USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 32
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ker township he paid forty-two dollars and fifty cents and sixty-five dollars per acre respectively. He specializes in the raising of high grade shorthorn and Hereford cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs and derives a good profit from the sale of his stock. All of his affairs are well managed, and everything which he undertakes is carried forward to successful completion, and as the result of his energy and business sagac- ity he has gained an unusual measure of success. His farm is excellently improved in every particular, and he takes great pride in his orchard of various kinds of fruit which covers about four acres. In addition to his land he owns stock in the Farmers Elevator Association and the Farmers Union Store, both of Lindsay.
Mr. Ramaekers was married in 1885, to Miss Katie Adams, who died two years later, leaving a son, Fred, who married Miss Gertrude Smith and is operating a quarter section of land on section 5, St. Bernard township, belonging to his father. Mr. Ramaekers was again married on the 17th of April, 1888, Miss Isabella Crem- ers becoming his wife. Her father, Chris Cremers, was an early settler of St. Bernard township. To the second marriage of Mr. Ramaekers have been born the following children: Gertrude, now Mrs. Frank Hermann, of St. Bernard township; Chris, at home; Katie, who married Henry Schaecher; and Mary, Theodore, Susan, Francis, Bernard, Harry, Hattie, Isabella and Josie, all at home.
Mr. Ramaekers is a democrat and for ten years has acceptably served as road supervisor. He takes a keen interest in everything affecting the public welfare and places the general good above personal advancement. He is not only respected because of the ability that has made possible his success but also honored because of the uprightness of his business methods.
DANIEL CHARLES KAVANAUGH.
Daniel Charles Kavanaugh, who is successfully engaged in business in Colum- bus as a dealer in wall paper and paints, has been a resident of Platte county for the past four decades and has held the office of sheriff for six terms. His birth occurred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 23d of November, 1857, his parents being Edward C. and Catharine (Holland) Kavanaugh, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father, born in County Tipperary in 1833, emigrated to the United States at the age of eighteen years and located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was married. In 1868 he took up his abode in Fremont, Dodge county, Nebraska, and two years later came to Columbus, where his demise occurred in 1879. His wife passed away in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the year 1895. Daniel Kavanaugh, the paternal grandfather of our subject, died in Ireland.
Daniel C. Kavanaugh acquired his education in the public schools of his native city and also attended the Spencerian Business College of Milwaukee, but did not graduate therefrom. In 1875 he came to Columbus, Nebraska, and here worked at the painter's trade until the spring of 1880, when he took up his abode on a farm in this county. In the fall of 1880 he was elected sheriff of Platte county, making such a creditable record in this capacity that he was twice reelected and served for three consecutive terms or from 1881 until 1887. He then served for a year as deputy internal revenue collector under President Cleveland and on retir- ing from the office embarked in the insurance business. In the fall of 1890 he was
DANIEL C. KAVANAUGH
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once more elected sheriff and again served for three consecutive terms or until 1896. He proved a capable and conscientious incumbent, discharging his duties without fear or favor and maintaining peace and order in such a way as to gain the respect and support of all law-abiding citizens. In 1896 Mr. Kavanaugh again became engaged in the insurance business and continued therein until 1902, when he became the proprietor of his present establishment and is now accorded an extensive and gratifying patronage as a dealer in paints and wall paper.
On the 7th of Jannary, 1878, in Grand Prairie, Platte county, Nebraska, Mr. Kavanaugh was united in marriage to Miss Bridget Gentleman, her father being William Gentleman, a native of Ireland. To them have been born the following children: Edith Catharine, who passed away in 1895 when seventeen years of age; Edward C., who was born in 1886; Eileen Patricia, who died in 1914 at the age of twenty-four years; William Gerald, who passed away in 1897 at the age of three years; and Mary Marie Paul, at home.
Mr. Kavanaugh exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy. As above stated, he has held the office of sheriff for six terms and in 1880 acted as assessor of Columbus township, this county. From 1896 until 1898 he served as commissary sergeant of Company K of the First Regiment. He belongs to the Catholic church and has fraternal relations with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. Kavanaugh has ever been an honorable and upright man, and his well spent life has commanded for him the confidence and high regard of all who know him.
