USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 53
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On the 15th of April. 1867, Franz Lunchsinger was united in marriage. to Miss
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Katerina Luchsinger, who was born on the 25th of December, 1845. To them were born seven children, as follows: Peter; Susan, who is the wife of Henry Heits, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri ; Katie, who gave her hand in marriage to Mathew Schmidt, of Columbus township; Henry, of Bismark township; Mary, who is the wife of Charles Welch, of Colfax county, Nebraska; Magdalena, the wife of John Klug, of Colfax county, Nebraska; and Frank, living in Bismark township.
Of this family, Peter Luchsinger had but limited educational opportunities. His entire life has been devoted to farming and he now owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 9, Columbus township. There he raises shorthorn cattle, having a fine bull at the head of his herd. He makes stock-raising a special feature of his place and it returns to him a gratifying annual income. In addition to his home property in Columbus township he has one hundred and sixty acres of pasture land in Merrick county, eighty acres of land in Columbus township, Platte county, one hundred and ninety acres in Nance county, of which twelve acres is slough pasture, and a half interest in one hundred and sixty acres in Greeley county. His wife is also owner of four hundred acres in Antelope county and their holdings are increasing in value with the settlement of the western part of the state.
On the 5th of February, 1895, Mr. Luchsinger was joined in wedlock to Miss Emma Ernst, by whom he has seven children, namely: Frank, Ernst, Samuel, Eliza, Ida, Paul and Anna, all of whom are attending school. Mr. and Mrs. Luch- singer hold membership in the German Lutheran church and thus manifest an interest in the moral progress of the community. In politics he is independent, voting for men and measures rather than party. His interest in citizenship is that of a man who desires the best for the community and therefore cooperates heartily in plans and measures for the general good. With little opportunity at the outset of his career, he has worked steadily as the years have gone on and he is today one of the substantial citizens of his county, deserving all that he has achieved and won.
FRANK S. GERMAN.
Frank S. German, a well known farmer and stockman of Grand Prairie town- ship, was born in Buffalo, New York, February 12, 1819, a son of Bacillius and Gertrude (Sager) German, both of whom were natives of Baden. The father was a cloth weaver by trade and in 1847 crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling in Buffalo, New York, where he conducted a six-loom shop, devoting some time to the weaving of cloth. Later he purchased ten acres of land near Niagara Falls and carried on farming until 1852, when he left the Empire state and removed to Peoria county, Illinois, where he again engaged in farming. He first purchased sixty acres, to which he afterwards added a twenty-acre tract and still later bought eighty acres more, so that his farm comprised one hundred and sixty acres. The property is still in possession of the family. Both he and his wife passed away at Princeville, Illinois, to which place they removed when Mr. German retired from active farm life.
Frank S. German attended school in Stark county, Illinois, and remained upon the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when he began farming on his own account in Peoria county, Illinois. The first land that he ever owned
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was a tract of eighty acres which he cultivated from 1871 until 1885. He then sold out and removed to Platte county, Nebraska, on the 28th of November, 1885, estab- lishing his home in Burrows township, where he purchased two hundred acres. He lived upon that farm on section 2 for eighteen years and carefully developed and improved the place, which in 1903 he traded for two hundred and forty acres of land on section 4, Grand Prairie township. He removed to that farm and is living there today. He cultivates it all with hired help, carrying on general agricultural pur- suits and also making stock-raising a feature of his business. He feeds both cattle and hogs and also breeds a good grade of stock. In 1905 he erected a new residence and he has a farm equipped with many excellent improvements and modern acces- sories. Aside from his farming interests he is a shareholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company of Humphrey.
