USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 60
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G. W. Phillips lived in Algonquin, Illinois, until seven years of age, when in 1864 the father came to the west with his family, including the mother, the son, G. W. Phillips, and two daughters. They landed from a Missouri river steamboat at Omaha and the son was sent to school at Elk City until he reached the age of thirteen years. On the 26th of November, 1871, he arrived in Columbus and began learning the cutter's and fitter's trade with M. T. Kenny, working along that line for his board, clothing and twenty-five dollars per year, together with the privilege of three months' schooling annually. He spent three years in that manner, after which he engaged in the shoe business, both selling and manufacturing shoes until 1883. In the autumn of that year he became an employe in the county clerk's office under John Stauffer and after eightcen months was appointed deputy county clerk, which position he filled until the fall of 1889, when he was elected county clerk on the democratic ticket and entered upon the discharge of the duties of that position, which he filled through reelection for six years. In 1896-7 he was postmaster of Columbus and in the fall of the latter year was again elected county clerk, serving for six years more. He next organized the German National Bank, erected a building and opened the doors of the bank for business in September, 1906, since which time he has
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served as president of the institution. In 1909 he was associated with others in organizing the Home Savings Bank, of which he has served continually as cashier, thus being closely identified with the financial interests of the county. He is like- wise interested in the Columbus Gas Company, of which he is now the secretary, and is connected with the Platte County Independent Telephone Company and the Evans Hotel Company, being a director of the latter.
On the 26th of June, 1883, in Columbus, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Louisa E. Hudson, daughter of Henry J. Hudson, of Columbus. To them were born three children, as follows: Myrtle, who died at the age of five; Milton H., born October 4, 1890, who is employed as bookkeeper by the Leesburg Mining Com- pany of Salmon, Idaho, and who wedded Miss Frances Schroeder of Columbus, by whom he has two children, Milton, Jr., and Louisa ; and Albert J., born August 22, 1896, who graduated from the Columbus high school in 1915 and is now employed as bookkeeper by the Columbus Gas Company. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on the 7th day of April, 1897.
Mr. Phillips attends the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is con- nected with the Masons, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He like- wise belongs to the Commercial Club of Columbus and during the eight years of its existence has served as its treasurer. In politics he is a democrat and for four different terms has been mayor of Columbus, his reelection being proof of his businesslike and public-spirited administration of municipal affairs. He has also served as councilman for three terms and in 1903 was secretary of the democratic state central committee. His influence and activities have thus extended beyond his immediate locality to the benefit of the general public, while in the city and county of his residence his labors and interests have been most effective in advancing the general welfare.
SIEGFRIED C. B. NISSEN.
Platte Center lost a representative business man and worthy citizen when Siegfried C. B. Nissen was called to his final rest in 1911. He was the proprietor of the Fairmont Creamery and as such was conducting a substantial business. He was of Danish nativity, his birth having occurred in Odense, Denmark, on the 23d of January, 1817, a son of Siegfried and Antonia Nissen, who were born respectively in Bogense and in Copenhagen, Denmark. After completing his education in the schools of his native land he engaged in the mercantile business at Bogense, where he remained for a number of years. On selling out he came to the United States about 1886 and settled in Merrick county, Nebraska, where he purchased a tract of land and turned his attention to farming. Later, however, he removed to Chapman, Nebraska, and again engaged in commercial pursuits, owning and conducting a store and also a cream station for ten years.
On selling his business at Chapman, Mr. Nissen removed to Platte Center on the 6th of April, 1908, and here began dealing in cream and eggs, opening what was known as the Fairmont Creamery. From that time until his demise he continued to actively engage in business and controlled a large and gratifying trade. His
Off Philips
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business was of value to the community, as it furnished a market for the farmers and supplied the town with thoroughly fresh and desirable products.
On the 31st of October, 1877, Mr. Nissen was united in marriage to Miss Anna Marie Allfrieda, a daughter of Jorgen and Dorothea Knudsen, also natives of Den- mark. Her father was an officer in the Danish army. To Mr. and Mrs. Nissen were born three children, namely: Sarah, Antonia and Hugo. The first two are natives of Odense, Denmark. Sarah is now the wife of John Horstman, of St. Libory, Nebraska, where they own a farm, and they have five children. Antonia is the wife of Gregor Brunt, a farmer living near Columbus, and they have three children. Hugo, who was born in Merriek county, Nebraska, married Frieda Berch- told and is now engaged in farming near Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. Nissen also reared an adopted daughter, Christina.
The family circle was broken by the hand of death when on the 29th of July, 1911, Mr. Nissen passed away. He was an Odd Fellow in his fraternal relations and a Lutheran in his religious faith and both organizations now miss a valued member. He was ever loyal to any cause he espoused, was devoted to his family and faithful in friendship, and all who knew him spoke of him in terms of the warmest friendship and highest regard.
HENRY ALPERS.
Henry Alpers is condueting a growing and profitable business as a painter and decorator at Columbus, the excellence of his work insuring him a liberal patronage. Laudable ambition has prompted him to put forth earnest and persistent effort, while a courageous spirit has enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path.
Mr. Alpers is a native of Hanover, Germany. He was born February 3, 1878. and is the fourth in order of birth in a family of five children, whose parents were Henry and Rebecca (Pape) Alpers. Ere leaving his native country he learned the cabinetmaker's trade and in 1901, attraeted by the business opportunities of the new world, he came to the United States, making his way at once to Nebraska, where he worked as a carpenter near Columbus. He was then about twenty-three years of age. Subsequently he was employed as a carpenter on a hospital at Columbus, while for nine months he worked in the Columbus Planing Mill. He afterward spent five and a half years in a furniture store as salesman and repair man and on the expiration of that period turned his attention to the painting and decorating business, in which he has since been engaged. At first his patronage came largely from the surrounding country but as the years have gone by he has developed a large eity business which has been steadily increasing and is now one of very gratifying and desirable proportions. Most of his previous experience constituted the preparation for his work in these lines and that the results of his labors are highly satisfactory to his patrons is shown in his constantly increasing trade.
