USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 47
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Mr. Baker then returned to Weatherfield and was employed as a farm hand in that locality until May, 1873, when he came to this county and secured a homestead claim on section 14, Monroe township. He broke a part of his prairie land with ox teams and immediately after his arrival built a little frame house fourteen by sixteen feet. He started in to make a good home, but it was a difficult task in the early days, requiring patience, perseverance and close economy, but his labors wrought a change as the years went on and he kept adding to his lands until he had three hundred and sixty acres, of which he still owns two hundred acres. He carried on general farming and developed a valuable farm, in which the fields were carefully tilled, while good improvements were added, enhancing the attractive appearance of Vol. II-23
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his place. He was an active and progressive man in all that he did, furthering the public welfare as well as advancing his individual interests.
Mr. Baker assisted in building the schoolhouse near his home in the early days and has ever been the champion of the cause of education. In his political views he was a republican for many years, "voting the way he shot," but later he has been identified with the progressive movement. He has also been interested in the moral development of the community and assisted in building the Congregational church near his home. In faith, however, he is a Methodist and was active in advancing the interests of that denomination when church services were held in the schoolhouse. From that time to the present he has done all in his power to promote the moral interests of the community and his influence has always been on the side of right and progress.
On the 1st of January, 1867, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Wiley, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They have become the parents of five children: Stella, the wife of Joe Hollingshead, a real-estate agent and general merchant of Arcadia, Nebraska, by whom she has eight children; Eva, the wife of Joseph Sallach, living near Albion, Nebraska, by whom she has five chil- dren; Olive, the wife of James R. Smith, a farmer of Monroe township, by whom she has three children; Benjamin J., a farmer of Monroe township, who is married and has two children; and Blanche, the wife of F. Mohler, a farmer residing near Spaulding, by whom she has three children.
Mr. Baker continued to reside upon the old homestead farm with his family until 1911, when, their children all having married and left home, he and his wife removed to Monroe, where they now occupy a pleasant home. He has retired from active business and is enjoying a well earned rest. They have both displayed sterling traits of character and their many good qualities are appreciated by friends and neighbors, who entertain for them warm and enduring regard. Mr. Baker has never believed that patriotism means merely applauding the flag, but gave demon- stration of his loyalty upon the battlefields of the south and has always manifested his public spirit in unfaltering devotion to those interests which tend to uplift of the individual and of the community.
MATHIAS WILSON.
For thirty years Mathias Wilson, who is now living retired in Woodville town- ship, has resided in this county and for much of that time he has actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a native of Denmark, though born in what is now North Schleswig, Germany, on the 21th of May, 1854, and is a son of Willis S. and Anna Matilda Christina (Marquison) Wilson, also natives of that country, who in 1881 came to the United States. They resided in Ogle county, Illinois, until 1888, but in that year they removed to Platte county, Nebraska, where they passed their remaining years. The father died at the age of seventy-one and a half years and the mother reached the advanced age of eighty-four years and nine months.
Mathias Wilson was reared under the parental roof and received his education in his native country, where he remained until he was twenty-six years of age. He
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then accompanied his parents to the United States and in 1888 came with them to Platte county. He devoted his time and energies to farming and was very suc- cessful in that occupation. Three years before he became a resident of this county he purchased eighty acres of land in section 27, Woodville township, and he has since added forty acres, his holdings now comprising one hundred and twenty acres. He has good buildings, including two substantial and commodious residences, and his farm is one of the best developed in the township. As the years passed his resources increased and, feeling that he has accumulated a competence, he is now living retired, renting his farm to his son-in-law.
On the 7th of March, 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. Wilson and Miss Adele Christina Senoxsen, also a native of Denmark, who came to the United States with her parents, Carl and Anna Christina (Troustes) Senoxsen, at the same time as Mr. Wilson. They had known each other well in Denmark and were married the year following their emigration to this country. They have two children: Anna Christina, the wife of Andrew C. Johnson, who is operating his father-in-law's farm and by whom she has a daughter, Adele; and William S., a farmer of Wood- ville township, who married Miss Ruth Wingren, by whom he has two children, Viola Adele and Leland.
Mr. Wilson casts his ballot in support of the candidates whom he believes best fitted for office without regard to party ties, and has not taken an active part in politics. He is a consistent member of the Danish Lutheran church, to the support of which he contributes, and his life has always been guided by high ethical prin- ciples. He is recognized as a valued citizen and there are many who hold him in the warmest personal esteem.