JOHN WILLIAM SVOBODA.
John William Svoboda, cashier of the Lindsay State Bank and therefore a well known figure in the business circles of his part of the county, was born in Colfax county, Nebraska, in 1876, his parents being Joseph and Mary Svoboda. The father is now living retired at Howell, Colfax county, and has reached the age of seventy-nine years. He came from Bohemia in the spring of 1874 and made his way direct to Colfax county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead and for many years engaged in farming, and now in the evening of his days he is en- joying a well earned rest.
John W. Svoboda was the youngest in a family of six children. He acquired a common-school education in the county of his nativity and when not busy with his textbooks worked in the fields upon his father's farm. He was thus engaged until 1904, when he and his brothers organized the Abie State Bank at Abie, Nebraska. At the same time the brothers organized the Abie Milling Company and John W. Svoboda occupied the position of bookkeeper in the bank and also spent consider- able time as salesman for the milling company. He was afterward appointed as- sistant cashier of the bank and in January, 1911, when bis brother, Joseph Svoboda, was appointed state bank examiner, Mr. Svoboda of this review was advanced to the position of cashier of the bank, in which connection he continued until May, 1912. At that date he and his brother secured a controlling interest in the Lind- say State Bank, of which Mr. Svoboda has since been the cashier. In the year 1915 they erected a large building of stone and brick, supplied with all modern Vol. 11-16
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convenienees, for the conduct of the banking business. The building would be a credit to a town of much larger size. The bank is in a very prosperous condition and its business is constantly increasing. In May, 1912, its deposits amounted to cighty-two thousand seven hundred and seventy-four dollars and on the 20th of August, 1915, the bank had over two hundred and six thousand eight hundred and ten dollars on deposit. This increase is due to the courteous treatment of patrons, liberal loans to farmers during hard times and a safe hut progressive busi- ness policy. Mr. Svoboda still owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in St. Bernard township and is accounted one of the leading business men of his part of the county.
On the 22d of January, 1901, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Svoboda and Miss Barbara Marik, a daughter of Anton Marik, one of the early settlers of Colfax county, who came from Bohemia and established his home in Nebraska in early life. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Svoboda, Lillian, Adolph, Lumir and Ernest.
In his political views Mr. Svoboda has long been a demoerat but is not an active party worker. He belongs to the Holy Name Catholic church and to the Lindsay Commercial Club, cooperating in all the movements of the latter organization to advance the material welfare of the community and extend its business connections. He is a progressive man, wide-awake and enterprising, and all who know him speak of him in terms of high and enduring regard, appreciating his uniform courtesy and his sterling worth.
JAMES L. BROWN.
Among Creston's representative citizens is numbered James L. Brown, who is now living retired. For a long period he was the popular and efficient postmaster of Creston, and his public and private record is above suspicion and reproach. He was born in Leavenworth, Indiana, April 26, 1816, and is a son of Bryant and Delilah (Carnes) Brown, who were also natives of the Hoosier state. The father engaged in farming for a number of years in Indiana and in 1853 removed with his family to Illinois, where he carried on general agricultural pursnits until 1858. He then became a resident of Kansas, where he followed farming for two years, after which he returned to Indiana and after the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted as a member of Company H, Forty-ninth Indiana Infantry, with which he served for two and a half years. In 1865 he went to Marion county, Iowa, where he pur- chased land, which he owned and enltivated for a decade. On disposing of that property he came to Nebraska but after a year removed to Kansas in 1876 and there engaged in farming until 1880. He then returned to Iowa, where he carried on general farming until 1907, when he retired from active business life and re- moved to the state of Washington, where he spent his remaining days in the enjoy- ment of a well earned rest, his death occurring in 1910. For four years he had survived his wife, who died in Colorado in 1906.
