USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 38
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F. J. SMITH.
Among the attractive mercantile establishments of Lindsay is the furniture store of F. J. Smith, who is an alert, wide-awake and enterprising business man, ready for emergencies and winning his success along the line of industry, determination and honorable effort. Illinois claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in McHenry county, that state, August 21, 1863, his parents being Jacob F. and Kath- erine Smith. The father is a native of Coblenz, Germany, and came to the United States in the year 1835 with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Smith, who settled in Illinois, where the grandfather homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, becom- ing one of the pioneers in the district in which he established his home. There Jacob F. Smith was reared and carried on general farming. He is now the owner of a good farming. property in McHenry county, Illinois, and is accounted one of the leading agriculturists of the community. His wife, however, passed away February 27, 1907.
F. J. Smith was educated in Illinois and assisted his father upon the home farm through the period of his boyhood and youth, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. His time was thus passed until 1885, when, at the age of twenty-two years, he came to Nebraska with Platte county as his destination. He first worked with a construction gang, assisting in
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the building of the Northwestern Railroad as far as Lindsay, Nebraska. He then purchased a lot, erected a store building and aided in laying out the town. He is one of the oldest men in continuous business in Lindsay and is an active and pro- gressive merchant. He now has a good furniture store, in which he carries an attractive line of goods, and he also maintains an undertaking department. His store is liberally patronized and the public recognizes in him a reliable and progressive merchant.
On the 26th of October, 1888, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Theresa Fritchen, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Fritchen, of Keokuk county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have become the parents of nine children: Edward, who is a Catholic priest now located at Boone. Iowa; Gertrude, the wife of Fred Ramaekers; Susie, one of the Sisters of Mercy in a convent at Omaha; and Clare, Raymond, William, Kath- erine. Elenora and Mary, all yet at home.
The family are adherents of the Catholic faith and Mr. Smith also has mem- bership with the Foresters. He is a liberal in politics, holding to an independent policy. For thirty years he has been a resident of Platte county and has therefore witnessed much of its growth and development, while his activity has been of a nature that has brought him to the front among its leading business men.
MATHIAS JOHN RAMAEKERS.
Mathias John Ramaekers, engaged in the real-estate and insurance business at Lindsay, is one of the old settlers of Platte county, few of its residents having a more comprehensive or accurate knowledge of pioneer conditions and the events which have framed the history of this part of the state than he. His life record had its beginning at Luttevade, in Limburg, Holland, December 31, 1861, his father being J. W. Ramaekers, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work.
Mathias J. Ramaekers acquired his early education in a graded school and at the age of twelve years he attended the Jesuit College at Sittard and after his graduation pursued a four years' course in a normal school at Maestricht, where he was also graduated, being eighteen years of age at the time he completed his course there. He then accepted a position in a village school at Puth, where he remained for a year, and also spent a similar period at Oosterhout. He was for three years at Raamsdonk, but in the meantime his parents had come to the new world and in July, 1885, he, too, completed arrangements to become a resident of America, join- ing his father and the family in Platte county, Nebraska, the family home being in St. Bernard township.
Mathias J. Ramaekers afterward engaged in farming with his father for five years and upon his marriage in 1890 began farming on his own account in St. Bernard township, where he lived for eight years. After leaving the farm in 1899 he turned his attention to merchandising at Lindsay and so continued until 1901, when the Farmers & Merchants Bank was organized and he was elected to the position of cashier, remaining in that capacity until January 1, 1915, when he sold his interest in the bank and turned his attention to the real-estate and insurance business, in which he is meeting with good success.
On the 15th of April, 1890, Mr. Ramaekers was united in marriage to Miss
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Elizabeth Heiman, a daughter of Joseph Heiman, now residing at St. Bernard. The children born of this marriage are Joseph, Anna, William, Mary, Theresa, Henry, Rose, Josephine, Mattie, Agatha, Raymond and Edward. Joseph, the eld- est of the family, married Mary Berger and is engaged in farming in St. Bernard township.
In his political views Mr. Ramaekers is an earnest democrat and while living upon the farm served as clerk of St. Bernard township for six years. He has been township treasurer for ten years and is the present incumbent in the office. For six years he filled the position of township assessor, acting at the same time as town- ship treasurer, a course which was possible under the old law, which, however, was changed at a recent date. He has been chairman of the village board of trustees for six years and is the incumbent in that office and is now serving for the third year as school treasurer. He is ever deeply interested in the welfare of the community, its upbuilding and its progress and cooperates in all measures for the gen- eral good. Mr. Ramaekers and his family hold membership in the Holy Fam- ily Catholic church and he is director of the church choir and president of the Sacred Heart Men's Society. He also belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters at Lindsay and to the Knights of Columbus at Humphrey. He is a leading member of the Lindsay Commercial Club and for one year served as its president, taking an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the district in which he lives. He is regarded as one of the representative citizens of the community, winning the respect of all who know him and most of all where he is best known. That his life has been an active one is indicated in the success that has crowned his efforts. He is still the owner of three hundred and eighty acres of land in Joliet township, has a half interest in three thousand acres of land in the Panhandle of Texas and is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Association of Lindsay. He owns and occupies an attractive and commodious residence in Lindsay surrounded by fourteen acres of ground, and one of the chief charms of his beautiful home is its warm-hearted hospitality.