E. A. GERRARD.
E. A. Gerrard, publisher of the Monroe Looking Glass, is a pioneer resident of Platte county, his memory forming a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. The past, with its Indian disturbances and the inter- vening times of turmoil and prosperity, is all an open book to him. That he fosters every move that tends to promote the welfare of Platte county is admitted by all. He was born in Manchester, England. His father. Joseph Gerrard, was also a native of England but became a naturalized citizen of the United States and took up his abode in New York. His mother was of the historical Allen family, born in New Bedford, Massachusetts. E. A. Gerrard was reared in Rock Island, Illinois. When eighteen years of age, in 1853, he went across the plains to California. The trip was quite long with ox team, taking five months and five days from the crossing of the Mississippi to the crossing of the Sacramento. Rock Island had but recently secured a telegraph line and had no railroad. Gerrard saw his first one after years and at Sacramento. There were only the usual incidents on the trip. The Platte river had overflowed its banks and no buffaloes were seen except a few while hunting in the hills. The Indians were usually friendly, only once making trouble by shooting arrows into cattle and taking one rifle shot which passed over Gerrard's head, he being quite short.
He spent six years on this first trip away from home and traveled over much
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of the northern part of California. in the mountains and amid all the wild life of that region. He saw much of life in the mines and of the Indians, Chinese, etc. He hunted grizzly bear and followed hostile Indians and saw the changes that came to the state under the vigilance committee in 1856 and 1857. He returned home in 1859 by way of Panama, taking his first ride on a railroad across the isthmus and arriving at Monroe (old town) in July. He saw the returning warriors after the absurdities of the so called Pawnee war, the bloodshed being one Pawnee pony killed, the white warriors making it good by giving them the pony of Moreland. Mr. Gerrard was present when the Pawnee tribe moved to Genoa from south of the Platte. He was a regular active participant in all the frontier life of the locality and was present at a battle between the Sioux and Pawnees. He himted deer and elk on the Elkhorn and Cedar with Arnold and Frank North, being out thirty-two days in midwinter on one trip.
In 1862 Mr. Gerrard enlisted in the United States army, becoming a member of the Second Nebraska Cavalry. He made a trip to Pike's Peak, Colorado, in 1864 and was on the plains when the Sioux war broke out, the first hostile act being the killing of a settler near Denver. Two men were killed and Mrs. Pat Murray was wounded on the same day near Monroe.
Mr. Gerrard was elected county clerk of Monroe county at the first election after coming to Nebraska. He was a participant in the taking over of Monroe county as a part of Platte county. He was elected county commissioner of Platte while away from home. He was out after the Sioux when they stole settlers' horses several times, followed them when they took the Gerrard horses and exchanged shots with them near Monroe. In 1868 he moved to Columbus, handling cattle and horses. He was engaged by government contractors to guide cattle herds from the Loup near Genoa to Fort Randall on the Missonri river in 1869, making the first trail across the then unknown country. The first herd was ambushed on the Niobrara. but Gerrard surprised the Indians and thwarted their efforts.
He was appointed postmaster of Columbus, under Hayes, without being con- sulted. After three months, being continually solicited, he accepted and served for five years. Gerrard says this is the only case he knows of where a good office chased a man so long to secure acceptance. During the St. John campaign he became a political prohibitionist and has supported and voted the ticket ever since.
Mr. Gerrard was united in marriage to Thirza B. Smith, who has been an active worker in church and temperance lines, having been the active agent in the organ- ization of the Baptist church of Columbus and the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Monroe, of which she was the presiding officer for twenty-five years and until her death in October. 1915.
In 1889 Mr. Gerrard laid out the present town of Monroe, putting a clanse in the deed to all lots making the agreement not to allow the alcoholic liquor traffic in any form on the property a part of the purchase price and starting the Looking Glass in the first building on the site of the town. As a result of the opposition to the booze business Mr. Gerrard waked up the enmity of the business, who vented their spleen upon him by throwing the material for publication of "Looking Glass" into the irrigation ditch and wrecking the presses and office. In the course of years he has won the friendship of the better class of people.
He united with the Presbyterian church in Columbus in 1871 and has been an elder in the Columbus church and later in Monroe since that time. He was at one
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time nominated for governor by the prohibition party and has taken an active part in the life of the community. He was active in planning and organizing the Monroe Farmers Association, whose plan of cooperation has become the standard in the state and the model for the cooperative law in the Nebraska statutes. He still in 1915 is a progressive advocate of the general welfare in every department, being earnest for government ownership of public utilities, including railroads and banks, which he has advocated for years.
JOHN BAKENHUS.
