USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
558
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
two sons: Lawrence, born October 13, 1903, and Edmund, born July 8, 1906, both of whom are attending school.
Mr. Pearson is a democrat but has never taken a very active part in politics. He is an influential member of the Swedish Methodist church and is at present serving . as an exhorter, as a Sunday school teacher and as steward. He furthers in every way possible the influence of the church and contributes generously to its support. His upright life and regard for the rights of others has gained him the high esteem. of all who have come in contact with him.
PETER KOZLOWSKI.
With various features of business and public life in Platte county Peter Kozlowski has been identified but is now living retired in Duncan. He was born in West Prussia, September 11, 1847, a son of Joseph and Anna (Deia) Kozlowski, who were also natives of Prussia. Throughout his entire life the father followed the occupation of farming and his place was considered one of the large farms of the . neighborhood. Upon it he raised good stock and he carefully conducted his business affairs to the time of his death, which occurred when he was forty-two years of age. He was prominent in the community and served as justice of the peace in his native village. He belonged to the Rosary Society of the Catholic church and his wife was a communicant of the same church. She passed away at the age of thirty-eight years.
Peter Kozlowski was the second in a family of six children. His youngest brother came to the United States but Peter could not locate him. After attending the common schools of his native country Peter Kozlowski continued his education in an academy at Palpleen. He afterward began teaching in the Royal Teachers School at Graudenz and followed that profession for fifteen years. At length he determined to try his fortune in the new world and, crossing the Atlantic to the United States, made his way to Omaha, where he arrived July 27, 1885. On the 9th of June, 1886, he reached Duncan, after having been employed for about a year as collector for an Omaha brewery. In September, 1886, he established the first parochial school in Butler township, Platte county, where he continued teaching for about two years. In 1888 he engaged in merchandising, in which business he con- tinued for twenty-six years. He also conducted an insurance and real-estate agency and sold all the lots in Duncan for the railroad company. As a merchant he occupied an enviable position among the leading representatives of business activity in his part . of the state.
Mr. Kozlowski has also been prominent in other connections. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, of which he is an earnest supporter, and for twelve years he filled the office of postmaster of Duncan. He was also township treasurer for six years, was township clerk for several years and for the past six years has filled the office of justice of the peace, in which he is the present incumbent. Because of his education he has been called upon to assist all the early Polish settlers in the conduct of their business enterprises. He is a man of sound judgment and his cooperation has been a helpful element in promoting individual prosperity and in advancing the general welfare of the community.
In 1877 Mr. Kozlowski was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Klatt, a native of
559
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
West Prussia and a daughter of Rudolph and Anna Klatt. The father acted as overseer and inspector of a large country estate and served in the army. In later life he became a real-estate agent and notary public in Liebsau, Prussia, and was an active man of affairs. His religious faith was that of the Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Kozlowski have nine living children. Sister Concordia is a sister in St. Anthony's school of Columbus, Nebraska. Clara gave her hand in marriage to Leo Broviak, a traveling salesman residing in Norfolk, Nebraska, by whom she has three daughters. Monica is the wife of Edward Melkns, of Norfolk, Nebraska, who is the freight agent of the Union Pacific Railway and by whom she has one son. Alex- ander, who holds the position of pay clerk on the United States ship South Dakota, has been in the service of the navy for fourteen years, beginning as a yeoman and winning steady promotion. He is married and has two daughters. Valeria is the wife of Winfred Hartford, a carpenter living in Silver Creek, Nebraska, by whom she has two children. Elizabeth became the wife of Frank Zybach, of Duncan, by whom she has one child. Theofield is employed as a weigher in the Union stock yards of Omaha. Joseph is with the Duncan Mercantile Company. Helen, who is still at home, will graduate from the Silver Creek high school in the spring of 1916.
In his religious faith Mr. Kozlowski is a Catholic. He owns and occupies a nice home in Duncan and is able to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life because of his intense and well directed activity in business affairs in former years. His worth is widely acknowledged and he enjoys in large measure the respect and goodwill of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
REV. FRIEDRICH SPRIEGEL.
