USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 5
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NICHOLAS BLASER
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months, however, he retraccd his steps eastward and settled in Aurora, Illinois, where he worked at the carpenter's trade and also engaged in contracting, continu- ing in business at that place for two years.
On the expiration of that period Mr. Blaser and his brother, John, returned to Platte county and took up a homestead of eighty acres in Loup township. Later they purchased other land, for which they paid from four to six dollars per acre, and Nicholas Blaser was then engaged in general farming until 1899, when he came to Columbus and resumed work at the carpenter's trade as a contractor, de- voting most of his attention to bridge building and similar work. It was not long before he was accorded a liberal patronage and he continued to be active in that field of industry until he retired from business life.
In his native country, in 1863, Mr. Blaser was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Ernst, a daughter of Samuel Ernst. They had traveled life's journey together for fifty-one years, when they were separated by the death of Mrs. Blaser on the 13th of April, 1914. They were the parents of eight children: Nicholas, who resides in Oregon ; Louis, a farmer of Columbus township, Platte county; John, who follows agricultural pursuits in Loup township; Frank, a farmer of Columbus township; Michael, a farmer of Butler township; Henry, a resident farmer of Duncan; Paul, who follows agricultural pursuits in Butler township; and Emma, who married Fred Oplicker of Butler township.
In his political views Mr. Blaser is a republican and served as one of the first supervisors of Loup township. He also filled the position of assessor and has ever been most loyal in the discharge of his official duties. He is a member of the Ger- man Reformed church and has guided his life according to its teachings, his course at all times being upright and honorable and winning for him high regard.
RUDOLPH H. WURDEMAN.
Rudolph H. Wurdeman is engaged in general farming on section 10, Sherman township, and finds this occupation a profitable one owing to his intelligently directed efforts. A native of Wisconsin, he was born in Mayville, Dodge county, November 26, 1866, and during his early boyhood was brought to Nebraska and pursued his education in school district No. 23, in Sherman township, Platte county. He was reared to the occupation of farming and at the age of twenty- two began farming on his own account on section 10, Sherman township, where he has lived continuously since 1869, or for a period of forty-seven years. He has seen wonderful changes in the county, which at the time of the arrival of the Wurdeman family was largely an undeveloped district. The labors of the family have con- tributed to the pioneer development and agricultural progress of the county. For a long period Rudolph H. Wurdeman has been numbered among the active and representative farmers of Sherman township, where he owns three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in the home place and eighty acres on section 5 of the same township. He has made about one half of the improvements upon his farm in the way of buildings, and at all times he keeps his land under a high state of cultivation, his fields producing excellent crops of corn, wheat and other cereals.
Mr. Wurdeman is also engaged extensively in feeding and shipping stock. He Vol. IT-3
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keeps a large herd of cattle and specializes in the Aberdeen Angus breed. Into other lines he has extended his business activity and several important concerns have felt the stimulus of his enterprise and co-operation. For a time he was the vice president of the Maple Valley State Bank at Leigh but resigned when it consolidated with another bank. He is still a stockholder in the Farmers Union Elevator Company and in the telephone company at Columbus, which he helped to organize. He is likewise identified with the Farmers Union.
On May 31, 1889, Mr. Wurdeman was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hagel- man, who was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1868, a daughter of Gerhard and Cording Hagelman, who were also natives of the same place. In the year 1878 they arrived in Wisconsin and afterward came to Platte county, Nebraska, where Mr. Hagelman still lives at the age of eighty-four years, but his wife is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wurdeman have become the parents of eight children: Henry, who is married and has one child and who still lives upon the home farm; Ernst; Rein- hold; Elsie; Walter ; Olga : Louis; and Ewald.
Mr. Wurdeman is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership with the Modern Woodmen camp, the Odd Fellows lodge and the United Workmen lodge, all at Leigh. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, to which his wife and family also belong. In his political views he is a republican and for six years filled the office of justice of the peace, discharging his duties with promptness and impartiality. The greater part of his hfe has been passed in Platte county, and he is one of its worthy and honored pioneer settlers, its history in all of its varying phases being familiar to him, so that his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
OTTO F. WALTER.
