USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 20
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npon the farm he engaged quite extensively in feeding stock, shipping about two carloads annually. He is now identified with the financial interests of the county as a stockholder of the Cornlea Bank.
Mr. Clark has been married twice. In 1880 he wedded Miss Mary Sheedy, who passed away the same year. The child born of that marriage died in infancy. In January, 1885, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Bridget Whalen, a daughter of Mort and Mary (Wrath) Whalen, who were natives of Ireland, where they spent their entire lives.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark belong to the Catholic church and he gives his political support to the republican party. When one analyzes his life record it is evident that his success has been built upon the sure foundation of industry, energy and perseverance and his conrse in this regard furnishes an example well worthy of emulation.
WILLIAM OLMER.
William Olmer, a successful young farmer of Granville township, was born January 8. 1884, on the farm on section 24 where he now lives and which he rents from his father. He is a son of Richard Olmer, who was born in Wisconsin, March 16, 1832. His parents, John and Frederica (Degenhart) Olmer, were natives of Germany and on coming to America in 1851 settled in Wisconsin, where John Olmer purchased government land and began the development of a farm, to which he devoted his energies throughont his remaining days. He died in February, 1891, while his wife passed away December 8, 1894. Richard Olmer spent his youthful days in Wisconsin and there engaged in farming until he attained his majority. In 1873 he arrived in Platte county, Nebraska, and preempted land which he sold two years later. He then returned to his native state, where he engaged in farming from 1875 to 1878, when he once more came to Platte county and purchased a homestead right of eighty acres. He afterward obtained eighty acres more in Gran- ville township and lived upon that farm nntil 1910, when he retired and removed to Humphrey. He afterward bought one hundred and sixty acres and is today the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable and productive land. On coming to Humphrey he purchased a good home within a block of the main street and there still resides. He is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Humphrey and also in the Farmers Elevator Company. Further mention of him is made on another page of this volume.
William Olmer attended school in his youthful days, dividing his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. He continued to assist his father until he reached the age of twenty-four years. when in 1908 he began farming on his own account a mile east of the old home place. In 1910, when his father retired and removed to Humphrey, William Olmer took up his abode upon the old homestead and has since resided there. He owns eighty acres of land on section 13. Granville township, and cultivates altogether three hundred and twenty acres of rich and prodnetive land. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, breeding shorthorn cattle and also raising a good grade of horses and hogs. He feeds all the grain that he raises and sells
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his stock to shippers. His business affairs are carefully conducted and able man- agement and sound judgment are bringing to him success.
On the 20th of January, 1908, Mr. Olmer was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Lubischer, a daughter of Peter and Catharine Lubischer. Her father was born in Germany, March 15, 1846, and her paternal grandparents were Phillip and Anna (Roos) Lubischer, also natives of that country. Phillip Lubischer followed farming throughont his entire life and remained a resident of Germany until called to his final rest December 31, 1885, while his wife passed away on the 22d of May, 1855. Peter Lubischer is a self-made man. He started out on his own account when but thirteen years of age and after working for some time as a farm hand secured employment in the factories of Germany. In 1872, when twenty-six years of age, he sailed for the new world and after a brief period spent in Chicago was employed as a farm hand in Illinois until 1878. He then returned to Germany to see his parents but came again to the United States in 1879 and was employed in a brewery at Omalla. He also worked in a lumber and coal yard there until 1889, when he came to Platte county and hought eighty acres on section 23, Granville township. To this he afterward added sixty acres on section 21 and has since given his time and attention to the improvement of his farm. He was married February 4, 1886, to Catharine Nick, a daughter of Peter and Catharine (Rothenberger) Nick, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Lubischer became parents of ten children and more extended mention of the family is made on another page of this volume.