PETER GODBERSEN.
Peter Godbersen, who lived a busy, useful and honorable life, was born in Germany, April 13, 1851, and died in Humphrey, Nebraska, October 27, 1896. His parents were Carsten and Johanna Godbersen, also natives of Germany, in which country the father followed farming throughout his entire life, his labors being ended in death in 1911. His wife had passed away in 1909, both reaching an advanced age.
Peter Godbersen spent his youthful days in his native country and is indebted to its public-school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. When he finished school he went into the army, serving for three years according to the military rules of that land. In 1884 he came to America and made his way at once to Madison, Nebraska. Soon afterward he secured employment at farm labor, spending three years in that way, after which he came to Platte county and pur- chased three acres of land and a nice home in the edge of Humphrey. He worked
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out for a number of years and afterward rented land, which he continued to cul- tivate until his death.
In June, 1878, Mr. Godbersen was united in marriage to Miss Catherina Car- stensen, a daughter of Carsten and Margaret (Jensen) Carstensen, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father followed farming in that country until he came to the United States with his son-in-law, Peter Godbersen, in 1884, and here secured employment as a farm hand. His end came most suddenly and unexpect- edly two months later, for he dropped dead in the field. His widow survived until 1898, when she, too, passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Godbersen were born ten children, as follows: Carl, an agriculturist living in Canada ; Cornelius, who is a carpenter by trade and makes his home in Denison, Iowa; Henry, a barber living in Denison, Iowa; May, who is the wife of Arthur Miller, of Springfield, Illinois; Hannah, who gave her hand in marriage to Noah Smith, of Grand Island, Nebraska ; Lena, the wife of Harold Hardin, of Pender, Nebraska; John, who is employed as a stenographer in Grand Island; Dora, who died in infancy; Paul, who also passed away in infancy; and one who died unnamed in infancy. Mr. Godbersen gave his political allegiance to the republican party. His religious belief was that of the Lutheran church and he was loyal to its teachings, being straightforward and hon- orable in all his relations with his fellowmen. Thus it was that he left to his family an untarnished name.
BERNARD HENRY ASCHE.
Bernard Henry Asche, who passed away on the 12th of May, 1913, was actively and successfully identified with agricultural pursuits in Platte county for a half century and his widow now owns an excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres on section 14, Sherman township. His birth occurred in Oldenburg, Ger- many, on the 1st of October, 1841, his parents being Bernard and Mary Asche, who died in that country. When twenty-seven years of age he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and came direct to Platte county, Nebraska, first working at the plasterer's trade in Columbus for three or four years. Subsequently he took up a homestead claim of eighty acres in Sherman township and his first home was a sod structure, twelve by sixteen feet, in which he lived for one year. He then erected another sod dwelling with shingle roof and next built a one-room frame house which is still standing. This has been enlarged and remodeled and is now a comfortable and attractive residence. As time passed he extended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase and made excellent improvements thereon, so that his widow is now the owner of a valuable property embracing three hundred and twenty acres in Sherman township. This she rents to her son-in-law, Otto Durkop.
On October 15, 1872, Mr. Asche was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Loseke, a sister of Fritz Loseke, who is a successful agriculturist residing on section 18, Bis- mark township. It was in the year 1868 that she accompanied her parents, John and Catherine Margarethe (Beneke) Loseke, on their emigration to the new world, the family home being established in Bismark township, this county. Mrs. Asche recalls many of the trials and hardships of pioneer existence and relates that rattle- snakes used to crawl through the roof of their sod house into the living room, some
BERNARD H. ASCHE
MRS. BERNARD H. ASCHE
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of these having as many as twenty-four rattles. As a girl she worked for James North, the old Indian fighter. To Mr. and Mrs. Asche were born eleven children, as follows: Bertha, who died at the age of two years; Pauline, who gave her hand in marriage to Louis Saalfeld; Adolph, a farmer living in Creston township; Wil- liam and Julius, who also follow farming in Creston township; Edward, an agricul- turist of Shell Creek township; Gustav, who is engaged in farming in Stanton county, Nebraska; Minnie, the wife of Otto Durkop, who operates the farm of his mother-in-law; Ida, who is the wife of Herman Hembed, of Sherman township; Alma, the wife of William Saalfeld; and Emil, at home.
