USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 10
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Politieally Mr. Marty is a demoerat and at one time served as justice of the
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peace, making a most commendable and satisfactory record in that connection. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. Both he and his wife enjoy an ex- tensive and favorable acquaintance in their home community and are widely recog- nized as people of genuine personal worth and upright, honorable lives.
FRED BAUMGART.
Industrial activity and enterprise in Platte county find a worthy representative in Fred Baumgart of Humphrey, who is extensively and successfully engaged in the manufacture of brick, owning and operating a large plant which is thoroughly equipped according to the latest improved processes. Advancement has been his watchword in business and because of his ability and energy he has won substantial success. He was born in Prussia in Angust, 1868, and is a son of Gottfried and Angusta (Wittrune) Baumgart, who were also natives of that country. The father there followed the occupation of farming and in 1878 removed to Russia, where he again engaged in agricultural pursuits. He still owns and operates land in that country and has now reached the age of eighty-four years. His wife, however, has passed away, ber death having occurred in 1901.
Fred Baumgart was reared in Prussia and remained with his father on the farm until he reached the age of nineteen years, when he left home and began learning the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked for two years. He heard and heeded the call of the west in 1889 and, crossing the Atlantic to America, made his way into the interior of the country, settling at Humphrey, where he worked as a common laborer and also as a farm hand for four years. On the expiration of that period he began farming on his own account by renting land, which he cul- tivated for fourteen years. He then came to Humphrey and purchased a brick manufacturing plant and yard covering fifteen acres. Later he bought a farm of one hundred and ten acres adjoining, which he is also cultivating, and he likewise farms one hundred acres of rented land, having both of these tracts under a high state of cultivation. He carefully tills his fields according to modern scientific methods and his practical and progressive spirit is manifest in the success which is crowning his labors. His brick manufacturing plant is also thoroughly equipped, for he has remodeled and improved it and is well qualified to carry on business of that character. He turns out twenty-five thousand brick per day and employs on an average of twelve men throughout the year. His plant contains three large kilns with a capacity of one hundred and sixty thousand bricks each. This has become one of the important industries of the county and the volume of business is an indication of the success of the undertaking and the careful management of the owner. He ships his output as far as Colorado and the excellence of the product insures a ready sale on the market. In addition to his other interests he is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Humphrey.
On the 15th of August, 1888, Mr. Baumgart was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Kehn, a daughter of Gottfried and Louisa (Rappuhn) Kehn, both of whom are natives of Prussia. The father was a blacksmith by trade and it was under his direction that Mr. Baumgart of this review became familiar with that occupa- tion. Mr. Kehn worked as a blacksmith in Prussia for many years and also in
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Russia, being actively identified with that trade from the time he was sixteen years of age until 1893. In 1891 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating in Brooklyn, New York, where he remained until 1893. In the latter year he came to Humphrey, Nebraska, and during most of the time since has made his home with our subject. He is now eighty-four years old, while his wife has attained the age of eighty-five. To Mr. and Mrs. Baumgart have been born seven children, as fol- lows: Fred, a young man of twenty-four years; Edward, who is twenty-two years old; Benjamin, Harry and Emma, who are twenty, sixteen and thirteen years of age respectively ; Robert, who was accidentally drowned on the 19th of June, 1908, when twenty-two years of age. at Madison, Nebraska, where he was employed as engineer in the electric light plant; and Anna, who died in 1897 at the age of nine years. The surviving members of the family are still under the parental roof.
Mr. Baumgart holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and he gives his political support to the republican party, which finds in him an earnest advocate. His religious belief is that of the German Baptist church and he loyally lives up to its teachings, guiding his life according to its precepts and thus further- ing the moral progress of the community.
MARK BURKE.
Mark Burke, who since the spring of 1915 has filled the office of sheriff, is demonstrating his fitness for this position by the able manner in which he is handling the work connected therewith. He was born in Lisbon, Linn county, Iowa, October 16, 1869, a son of John C. Burke, who was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, May 12, 1837, and died in Seward county, Nebraska, November 22, 1908. In 1864 he came as a young man to America and located in Iowa. He was there married four years later, or in 1868, to Miss Margaret Gallagher, who was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, in 1852. She, too, is deceased, her death occur- ring October 16, 1893. In their family were five sons and two daughters, of whom three sons and one daughter survive. John C. Burke enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of the Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry in 1861, with which he served until the close of hostilities. He and his brother, Mark Burke, were boilermakers and worked on the Confederate ship Alabama in the English navy yard.
