USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 43
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For many years Mr. Smith belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America and was active in the work of the local camp. He also affiliated with the Tribe of Ben Hur and was one of its active representatives. He never had political aspirations, yet held some minor offices. The cause of education, however, found in him a stalwart champion and he continuously served on the school board of his district until 1914. He belonged to the Episcopal church, was one of its earnest workers and generous contributors and was very active in soliciting funds for the erection of the house of worship. He was a man of high principles whose life was guided by honorable motives which found expression in his straightforward business dealings, in his devotion to the general welfare and in his fair treatment of his fellowmen. He was laid to rest in the Friends cemetery at Monroe.
LAURITZ JOHNSON.
Lauritz Johnson, who ranks among the capable and progressive farmers of Wood- ville township, was born in Denmark on the 6th of December, 1861. His parents, Jurgen and Gertrude (Jurgensen) Larsen, both passed their entire lives in that country.
The subject of this review received his education in his native land and therc grew to manhood, but when twenty-seven years of age he emigrated to the United States, desiring to take advantage of the opportunities which he had heard awaited the energetic young man here. He came to Platte county, Nebraska, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 22, Woodville township, where he still resides. At that time fifty acres of the place were broken but there were no buildings upon it. He at once began to put the remainder of the farm under cultivation and to make the necessary improvements. His residence is commodious and comfortable, and the barns and other buildings are well adapted to their purposes. Everything about the place is well kept up, and it is one of the valuable properties of his locality. He does general farming, employing up-to-date methods and improved
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machinery, and his labors have been rewarded with a gratifying measure of pros- perity.
In 1897 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Christina Hendricksen, who was born in North Schleswig, Germany, a daughter of Mads Hendricksen, a farmer, who is now living retired in Woodville township. To this union have been born three children, Max, Arthur and Alma, all at home.
Mr. Johnson is a stanch adherent of the democratic party and takes a com- mendable interest in everything relating to the public welfare but has never sought office as his farm work makes heavy demands upon his time and energy. His religious faith is indicated by the fact that he holds membership in the Danish Lutheran church, and no movement seeking the moral advancement of his community lacks his hearty cooperation and support. During the many years that he has resided here he has not only gained recognition as a capable farmer but also as a good citizen and as a man of sterling integrity.
CARSTEN PETERSEN, SR.
Carsten Petersen, Sr., engaged in general agricultural pursuits on section 9, Lost Creek township, is the owner of an excellent farm of four hundred and thirty- eight acres. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, near Bredstedt, Sep- tember 19, 1819, a son of Carsten and Anna K. (Jacobson) Petersen, in whose family were five children, of whom the subject of this review is the third in order of birth. The father followed farming and thus provided a comfortable living for his family.
Carsten Petersen left Germany to avoid military duty, coming to America in the fall of 1869, when about twenty years of age. He made his way to Racine county, Wisconsin, there spending the winter, and in the spring of 1870 arrived in Platte county, after which he began work as a farm hand near Columbus, spending four years in that way. In the fall of 1870, however, he took up a homestead on section 8, Lost Creek township, securing eighty acres of land. He continued to work at farm labor, however, in order to acquire some ready capital, and at the end of four years became the occupant of his farm, to which he has since added from time to time until he is now the owner of a large and valuable property of four hundred and thirty-eight acres. In the early days he engaged extensively in raising cattle, but now devotes his energies entirely to general agricultural pursuits. How- ever, he is practically living retired, having largely turned the management and operation of the farm over to his sons, while he is enjoying a rest that he has truly earned and richly deserves. In addition to his farming interests Mr. Petersen is a stockholder and director in the Platte County Bank of Platte Center and in the Monroe Independent Telephone Company.
