USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 2
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In his fraternal relations Mr. Luedtke is a Knight of Pythias and a Royal Highlander. Politically he is connected with the democratic party and is one of its prominent local workers, having served as central committeeman in Platte county for about ten years. He belongs to the Lutheran church, and his interest in the cause of education has been manifest in his effective service as a member of the school board for the past ten years. He takes an active interest in every- thing pertaining to the welfare of the community and his efforts have been intelli- gently directed along lines which have proven of the greatest benefit in community affairs.
MAXIMILIAN M. ROTHLEITNER.
The name of Hon. Maximilian M. Rothleitner is inseparably interwoven with the history of Columbus because of the important part which he has played in educational progress, in commercial activities and in political connections. He is now mayor of the city and as such is giving to Columbus a businesslike, progressive administration. characterized by needed reforms and improvements.
Mr. Rothleitner was born in Bergstadt, Austria, September 21, 1868, a son of Joseph and Johanna (Schmidt) Rothleitner. The father came to America in 1872 and the family followed in 1875, but the mother died in Castle Garden, New York, on landing from the steamship on which she had sailed for the new world, leaving five children, three sons and two daughters, in the eastern metropolis alone, the eld- cst, Frank, being then but fifteen years of age. The father was out in Nebraska at the time, but the family fell into kindly hands, for a German Lutheran minister of New York happened along, saw to the interment of the mother and took charge of the children, whom he afterward sent on to their father in Platte county, Nebraska. Mr. Rothleitner still lives, his home being now in Columbus, Nebraska. He after- ward married again, his second union being with Adele Wanke, and to them was born a son, Anton Joseph.
Maximilian M. Rothleitner was a little lad of about seven years when brought to the new world by his mother. He attended school in Platte county and afterward
MAXIMILIAN M. ROTHLEITNER
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went to MeMinnville, Oregon, where he spent three years as a student in the Me- Minnville College, a Baptist institution, through which he worked his way, thus displaying the elemental strength of his character which has been again and again manifested in later relations of life. It was his desire to become a member of the bar, although his father wished him to take up the profession of medieine and refused him any assistance in his efforts to become a lawyer. It was this which led Mr. Rothleitner to start out for himself and, as previously stated, he spent three years as a student in MeMinnville College. Leaving there in 1887, he returned to Platte county, Nebraska, and the following week began teaching school. In the spring of 1888 he attended the Fremont (Neb. ) Normal and in the fall of 1888 he taught at the Loseke school in Platte county for ten months. Later he went to Creston, Nebraska, where he engaged in teaching for a year, and in 1890 he was nominated for the position of county superintendent of schools of Platte county on the democratie ticket but was defeated. He afterward accepted the position of principal of the Lindsay, Platte county, high school, where he continued for a year. .und for one term he was principal of the Bismark Academy of Platte county. He next entered Dixon College at Dixon, Illinois, as a student, spending fifteen months there, at the end of which time he was graduated with the class of 1893 with valedictorian honors.
Mr. Rothleitner was then notified by telegraph that he had just been renomi- nated for the position of county superintendent of Platte county, and returning, he entered upon the campaign work and was elected. He proved so capable at the head of the school system of the county that he was twiee reeleeted, and served in all for six years. He then became principal of the first ward sehool, continuing in that position for several months, after which he became principal of the old high school (seeond ward), remaining there for four years. On the expiration of that period he resigned and severed his connection with educational activity. He turned to mercantile pursuits, purchasing a hardware store in Columbus, sinee which time he has been active along that line. While his present business ealls for very different qualities than were necessary in his edneational work, he has proved equal to the demands made upon him and is now a progressive, prosperous, well known and highly respected merehant of his city.
On the 10th of January, 1893, in Columbus, Nebraska, Mr. Rothleitner was united in marriage to Miss Aliee Leota Swartsley, a daughter of the Hon. John Swartsley, an ex-legislator of Nebraska. They have two children: Milton Monroe and Homer Louis.
