USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 17
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Mr. Dixon maintains an independent attitude upon political questions and has never been an aspirant for public office, although he served for two years as super- visor of Humphrey township. He belongs to the Highlanders lodge and is a mem- ber of the Methodist church, to which he loyally adheres. He has many sterling traits of character, manifest in his patriotic citizenship, his reliability in business and his faithfulness in friendship-qualities which have gained for him the warm and well merited regard of his fellow citizens.
HENRY GASS.
Henry Gass is a pioneer citizen and business man of Columbus, having been continuously identified with its interests for the past forty-five years. In fact when he came here the business and most of the residence district was on the south side of the city but as the town grew business houses began to spring up on the north side, which is now the prominent business center, and in 1912 Mr. Gass erected a modern and up-to-date two story brick building, in which he is successfully con- ducting a furniture and undertaking establishment, which would do credit to a city of much larger size. Mr. Gass is one who came from foreign lands to become prominent in business circles here, for his birth occurred in Switzerland on the 13th of May, 1844. His parents were Christian and Anna (Tiesin) Gass, who were likewise natives of the land of the Alps, and there spent their entire lives.
Henry Gass remained in his native country to the age of twenty-four years, having in the meantime acquired his education in the public schools there. It was at that period in his life, in 1868, that he set sail for the United States and, land- ing in New York city, he there remained for a time. He then sought the opportuni- tics of the west, and on the 2d of February, 1870, arrived in Columbus, Nebraska, which was at that time a mere village and gave little promise of becoming a city of its present proportions. For a year thercafter he worked at the carpenter's trade and then opened a cabinet-maker's shop and also engaged in the undertak- ing business, being the pioneer in that line in the city. In 1878 he added a stock
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of furniture. Success was assured from the beginning and as the business grew he kept adding to his stock and eventually became the proprietor of three stores located in various parts of the city, his first location being on the south side. Eventually business moved to the north and Mr. Gass was one of the first to open a store in that part of the city. As the years passed his business grew to large pro- portions and in 1912 he erected a modern brick building on the main thoroughfare. His store is conveniently arranged for the handling of his large stock of furniture and his large display windows are always fitted up in most attractive style. He is also engaged in the undertaking business, doing practically all the work in that line not only in his home city but in the surrounding districts. He has made a close study of this business and is always prepared to answer all calls for his services and to meet the demands of the public, keeping on hand a large line of caskets and burial supplies. His success is marked and his business methods are of interest to the commercial world, for he is now at the head of one of the largest and most important enterprises in Platte county.
Mr. Gass was married in Rock Island, Illinois, in August, 1872, to Miss Eliza- beth Smedt, and their living children are: Samuel, who wedded Winnie Higgins; Henry, who wedded Sophie Kaufman, both sons residing in Columbus; and Rosina. The deceased members of their family are: Emily, who became the wife of August Merz, and both are deceased. the daughter passing away in June, 1911; Walter, who died at the age of seven years; Albert, who died when but a few months old; and two sons who died unnamed.
In politics Mr. Gass is a democrat, and he has been identified with the German Reformed church since 1874. He has also for the past thirty-seven years been a member of the Maennerchor Society, which is one of the largest and most prominent social organizations of the city. His enterprising and progressive spirit has made him a typical American in every sense of the word. He has never taken part in public affairs, but, modest and unassuming, his time has been devoted to his family and his business. He has learned well the lessons of life and has put them to prac- tical account, and his establishment is the expression of himself. his ideals, his character and his quiet, persistent industry and ability.
ROY S. PALMER.
