USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 36
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Mr. Brann has been very prominent in community affairs. He is a member of the Catholic church, and his political support is given to the democratic party, on which ticket he has been elected to serve in positions of honor and trust. In 1884 and 1885 he served as county supervisor and for sixteen years he filled the office of justice of the peace. He also served as township treasurer and as clerk, acting in the latter position for ten years. The fact that he has been again and again chosen for public office indicates the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen, who regard him as a capable and faithful official, his loyalty standing as an unquestioned fact in his career.
C. G. LUDTKE.
C. G. Ludtke, who has gained an enviable reputation as a progressive farmer and stock-raiser, is a native son of Platte county, his birth having occurred in Sherman township. His natal year was 1878 and his parents were Herman and Louisa (Meyer) Ludtke, both natives of Germany. They were married, however, in Platte county, Nebraska, where they arrived about 1863. The father home- steaded eighty acres in Sherman township and purchased land from time to time, owning at the time of his death six hundred and forty acres. His first wife died in 1891, and he subsequently married Miss Anna Beitel, who, following his death in 1900, became the wife of Wendolin Brauner. By Mr. Ludtke's first marriage there were born eight children and by his second four.
C. G. Ludtke grew to manhood in this county and through assisting his father gained much valuable knowledge of agricultural work. He received a good com- mon school education and also attended the Agricultural College at Lincoln, thus better fitting himself for successful farming. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of his father's estate, which he purchased from the other heirs, and carries on general farming, specializing, however, to some extent in raising high grade Poland China hogs. The buildings upon the place are substantial and well designed and everything is kept in excellent repair.
Mr. Ludtke was married February 23, 1911, to Miss Anna Dirks, a daughter of
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M. H. Dirks, a prominent farmer of Sherman township, and to this union have been born two children, Helen Louise and Lulu Lucile.
Mr. Ludtke gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and for six years served acceptably as township clerk. He is a communicant of the Lutheran church and takes an active interest in the work of that organization. A native of Platte county, he has thoroughly identified himself with its interests and is always willing to do anything within his power to promote its development and progress.
E. J. WEIDNER.
Among the successful farmers of St. Bernard township is E. J. Weidner, who was born in Cook county, Illinois, June 24, 1869, a son of Jacob and Mary Weidner. The parents removed to Platte county, Nebraska, in 1883. E. J. Weidner came to this county with his brother, Adam Weidner, in 1884, a year after his parents had removed here. During the greater part of the time that has since intervened he has resided upon the same farm on section 14, St. Bernard township, and he has proven a very efficient agriculturist. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, which is well improved, and derives a good income from his farm. From 1907 until 1912 he resided in Lindsay, where he owned and operated the electric light plant. Subsequently he conducted a garage in Lindsay for two years but in 1914 returned to the farm, where he has since remained.
On the 24th of November, 1891, Mr. Weidner was married to Miss Della Al- brecht, a daughter of John Albrecht, and to this union have been born ten children, as follows: Mary, now the wife of Allen Broehle, of this county; and Anna, Hen- rietta, Herman, Anastasia, Raymond, Anthony, Alice, Luella and Clare, all at home.
The political allegiance of Mr. Weidner is given to the democratic party, and his religions faith is that of the Catholic church. His has been a life of wisely directed energy, and he has won a gratifying measure of financial success. He has also gained the full confidence and goodwill of those with whom he has been brought into contact.
WILLIAM KURT.
William Kurt is well known in business circles of Columbus as a cigar manu- facturer, in which connection he has built up a trade of large and gratifying proportions. In public affairs, too, he is actively interested and is now serving as a member of the city council, in which connection he is doing important work for the public welfare.