An excellent farm property of two hundred and eighty aeres pays tribute to the care and labor of John Bakenhus, whose home is situated on section 5, Bismark township. The place bears little resemblance to the farm which came into his pos- session, for he has made many modern improvements which have naturally changed the appearance of the farm. Platte county numbers him among its native sons, his birth having occurred in Shell Creek township, October 13, 1872. His father, Henry Bakenhus, was born in Oldenburg. Germany, and when a young man came to the United States, settling in 1869 in this county, which was then a frontier district, the work of development and of civilization having searcely been begun here. He married Annie Wilke, who was also a native of Oldenburg, Germany, and they took up their abode upon a farm in Shell Creek township, their first home being a sod house, in which all of their children were born. The father secured land by homesteading and, while not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place, he at once began its cultivation and soon the sod was broken and the once wild prairie was bringing forth good crops. Mr. and Mrs. Bakenhus became the parents of nine children, of whom seven are living. The mother passed away in 1880 but the father long survived, his death occurring in 1910.
John Bakenhus had the usual experiences of the farm lad. When about six years of age he began his education by attending the public schools and therein mastered the common branches of learning, continuing his studies through the winter seasons. In the summer months he worked in the fields and he continued to aid in the cultivation of the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-seven years, when he married and began life on his own account. When he purchased his present home property, now comprising two hundred and eighty aeres of rich and productive land on section 5, Bismark township, there was only a shanty upon it, but before his mind there were pictures of a future that would be different. He determined that energy and diligenee would bring him success and he has worked hard year after year until he is now one of the substantial farmers of the community, owning an excellent property, upon which stands an attractive modern residence, good barns and outbuildings and, in fact, all of the modern improvements, cquip- ments and accessories of a model farm.
Mr. Bakenhus was united in marriage to Miss Helena Buss, of Platte county, but after traveling life's journey together for a number of years they were sepa- rated by the death of the wife on the 28th of February, 1910. They were the parents of four children: Anna Kathrina Magdalena; John Paul, who died at the age of one month : Martha Helena; and Johannes Helena. Mr. Bakenhus maintains
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an independent attitude upon political questions, voting according to the dictates of his judgment and the demands of the time. He is a member of the German Lutheran church and his salient qualities are such as command respect and confi- dence in every land and clime.
HERMAN AHRENS.
The home farm of Herman Ahrens is situated on section 33, Bismark township, and comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land on which he has lived since 1905. He represents a family that has had much to do with the upbuilding and substan- tial development of the county and the work which was instituted by his father has been carried on by himself and brothers, who rank with the leading agriculturists of the community. The old homestead farm of his parents, Edwin and Anna (Loseke) Ahrens, on section 23, Bismark township, was the birthplace of Herman Ahrens, whose natal day was August 25, 1872. His experiences were those of the other members of the family. He was reared to farm life in the usual manner of the boys who spent their youth upon the Nebraska frontier. His education was such as the district schools afforded and in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons that have been of marked worth to him as the years have gone on. He continued to assist his father and remained upon the old homestead until 1905. In that year he removed to his present place of residence, having now a quarter section in Bismark township. It is a good farm property, well improved with substantial buildings. There is a comfortable home, in the rear of which stand commodious barns and outbuildings and these in turn are surrounded by well tilled fields from which he annually gathers substantial harvests. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climatic conditions and that his methods are practical is shown in the excellent results which he achieves. Weather might cause a crop failure with him, but such would never occur as the result of his indolence or carelessness. He is ever watchful of the best interests of his farm and his labors are bringing well deserved prosperity.
On the 21st of June, 1905, Mr. Ahrens was united in marriage to Miss Emma Labens, a daughter of Carl Labens, who was born in West Prussia, Germany, on the 15th of May, 1845. He was a son of Andrew and Caroline (Reinke) Labens, who came to the United States in 1869 and secured a homestead claim in Bismark township, Platte county, Nebraska, where their remaining days were passed. Carl Labens was a young man of twenty-four years at the time of the emigration to the new world and on reaching Platte county homesteaded eighty acres. He met all of the hardships, privations and conditions of pioneer life and lived for three years in a sod house before he had a chance to build a more modern home. Success, however, has attended his efforts and he is now the owner of two hundred acres of land in Bismark township, whercon he resides, and one hundred and sixty acres in Colfax county. He is engaged in general farming, having a nice place improved with good buildings. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and his life is guided by his religious faith, which is expressed in his membership in the German Lutheran church. On the 18th of December, 1875, Carl Labens was married to Miss Augusta Benning, whose birth occurred in Pomerania, Germany,
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in December, 1848. Her parents became early settlers of Bismark township, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Carl Labens have been born nine children, as follows: Mary, who is the wife of Ernst Greiner and resides in Arizona; Minnie, the wife of William Meyer, of Polk county, Nebraska; Emma, who became the wife of Herman Ahrens; Carl and William, who follow farming in Colfax county ; Albert, Augusta and Lizzie, all at home; and Anna, who died when eighteen years of age.