On the 16th of November, 1869, Mr. German was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Messing, a daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth Messing, both of whom were natives of Germany. Emigrating to the United States, they took up their abode near Peoria, Illinois, and there purchased a farm on which they spent the remainder of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. German have been born the following children: Gertrude, who is deceased ; Katie, who is the wife of George Fehringer, a farmer of Grand Prairie township; Mary, the wife of Joseph Fehringer, who is engaged in the livery business at Rockville, Minnesota; Bacillius, who wedded Miss Annie Wemhoff and follows farming in Grand Prairie township; Margaret, who gave her hand in marriage to William Bender, an agriculturist of Granville town ship : Christina, who is the wife of Frank Ternus, a farmer of Humphrey township; Barbara, who is the wife of William Braun, a merchant of Humphrey; Matthias, who wedded Miss Annie Braun and is an agriculturist of North Dakota; Leo, who married Miss Annie Hamling and follows farming in Humphrey township; Eddie, who is at home with his parents; and a daughter who died in infancy. Mr. German has fifty living grandchildren and three are deceased.
Politically Mr. German is a democrat and has served as road supervisor of Bur- rows township for eighteen years, a fact which is certainly indisputable proof that he has been a capable and efficient officer. He belongs to St. Mary's Catholic church of Grand Prairie township, of which he has served as a trustee, and he is a member of St. Joseph's Men's Society of that church. For thirty years he has lived in Platte county and throughout the entire period has been identified with its farming interests. He has never been afraid of hard work and his close application and persistency of purpose have been salient features in winning for him the success which is today his.
HENRY LUERS.
Henry Luers, conducting business at Columbus as a cement manufacturer, dates his residence in this state from 1874 and in Columbus from 1875. An ably man- aged and successful business enterprise is always a valuable asset to any com- munity and as a representative business man Mr. Luers is classed with the worthy citizens of the county. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, December 8, 1818, a son of Dirk and W. Margaret (Elken) Luers, who were also natives of Germany,
HENRY LUERS
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where the father owned and cultivated a small farm, never coming to the United States. He served in the German army and was a member of the Lutheran church.
After attending school in Germany, Henry Luers began learning the wagon maker's trade at the age of sixteen years and followed that business in his native land until 1872, when he made the voyage across the Atlantic to the United States, settling in Quincy, Illinois. After working at the carpenter's trade there for a time he removed to Missouri and for eight months was a resident of Shelbina, where he was employed in a furniture store. In 1873 he went to Denver, where he worked at the wagon maker's trade and in 1874 he became a resident of Schuy- ler, Nebraska, where he continued at his trade, conducting a shop of his own. In 1875 he arrived in Columbus and started a wagon and blacksmith shop, becoming a member of the firm of Elliott & Luers, dealers in farm implements. After three months he purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone, handling implements, pumps and windmills. After a year he was joined by his brother-in-law, William Hoeffelman, in a partnership that was continued for two years. He was afterward again alone in business for six years on Eleventh street and at the same time he owned and conducted a farm in Bismark township. His family always lived in the town but for fifteen years he carried on general agri- cultural pursuits carefully and systematically, cultivating his farm with good re- sults. In 1913 he turned his attention to the cement business and is now one of the firm of Meyers & Luers, which is engaged in the manufacture of eurbing, gut- ters, cement blocks and also does cement ornamental work. They take contracts for sidewalks and have also taken contracts for cement work outside of Colum- bus. They thoroughly understand cement construction and have built up a good business in that line.
In 1876 Mr. Luers was united in marriage to Miss Gesiene Kunnemann, a native of Oldenburg, Germany, and a daughter of Henry Kunnemann. The latter, an agriculturist by occupation, emigrated to the United States in 1869 and settled in Shell Creek township, Platte county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead claim. He was a Lutheran in religious faith and took an active part in the work of his church. Mr. and Mrs. Luers have five children, as follows: Adolph, a resident of Columbus, who is identified with the Building & Loan Association and is connected with the Becher, Hockenberger & Chambers Company ; Elwina, who is a graduate of the University of Chicago, Drake University and the Nebraska State Normal School at Peru and is now a teacher in the kindergarten department of the Nebraska Normal College at Wayne; Emma, who is a graduate of the Ne- braska State Normal School at Peru and is now the wife of Edward Loseke, an agriculturist, by whom she has three children; Walter, who pursued a course in the Columbus high school and the Columbus Commercial College and is now a bank cashier residing in Glenville, Nebraska; and Elsa, who is a graduate of the Ne- braska Normal College at Wayne and now follows the profession of teaching in Osceola, Nebraska. All of the children are graduates of the Columbus high school. it having been Mr. Luers' aim in life to give his children good educational oppor- tunities and thus fit them for practical and responsible duties.