Otto F. Walter, now serving as county attorney of Platte county, is a prominent young lawyer of Columbus who has already won enviable recognition in his chosen calling. His birth occurred in Aurora, Illinois, on the 19th of April, 1890, his parents being William John and Anna Marie (Fasolt) Walter, the former born in Wickliffe, Kentucky, July 2, 1859, and the latter a native of Dixon, Illinois. Their marriage was celebrated in Amboy, Illinois, and the mother of our subject passed away in 1904. A complete sketch of William J. Walter, who came to Columbus in 1905 and is the president of the Columbus Brewing Company, appears on another page of this work.
Otto F. Walter acquired his early education in the public schools of Aurora, Illinois, and Columbus, Nebraska, and in 1911 was graduated from the academic department of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. In 1918 he was graduated from the law department of the same institution. though he had spent the preceding year as a student in the law department of Chicago University. He has already won recognition and success in the practice of his profession and in November, 1914, was elected on the democratic ticket to the office of county attorney of Platte county. In this connection he is making a most creditable record, justifying the expectations of his constituents in the able discharge of his important duties.
While a student in the University of Nebraska. Mr. Walter was a member
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of the Cadets Battalion. He is a communicant of the Catholic church and frater- nally is identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. High principles of manhood actnate him in all life's relations and his gennine worth of character has gained for him the warm regard, goodwill and respect of those who know him.
HENRY J. BACKES.
Henry J. Backes is proprietor of the famous Humphrey Nurseries, well known throughont Nebraska and in other states. In this connection he is conducting an extensive and profitable business, constituting one of the important enterprises of Platte county. He has lived in this county from the age of fourteen years, his birth having occurred in Lake county, Indiana, April 14, 1872, his parents being Peter and Gertrude Backes, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was a farmer by occupation and in 1850 came to the new world with his parents, settling at Crown Point, Indiana. The lady whom he afterward wedded was brought to the United States by her parents when but two years of age and both Peter and Gertrude Backes were reared and educated at Crown Point, where their marriage was also celebrated. In 1886 they arrived in Platte county, Nebraska, settling at Humphrey, where Mr. Backes carried on farming until 1914. He then retired from active business life and removed to Lindsay, where he and his wife now make their home.
At the usual age Henry J. Backes became a public-school pupil and for two years he pursued his studies in the normal school at Fremont, Nebraska. He then remained at home until he attained his majority, after which he engaged in the nursery business as an employe of D. W. Schaff, who at that time was con- nccted with the Geneva Nursery. Mr. Backes spent three years in that way, after which he worked on contract with the Geneva Nursery for eight years, maintaining his headquarters at Humphrey throughout the entire period. In 1904 he bonght out the nursery business of P. MeKillip and assumed charge thereof. It was the small beginning of a big business, however, for at that time he had but five acres. The succeeding year he bought the eighty acre tract upon which he now resides and where he maintains his nursery, having erected fine buildings upon the place for this special purpose. He now cultivates a full and complete line of nursery stock of every kind, which is sold by traveling salesmen and by catalog. He uses sixty-five acres for the growth of trees and in 1915 had five hundred thousand young apple trees ready for market. There are very few nurseries located on what is known as upland, but the Humphrey nurseries are so situated and have proven that the upland gives better quality of stock, although it costs more to raise the stock, which, however, is of a hardier and sounder growth. Mr. Backes grows all of his trecs on upland on a divide between the Platte and Elkhorn rivers at an altitude of sixteen hundred and forty feet above sea level. He has built up an extensive nursery business, his stock being now widely shipped, and he has gained a most enviable reputation in this connection. In 1905 he extended his activities to include the raising of registered Holstein-Friesian cattle and today sells to the farmer for breeding purposes. In 1912 he began breeding Tamworth
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hogs and has one of only two herds of these hogs in Nebraska. He also has upon his farm a six year old stallion, "Shade On Maulden," sired by the famous "Shade On," with the record of 2.0814. Mr. Backes is today one of the prominent stockmen of western Nebraska and one of the best known and most successful nurserymen of the state. In addition to his home place he owns four hundred and eighty acres of land near Osmond, Nebraska, which he rents.