The Rev. Friedrich Spriegel, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran church in Grand Prairie township, has exerted a strong influence for righteousness. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, June 27, 1819, a son of Lenhardt and Magdalena Spriegel, both of whom passed their entire lives in the fatherland.
Friedrich Spriegel was educated in the Seminary of St. Chrischone at Basel. Switzerland, from which he was gradnated in 1876. Subsequently he labored in the home mission field in Wurtemberg for three years, but in 1879 he came to America. During the first winter he had charge of several missions in the vicinity of Scribner, Nebraska, and in 1880 he organized a church at Plattsmouth, Cass county, and another near Berlin, Otoe county, of which he continued to serve as pastor for thirty- three years. At the time of the organization of the church there were but a few members but when he left for other fields the congregation was a strong one and the church was recognized as a powerful factor for good in the life of the community. His own zeal and sincere belief in the truths which he taught, combined with his effective presentation of the teachings of the church, enabled him to gain many new members, and his efficiency as an organizer and administrator insured the wise management of the affairs of the church. In 1888 a house of worship was erected and the church prospered under his pastorate both in spiritual and temporal matters. In 1913 he came to his present church in Grand Prairie township, Platte county, and his ability and sincerity have been plainly manifested. He is held in high esteem by all who know him and is recognized as a leader in religious circles.
560
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
Rev. Spriegel was married in October, 1879, to Miss Magdalena Brendle, who was born in 1858 in Germany and passed away in 1892. She was the mother of three children: Marie, at home; Martha, the wife of H. Young, of Avoca; and Helen, at home. In 1893 Rev. Spriegel was again married, Miss Wilhelmina Link beeoming his wife. She was born in Wurtemberg in 1863 and died in 1910. To Rev. Spriegel's second union were born four children: Fred, deceased; Magdalena, the wife of Rev. M. Mortenson, of Liberty, Illinois ; Agnes, who is attending Midland College in Atchison, Kansas; and Ernest, at home.
Rev. Spriegel is a republican in his political belief. He labors untiringly for the advancement of the church and has in full measure the confidence and cooperation of his congregation and also the respeet of the community at large.
GERHARD G. LUESCHEN.
Gerhard G. Luesehen, who is successfully carrying on farming on seetion 17, Sherman township, was born November 24, 1840, in Oldenburg, Germany, a son of Henry Grotelusehen and Kate Margaret (Kuhlmann) Lueschen, both now de- ceased. In 1859, when about nineteen years of age, he emigrated to America and, making his way to the middle west, settled at Mayville, Wisconsin, where he re- mained for twenty years. At the end of that time he came to Platte county, Nebraska, and bought a quarter seetion of railway land in Sherman township. He still resides upon that place, which he has farmed since it came into his possession, and in addition to raising the usual crops he devotes considerable attention to stock- raising. He has gained financial independence and owned at one time about seven hundred aeres of land but since has disposed of all of his holdings, save his home farin of forty aeres.
In November. 1866, Mr. Lueschen married Miss Margaret Kuehlmann, a native of Saxony, Germany, by whom he has five children: Edward, a farmer of Sherman township: William; Dr. A. G., of Columbus; Adolph. at home; and Annie, who died at the age of three years.
Mr. Lueschen votes the republican tieket and in religious faith is a German Lutheran. He is well known and highly esteemed in Platte county and through- ont life has adhered to high standards of conduct.
HENRY G. LUESCHEN.