Mr. and Mrs. Olmer have become parents of three children, namely: Margaret, who was born October 26, 1908; Helen, whose birth occurred August 23, 1910; and Cecelia, born February 22, 1912. The parents are members of St. Francis Cath- olie church of Humphrey and Mr. Olmer is identified with the Catholic Order of Foresters. His political indorsement is given to the democratic party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has worked hard to attain success and his persisteney of purpose, his energy and determination have been the salient points in winning for him the prosperity which he now enjoys.
ALBERT CLOETERS.
Albert Cloeters is actively engaged in general farming and stock-raising on sec- tion 6, Burrows township, where he has eighty acres of land. His farm, however, embraces three hundred and twenty acres, lying in three different townships, and in the management of the property he displays sound judgment and unfaltering energy. He was born in Germany, August 22, 1867, and is a son of Albert and Mary (Schnitzel) Cloeters, who were also natives of the fatherland, where the father followed farming for many years. He is now living retired in that country at the venerable age of eighty years. He did military duty for his country, serving in the Franco-German war in 1866 and 1870. His wife passed away in 1895.
After acquiring his education in the schools of his native country Albert Cloet- ers rendered military service to Germany, joining the army when a young man of nineteen years and remaining in the service for three years. Then exempt from further military duty, he determined to try his fortune in the new world and in
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1890 came to the United States, making his way to Platte Center, Nebraska, where he arrived with a cash capital of but five dollars. His financial condition rendered it imperative that he seek and obtain immediate employment and for a year he worked as a farm hand. He then rented the Duseman place, which he occupied and cultivated for eleven years, during which period he carefully saved his earnings until industry and economy had brought him capital sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm. He then invested in one hundred and sixty acres in Boone county, Ne- braska, but afterward sold that property and bought two hundred and forty acres in Platte county, to which he subsequently added an eighty-acre tract. His farm is in three townships, one hundred and sixty acres being on section 31, Granville township, eighty acres on section 1, Joliet township, and eighty acres on section 6, Burrows township. His home stands in Burrows township and for the past twelve years he has cultivated and developed this farm, which is now a splendidly improved property, the fields yielding to him golden harvests as a reward for the care and cultivation which he bestows upon them. In addition to general farming he makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Hampshire hogs and he feeds about two car loads of hogs and two car loads of cattle each year, his sale of stock bringing to him a very substantial financial return.
In June. 1894, Mr. Cloeters was united in marriage to Miss Anna Kehn, a daughter of Gottfried and Louisa (Rappuhn) Kehn, of whom more extended men- tion is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Fred Baumgart, brother-in-law of Mrs. Cloeters. Mr. and Mrs. Cloeters are the parents of six children, as follows: Amanda, who is twenty-one years of age and is the wife of Carl Jansen, a blacksmith of Cornlea, Nebraska; William, who is eighteen years old; Hilda, a maiden of sixteen; and Adolph, Anna and Mary, who are twelve, nine and three years of age respectively.
The family are German Baptists in religious faith, and Mr. Cloeters belongs also to the Modern Woodmen camp. He votes with the republican party and keeps well informed concerning the salient questions and issues of the day. Coming to the new world in young manhood, he has worked his way steadily upward, placing his dependence upon the substantial qualities of industry, perseverance and integrity. In his life there have been few leisure hours and his farm indicates what may be accomplished when there is a will to dare and to do.
THEODOR MEYER.
Theodor Meyer, who owns valuable farm property on sections 25 and 26, Gran- ville township, was born in Osnabruck, Germany, April 27, 1813, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Meyer, who were also natives of the same locality. The father, who devoted his entire life to the occupation of farming, passed away in Germany.
Theodor Meyer remaincd a resident of his native country until he reached the age of thirty-two years, when in 1875 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States. He had previously engaged in farming the old home place in Germany and was there married, in June, 1872, to Miss Katie Wilhelmina Rielag. who was horn in Osnabruck, Germany, December 26, 1846, a daughter of Henry Rielag. Her
MR. AND MRS. THEODOR MEYER
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father was a native of Germany and a distiller of that country. She is now de- ecased, passing away at Columbus Hospital on the 5th of November, 1911.
