USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 45
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On the 22d of December, 1909, Mr. Pearson was married to Miss Augusta Peterson, of Lincoln, Nebraska, who was born near Karlskrona, Sweden, on the 25th of October, 1883. They now have two interesting little sons, Harold Edward and Carl Bernard. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are well known in Monroe and this part of the county, where they have a large circle of warm friends. They hold member- ship in the Swedish Methodist church, and Mr. Pearson gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, finding, as he believes, the elements of good government in its platform. He is always loyal to his honest convictions and his position on any vital question is never an equivocal one.
PETER JORGENSEN.
The wealth of Platte county comes mainly from the fertility of its soil and the labors of its farmers, and those who have aided in its agricultural development are deserving of honor. Peter Jorgensen, better known as Peter Johnson through an official error in recording the name after his arrival in this country, is farming on section 10, Walker township. He has been identified with agricultural pursuits in this county for many years and has gained a gratifying measure of success. He was born in Denmark on the 22d of November, 1859, a son of Jurgen and Gertrude (Jurgensen) Larsen, hoth of whom died in their native land.
Peter Jorgensen was educated in Denmark and there grew to manhood, but when twenty-two years of age came to the United States, sceking the opportunities which this country offers. After residing for two years in Omaha he and his brother Hans came to Platte county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 10, Walker township. They operated that place in partnership for about
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ten years, during which time their sister, Martine, kept house for them. At the end of that period Hans Jorgensen returned to Denmark and the sister became the wife of Peter Damgard. Our subject has continued to operate the farm which he and his brother homesteaded and also owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres on section 16. He carries on general farming and as he uses improved methods and up-to-date machinery his labors are rewarded by excellent crops, from the sale of which he receives a good profit. He also raises high grade stock and finds that branch of his business likewise profitable.
Mr. Jorgensen was married November 28, 1890, to Miss Christine Sorensen, a sister of John Sorensen, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. They have become the parents of six children, Sine, Godfred, Herluf, Harold, Gertrude, and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Jorgensen is a stanch republican but has never been an office secker, as the operation of his farm has demanded his entire time and attention. He was one of the organizers of the Danish Lutheran church and can always be depended upon to further its interests in any way possible. His integrity and upright life have gained him the sincere respect of all who have been associated with him, and his financial prosperity ranks him among the substantial men of his community.
MARTIN DUNN.
Martin Dunn, living on section 1, Shell Creek township, was born in Queens county, Ireland, May 25, 1854. His father, James Dunn, also a native of that country, came to the United States in the '60s and settled in New Jersey, where he owned and cultivated a farm. In 1885, however. he left the east and removed to La Salle county, Illinois, where he became the owner of a small tract of land. In later years he retired from farming and removed to Chicago, where he continued until his death. He voted with the democratic party and was ever a loyal adherent of the Catholic church. He died in 1886, at the age of seventy years, and his wife was also seventy years of age when she passed away in 1892. She bore the maiden name of Bridget Dowling and, like her husband, was a native of the Emerald isle.
In a family of eight children Martin Dunn was the second in order of birth and was a young lad when he accompanied his parents to the new world. For two terms after reaching La Salle county he continued his education in the public schools, but he left home at the age of fourteen years to make his own way in the world and on attaining his majority he began farming on rented land in La Salle county. In 1883 he secured a homestead on section 4, Shell Creek township, Platte county, a tract of raw prairie, on which he has set out trees, while much of the wild land he has converted into productive fields. For thirty-two years he has resided continu- ously upon this place and devotes all of his time to farm work, having one hundred and sixty acres of good land. He raises high grade stock, making a specialty of hogs, and is quite successful in that work.
In 1879 in Gilman, Illinois, Mr. Dunn was united in marriage to Miss Cath- erine Coleman, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, a daughter of Jeremiah and Joanna (O'Ncill) Coleman, who were also natives of County Cork. On coming to the United States with his family in 1872 Mr. Coleman settled in Iroquois
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county, Illinois, and there carried on general farming, owning a good tract of land, from which he annually derived a substantial ineome, for his work was systematic- ally and carefully managed. He, too, voted with the democratic party, while his religious belief was that of the Catholic church. Mrs. Dunn was the fifth in a fam- ily of ten children and a sister, Ella Coleman, taught in Platte county sehools for about twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are the parents of six children: Eliza- beth, a teacher in a country school near St. Edward, Nebraska; Ella, the wife of Ben Betterton, a teacher of Columbus; Mary, the wife of James Sullivan, a farmer living near Platte Center, by whom she has two children; Florence, a teacher, living at home; James, at home; and Frances, in school at Platte Center. All of the children attended the distriet and afterward the parochial and publie sehools of Platte Center. The family are members of the Catholic church in Platte Center.