He was born in Platte county, May 1, 1870, his parents being John and Mary Kurt, the father having come to this state from Switzerland in the year 1869. He established his home upon a farm and it was upon that place that William Kurt was born and reared, working with his father in the fields until he reached the age of fourteen years, when he started out upon an independent business career. He afterward followed different occupations. He engaged for a time in
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cattle herding and later turned his attention to the cigar-maker's trade, with which he familiarized himself, becoming an expert workman in that line. In 1900 he embarked in the cigar-manufacturing business on his own account and through his persistent, earnest efforts has built up a large trade, selling to local merchants. He manufactures the Little Duke, a five cent cigar, and the annual output is between two hundred and two hundred and ten thousand cigars. He uses the latest im- proved processes in manufacture, observes the most sanitary conditions in the care of the plant and by reason of his reliable business methods and unfaltering enter- prise has gained a substantial measure of prosperity.
Mr. Kurt is well known in fraternal circles. He belongs to Thusuelda Lodge, No. 12, O. D. H. S .; Platte Aerie, No. 1834, F. O. E., of which he is a charter member and the vice president; Columbus Lodge, No. 1195, B. P. O. E., and Columbus Nest, No. 117, O. O. O. He also has membership with the Columbus Maennerchor and with the Columbus Commercial Club and is interested in all of the plans of the latter organization to promote the business expansion and advance the material development of the city. In politics he is an earnest democrat, recog- nized as a local leader in party ranks. He is now serving for the fifth year as a member of the city council from the second ward and is chairman of the finance committee and a member of the judiciary, public property, waterworks and claims committees. His reelection to the office proves the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen and the faith of his constituents has never been betrayed in the slightest degree. On the contrary, he is known as a citizen who works earnestly to further the public welfare, and he has made an excellent record for himself in this connection and as a self-made and thoroughly reliable business man.
WILLIAM JAMES WALTER.
During the past decade William James Walter has been a prominent repre- sentative of business interests in Columbus as president of the Columbus Brewing Company. His birth occurred in Mendota, Illinois, on the 2d of July, 1859, his parents being Christian and Mary Ann (Kramm) Walter, both of whom were natives of Germany, the latter born in Frankfort-on-the-Main. Their marriage was celebrated in Chicago, Illinois, and Christian Walter passed away in Mendota, that state, in 1871, at the age of forty-eight years, having been born in 1823. The demise of his wife occurred in Aurora, Illinois, in June, 1913.
William J. Walter was reared in Chicago to the age of seven years and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Mendota, Illinois, where he attended school until eleven years old. Subsequently he learned the marble-cutting trade in Mendota and there worked at that occupation until twenty-three years of age, when he went to Amboy, Illinois, where he was employed at his trade for a year. He was there married and next removed to Aurora, Illinois, where he entered the service of a Chicago concern in whose interests he traveled as a salesman for twelve years. On the expiration of that period, in 1894. he began selling brewing sup- plies for a Pittsburg firm, being connected with its Chicago branch. This experi- ence gave him broad knowledge of the business, so that in 1905 he came to Colum- bus, Nebraska, and embarked upon an independent venture as president of the
WILLIAM J. WALTER
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Columbus Brewing Company, which he has since conducted in a most able and successful manner. He is likewise a director of the Columbus Accident & Health Association of Columbus.
Mr. Walter has been married twice. In 1881, at Amboy, Illinois, he wedded Miss Anna M. Fasoldt, who passed away in Aurora, that state, leaving four sons, namely: Leo G .; Edward W., who died at the age of twenty-one years; Otto F., mentioned on another page of this work, who is now serving as county attorney of Platte county; and Carl A., who is attending school. On the 8th of August, 1905, in Dixon, Illinois, Mr. Walter was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Elizabeth Odenthal, by whom he has one son and two daughters, namely: Frederick William, Helen Marie and Pauline Catharine.
In politics Mr. Walter is a stanch democrat and he is now a colonel on the staff of Governor Morehead. Fraternally he is identified with the Elks, the Eagles and the Owls and he has been president of the Sons of Herman and president of the Maennerchor. He likewise belongs to the Orpheus Society, while his religions faith is that of the Catholic church. Mr. Walter is public-spirited, patriotic and capable and has fairly won the high place he holds in the estimation of his fellow citizens.
