USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 44
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mark township; Fredericka, the wife of William Schreiber, of Columbus township; Carolina, who married F. G. Stenger, of Columbus township; Gustav; William, who is residing on the old homestead; and Lizzie, now Mrs. Carl Reinke, of Bismark township.
Gustav Benning was reared under the parental roof and under the guidance of his father early became acquainted with modern methods of agriculture. His eduea- tion was that afforded by the public schools of the county and since putting aside his textbooks he has devoted his entire time to farm work. His father gave him one hundred and sixty aeres of land in Bismark township, on which he engages in gen- eral farming. The place is well improved and as he uses up-to-date methods in his work he derives a good return from his labor.
Mr. Benning was married November 15, 1894, to Miss Agnes Runge, who was born in Bismark township on the 13th of April, 1874. a daughter of August Runge, a resident of Columbus. She passed away on the 22d of March, 1915, leaving four children: Lillie, William, Gustav and Freada.
Mr. Benning gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, and his re- ligious faith is that of the Lutheran church. Practically his entire life has been spent in this county and the fact that those who have known him intimately since boyhood are his warmest friends is indicative of his worth as a man.
FREDRICK . HENRY GERRARD.
Fredrick Henry Gerrard, a prominent and well known representative of commer- cial interests in Monroe, where as a partner of his brother, E. A. Gerrard, he is engaged in general merchandising, was born on the 7th of May, 1848, in Rock Island, Illinois, and attended school in that city. He afterward studied law with a brother at Columbus, Nebraska, and in 1872 was admitted to the bar. following which he entered upon the practice of the profession at Fairmont, this state. In 1875 he re- moved to York, Nebraska, where he continued in praetiee for two years, and while there he also published the York Republican, a weekly newspaper. Later he went to Madison, Nebraska, in 1877 and in addition to practicing law edited the Madison Review, also a weekly republican paper, but in 1879 he returned to Columbus, living there until 1880. In the latter year he established a store in Oconee, Nebraska, which was then a village of considerable importance, and in 1890 he removed to Monroe, where he organized the first Farmers Grain Association in the county and one of the first in the state. His grain office was the first building moved into the present town of Monroe. For a time he was the owner of land in Loup county and there engaged in farming, but in 1915 he once more entered mercantile eireles in Monroe, where he is now engaged in general merchandising under the firm style of Gerrards. The brothers carry a complete line of general merchandise, their store being tastefully and attraetively arranged, and by the courteous treatment of their patrons and the earnest desire to please they have gained a large trade. Fredriek H. Gerrard also owns a scetion of land in Brown county and two and a quarter sections of land in Rock and Loup counties, this state. He devotes all of his attention, however, to his mercantile interests save for the general supervision which he gives to his investments.
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In 1875 occurred the marriage of Fredrick H. Gerrard and Miss Adaline Walam- wood, a native of Michigan and a daughter of Christ Walamwood, who lived in that state prior to the Civil war. In 1861 his patriotic spirit prompted his response to the country's call for troops and he enlisted in Company F, Eleventh Michigan Infantry, with which he served for four years. Following the war he removed west- ward to Fillmore county, Nebraska, where he entered land and carried on general farming. He was a resident of Kearney at the time of his death, which occurred when he was abont sixty years of age. His daughter, Mrs. Gerrard, passed away in 1886. By her marriage she had become the mother of two sons and two daugh- ters. Charles, now a printer of Canada, is married and has a daughter. Stella is the wife of Loren Barnum, a farmer of Greeley county, Nebraska, and they have three children. Emma is the widow of George Barnum, of Platte county, Nebraska. and they had one son. Lee is the owner and manager of the Lee Gerrard Comedy Company, a traveling theatrical organization. He, too, is married. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Gerrard wedded Mrs. Mary Crookham, a native of Ohio, and to them has been born a son, Fred Joseph, now a farmer of Loup county, Nebraska, who is married and has one child.
