USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 15
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Jacob Olk remained at home until, according to the laws of his native land, he joined the army, serving for two years. On coming to America in 1884 he settled in Carroll, Iowa, and for a year thereafter was employed as a farm hand by the month. He next removed to Earling, Iowa, where he worked at farm labor for two years and then went to Council Bluffs, spending a year as a farm hand near that city. On the expiration of that period he entered the shops of the John Dersk Manufacturing Company, in which he continued for two years, after which he came to Nebraska, settling at Pilger, where he established a blacksmith shop, which he conducted for fifteen years, gaining a liberal patronage, so that his busi- ness yielded him a fair profit. In 1901 he removed to Cornlea, where he now makes his home, and in that year he opened a hardware and implement store, which he has since conducted, covering a period of fourteen years. He has built up a large trade, for his is the only store of the kind in the town and in addition to shelf and heavy hardware he carries a general line of farm implements and is ready to meet any demands in his line. He is obliging and ever courteous to his patrons and his carefully directed interests are bringing to him substantial success.
On the 18th of October, 1889, Mr. Olk was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Rustermyer, a daughter of John and Charlotte (Swebach) Rustermyer, who were natives of Holstein, Germany. The father was an agriculturist by occupation and on emigrating to the United States located first in Wisconsin, while subsequently he took up his abode in Staunton county, Nebraska, where both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. John Rustermyer passed away on the 31st of July, 1907, having for a number of years survived his wife, who died in August, 1898.
To Mr. and Mrs. Olk have been born nine children, as follows: Mollie, who was born March 29, 1892, and is the wife of George A. Wittler, a retail liquor dealer of Cornlea, by whom she has two children, Jay and Sedona; William, who was born October 26, 1893, and is the assistant cashier of the Cornlea State Bank ; Otto, who was born May 1, 1895, and clerks in his father's store; Ella, whose birth occurred July 12, 1896, and who is employed as clerk in the store of Albert Pilger at Pilger, Nebraska; Emma, whose natal day was January 16, 1899; Anita, whose birth occurred April 11, 1902; Leo, born August 4, 1903; Ivan, born November 21, 1906; and Angella, whose birth occurred July 18, 1908, and who died in infancy.
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On becoming an American citizen Mr. Olk indorsed the principles of the repub- lican party, of which he has since been an earnest advocate. He is now serving as a member of the town board and of the school board of Cornlea and is interested in every plan and measure for the general good, cooperating in many projects which have greatly benefited the community. He and his family are communi- cants of the Catholic church. Mr. Olk is a self-made man and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. He now owns a section of good land in Cheyenne county, Nebraska, and its rental brings him a gratifying financial return. He de- votes the major part of his attention, however, to his hardware and implement busi- ness and is accounted one of the progressive merchants of the county and one of the most highly respected citizens of Cornlea.
HENRY BEHLE.
Henry Behle, carrying on general farming on section 26, Shell Creek township, has been a resident of Platte county for forty years and is therefore entitled to mention with its pioneer settlers-the men who have laid broad and deep the foun- dation upon which has been built the present progress and prosperity of the county. A native of Germany, he was born in Waldeck, January 7, 1850, a son of John and Mary (Rohmer) Behle, who were also natives of Waldeck, where the father became the owner of a farm and spent his entire life, giving his attention to general agricultural pursuits. He was an active worker in and a faithful member of the Lutheran church and his life was guided by its teachings. He died in 1880, at the age of seventy years, having for two years survived his wife, who passed away at the age of sixty-five.