In his political views he has always been a democrat and for seven years filled the office of street commissioner, making an excellent record in that connection by his able public service. He belongs to the Lutheran church and has guided his life according to its teachings. Diligence and determination have ever been numbered Vol. 11-26
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among his salient characteristics and his has been a creditable career, for from early youth he has been dependent upon his own resources and has employed straightforward methods to win success, his course at all times bearing close investigation and scrutiny.
CLEMENS WEMHOFF.
Clemens Wemhoff, who owns a well improved farm of two hundred and thirty- four acres in Grand Prairie township, was born in Westphalia, Germany, on the 21st of September, 1856. When nineteen years of age he emigrated to the United States and after spending two years in Winneshiek county, Iowa, he removed to Platte county, Nebraska, where he has since remained. Following his marriage he purchased forty acres of land from his father-in-law and subsequently bought a quarter section from him. The land at that time was raw prairie and not only every fence and building but also every trce that stands on it at the present time have been placed there by Mr. Wemhoff. He now owns two hundred and thirty- four acres of land which he has brought to a high state of cultivation, and he derives a good profit from the operation of his place.
Mr. Wemhoff was married in February, 1882, to Miss Victoria Wieser, a native of Austria and a daughter of August and Marie Wieser, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. Thirteen of the children born to this union survive: John, who is married and lives in Idaho; Mary, the wife of Stephen Foltz, of Grand Prairie township; Alois, who is married and resides in Idaho; Josephine, the wife of Anton Hanna, of Humphrey township; Victoria, who married Christ Greisen; and William, Clara, Theresa, Susie, Matilda, Albert, George and Clemens, all at home.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Wemhoff gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. His enterprise, public spirit and integrity have gained him the respect of his fellow citizens.
REV. ERNST C. G. HOLM.
The Rev. Ernst C. G. Holm, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran church, has ministered to his present charge in Grand Prairie township since the fall of 1888 and during those years the church has grown steadily in numbers and in strength. A native of Prussia, Germany, his birth occurred on the 11th of December, 1861. His parents, Anton and Wilhelmina Holm, were likewise natives of Germany, the former of whom died in St. Louis in 1872 and the latter in 1866 of cholera. Three brothers of our subject also died of the dread disease, all passing away within a week.
Rev. Holm was brought to the United States in 1868 and attended the public schools of St. Louis for five years, after which he was a student in Concordia College at Fort Wayne, Indiana, for six years. Subsequently he pursued his theological study in the Concordia Seminary at St. Louis, where he graduated in 1885 after completing a three years' course. His first charge was at Scotia, Greeley county,
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Nebraska, and he remained there three years, becoming pastor of the Evangelical church in Grand Prairie township, this county, in 1888. At that time there were twenty-five voting members in the congregation, but there are now seventy-two. The growth in numbers has been paralleled by the growth of the congregation in influ- ence, and Rev. Holm has proved an efficient leader in the moral advancement of the community. For fifteen years he taught the parochial school for four days a week, and for many years he also filled pulpits in Creston and Humphrey, his many duties leaving him no time for leisure. He is devoted to his work and has always thought rather of the good that he could do than of his personal comfort or convenience.
Rev. Holm was married in July, 1889, to Miss Clara Estel, who was born in St. Louis, March 14, 1867. They have become the parents of eleven children: Eunice, the wife of H. Rabeler, of Leigh; Irene; EIsra; Hilda; Bruno. who is attending St. Paul's College at Concordia, Missouri; Ruth ; Herbert; Esther; Alex- ander; Clara, and Ernst, Jr.