In his political views Mr. Gerrard is a democrat and has always been an ardent worker in the local ranks of the party, seeking to secure the adoption of its principles, yet never desiring office for himself. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and he has guided his life by its teachings. Those who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, speak of him in terms of high regard and are glad to call him friend, for he has many sterling traits of character in addition to the social qualities which render him popular in the community in which he lives.
ELBERT TAYLOR.
Elbert Taylor, who owns and operates two hundred and twenty acres of good land in Joliet township, was born February 14. 1853. His parents, Lewis and Sarah (Edwards) Taylor, were natives respectively of Virginia and North Caro- lina. The father, who was born in 1811, was prevented by his age from serving in the Civil war. In 1855 he removed to Missouri, whence in 1867 he went to Iowa, where he passed away in 1886. His entire life was devoted to agricultural pursuits, in which he gained a gratifying measure of success.
Elbert Taylor received his education in Iowa and in his boyhood also learned practical methods of farming through assisting his father. In 1887 he came to Platte county, Nebraska, and cultivated rented land in Humphrey township for eleven years. For the next five years he operated rented land in Jolict township but in 1904 he purchased two hundred and twenty acres on section 32, that town- ship. He has since cultivated his place, which is well improved, and in addition to growing grain he raises stock, from the sale of which he receives a substantial addi- tion to his income.
In 1873 Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Anna MeClung, a daughter of Edward and Melvina (Young) MeClung. Eight children have been born of this union, namely: William, who died at the age of twelve years ; Charles, a resident of Monroe township, who married Nellie Davis and has three daughters; Edward, living near
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Redfield, South Dakota, who married Lydia Stenzel and has two sons and one daughter; Henry, a resident of St. Bernard township, this county, who married Kate Connelly and has two sons and one daughter; Samuel, at home; Lee, who died at the age of ten years; Oscar, a resident of Monroe township, who married Minnie Peterson and has one son; and Lilly, who is now attending high school in Monroe.
Mr. Taylor supports the candidates and measures of the democratic party at the polls and takes the interest of a good citizen in public affairs although he has never been an office secker. He holds membership in the Baptist church, and in his daily life exemplifies the teachings of that organization.
JOHN POTTER.
John Potter is a retired farmer living in Monroe. For many years, however, he was actively identified with agricultural interests and it has been along the line of persistent, earnest and intelligently direeted effort that he has won his success. He is of English birth, his natal day being December 10, 1810, and the place of his nativity Stafford county, England. He is the eldest of the family of five children whose parents were John and Dorothy (Clarke) Potter, the former a farmer of England. In the common sehools of that country John Potter pursued his education, and his early training under parental care was such as brought to him a realization of the value of industry and honesty as faetors in the attainment of success. He was a young man of twenty-five years when, in 1865, he became a resident of Kane county, Illinois, where he began farming and, meeting with success in his under- taking, he later acquired considerable real estate in Elgin, Illinois. In 1878, how- ever, he disposed of his interests there and, coming to Platte county, established his home on section 28, Lost Creek township, where he took up a homestead of eighty aeres, to which he afterward added by the purchase of forty aeres of railroad land. Thereon he resided for twenty-nine years, carefully, systematically and success- fully developing and improving his farm, and at the end of that time he removed to his present location just outside the city limits of Monroe, where he has seven- teen acres of land. Indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and, realizing that he could not be eontent without some oeeupation, he has planted his land to ever-bearing strawberries and to various vegetables. He is very enthusiastie on the subject of horticulture and takes great pride in his garden. He is also a stockholder in the Bank of Monroe, owns considerable land in Lincoln county, Ne- braska, and in the past seven years has owned and sold eight different farms.
In April, 1864, Mr. Potter was married in the parish of Hagly Worehestershire, England, to Miss Mary Whitehouse, a native of that locality, and they have become the parents of eleven children who are yet living: Alfred, a resident of Albion, Nebraska; Ellen, who married Thomas Dress, of Woodville; William, who is farm- ing in Lincoln county ; Charles, a resident farmer of Lost Creek township; Edward, who follows agricultural pursuits in Merriek county; Walter, also a farmer of Lin- coln eounty; Frank, who is cultivating a farm in Oconee township; Dorothy, the wife of Len Reilly, of Lineoln county ; Mattie, at home; Luey, the wife of Harry Hill, living in Hersey, Nebraska; and Anna, at home. Mr. Potter gave to each of
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his sons material assistance to enable them to begin farming and they now all own their own farms and are doing well, proving themselves enterprising, progressive business men.