Henry Behle was the fifth in order of birth in a family of seven children. He left home at the age of fifteen years, after having attended the schools of Germany, and, crossing the Atlantic, became a resident of Decatur, Illinois. He soon secured work in that locality as a farm hand and was thus employed until 1875, when he came to Nebraska at the age of twenty-five years. Since that time he has been iden- tified with agricultural pursuits in Platte county. His first purchase of land made him the owner of an eighty acre tract, for which he paid ten dollars per acre. The improvements upon it consisted of a sod house and sod barn, but with characteristic energy he began to till and develop the fields and soon the eighty acre tract was con- verted into a productive farm, bringing forth good crops annually. As he found ready sale for his crops he was able to add to his holdings from time to time and is now the owner of four hundred acres of rich land in Shell Creek township, in the midst of which stands a nice country residence, large barns and other equip- ment of a model farm. Mr. Behle is still active in business and may well be num- bered among the representative farmers of the district. He has always raised a good grade of stock and feeds and ships cattle and hogs. When he first took up his abode in Shell Creek township there was only one house between his home, on section 26, and Columbus. All was open prairie and the conditions of pioneer life had to be met. While Mr. Behle is now a prosperous farmer not all days in his carcer have been equally bright. In fact, during the early part of his residence here he had trouble in getting started. There were droughts and grasshoppers in
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addition to the usual hardships of frontier life, but he had courage and perseverance and his close application and unfaltering energy brought him success in due time.
Mr. Behle was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Babbler, who was born in Beardstown, Illinois, a daughter of Allen Babbler, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. The father was a farmer by occupation and on coming to the new world settled in Cook county, Illinois, where he resided upon a farm until his death. He held membership in the German Methodist church. To Mr. and Mrs. Behle have been born eight children: Louise, who is the wife of Fred Wille, mentioned elsewhere in this work; Nora, the wife of Henry Claussen, a resident farmer of Iowa; Adam, living upon the home farm; and Henry, Amelia, Olive, Gretchen and Erick, all at home.
Mr. Behle belongs to the German Lutheran church and assisted in organizing the German Lutheran parochial school. He has served as moderator in his church and is interested in all that furthers its welfare and extends its influence. In a word, he has contributed to the moral progress of the community as well as to its agricultural development and his aid and influence are always to be counted upon to further the cause of right, justice, improvement and progress.
WILLIAM HAFERLAND.
During the years in which he was actively engaged in farming William Hafer- land, of Humphrey, won a comfortable competence that now enables him to live retired. His name indicates his German lineage. He was born in Hanover, Ger- many, on the 25th of July, 1840, a son of Henry and Annie (Gannan) Haferland, who were also natives of that country, where the father followed the occupation of farming, spending his entire life there. He died in 1874, while his wife, who survived for fourteen years, passed away in 1888.
The public schools of Hanover afforded William Haferland his educational opportunities. He remained with his parents to the age of fourteen years and then started out to earn his own living by working on a farm, being employed in that manner until twenty-six years of age, when he bade adien to friends and father- land and sailed for the new world, believing that he might have better opportuni- ties on this side the Atlantic. He made his way to Cincinnati, Ohio, and was employed in a packing house there for twelve years, after which he removed to Carroll county, Iowa, and invested the capital that he had gained through his industry and economy in a farm. This he operated with continued success until 1899, when he sold that property and made his way to Humphrey. Soon after- ward he completed arrangements whereby he became the owner of a farm in Hum- phrey township, and immediately began its further development and improvement, converting it into a very productive tract of land which he continued to operate until 1905, when he retired and took up his abode in Humphrey, purchasing a nice home that he has since occupied. He is now a stockholder in the Farmers Eleva- tor Company but otherwise has no business connections.
In June, 1869, Mr. Haferland was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Bolling, a daughter of Lucas and Elizabeth Bölling, who spent their entire lives in Ger- many. To Mr. and Mrs. Haferland have been born eleven children, as follows:
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Henry, who passed away on the 13th of December, 1914; Annie, who is the wife of Anton Hoffman and resides in Carroll county, Iowa; Lizzie, who is the widow of Frank Rinard and makes her home in Humphrey; Frank, a resident of Gran- ville township, this county; William, who operates his father's farm in Humphrey township: Kate, who gave her hand in marriage to Charles Maximan and makes her home in Colorado; Caroline, who is a Catholic sister at La Crosse, Wisconsin ; Mary, who is the wife of Peter Shoemaker, of Granville township, Platte county ; and Katie, Louis and George, all of whom died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Haferland belong to the Catholic church. In politics he is a demo- crat and while living in Carroll county served as road supervisor, but he has never sought or desired public office, preferring always to concentrate his time and ener- gies upon his business affairs, in which he has met with growing and well merited success, bringing him at length to a financial position that enables him to live re- tired and yet enjoy many of the comforts and luxuries of life.