Bernard H. Asche passed away on the 12th of May, 1913, when in the seventy- second year of his age, and the community mourned the loss of one of its substan- tial agriculturists and esteemed citizens. His widow still resides on the home farm in Sherman township and has won a host of warm friends in the county to which she was brought in pioneer times nearly a half century ago.
JOHN WILLIAM RAMAEKERS, SR.
John William Ramaekers, Sr., now in the seventy-ninth year of his age, is liv- ing retired in Lindsay, where he is numbered among the honored and respected citi- zens. For a long period he was actively identified with business interests in Platte county, agricultural, commercial and financial, and his well directed enterprise and industry not only brought to him success but also contributed to the development of the district in which he lived. He was born in Limburg, Holland, June 17, 1837, a son of John Hendrick and Marie Kathrina (Drummen) Ramaekers, in whose family were five children, two sons and three daughters, who were reared upon their father's farm.
John W. Ramackers, Sr., acquired a common-school education and early in life started out in the business world by learning and following the harness-maker's trade. Later he embarked in business on his own account and in May, 1879, he sought the opportunities of the new world, crossing the Atlantic and making his way direct to St. Bernard, Platte county. He then purchased eighty acres of land, for which he paid five hundred dollars, a second eighty acre tract, for which he paid thirteen hundred dollars, and subsequently a third tract of similar size, for which he paid twenty-five hundred dollars, thus becoming the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres, which is still in his possession. For a consider- able period he carried on general agricultural pursuits, bringing his land to a high state of cultivation, and in the conduct of his farm met with gratifying success. He eventually, however, put aside the active work of the fields and retired from business life, but is still a stockholder in the Farmers & Merchants Bank and in the Farmers Elevator Association, both of Lindsay. He removed from his farm to Lindsay in 1902 and in the intervening period has enjoyed a well earned rest, his former success supplying him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
On the 21st of November, 1860, Mr. Ramaekers was married in Holland to Miss Maria Sibyl Eummelen, a daughter of Jan and Maria Kathrina Eummelen. They became the parents of five children: Mathias, mentioned elsewhere in this Vol. 11-19
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work ; Elizabeth, the wife of Peter Smith, of St. Bernard township; Maria, the wife of Joseph Borer, a farmer of St. Bernard township; Hubertina, the wife of John Borer, manager for the Farmers Elevator Association of Lindsay; and Hubert, who married Goldie Hassen and is now conducting a store in Lindsay. The wife and mother passed away at Lindsay, August 27, 1915, and her funeral was the largest ever held in the community, a fact which indicates how high she stood in the public regard. She was a lady of many admirable and lovable traits of character, posses- sing an amiable disposition, while at all times she displayed thoughtfulness toward and consideration for others. Her purpose was ever kindly and her life was fraught with many good deeds, being the expression of Christian faith and belief. Of her it may well be said: "Her children rise up and call her blessed and her good works do follow her."
Mr. Ramaekers holds membership in the Holy Family church. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party but he has never been an office secker. His military history covers a year's service in the cavalry in Holland. He is re- garded throughout the community in which he lives as one of the most worthy, substantial and highly respected citizens, his sterling character worth gaining for him the warm and enduring regard of all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.
WILLIAM WENK.
One of the most progressive and highly respected business men of Platte county is William Wenk, of Creston, who is there engaged in general merchandising. In- dolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, and the industry and persist- ency of purpose which he has displayed in managing his interests have led to the attainment of substantial success. Germany claims him as a native son. He was born January 28, 1859, of the marriage of John and Dora (Kaiser) Wenk, who were also natives of the same country. The father followed farming in Germany throughout his entire life, there passing away in September. 1889, while his wife survived until April, 1893.
Reared in the fatherland, William Wenk pursued his education in the public schools of Germany, remaining under the parental roof until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he started out in the business world by learning the mason's and also the butcher's trades. He followed those pursuits in his native country until 1884, when the favorable reports which he heard concerning business con- ditions in the new world led him to the determination to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. His arrangements completed, he crossed the ocean to the United States and, making his way into the interior of the country, settled at West- point, Nebraska, where he rented land which he cultivated for a year. At the end of that time he removed to Antelope county, Nebraska, and purchased a quar- ter section for thirteen hundred dollars. His time and energies were then devoted to the development and further improvement of that property until 1894, when he sold the place for three thousand dollars and came to Creston. Here he embarked in the butchering business and also handled farm implements, continning active along those lines until 1897, when he disposed of his butcher shop and opened a
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hardware store. Success attended the new enterprise and after two years he ex- tended the scope of his business by adding a stock of furniture. Thus he continued active in trade until 1907, when he sold the entire establishment and for a year lived retired, but he was too energetic a man to remain content without some occu- pation and he accordingly reentered the commercial field, this time opening a general store which he has since conducted with growing success. He has three separate store-rooms side by side and also a large implement house. He deals in everything from a needle up to a threshing machine and carries an enormous stock, thus being ready to meet any demands of the trade. His business methods are thoroughly reliable, and he has ever held to the highest standards in the personnel of the house, in the kind of goods carried and in the treatment of customers, recognizing the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement. He also handles the Buick auto- mobile and cach branch of his business is bringing to him a gratifying return. He owns his own store building, which is a modern brick business block, well adapted to the purposes for which it is used. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and the Citizens State Bank of Creston.