Roy S. Palmer is a member of the firm of Palmer & Berger, although before he was joined by his partner in 1912 he had conducted the business alone for eight years. In addition to merchant tailoring the firm conduct a cleaning, dyeing and repairing establishment and a laundry business and the enterprise and energy with which Mr. Palmer manages his interests constitute important features in his grow- ing success. He was born in Glenwood, Iowa, December 17, 1869, a son of Thomas G. and Jane Palmer, who in the year 1858 became residents of Plattsmouth, Ne- braska. The father and his brother David operated the first ferry boat across the Missouri river at that point and also engaged in freighting with a pack train to Denver, Colorado, from 1858 until 1861. Later Thomas G. Palmer engaged in the livery business until 1869, when he removed to Union county, Iowa, and worked at his trade of cabinetmaking for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com-
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pany until he was injured in an accident. He then went to Labette county, Kan- sas, where he engaged in farming until 1888. In the latter year he removed to Grand Island, Nebraska, where he passed away in 1889.
Roy S. Palmer acquired his education in the common schools of Creston, Iowa, and in 1880 began learning the tailor's trade at Cherryvale, Kansas. In 1886 he came to Columbus and worked for one season with Carl Kramer. He was afterward away from the city until 1892 but since that year has resided continuously in Co- lumbus, where he has made a creditable position in business circles. For twelve years he worked at his trade with C. A. Lindstrum and in 1904 he established busi- ness on his own account and under his own name but in 1912 was joined by Adolph Berger, under the firm style of Palmer & Berger. They conduct a merchant tailor- ing business, making suits to order, and also do cleaning, dyeing and repairing. They make a specialty of Panama hats and in addition to their other lines conduct a laun- dry, doing rough dry and family washing. They have secured a liberal and well merited patronage, their business now having reached extensive proportions.
On the 12th of July, 1893, in Columbus, Nebraska, Mr. Palmer was united in marriage to Miss Frances L. Tiffany, a daughter of Joseph C. and Jennie B. Tif- fany, who took up their abode among the pioneer settlers of Platte county in 1868. To our subject and his wife have been born three children, namely: Mildred, who is eighteen years old; and Carl and Mary, who are fourteen and eleven years of age respectively. Mr. Palmer is a republican but without aspiration for office. Frater- nally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, to which he loyally adheres, guiding his life by its teachings.
WILLIAM J. HAVERLAND.
William J. Haverland, who carries on general farming on section 27, Humphrey township, was born in Carroll, Iowa, on the 19th of October, 1879, a son of Wil- liam and Caroline Haferland, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was reared and educated in his native county, having the usual experiences of the farm lad who divides his time between the work of the fields, the duties of the school- room and the pleasures of the playground. He continued on the old home farm with his father until he reached the age of twenty-one years, when he went to work as a traveling salesman for the Case Machine Company. Through the summer and fall months he also engaged in harvesting and still works along that line. At the age of twenty-five years he took charge of the home place and has since largely con- centrated his time and energies upon its further development and improvement, cultivating two hundred and forty acres of land, which he has converted into highly productive fields and from which he annually gathers good harvests. The place is situated on section 27, Humphrey township, and constitutes one of the attractive features of the landscape.
On the 16th of August, 1905, Mr. Haverland was united in marriage to Miss Mary Braun, a daughter of Joseph and Eva (Scheidemantel) Braun. They have become parents of four children: Maurice W., born July 12, 1906; M. Isabella, Jan- mary 7, 1908; Dorothy, December 12, 1910; and Florence, April 26, 1913.
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Mr. Haverland and his family are adherents of the Catholic faith and he holds membership with the Knights of Columbus. He does not ally himself with any po- litical party but votes independently according to the dictates of his judgment and desires. Analyzing his life, it is seen that his success is the direct and legitimate outcome of persistent, earnest labor.
PETER LUBISCHER.
Since starting out in life on his own account Peter Lubischer has steadily worked his way upward until he has gained a place among the well-to-do farmers of Gran- ville township, where he now makes his home, owning land on sections 25 and 21. He is a native of Germany, born March 15, 1846, and his parents. Phillip and Anna (Roos) Lubischer, were also natives of that country. The father followed the occupation of farming throughout his entire life and passed away in Germany, December 31, 1885. He had for three decades survived his wife, who died on the 22d of May, 1855.