Mark Burke, whose name introduces this record, was reared in his native state, and his early education was pursued in a parochial school in Carroll county, while in 1888 he completed the high-school course at Glidden, Iowa. He then became a brakeman in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, so continuing for four years, while subsequently he entered the employ of the Northwestern Railroad Company as conductor. He was thus engaged until April, 1898, when he enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war, enrolling his name at Chadron, Nebraska. He became a member of Company H, Second Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, enlisting as quartermaster, and with his regiment went to Chickamauga Park, Georgia. He was mustered out with his command at Fort Omaha, after which he came to Columbus and resumed work as brakeman, this time in the employ of the Union Pacific line, working with that company for seven
MARK BURKE
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years, the last four being spent in the capacity of conductor. He then made a complete change in his vocation, opening a restaurant in Columbus, which he con- ducted for two and a half years. In 1910 he was appointed deputy sheriff of Platte county to serve under Henry C. Lachnit. On April 1, 1915, the latter resigned and Mr. Burke was then appointed to fill out the unexpired term as sheriff, his duties as deputy well fitting him for his present office.
On the 21st of January, 1902, in this city, Mr. Burke was married to Miss Nellie J. Dineen, a daughter of Michael Dineen, and of this union there is one son, Mark, Jr., born November 22, 1904. The wife and mother passed away January 24, 1913, at the early age of thirty-two years.
In his political views Mr. Burke is a democrat, while in religious faith he is a Catholic. He is also identified with the Knights of Columbus and with the Modern Woodmen of America, and he likewise holds membership with the Order of Railway Conductors, and with the United Spanish War Veterans Association, Department of Nebraska. He is a man of high ideals and is popular among a host of friends.
WILLIAM WEBER.
Among the retired farmers living in Humphrey is William Weber, who was born on the Rhine in Germany, a son of Frank Weber, a cooper by trade. The parents spent their entire lives in the town in which their son William was born on the 8th of March, 1840. In his boyhood days he began carning his living and when old enough was drafted into the German army and served for three years.
Attracted by the opportunities and business conditions of the new world, Mr. Weber came to America in 1870, settling first at Sterling, Illinois, where he was employed as a farm hand. There he was married and afterward rented land which he continued to cultivate until 1885. Wishing to have a home of his own, he re- solved to move west where land could be purchased at a lower figure and came to Platte county, where he invested in two hundred and forty acres one mile east of Humphrey, on sections 19 and 20, Humphrey township. He at once took up his abode upon that place and there he lived until 1907, carrying on general farming and stock-raising. His fields were carefully tilled and every branch of the farm work intelligently prosecuted, his energy and careful management bringing to him well merited success. After living upon his farm for twenty-two years he removed to Humphrey, where he purchased a pleasant residence property that he and his wife now occupy.
In 1873 Mr. Weber was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Pott, a daughter of Jacob and Catharine Pott, both of whom were natives of Germany. They emigrated to the United States in 1853 and it was during the ocean voyage that their daughter Mary was born, her natal day being June 28th. They took up their abode in Sterling, Illinois, and there spent the remainder of their lives, the father being first employed as a laborer and subsequently turning his attention to general agricultural pursuits. To Mr. and Mrs. Weber have been born twelve children, as follows: Catharine, who is at home with her parents; Elizabeth, a nurse in the Weise Memorial Hospital of Omaha, Nebraska; Henry, who died at the age of eighteen years; Jacob, who lives in Illinois, is employed as foreman in the Keystone machin-
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ery shops and wedded Miss Hazel La Fever, by whom he has two children, Limon and Isabelle; Emma, the wife of Frank Whitler, a carpenter of Columbus, Nebraska, by whom she has five children-Gertrude, Agnes, Clarence, Genevieve and Helen ; Joseph, who resides on a claim in Arthur county, Nebraska; William, who is a carpenter living in Humphrey and married Miss Delia Bedtsheder, by whom he has three children-Dorothy, Gerald and Marvin; Edward, at home; Mamie, the wife of Louis Schraeder, who is a house moving contractor of Columbus, Nebraska, and by whom she has two children, Jerome and Henrietta; Nellie, who is living with her sister in Columbus; Lena, the wife of John Teisen, druggist of Humphrey, by whom she has two children, Bernice and La Verna; Frank, who lives in Omaha and is an employe of the Omaha Electric Light & Power Company; and Angela, who lives at home and is an employe of the Humphrey Telephone Company.