On coming to the United States Mr. and Mrs. Meyer had made their way to Meadville, Pennsylvania, in 1875 and for four months lived with his brother, the Rev. George Meyer. They then went west to Carroll county, Iowa, where Theodor Meyer established a home, purchasing land and carrying on farming there for nine years. In 1885 he arrived in Platte county, Nebraska, and invested in two hun- dred acres of land on section 26, Granville township. With characteristic energy he began its further development and improvement, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and adding to the place all of the equipments and acces- sories of a model farm. Year by year he carefuly tilled his fields, gathering good crops for which he found a ready sale on the market. In 1910, however, he retired from active life and removed to Columbus, renting his land, but indolence and idle- ness are utterly foreign to his nature and he was not content in the city without some occupation. Accordingly in 1913 he returned to the farm, whereon he now resides. although he is leaving the active work of the fields to his sons, who carry on farming and stock-raising.
To Mr. and Mrs. Meyer were born seven children, as follows: Henry, who wedded Miss Letta Moore and is a practicing attorney of Omaha; George, an at- torney of Los Angeles, California; Annie, the wife of Dr. August Kuhlmann, of Melrose, Minnesota, by whom she has five children-Laurence, Arnold, Louise, William and Raymond; August, at home; Joseph, who passed away on the 17th of August, 1911, when twenty-four years of age; John, at home; and Michael, who is also on the home place with his father and who wedded Miss Annie Heine, of Afton, Iowa. She is a daughter of John and Margaret (Trouth) Heine, the former owning and operating a brewery in Afton, Iowa, until his demise.
In his political faith Mr. Meyer is a democrat and he and his family are all members of St. Francis Catholic church of Humphrey, while he is also connected with St. Joseph's Men's Society. His son Michael belongs to the Knights of Columbus of Humphrey, being a charter member of that organization. His son August is a member of Company H, Fourth Regiment of the Nebraska National Guard. Mr. Meyer deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, as he started out in life empty-handed and has always been dependent upon his own resources for financial advancement. Gradually he has worked his way upward and his record is a most creditable one.
SAMUEL E. EWING.
Samuel E. Ewing is the proprietor of the only drug store at Creston and enjoys a liberal patronage from his fellow townsmen and from the citizens of the sur- rounding country. He is a western man by birth, training and preference, and the spirit of western enterprise and progress finds manifestation in his business career. He was born in Chariton, Iowa, August 1, 1879, a son of John and Rachel (Evans) Ewing, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Iowa. The father followed farming and stock-raising in the east and at an early period in the development of Iowa took up his abode in Chariton, where he resided until 1885.
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He then removed to Boone county, Nebraska, purchased land and carried on general farming until 1893, when he went to Edmund, Oklahoma. There he engaged in the live-stock business for three years, after which he returned to Boone county, where he lived for five years. On the expiration of that period he became a resident of California, where he purchased a fruit ranch, which he cultivated for ten years. He then established his home in Gary, Oklahoma, where he continued to live until his life's labors were ended in November, 1913. For two decades he had survived his wife, who passed away May 21, 1893.
Samuel E. Ewing pursued his education and spent his youth in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. He remained with his parents until he had passed the twentieth mile- stone on life's journey, when he started ont in the world independently, securing employment in a drug store, in which he remained for five years. Wishing more scientific training than his practical experience had given him, he then entered the Creighton College of Pharmacy at Omaha, from which he was graduated with the class of 1905. He then secured employment as a drug clerk in Omaha, where he remained until 1907, when he came to Creston and bought out a drug store. He has since conducted the business and, having the only store in the town, is liberally patronized. He not only carries a large line of drugs and drug- gists' sundries but also handles jewelry, and his business is enjoying a substantial growth. That he ranks high in his chosen field of labor is indicated in the fact that he has been made a member of the state board of pharmacy examiners, having served for two years of a five years' term.