Peter Lubischer was reared and educated in Germany, remaining with his parents to the age of thirteen ycars, when he started out to earn his own living, working as a farm hand. He was afterward employed in factories of that country to the age of twenty-six years, when in 1872 he determined to seek a home in the new world, attracted by the favorable reports which he had heard concerning business conditions and advantages in America. He therefore bade adieu to friends and fatherland and sailed for the United States. For a brief period he resided in Chicago and then went into the country. working as a farm hand until 1878. In that year he returned to Germany to visit his parents. but in 1879 again came to America, securing employment in a brewery at Omaha. He also worked in a lumber and coal yard there, continuing his residence in that city until 1889, when he arrived in Platte county and invested his savings-the result of his industry and economy-in eighty acres of land on section 23, Granville township. This was the first property which he ever owned and it was with much pleasure that he set about developing and improving the tract. Later he added to it by the purchase of sixty acres adjoining on section 24, and he has since devoted his time and atten- tion to the further development and improvement of his farm of one hundred and forty acres. He has brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and his place presents a neat and thrifty appearance. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Humphrey.
On the 4th of February, 1886, Mr. Lubischer was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Nick, a daughter of Peter and Catherine ( Rothenberger) Nick, who were natives of Germany. Mrs. Lubischer was born February 6, 1866. Her father was a farmer and never came to the new world, passing away in Germany, September 23, 1898. His wife had died on the 24th of November, 1887. Their daughter Catherine was a young woman of eighteen years when in 1881 she crossed the Atlantic to the United States. She worked out in Omaha, Nebraska, until her marriage and since that time has carefully managed her household interests. To Mr. and Mrs. Lubischer have been born ten children: Annie. the wife of Barney McDermott, a farmer living in Madison county, Nebraska; Catherine, the wife of
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William Olmer, who follows farming in Granville township; Sophie, who is engaged in dressmaking and lives at home; Elizabeth, a nurse, residing in Omaha; and John, Mary, Phillip, Monica, Francis and Richard, all yet under the parental roof.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church. In his political views Mr. Lubischer is independent, holding himself free from party ties in order that he may vote according to the dictates of his judgment. While he came to America a young man, empty handed, he is today numbered among the substantial farmers of Granville township, his life indicating what may be accomplished when there is the will to dare and to do.
JOSEPH F. DISTERHAUPT.
Joseph F. Disterhaupt, owner and proprietor of the V. T. Mills of Humphrey, is numbered among the progressive, enterprising and successful business men of his city. He was born in Dodge, Nebraska, February 2, 1875, a son of William and Frances (Karnik) Disterhaupt. The father, a native of Germany, was a carpenter by trade and followed that pursuit in his native land until 1872, when he crossed the Atlantic to America and made his way to Dodge county, Nebraska, where he engaged in farming for many years. His wife is a native of Bohemia, and they are now well known residents of Dodge, Nebraska, where Mr. Disterhaupt is living retired.
Joseph F. Disterhaupt attended the common schools in his native county and on attaining his majority began farming for himself, purchasing land near Howells, Nebraska, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for nine years. He then went to Atkinson, Nebraska, where he purchased a stock ranch, continuing there for six years, and on the 9th of May, 1913, he came to Humphrey, trading a half section of land for the mill which he now owns and which was formerly the property of Vanderheiden Brothers, who were operating it at the time. Mr. Disterhaupt at once took charge and has since carried on the business, being now actively and successfully engaged in the manufacture of Winky-eye flour, a high grade product, Cream Loaf flour, also a high grade product, and Teddy Bear flour, a second grade product. He has built up a fine trade throughout this part of Nebraska, having a large sale for the different brands of flour which he makes. He also buys and sells grain, and that branch of his business contributes in con- siderable measure to his income.
On the 3d of February, 1896, Mr. Disterhaupt was married to Miss Josephine Tresnak, a daughter of Anton and Anna (Francel) Tresnak. Her father, a native of Bohemia, came to the United States in 1881 and established his home upon a farm near Dodge, Nebraska, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for some time, but afterward removed to Atkinson, Nebraska, where he is now living. His wife died upon the Dodge county farm in 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Disterhaupt were married in Dodge, Nebraska, by the Rev. Father Brusch, pastor of St. Wen- sel's Catholic church of that place, and they have become parents of four children: Mary, who was born January 30, 1899; Joseph, born February 3, 1901; Frank, born December 23, 1903; and Eddie, December 22, 1909.