Mr. Weber and his family are members of the St. Francis Catholic church of Humphrey and he became a charter member of St. Joseph's Men's Society of that church. He contributes liberally to the support of the church and is active and interested in its work. His political indorsement is given to the democratic party but he has never been an active politician, preferring ever to give his close atten- tion to his business affairs, and by reason of his unfaltering application and energy he has won the place that he now occupies among the substantial residents of Humphrey.
MAX BRUCKNER.
Since 1908 Max Bruckner has been at the head of the Bruckner Mercantile Company, which is one of the foremost business enterprises of Platte Center. His birth occurred at Gemuenden, in the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, October 11, 1862, his parents being Michael and Barbara Bruckner, the father conducting busi- ness as the proprietor of a hotel until 1899. The son pursued his early education in the schools of Wurzburg, Germany, and was graduated on the Ist of August, 1875, from a commercial college. He afterward engaged in clerking for five years in a wholesale house in Frankfort-on-the-Main, but heard and heeded the call of the new world and in 1883 crossed the Atlantic to America, making his way to Mon- mouth. Illinois, where for one year he was employed in a butcher shop. In the year 1884 he came to Columbus, Nebraska, where he worked as a farm hand for a year and a half. At the end of that time he secured a clerkship with I. C. Nie- moller in Platte Center, Nebraska, with whom he continued for a year, but, ambi- tious to engage in business on his own account, he established a general store in Platte Center on the 1st of January, 1887, with Hilger Greisen as a partner. The relation between them was continued for fifteen years, or until 1902, when Mr. Bruckner took over the business under his own name and in 1908 organized the Bruckner Mercantile Company. He now has a large modern store, carries an ex- tensive stock of merchandise and in the conduct of his business conforms his activi- ties to the highest commercial ethics. He has been engaged in merchandising at Platte Center for twenty-eight years and, moreover, he is one of the stockholders of the Platte Center Milling Company, was a director of the Platte County Bank from 1896 until 1899 and is the owner of farm property in this county.
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On the 17th of June, 1890, Mr. Bruckner was married in Platte Center to Miss Theresa Gruenther, a daughter of Henry Gruenther, a niece of the Greisen Brothers and a sister of C. M. Gruenther, the present clerk of the district court. Their children are: Agnes, Frank, Louis, Felix, Ralph and Paul, all at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Bruckner hold membership in the Catholic church at Platte Center and he has taken the third degree in the Knights of Columbus, his membership being in Columbus council. In politics he is a democrat where national issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot. That his fellow towns- men are appreciative of his worth and ability is indicated in the fact that by popular election he was called to the office of councilman of Platte Center for ten terms and was also mayor of the city for one term. He is president of the Farmers and Mer- chants Club of Platte Center and, in fact, his position is one of leadership in every connection, for he possesses initiative, determination and keen sagacity.
HARRY B. REED.
Harry B. Reed, occupying a clerical position in the postoffice at Columbus, was born February 17, 1862, in Manchester, New Hampshire, a son of Alexander and Eliza Brown. The father enlisted for service in the Civil war in 1862 as a mem- ber of Company E, Fourth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in battle on the 3d of July, 1863.
His son. early left an orphan, was taken from the Howard mission on the Bowery of New York city by John H. and Catherine Reed during his infancy and later was legally adopted by them, receiving the name of Harry B. Reed. He resided with them at Mansfield, Ohio, to the age of fifteen years, at the end of which time the family removed to a farm three miles north of Columbus, Nebraska, now known as the Carl Rohde farm. Subsequently a removal was made to Riverside, Cali- fornia, but Harry B. Reed decided to remain in Nebraska and continue farming. There were two other members in the Reed family, Mrs. A. C. Pickett and Fred M. Reed, now of Riverside, California. While in Ohio, J. H. Reed and his family lived upon the farm of the late Senator John Sherman, which adjoined the corpora- tion limits of Mansfield. Before removing to Nebraska he and his brother H. L. Reed, were engaged in the wholesale dry goods and notion business. He now holds the position of tree and park commissioner, a place of much importance at River- side, California.