On the 14th of July, 1908, Mr. Ewing was married to Miss Leila Graham, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Graham, pioneers of this county. Arriving here at an early epoch in the development of this part of the state, her father home- steaded and has since cultivated his farm, although he is now seventy years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing have become the parents of two children: Eugene G., born December 18, 1910; and Helen R., born October 5, 1912.
Mr. Ewing has always voted with the republican party since attaining his majority and does everything in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He is now a member of the town board of Creston and has served in the office for five years, making a creditable record through his capability and his fidelity to duty. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge and attends the Methodist Episcopal church-associations which indicate much of the character of his interests and the principles which govern his conduct.
JOHN SCHMOCKER.
Among the well known and successful business men of Columbus is John Schmocker, a real-estate and insurance agent. He was born in Canton Bern, Switz- erland, November 22, 1818, and is a son of Jacob and Anna (Hostetter) Schmocker, who were married in Switzerland in 1845 and came to the United States in 1866. For one year they lived in New Philadelphia, Ohio, and then removed to Osage county, Missouri, where they resided upon a farm for about ten years. The father served as president of the school board in Chamois, Missouri, and was highly
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esteemed in his community. He passed away November 30, 1874, and was survived by his widow until October 15, 1888.
John Schmocker received his education in his native land and accompanied his parents on their removal to the United States. He remained with them until 1878, when he came to Columbus, Nebraska, where he worked in a lumberyard for two years. At the end of that time he located on a farm in Platte county but ten years later he again took up his residence in Columbus, where for twelve years he engaged in the poultry business. Later he turned his attention to collections and was for four years clerk in the county assessor's office but is now engaged in the real-estate and insurance business. He is alert, energetic and possesses sound judgment, and it is but natural that he should prosper in his business affairs.
On the 27th of December, 1879, Mr. Schmocker was married in Chamois, Mis- souri, to Miss Mary E. Wuethrick, and they have become the parents of the following children: Fred C .; Louise, now Mrs. J. W. Becker, of Ottawa, Kansas; Lena M .; and Oscar E.
Mr. Schmocker is a democrat, has served as justice of the peace since 1911, was for one term constable of Platte county and since 1905 has been registrar of births and deaths in Columbus and vicinity. Fraternally he is connected with Camp No. 35, Woodmen of the World, of Columbus, and since 1902 has been clerk of that body. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a val- ued citizen of Columbus and all who know him entertain for him high regard and sincere respect.
AUGUST BOETTCHER.
Various business interests have claimed the time and attention of August Boettcher but at the present writing, in the fall of 1915, he is living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He now makes his home at No. 324 East Ninth street in Columbus, where he took up his abode in 1882. His birth occurred on the island of Rügen, Germany, March 15, 1850, his parents being Carl and Katrina (Hader) Boettcher. The father worked as a laborer in his native country and there passed away, but the mother afterward came to the new world and died in Columbus.
August Boettcher had very limited educational privileges in his native country and at an early age began earning his living as a fisherman, continuing in active employment of that character until the fall of 1871, when he came to the new world, establishing his home in Dodge county, Wisconsin. There he engaged in clerking in a general mercantile store until the spring of 1873, when he came to Columbus, where he gave his attention to the sale of harvesting machinery. He also homesteaded eighty acres of land, for considerable sections of the country were at that time unclaimed and uncultivated. After devoting six years to the improvement of his farm he purchased a hotel in Duncan, which he conducted for a year and a half or until the spring of 1882, when he made a trip to the old country and returned with his mother and sister after spending six months in the land of his birth amid the friends and scenes of his early youth.
In the fall of 1882 Mr. Boettcher took up his abode in Columbus, where he
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purchased grain for an elevator for about two years. In 1884 he purchased the hardware store of E. Pole & Company and conducted the business for twenty-four years, during which time he was accorded a liberal and gratifying trade. He always recognized that satisfied customers are the best advertisement and made every effort to please his patrons and give them full value for money invested. His reasonable prices and his honorable dealing brought him success that now enables him to live retired. However, he is still the owner of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land west of Columbus and two hundred acres lying to the northeast and is also a stockholder in the German National Bank.