Mr. Dunn is well known in this locality, where he has long resided, and he en- joys the goodwill and high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contaet. He has lived in the new world sinee his early teens and for almost a third of a cen- tury has occupied the farm upon which he now resides and which in its well culti- vated condition is an expression of his industry and thrift.
EZRA FELLERS.
Ezra Fellers is the owner of Loeust Grove Farm, situated on section 10, Monroe township. but is now living retired, for he has advanced far on life's journey, reach- ing a period when nature seems to have intended that man should enjoy a season of rest. He was born in Columbia county, New York, March 24, 1831, a son of John N. and Maria (Coleman) Fellers, both of whom were natives of New York. The father devoted his entire life to farming and continued a resident of the Empire state until 1858. when he went to the middle west, establishing his home in Wal- worth county, Wisconsin, whence after two years he removed to Roek county, that state. There he engaged in farming until 1877, at which time he removed to Min- nesota, where he lived with a son. He was always an active man in affairs of his community, giving his influence on the side of progress and improvement, and held membership in the Congregational chureh.
After pursuing his early education in the common schools Ezra Fellers attended an academy at Sodus, New York. He continued a resident of Wisconsin until 1877, when he removed westward to Nebraska and the following year secured a homestead on section 10. Monroe township, Platte county, at which period there were few settlers in the entire township and the work of development seemed scarcely begun. All land was very cheap, selling from four to eight dollars per acre, and the most farsighted could seareely have predicted the changes which would rapidly occur and bring about a marked transformation in the county and its appearance. Mr. Fellers built a sod house and began farming and in the years which have since come and gone he has developed an excellent farm property. He has a comfortable resi- dence upon his land with a small orehard together with berries and other fruits. The place is called the Loeust Grove Farm and comprises one hundred and sixty aeres of rich land.
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In 1865 Mr. Fellers was married to Miss Flora Dow, who was born in 1835, in Vermont, a daughter of Joseph B. and Luey Dow, also natives of the Green Mountain state. On leaving New England in 1810 they removed westward to Wis- consin, where they met pioneer conditions, but bravely faced the dangers and hard- ships of frontier life. Mr. Dow was both a cooper and farmer and continued his residenee in Wisconsin until ealled to his final rest. His daughter, Mrs. Fellers, passed away in 1903. She was very active in church work and was a most earnest, consistent Christian woman whose good qualities of heart and mind endeared her to all.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fellers were born the following named sons and daughters: . Benjamin, who operates the home farm; Luey, who is the wife of James O. Gillan, a farmer living in Monroe township, and has three sons; Gertrude, at home; Eugene, who is engaged in the real-estate business at St. Edward, Nebraska; and Arthur, who is a real-estate dealer of Fullerton, Nebraska, and is married and has a daughter.
In his political views Mr. Fellers has long been an earnest demoerat and has filled various local offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity. For several years he was justice of the peace and he has ever been active in community affairs and has aided in promoting various plans and movements for the general good. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church, of which he has long been a faithful member, and in 1881 he helped haul the lumber for the house of worship on seetion 10. Mr. Fellers still occupies the old home farm, on which he has lived for thirty-eight consecutive years, and he is respected by the entire community, for his many good traits of character have endeared him to all with whom he has come in contact. He has been loyal and progressive in citizenship, reliable in business, faithful in friendship and devoted to the welfare of his family and these are the traits which make honorable manhood.
HARTVIG ANDREASEN.
Hartvig Andreasen is a representative farmer living on section 26. Woodville township. and one whose life work has not only resulted beneficially to his own in- terests but has also been an element in bringing about benefits for the community, for he stands loyally in support of all plans and measures for the general good. He was born in Denmark on the 3d of January, 1868, and is a son of Andreas and Ma- ren (Christensen) Williamson. The father died in Denmark, after which the mother followed her children to the new world, making her home in Iowa, where her re- maining days were passed.
It was in 1884 that Hartvig Andreasen erossed the Atlantic, being then a youth of sixteen years. He had attended school in Denmark until he reached the age of fourteen when he came to the new world, went to Shelby county, Iowa, where an older brother, Jens, had previously located and where Hartvig Andreasen lived for ten years. During that period he was engaged in farming on his own account for three years and in 1894 he removed to Nebraska, taking up his abode on his present location on seetion 26, Woodville township, Platte county. He first purchased one hundred and sixty aeres of land and afterward added another tract of one hundred
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and sixty acres to the south and also bought eighty acres on section 35, so that he now has four hundred acres of valuable farm property. On his home place he has four acres planted to orchard and his trees are now in bearing. There are also geod buildings upon the place, providing ample shelter for grain and stock. His home is a commodious residence, comfortable and attractive, and water has been piped into the house, while other conveniences have been added. In addition to tilling the soil he is engaged in raising shorthorn cattle, Duroc-Jersey hogs and Belgian horses and his business interests are carefully and systematically conducted, bringing him a substantial measure of success.