Mr. Petersen has been married twice. In the fall of 1874 he wedded Margaret Holman, a daughter of Diedrick Holman, but she passed away thirty years ago, leaving five children as follows: Anna, the wife of Henry Hagelmann, a farmer living in Grand Prairie township; Tilda, the wife of Edward Arndt, a farmer of Lost Creek township; Emma, who became the wife of Otto Mueller, of Grand Prairie township, and died in 1913; Carsten, who married Alvina Hoeffelman and is a resi-
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dent farmer of Lost Creek township; and Mary, the wife of William Brunken, who follows farming in Oklahoma. On the 30th of March, 1887, Mr. Petersen was again married, his second union being with Ida L. Martinson, a daughter of B. P. Martin- son. She, too, has passed to the home beyond, her death having occurred May 24, 1913. To this union were born the following: Minnie, the wife of Charles F. Gross- nieklaus, a farmer of Shell Creek township; Luey, who married William Griepentrog; who is farming in Lost Creek township; Celia, the wife of Frank Weber, also a farmer of Lost Creek township; and Chris and Freida, both at home.
In his political views Mr. Petersen is an earnest republican, ever loyal to the party because of his firm belief in its principles. For four years he filled the office of road supervisor and for forty-two years he was school treasurer, acting in that capacity for a longer consecutive period than any other known incumbent. He belongs to the German Lutheran church, of which he served as an officer for six years, and at all times he has been a generous contributor to its support and an active worker in its behalf. He is also accounted one of the most intelligent and progressive farmers of his community, ranking high in public regard, and that his life has been well spent and his labors carefully directed is indicated in the success which has erowned his labors and which finds visible evidence in his large, modern residence and improved farm buildings standing in the midst of highly cultivated and productive fields.
ESKE PETERSEN.
Eske Petersen is now living practically retired, although for many years he figured as a representative farmer and business man of Platte county. He makes his home on seetion 10, Walker township, where he is comfortably situated, having there a good farm which returns him a substantial annual income. He is among the worthy citizens that Denmark has furnished to the new world, his birth having occurred in that country September 19, 1852, his parents being Peter Eskeson and Mary Clausen. The father served his country in the war of 1848. He was a farmer by occupation, living an active, useful life, and his course was ever guided by the teachings of the Lutheran church, of which he was a consistent member
Eske Petersen attended school in Denmark to the age of sixteen years, when he began work as a farm hand. When eighteen years of age he entered the Danish army, with which he was connected for one year. Some time afterward he deter- mined to try his fortune in the new world and in 1881 made the voyage to America, after which he crossed the country to Platte county, Nebraska. Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on seetion 10, Walker township, for which he paid five hundred and ten dollars. The improvements upon the place were a sod house and straw barn. He paid thirty dollars down upon his property, and his friends and neighbors indorsed his note for the remainder. He was then entirely without capital but he possessed a resolute spirit and determination and upon those qualities built his success. It required ready money to begin the development of a farm and as he had none he went to Louisville, Nebraska, where he worked in the stone quarries until he had made and saved enough to enable him to buy a team and plows. He then began farming on seetion 10. where he has sinee lived and his
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labors are evideneed in the carefully tilled fields and many improvements which he has added to his property. From 1901 to 1909 he conducted a store on his farm, and he also worked to seeure the establishment of a postoffice, which he named Rosenburg after his old home place in Denmark. As time passed on suceess re- warded his efforts, and he not only beeame the owner of one hundred and sixty aeres of land in Platte county but also three hundred and sixty aeres of land in Greeley county, Nebraska. He has since given land to all of his children, but still retains eighty acres of his original purchase, where he resides on seetion 10, Walker township.
Mr. Petersen was united in marriage to Miss Marguerite Sorensen, who was born in Denmark in 1861. Her parents, Michael and Mettie Sorensen, arrived in Platte county in 1878 and the father purchased raw prairie land in Walker township. He took an active part in early day affairs and did everything possible to further the welfare and interests of the community, including the organization of a church. In 1907 he removed to Minnesota, where he now makes his home. To Mr. and Mrs. Petersen have been born seven ehildren: Anna, a resident of Greeley county ; Mattie, the wife of Christ Petersen; Michael, farming in Greeley county; Ellen M. and Peter A., twins; John; and Soren.