Henry G. Lueschen, who has for many years been identified with agricultural interests in Bismark township, is entitled to honor as a veteran of the Civil war, having proved his loyalty to his adopted land by enlisting for service in the Union army. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, on the 7th of February, 1835, of the marriage of Henry and Kate Margaret (Kuhlman) Groteluschen, both now de- eeased. Owing to an error made by the army officials at the time of his enlistment, the name became officially Luesehen and it is by this name he and his brothres are now known. He remained in his native land until he was twenty-five years of
GERHARD G. LUESCHEN
HERMAN G. LUESCHEN HENRY G. LUESCHEN
563
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
age and then, in 1860, emigrated to America, making his way to Mayville, Wisconsin. His sympathies were entirely with the north and accordingly at the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in Company E, Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He made an excellent record as a soldier, never faltering in the performance of his duty, and he is justly proud of the fact that he offered his life if need be to preserve the Union. During his military service he had many narrow escapes from death and can relate a great many interesting stories of army life.
In 1869 Mr. Lueschen came to Platte county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he at once began to improve and cultivate. He has since added eighty acres and his place, which is known as the Oldenburg Valley Stock Farm, is one of the valuable farm properties of Bismark township. His work has been well planned and his labors have returned to him a gratifying annual income so that he is now living largely retired.
In 1867 Mr. Lueschen was married to Miss Mary Brandes, who died in 1905 at the age of sixty-eight years. They were the parents of nine children, of whom five survive. Mr. Lueschen is a republican with independent tendencies, voting according to the dictates of his judgment when he believes that the public welfare will be best served by so doing. In times of peace he manifests the same devotion to the general good that in the '60s led to his enlisting in the Union army. He is a man of wide knowledge, as he has always read a great deal, and he also has the power of thinking independently, arriving at his own conclusions rather than blindly accepting the opinions of others. His religious faith is that of the German Lutheran church, and his life has always measured up to high standards of manhood.
VINCENT WIESER.
At the age of twenty-one years Vincent Wieser began farming for himself on section 17, Grand Prairie township, where he still makes his home. With the passing years he has won success and at one time was the owner of eight hundred acres of rich and valuable land in this county but has since divided with his children. He is a native of Austria, his birth having there occurred on the 14th of December, 1865, his parents being August and Mary (Kohler) Wieser. The father owned a farm in Austria and continued to make his home in that land until 1870, when, attracted by the favorable reports which he heard concerning business conditions and oppor- tunities in the new world, he made his way to the United States, arriving in Madison, Wisconsin. He there bought eighty acres of land which he cultivated for about three years but in 1873 he made his way to Nebraska and established his home in what is now Grand Prairie township, Platte county. His farm was on section 8 and was an undeveloped and unimproved tract of land when it came into his possession. His first home was a sod house-one of the early primitive dwellings of the locality. Few improvements had been made in the entire township and there were many hardships and difficulties to be borne that are incident to pioneer life. He resolutely set to work to develop his land and after a time removed from section 8, where he had first taken up his abode, to section 17 of the same township, making that place Vol. II-27
564
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
his home farm. To his holdings he added from time to time until he was the owner of six hundred and forty acres of valuable land which he brought to a high state of cultivation. He also built one of the first frame houses of the township and took the initial step along many lines in the way of making modern improvements. He was actuated at all times by the spirit of progress and upbuilding and deserved much credit for what he accomplished. He helped to organize the school district near his home and was also one of the charter members of St. Mary's Catholic church on section 5, Grand Prairie township and donated the land on which the church edifice was erected. He continued his residence upon the old home farm until death called him in 1905, when he was eighty-two years of age. His wife, who was born in 1824, passed away in 1897, and thus the community lost two of its worthy pioneer people.
Vincent Wieser was but five years of age when his parents brought their family to the new world and was a little lad of eight summers at the time of the removal to Nebraska. He attended school which was held in the home of John Brown on section 6, Grand Prairie township, afterward was a pupil in district school No. 30 and also for three months attended a sisters' school in Omaha. When twenty-one years of age he began farming on section 17, Grand Prairie township, where he still resides. He inherited two hundred acres of land from his father but he added to his holdings from time to time until he became the owner of eight hundred acres of valuable land, of which four hundred acres is situated on section 17. He has since divided with his children, giving farms to his boys, but still owns a valuable property from which he derives a gratifying annual income. His fields are carefully tilled and he has placed good improvements upon his land. He has ever manifested the spirit of modern progress and advancement that has characterized farm work and revolu- tionized methods of agricultural development. His farm presents a neat and well kept appearance and everything about his place is indicative of careful supervision. He is a director and vice president of the Farmers State Bank of Humphrey and one of the directors of the Farmers Elevator Company there. In addition to tilling the soil upon the home farm he raises stock and this constitutes an important and remuner- ative branch of his business.
