Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II, Part 58

Author: Phillips, G. W
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Clarke
Number of Pages: 682


USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 58


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Mr. Kunnemann formerly gave his political allegiance to the democracy, but has recently become an advocate of republican principles, not being in sympathy with the course of the present administration. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church, to which his wife and children also belong. He is a shrewd, well informed man, possesses a remarkably retentive memory and is a fluent and pleasing conversationalist. Many of his warmest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time-a fact which indicates that his life has been well spent and that his strongest qualities are those which win him respect and confidence.


ALVIN GERHARD LUESCHEN, M. D.


Dr. Alvin Gerhard Lueschen is a well known and successful young representa- tive of the medical profession in Columbus. His birth occurred on a farm in this county on the 12th of October, 1880, his parents being Gerhard G. and Margaret (Kuhlmann) Lueschen, who were married in Wisconsin. The father, born in


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Germany in 1840, emigrated to the United States in 1859, locating first in Wis- consin, while several years later he came to Platte county, Nebraska, and has since carried on general agricultural pursuits here. His wife also still survives and both are well known and highly esteemed in their home community.


Alvin G. Lueschen acquired his early education in the rural schools of this county and subsequently attended the State Normal School at Nebraska City, while later he took up the study of medicine in the Creighton Medical College of Omaha and was graduated from that institution in 1904. He then located in Columbus for general practice and in 1908 went to Bakersfield, California, where he remained until 1914. In that year he returned to Colnmbns and is here engaged in general practice to some extent but specializes in the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. He now enjoys a large and lucrative practice which is steadily growing as he demonstrates his skill and ability in the field of his chosen calling.


On the 24th of November, 1908. in Columbus, Nebraska, Dr. Lneschen was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Elias, a daughter of Charles F. Elias. To them have been born two children, Alvin Gerald and Willamette Marguerite.


The Doctor is a republican in politics and is now ably serving in the capacity of city physician. Fraternally he is known as a York and Scottish Rite Mason and also belongs to the Mystic Shrine, while his religions faith is that of the Lutheran church. He is popular in both professional and social circles. for his salient char- acteristics are such as command regard and esteem.


JOHN PETER ANDERSON.


John Peter Anderson, whose well improved farm in Walker township is known as Fairview Farm, also has a number of other business interests and is one of the substantial men of his township. He was born at Kronoberg, Sweden, January 11, 1861, of the marriage of Andrew and Anna ( Peterson) Anderson! He was the second child and the only son in a family of four children and all of the children and the father emigrated to America and located in De Kalb county, Illinois, following the demise of the mother, which occurred in Sweden. The father passed away in 1879.


J. P. Anderson attended the common schools in his native land and following his arrival in De Kalb connty worked on farms for six years and later was employed in De Kalb City for two years. At the end of that time, or in 1887. npon the suggestion of his employer. who took a sincere interest in his welfare, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land in Walker township, Platte county, Nebraska, paying twelve dollars and fifty cents per acre. In the spring of that year he removed to his farm, which is on section 19, and has since lived there continuously. In 1910 he bought a quarter section on section 20, opposite his home place, and he is now cultivating the entire three hundred and twenty acres. When he bought his first quarter section there were only a few acres broken on the place and there were no improvements at all. He now has a commodions and substantial residence, good barns and ontbuildings, and the place is always well kept. The snecess which he has gained has been acquired by hard work and careful management and he deserves - recognition as an efficient and progressive farmer. He formerly raised Poland China


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hogs but for a number of years past has raised Duroc-Jerseys. He also breeds Aberdeen Angus cattle and Buff Orpington chickens and finds those interests profitable. He owns stock in the Farmers Union store of Newman Grove, the Monroe Independent Telephone Company and the Scandia Mutual Insurance Com- pany, of which he served as director for eight years.