Since becoming a naturalized American citizen Mr. Potter has given his political allegiance to the republican party and he has been equally loyal in his adherence to the Episcopal church. He is now nearing the seventy-fifth milestone on life's jour- ney but is still active and energetic and in spirit and interests seems yet in his prime. He is most enthusiastic concerning fruit raising and well he may be, for his intelli- gently directed efforts are producing excellent results in his gardens, constituting an example that others may well follow.
JOHN SORENSEN.
John Sorensen, a farmer living on section 23, Woodville township, has resided upon his present place for thirty-one years and is entitled to honor as one of the pioneers of Platte county. There were many difficulties to be surmounted before the wild prairie could be converted into cultivated fields, but he persevered and as the result of his industry and good management has gained a gratifying measure of success as an agriculturist.
Mr. Sorensen was born in Denmark on the 3d of June, 1858, a son of Michael and Mattie M. (Jensen) Sorensen, also natives of that country, where they remained until 1879. In that year they came with their family to the United States and made their way westward to Nebraska, where they arrived May 12, 1879. They located in Walker township, Platte county, and their first home in this new country was a dugout, which later gave place to a sod house. Subsequently a comfortable frame residence was erected and in time the farm was brought to a high state of develop- ment. Six years hefore his death the father removed to Minnesota, where he passed away in 1909 at the advanced age of eighty-one years. His wife is still living in that state. She belongs to the Danish Lutheran church, as did her husband, who was one of the organizers of the local congregation of that denomination. To their union were born ten children: John; Soren, who is deceased but whose widow still owns a good farm in Walker township, this county; Marguerite, the wife of Eske Peter- sen, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Elsie, now Mrs. Nels C. Petersen, of Boone county, Nebraska; Mattie C., the wife of Peter Johnson, a farmer of Walker township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Jappe, who is living in Minnesota; Jensine, who died in young womanhood; Hans C., who died in Minnesota : Karen, who is living in Lindsay ; and Christ, a resident of Minnesota.
John Sorensen received a common-school education in Denmark and lived there until he was twenty years old, when he accompanied his parents to the United States. He assisted his father in the work of the home farm in this county and among other things helped to build the sod house. Later he worked as a farm hand by the month in different parts of eastern Nebraska and was also for a time employed in a stone quarry at Plattsmouth. On returning to Platte county he purchased eighty acres of land, to the cultivation of which he devoted his energies, and subsequently bonght forty acres from his father. He has since increased his holdings, which now total two hundred and eighty acres, and has made all the improvements upon his place.
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The buildings are substantial and well designed and in his farm work he uses up- to-date methods and improved machinery. He has worked hard and has given much thought to the management of his business affairs and, as is but natural, he has ac- cumulated a competence. When he came to this country he was a poor boy but he took advantage of the opportunities offered and is now one of the substantial men of his township.
On January 18, 1885, Mr. Sorensen was married to Miss Josephine Svenson, a native of Sweden, whose parents, Sven and Fredrica (Haktor) Sanerson, passed their entire lives in that country. To this union were born seven children: Carl, a resident of Minnesota, who is married and has two children; Anton, a farmer of Walker township, who is married and has one child; Albert, who is cultivating land belonging to his father and who is married and has one child; Herman, at home; Victoria, the wife of Nels P. Petersen, of Walker township, by whom she has one child; and Harold and Mattie, at home. Mrs. Sorensen passed away December 4, 1910.