On the 9th of November, 1898, Mr. Backes was married to Miss Millie Biller- beck, a daughter of Henry J. and Wilhelmina (Crossman) Billerbeck, both of whom were natives of Germany. When eighteen years of age Mrs. Billerbeck came to America. On crossing the Atlantic Mr. Billerbeck settled in St. Louis, Missouri, and later removed to Freeport, Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand, but afterward removed to Iowa, where he again engaged in farming. In 1885 he arrived in Nebraska and established a hardware and implement business at Pierce, while today he is actively engaged in business at Osmond. His wife died in Humphrey in January, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Backes have become the parents of two children: Laura, who was born October 13, 1902, and is a student in the high school; and Agnes, who passed away at the age of two years. The parents and daughter are members of the Catholic church at Humphrey and in politics Mr. Backes is a republican. The family are well known socially and the hospitality of their home is extended to their many friends.
JAMES GRAHAM REEDER.
James Graham Reeder, for almost a third of a century a member of the bar of Columbus, to whom has come distinguished honors and success in connection with the profession, was born upon a farm in Erie county, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1858. The ancestral line is traced back to John Reeder, who came from England in 1634 and founded the family in the new world. The paternal grandfather, Job Reeder, was a native of Pennsylvania and in that state, Samuel Galloway Reeder, the father, was born, his natal place being Erie county. He made farming his life work. In Erie county he wedded Lydia Ann Graham, who was born in County Cavan, Ireland, and was brought to the United States during her infancy. Both passed away some years ago.
The usual experiences of the farm boy fell to the lot of James G. Reeder in the period of his youth. He worked on the farm during vacations and in the public schools pursued his education until he became a student in the State Normal School. He also attended Allegheny College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and in 1880 he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he studied law, being admitted to the bar there in 1882. The following year he came to Columbus, where he opened a law office and has since engaged in practice. In 1894 he was elected judge of the sixth judicial district and served upon the bench for four years, making a creditable record by the fairness and impartiality of his decisions. He possesses that broad mindedness which not only comprehends the details of the situation clearly but which insures a complete self control under even the most exasperating conditions. He possesses also a finely balanced mind and splendid intellectual attainments and thus he has long been recognized as a prominent lawyer and jurist.
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In May, 1887. Judge Reeder was married in California to Miss Lillian Smith, a daughter of Samuel C. Smith, deceased, and they have four children: Clara S., George S., Lucille H. and Marian Graham. The son, who married Hazel Perrin, of Lincoln, Nebraska, now resides at Rogers, Arkansas.
Judge Reeder was at one time connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks but has demitted, as he has from the Knights of Pythias. He still retains connection with Masonry, however, being now a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. His political indorsement is given to the repub- lican party and upon the questions and issues of the day he keeps well informed, studying all points relative to the general welfare most thoroughly. He never regards lightly the duties of citizenship and his official service upon the bench was discharged with the utmost sense of conscientious obligation.
FRANK J. HUTMACHER.
Frank J. Hutmacher is the proprietor of the electric light plant at Humphrey and in his management of this public utility is giving excellent service to his patrons, displaying marked ability in the control of the business. Germany has furnished many worthy citizens to Platte county and among these he is numbered. He was born in the fatherland July 5, 1878, a son of George M. and Christina (Kaus) Hutmacher, also natives of Germany. The father engaged in farming in that country until 1883, when he sought the opportunities and advantages of the new world, crossing the Atlantic with his family and establishing his home in Platte county, Nebraska. Purchasing land in Granville township, he bent his energies to the development and improvement of his farm and managed his affairs so systematically and progressively that success came to him in substantial measure. He continued to occupy the old homestead until 1911, when he took up his abode in Humphrey, where he resided until his death, which occurred November 25, 1914. For two decades he had survived his wife, who passed away in 1894.