DIEDRICH HARMS.
The productive soil of Platte county has yielded rich rewards to those who had the courage to begin its development in pioneer times and who with the passing years continued the work of cultivating the fields. Many of the farmers have won prosperity in considerable measure and are now able to rest from further labor. Among these is Diedrich Harms, who is now living retired in Columbus. His life record had its beginning in Oldenburg, Germany, on the 20th of July, 1853, his parents being Gerhard and Elina (Behrens) Harms. The father was born in 1820 and was a farmer and sheep rancher of his native country. He served as an infantryman in 1848 and was decorated with a medal by the Kaiser for his gallantry at Duppel in the war with Denmark. His entire life was passed in Germany, his death occurring when he had reached the advanced age of ninety- one years and six months. His wife, who was born in 1823, died at the age of seventy.
Diedrich Harms attended school in Germany and there worked upon a farm until he came to the United States with his wife and one child, establishing his home in Columbus in 1884. They left their elder son in Germany with his paternal grandfather that he might attend school there. In 1885 the family removed to Bismark township and in the year 1892 Mr. Harms purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Joliet township, for which he paid thirty-two hundred dollars. In the meantime he had returned to Germany in 1887 and brought his son back with him to the United States. The family home was maintained in Joliet township for a time but afterward he sold that property and purchased other lands, carrying on farming in connection with his sons in Lost Creek and Burrows townships, where they had three hundred and twenty acres. Their labors resulted in bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation, rich crops being annually gathered. They also raised shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and also fed both cattle and hogs for the market. Business affairs were carefully and syste- matically managed and the farm work was conducted along practical and progres- sive lines, resulting in the attainment of substantial success. . In addition to his
DIEDRICH HARMS
MRS. DIEDRICH HARMS
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farming interests Diedrich Harms became a stockholder of the Platte County State Bank at Platte Center and is still serving as one of its directors.
In 1875 Mr. Harms wedded Miss Helena Rippen, a native of Oldenburg. Ger- many, and a daughter of Gerhard and Mary Rippen. Her father, who was the owner of a small sheep ranch, was born in 1819 and died at the age of eighty-six years. Her mother was born in 1821. Mr. and Mrs. Harms became parents of two sons. Gerhard is married and resides on the farm in Lost Creek township. Diedrich is still with his parents.
In March, 1911, Mr. Harms was called back to his native town on account of his father's death. He made the trip of three thousand and eighty miles on the George Washington of the North German Lloyd Line, and though they encountered very severe weather, the voyage was completed in six days. This is the only trip which Mr. Harms has made back to the fatherland since leaving there more than three decades ago. His life has been actuated by his Christian faith. He has long been a devoted member of the German Lutheran church, in which he has taken a deep and helpful interest. In 1902 he served on the building committee that erected the church in Lost Creek township at Platte Center and he contributed largely to the work. Since taking up his abode in Columbus he has been very active in the German Lutheran church in this city and aided liberally in the erection of the school and church buildings, being on the building committee that made the additions to the church. He is now serving as senior steward and he co-operates heartily in all plans to promote the growth of the church and extend its influence. He has never regretted his determination to come to America, for in this country he has found the opportunities which he sought and by utilizing busi- ness conditions and advantages he has won prosperity, being now numbered among the men of affluence in Columbus.
SEBASTIAN E. MARTY.
Sebastian E. Marty has lived in Columbus for nearly a third of a century and has been long and successfully identified with business interests here, while at present he is the efficient incumbent in the office of postmaster. His birth oc- curred in New Glarus, Wisconsin, on the 28th of March, 1862, his parents being Friedolin and Anna (Blumer) Marty, who were married in Switzerland. The father, born in Glarus, Switzerland, in 1808, emigrated to the United States in 1854 and for four years resided in Chicago, Illinois. He then removed to Wis- consin, where his demise occurred in 1869, while his wife passed away in that state in 1877. Our subject has one living sister, Salome, who is the widow of Jacob Eierdan and resides in Chicago.