Mr. Anderson was married on the 28th of April, 1888, to Miss Emily J. Olson, a daughter of John Olson, who was an old settler of Walker township. Five children have been born to this union. Elmer L., who does much of the actual work of operating his father's farm and will assume entire charge of it when the latter retires, is an enterprising and progressive young farmer, keeping in touch with the latest developments in scientific agriculture. Bertha has taught district school No. 61 for the past three years and is meeting with gratifying success in her chosen profession. Earl Albert died in 1914, at the age of eighteen years. Della Mae is attending school, and one died in infancy.


Mr. Anderson is a republican and has been active in local politics since his arrival in Walker township. For seven years he served as road supervisor and he is now filling the office of township clerk, which he has held altogether for twelve years, although his terms have not all been consecutive. He has been school director of district No. 61, for twelve years, while for nine years he served as moderator. He holds membership in the Salem Lutheran church, of which he has served as trustee for the past twelve years. No project for the moral advancement of his community lacks his cooperation and he is also heartily in sympathy with efforts to advance the material interests of his township and county. He has a wide acquaint- ance and his salient characteristics are such that all who have been brought into contact with him respect him highly.


JOHN H. PARKER.


John H. Parker, a well known contractor of Columbus, was born at Keying- ham, England, February 3, 1862, a son of Samuel and Mary (Finch) Parker. The father was born at Gressenhall, in Norfolk, England, famous as the place at which worsted was first manufactured in that country. The mother was born at Brisley, a village a few miles to the north of Gressenhall. She was connected with the aristocracy, while Mr. Parker is of the family to which belonged Admiral Parker, who prudently ignored the signal for the English troops to retire given him by Nelson and thus saved the day. Samuel Parker was the eldest of four children and was but six years of age at the time of his father's death. This was before the days of the compulsory school law, and at an age when most boys would be giving their attention to study, he was earning his own living and also con- tributing to the support of the family. In 1854 he removed to Sunk Island, where he worked and met with a fair measure of prosperity until February 2, 1858, when he returned to his native county and was married at Brisley Church to Miss Mary Ann Finch. They began their domestic life at Roos and afterward removed to Keyingham, while later they lived for ten months at Hull. Mr. Parker purchased a plot of ground at Halsham village and erected thereon a comfortable home, after which he continued in business as a contractor and builder. He has been a mem-


JOHN H. PARKER


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ber of the Foresters' Friendly Society for about sixty-five years. A most important event in his life was the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of his marriage, which was made the occasion of rejoicing throughout the village of Halsham. He is still living but his wife, who was born in 1830, passed away in 1911. In their family were eight children, seventeen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.


John H. Parker, who returned to his native country to aid in celebrating the golden wedding of his parents, attended school in his native town to the age of nine years, after which he began working with his father and learned the brick mason's trade. As the clock was striking twelve on Christmas morning of 1882 he landed at Halifax, after which he made his way to Detroit, Michigan, working at his trade there and in the upper peninsula of Michigan until 1884, when he returned to England. He only remained for a short time, however, after which he again came to the United States and was employed in Cincinnati, Ohio, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and at other points until June, 1886. He then made his way westward to Omaha, where he worked at his trade and also engaged in contracting until 1894. In 1892 he was president of the Bricklayers' Union and was instrumental in arbi- trating a strike. In 1888 he built a schoolhouse at Albion, Nebraska, and on the Ist of August, 1894, he removed to that town, where he afterward built three schoolhouses, including the high-school building, which was erected at a cost of fifty-five thousand dollars. He also served as city engineer of Albion in 1897. He remained in active business with his brother at Albion until 1910 and then removed to Columbus.


Before taking up his abode in this city, however, he had been engaged on the construction of some of the best buildings of the town. He took the contract for the brick and stone work on the Young Men's Christian Association building, the German National Bank, the Evans Hotel, the Galley Dry Goods Company's build- ing, the building of the Fonteen Piano Company and the Reece Shoe Company. He also erected the addition to the Meridian Hotel and the residences of Charles Carrig, Dr. Evans and A. C. Anderson. He took the contract for the erection of the W. L. Poesch building, the Henry Gass building and the additions to St. Fran- cis Academy and to the hospital. He has been a resident of Columbus since August, 1910, and on all sides are seen the evidences of his handiwork, manifesting the high degree of skill which he has attained. In Albion he erected a church for sixty-five thousand dollars and also one of the fine bank buildings of the place, and he built the Church of the Visitation at Greeley, Nebraska.


