USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 28
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On the 24th of June, 1893, in Hastings, Nebraska, Mr. Bergman was united in marriage to Miss Anna H. Peterson, of Chicago, by whom he has two children, namely: Gustaf E., who was born May 10, 1894; and Ethel Florence, whose birth occurred May 9, 1896.
In his political views Mr. Bergman is a stanch republican and for two years has served as a member of the city council in Columbus. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, while fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks. His life has been above reproach in all relations and he is widely recognized as one of the substantial, esteemed and representative citizens of Columbus and Platte county.
JAMES E. COSSAIRT.
James E. Cossairt was one of the organizers of the Platte Center Milling Com- pany, which is one of the most extensive and important productive industries of this part of the state. Its ramifying business connections now cover a wide territory and the enterprise and careful management which have always characterized the conduct of the business have resulted in bringing substantial success to the stock- holders. Moreover, the undertaking is of a nature that contributes to general pros- perity as well as to individual success and every resident of the county is proud of the record that has been made by the Platte Center Milling Company during the five years of its existence.
James E. Cossairt, at the head of the business, was born at Oakdale, Antelope county, Nebraska, February 19, 1872, a son of David A. and Mary A. Cossairt. The father was born in Canada and came of French ancestry, while the mother was born in Danville, Illinois, and was of English descent. They were married in Dan- ville in 1865 and in March, 1869, removed to St. Clair valley, Antelope county, Nebraska, J. E. Cossairt being the first white child born in that valley. His youthful surroundings were indeed those of a pioneer existence, for the district in which the family lived was one in which the work of civilization and improvement had scarcely been begun. Time and man, however, wrought many changes and brought increas- ing advantages and opportunities. James E. Cossairt, having mastered the elemen- tary branches of learning, continued his education in the high school at Battle Creek, Nebraska, from which he was graduated in June, 1894. He then turned his attention to the milling business and one of the secrets of his success is un- doubtedly the fact that he has always continued to dircet his energies in the line in which he embarked as a young tradesman. He thoroughly acquainted himself with every phase of the business and prepared to assume responsibilities in that con- nection. He established a mill on Shell creek a short distance from Platte Center in 1902 and in 1910 he organized the Platte Center Milling Company, in which he Vol. 11-14
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remains one of the large stockholders. This company erected the new mill in Platte Center, which was the first complete ball-bearing roller mill in the United States. From the beginning their product met with popular favor and their trade now covers a large territory, shipment being made to thirty-five points in Nebraska, also to Kansas City, to Chicago and to Colorado. In 1914 they utilized forty-one thou- sand six hundred bushels of wheat and in that year furnished to the United States government Indian service two hundred and sixty thousand pounds of flour. The business is now an extensive and important industry, ranking as one of the chief enterprises of this part of the state. Aside from his milling interests at Platte Center Mr. Cossairt is connected with other business at Battle Creek, Nebraska.
On the 28th of November, 1898, in Madison, Nebraska, occurred the marriage of Mr. Cossairt and Miss Mary Moore, a daughter of J. A. Moore, of Battle Creek, Madison county, Nebraska. They are highly esteemed in the community where they reside and the hospitality of the best homes is cordially extended them. In his politi- cal views Mr. Cossairt is a republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but does not seck nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs with the result that his close application and indefatigable industry have made him one of the foremost representatives of manu- facturing interests in this part of the state.
LOUIS D. DICKE.
Louis D. Dicke is living on section 25, Bismark township, where he owns an excellent farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres well improved. It was in this township that he was born on the 10th of June, 1880, and he comes of German ancestry. His parents, John and Gesine (Plugge) Dicke, were both natives of Germany and, coming to America, settled in Bismark township at an early period in the development of Platte county, the father homesteading land. That this was a frontier district is indicated by the fact that much of the land was still in posses- sion of the government. The father bent his energies to the development and im- provement of his place, which he persistently and successfully cultivated until his death, which occurred in 1886, when his son Louis was but six years of age. The . mother afterward married again, becoming the wife of C. G. Koch, and she 110W makes her home in Bismark township.