The republican party has a stanch adherent in Mr. Sorensen, but he has never had time to take an active part in politics. He holds membership in the Danish Lutheran church, the teachings of which have guided his life. When he first came to this county it was still a frontier region and he made trips to Columbus when there were no section roads, and he followed the ridge across the prairie in order not to lose his way. The trip required two days and twenty-five cents was consid- cred a large amount to spend for expenses. He worked on farms for a wage of ten dollars per month. These reminiscences give some idea of conditions that pre- vailed only about three decades ago in the county and indicate the rapidity of its development. Mr. Sorensen takes justifiable pride in the fact that he has had a part in the transformation of the wild prairie into a region of highly developed farms and thriving towns and villages.
JOHN CHERRY.
John Cherry, a large landowner, who is devoting his time and attention to farm- ing and stock-raising in Joliet township, was born in what is now a part of Toronto, Canada, August 10, 1852. His parents, Frank and Catherine (Keffer ) Cherry, were also natives of the Dominion, the former born in April, 1827, and the latter on the 10th of August, 1833. When the subject of this review was but twelve years of age the family removed to the United States and located in Michigan, whence they went to Indiana. On the day that President Garfield was shot they were on their way to Nebraska, which they reached in due time. They lived successively in Dodge, Saunders and Holt counties, and there the father carried on agricultural work. He passed away on the 17th of August, 1904, when seventy-five years of age, while on a visit in Missouri. His wife died on the 6th of September, 1905. They were the parents of seven children: John; William, who died in Michigan when nineteen years old; Ilarper, who died in Canada; Jennie, the wife of William D. Burkholder, a resident of this county; Frank, who lives in Linn county, Missouri; Albert. who died in Michigan; and Amanda, who became the wife of James Burkholder and passed away in Denver, Colorado, three years ago.
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John Cherry was reared on the home farm and during his boyhood and youth assisted his father with the work. On leaving the parental roof he went to Kansas, where he took up a homestead, but never proved up upon that property, although he remained there one year and then returned to Wisconsin. Following his mar- riage he cultivated the home farm for a year and then removed to Madison county, Nebraska, where he lived for about four years. On leaving there he came to Platte county and located near Lindsay, where he spent a similar period. In 1897 he set- tled on his present farm, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres on section 32, Joliet township, twenty acres of which were broken. He soon had all of his farm under cultivation and as the years passed his resources increased and he purchased addi- tional land. He now owns five hundred and sixty acres in Joliet township, one hundred and sixty acres in Merrick county and three hundred and sixty acres in Brown county. He grows the usual crops and also feeds cattle, and he and his sons are ranked among the most successful farmers of the county. They are hard workers and are at once practical and progressive, adopting new methods when their use- fulness has been proved.
In 1888 Mr. Cherry married Miss Ellen Loftquist, a native of Sweden, who came to the United States when fifteen years of age with her parents and settled in Polk county, Nebraska. She passed away on the 6th of January, 1905, her demise occa- sioning sincere regret, for she was held in high esteem by all who knew her. To this union were born eight children: Charles H., Albert, Sadie, Verna, John, Annie May, Lillie, all at home; and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Cherry supports the republican party at the polls but has never desired to hold office. He is a member of the Baptist church and in its teachings are found the guiding principles of his life, and his strict integrity has gained him the sincere respect of his fellowmen.
REV. JOHN CALVIN EVANS.
Rev. John Calvin Evans, who passed away in Columbus on the 21st of April, 1914, brought a colony to that city in the fall of 1879 and was long a factor in the moral development and growth of the community. His birth occurred in Connoquenessing township, Butler county, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of October, 1838, his parents being William Valentine and Rachel (Hammel) Evans, who were married at Faulkstown, Ohio, October 2, 1834. This branch of the Evans family are direct descendants of Evan Evans, who came from Montgomeryshire, Wales, in 1722 and on November 17th of that year settled on a farm on White Clay creek, Chester county, Pennsylvania. The place is still in the possession of members of the family. A complete record of those of the name will be found in the book entitled "History of the Evans Family," which was finished by Rev. John C. Evans a few months before his death in 1914.