Frank J. Hutmacher was a little lad of five years at the time of the emigration of the family to the new world." He was reared and educated in Platte county, attending the district schools near his father's farm and the parochial school at St. Bernard, Nebraska. When not busy with his textbooks his attention was given to the work of the fields and after he attained his majority he rented land, which he operated for five years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Humphrey and for two years engaged in the manufacture of flour. He then traded his mill for land in South Dakota and afterward traded that property for Platte county land and for real estate in Humphrey. He rented the farm property and, establishing his home in the town, purchased the electric light plant of Humphrey in June, 1909, and has since remodeled and operated it. He started with a small steam engine, but now has a plant that is thoroughly modern in its equipment and for the past four years has been giving all-day service. He furnishes power for the elevators, blacksmith shops, planing mills and garages and in addition supplies the lighting system. He thoroughly understands the business and the systematic and careful management of his interests has made his under- taking a growing and profitable one.
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On the 1st of August, 1899, Mr. Hutmacher was married to Miss Katie Brandt, a daughter of George and Philomena (Schar) Brandt, natives of Germany and of Illinois respectively. In early life the father crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling near Chicago, where he resided for a short time, after which he removed to Madison county, Nebraska. There he took up a homestead, which he developed. and as his financial resources permitted he bought more land from time to time and continued the operation of his farm until 1908, when he retired from active business life. He now resides in Madison, but his wife passed away in 1910.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hutmacher has been blessed with four children, Willie, Lena, George and Frankie, aged respectively fourteen, twelve, ten and eight years. The family occupy a pleasant home, which is the property of Mr. Hutmacher, and in addition he owns two good business houses of the town. He and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church and he holds membership with the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Modern Woodmen of America. In political belief he is a democrat but is not an active party worker. Industry has been the keynote of his success and throughout his entire life he has never allowed obstacles or difficulties to bar his path if they could be overcome by persistent, earnest and honorable effort.
WILLIAM LOUIS CARL BOETTCHER.
William Louis Carl Boettcher is proprietor of one of the most popular cafes of Columbus and one of the most finely appointed. He was born on the island of Rügen, in the East sea, off the coast of Germany, on the 25th of November, 1878, a son of Frederick and Johanna (Boettcher) Boettcher. The father was born October 30, 1852, and in the year 1886 came to America, making his way direct to Columbus, Nebraska. Soon afterward he rented a farm in Platte county and carried on general agricultural pursuits for twenty years but is now in the employ of the Columbus Brewing Company. His wife passed away November 24, 1888.
William L. C. Boettcher was a little lad of eight summers when the parents brought their family to the new world. He pursued his education in the schools of Platte county to the age of thirteen years, after which he gave undivided atten- tion to the work of the home farm until he attained his majority. He was after- ward engaged in the livery business in Columbus for six months and still later spent two months in the employ of an uncle who was a hardware merchant. Hc next engaged in railroading for three months and then went to Grand Island, where he clerked in a grocery store. Still later he spent a few months in the employ of a brewing company and afterward devoted five years to the saloon business in Grand Island. On the expiration of that period he returned to Columbus, where he opened a saloon known as the Thurston Annex, which he conducted for a year. For eight years he was at the corner of Eleventh and North streets and then purchased the present location, building a two-story fireproof building which is fitted out with a mosaic tile floor and solid mahogany fixtures. His cafe has the largest bar in the town and his establishment is very popular with the public.