Louis D. Dicke was reared on the old homestead farm and when twenty years of age started out in life on his own account. earning his first money by working as a farm hand. He was employed in that way by the month and by the year and when he had saved a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase land he began farming independently. He is today the owner of one hundred and eighty-five acres, con- stituting an excellent property pleasantly situated on section 25, Bismark town- ship. He has added to his farm needed modern improvements and in fact it is lack- ing in none of the accessories, equipments and conveniences of the model farm of the twentieth century.
In 1911 Mr. Dicke was united in marriage to Miss Helena Oltmann, who was born in Colfax county, Nebraska, a daughter of Herman and Gesine (Schutte) Oltmann, the former now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dicke have become parents of
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a son and a daughter, John and Mabel. They hold membership in the Lutheran church and are guided in all their relations by its teachings. Mr. Dicke is recog- nized as a man of honorable purpose and stalwart character, and both he and his wife have gained warm friends in the community in which they make their home.
FREDERICK WALTER LEONARD, D. D. S.
Dentistry is unique among the professions in that it demands three-fold skill. The successful practitioner must not only have a broad knowledge of the scientific principles of the profession, but most possess also marked mechanical ingenuity and skill, combined with that business sense which will enable him to so direct his efforts as to win an adequate financial return. Competent along all these lines, Dr. Frederick Walter Leonard, with offices in the Commercial National Bank building, is now regarded as one of the foremost dentists of Columbus. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, September 21, 1892, a son of Charles E. and Margaret R. (Scha- bert) Leonard.
After attending the parochial schools Dr. Leonard continued his education in the high school of St. James, from which he was graduated with the class of 1911. After that he worked for the Standard Oil Company and subsequently went to Creighton University, where he prepared for dental practice, being graduated with the class of 1915. Immediately afterward he came to Columbus and bought out Dr. Solomon, having now the finest and most completely equipped dental office in the state. Here are to be found all the delicate instruments for doing every kind of dental work and his skill in their manipulation places him among the foremost representatives of his calling in western Nebraska.
Dr. Leonard is a Catholic in religous faith and in his political affiliation is a democrat. He is a wide-awake, progressive young man and his social qualities are winning for him personal popularity, while his ability has gained him professionel success.
JAMES BURROWS.
James Burrows, who is now living retired in Platte Center, was for many years actively engaged in general farming in Burrows township. Moreover, he is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war and is now the only old soldier living in Lost Creek township. He was born February 14. 1841, in London, England. and came to the United States with his parents, Joseph and Marie Burrows, when but a year old, the family home being established in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The father had previously learned surveying and there worked as an assistant surveyor for thirteen years, after which he removed westward, establishing his home in Illinois. In October, 1869, he drove through from that state to Platte county. Nebraska, and secured a homestead claim of eighty acres. whereon he engaged in general farming.
James Burrows was a boy when the family went to Illinois and in the public schools of that state pursued his education. At the outbreak of the Civil war his
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patriotic spirit was aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union and he offered his services to the government, enlisting in Company B, One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry. He was wounded in the shoulder in the battle of Atlanta, but served throughont the remainder of the war without getting a scratch. He participated in various hotly contested engagements and met all the experiences incident to hard campaigning in the south. He is now the only old soldier living in Lost Creek township and he deserves the honor and respect which should ever be accorded to the preservers of the Union. When the war was over he came to Nebraska and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Burrows town- ship, Platte county, becoming one of its earliest pioneers. The township was named in his honor and with its development he was closely associated for a long period. He carried on general farming, bringing his land to a high state of cultivation and adding to it many modern equipments and improvements. At length he retired from active life and removed to the little progressive city of Platte Center, in which he now makes his home. For many years he had been closely associated with agri- cultural interests and his well directed efforts have brought to him the substantial success which now enables him to live retired.
