USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 23
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Miss Anna Lubischer and is engaged in farming near Humphrey, this county : Mary, who is the wife of Max Stenger. of Madison county, Nebraska; Kate, who is a resident of Madison, Nebraska; Edward, who is in the service of the Nebraska Bridge & Supply Company of Omaha; Lydia, living in Madison, this state; John, who is a resident of David City, Nebraska; and George, at home.
The parents and children are members of the Catholic church and in his politi- cal views Mr. MeDermott has always been a democrat. He has never sought nor desired political office but for eighteen years served as school director in District No. 66 and was an enthusiastic advocate of good schools. Fraternally he is con- nected with Columbus Lodge of the Knights of Columbus, an organization which draws its membership from the representatives of the Catholic church. Since start- ing out in the business world on his own account he has made his way unaided and whatever success he has achieved or enjoyed is the direct reward of his earnest purpose and indefatigable effort.
JOHN F. FUCHS.
John F. Fuchs is a representative of one of the old families of Humphrey town- ship and makes his home on section 27. where he is engaged in general farming. He was born in that township, October 20, 1884. his parents being Ferdinand and Elizabeth (Brockhaus) Fuchs, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. At the usual age he began his education, attending the parochial school in Humphrey. while in the school of experience he. also learned many valuable lessons concerning those things which are vital in life and concerning the best methods of tilling and developing a farm. He early began work in the fields. assisting his father, and he remained upon the home farm with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-seven years, when his father gave him one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 27, Humphrey township. In addition to his home property he also operates one hundred and sixty acres adjoining which he rents from his father. His time is well spent in the management of his farm, and in its cultivation he follows modern, progressive methods, carefully rotating his crops and studying the questions of soil and crop production. From practical experience he has learned many valuable lessons and the excellent appearance of his property indicates him to be one of the leading farmers of the county. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Humphrey but concentrates the greater part of his attention upon the work of the fields on his home place.
On the 12th of November. 1912, Mr. Fuchs was united in marriage to Miss Mary Smith, a daughter of Fred H. and Anna (Ottis) Smith, the former a native of Johnsburg, Illinois, and the latter of Mount Calvary, Wisconsin. Her father lived with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when he came to Platte county, Nebraska, where he purchased land. which he afterward culti- vated until 1901. when he sold out and went to Oklahoma. There he purchased land, which he is still cultivating. Both he and his wife are living and both are fifty-six years of age. There were ten children in their family, five of whom survive, namely : John K .: Mrs. Thomas Werner: Mrs. John F. Fuchs; Catherine and Anthony.
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Mr. and Mrs. Fuchs have but one child, Freddie J., who was born November 6, 1913. The parents are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Fuchs is identified with the Catholic Order of Foresters. At the polls he is a democrat, voting for the men and measures of the party, but he is not an active party worker, preferring to give his undivided attention to his farm. He realizes fully the value of industry and determination, and persistent, earnest effort is winning for him a comfortable competence.
PETER BENDER.
Peter Bender, deceased, was one of the largest landowners of Platte county and the importance of his business affairs and the creditable relation which he maintained toward public interests marked him as one of the valued citizens of his community, causing his death to be deeply regretted when he passed away. He was one of the worthy citizens that Germany furnished to Nebraska. His birth occurred in Menamebach, Germany, June 12, 1852, his parents being Peter and Catharine (Mallmann) Bender. The father's birth occurred in the same place October 3, 1825, and the mother was born in Wenhausen on the 17th of February, 1832. They came to America with their family when their son Peter was but four years old and settled upon a farm near Henry, Illinois. There the son was reared to young manhood, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist.