In his religious faith Mr. Rothleitner is a Presbyterian and fraternally he is connected with the Masons. His influenee has always been on the side of right, progress and improvement, and he looks at the vital questions of the day from no narrow or contraeted standpoint, but rather from the position of a broadminded student of the signs of the times. He has always voted with the demoeratie party and his fitness for office led to his seleetion in 1907 for the position of councilman from the third ward, in which capacity he served for one term. In 1913 he was elected mayor and was reelected a year later, carrying the eouneil with him. To his efforts are attributable many important improvements, the establishment of splendid sidewalks, well paved streets, an exeellent sewer system. the Carnegie library and other publie utilities and enterprises which are of notable worth in the community. He also rebuilt the water system. He is indeed a progressive mayor
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and at the same time conducts the affairs of the city upon a businesslike basis. He does not hamper advancement by useless retrenchment, but in all things follows a policy that is dictated by sound judgment and a thorough understanding of all the phases of a situation.
JACOB KREBS.
Jacob Krebs, of Humphrey, is the proprietor of one of the finest hardware stores in Platte county, carrying a large and well selected stock, which is attractively set forth in a fine modern building. His course measures up to the highest stand- ard of commercial ethics and thus it is that he has won an enviable and creditable position among the leading merchants of the county. He was born in Germany in August, 1862, a son of Joseph and Margaret (Fruchs) Krebs, who were natives of Bavaria, Germany, whence they came to the new world with their family in 1865, settling in Davenport, Iowa. There the father worked in a malt house for four years, at the end of which time he removed to Sioux county, Iowa, where in 1871 he took up a homestead claim, which he cultivated and improved, continuing the operation of his well developed farm there until 1891, when he retired from active business life and removed to Alton, Iowa. He is now living in that town at the advanced age of eighty-three years, while his wife has reached the age of seventy- three.
Jacob Krebs was reared and educated in Sioux county, Iowa, and remained at home with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-six years, when he went to Le Mars, Iowa, and pursued his studies for a term in the normal school. He afterward learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a year in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Returning to the old homestead after his father retired, he engaged in general farming for two years and next removed to Lindsay, Ne- braska, where he followed farming for a year and also worked at carpentering. Later he purchased a farm north of Humphrey, in Madison county, Nebraska, and with characteristic energy began to further develop and improve that place, operating it until 1898, when he retired from the farm on account of poor health and rented his land. He then came to Humphrey but still owns the farm. He worked in a hardware store for three and a half years and then purchased a half interest in the hardware business of Henry Fox, an association that was main- tained until 1906, when the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Krebs became pro- prictor of another store. He has been alone since that time and is now at the head of one of the finest establishments of the kind in the county. It is modern in every respect. He occupies a fine business block, which was erected in 1914, and in it he carries a large stock of shelf and heavy hardware, his business methods commending him to the patronage and continued support of the public.
In October, 1890, Mr. Krebs was joined in wedlock to Miss Katherine Gasper, a daughter of Michael and Anna (Like) Gasper, who were natives of Prussia. They came to America in childhood and were among the early settlers of Wiscon- sin, in which state the paternal grandfather secured a homestead claim. There Michael Gasper was reared and educated and in early manhood he began farming in Mills county, Iowa, being a resident of that state at the time its first governor
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was elected. He was closely associated with the pioneer development of the dis- triet in which he lived and continued to carry on farming there until 1894, when he sold out and came to Nebraska, purchasing land in Walker township, Platte county. This he cultivated and improved for eight years and then, retiring from active life, removed to Lindsay, where he now resides at the ripe old age of seventy- eight years, while his wife has reached the age of seventy-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Krebs became the parents of six children, of whom two died in infancy, the others being: Anna, twenty-three years of age, now at home; Michael, twenty- one years of age, working at the carpenter's trade; Joseph, nineteen years of age, working with his brother; and Mary, who has reached the age of fourteen.
The family are Catholics in religious faith and in political belief Mr. Krebs is a democrat. He is now treasurer of Humphrey township, which position he has filled for eight years, and for four years he was a member of the city council of Humphrey, while for two years he filled the office of mayor, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many measures for the public good and at all times ยท upholding those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.