Rev. Holm is a democrat and takes a keen interest in public affairs as he believes it to be the duty of every good citizen to do his share in making the government efficient and righteous. During the many years that he has been at his present charge he has won the entire confidence and loyalty of his people and also the esteem and respect of those of other religious denominations.
MARTIN KARGES, JR.
One of the attractive farm properties of Butler township is that owned by Mar- tin Karges, Jr., on section 19. He well deserves the proud American title of a self- made man, for he started out empty handed, having neither wealth nor influential friends to aid him at the outset of his career, but depending entirely upon his own labor and resources. Today he is one of the extensive land holders of the county, his possessions aggregating fourteen hundred acres. Such a record may well serve as an example to young men who desire to win success along honorable lines.
Mr. Karges is a native of Baden, Germany, born November 12, 1865, and he came to the United States with his mother and her parents in the year 1867, the fam- ily home being established in Wisconsin, where they remained for two years. In 1869 they arrived in Platte county, Nebraska, and through the intervening period to the present time, or for a period of forty-six years, Mr. Karges has remained a resident of this county. He began earning his living when but ten years of age, herd- ing cattle for a wage of four dollars per month, thus working for seven years. His educational privileges were extremely limited. He attended school in a little sod building which had no windows, and in the winter a fire was built in the center of the floor. Blocks of wood served for stools and desks and the methods of instruction were almost as primitive as the building, but later he had the opportunity of spend- ing a winter in school in Columbus. His training at farm labor, however, was not meager and his youth was a period of earnest, unremitting toil. He early realized that only industry would bring him success and he began to save his earnings, living frugally and economically until he was able to purchase a farm. When twenty-four years of age he first invested in property, becoming the owner of forty acres, and later he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in the sand hills. To his original
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purchases he kept adding from time to time as his financial resources increased and favorable opportunity presented. As each tract was added he kept on the work of improvement, converting it into well tilled fields or using it for other farming pur- poses. In time he became the owner of fourteen hundred acres and today he has a very valuable property, on which is scen a beautiful farm residence, substantial barns and outbuildings, well kept fences and the latest improved farm machinery.
Mr. Karges has been married twice, his first wife being Amelia, daughter of John and Anna Schulz, whom he wedded January 27, 1891, and who passed away on the 20th of January, 1896, after a brief but happy married life of about five years. There were two children of that marriage: Anna, who died in infancy ; and Eva, who is a telephone operator at Duncan. In July, 1898, Mr. Karges was again married, his second union being with Celia Weleciek, and they have become parents of seven children: Francis, Adam, Lucy. Celia, Martha, Martin and Mary. All are yet under the parental roof, as is Frank, a stepson of Mr. Karges.
In religious belief Mr. Karges is a Catholic and he holds membership with the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. For nineteen years he has served as school director in his district and he drew the plans for the No. 8 schoolhouse, which is a beautiful cement block structure. He advocates good educational opportunities whereby children may be fitted for life's practical and responsible duties, and he stands for progress and improvement along many lines. That this spirit actuates him is evident in the highly improved appearance of his farm with its well tilled fields, its good pasture lands, its splendid modern build- ings and its high grade stock. His business record is indeed creditable and shows what may be accomplished when there is a will to dare and to do.
ADOLPH LIEBIG.
Adolph Liebig, who carries on general farming on section 25. Lost Creek town- ship, where he has two hundred acres of good farm land, is one of the native sons of Platte county, his birth having occurred in Shell Creek township on the 3d of March, 1878. He is the fourth in order of birth in a family of eight children, whose parents were Joseph and Mary (Wagner) Liebig. The mother has passed away, but the father is now living near Platte Center.
The common-school system of the county afforded Adolph Liebig his educational privileges, which he improved in his youthful days by attending school through the winter seasons, while the summer months were devoted to farm work. He cor- tinued to assist his father in the cultivation and improvement of the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-five years, and for the past twelve years he has heen farming on his own account, concentrating his efforts upon the development and improvement of his place of two hundred acres on section 25, Lost Creek township. He carefully tills his fields and in addition to grain production he is winning success as a stock-raiser, handling shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He is likewise a stockholder in the Monroe Independent Telephone Company. In 1913 he built a large modern residence upon his place, it being one of the attractive homes of his part of the county. In fact, all of the equipment of his farm is thoroughly modern
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and up-to-date and is indicative of his progressive spirit and his efforts to keep in touch with modern advancement.