Harry B. Reed attended the public schools of Mansfield, Ohio, and of Colum- bus, Nebraska, and in early life gave his attention to farming and dairying. For two years he was secretary of the Bismark Creamery, a farmers' cooperative asso- ciation, and for nine months he was connected with the car shops and roundhouse department of the Union Pacific Railroad. He afterward engaged in farming on a small scale and later became rural mail carrier on route No. 3, so continuing from the 1st of July, 1902, until December 1, 1912. At the latter date he was ap- pointed to a position as clerk in the Columbus postoffice and is now acting in that capacity.
On the 18th of March, 1886, near Columbus, Nebraska, Mr. Reed was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Erb, the ceremony taking place at the bride's home.
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Her parents, Michael and Elizabeth Erb, were among the very earliest settlers of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have two daughters, May E. and Catherine E. The former gave her hand in marriage to Ervin F. Wilson on the 28th of August, 1913, and resides in Chicago, Illinois.
In his religious faith Mr. Reed is a Presbyterian and fraternally is connected with the Owls Club. He belongs also to the Modern Woodmen of America and was elerk of the local eamp in 1914 and 1915. He is a past noble grand of the local lodge of Odd Fellows and was division commander of the Sons of Veterans for Nebraska in 1910 and 1911, while in 1915 he is serving as the secretary of that organization. There is an interesting military chapter in his life record, eovering service with the Nebraska National Guard from 1881 until 1886, during which time he went with his command to Omaha, Nebraska, at the time of the graders' strike in the early '80s. In polities he is an active republican and for one year served as elerk of Columbus township. He has made an excellent record in govern- ment service, as indicated by his long connection therewith, now covering thirteen years.
JOHN HEINEN.
Jolin Heinen is now living retired in Humphrey but for many years was an active factor in agricultural eireles in Platte county. He was born in Germany, July 26, 1852, and is a son of Anton and Susan Heinen, who were also natives of that coun- try. The father was a farmer by occupation and thus provided for the support of his family.
John Heinen attended school in Germany for eight years and in 1872, when a young man of twenty years, eame to the new world. He did not tarry in the east but at onee made his way to the middle west. settling in Warren county, Iowa. In his native land he had worked as a farm hand, tended cattle and done everything else that he could find to do. After reaching Iowa he was employed in the lumber woods, on farms and at odd jobs, seorning no employment that would yield him an honest living. In May, 1882, he eame to Nebraska, establishing his home in Humph- rey township, Platte county, where he invested the money that he had previously saved from his earnings in a farm of two hundred and forty aeres on seetions 29 and 32, Humphrey township. There were few improvements upon it at that time and he at onee began to make the changes that transformed it into one of the val- uable farm properties of the county. In 1888 he ereeted a new residenee and from time to time added sheds, barns, new machinery and other equipments. In 1911 his barn was destroyed by fire and he at onee rebuilt. He planted his orchards and made all the improvements himself and today his place is one of the fine farm prop- erties of Humphrey township, situated two and one-half miles southeast of the town. In 1892 Mr. Heinen bought eighty aeres on seetion 30, Humphrey township, and also owned one hundred and sixty aeres on seetion 31, that township, and one hun- dred and sixty aeres on seetion 5, Grand Prairie township, besides his original traet. Mr. Heinen resided upon his farm continuously until November, 1914, when he retired and rented his home place to his son Anton, taking up his abode in a new residence which he had purchased in Humphrey. For many years he had
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been actively engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and his enterprise and diligence had brought to him well merited and substantial success.