LOUIS ROBERT.
Louis Robert, who resides on section 9, Sherman township, is widely recognized as a prosperous and enterprising agriculturist, now owning three hundred and twenty acres of land in Platte county and also another farm of one hundred and seventeen acres in Colfax county. His birth occurred in Hanover, Germany, on the 9th of December, 1861, his parents being Henry and Anna (Neuhaus) Robert. The father emigrated to the United States in 1870 in order to escape military service and after reaching America worked for a season in the harvest fields near Omaha. He then came to Platte county and took up a homestead claim of eighty acres in Sherman township, where our subject now resides. The following year Henry Robert sent for his family. Their first home was a dugout and afterward the father built a log house which is still standing, being now used as a machine shed. It is still in a good state of preservation and the logs, some of which are three feet wide, are of elm and cottonwood, while one of the largest is of oak. Mr. Rob- ert devoted his attention to farming in Sherman township throughout the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of eighty-one years, on the 16th of April, 1914, when the community mourned the loss of one of its honored pioneer citizens and representative agriculturists. He had long survived his wife, whose demise occurred twenty-two years ago, at the age of sixty-nine. The latter was twice married and by her first husband had two children, one of whom, Henry Huntemann, now lives on a farm in Sherman township.
The gentleman whose name introduces this review was the only child of his parents and he was reared to manhood on the home farm in Sherman township, eventually purchasing the property. General agricultural pursuits have claimed his time and energies throughout his entire business career and success has attended his efforts as the years have gone by, so that he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land in Platte county as well as a tract of one hun- dred and seventeen acres in Colfax county. His fields are carefully tilled and cul-
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tivated, the crops being systematically rotated from year to year, thus enabling him to keep the soil in a high state of productivity and annually reap abundant harvests.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Robert chose Miss Louisa Voss, a native of Oldenburg, Germany, and a daughter of Gerhard and Anna (Pralle) Voss. The mother is deceased, but the father still survives and makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Robert. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Robert are five in number, as follows: Sophia, who is the wife of Louis Cattan; Louisa, Henry, Emil and Emma, all at home.
Mr. Robert gives his political allegiance to the democracy and in religious faith is a Lutheran. The period of his residence in Platte county covers more than four decades and he has long been numbered among its successful farmers and valued citizens.
HON. ALFRED M. POST.
High on the roll of eminent lawyers and jurists of Nebraska is inscribed the name of Hon. Alfred M. Post, who was for six years a judge of the supreme court and is now actively engaged in the practice of law at Columbus. He was born in Greenfield, Pennsylvania, Angust 10, 1849, his parents being William E. and Sarah (Wallace) Post, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. The father, who was born in Washington county, was of English lineage, while the mother came of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Rev. William E. Post was a minister of the Presbyterian faith, devoting his life to his holy calling until death terminated his labors in 1870. His widow survived him for seven years, passing away in 1877.
Judge Post supplemented a public-school education by a course of law study in the University of Ohio at Athens, where he was graduated with the class of 1869. He then removed to Bloomfield, Iowa, where he joined his parents, who had established their home there in 1862. For a time Judge Post engaged in teaching school in Iowa but in 1870 was admitted to the bar and entered upon the active work of the profession at Leon, Decatur county, where he at once opened an office. He remained in active practice there until December, 1874, when he was appointed consul to the Cape Verde Islands by President Grant, spending two and a half years in the consular service but not all of the time in the Islands. He has been identified with Columbus since 1876, in which year he entered upon the practice of law in this city. Along with those qualities indispensable to the lawyer-a keen, rapid, logical mind, plus the business sense and a ready capacity for hard work,- he brought to the starting point of his legal career certain rare gifts-eloquence of language and a strong personality. An excellent presence, an earnest, dignified manner, marked strength of character, a thorough grasp of the law and the ability to accurately apply its principles were factors in his effectiveness as an advocate. His ability brought him into public notice and in 1883 he was appointed judge of the fourth district. He was elected to that position in 1883 and 1887 and he served upon the bench of the district for eight years or until the fall of 1891, when he was elected a judge of the supreme court of Nebraska, continuing in that posi- tion until January, 1898. From 1911 until 1913 he was chairman of the commis- sion for codifying the laws of Nebraska. His decisions while on the supreme court
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bench as well as on the district bench indicate strong mentality, careful analysis, a thorough knowledge of the law and an unbiased judgment, and his analytical mind, combined with readiness in grasping the points of an argument, made him one of the most capable jurists who have ever graced the court of last resort. On his retirement from the bench he resumed active practice. He is deeply learned in the law, and while he does not appear often before the courts as a trial lawyer, he is noted for the wisdom of his counsel and for the thoroughness and comprehen- sive manner in which he prepares cases for presentation.