H. ARTHUR PALMATEER.
H. Arthur Palmateer, who since the spring of 1912 has been engaged in the hardware and implement business at Creston as a member of the firm of Leach & Palmateer, is a business man of well defined principles that at all times measure up to the highest standard of commercial ethics. He has ever recognized the fact that success depends upon persistency of purpose. close application and inde- fatigable energy and these qualities he has employed throughout his entire business career. He was born in New York, September 9, 1871, a son of George and Kimmie (Filkins) Palmateer, both of whom were natives of New York. The father was a farmer by occupation and followed that pursuit in the Empire state until 1878, when he came to Platte county. After renting land for several years, during which he carefully saved his carnings, he finally purchased a farm in Hunphrey township and further cultivated and improved that property until his death, which occurred in 1901. For six years he had survived his wife, who died in 1895.
H. Arthur Palmateer is indebted to the public-school system of this county for the educational privileges he enjoyed as he was but seven years of age when the family removed to Nebraska. In his youthful days he was trained to the work of the fields and continued to assist his father until he reached the age of twenty-three years, when he and his brothers took charge of the old homestead, which they operated together until 1897. In that year H. A. Palmateer and his brother Frank bought two hundred and forty acres of land and following their father's death he and his brother purchased the interest of the other heirs in the old homestead property and now own five hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land, from which they annually derive a gratifying income. The old homestead is on section 11, Humphrey township, and there H. Arthur Palmateer still resides, as does also his brother Frank. They are still farming together and are numbered among the Vol 11-18
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leading agriculturists of the county. One hundred and sixty acres of their land is on section 2, while the remainder is on section 11, Humphrey township. In addi- tion to carefully tilling the soil they raise high grade stock and that branch of their business nets them a good financial return. In the spring of 1912 H. A. Palmateer purchased an interest of Mr. Leach in a hardware and implement business at Creston, in which he is now a partner. They carry an extensive line of shelf and heavy hardware and also do a large business in the sale of implements. They likewise handle the Ford and Studebaker cars and sell many machines annually. In addition to all of his other interests Mr. Palmateer is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Creston and in the Citizens State Bank. His keen interest enables him to recognize the value of a business situation and its oppor- tunities and in the conduct of his affairs he readily discriminates between the essen- tial and the nonessential.
On the 16th of January, 1894, occurred the marriage of Mr. Palmateer and Miss Ora Pruitt, a daughter of Harry and Mary Pruitt, both of whom were natives of Indiana. They came to Platte county at an early period in its development and Mr. Pruitt purchased land in Humphrey township, where he persistently and suc- cessfully carried on general farming until 1907. He then retired and removed to Omaha, where he and his wife still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Palmateer have become the parents of four children, namely: Harry, whose birth occurred November 17, 1896; Homer, born July 15, 1898; Russell, born July 28, 1900; and Dessie, born November 20, 1903. The parents are Methodists in religious faith and loyally adhere to the teachings of the church.
Mr. Palmateer exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party and fraternally is connected with the Highlanders and the Knights of Pythias. His has been an active, well spent and useful life, crowned with a substantial measure of success, which is the merited reward and indication of persistent, carnest labor intelligently directed. He has also taken a helpful interest in matters relating to the public welfare and his efforts have been an element in advancing those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.
M. J. WEIDNER.
M. J. Weidner is a well known hardware merchant of Lindsay, where he is carrying a large stock and conducting a good store, of which he has been sole proprietor since 1898. He was born in Lake county, Illinois, September 4, 1866, and in early life learned and followed the carpenter's trade. He dates his resi- dence in Platte county from 1893, in which year he came to Nebraska with his brother. He divided his time between farming and carpentering until 1902, when he took up his abode in Lindsay, and the following year he and his brother-in-law, Joseph Beller, purchased the hardware business of Mr. Steiner and conducted the store until 1908. Mr. Weidner then purchased his partner's interest and has sinec been alone in business. He now carries a well selected line of shelf and heavy hardware and stoves and is thus ready to meet the demands of his patrons, who
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find him a reliable, enterprising merchant, just in his dealings and reasonable in his prices.