On the 14th of November, 1882, in Platte county, Mr. Heinen was united in marriage to Miss Phillipina Osterhoff, a daughter of Anton and Theresa (Sundrup) Osterhoff, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father, a cloth weaver by trade, emigrated to the United States in 1852, locating first in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked on the river and in the packing houses. In 1879 he came to Ne- braska and purchased a farm in Thayer county but the following year came to Humphrey township, Platte county, here buying a tract of land which he cultivated successfully until 1891. The remainder of his life was spent in honorable retire- ment at Humphrey, where he passed away on the 26th of July, 1895. The death of his wife occurred at our subject's home in Humphrey on the 11th of April, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Heinen have nine children, as follows: Susan, who was born August 21, 1883, and gave her hand in marriage to Otto Schumacher, an agriculturist of Petersburg, Nebraska, by whom she has six children-Alphonse, Camilla, Berna- dine, Germaine, Margaret and Raymond; Helena, who was born March 16, 1885, and is the wife of Andrew Magsaman, of Humphrey, by whom she has six children -Mark, Corbenia, Wilbur, Bernida, Renella and Carroll; Annie, who was born November 30, 1886, and is the wife of Barney Wemhoff, of Humphrey ; Ludwina, who was born October 19, 1888, and is the wife of Fred Mueting, of Humphrey, by whom she has two children, Eddie Marie and Maynard; Ida, who was born January 1, 1890, and is the wife of Alois Wemhoff, a farmer of Idaho, by whom she has three children-Marcella, Verena and Sylvester; Anton, who was born November 11, 1892, lives on the old home farm and wedded Miss Josephine Wemhoff, by whom he has one child, Norbet; Margaret, who was born December 16, 1895, and is employed as a clerk in the store of Braun & Brockhaus; Theckla, whose birth oc- curred November 7, 1897; and Marie, whose natal day was August 29, 1902. The three last named are still under the parental roof.
The parents and children are all communicants of St. Francis Catholic church, and Mr. Heinen is a member of St. Joseph's Society of that church. Politically he is a democrat, never swerving in his allegiance to the party but giving to it his carnest and unfaltering support. He has never had occasion to regret his determina- tion to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in their employment has worked his way steadily npward, occupying a credit- able position among the successful and self-made business men.
OTTO E. HEUER.
On the roster of county officials in Platte county appears the name of Otto E. Heuer, of Columbus, who is now serving in the capacity of treasurer for the second term. His birth occurred in Germany on the 29th of June, 1856, his parents being August H. C. and Lisette (Determan) Heuer, who were married in that country and there passed away. The father was professor of languages in a school which he conducted at Bremen, Germany.
Otto E. Heuer attended school in his native land until seventeen years of age and in 1873 crossed the Atlantic to the United States, while nine years later he
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took up his abode in Columbus, Nebraska, where he has resided continueusly since. He held the position of bookeeper in the First National Bank for five years and subsequently aeted as deputy county elerk for two years, while for a period of twelve years he ably discharged the duties of deputy county treasurer of Platte county. In 1911 he was elected treasurer, making sueh a ereditable record in that connec- tion that he won reelection in 1914, so that he is serving in that capacity at the present time.
In 1886, in Platte county, Nebraska, Mr. Heuer was united in marriage to Miss Lena R. Loseke, a daughter of Henry Loseke. To them have been born four chil- dren, namely: William A., Otto G., Walter H. and Ernest G., all residents of Columbus. Mr. Heuer gives his political allegianee to the democracy and frater- nally is identified with the Modern Woodmen, while his religious faith is that of the German Reformed church. He is a popular member of the Maennerchor and enjoys an enviable reputation as an able public official of the county which has been his home during the past third of a century.
RICHARD OLMER.
Richard Olmer owns and ocenpies an attractive home in Humphrey, about one block from the business center of the town, and here he is living retired, riehly meriting the rest which has come to him as the reward of many years closely devoted to agricultural pursuits. He still has valuable farm property yielding to him a gratifying annual income. A native of Wisconsin, he was born March 16, 1852, a son of John and Frederica (Degenhart) Olmer, both of whom were natives of Germany, whenee they came to America in 1851, making their way to Wisconsin, where the father purchased government land. He met the usual experiences of pio- neer life while developing and improving his farm but in time converted the wild prairie into a valuable property and resided thereon throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in February, 1891, while his wife survived until December 8, 1894, when she, too, was called to her final rest.
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