Mr. Petersen has always been most helpful to the people of his nationality who have come to Platte county, assisting them in getting settled and starting in business. He has no political aspirations but has always been willing and ready to aid in any movement or measure for advaneing the public good. He helped organize the Danish Lutheran church at Rosenburg, and his entire life has been in consistent harmony with his professions as a representative of that denomination. He has many sterling traits of character, has ever been found reliable in business, progressive in citizenship and devoted to the welfare of his family and friends.
EDWARD F. LUSIENSKI.
Edward F. Lusienski is proprietor of the Clother Hotel at Platte Center and is proving a popular host by his earnest efforts to please his patrons and by his pro- gressive methods. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska, December 24, 1884, his parents being Constance and Katherine Lusienski, of Galieia, Poland, whence they came to the United States, making their way to Columbus, where the father followed the shoemaker's trade, which he had previously learned in his native land. He entered the employ of Greisen Brothers of Columbus and with them remained until his removal to Platte Center, where he continued to work as a shoemaker until his death on the 2d of November, 1903. His widow survives and is still living in Platte Center.
Edward F. Lusienski acquired his education in the Catholic sehools, spending a year and a half as a student in Omaha. After laying aside his textbooks he began elerking and was connected with general merchandising for five years, after which he took up the plumbing trade. On the Ist of November, 1914, he purchased the Clother Hotel, of which he is now the proprietor. He studies the needs and wishes of the traveling publie and is ready to meet every demand. An excellent
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cuisine, well furnished rooms and honorable business methods are the attractions which bring travelers to his hostelry, so that his business has become a paying one.
On the 4th of November, 1914, Mr. Lusienski was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Regan, a daughter of John and Mary Regan, of Platte Center. In politics he is a liberal republican and for two terms filled the office of township clerk. He belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles and adheres to the faith of the Catholic church, in which he was reared. He is still a young man but has already gained a creditable position in business circles and is now well known as one of the repre- sentative residents of Platte Center.
CHRISTIAN PETERSEN.
In the history of Platte county's pioneer development it is imperative that men- tion be made of Christian Petersen, who came here at an early day and whose work was of the greatest worth in the reclamation of wild lands and in the development of the county to its present stage of progress and prosperity. Mr. Petersen is a native of Denmark, born on the island of Langeland, December 4, 1831, so that he has now passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey. He pursued a common- school education and for one year was connected with the Danish army, being a servant to the general. His business activity in his native country was along indus- trial lines, being for twelve years employed at carpenter work.
The opportunities of the new world, however, attracted Mr. Petersen and in 1873 he crossed the Atlantic, making his way to Vermont, where for a year he was employed in the marble quarries. He afterward spent three years in the iron mines of New York and in May, 1877, came to the west, making his way to Platte county, where he homesteaded eighty acres on section 14, Walker township. Since that time he has been identified with the agricultural interests of the district. His first home was a sod house and he lived in true pioneer style. All around were rolling prairies stretching far and wide with little token of the plow, with no barrier fences for miles, spangled in June with a million wild flowers and in December covered with one unbroken shect of dazzling snow. There were many hardships and trials to be borne in those early days before the comforts of civilization could be secured. Mr. Petersen broke the prairie sod with ox teams and hauled his lumber from Columbus with a yoke of oxen a distance of thirty-five miles, but he persevered in his work and in time his labors brought substantial results. After a year he bought forty acres of land on section 23 and six years later made purchase of eighty acres on section 15, Walker township, which is now owned by his son, P. J. Petersen. Year by year he carefully tilled the soil and continued his farm . work until he brought his land to a high state of cultivation, making it a productive and valuable farm.