As stated, Emma Labens became the wife of Herman Ahrens and to them have been born three children, namely: Walter and Elmer, who are attending school; and Roy. The Ahrens family all adhere to the Protestant faith and, like the others of his father's household, Herman Ahrens is identified with the German Evangelical Lutheran church. He is a democrat, having voted for the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but he has no time nor inclination to seek public office, as he always feels that farm work awaits him and he prefers to concentrate his energies upon the capable management and further development of his home place.
JOHN JAMES.
John James, who is farming on section 21, Joliet township, is at once practical and progressive and has gained a gratifying financial success. He was born in south Wales, December 22, 1861, of the marriage of John and Ann (Davis) James, both of whom passed their entire lives in that country.
John James received a fair education and grew to manhood in his native land. In the spring of 1885 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he remained on a farm for six months. At the end of that time he came to Joliet township, Platte county, Nebraska, and for a year and eight months worked as a farm hand here, while for two years he was similarly em- ployed in Nance county. At the end of that time he had accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to buy eighty acres of land in Joliet township, this county, which he rented to others for a year and a quarter. During that time he worked as a farm hand in Nance county but on the expiration of that period he returned to Joliet township and operated rented land for two years, after which he purchased an additional eighty acres, making his holdings a quarter section. He has since purchased another eighty acre tract and a ten acre tract, and the cultivation of his land and his stock-raising interests now demand his entire time and attention. He raises registered Polled Durham cattle and a good grade of hogs, the sale of his stock yielding him a good income.
On the 2d of November, 1891, Mr. James was married to Miss Maggie Davis, who was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, November 16, 1867, a daughter of David H. and Elizabeth Ann (Thomas) Davis, who came to America in 1873 and settled on section 27, Joliet township, this county. They were among the early pioneers and experienced the hardships and privations that those who began the development of the county had to endure. As time passed, however, prosperity came to them, and the conveniences and comforts of the older east were introduced in this county. They were very public spirited and contributed to the general advancement in many ways, among others helping to build the house of worship
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for the Baptist church, which they attended and supported but to which they did not belong. Both died in this county. Mr. and Mrs. James have become the parents of four children: Gwendolyn, who taught school for three years in district No. 31 and for one year in district No. 51, and is organist in the Baptist church and Sunday school; Ruth; Edward; and Harold, who is attending school.
Mr. James is an independent republican and for seven years has served as township clerk and for fourteen years as a member of the school board, proving efficient and conscientious in the discharge of his duties. He holds membership in the Baptist church, of which he is a trustee and of which he has been deacon for eight years. His religions faith is the guiding principle of his life, and he strives to advance the cause of right and justice in every way possible. He holds in reverence the memory of his parents, whose teachings inculcated in him a love of righteousness, and he gives much credit for what he has accomplished to his wife, who has been a true helpmate. Both are widely known, and their circle of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance.
JOHN PETER SOKOL.
In a history of the business development of Duncan it is imperative that mention be made of John Peter Sokol because of his activity along those lines which con- tributed to the material development of the city. He is now connected with both banking and commercial interests-with the former as a stockholder of the Duncan State Bank and with the latter as president of the Duncan Mercantile Company. He is a native son of Platte county, his birth having occurred in Butler township, September 21, 1878, his parents being Joseph and Victoria (Kudron) Sokol. The father, a farmer living four and one-half miles northeast of Duncan, owns fonr hun- dred and forty acres of land. Both parents emigrated to the United States from Poland in 1876 and came direct to Platte county, where they bought land. To them have been born eleven children, seven boys and four girls, but one of the boys died in infancy.
John Peter Sokol attended the parochial schools of Duncan to the age of fourteen years and afterward concentrated his energies upon the work of his father's farm until he reached the age of twenty-three. He then began farming on his own account and followed that occupation for two years, after which he opened a saloon in Duncan. Six years ago he erected his present building and in the intervening period he has built up a good business, controlling an important interest as president of the Duncan Mercantile Company. This company has one of the largest and best equipped mer- cantile establishments of the town, carrying an extensive and carefully selected line of goods, while the trade policy of the house commends it to the patronage of the public.
On the 29th of October, 1901, Mr. Sokol was united in marriage to Miss Ursula Borowiak, of Duncan, by whom he had eight children, two of whom died in infancy. The surviving children are as folows: Leona, Bernard, Monicka and Dennis, all of whom are attending school; Raymond; and Irene.
Mr. Sokol exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party and is one of its active workers in this part of the state. He
JOHN P. SOKOL
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is township treasurer, is also the local counsel for the Lincoln Highway and is inter- ested in various plans and measures which have to do with the welfare and improve- ment of the state as well as of the locality. He belongs to the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America and is identified with the St. Stanislaus Society, of which he was the first president and is now treasurer. He is likewise connected with the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Columbus. His entire life has been spent in this county and he enjoys the favorable regard not only of the acquaintances of later years hut of those who have known him from his boyhood, many of whom are his warm friends.
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