James L. Brown largely spent his youthful days in Iowa, remaining with his parents until he reached the age of seventeen years. He then put aside all per- sonal considerations to aid in the defense of his country and, like his father, demon-
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strated his loyalty at the front, enlisting in Company D, One Hundred and forty- fourth Indiana Infantry, with which he served for fifteen months. He returned to Indiana, where he was employed as a farm hand for nine months, after which he again went to Iowa, renting land in Marion county. He operated that farm from 1866 until 1876 and then came to Platte county, Nebraska, where he secured one hundred and sixty acres of land in Humphrey township. He at once set about improving the property and bent his energies to its further cultivation and develop- ment until 1884, when he sold out and removed to Creston, investing in one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the town of Creston, on section 18, Creston township. He cultivated that place until 1886, when he sold all but forty acres, and later he also disposed of that tract, save the two acres upon which he now resides. He rented some land, however, but abandoned farming in 1905, when he was appointed postmaster at Creston, in which position he capably served for nine years and nine months, when he retired from the office as he had entered it-with the confidence and goodwill of all concerned. He has since engaged in no business and is enjoy- ing a well earned rest.
On Christmas day of 1879 Mr. Brown was married to Miss Martha L. McNeill, a daughter of Orin and Eliza (Darrow) McNeill, natives of Ohio. The father, who carried on farming as a life work, went to Iowa at an early day, arriving there about 1846. The state was then a pioneer district, and he entered land and farmed in Lee county until 1858, when he removed to Marion county, Iowa, where he car- ried on general farming until his death in 1870. His wife survived until 1879, when she, too, passed to the home beyond.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown became the parents of eleven children: Etta, the wife of Fred Davis, who resides at Creston; Effie, the wife of A. W. Bearss, living in Cres- ton township; Cora, the wife of F. P. Sorrick, a farmer of Creston township; Perry, who was accidentally killed March 1, 1908: Stella, the wife of R. D. Jackson, re- siding in Madison county, Nebraska; Elmer, living in the state of Washington; Nellie and Edgar, at home; Muriel, a trained nurse living in Omaha; and Newton and Orin, twins, who died in infancy.
Mr. Brown holds membership with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Degree of Honor, and he still maintains pleasant relations with his army com- rades as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he is a repub- lican, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He stands as a high type of American manhood and chivalry, loyal to the best interests of his commu- nity, faithful to his friends, devoted to his family and devout in his church relations.
EMIL POHL.
Emil Pohl was a well known citizen of Platte county, where he took up his abode in 1872, and through the intervening period until his death was closely asso- ciated with business interests and the public life of the community, and in every connection displayed sterling traits of character which firmly established him in the high regard of his fellow citizens. He was born in Germany, March 24, 1833, and attended Catholic schools of that country until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he joined the German army as a musician. He acted as band master
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with the army during the war with Schleswig-Holstein, and the Austrian war, serv- ing altogether for eight years.
In 1867, when a young man of twenty-four Mr. Pohl came to the United States and established his home in Calumet, Wisconsin, where he worked in a store in order to learn the English language and acquaint himself with American life and customs. He afterward engaged in the implement business at New Holstein, Wisconsin, on his own account and then removed to Platte county, Nebraska, following the same business in Columbus in partnership with Gerhard Schutte. for ten years. In 1882 he became a partner of Gust Schroeder in the ownership of a hardware business on Eleventh street, where they remained for about five years. On the expiration of that period Mr. Pohl turned his attention to the grocery business, conducting a store with success until 1896, when he retired from commercial life, having been elected clerk of the courts of Platte county, in which position he served for two years. He then retired from active life, spending his remaining days in the enjoy- inent of a rest which he had truly earned and richly deserved, the fruits of his for- mer toil supplying him with all the necessities and comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
In 1872 Mr. Pohl was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hoppe, a native of Ger- many and a daughter of Henry Hoppe, who served in the German army during the revolution of 1848. He never came to the United States but followed farming throughout his entire life in his native land. To Mr. and Mrs. Pohl were born five children: Otto; Arthur; Emil; Meta, the wife of Frank Wurdeman, mentioned elsewhere in this volume; and Elsie, the wife of W. A. Boettcher, who is also men- tioned in this work.