In October, 1907, Mr. Boettcher was united in marriage to Miss Dora Rohweder, of Hall county, Nebraska, and of German parentage. To them have been born
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six children, namely: Florence, Arnold, Leoni, William, Walter and Leo. Mr. Boettcher and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church and he also has membership with Columbus Lodge, No. 1195, B. P. O. E., the Sons of Herman and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is also president of the Columbus Maenner- chor. For eight years he was a volunteer fireman. In politics he is an earnest democrat and is now a central committeeman from the first ward of Columbus and a member of the county central committee, doing all in his power to further the interests and secure the success of his party. Personally he is a man of pleasing qualities and he belongs to that class of men who are enthusiastic in support of the city and do all in their power to promote its expansion.
ERIC E. LUEDTKE.
The name of Luedtke is one well known in connection with financial interests in Platte county, the subject of this review being assistant cashier in the Citizens State Bank of Creston. He was born in Sherman township, this county, March 24, 1889, and is the youngest son of Herman and Louisa (Meyer) Lnedtke, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of their son, H. W. Luedtke, who is cashier of the Citizen's State Bank.
Spending his early youth out on the old farm under the parental roof, Eric E. Luedtke received his early education in Boheet district, No. 46 of the public schools of Sherman township, after which, at the ages of twelve and thirteen, he attended German summer school, and also the winter of 1902-1903 at the German Lutheran church of Platte county. He was confirmed at the age of fourteen years in the spring of 1903 by Rev. Frank, then pastor of the church. At the age of fifteen years he entered the Normal School together with his brother Ed, at Fremont, Nebraska, where he received a general education, attending at different times and spending about three years in all at that institution. He graduated from the shorthand and typewriting, teachers and elocutionary courses as well as finishing most of the work of the scientific and commercial courses. It had always been the plan of his father to give him a good education. While not attending the Fremont Normal he worked on the farm or in the Citizens State Bank. After finishing his schooling he taught school in the Lonely Valley district in Stanton county, Nebraska, in 1909, and afterward entered the First National Bank of Fremont, where he had the splendid opportunity of gaining more knowledge and experience in banking under such able bankers and financiers as E. R. Gurney and Frank B. Knapp. Here he was employed as bookkeeper, collector and assistant paying teller, remain- ing with the institution for over two and one-half years. In June, 1912, he came to Creston and accepted the position of assistant cashier in the Citizens State Bank, since which time he has very ably served the bank in that capacity. He became at that time not only an officer but also a stockholder of the institution, for which he had worked previously in 1907 and at other times.
On the 24th of June, 1915, Mr. Luedtke was married to Miss Elsie M. Softley, a daughter of Alfred and Cleo (Faquet) Softley, the former a native of England and the latter of West Virginia. The father came to America when a youth of sixteen years. He spent two years in Michigan and then came to Nebraska,
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settling on a farm near Hooper. Later he began teaching school and has since followed that profession at many places in the state. He is now dean of the Fremont Normal School, where he teaches psychology, history, economics and literature, being recognized as one of the prominent educators of the state, his ability having brought him to a position of distinction in this field.
Mr. Luedtke is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge and gives his political indorsement to the progressive democratie party, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day but never seeking office. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, and his wife is a member of the Baptist church of Fremont, and they are people of genuine worth, highly esteemed by those that know them best in the communities in which they have resided.
DANIEL B. GORMAN.
Daniel B. Gorman, who passed away on the 14th of August, 1914, was sue- cessfully identified with agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career and for a number of years prior to his death owned and operated an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 25, Humphrey township. His birth occurred in Warner, Illinois, on the 21st of December, 1865, his parents being Barnard and Naney (Fleming) Gorman, both of whom were natives of Pennsyl- vania. They removed to Illinois about the year 1860, purchasing a farm in Mercer county which the father improved and operated nntil 1876, when he disposed of the property and went with his family to Ringgold county, Iowa. There he bought a tract of land which he cultivated continuously and successfully until 1905, since which time he has lived retired at Kellerton, Iowa. The demise of his wife oc- eurred in 1880.
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