On June 21, 1887, Mr. Wieser was united in marriage to Miss Mary Brockhaus, who was born near Green Bay, Wisconsin, a daughter of Gerhard and Gertrude Brockhaus, the former born in Hanover and the latter in Westphalia, Germany. Gerhard Brockhaus came to the United States when a youth of eighteen years and worked for a time as a laborer at Boston, Massachusetts. He afterward married and made his way to Wisconsin, where he carried on farming until 1875. He then came to Platte county, Nebraska, establishing his home on Grand Prairie, where he be- came the owner of a good farm. Later he removed to Humphrey township, where the remainder of his life was passed. He was an active and influential resident of his township, not only along agricultural lines but also in relation to public affairs. He served as assessor and tax collector for many years and was always loyal to his public duties and responsibilities. His religious belief was that of the Catholic church. Prospering in his undertakings he hecame the owner of seven hundred acres of land.
Mr. and Mrs. Wieser have become the parents of nine children, who are yet living: Mary, the wife of T. Wemhoff, a farmer of Grand Prairie township, by whom she has three children; Frank, who is farming one hundred and sixty acres of land, is married and has two children; John M., who is also engaged in the operation of one
565
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
hundred and sixty acres; and Henry, Agnes, Clara, Joseph, Barbara and Frances, who complete the family.
Mr. Wieser exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party but does not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he has won substantial and well merited success. He is, however, a very active member of St. Mary's Catholic church, doing all in his power to further its work and promote its growth. Almost his entire life has been passed in Platte county, where he has now lived for a period of forty-two years-a period that covers the greater part of the growth and development of this section, so that he is familiar with its history from pioneer times down to the present.
GEORGE WHITTAKER GALLEY.
George Whittaker Galley, a farmer residing on section 27, Columbus township, was born at the place where he now resides, September 6, 1863, and has therefore for more than a half century been a witness of the growth and development of this part of the state, which he has seen converted from a western pioneer district into a populous and prosperous region. His parents were George W. and Mary (Pyatt) Galley, both of whom were natives of Macclesfield, England, the former born in 1830 and the latter in 1828. In his native land the father worked as a weaver and after- ward served a five years' apprenticeship to the trade of plumber and glazier. On the 10th of January, 1851, his twenty-first birthday, he sailed from Liverpool for the new world and after landing on American shores made his way to St. Louis, Missouri, where he later joined an emigrant train and went to Salt Lake City, Utah, being a Josephite Mormon. The trip was an exciting one, fraught with many inter- esting incidents, while at the same time the Indians were a constant menace. For several years he lived in Salt Lake City and then, retracing his steps eastward, took up his abode in Platte county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded on section 27, Columbus township. When the homestead law was repealed. he preempted one hun- dred and sixty acres and upon the tract built a log cabin. He began farming under the usual pioneer conditions, meeting all the hardships and privations incident to the establishment of a home on the western frontier, where the work of development and progress seemed scarcely begun. He was a very active and progressive man, these qualities being manifest not only in his business affairs but in his public rela- tions. He carried on general farming and raised a large amount of stock for the size of his farm. He was also one of the founders of the Commercial National Bank of Columbus and was serving as a director at the time of his death. Ten years prior to his demise he retired from active business life, spending that decade in well earned ease. In his political views he was a republican and his religious faith was indicated in the active interest which he took in the work of the Mormon chapel during its existence in Columbus. He was instrumental in organizing school district No. 9 and served as one of its directors for many years. His entire life was actuated by a spirit of progress and advancement and his public service was a benefit to the com- munity in which he lived. He died in Columbus in 1907, having long survived his wife, who passed away upon the farm in 1866.
