabeth Hubbard, by whom he has a daughter, Jean, born in May, 1913, and a son, Edward Elroy, whose birth occurred in June, 1915. Ora B. married Mary Clouder.
Mr. Burwell is a stanch republican in politics and has always taken a keen interest in public affairs. When the county was organized on the 12th of December, 1871, he was appointed by the governor as one of the judges of election, and he has also served as township assessor, as village trustee and as school trustee. Both in his official capacities and as a private citizen he has placed the public welfare above all per- sonal considerations and his public spirit is generally recognized. In early manhood he became a member of the Christian church but of late years he has attended and contributed to the support of the Baptist church, of which he and his wife are now members. He holds men- bership in Geary Post, No. 81, Department of Nebraska, G. A. R., with which he has been identified since October, 1881, and he has held most of the offices. He is at present serving as commander, which position he has held a number of times, and the high esteem in which he is held by his comrades is further indicated by the fact that he was made a delegate from the Department of Nebraska to the National Encampment at Louisville, Kentucky; at Denver, Colorado; at To- ledo, Ohio; at Detroit, Michigan; and at Los Angeles, California.
During the period of Mr. Burwell's residence in this county it has developed from a frontier region to a prosperous farming district and its people instead of having to endure the many hardships of pioneer life are provided with all the conveniences found in the older east. For a year after his arrival here he had to go to Grand Island, thirty- two miles distant, to get his mail and to buy groceries and other needed supplies, and it was a number of years before railroads were built through the county. He recognized, however, that the east was be- coming overcrowded and that in time the west would be developed and believed in the future of this district. His faith in Adams county
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has been justified, and the land which he homesteaded in 1871 is now very valuable. His life has been filled with useful activity and he is justly held in high esteem by all who know him.
MULFORD M. HAYNES.
Mulford M. Haynes is a member of the firm of Haynes Brothers, conducting business at Hastings as decorators. They stand in a con- spicuous and enviable position in their chosen field of labor, the excellence and beauty of their work winning for them a liberal patronage and insuring to them a continuance of the trade. Industry, promptness and reliability are also factors in their growing success.
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