In February, 1889, Mr. Parker was united in marriage to Miss Clara J. Giles, a native of England, who passed away in the following April. For his second wife he chose Miss Mary J. Roberts, a native of Manchester, England, and a daughter of James W. and Anna (Hargreave) Roberts. The father, engaged in business as a general contractor, conducted a lumberyard and brick mill in Lancaster until the time of his emigration to the United States in 1880, when he made his way direct to Albion, Nebraska. He became the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land near the town and erected a number of business buildings and residences in Albion, where his demise occurred in 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are the parents of three children, as follows: Clara R., who is a nurse in the West Suburban Hospital of Chicago; Rose Amy; and Evelyn, who has manifested pronounced ability in music and drawing.


Mr. Parker is an Episcopalian and took a very active part in the work of the


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church in Albion as he has done in Columbus, contributing generously to its sup- port and doing all in his power to further its growth and extend its influence. He is a democrat in politics but has no political aspiration. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America but prefers outside of business to concentrate his energies on those plans and movements which seek the moral progress of the community and he is therefore active in the Young Men's Christian Association, of which he is now a director. He may truly be called a self-made man, for since the age of nine years he has been dependent upon his own resources and, working his way upward, has wisely used his time, talents and opportunities, proving that honor- able and intelligently directed industry will always win success.


FREDERICK BEHLEN.


The term agricultural activity finds expression in the life record of Frederick Behlen, who lives on section 1, Shell Creek township. A native of Germany, he was born in Oldenburg, March 4, 1848, and is a son of John and Anna (From) Behlen, who were also natives of Oldenburg. The father carried on farming on a small scale and guided his life according to the teachings of the Lutheran church, in which faith he died in 1858, at the age of thirty-nine years. His wife passed away in Platte county at the very advanced age of eighty-four years.


Frederick Behlen attended school in Germany to the age of fourteen years, when he started out to earn his living as a farm hand. In 1867 he came with his mother and brother to the new world, settling in Ogle county, Illinois, where he remained upon a farm for two years. In March, 1869, he arrived in Platte county and home- steaded eighty acres in Bismark township, at which period there were few settlers within the borders of the township and pioneer conditions everywhere existed. Ardnons work confronted him, for the land was entirely destitute of improvements, not a furrow having been turned upon it. He lived in a dugout and began his farm work with oxen. The days passed in hard and unremitting labor, but the faithful performance of each day's task gave him strength and courage for the labors of the succeeding day. After two years he sold his original farm and bought land in Shell Creek township. It was difficult to find the section lines for there were no landmarks to indicate them. There were no houses, all was open prairie and it seemed hardly possible that, within the lifetime of one man, this district would become a populous and prosperous region. Mr. Behlen purchased railroad land at five dollars per acre, set out trees upon the farm, made other substantial improve- ments and as the years have passed has added to his property until he is now the owner of six hundred acres. He was busily engaged in the development and further work of the farm until a recent date, when he retired from the active work of the fields. He still occupies the old homestead, however, on which he has erected a com- fortable little cottage, and he is now looking after his fruit. He has a nice orchard and top grafts his trees, planting French and Japan pear trees. He also has a large apple orchard, in which the trees are in excellent condition, and the care and sale of his crops occupy all of the time which he wishes to give to business affairs.