Mr. and Mrs. Disterhaupt are members of St. Francis Catholic church of
JOSEPH F. DISTERHAUPT
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Humphrey, and his politieal allegiance is given to the republican party, which finds in him a stalwart champion. He concentrates his energies, however, upon the operation of the mill and the conduet of the business, in which he is assisted by his eldest son Joseph. Resolution and energy enable him to overcome all diffi- eulties and obstacles in his path and, working his way upward along legitimate business lines, he is now elassed with the substantial citizens of Humphrey.
ARTHUR M. GRAY.
During the past twenty-three years Arthur M. Gray has been actively and suc- cessfully identified with mereantile interests of Columbus as proprietor of an up- to-date and well patronized shoe store His birth occurred in Arlington, Illinois, on the 28th of June, 1869, his parents being Sidney C. and Rowena R. (Ransom) Gray, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketeh of Clinton C. Gray, brother of our subject.
In the acquirement of an education Arthur M. Gray attended high school at Princeton, Illinois, and in 1881 was graduated from the high school in Columbus, Nebraska. Subsequently he spent two years at work on a eattle ranch in this county and was then for three years employed as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Columbus. In 1892 he embarked in business in association with John Griffin as a dealer in furnishings and shoes, the firm of Griffin & Gray existing for two years or until the senior partner sold out to Sidney C. Gray, the father of our subjeet, who remained in the business for about a year. Since that time the establish- ment has been condueted under the name of A. M. Gray, who has built up an exten- sive and profitable enterprise, being accorded a most enviable patronage. He is a director of the Commercial National Bank of Columbus.
In November, 1896, in Columbus, Mr. Gray was united in marriage to Miss Clara L. Lehman, her father being George Lehman, an old settler and one of the best known hotel men in the state. To Mr. and Mrs. Gray have been born two ehil- dren, Arthur M., Jr., and Lucile.
Mr. Gray gives his politieal allegianee to the republican party, while his relig- ious faith is that of the Episcopal church. He is a man of marked strength of char- acter, genial disposition and genuine worth and enjoys the unqualified respect and goodwill of his fellowmen.
FRIEDRICH MULLER.
Friedrich Müller, who earries on general farming on seetion 28, Bismark town- ship, was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 22d of April, 1819. and spent the first twenty years of his life in the land of his nativity. The favorable reports which reached him concerning America and her opportunities led him to determine to try his fortune in the new world, and in 1869 he bade adieu to friends and native land and at the age of twenty years sailed for the United States with his parents, who established the family home in Dane county, Wisconsin. There they remained for Vol. 11-9
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two years, at the end of which time they came, in 1871, to Platte county, where the father homesteaded eighty acres, which was the nucleus of our subject's present fine farm. A difficult task awaited them in developing and cultivating the new land, but strenuous labor did not deter them and the persistent, earnest effort which was put forth soon converted the place into rich and productive fields.
As time passed and Friedrich Miller's financial resources inercased he added to his holdings by the purchase of an additional tract of two hundred and forty aeres and he has sinee also bought one hundred and sixty aeres in Colfax county, so that now he owns altogether four hundred and eighty acres of rich and valuable land in this part of the state. On his farm stand a comfortable residence and substantial barns and outbuildings. He carries on general farming, including the raising of eattle and hogs, and his business is carefully, wisely and successfully managed.
On October 23, 1879, Mr. Müller was united in marriage to Miss Magdalena Karlin, and they became the parents of ten children: Martha, now the wife of Frank Aerni, living in this ecunty; Adolph, who married Mary Shutt and is now farming in Bismark township: Louise, the wife of Albert Aerni, farming in this state; Emma, the wife of Edwin Ahrens, living in Bismark township; Carl F., whose home is in Colfax county, Nebraska; Albert, upon the home farm; Minnie, the wife of Alfred Berchtold of Columbus township; Anna, the wife of Edward Ahrens, of Bismark township; Rosa, the wife of Otto Held, of Columbus; and Magdalena, at home. Theirs is a notable family record in that the circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death.