In 1876 Mr. Bender was united in marriage to Miss Kate Hatzbuehler, who passed away in 1894. To them were born nine children, seven of whom still survive, as follows: William, George, Charles, Edward, Mrs. C. P. Hittner, Mrs. J. R. Ternus and Mrs. Chester Waglie. In 1895 Mr. Bender was again married, his second union being with Miss Katic Tohlen, daughter of Tobias and Catharine Tohlen, both of whom were natives of Germany. Mrs. Bender was born in Ger- many, July 7, 1862, and on coming to the United States in 1891 became a resident of St. Andrews. Her parents never crossed the Atlantic, her father dying in Germany in August, 1892, while his wife survived until October, 1894. Following her marriage Mrs. Bender lived upon the home farm on section 32, Granville township, but after her husband's death, which occurred April 9, 1915, she removed to Cornlea, where she now makes her home. To Peter and Katie (Tohlen) Bender were born five children, namely: Nellie, whose birth occurred October 8, 1895, and who is the wife of Met Schumacher; Daniel, who was born November 6, 1896, and operates the home farm; Margaret, who was born May 17, 1898; Joseph, deceased ; and Johnnie, whose natal day was July 26, 1901.
It was in the year 1885 that Mr. Bender removed to this county, taking up his abode upon a tract of land of eighty acres in Granville township, which had been given him by his father. He at once began the task of developing and improving the tract, and to his original holdings he added whenever opportunity offered until he became one of the extensive landowners of the county, having at the time of his death nine hundred and twenty acres of highly cultivated and well improved land in this part of the state. His possessions constituted the visible evidence of a life of well directed energy, thrift and determination. He was always actuated
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by a laudable ambition that enabled him to make good use of his time and oppor- tunities and thus he won his prosperity. He also owned twenty-seven lots and buildings in Cornlea and held twenty-six shares in the Cornlea State Bank, which he aided in organizing and of which he served as vice president, also acting as a member of the board of directors from its establishment.
In his political views Mr. Bender was a democrat and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his ability, called him to various public offices. He served as township trustce, was for fourteen years a member of the board of county supervisors, was a member of the township and village boards and also of the school board of Granville township for a number of years. He recognized fully his duties and obligations toward the public and was loyal to every trust reposed in him. He was also a man of generous spirit and gave freely of his means to help an individual or to further any movement of public worth. He was the first to contribute five hundred dollars toward the building of the Catholic church at Cornlea, of which he was a most prominent member and earnest worker. Life was to him purposeful and he never heedlessly passed by the opportunity to do good. He was inter- ested in the progress and improvement of his community and in every possible way contributed to its advancement. The worth of his public work and his ability in business made him indeed one of the valued and honored citizens of Platte county.
LOUIS WILKEN.
Louis Wilken makes his home upon a farm on section 9, Bismark township, where he has two hundred and eighty acres of land. This constitutes the old home- stead property of the family and thereon he was born February 18, 1881. His parents were Herman and Anna Wilken, who were natives of Oldenburg, in the northern part of Germany. They came to the United States in 1866 and following the outbreak of the Civil war Herman Wilken responded to the call of his adopted country for aid and enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Vol- untecr Infantry. He went to the front and did active service in defense of the Union until the cessation of hostilities. When the war was over he came to Nebraska and settled upon the place which is now the home of his son Louis. There lie carried on general farming until his life's labors were ended in death in December, 1889. In his passing the county mourned the loss of a worthy citizen.
Louis Wilken attended the district schools. He was only five years of age when his father died and when still quite young he assumed the management of the home farm for his mother. In all the intervening period to the present time he has diligently and carefully cultivated the place and has added many excellent improvements thereto. He has built a comfortable and attractive residence and a large barn and has also added other modern improvements. Aside from tilling the soil he raises shorthorn cattle and finds it a profitable source of income.
On the 4th of January, 1905, Mr. Wilken was united in marriage to Miss Freda Hilmer, a daughter of Christ and Vipeka Hilmer. She died October 11, 1907. and Mr. Wilken has since married again, his second nnion being with Miss Emma Krumland, a daughter of Gerhard Krumland. His second marriage, which
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was celebrated September 20, 1910, has been blessed with three children: Luella, Clarence Herman and Wilbert Louis.