On the 6th of October, 1873, in Monroe county, Iowa, Judge Post was united in marriage to Miss Ella Munsell, by whom he has the following children: Nelly, the wife of Howard A. Clarke, of Columbus, Nebraska; Georgia S., who gave her hand in marriage to Dr. C. R. G. Forrester, of Chicago; Martha : William Edward; Alfreda; Dorothy, who is the wife of G. G. Becher, Jr., of Columbus, Nebraska; and Alfred M. Post, Jr. Judge Post and his family attend the Presbyterian church and his life constitutes an influencing force among his fellow citizens, who have come to regard his example as one well worthy to follow because of his keen insight and the soundness of his judgment. His devotion to the general good has made him a public-spirited citizen and one whose work has counted for the benefit of city and state.
JOHN E. HUGG.
John E. Hugg, who for nine years has been cashier of the First National Bank of Humphrey and is a well known and respected representative of financial inter- ests, is ranked, too, with the progressive citizens of the town and often occupies a position of leadership in furthering projects for the general good. He was born in St. Charles, Missouri, June 4, 1867, and is a son of Charles and Agnes (Bohbenrath) Hugg. The father was born in Alsace, Germany, and was a merchant. In the year 1842 he crossed the Atlantic on a sailing vessel, being twenty-seven weeks en route. The destination was New York, but the vessel was blown far out of its course and the landing was made in Florida. Mrs. Hugg was a native of Loraine, Germany. They became residents of St. Charles. Missouri, which at that time contained forty more inhabitants than St. Louis. Mr. Hugg opened a grocery store and extended his activities to include general merchandise, remaining for many years a leading business man of that place.
John E. Hugg remained at home until he reached the age of seventeen years, during which period the public schools afforded him his early educational privileges, after which he attended St. Louis University, a Jesuit college. When he left Mis- souri he journeyed westward to Westpoint, Nebraska, where he took up his abode and engaged in clerking for a number of years. In 1890 he arrived in Humphrey, where he turned his attention to the lumber business, becoming a partner in the Hunker Brothers Company, of which he was a member for fourteen years. Hc then sold out and in 1906 took charge of the First National Bank of Humphrey as its cashier, in which capacity he has since served, making a most creditable record by his capable and wise conduct of the interests of that institution. He also organ- ized the electric light and power company and is interested in the telephone company.
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His foresight has enabled him to recognize opportunities, while his ambition has prompted their utilization to successful ends.
On the 3d of February, 1893, Mr. Hugg was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hunker, a daughter of Henry and Catharine (Rosker) Hunker, both of whom were natives of Germany, and on coming to America forty-five years ago settled in St. Charles, Missouri. They afterward became residents of Westpoint, Ne- braska, where they have now lived for forty years. For an extended period the father engaged in the lumber business and he has been an official, either president or vice president, of banks of Westpoint and of Humphrey, but is now living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves, his labors having brought to him substantial success. To Mr. and Mrs. Hugg has been born a dangh- ter, Camilla, whose natal day was July 3, 1895, and who was graduated from the high school with the class of 1912.