On the 4th of September, 1857, Mr. Petersen was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Christianson, who was born in Denmark in 1836, a daughter of Chris- tian and Karen (Hanson) Christianson, and passed away in the year 1914. She took a very active and helpful part in church work and was a woman of many admirable traits of character. To Mr. and Mrs. Petersen were born six children, as follows: Hans J., who is a resident of Albion, Nebraska; Mary, who is the wife of Ludwig
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Swanson, of St. Joseph, Missouri ; Caroline, now Mrs. Louis Knudsen and a resident of Texas; Nels C., living at St. Edward, Nebraska; Peter J., a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work; and Carl Christian, who makes his home at Clear Lake, Wisconsin.
Mr. Petersen holds membership in the Danish Lutheran church, which he aided in organizing in 1879 and of which he has been a very active and helpful member, doing all in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence, while his life has ever been guided by its teachings. In his political views he has long been a republican, earnest in support of the party but not an active party worker. He has always given his attention to his business affairs, and has long been numbered with the leading and energetic farmers of the community. His residence in the county now covers thirty-eight years, during which time he has witnessed many changes. No longer is the sod house to be seen, for such primitive homes have given place to commodious and substantial farm residences and in place of the wild prairie grasses are to be found highly cultivated fields, bringing forth rich crops of corn and other cereals. Mr. Petersen can relate many interesting incidents of the early days and is justly numbered among the honored pioneers of the county.
JOHN BLASER.
John Blaser is a resident farmer of Loup township, living on section 22. His entire life has been passed in this county, his birth having occurred in Columbus on the 8th of November, 1869, his parents being Mr. and Mrs Nicholas Blaser. At the usual age he became a public-school pupil and is indebted to the common-school system of the county for the educational privileges which he enjoyed and which fitted him for the later duties of life. In 1870 his parents left Columbus and took up their abode upon the farm upon which John Blaser now resides, so that he was reared in the usnal manner of farm lads, taking his place in the fields as soon as his age and strength qualified him for such tasks. He thus became familiar with every phase of agricultural life and, starting out for himself, he resolved to continue in the same line of labor. He began farming on his own account in 1893 by renting land from his father. In addition to tilling the soil he began raising stock and makes a specialty of handling Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs. He is an excellent judge of stock, so that he makes judicious purchases, while his sales return to him a gratifying annual income. He has made all of the improvements upon his farm, which is an excellent property, equipped with good buildings and machinery and all of the accessories and conveniences of the model farm property of the twentieth century. In addition to his other business interests he is a stockholder in the Duncan Inde- pendent Telephone Company.
In June, 1893, Mr. Blaser was married to Miss Mary Lemp, a daughter of Got- lieb Lemp, who came from Switzerland to the new world and in the year 1871 established his home in Loup township. Three children, Ella, Lilly and Quenten, have been born of this marriage.
In his political views Mr Blaser is a democrat but has never sought nor desired public office. However, he has served as school director for two terms and is a stal- wart champion of the cause of education. He belongs to the German Reformed
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JOHN BLASER AND FAMILY
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church and guides his life according to its teachings, being an upright, honorable man, highly esteemed by all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.
EMIL G. AND ERNEST W. LOSEKE.
Emil G. and Ernest W. Loseke are the owners of Pleasant View Farm, a valuable, attractive and very desirable property situated on section 30, Bismark township. They are sons of Gerhard Loseke, and therefore representatives of one of the old pioneer families of the county, which has now had representatives of four generations of this family within its borders. The elder, Emil Gottfried Loseke, was born on the old family homestead in Bismark township, January 21, 1891, while Ernest Walter Loseke was born at the same place on the 19th of March, 1893. No important event occurred to vary for them the routine of farm life during the days of their boyhood and youth. The parents, realizing the value of education, gave them good opportunities in that direction and when their textbooks were put aside they were thoroughly trained to farm work that they might be thus well qualified to take up business responsibilities and duties in later, life. From their father they received as a gift the one hundred and sixty acres of land which they now own and cultivate. This is an excellently improved farm, presenting a neat and thrifty appearance which indicates their careful supervision, their practical labors and their progressive methods.