The parents are members of the German Lutheran church and in his political views Mr. Wilken is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is interested in matters pertaining to public welfare and his cooperation can be counted upon to further measures for the gen- eral good, but his time and attention are largely demanded by his farming interests, and the excellent and well kept appearance of his place of two hundred and eighty acres indicates that he leads a busy and useful life.
HERMAN LAMMERS.
Herman Lammers, a retired farmer living in Columbus, was born at Wilhelms- haven, Germany, March 20, 1843. He never saw his father, who died during the early infancy of his son. The boy went to school in Germany and in carly life started to earn his living by working as a farm hand in his native country. In 1869 he came to the United States and settled in Illinois, working first as a farm hand near Hillsboro in Montgomery county. Purchasing land in that state, he carried on general farming and prospered as the years went by, his record being that of a self-made man, for he had only one dollar when he landed in the United States. In 1894 he came to Platte county and began farming in Monroe township, where he purchased land that he devoted to the cultivation of various crops and to stock-raising. To his original purchase of one hundred and sixty acres he has added from time to time until he is now the owner of three valuable and productive farms, two comprising one hundred and sixty acres each, while the third covers two hundred acres. All three are located in Monroe township and to the work of general farming he devoted his energies until 1907, when he removed to Columbus, where he is now living retired, his rest being truly deserved. He has been throughont life an active member of the German Lutheran church, doing much to upbuild the cause both in Illinois and in Nebraska. He gave a tract of land on section 1, Monroe township, for the building of the German Lutheran church and has ever been most generous in its support.
Mr. Lammers has been married three times. By his first marriage he had one child, John, who is married and has two children and who occupies the old home- stead. For his second wife he chose Meta Stamer, a native of Germany, who passed away in 1908, at the age of forty-six years. Her father. Fred Stamer, worked as a farm hand in Germany and after emigrating to the United States made his home with our subject until called to his final rest in 1900, when sixty- eight years of age. To Mr. Lammers and his second wife were born four children. as follows: Anna, the wife of Carl Brandt, who follows farming in Monroe town- ship and by whom she has one child; Lena, the wife of Jake Moore, who operates the farm of his father-in-law and by whom she has two children: Josephine, who keeps house for her father; and Fred, who was born in 1902 and is at home. For his third wife Mr. Lammers chose Marie Lubben.
He has led a very active and useful although quiet and retiring life. He has always wisely used his opportunities and through untiring industry he gained for
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himself a place among the substantial agrieulturists of Platte county, where he has now lived for twenty-one years. His activities have always been an exemplifi- eation of high and honorable principles and in none of his business affairs has he ever been known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen.
CARL BAUMGART.
One of the well improved farms of Granville township is the property of Carl Baumgart, who lives on section 12, where he owns one hundred and sixty aeres of rich and productive land. In addition, however, he is extensively engaged in cultivating rented land and is one of the largest producers of corn in this part of the state. His early training was that of the farm, for through his boyhood and youth he aided in cultivating the fields at the old home place in Germany. He was born in Prussia, December 16, 1870, and is a son of Gottfried and Augusta Baum- gart, who were natives of that kingdom. The father was a farmer of Prussia for a considerable period and afterward went to Russia, where he has since engaged in farming. He is now eighty-four years of age. His wife, however, has passed away, her death occurring in 1903.
Carl Baumgart was reared and educated in Prussia and remained with his parents until he reached his majority, when he determined to try his fortune in the new world and came to America, settling in Humphrey, Platte county, Ne- braska, in 1890. There he worked in a brickyard for a year, after which he resumed the occupation to which he had been reared, renting land, which he culti- vated for fifteen years. He then purchased one hundred and sixty aeres on section 12, Granville township, and at onee began its development and improvement. He has one of the best improved farms of the county and has carefully and persist- ently cultivated it with the result that it is a most productive traet of land. He also rents five hundred and sixty acres and has altogether four hundred and seventy acres planted to corn. The careful methods which he follows in developing his fields lead to good harvests and sueeess in gratifying measure has erowned his efforts. In addition to his farming interests Mr. Baumgart is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Humphrey and in the Bell Telephone Company. At one time he owned one hundred and sixty aeres of land in addition to the home traet, but in the spring of 1915 he sold this.