In the acquirement of an education Sebastian E. Marty attended the schools of his native town, but his advantages in that direction were limited, as he attended during only three months in the year. When about fourteen years of age he put aside his textbooks and subsequently worked at various occupations including rail- roading. He was telegrapher for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at Brooklyn, Wisconsin, whence in 1883 he came to Columbus, Nebraska, being here employed as clerk in a meat market for two years. He then embarked in that line of busi- Vol. II-8
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ness on his own account and for a period of twenty-eight years remained proprietor of a meat market in Columbus, enjoying an extensive and profitable patronage. In October, 1913, he sold out and the next year secured a position as book- keeper in the Reaming mill at Columbus, being thus employed until April, 1915. On the 9th of February of that year he was selected for the position of postmaster at a primary held by the citizens of Columbus. There were five candidates for the office and he received seven hundred votes, being thus chosen by a flattering majority, as the next highest vote was three hundred and ninety. In this capacity he is making an excellent record, discharging his duties with ability and prompt- ness.
On the 4th of May. 1885, in Columbus, Nebraska, Mr. Marty was united in marriage to Miss Anna C. Marti, a daughter of Jacob Marti, who has passed away. To them have been born four children, namely: Louise M., who is the wife of Clay- ton C. Stafford, of Los Angeles, California; Anna C., who gave her hand in mar- riage to Sophus C. Pedersen; Frederick J .; and Carl Sebastian.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Marty has supported the men and measures of the democracy, while his religious faith is that of the German Reformed church. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Sons of Herman. He is a man of progressive spirit and of high principles and his genuine personal worth commends him to the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he comes in contact.
JOSEPH N. SMITH.
Joseph N. Smith is proprietor of a meat market in Humphrey and is also en- gaged in buying and shipping cattle to Omaha. Industry and determination are numbered among his salient characteristics and these qualities have gained lim a creditable place in the business circles of his town. His residence in Platte county dates from 1883 or from the time that he was eleven years of age. He was born in Illinois in November, 1872, his parents being Benedict and Richartia (Wend- ling) Smith, who were natives of France. The father was but three years of age when he was brought by his parents to the United States in 1810, the family set- tling where Chicago now stands. The paternal grandfather owned land now in- cluded within the loop district of that city.
Benedict Smith was reared and educated in Illinois and after reaching man's estate turned his attention to farming. He became the owner of a tract of land in Dupage county, which he developed and improved, continuing its cultivation until 1877, when he removed to Arkansas, where he again carried on farming for six years. On the expiration of that period he arrived in Platte county, Nebraska, and for a time resided in Columbus but afterward rented a farm near Platte Center. which he continued to cultivate until he removed to Lindsay, where he purchased a place. He afterward retired from active business and became a resident of Humphrey, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in October. 1913, when he was about seventy-six years of age. His widow still survives and now makes her home with her son Joseph.
After spending the first five years of his life in his native state Joseph N. Smith
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was taken by his parents to Arkansas and at the age of eleven years became a resi- dent of Platte county, where he has since made his home. He attended the schools of Columbus and afterward went to Lindsay, where he operated a lumber yard and elevator for twelve years in connection with a partner. He next came to Humphrey and occupied the position of bartender with his brother for five years. His brother was also owner of a butcher shop in Humphrey and in 1903 Joseph N. Smith pur- chased the business which he has since conducted. He devotes much of his time to buying cattle and hogs, which he ships to Omaha, and this branch of his busi- ness is proving very profitable, for he is an excellent judge of stock and his pur- chases are therefore judiciously made, enabling him to realize handsomely on his sales. He is likewise a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Hum- phrey and in the First National Bank, his business interests being thus extensive and important.