Both brothers are married and pleasantly situated in homes of their own. On the 11th of June, 1913, Emil G. Loseke was joined in wedlock to Miss Anna M. Mueller, a daughter of R. C. Mueller, a resident farmer of Bismark township, and to them has been born a daughter, Evelyn. The younger brother, Ernest W., was married October 14, 1914, to Miss Martha M. Arnold, a native of Page county, Nebraska. They are well known young people of Bismark township and enjoy the friendship and high regard of many with whom they have been associated from early life. Pleasant View Farm is well named and the hospitality of the two homes found thercon is well known in the community. A fact equally evident is that the owners of this farm are enterprising, progressive young business men who are rapidly winning their way to a foremost place among the representative agriculturists of the county.
OWEN PARRY.
Owen Parry, who is residing on section 25, Joliet township, is numbered among the successful farmers of his locality and is a representative of that class of citizens whom we term self-made men. Starting out in life empty-handed, he thoughtfully considered the possibilities and resolved that he would win success if it could be obtained by honorable methods and indefatigable energy. Throughout his life he . has worked persistently and diligently and when one avenue of opportunity has seemed closed he has marked out another path which has brought him to the desired goal.
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Mr. Parry was born on the 18th of April, 1854, in North Wales, near Pwllheli, a son of Robert and Mary (Roberts) Parry. The father followed agricultural pur- suits throughout his entire active life. In 1884 Owen Parry came to America and first settled in Gage county, Nebraska, where he remained for six and one-half years. In 1891 he removed to his present farm in Joliet township, Platte county, which then consisted of two hundred and forty acres but to which he has since added one hundred and sixty acres on section 26, so that the farm now comprises four hundred acres. The fields are enclosed by strong, durable fences, and he has made a number of improvements upon the place. He raises stock in addition to growing the usual crops and his labors yield him a good profit.
On September 28, 1892, Mr. Parry was united in marriage to Miss Elizabetlı Williams, a daughter of David T. and Achsa (Rees) Williams, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Parry have become the parents of eleven children, one of whom is deceased, the others being Robert O., Achsa, Mary, David R., Owen W., Watkin H., Eleanor, Rees F., Margaret and Sarah Jane Vivian, all at home.
Mr. Parry does not consider himself bound by the dictates of party leaders but on occasion votes independently, although he believes in the wisdom of the policies of the republican party. His life has been one of well directed and useful activity and the success that he has gained is well deserved. His standards of conduct are high and his genuine worth has gained him the warm friendship of many. His life record should serve to encourage and stimulate others who must start out as he did, for his career shows what can be accomplished when energy and ambition point out the way. His valuable farm property is the visible evidence of well directed energy and thrift. Coming to this county, he resolutely set to work to make his farm a productive and valuable property and the result of his labors is seen in well cultivated fields which annually produce good crops. In all of his business dealings he has been thoroughly reliable and he enjoys in unusnal degree the confidence and goodwill of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
GUSTAV BENNING.
Gustav Benning, who owns and operates a well improved farm on section 34, Bismark township, was born in Pomerania, Germany, December 24, 1867. His father, Joachim Benning, was born on Christmas Day, 1826, and the birth of his mother, who bore the maiden name of Christina Jones, occurred on the 3d of July, 1834. In 1868 they left their native land and crossed the Atlantic to the United States, as they had heard much of the unusual opportunities which this country afforded. For two years they lived at Chatsworth, Illinois, but in 1870 they came to Platte county, Nebraska, and the father homesteadcd eighty acres of land in Bismark township. He met with gratifying success in his farming operations and from time to time purchased more land, becoming the owner of three quarter sections. He passed away on the 31st of October, 1898, but is survived by his widow, who is still living in Bismark township. The family are Lutherans in religious faith. Six of the ten children are living, namely: Angusta, the wife of Carl Labens, of Bis-
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