On the 15th of July, 1866, Mr. Burrows was married to Miss Rachel Wolf, a daughter of Jacob and Barbara Wolf, of Illinois, and they have become parents of ten children: Charles, of Ida, South Dakota; May, the wife of Willard Hop- kins, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Sarah Jane, the wife of William Gokin, of Neligh, Nebraska; Clara Ellen. the wife of John Burns, of Denver, Colorado; James, at Daisy, Washington; Joseph and Albert, both deceased; Ada Isabelle, the wife of Henry Schidel, of Platte Center ; Lulu Marion, the wife of E. J. Mackin, of Platte Center; and George Whitmore, town marshal at Platte Center.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church, while in political belief Mr. Burrows is a democrat. He has served as justice of the peace and his decisions while in office were strictly fair and impartial. He has also been county commissioner and assessor and for twenty-seven years was a member of the school board, doing everything in his power to advance the interests of cduca- tion, for he believes in the establishment of good schools and the employment of com- petent teachers that the young may be well qualified by educational training for the practical and responsible duties of life. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Grand Army of the Republic, and he proudly wcars the little bronze button which indicates that he was once one of the boys in blue. In days of peace he has ever been as true and loyal in matters of citizenship as when he followed the old flag upon the battlefields of the south.
JOSEPH MELCHER.
Joseph Melcher is a farmer and stockman living on section 4, Granville town- ship, where he owns and controls two hundred acres of rich and productive land. He is also conducting a growing business as a dealer in live stock and he is num- bered among the pioneer threshers of the county. His birth occurred on the upper peninsula of Michigan. August 19. 1863, his parents being John and Frances (Smeltzer) Melcher. The father. who was a native of Macheden, Germany, born
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September 8, 1833, was a farmer in his native land. At the age of sixteen years, however, he came to America and for twenty-four years worked in the mines. In 1872 he arrived in Nebraska and took up his abode in Granville township, a quarter of a mile from the place where his son Joseph now lives. He secured both a home- stead and a timber claim and thereon resided for an extended period but later retired from active farm life and removed to St. Bernard, where his wife passed away November 21, 1908. She was a native of Germany and for many years they traveled life's journey happily together. After losing his wife Mr. Melcher came to the home of his son Joseph and there died on the 13th of November, 1913.
Mr. and Mrs. John Melcher became the parents of twelve children, eight of whom survive, as follows: Martin, who was born March 24, 1862, and is a resident of Granville township; Joseph, of this review; Caroline, whose birth occurred August 29, 1865, and who lives in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska; John, who was born May 13, 1867, and is a farmer of Granville township; Frances, who was born July 14, 1870, and lives in Shell Creek, Nebraska; Fred, who was born May 13, 1872, and follows farming in Granville township; Henry, who was born November 25, 1875. and is a farmer living near Lindsay; and Benjamin, who was born October 30, 1882, and follows farming in Granville township.
Joseph Melcher attended school in Madison county, Nebraska, and worked npon the home farm for his father until he reached the age of thirty years, when he was married and took up his abode upon the farm where he now resides. He bought this place from the estate in 1907, previous to which time he had rented it from his father. He today owns and cultivates two hundred acres of well improved land, his fields readily responding to the care and labor which are bestowed upen them. He breeds also a good grade of stock and he feeds both cattle and hogs. For the past five years he has been engaged in breeding Jersey Red hogs, raising from one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty head each year and shipping a car load each spring to Omaha. He also feeds a car load of cattle annually and he is an excellent judge of stock, so that he knows how to make judicious purchases and profitable sales. He also became one of the pioneer threshers of Platte county, carrying on business with Frank Schwartz as a partner for five years, during which they operated an old-time horse power ontfit. For sixteen seasons Mr. Melcher threshed over the territory between Humphrey. St. Bernard. Madison, Creston and Lindsay.