Mr. Weidner married Miss Josephine Beller, and they have become parents of four children: Wilferd, Hildegarde, Cyrus and Valeria. The family are Catholics in religious faith and Mr. Weidner is identified with the Foresters. His political indorsement is given to the democratic party and he keeps well informed regarding the leading questions and issues of the day but does not seek nor desire office. There has been no spectacular phase in his life history; he works hard, is per- sistent and energetic, and along well defined lines of labor he is meeting with success.
PETER H. ALBERS.
Peter H. Albers makes his home on section 30, Burrows township, and is the owner of four hundred and fifty-eight acres of rich and arable land. His place constitutes one of the attractive features of the landscape by reason of the carefully cultivated fields and the fine modern improvements which he has put upon his farm. He belongs to that class of substantial citizens that Germany has furnished to Platte county, his birth having occurred in the fatherland, March 19, 1852. His parents, Hans P. and Elizabeth (Peters) Albers, were also natives of Germany, and there the father engaged in farming throughout his entire life, passing away in his native country in 1869. His widow afterward came to the new world with her son Peter, with whom she continued to reside until she, too, was called to her final rest in the year 1886.
Peter H. Albers spent his youthful days in his native country and there acquired a fair education. He carly became familiar with farm methods and operated his father's land until he came to America in 1883, making Platte county his destina- tion. Soon after his arrival here he purchased two hundred and twenty acres of land in Shell Creek township and at once . began to make improvements thereon and till the fields. He was thus engaged until 1886, when he traded that property for his present place, becoming the owner of two hundred and twenty acres on section 30, Burrows township, to which he afterward added by purchase until his possessions now aggregate four hundred and fifty-eight acres on sections 29, 30 and 33. None of the equipment and improvements of a model farm of the twentieth century are lacking here. In fact, the place presents a most attractive appearance with its large and substantial buildings, its rich pasture land and well cultivated fields. Mr. Albers makes a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle and Belgian mares, and he feeds and ships from one to two carloads of cattle and about one hundred head of hogs annually.
On December 21, 1883, Mr. Albers was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Reese, a daughter of John and Katherine (Muesing) Reese, who were natives of Germany, in which country the father died. The mother afterward married Peter Lutejens and came to the new world in 1883, settling in this county where her husband purchased land in Shell Creek township which he cultivated until his death. He was called to his final rest in 1903, while his wife passed away in 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Albers have become the parents of eleven children: Henry, who is
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engaged in carpentering in Columbus; Freda, the wife of Thomas Thomazin, a resident farmer of this county ; Bertha, the wife of Ray Baltz, who follows farming near Fremont, Nebraska; Emma, the wife of Ed Erickson, a farmer of Monroe township; and John, Alma, Walter. Martha, Elvin, William and Verna, all at home.
Mr. Albers has ever been interested in educational progress, desiring that his children should have good advantages along that line, and for twelve years he has done effective work as a member of the school board. He votes with the republican party and he guides his life by the teachings of the Baptist church, of which he is an earnest and faithful member. He possesses many admirable and sterling traits of character, his salient qualities being such as command respect and confidence in every land and clime.
GERHARD ROSCHE.
Gerhard Rosche is a representative of farming interests of Sherman township. He devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits on section 20 for a long period but is now practically living retired although he still occupies the farm. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, October 22, 1848, a son of Bernhard and Katrina (Luejelneshen) Rosche. The father owned a small farm and also conducted a small store in Oldenburg, where he spent his entire life, passing away in 1862 at the age of fifty-four years. His wife died in 1861, when but forty-two years of age.