In March, 1893, Mr. Baumgart was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Kehn, a daughter of Gottfried and Louisa Kehn, who were natives of Prussia, where the father learned and followed the blacksmith's trade until 1891, when he came to the United States, settling first in Brooklyn, New York, where he remained until 1893, when he came to Humphrey, where he has since resided. He now lives with Fred Baumgart, a brother of Carl. and both he and his wife have reached the advaneed age of eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Baumgart have become the parents of eleven children: Arthur, Charlie, Otto, Walter. Clarence, Alvin, Elmer, Ella, Lydia, Clara and Rose.
In religious belief the family are connected with the German Baptist church and fraternally Mr. Baumgart is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World. Politieally he is a republican, conversant with
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the leading questions and issues of the day, so that he is able to support his posi- tion by intelligent argument, but he does not seek nor care for public office, as his time is fully occupied with his business affairs, which have grown in volume and importance until he is today one of the foremost farmers of the county.
HENRY DEYKE.
Henry Deyke is a resident farmer of Sherman township, living on section 30, where he now has two hundred and forty acres of finely cultivated land, his time being devoted to general farming and stock-raising. He was born in Grossenkneten, Oldenburg, Germany, September 17, 1849, a son of John Henry Deyke, who spent his entire life in his native country. He there extensively engaged in farming and in stock-raising and was also an active and prominent member of the German Lutheran church.
Henry Deyke acquired his early education in the village schools and in early manhood inherited a part of his father's farm but conditions were then not favorable to money making and he gave his farm to his sister and came to the United States, arriving in Platte county in 1873. He was pleased with the rich land of this district and the opportunities here offered and entered a homestead claim of eighty acres on section 30, Sherman township. His residence in pioneer times was a sod house and he used ox teams to break the sod and turn the furrows. There were no improvements on the land, not even prairie grass covered the soil, for prairie fires had burned it off. In early years after he planted crops they were devastated by the grasshoppers and he had to go to the home of friends in Columbus for his meals. He then sought employment in other ways, securing work on the Union Pacific Railroad, which was then being built to Norfolk. When this had brought him a little money he resumed his farming operations and gradually he has worked his way upward, being now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land on section 30, Sherman township. Today the farm is well improved and is neat in appearance. All of the improvements upon the place are the result of his handiwork. He has crected good buildings, has set out good trees and has otherwise developed the place until it is now an excellent property. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he raises Poland China hogs and his annual sales bring him a gratifying financial return.
On July 8, 1881, Mr. Deyke was umted in marriage to Miss Helena Neemeyer, who was born in Oldenburg, in 1863, a daughter of Frederick Neemeyer, who in 1880 emigrated from Germany to Platte county and settled on railroad land in Grand Prairie township. His place comprised one hundred and sixty acres, on which he made all the improvements and there he engaged in farming until the time of his death in the early '80s. His religious faith was that of the Lutheran church. To Mr. and Mrs. Deyke have been born five children: Martha, the wife of Otto Schulz, by whom she has three children; Fred, who is principal of the high school at Deshler, Nebraska; Amelia, the wife of William Schulz, by whom she has three children; Aline, the wife of Martin Meyer and the mother of one daughter; and Henry, at home.
Mr. Deyke was one of the organizers of St. John's Lutheran church in Grand
HENRY DEYKE AND FAMILY
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Prairie township and assisted in erecting its house of worship. He served as one of its trustees for many years and has always contributed generously to its support. Mr. Deyke is well known in this county, where he has made his home for forty-two years. He has a wide acquaintance and the substantial traits of his character have gained him the warm regard of those with whom he has been brought in contaet.