Mr. Boettcher has been married twice. In April, 1874, he wedded Miss Mary Loseke, who died of diphtheria. In October, 1885, Mr. Boettcher was again married, his second union being with Miss Jennie Adamson, by whom he has twelve children, eight sons and four daughters.
In his political views Mr. Boettcher has always been a democrat since becoming a naturalized American citizen and he has served as a member of the city council and also as mayor of Columbus, his administration being characterized by many needed reforms and improvements and by active service for the welfare of the city along those lines which are ever a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. He belongs to the Independent Lutheran church and is identified with the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Sons of Herman and the Maennerchor. He has made several trips back to his native land and in 1915 visited the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. He now has leisure for the enjoyment of those things which are to him a matter of interest and recreation and his prosperity is the fitting crown of a well directed life of labor, characterized by honor and honesty in all transactions with his fellowmen.
CARL ROHDE.
Carl Rohde, a popular and prosperous citizen of Columbus, has made his home in Platte county for more than a quarter of a century and since February, 1908. has continuously served as secretary of the Sons of Herman, a German fraternal organization. His birth occurred in Hanover, Germany, on the 30th of March, 1856, his parents being Louis and Artemise (Lyssmann) Rohde, both of whom were natives of Hanover, Germany, the former born December 15, 1793. Louis Rohde was in the battle of Waterloo, under the command of the Duke of Welling- ton, and afterward at Paris. He died in Hanover on the 12th of August, 1869, while his wife passed away in that province in September, 1889. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a lifelong resident of Hanover.
Carl Rohde spent the first seventeen years of his life in his native province and then emigrated to the United States in 1873, making his way to Rock Island, Illinios, where lived a married sister. He secured employment as a farm hand near the town and worked during one year for a remuneration of eight dollars per month and board. He then took up his abode in Rock Island and there resided for four years, spending the entire period at work in a brewery with the exception of six months' labor in a lumberyard. Subsequently he went to Texas but at the end of six months returned to Rock Island, Illinois, and in the spring of 1879
CARL ROHDE
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made his way back to his home in Hanover because of impaired health, for he had suffered from malarial fever contracted in Texas. Two years later, however, lie again erossed the ocean to the United States and settled in Tecumseh, John- son county, Nebraska, where he engaged in farming until the spring of 1884. He next followed farming in Minnesota for six months and then embarked in busi- ness in Jackson, Jackson county, that state, there continuing to reside until the spring of 1886. During the next two years he conducted a business enterprise at Auburn, Nemala county, Nebraska, and in 1888 came to Columbus, this state, being here engaged in the liquor business for four years. Subsequently he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in Platte county for three years and then again embarked in the liquor business in Columbus, successfully carrying on the enter- prise until 1907. During the next year he rested and in February, 1908, he was appointed secretary of the German fraternal organization known as the Sons of Herman, which he has served in that capacity continuously to the present time. winning reelection in recognition of his ability in the discharge of the important duties devolving upon him. He owns farms and other property and is widely recognized as a substantial, representative and esteemed citizen of Columbus.
On the 29th of April, 1890, in Columbus, Nebraska, Mr. Rohde was united in marriage to Miss Marguerite Mack, a daughter of George Mack, who is deceased. They now have four children, namely: Carl G., born July 23, 1891, who was grad- uated from the University of Nebraska with the class of 1914; Ernestine; Frank G., whose natal day was May 4, 1896; and Agnes Louise.
Mr. Rohde gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is now chairman of the committee of forestation of the sand hills of Nebraska. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Sons of Herman. He is a Lutheran in religious faith and belongs to the Maennerchor, of which . society he is a trustee. Mr. Rohde has never had occasion to regret his determina- tion to seek a home in the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and has won both success and happiness.
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