566
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
George Whittaker Galley was the youngest of their children. He began his edu- cation at a school which was held in the home of his uncle, J. H. Galley, and after- ward attended district school No. 9, in Columbus township. In the school of experience, too. he has learned many valuable lessons, becoming a well informed and most capable business man. He started out in life independently as a renter when twenty-three years of age and from his father he afterward inherited a farm, having, now two hundred and twenty acres of land in Columbus township. He owns land in both Monroe and Oconee townships. He has made a specialty of feeding and shipping cattle and hogs and that branch of his business has become an important factor in his growing success. He is also a director of the Commercial National Bank of Columbus and is interested in many other business enterprises of the community, including farmers' elevators and the Fair Association. He became financially interested in farmers' elevators in order to assist in their successful establishment, and at all times his interest in the welfare of the community has been manifest in many tangible ways. As a stock-raiser he has made a specialty of handling Hereford cattle and has done not a little to improve the grade of stock raised in this part of the state.
On December 15, 1892, Mr. Galley was united in marriage to Miss Caroline E. Welch, also a native of this county and a daughter of Jonas Welch, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, and to this union four children have been born, Clyde A., Edith C., Milton G. and Roy E.
Mr. Galley belongs to the Modern Woodman camp at Columbus. He has long been interested in educational progress in his community and has served as director of school district No. 9, Columbus township, for fifteen years. He stands at all times for progress and improvement but has never sought public office. His undi- vided attention has been given to his business affairs and his careful direction of his interests has led to his growing prosperity and at the same time he has cooperated in the development of business concerns which have aided materially in the prosperity of the community.
A. ED MATSON.
A. Ed Matson, residing on section 2, Oconee township, was for some years identified with commercial interests, but is now giving his attention to general agri- cultural pursuits, in which he displays good judgment and unfaltering energy. He has lived in Platte county since 1871 but is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred near Oneida, Henry county, that state, on the 1st of January, 1870, his parents being William and Martha (Wickblom) Matson. The father, a native of Sweden, died on the 28th of August, 1909. The mother, who was also born in the same country, has passed away.
Reared under the parental roof, A. Ed Matson acquired a common-school educa- tion and worked upon the home farm to the age of twenty-one years, when he started out in life on his own account. Through the intervening period he has largely been connected with commercial and agricultural pursuits in Platte county, although for a brief period he lived elsewhere. He opened the first hardware and implement store in Monroe in connection with A. N. Hollingshead, but after a year sold ont, although
567
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY
he continued to work for a year for his successor. At the end of that time he and his brother, Frank Matson, purchased the business, of which they remained pro- prietors for several years, conducting a well appointed hardware store and enjoying a liberal patronage. At the end of that time A. E. Matson returned to farm life, to which he devoted the ensuing seven years. He then established his home in Columbus, Nebraska, where he remained for a year, and on the expiration of that period removed to Pawnee City, Nebraska, where he was connected with the general mercantile house of Bogle Brothers for three and a half years. He afterward re- turned to the farm and is now living on section 2, Oconee township, where he carries on general agricultural pursuits in a capable, progressive manner, his fields annually returning to him substantial harvests.
On the 1st of October, 1892, Mr. Matson was married to Miss Mable Strother, and they have one child, Audrey. In politics Mr. Matson may be termed an inde- pendent republican, for, while he usually votes with the party, he does not fcel him- self bound by party ties and casts an independent ballot if he so desires. He has filled several local offices, including that of road supervisor. He has also been a member of the school board and treasurer of the cemetery association. Fraternally he is well known as a member of Interior Lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., of which he was treasurer for a number of years, and he also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and his has been a well spent life, in harmony with his professions. He has attractive social qualities which render him popular wherever he goes and he has gained many friends in this county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.