ANTON J. GLODOWSKI.
Anton J. Glodowski, filling the office of postmaster of Platte Center, to which he was appointed in January, 1915, was born in Colfax county, Nebraska, January 27, 1886, a son of Joseph and Mary (Pojar) Glodowski, who settled in Colfax county in 1883. It was there that Anton J. Glodowski was reared, pursuing his education in the country schools until he had completed the work of the eighth grade. He afterward concentrated his energies upon farm work, in which he engaged until 1909, becoming familiar with every phase of agricultural life in connection with the raising of grain and stoek. In the year mentioned he removed to Platte Center and opened a furniture and undertaking establishment, continuing actively in the business for four years and building up a good trade. Subsequently he was employed for a year as clerk in a store. In January, 1915, he was appointed to the position of postmaster and is making a ereditable record in that office.
On the 28th of January, 1908, at Dodge, Nebraska, Mr. Glodowski was mar- ried to Miss Emma Hanzel, a daughter of Frank Hanzel, and to them have been born two children, Zelma and Bernard. Mr. Glodowski is a young man, having not yet completed his third decade, but he has become firmly established as a representative resident of Platte county, where his good qualities have endeared him to his fellow townsmen and his ability has gained him recognition through appointment to office.
OLIVER HUGH WALTERS.
Oliver Hugh Walters is the proprietor of the Art Printery of Columbus, which is one of the most important enterprises of the kind in this section of the state, busi- ness being coudneted along modern, progressive lines. He was born February 18, 1887, at Garner, Nebraska, a postoffice five miles west of Petersburg which has since been discontinued. His father, Oliver E. Walters, was a native of Brooklyn, New York, and on coming to the west homesteaded in Boone county in the '70s. He became a prominent citizen and business man there, serving for seven years as county clerk and afterward entering the abstract and real-estate business. His wife, Mrs. Cora E. Walters, was a native of Wisconsin and went to Boone county with her parents in her childhood days, so that on both sides Oliver Hugh Walters is a representative of pioneer families in this state.
His early education was acquired in the primary department of the schools at Petersburg and he left the high school at the age of fifteen years to take up the duties of "devil" in the office of the Petersburg Index, which was then owned by his Vol. 11-12
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father. He spent four years in that connection, during which he became thoroughly acquainted with the business, and later he was employed as a printer in two dif- ferent printing offices at Albion, Nebraska, for two years. On the 10th of June, 1907, he arrived in Columbus to accept the position of foreman on the Columbus Tribune, then owned by Richard Ramey. He continued to act in that capacity for five years but left the position in the spring of 1912 to establish the job shop which he now owns. He entered into partnership with G. W. Davis and on the 1st of March, 1912, opened the Art Printery for business. A year later he purchased the interest of his partner and has since conducted the business independently. He had little capital when he started out, but he has succeeded in discharging all indebt- edness upon the plant or business and is today enjoying a liberal patronage. The work which he turns out is of high grade and its ncat and attractive appearance, combined with reasonable prices, have insured growing success for the undertaking.
On the 14th of June, 1911, at Columbus, Mr. Walters was united in marriage to Miss Ettna C. Linstrum, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Linstrum. She was born at Sutton, Nebraska, and when three years of age was brought by her parents to Columbus, where she has since resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Walters have been born two children, a daughter, Davida E., now three years of age, and a son, Oli- ver Wendell, aged ten months. The parents hold membership in the Methodist church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful part. Mr. Walters is now secretary of the official board of the church and has held the position of su- perintendent of the Sunday school for two terms. He does all in his power to advance the interests of the church and thereby promote the moral progress of the community, and he gives his aid and support to many measures which are planned to advance the general welfare.
JOSEPH ZUERLEIN.
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