On the 19th of May, 1903, Mr. Liebig was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Schumacher, also a native of Platte county and a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Klien) Schumacher, old-time residents of Burrows township. Mr. and Mrs. Liebig are now parents of six children: Linda, Evelyn, Elizabeth, Adolph, Ferdinand and Carroll. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Liebig is also identified with the Catholic Order of Foresters. His political faith is that of the democratic party, but he does not seek nor desire office, preferring to con- centrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he is meeting with well merited and substantial success.
CHARLES E. CHAPIN.
Charles E. Chapin is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and forty acres near Oconee and leads a busy life in the further development and improve- ment of that property, giving his attention to general farming and to the raising of hogs. Iowa claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred at Council Bluffs on the 12th of January, 1858. He was brought to Nebraska in 1860 by his parents, Adolph and Laura Chapin, and for four years thereafter the family lived upon a rented' farm which the father carefully cultivated. In 1864 he started to drive across the country to California, journeying as far as Utah, when he gave up the trip. He then returned to Platte county and secured a homestead claim of eighty acres, after which he carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death on the 24th of August, 1880.
Charles E. Chapin acquired his education in the schools of Columbus and when his textbooks were put aside secured employment in the Clother Hotel. In 1874 he was employed by the government to assist in preparing quarters for the Pawnee Indians and acted as a courier for four years. In 1879 he went to western Nebraska for Major North and there worked on a cattle ranch for about a year. In 1880 he engaged in buying mules, which he shipped to Colorado, and assisted in con- structing the Colorado Central Railroad from Julesburg, Colorado, to South Platte. When that task was completed he returned to this county and purchased eighty acres of land, since which time he has extended the boundaries of his farm to include one hundred and forty acres of rich and arable land, upon which he carries on general farming and also makes a specialty of raising fine hogs, his labors bringing him a substantial financial return annually.
On the 2d of February, 1882, Mr. Chapin was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane Wood, who was born in Wisconsin. September 15, 1860, her parents being James A. and Betsy Wood. Mr. and Mrs. Chapin have two children, namely : Bertha, the wife of H. L. Stires, of Baltimore, Maryland, by whom she has a son, Carroll Chapin, who was born October 13, 1913; and Mildred, who is a resident of Omaha.
Mr. Chapin votes with the republican party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has served as township clerk and as road supervisor and at all times is ready to respond to any call of citizenship that is made
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upon him. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and his life is guided by the teachings of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a faithful member. He has worked earnestly and persistently since starting out in life on his own account and whatever success he has achieved is the reward of his own labors. He is familiar with every phase of pioneer life in Nebraska from the days of early Indian occupancy and ean relate many interesting incidents concerning Platte county when it was upon the frontier. As the years have passed he has borne his share in the work of development and is accounted one of the worthy and substantial citizens of his community.
ANTHONY EISENMENGER.
Anthony Eisenmenger, a well known stoekman and farmer of Burrows town- ship, owner of the Loeust Grove Stock Farm, employs most progressive methods in carrying on his business affairs and energy and industry are bringing him to suc- eess. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, March 29, 1861, a son of Peter and Theresa (Reinhart) Eisenmenger, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Alsace-Lorraine, Germany. Throughout his entire life Peter Eisenmenger followed farming, while his father, who bore the same name, was a saloon keeper and hotel proprietor in the old country. On coming to the United States, however, he took up farming in Pennsylvania. He had five children, namely: Peter, who beeame the father of our subject; Joseph, a retired farmer residing in Anthon, Iowa; Mrs. Elizabeth Hesendentz, who is deeeased ; Mrs. Margaret Best, a resident of Kickapoo, Peoria county, Illinois; and Mrs. Mary Reinhart, who has passed away.
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