In his political views Mr. Pohl was an earnest republican and took an active interest in politics, doing all in his power to promote the growth of the party and to secure its success, because of his firm belief in its principles. Nature endowed him with marked musical talent and for more than twenty years he led the Maenner- chor and did much to advance musical taste and interest in Columbus. He died in California in 1900, at the age of fifty-seven years, and the community mourned the loss of a representative and valued citizen who had become well established as a representative resident of the county and one whose labors had contributed in no small measure to its material, political and cultural progress and upbuilding.
FRED LAUN.
Fred Laun is a member of Reilly, Laun & Company, hardware merchants and plumbers of Platte Center, and he occupies a prominent position in commercial circles because of the spirit of enterprise and reliability which actuates him in all of his trade relations. He was born in Aurora, Indiana, September 17, 1868, a son of Joseph and Katherine (Gatter) Laun. The father came from Germany, and departed this life in Newport, Kentucky. Following his death the mother came to Nebraska, settling in Bismark township, Platte county, while subsequently she re- moved to Grand Prairie township.
Fred Laun was reared to the occupation of farming and continued to follow that pursuit until 1908, when, thinking to find other business more congenial, he
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accepted the position of manager for the telephone company at Platte Center. act- ing in that capacity for three years. He then formed a partnership with Frank Reilly for the conduct of a plumbing business and in the spring of 1915 they pur- chased the hardware store and stock of James Keating and are now conducting business under the firm style of Reilly, Laun & Company as plumbers and hardware merchants, both departments of their business having a liberal patronage. They carry a well selected stock and are putting forth every effort to please their patrons. knowing that satisfied customers are the best advertisement. Mr. Laun is also one of the stockholders in the Farmers Independent Telephone Company and is still the owner of eighty acres of good farm land in Grand Prairie township.
In 1900 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Laun and Miss Lena Siems, a daughter of Fred Siems, of Shell Creek township. She died in 1904 and Mr. Laun afterward married Miss Anna Smidt, a daughter of Matthew Smidt, of Grand Prai- rie township, and a representative of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state. They have one child, Cora.
In his political views Mr. Laun is independent. After studying the questions and issues of the day he does not care to bind himself by party ties but votes ac- cording to the dictates of his judgment. He has membership with the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Columbus and with the Highlanders Lodge of Platte Center, and he has attractive social qualities which render him popular in these organiza- tions and in social and business circles as well. He has closely applied himself to his commercial interests since starting out along mercantile lines and his per- sisteney of purpose and unfaltering energy are the strong forces in his growing prosperity.
CHARLES KOPIETZ.
Charles Kopietz, living at Lindsay, where he is engaged in the conduct of a feed, grain and flour business, was born December 27, 1841, at Morelia, Austria. The days of his boyhood and youth were spent in that land and in 1867 he came to the United States, seeking the opportunities offered in the new world. He first made his way to Nemaha county, Kansas, where he was employed as a farm hand by the month and also worked at the butcher's tradc. Subsequently he engaged in the grain and feed business and in 1898 he came to Platte county, where he opened a feed, grain and flour house at Lindsay. He has since conducted this business and is now meeting with fair success in his undertaking.
On the 5th of June. 1871, Mr. Kopietz was married to Miss Magdalena Hrncer and they have become parents of five children: Josie, who is now the wife of Fraz Sarney, of Omaha, Nebraska; Mary, the wife of John Malotey, living in Omaha; Arness, who married Edward Lindsay, also of Omaha; Joseph K., who is a resident of Hay Springs, Nebraska ; and Edward, living at Coleridge, this state.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church, to the support of which they generously contribute. In his political views Mr. Kopietz is a demo- crat. having adhered to that party since securing his naturalization papers. He has filled the office of justice of the peace for fourteen vears and bases his decisions upon the law and the equity of the case, his opinions being strictly fair and impar-
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tial. He was a young man of twenty-three years when he came to the new world and today he is in his seventy-first year. His life has been one of activity and his energy and determination have brought to him the suecess which he has won.