On the 18th of April, 1893, Mr. Melcher was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Van Ackeren, daughter of John and Anna (Van Ackeren) Van Ackeren, who, though of the same name, were not related. They were natives of Germany and in 1881 emigrated to the United States, locating in Pierce county, Nebraska, where they remained for one year. Subsequently they removed to West Point and later took up their abode in Granville township, Platte county, where the father pur- chased land and carried on general agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life. His widow now makes her home in Humphrey. To Mr. and Mrs. Melcher have been born nine children, as follows: Rudolph John, whose birth occurred February 25, 1894; Ella Francisco, whose natal day was March 21, 1895; Joseph Martin, born August 22, 1896; Anna Carolina, born March 31, 1898; Arthur Paul, whose birth occurred October 6, 1899; Angela Elizabeth, born June 13, 1901; Eleanora Theresa, born April 20, 1903; Loretta Lucile, born July 26, 1906; and a daughter who died in infancy.
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Mr. Melcher and his wife and children are members of St. Francis Catholic church of Humphrey and he belongs to St. Joseph's Men's Society of that church. His political indorsement is given to the democratic party but he never seeks or desires office. All of his life he has been connected with farming and stock-rais- ing and, continuing in this business, he is now meeting with substantial and well deserved success. He has worked diligently along a single line of business and the effectiveness of his labors is seen in a substantial bank account and a valuable farm property.
VALTIN GEHR.
Valtin Gehr was well known in the business circles of Humphrey, where for a long period he successfully conducted a meat market. His business worth and other substantial qualities gained for him high regard, so that his death was a matter of deep regret to those who knew him. He was born in the province of Rimpar, Ger- many, September 12, 1868, a son of Joseph and Justina (Emerling) Gehr, who in 1880 came to America with their family, settling on a farm in Humphrey town- ship, Platte county, Nebraska, where the father purchased land and carried on general agricultural pursuits for four years. He afterward removed to Humphrey, where he opened and conducted a butcher shop, remaining an active factor in busi- ness circles of the town until he was called to his final rest. His wife has also passed away.
Valtin Gehr attended school in Germany and continued his education in Humph- rey township after coming with his parents to the new world when a youth of twelve years. In his boyhood days he worked upon the home farm and in the butcher shop with his father, his time being thus passed until he attained his majority. He then married and opened a shop of his own, which he conducted until 1894. In that year he removed to a farm on Shell creek in Burrows township and purchased eighty acres of land, to which he devoted his energies for a year. At the end of that time he rented the place and returned to Humphrey, where he again conducted a meat market until 1904. He then entered into partnership with Joe Schmidt and the connection was continued for six years, or until his death, which occurred January 26, 1910.
Mr. Gehr was married on the 28th of April, 1891, to Miss Georgiana Wolf, who was born near Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, February 19, 1870, a daughter of Frederick and Martha (Yerion) Wolf. The father was also born in Fulton county, Illinois, and the mother in Virginia, but both were of German descent. In Septem- ber, 1870, they came to Platte county, settling on a farm on Shell creek in Burrows township, the father homesteading eighty acres, to which he afterward added forty acres, which he still owns and now rents. He resided upon his farm until 1897 and following the death of his wife, on the 2d of February, of that year, he went to live with Mrs. Gehr. To Mr. and Mrs. Gehr were born three children: Joseph Anton, who was born December 14, 1891, and died in infancy; Louisa May, who was born January 15, 1893, and is the wife of R. J. Hall, a drayman of Humphrey ; and Walter E., who was born July 24, 1895, and is a clerk in Humphrey.
Mr. Gehr was a member of St. Francis Catholic church, to which his wife and
VALTIN GEHR
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children still belong, and he also held membership in the Catholic Order of For- esters. His name was likewise on the membership roll of the Woodmen of the World at Humphrey and his political allegiance was given to the democratic party. In 1900 he made a visit to his old home in Germany. He was a man well liked and highly respected in the community where he lived. In all of his business relations he was strictly honorable and reliable, and in his social relations he was considerate of the feelings and of the privileges of others. In a word, his qualities were most commendable and measured up to high standards, so that when death called him the community mourned the loss of a representative and valued man.