In February, 1891, Mr. Andreasen was united in marriage to Miss Meta Cath- erine Nielsen, a native of Schleswig, Germany. To them have been born twelve chil- dren, as follows: Andrew, Mary, Christian, Carl, William, Arthur, Alfred, Ida, Francis, Emma, Greger and Fricda. Mr. Andreasen is a believer in education and works earnestly for better schools, realizing that intellectual training is the basis of all advancement. His children speak fluently both the Danish and the English tongues. Mr. Andreasen has always been a great reader and is a well informed man, keeping in touch with the trend of public thought. He belongs to St. Ansgar's Danish Lutheran church, in which both he and his wife are active and earnest work- ers, doing much to further its interests. In his political views he is a republican yet is somewhat independent, voting at times without regard to party ties if he feels that the best interests of the public will be conserved therehy. He has served as school trustee and as treasurer of the school board for twelve years and at all times stands for progress and improvement. His life has been fraught with good results for the benefit of the community and for the furtherance of his individual interests. He possesses many sterling traits of character, is held in high esteem wherever known and is most respected where he is best known.
WALTER A. GREEN.
Walter A. Green, proprietor of Green's Transfer Line of Columbus, was born in Hopkinton, Delaware county, Iowa, April 25, 1872, a son of John A. and Hannah M. Green. The father was born in Indiana, September 6, 1839, and with his parents removed to Delaware county, Iowa, where he erected the first frame house in Hopkinton, the other dwellings being log or sod. He became a teamster but he put aside all business considerations during the Civil war when, aroused by a spirit of patriotism, he enlisted for service in the Union army, joining the boys in blue of Company K, Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He sustained wounds in his leg and shoulder and it scemed that on various other occasions he could hardly escape injury, for he was often in the thickest of the fight amid a rain of leaden hail from the enemy's guns. However, he lived to return home at the close of the war and in 1875 he removed to Cedar Rapids, Nebraska, where he homesteaded land and improved a farm, carrying on general agricultural pursuits for a number of years. He is now living retired at Lincoln and well merits the rest which has come to him. His religious belief is that of the Methodist church and his political faith that of the republican party, on which ticket he was elected constable at
WALTER A, GREEN AND FAMILY
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Cedar Rapids. His has been an active life, fraught with many good works in behalf of his family and of his country.
Walter A. Green attended school in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska, and at thirteen years of age began work in the sugar beet fields near Norfolk. Subsequently he went to Sioux City, Iowa, and was engaged in herding cattle near there through the summer seasons, while in the winter months he attended school. Later he began a teaming business in Sioux City, where he continued for five years, after which he removed to Pierce and later to Norfolk and to Edgemont, South Dakota, being employed at various kinds of work. He also spent a year as an employe in the Evans Hotel at Hot Springs, South Dakota, and for twelve years he was with the Homestake Mining Company at Deadwood. He then returned to Nebraska, settling at Columbus, where he has since been engaged in the transfer business. He is accorded a liberal patronage and the reliability of his business methods, combined with his promptness in executing orders, is one of the features of his growing success.
In 1904 Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Marie Uren, who passed away on the 14th of July, 1915, leaving three children, namely: Walter, born January 27, 1906; Allen, whose birth occurred November 12, 1909; and Milton, born June 18, 1911.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Green has voted with the republican party. In fraternal circles he is well known, belonging to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, the Owls and the Sons of Veterans. His father set him an example of patriotism and public- spirited devotion to duty which he has ever followed, and Columbus numbers him among its valued and representative citizens.
HENRY BUSS.
Henry Buss makes his home on section 8, Bismark township, not far from Co- lumbus, and is the owner of a valuable farm property of three hundred and sixty acres equipped with all the accessories, conveniences and improvements of the model farm. He was born in 1869, in the township in which he still makes his home. His father, Engleke Buss, was a native of Hanover, Germany, and was married in that country to Miss Helena Suessens, who was also born there. They continued their residence in the fatherland until 1869, when they made the voyage across the briny deep to the new world. They did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but con- tinued at once into the interior of the country, Platte county being their destination. At that time this district was upon the Nebraska frontier and the work of develop- ment was just being begun, a few hardy settlers having penetrated into the county to claim its rich lands and convert them into productive fields. Much of the land was still in the possession of the government, so that Engleke Buss had opportunity to secure a homestead claim on section 8, Bismark township, which constituted the nucleus of later extensive possessions, for he added to his holdings from time to time as his financial resources permitted and as opportunity offered until he was the owner of one thousand acres of rich and valuable land. thus becoming one of the leading farmers of the county. His life record showed what may be accomplished
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when energy and determination lead the way. Both Mr. and Mrs. Buss continued to reside upon the homestead farm until called to their final rest. They were the parents of five children, of whom four are living: Henry; Fritz and Kate, both of whom reside on the old home farm; Meta, who is the wife of Edward Bakenhus, of Platte county ; and Helena, the deceased wife of John Bakenhus.