JOHN ANDREW KEHOE.
At the time of his death John Andrew Kehoe was engaged in the grain and implement business at Platte Center and worked earnestly and persistently to gain a start in that direction and build up a trade which would enable him to provide liberally for his family. He was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, June 7, 1832. His father died before his birth and when he was two years of age he was brought to the new world by his mother, who settled in Kentucky. He was educated in the Dominican College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and when his textbooks were put aside he turned his attention to the milling business and in 1878 came to Nebraska, taking charge of the Norfolk Mills at Norfolk for two years. He also spent a short time in Omaha before coming to Platte Center in September, 1882. At this place he engaged in the grain business and remained aetive therein up to the time of his demise, which oeeurred on the 13th of September, 1896. In the meantime the set- tlement of the county and the development of the farms were increasing the oppor- tunities along the line of the grain trade and he kept in touch with the onward march of progress.
In politics Mr. Kehoe was a democrat and was one of the leaders of his party in Nebraska. He was a close friend of W. J. Bryan and was the first man to suggest Mr. Bryan's name for the presidency. In 1885 he represented his district in the state legislature. He was a communicant of the Catholic faith. On the 24th of October, 1876, Mr. Kehoe was united in marriage to Miss Kate Coffee, a native of Warsaw, Wyoming county, New York, and a daughter of Dennis and Katherine Coffee.
Following the death of her husband Mrs. Kehoe continued the grain and the implement business and also established a drug business. Her connection with the grain trade was at times spectacular because of the fight into which she was forced with the grain trust. For ten years she waged this contest with the Nebraska grain trust which the New York Herald termed "the most nefarious combination in the west." She won her final victory at the time the Interstate Commerce Commission made its investigation at Omaha and at its close the commission congratulated Mrs. Kehoe upon the remarkable fight which she had made against the big combination. When her husband died, he left to her what is known in grain trade parlanee as a "shovel house"-the dealer buying from the farmer, shoveling the grain into a ware- house and afterward into a railroad car instead of handling the business through an clevator. The grain trust saw in her a formidable competitor and made it known that they wished her to quit buying grain from the farmers. She refused and then the trust began its "work" against her. Her customers in the eities were coerced in refusing to buy from her, but she met this attack by obtaining new customers in Memphis, St. Louis, and other eities. Then the trust raised priees on her, until prices at Platte Center were several cents above the selling prices at Omaha and Chicago. Then she closed her business temporarily, but just as soon as prices
MR. AND MRS. JOHN A. KEHOE
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were reduced to the normal she started in the grain trade again and her old cus- tomers went back to her. That course of raising prices was pursued for some time, and at each time she would drop out of the business temporarily only to enter it again. At length the trust, finding that they could not force her to quit business, invited her to join them, which she indignantly refused to do; and she turned this last effort of the trust to good account by showing the farmers in her vicinity that the trust raised prices only to eliminate competition, after which the price of grain would fall below the regular market. She won the cooperation of the farmers, who continued to sell grain to her at the regular quotations. Then the railroads began shutting off her supply of freight cars, until she was compelled to sit idly by and watch her competitors load car after car, while none were given to her. Even this did not deter her, for she took up the matter directly with President Burt of the Union Pacific Railroad and cars were accordingly allotted her. The next move in the drama was the burning of her shovel house, but within forty-eight hours she had begun the erection of a fine new grain elevator along the railroad track and after a year or two she built another elevator in Tarnov, thus embarking in the grain trade on an extensive scale. The trust kept up its fight against her, but her business methods were so honorable and her affairs were conducted so sagaciously that she continued in spite of the combine and the attacks ceased at the time of the investigation by the Interstate Commerce Commission, leaving her the owner of two elevators, a large grain business and a big implement and seed house. She continued to manage the business until 1909 and she now conducts a drug store at Platte Center.
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