On the 18th of April, 1870, Mr. Behlen was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Schneider, who was born in Oldenburg, Germany, a daughter of E. Fred and Eliza-


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beth Schneider, who were always farming people of the fatherland. Mr. Schneider died before the birth of his daughter Elizabeth, who by her marriage has become the mother of ten children: Lena, the wife of Henry Hobbensiefken, who is men- tioned elsewhere in this work; Anna, who is the wife of George Meinke, of Texas, and has six children; Ida, the wife of Rev. Fred Mindrup, a minister of the German Baptist church at McClusky, North Dakota, by whom she has two children; William, a farmer of Shell Creek township, who is married and has three children; Emma, the wife of William Reese, living near Platte Center, by whom she has four children; John, who occupies the old home farm and is married and has two children ; Minnie, the wife of William Lange, of Shell Creek township, by whom she has three chil- dren; Gustave, a farmer living on part of his father's land, who is also married and has one child; Freda, at home; and Lydia, who married Gustave Mohrmann, and has two children and who lives near the old homestead.


In politics Mr. Behlen is independent, but in church work he and his family are very active as members of the German Baptist church. His brother, D. Behlen, gave the land on which the church of the neighborhood is built and Frederick Behlen and his family have been very helpful in promoting the work of the church and have contributed most generously to its support. Mrs. Behlen is the only one left in the community that aided in organizing the German Baptist church of Shell Creek. She is a true Christian mother, is active in the Ladies' Aid Society, of which she is the treasurer, and is loved by all who know her for her many good qualities. Their son John is now secretary of the Sunday school, William is also active in the work of the church and Freda is one of the teachers in the Sunday school. The children are indeed a credit to their parents, their records being an expression of the Christian training of the home. Mr. Behlen deserves commendation for his business career, for he started out empty-handed at the age of fourteen years and has since depended upon his own resources, but while putting forth earnest and strenuous effort to gain a living and secure a comfortable competence for his family he has never neg- lected the higher, holier duties of life and is recognized throughout the community as an earnest Christian gentleman.


WILLIAM SCHELP.


William Schelp, of Grand Prairie township, has contributed to the agricultural development of Platte county and has also been a factor in the political life of the state, as he has served in the state legislature, proving an able and farsighted law- maker. A native of Germany, his birth occurred in Westphalia on the 17th of March, 1848. His parents, Phillip and Fredericka Schelp, who were also natives of that country, came to the United States with their family in 1854 and for two and a half years thereafter resided in St. Louis. They then removed to Morgan county. Illinois, and for six years lived on the Jacob Strawn farm near Jacksonville, whence they removed to Sangamon county, Illinois, where both passed away.


William Schelp was about six years of age when he accompanied his parents to this country and received his education in the public schools of Illinois. When but sixteen years of age, however. he put aside his texthooks and began work upon the farm by the month, so continuing until he turned his attention to learning wagon


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making. He became an excellent workman and conducted a shop at Berlin, Sangamon county, for eighteen years, gaining and holding a gratifying patronage. In 1885 he came to Platte county, Nebraska, and purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Grand Prairie township. At that time but thirty acres were broken and there were no buildings upon the place. As soon as possible he placed all of his land under cultivation and in the intervening years he has made his farm one of the well developed tracts of his locality. He has erected good substantial buildings and keeps everything in excellent repair, while he uses the latest machinery in the work of the farm.' He grows grain and raises stock, and both branches of his business have proved profitable.


Mr. Schelp was married August 6, 1871, in Berlin, Illinois, to Miss Wilhelmina Blecher, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, a daughter of William and Gertrude Blecher, both natives of Prussia, Germany. They were early settlers of Berlin, Illinois, where the father engaged in merchandising for years, becoming one of the successful business men of that town. Both he and his wife are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Schelp have become the parents of four children, of whom two sur- vive: Elizabeth, the wife of William Arndt; and W. P., who is cashier in a bank at Platte Center.