FRITZ R. LIPS.
Fritz R. Lips, who is engaged in merchandising in Columbus, where he is conducting a successful business as a dealer in paints. wall paper and mouldings and also takes contracts for interior decorating, was born in Canton Basel, Switzer- land, October 14, 1889, a son of Rudolf and Adele (Boss) Lips. A common-school education qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. He also attended the art school at Basel, Switzerland, and served an apprenticeship of three years and then worked at his trade for seven years in his native country. In 1911 he came to America, making his way at once to Columbus, where he was employed at his trade for two years. He then formed a partnership with a brother and opened his present store, carrying a large line of paints, oils, varnishes, wall paper, glass and mouldings. They are prepared to furnish everything of this character and they also do interior decorating, their handiwork being now seen in some of the fine structures of Columbus. Laudable ambition caused Mr. Lips to cross the At- lantic, seeking opportunities for business advancement, and he has made good use of his time and talents in the upbuilding of a business that is now bringing to him substantial profit and at the same time is proving one of the important commercial enterprises of the city.
Mr. Lips is a leader of the Swiss Maennerchor, numbering one hundred and fifty members, including a chorus of twenty-four singers and a children's chorus of fifty voices. He also has a mixed choir at Duncan, this county, which has a membership of twenty. He is also identified with the Swiss Society of the Sons of Herman. In his political views he is a democrat and his religious faith is that of the German Reformed church. He has the goodwill and confidence of colleagues and contem- poraries and has already made for himself a creditable place in social and business circles.
EMIL HERMAN NAUMANN, D. D. S.
Dr. Emil Herman Naumann is a prominent representative of the dental frater- nity in Columbus, where he has practiced his profession continuously and success- fully for almost a quarter of a century. His birth occurred in Saxony, Germany, on the 17th of February, 1863, his parents being Adolf and Henrietta (Herring)
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Naumann, who spent their entire lives in Saxony. The former passed away in 1886 and the latter in 1912. The paternal ancestors of our subject, as far back as they have been traced, lived in Saxony.
Emil H. Naumann acquired his education in the schools of Saxony and there spent the first twenty-one years of his life. In 1884 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and six years later was graduated from the College of Dentistry of the State University of Iowa at Iowa City. He followed his profession at Oxford Junction, Iowa, for one year and in May, 1891, came to Columbus, Nebraska, where he has remained continuously to the present time, being accorded a liberal and lucrative practice.
In June, 1894, in Columbus, Nebraska, Dr. Naumann was united in marriage to Miss Clara Martin, her father being Joseph Martin, who was born in Penn- sylvania and still resides in that state at the venerable age of ninety-three years. Charles Martin, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Naumann, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, while her grandfather, William Martin, participated in the War of 1812.
Politically Dr. Naumann is a republican and he has served for nine years as a member of the Columbus school board, the cause of education ever finding in him a stanch champion. He is also a director of the Columbus West End Sewer Com- pany, the Young Men's Christian Association and the Columbus Commercial Club. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, while fraternally he is known as a Master Mason. In all life's relations he conscientiously discharges the duties that devolve upon him and his many sterling traits of character have won for him high regard.
AUGUST CLOETERS.
Germany has furnished a large quota of citizens to Platte county, among whichi number is August Cloeters, who was born in the fatherland April 1, 1874, his par- ents being Albert and Mary (Schnitzel) Cloeters, who were also natives of Ger- many and are mentioned in connection with the sketch of Albert Cloeters on another page of this volume. After pursuing his education in the schools of his native country he worked in a tanning factory there until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he came to America with his brother Albert, they making their way to Platte county, Nebraska.
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