Gerhard Rosche was the third in order of birth in a family of seven children and was but fourteen years of age when left an orphan. He attended school in his native country and afterward worked at farm labor there, remaining a resident of Germany until he reached the age of nineteen years, when, in 1868, he came alone to the United States, settling at Mayville, Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he lived for two years. From 1872 until 1874 he was a resident of Minnesota and in the latter year arrived in Platte county, Nebraska, but afterward went to North Platte, where he remained for about two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Platte county, where he began farming. His father-in-law, Gerhard Asche, had taken a homestead but after a year had died and Mr. Rosche then took possession of the property. There was a sod house upon it but practically no other buildings or improvements. Mr. Rosche had a little money and engaged in operating a horse power threshing machine. He owned his own team and upon his farm he built a house twenty-four by fourteen feet. There were practically no improvements in the township and the work of development seemed scarcely begun. The enterprising efforts of Mr. Rosche soon wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of his home place, for as the years went on he set out trees, erected a comfortable and commodious modern residence, built good barns and in fact made all of the improve- ments upon the farm, keeping in touch at all times with modern progressive farm methods. He began with eighty acres of land and has now three hundred and twenty acres in his home place, in addition to which he has property in Columbus. Year by year he carefully tilled the soil and the crops which he so earnestly cultivated brought to him a growing income which in time made him the possessor of a hand- some competence. He also engaged quite extensively in the raising of high grade Hereford cattle, and he called his place the Hereford Stock Farm. He also took
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first prize on a pair of Arabian mares and Arabian eolts at the Platte County Fair in 1915. In 1912 he retired from active farm life but still lives upon the old home- stead although he owns property in Columbus.
On the 15th of March, 1878, Mr. Rosche was married to Miss Sophia Asche, who was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1856, a daughter of Gerhard and Katrine (Englebart) Asehe, both of whom were natives of Oldenburg. They came to the United States in 1873, but the wife and mother died shortly after her arrival. The father, having settled in Platte county, secured a homestead, built a sod house and began life here in true pioneer style, his daughter Sophia acting as housekeeper for her father. To Mr. and Mrs. Rosche have been born four children. Matilda is the wife of Gus Loseke, by whom she has three children, Olga, Emma and Elmer. Clara married William Cattau, of Sherman township, by whom she has a son, Elmer. Anna is the wife of Herman Cattau, who operates her father's farm, and they have two children, Holger and Hulda. Adela, the youngest of the family, lives with her father.
Mr. Rosche has voted with the republican party since he became a naturalized American citizen but does not seek nor desire office. He belongs to the Lutheran church, of which he has been an active member, helping to build the church near his home and assisting in its work in many ways. His life has ever been guided by high and honorable principles, and he has displayed many sterling traits of character. He is a self-made man, having started out empty-handed, and, realizing that industry is the basis of all honorable sueeess, he has worked diligently and persistently. Today he is numbered among the prosperous residents of his township, and that his life has been well spent is indicated in the high regard entertained for him by those who know him.
WILLIAM HERCHENBACH.
William Herchenbach, who owns a good farm of three hundred and twenty acres on seetion 13, St. Bernard township, was born in the Rhine province of Prussia, November 7, 1864, a son of Henry and Helen (Wiersberg) Herehenbach. The father was a saddler and harness repairer.
William Herchenbach, who was the eldest in a family of three children, received a common-school education and as a boy assisted his father. When nineteen years of age he, in company with several other youths. emigrated to America and made his way to LaSalle county, Illinois. There he worked as a farm hand for about nine years, after which he rented land for a similar period of time. In 1900 he pur- chased one hundred and sixty aeres of land in St. Bernard township, Platte county, Nebraska, paying therefor thirty-seven dollars and a half per acre, and in January, 1901, he took up his residenee upon that place. At that time the farm had no improvements but he at onee began its development. In 1906 he bought an additional eighty aeres, which he sold in 1914, but in July, 1915, he purchased one hundred and sixty aeres, also on section 13, paying one hundred and thirty-eight dollars per aere, which indicates the rapid advanee in land values in this eounty. He has erected a fine residence upon his place and also large barns and sheds and everything is kept in excellent condition. Sinee 1909 he has raised full blooded Holstein eattle
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