Mr. Schelp is a democrat where national issues are at stake but otherwise votes independently. For a number of years, when the populist movement was at its height, he supported that party. In 1891 and again in 1893 he was elected to the state legislature and during the two terms that he was a member of that body he supported many measures which have since proven of benefit to the state as a whole. Both he and his wife hold membership in the German Lutheran church and strive to exemplify the teachingss of that organization in their daily lives. Mr. Schelp has always been energetic and industrious, and these qualities. combined with his busi- ness insight and good management, have enabled him to win financial independence. He holds not only the respect of all who have been associated with him but also the warm regard and personal friendship of many.


FRED WILLE.


Fred Wille is a very prominent farmer and stockman of Shell Creek township, his home being on section 36. His property is known as the Wayside Farm and he is one of the leading breeders and raisers of Poland China hogs in the state, hav- ing been in that line since 1900. He was born in Cook county, Illinois, February 26, 1873, a son of August and Maria (Sieckmann) Wille. The father was born in Prussia, February 26, 1813, and his life record covered the intervening years to the 23d of July, 1914, when he passed away. His wife, who was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1845, is still living. August Wille was but four years of age when brought to the United States by his parents, who settled in Illinois. On attaining his majority he began farming in Cook county, that state, and occupied the first farm which he purchased until 1912, when he retired and went to live with a daughter at Blue Island, Illinois, where he passed away. Success attended his efforts in a business way and he became the owner of over four hundred acres of good land on which he had a fine herd of dairy cattle. In religious faith he was a


FRED WILLE


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German Lutheran and was very active, earnest and zealous in the work of the church.


Fred Wille was the eldest in a family of seven children. He attended the pa- rochial and public schools in the acquirement of his education and continued his residence in Illinois until 1898, when, at the age of twenty-five years, he came to Platte county, Nebraska, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on sec- tion 36, Shell Creek township. Upon this property he has made substantial im- provements and the place is now one of the attractive farms of the county. He has erceted good buildings, including a comfortable residence and substantial barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He uses the latest improved machinery and has divided his farm into fields of convenient size by well kept fences. In all that he undertakes he displays a most progressive spirit and his life work constitutes an example that may well be followed by other agriculturists and stockraisers. He raises a high grade of Guernsey cattle, which he ships to adjoining states, and he also makes a specialty of the raising of Poland China hogs, winning many prizes. He won first prize on a boar over two years old; first prize on a boar of eighteen months ; first prize on a boar under six months; first prize on a sow, eighteen months; first prize on a sow under six months; first prize, breed- er's ring; first prize, four animals, get of one boar; and grand championship of show, any age or breed. He was superintendent of the hog exhibit at the Platte County Agricultural Society Fair in 1915 and has been treasurer of the society. He ships hogs all over the United States and has one of the best bred herds in Nebraska.


In 1898 Mr. Wille was united in marriage to Miss Louise Behle, a daughter of Henry and Emilie (Bebler) Behle, of Shell Creek township. Mr. and Mrs. Wille have become the parents of seven children, namely, Irene, Ethel, Alice, Olive, Edgar, Lorna and Clara. In politics Mr. Wille is a democrat and manifests a citi- zen's interest in the leading questions and issues of the day. He has filled the offices of clerk and constable in his township and has also been justice of the peace, in which connection his decisions have been strictly fair and impartial. He has like- wise served as school director and believes in the employment of good teachers that adequate educational opportunities may be given to the young. In a word, he is a progressive man, the spirit of advancement being manifest in all that he does and he well deserves the reputation which he has won as a foremost stock-raiser and breeder of this section of the state. The name of the Wayside Farm has become well known not only in adjoining states but in other sections of the country and its owner is a most enterprising man, meeting with well deserved success in his under- takings. Mr. Wille belongs to the German Lutheran church and aided in organiz- ing the parochial school conducted in connection with that church.


JAMES P. NUNNALLY.


James P. Nunnally, who was a cavalryman during the Civil war and who for many years carried on general agricultural pursuits in this county, is now living in Monroc. He has always made his home west of the Mississippi river, his birth having occurred in Danville, Montgomery county, Missouri, September 30, 1844,




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