The parents are members of St. Francis Catholic Church of Humphrey and Mr. Hugg is also identified with the Knights of Columbus and with the Catholic Order of Foresters, both of Humphrey. In community affairs he has taken a most active and helpful interest. He was the first chief of the fire department and was instru- mental in securing the waterworks for the town. In fact, he has been a leader in all the movements which have resulted beneficially to the community and his worth as a public-spirited citizen is widely acknowledged. He is working all the time for the interests of the town and has stimulated civic virtue and civic pride. There is perhaps no one who has done more for Humphrey or who deserves wider recognition as a valued public citizen and progressive business man.
REV. FLORENTIUS KURZER.
Rev. Florentius Kurzer, pastor of St. Francis Catholic church at Humphrey, was born in Sausdorf, Silesia, Austria, December 18, 1857, a son of Joseph and Hedwig (Koenig) Kurzer, who were also natives of the same place. The father was a blacksmith by trade and lived and died in Austria, passing away in 1897, after sur- viving his wife for twenty years.
Father Kurzer acquired his early education in a monastery at Annaberg, Prussia, and afterward went to Warendorf, Westphalia, and joined the Franciscan Fathers in 1874. Coming to America, he made his way to Effingham county, Illinois, and continued his studies at Teutopolis, where he remained until 1878. He then went to Quincy. Illinois, where he studied philosophy in the Franciscan monastery. The year 1880 found him in St. Louis, Missouri, where for three years he studied the- ology. He was then ordained to the priesthood in 1882 but continued his studies for a year thereafter, and in 1883 returned to Teutopolis, Illinois, where he became pastor of the Altamont and St. Elmo parishes, there continuing until 1887. He next went to Minnesota, having been assigned for pastoral duty to the Chanhassen church, with which he was actively connected until 1894.
Father Kurzer then took charge of the parish at St. Bernard, Nebraska, where he continued until 1899, when he entered upon his labors in connection with the St. Francis church at Humphrey. Here he has remained continuously since, save for the years 1909 and 1910, which he spent in Quincy, Illinois, as pastor of St.
REV. FLORENTIUS KURZER
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Francis church. Under his direction the parochial school was built in Humphrey in 1905, and now has an attendance of two hundred and eighty pupils. The school has eight grades, together with a commercial course, and annual commencement exercises are held. There are two hundred and fifty families represented in the church and the work of the church is in excellent condition. The new monastery was built in 1912, and the church property is now attractive and valuable. St. Francis has the largest congregation in Nebraska, outside of Omaha, and the house of wor- ship is a magnificent structure. Under the guidance of Rev. Florentius Kurzer the church work is proving a far-reaching influence in the moral development and progress of this part of the state. He is a man of scholarly attainments, wisely directing the interests of his people in temporal as well as in spiritual ways.
WILLIAM BECKER.
The name Becker is one of the oldest and most prominent in the history of Columbus and members of the family have been identified with the business inter- ests of the city from the time of the organization of the town to the present, a brother of our subject, John P. Becker, being one of the original colony, com- posed of thirteen members, who founded the city of Columbus. William Becker was born in Columbus, Ohio, July 20, 1842, a son of George Philip and Elizabeth Rebecca (Weis) Becker, both of whom were natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, the former born in 1804. They were married in the land of their nativity, whence they emigrated to the new world in 1833 and located at Columbus, Ohio, where they reared their family and spent their remaining days, the father passing away in 1853, while the mother, surviving for many years, departed this life in 1888. Their family included John P. Becker, who, as above stated, was one of thirteen men who came westward from Columbus, Ohio, and founded the town of Columbus, Nebraska, and for many years thereafter he was identified with the various business and public interests of this city and county.
William Becker spent the period of his boyhood and youth in the city of his nativity and there completed his education in the public schools. After he had attained his majority, on the 6th of March, 1863, he left his home in the east and came to Columbus, Nebraska, to join his brother John P., and with the excep- tion of three years spent in Omaha and St. Louis, he has been a continuous resident here. Soon after his arrival he embarked in the shoe business and later formed a partnership with his brother for the conduct of a grocery and the handling of grain. He subsequently engaged in the grocery business alone for three or four years. In April, 1893, he was elected city clerk of Columbus, and through reelection has continuously filled the office since that time. His long retention in the position is the best evidence of his efficiency and the satisfaction with which he is serving the general public.
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