John C. Evans acquired his education in the public schools of Butler county and those of Tarentum in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Subsequently he en- tered Franklin College, now the University of Ohio, at Athens, Ohio, being gradu- ated from that institution in 1861. The same year he volunteered for service in the Union army but was rejected on account of physical disability. He was drawn
REV. JOHN C. EVANS
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in the first draft in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and was again rejected be- cause of physical disability occasioned by organic heart disease. Preparing for the ministry, he was graduated from the Allegheny Theological Seminary of the United Presbyterian church in 1867 and during the next twelve years acted as pastor of churches in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, presiding over Four Mile church and the Remmington and Oakland congregations. In 1879 Rev. Evans brought a party of over sixty persons from the neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Columbus, Nebraska, the colony arriving here on the 17th of October. With this party came William Cornelius and family, the Dodds family, James Boggs and family and the MeKims, and the following year many others were added from the same locality, including Dr. C. D. Evans. Many of these are still residents of Platte county and are numbered among its most substantial citizens. From 1879 until 1883 Rev. Evans was engaged in home mission work for the United Presby- terian church in Nebraska and during the remainder of his life was a clergyman of the Congregational church. About 1883 he removed with his family to Buffalo county, Nebraska, where he resided until 1910 and then went to southern California on account of failing health. In the spring of 1914 he returned to Columbus and here passed away on April 21st, being buried in the Columbus cemetery beside his " wife, Mrs. Nancy A. Evans, whose demise occurred in 1903.
On the 23d of December, 1862, in Tarentum, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, Rev. Evans was united in marriage to Miss Nancy A. Gilliford, a daughter of Robert and Nancy Gilliford. She was educated in the common schools of Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, and the Ladies' Seminary of Juniata county, Pennsyl- vania, at Academia, and taught school in Tarentum, Pennsylvania. Her family were early pioneers of the Keystone state and her ancestors served in the Con- tinental army during the Revolutionary war. To Rev. Evans and his wife were born the following children: William S., Robert G., Charles V., Edgar G., Henry C., Nancy K. and Rachel H. In his political views Rev. Evans was a republican, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. His life was devoted to the service of the Master and his zealous, consecrated labors were not denied the full harvest nor the aftermath.
SIMON EDWARD PEARSON.
Simon Edward Pearson is the present well known and popular cashier of the Bank of Monroe, to which position he was appointed on the 1st of September, 1915. He had previously had banking experience, however, and was well trained for the onerous duties of his present responsible position. He was born on a farm in Monroe township, Platte county, August 27, 1882, a son of Andrew and Sara (Nel- son) Pearson. His father's birth occurred in the central part of Sweden in the year 1834, and in that county the paternal grandmother is still living at the remark- able old age of ninety-nine years. The entire life of Andrew Pearson was devoted to the two occupations of farming and carpentering. It was in April, 1882, that he left his native land and made his way to the new world, remaining for a time near Des Moines, Iowa, while subsequently he removed to Monroe township, this county, and invested in one hundred and forty-four acres of land, for which he paid Vol. II-22
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five dollars per acre for eighty acres and twelve dollars and a half for the remain- der. This property has greatly increased in value, owing to the settlement of the county and also to the many excellent improvements which Mr. Pearson placed upon his farm. His wife was also born in the central part of Sweden, her natal year being 1840, and both parents are now living in Genoa, Nebraska. Their children are Peter, Nels, Andrew Olaf, Bettie (Elizabeth) and Simon Edward.
Simon E. Pearson is indebted to the district schools for the early educational opportunities which he enjoyed. Later he attended a business college in Lincoln, Nebraska, but in the meantime worked upon the home farm and became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He also became a student in the Highland Park College at Des Moines, Iowa, and in this manner qualified for the work to which he has since devoted his energies. His connection with banking began in the fall of 1908, when he accepted the position of bookkeeper for the First National Bank of Genoa, spending two and a half years in that institu- tion. He was then promoted to the position of assistant cashier, and in 1915 he came to Monroe to accept the position of cashier of the Bank of Monroc, entering upon the duties of that office on the 1st of September. His previous experience and training well qualified him for the work that now devolves upon him, and he is already making good in his present connection. He is a courteous and obliging official, doing everything possible to accommodate the bank's patrons and at the same time carefully safeguarding the interests of the institution.
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