On the 1st of May, 1881, Mr. Wenk was married to Miss Dora Karstens, whose parents were natives of Germany and never came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Wenk have become the parents of six children. William A., who was born in July, 1882, married Sybilla Hoesley and died in November, 1910, leaving his wife and two children, Thelma and William. Minnie, who was born January 7, 1885, is the wife of Robert Thompson, of Creston. Rudolph was born May 22, 1889. George was born in 1891 and is married. Ada, born in April, 1893, is the wife of H. L. Clarke, a resident farmer of Sherman township. Ray, born March 28, 1895, com- pletes the family.
Politically Mr. Wenk is independent, while in religious faith he is a Lutheran. His name is on the membership rolls of the local organizations of the Modern Wood- men of America, the Highlanders and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In 1910 he returned to Germany, where he has three brothers living, and he had much pleasure in visiting again the scenes of his youth and renewing the friendships of his boyhood. He has never had occasion, however, to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and which, by the way, are always open to ambitious, energetic young men. He brought with him no false ideas concerning the ease with which success might be won but recog- nized the fact that advancement must depend upon individual effort, close applica- tion and determination and, employing these qualities, he has steadily advanced on the high road to fortune. Today he has important business connections and is re- garded as one of the foremost residents of Creston.
O. H. ANDERSON.
An excellent farm on section 35, Walker township, bears witness to the energy and efficiency of O. H. Anderson, who was born in Shelby county, Illinois, on the 1st of November, 1871. His father, Lars Anderson, who was a native of Sweden, became a resident of the United States in 1870, taking up his abode in Shelby county, Illinois. After remaining there for about seven years he removed with his
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family to Genoa, Nebraska, where he lived for about three years. At the end of that time he became the owner of a good farm on Lookingglass creek in Walker township, and for many years his energies were devoted to the cultivation and improvement of his place. He built the first schoolhouse and also helped to build the first church in Walker township and in many other ways contributed to the development and advancement of his community. Having accumulated a compe- tence, he retired from active life a number of years ago. On the 2d of June, 1915, he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, receiving the con- gratulations of their many friends on that occasion.
O. H. Anderson has always followed the occupation to which he was reared and is now operating the home place of one hundred and twenty acres on section 35, Walker township. In addition to this he rents one hundred and sixty acres, which he cultivates, and finds that he has small leisure for outside interests. He carries on general farming and derives a good income from the sale of his grain and stock.
Mr. Anderson supports the democratic party at the polls, and his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. In all relations of life he has been straight- forward and upright, and his integrity has gained him the confidence and regard of all who know him.
FRED H. SANDER.
Since 1907 Fred H. Sander has resided in Creston, where he is now engaged in buying cream and in this connection has built up an extensive business. Like many of his fellow citizens in Platte county, he is of German birth, his natal day being October 29, 1866. His parents, Henry and Dora (Hadeler) Sander, were also natives of Germany, where the father followed the occupation of farming, devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits in that country until 1882, when he came to the United States. He made Platte county, Nebraska, his destination, and on reaching the end of his journey he purchased land in Sherman township, since which time he has systematically and successfully carried on farming there. He has reached the advanced age of eighty-five years, but his wife passed away in 1887.
Fred H. Sander was educated in the schools of Germany, and at the age of fif- teen years he began earning his living by working as a farm hand. He came with his parents to America and continued his employment as a farm laborer until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when he rented land, upon which he carried on general farming for two years. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Creston township and developed, cultivated and improved that place for a long period, there carrying on general farming until 1907, when he rented the farm and came to Creston. Here he is engaged in buying cream, and his business furnishes an excellent market for producers. His work is carefully and systematically handled, and energy and industry constitute the basis of his growing success.
In April, 1897, Mr. Sander was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Har- nepp, a daughter of Carl and Bertha Harnepp, who came to Platte county at an early day. Her father secured a homestead and continued its cultivation for many years but eventually retired from active business and returned to Germany, where
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he now makes his home. To Mr. and Mrs. Sander were born four children, Lydia, Martha, Bertha and Ida. Mr. Sander was married a second time in October, 1914, when he wedded Miss Martha Koch.
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