Henry Buss, whose name introduces this review, was reared on the old home- stead farm and no event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days. He worked with his father, early learning the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. His educational advantages werc those offered by the public schools and after his textbooks were laid aside he concentrated his efforts upon farm work, remaining on the old homestead until he reached the age of thirty-four years. He was then married and, having inherited land from his father, he began farming independently, having now an excellent property of three hundred and sixty acres on section 8, Bismark township. The land is well developed and has been brought to a high state of cultivation, while the improvements found thereon are thoroughly modern and attractive. Hc ear- ries on general farming, giving his attention to the creps best adapted to soil and climatic conditions, and annually his harvests are gratifying. In connection with his brother he also owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Joliet township.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Buss chose Miss Lizzie Bakenhus, sister of John Bakenhus, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. To them have been born five children, namely: Henry, Edward, Louise, Alma and Walter. Mr. Buss and his wife hold membership in the Lutheran church and he is interested in the moral as well as the material progress of the community, giving his support also to many measures which have to do with the civic develop- ment of this part of the state.
JOHN MARTIN KELLEY.
Nature seems to have intended that man should enjoy a period of rest in the evening of life. In early manhood he is possessed of energy, courage, ambition and determination and as the years go on these qualities are directed by mature judg- ment and perseverance is added thereto. A man therefore may attain success if he . but follows correet methods and in the evening of life he may have a competence that will enable him to put aside the more arduous cares of business. Such has been the course of life of John M. Kelley, who is now living retired in Monroe. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, January 31, 1832, and is a son of John and Charter (Beeson) Kelley. The father was a native of Columbiana county, born in 1804, and after living there for a long period he removed to Hancock county, whence in 1857 he came to Nebraska, settling in Omaha. Hc afterward took up his abode in Monroe township, Platte county, where he preempted one hundred and sixty acres of land and after proving up on it he sold that property and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in Oconee township. He had the usual experiences of the pioneer settler, who is foreed to endure hardships and privations in order to establish a home upon the frontier. In addition to tilling the soil he raised cattle and thus continued actively in business until his death, which occurred in 1869. He
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was known as a stalwart advocate of democratic principles and for two terms filled the office of county supervisor. His widow long survived, passing away at the advanced age of eighty-six years.
John M. Kelley obtained his education in the public schools of Ohio and in 1857 accompanied his parents on their removal to Omaha, although at that time there was only a tiny village on the site of the present city. He preempted one hundred and sixty acres there, where the business district of the village of Irving- ton now stands, and he lived upon that tract until 1867. He then went to Kansas, where he resided for three years, and on the expiration of that period came to Platte county and bought eighty acres of land in Monroe township. Throughout the years up to the time of his retirement in 1906 his attention was then given to general agricultural pursuits and his farm work brought to him a substantial reward for his labors.
On the 8th of February, 1859, Mr. Kelley was married to Miss Henrietta Beeks, who was born in Brookville, Indiana, December 26, 1842, and passed away February 15, 1876. They were the parents of six children: Amelia, now deceased; Edward, living in South Dakota; Charles, a resident of Monroe; Carrie, living in North Platte, Nebraska, the wife of William Potter; Frank, of Monroe; and Minnie, the wife of Ole Stumbaugh, of Council Bluffs. On the 2d of November, 1879, Mr. Kel- ley was again married, his second union being with Anna Cox, who was born in Lincoln, England, and passed away March 23, 1910, leaving a son, Lester, who is now postmaster of Monroe.
In his political views Mr. Kelley has always been an earnest democrat and for one term he served as county commissioner of Douglas county, while for a number of years he was justice of the peace in Platte county, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. He belongs to Lebanon Lodge, No. 58, A. F. & A. M., and he is a consistent and earnest member of the Presbyterian church, in which he is serv- ing as an elder. His has been an upright, honorable life and now at the age of eighty-three years he can look back over the past without regret and to the future without fear, while his example may well serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others.
CHARLES S. JAWORSKI.
Charles S. Jaworski, filling the office of deputy sheriff of Platte county, under Mark Burke and making his home in Columbus, was born in Tarnov, this county, on the 2d of April, 1881, his parents being Thomas S. and Josephine (Peconka) Jaw- orski. The father was a native of East Prussia, born in November, 1855, and in 1872 came to America, establishing his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he resided for four years. In 1876, attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, he came to Platte county and took up his abode in Burrows township, where he homesteaded eighty acres, upon which he lived for five years. The place was en- tirely destitute of improvements when it came into his possession and not a furrow had been turned, but with characteristic energy he began to till the fields and de- velop the property. After five years he removed to Columbus and engaged in drilling wells and in handling farm implements and machinery. hecoming one of the sub-
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