Mr. Müller is independent in politics and his religious faith is that of the German Lutheran church. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to establish his home in Nebraska, for, while earnest work awaited him here in the development and improvement of his farm, he has gradually advanced along well defined lines of labor and is now one of the substantial and representative citizens of Platte county.
ANTON VOGEL.
Anton Vogel, of Columbus, is a retired baker, having in 1912 put aside the active work of the trade in which he had so long been engaged and which brought to him a substantial measure of prosperity. A native of Germany, he was born at Lauda, Baden, in 1860, a son of Anton and Katherine (Kopf) Vogel, in whose family were seven children, of whom three are yet living.
The son Anton acquired a common-school education in his native land, in which he remained to the age of nineteen years, when in 1879 he came to America to join his brother Marcus, who was a resident of Columbus, Nebraska, and was engaged in the bakery business. In 1880 Anton Vogel secured a position in a bakery in Red Oak, Iowa, where he remained until 1884, and after his return to Columbus he worked for his brother in the bakery for ten years. In 1896 he pur- chased the business, which he conducted with substantial and growing success for sixteen years, enjoying a large and gratifying patronage. Because of the exeel- lence of his product and the reliability of his business methods he gained a most
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gratifying trade and when he retired in 1912 he was the possessor of a substantial capital that had come to him as the direct reward of his labors and careful busi- ness management.
On the 11th of February, 1896, Mr. Vogel was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Schmitz, her father being Joseph Schmitz, an old resident of Platte county, Nebraska. To them was born a daughter, Margaret, who died in April, 1910. In politics Mr. Vogel has always been a democrat but never an active partisan nor an office seeker. He belongs to the Catholic church and contributes generously to its support. He still owns the building now occupied by the Imig Brothers Bakery and he has other property holdings which return to him a good income, enabling him to live retired. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world and he found that reports concerning business conditions here had not been exaggerated. He brought with him no false idea that prosperity was to be had for the asking, but he soon demonstrated the fact that in this country there is no bar to progress for the ambitious, energetie young man and as the years passed he gradually worked his way upward, remain- ing for a long period proprietor of one of the foremost bakery establishments of Platte county.
HARRY H. CRUICKSHANK.
Harry H. Cruickshank is local manager at Cornlea for the Crowell Lumber & Grain Company. He operates an elevator at Cornlea and controls the business, which under his direction has been steadily growing. He was born in Dodge county, Nebraska, February 27, 1889, a son of James M. and Mary (Davidson) Cruieksbank, both of whom were natives of Scotland. After coming to America the father took up railroad work and served as a conductor on the Union Pacific for sixteen years and also for a number of years was with the Chicago & North- western Railroad Company. Called to public office, he filled the position of clerk of the district court of Dodge county, Nebraska, at Fremont for eight years, the capability which he displayed in his first term leading to his reelection. With his retirement from office he retired from active business life and was living at North Bend, Nebraska, at the time of his death, which occurred in 1912. His wife had passed away in Dodge county, Nebraska, in 1897. They were people of the highest respectability and enjoyed the friendship and warm regard of all with whom they came in contact. They had a family of five children, namely: George. who is a resident of North Bend, Nebraska; Agnes, living in Omaha; Mary, of Fremont; and Arthur, who also resides in Omaha.
Harry H. Cruickshank, the youngest of the family, attended the distriet school in Pleasant Valley township, Dodge county, and also the Fremont graded school and when nineteen years of age he began farming on his father's place. In 1910 he removed to Deuel county, Nebraska, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for a year. He afterward removed to Snyder, Nebraska, where he remained for two years, acting as loeal manager of the Farmers Telephone Company and for one year worked in the Snyder Roller Mills. In June, 1914, he came to Cornlea and took charge as manager of the elevator of the Crowell Lumber & Grain
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