In August, 1899, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Alma Anderson, her father being August Anderson, a native of Sweden. Emigrating to the United States in an early day, the latter established his home in Platte county, Nebraska, and for twenty years was employed as section foreman by the Chicago & North- western Railroad Company. He is now living retired at Newman Grove, where he owns two farms. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born six children, namely : George, who is fourteen years of age; Pearl, a maiden of eleven summers; Engene, Florence and Raymond, who are eight, five and two years of age respectively; and Eldina, who passed away in 1900.
The religions faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Smith also holds membership with the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of For- esters, and the Eagles. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party but is not an aspirant for office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon the business interests which now claim his time and attention and which are proving a substantial source of revenue. He has a wide acquaintance in the county in which the greater part of his life has been passed and where he is now well established in the regard and esteem of many friends.
JOHN FREDERICK FEYE.
Among the excellent citizens whom Germany has given to Platte county is John Frederick Feye, who is successfully engaged in farming on section 9, Sherman township. He was born in Ahlhorn, Oldenburg, Germany, July 22, 1873, a son of J. Herman and Louisa (Leiszner) Feye. The father owned a small farm and de- voted his time to its operation. Both parents were lifelong residents of Germany. Their religious faith was that of the Lutheran church, and they were highly re- spected in their community.
Jolın Frederick Feye attended school in his native village but as his father died when he was a small boy he was early compelled to provide for his own support. He worked upon the home farm until 1890, when he emigrated to the United States and made his way to Platte county, Nebraska. He was employed as a farm hand here for two years and also learned the carpenter's trade which he followed for about nine years. At the end of that time he was married and began farming on
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his own account. He has gained a gratifying measure of success and now owns three hundred and twenty acres of land which formerly belonged to his father-in- law. He is energetic and, as he plans his work carefully, he receives a gratifying income from his land.
On July 26, 1900, Mr. Feye was united in marriage to Miss Alma Wurdeman, further mention of whose family is made in the sketch of J. H. Wurdeman which appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Feye have three children, Otto Fred- erick, Walter Hellmuth and Arthur William.
Mr. Feye is a republican but confines his political activity to the exercise of his right of franchise. He is a member of the Lutheran church, to the support of which he contributes, and he co-operates with movements seeking the moral advancement of his community. Since becoming a resident of Platte county he has gained the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens and has made many personal friends.
AUGUSTUS W. CLARK.
Augustus W. Clark is a retired farmer living in Columbus and also one of the veterans of the Civil war, as is indicated by the fact that he wears the little bronze button of the Grand Army of the Republic. That he has been a loyal and patriotic citizen in times of peace as well as in times of war entitles him to representation in this volume. He was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, June 11, 1838, and is a son of W. O. and Lois (Greene) Clark, natives of New York. The father, who devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, removed from the Empire state to Ohio and for fifteen years lived in Ashtabula. In 1848 he went to La Salle county, Illinois, where he found pioneer conditions, but on the prairies of that state he took up general farming and became the owner of valuable land, winning a place among the representative agriculturists of his district. He was also active in neigh- borhood affairs, gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and upheld the Universalist church as one of its members. He continued to reside upon his farm in Illinois until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-two years of age, while his wife passed away in La Salle county at the very advanced age of ninety- five years.
Augustus W. Clark acquired a common-school education in that county and re- mained at home until October 16, 1861, when he enlisted as a member of Company B, Fifty-third Illinois Infantry, the regiment being formed at Ottawa. The com- mand was with Cushman's Brigade. Mr. Clark enlisted first as a musician and was promoted from principal musician to sergeant major. The troops left Ottawa for Camp Douglas, Chicago, relieving General Sullivan's command that was guard- ing prisoners from Fort Donelson. After about two months they were relieved by newer troops and reported at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, in the early part of 1862, remaining at that place for some time. With his regiment Mr. Clark partici- pated in the siege of Corinth, the siege of Vicksburg and that of Atlanta and went with Sherman on the march to the sea. He was slightly wounded in the face and again in the back. The Fifty-third, because of the heavy losses which had deci- mated its ranks, was consolidated with the Forty-first Illinois Infantry, and with
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