In 1901 Mr. Alpers was married in Germany to Miss Emma Albers, a daughter of Henry Albers, and they have become parents of three children, Hugo. Werner and Arthur The religious faith of the family is that of the German Lutheran church, while in political belief Mr. Alpers is independent, voting according to the dietates
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of his judgment, based upon the demand of the time. The family occupy a large and attractive modern residence and in addition Mr. Alpers owns a well equipped shop. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought. He brought with him no false idea that success was to be had for the asking, but he recognized the fact that in this country industry and diligence are not hampered by caste or class and that the road to advancement is open to all. Accordingly, he put forth earnest, persistent effort and has won for himself a creditable position in business circles of Columbus.
CURTIS W. HOLLINGSHEAD.
An excellent farm of two hundred and seventy acres situated in Oconee township is the property of Curtis W. Hollingshead and pays substantial annual tribute to him for the care and labor which he bestows upon it. He also has other important business connections and at all times is regarded as one of the progressive citizens of his part of the county. He was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin, March 19, 1858, a son of William and Lauzna J. (Dennis) Hollingshead. The father was born near Greensborough, in Knox county, Tennessee, and with his parents removed north to Indiana, where he lived for several years. In 1884 he married Lauzna J. Dennis, who was born in Delaware, North Carolina. With ox teams they removed westward to Clarke county, Iowa, where they remained until 1851, when they became residents of Sauk county, Wisconsin, casting in their lot with its pioneer settlers, for it was then a new and undeveloped country. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Hollingshead joined the army as a private of Company I, Third Wisconsin Infantry, and saw active duty at the front. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea. Following the close of hostilities he continued his residence in Wisconsin until 1876, when he removed to Platte county and engaged in farming near the present site of Monroe for a number of years. For five or six years prior to his death he conducted a general mercantile store in Monroe, where he passed away in 1910, at the advanced age of eighty years. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and was accounted one of the valued and worthy citizens of this county. His widow survives and is now living in Monroc at the age of eighty-six years.
Curtis W. Hollingshead began his education sitting on a slab bench in a little log schoolhouse in Wisconsin, for his boyhood days were there passed amid pioneer conditions. He accompanied his parents to Nebraska, remaining at home until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when he began farming on his own account in Monroe township, devoting his energies to general agricultural pursuits until 1891, when he engaged in the grain business in Monroe. He became associated in the undertaking with C. H. Sheldon under the firm style of Sheldon & Hollingshead, a partnership that was continued for fifteen years, or until 1906, when Mr. Hol- lingshead again took up farming. to which he is now devoting his energies, being busily employed in the cultivation of his two hundred and seventy acres of rich and arable land. He also raises Percheron horses, having full blooded stock. He makes his home in Monroe, from which point he directs his farming interests. driving back and forth to his place. He has ever been greatly interested in the development
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of the entire county and is a stockholder and director of the Platte County Fair Association, while his wife is a member of the Monroe Farmers Association. She, too, has valuable property holdings in the county, their combined possessions aggre- gating four hundred and seventy acres of excellent land.
It was on the 20th of November, 1883, that Mr. Hollingshead wedded Miss Matilda N. Dack, and they have become the parents of four children. Ncal, the eldest, now operating the home farm, is married and has one child, Corinne. He attended the Lincoln Business College for two years and spent one year as a student in the Wesleyan University. Arthur, born January 23, 1891, was graduated from the Wesleyan University at University Place and is now principal of the high school at Monroe. He served as president of the Young Men's Christian Association of his college and also became a member of Phi Kappa Phi. Corrie H., who was born January 13, 1897, was graduated from the Monroe high school in June, 1915. Del- bert J., born October 11, 1899, is attending school.
Mr. Hollingshead has always been very active in the affairs of his town and, in fact, aided in its organization. Several times he has been a member of the city coun- cil and he has served in township and school offices. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party. He has been quite active in support of religious work and aided in organizing the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he and his wife are active and earnest members. Mr. Hollingshead has served as trustee and steward of the church, while his wife has also been most prominent in church work, in the Woman's Christian Temperanee Union and in the social life of the community. They occupy a beautiful residence in Monroe, justly celebrated for its warm-hearted hospitality, and the best homes of the city and surrounding country are readily opened for their welcome.
HARRY T. SWANSON.
The attractiveness of Platte county as a place of residence and the excellence of the opportunities which it offers to a man of energy and ambition are indicated by the fact that many of its native sons have elected to remain residents of it after reaching manhood's estate. Among this number is Harry T. Swanson, who is suc- cessfully farming on section 15, Walker township. He was horn upon that farm on the 8th of February, 1878, of the marriage of Peter and Nellie (Anderson) Swan- son, both natives of Sweden, the former born in 1814 and the latter in 1817. On removing to this country they resided in Illinois, but in the early '70s came to Platte county, being numbered among its first settlers. Both are still living and make their home in St. Edward, enjoying a period of rest and leisure which is well deserved. A sketch of their lives appears elsewhere in this work.
Harry T. Swanson was reared upon the farm where he still lives and through assisting his father gained valuable knowledge of agricultural methods. During his boyhood and youth he also devoted considerable time to attending the public schools, thus gaining a common-school education. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land and devotes his attention almost entirely to its cultivation and improvement. He does general farming and as he plans his work well and uses up-to-date methods, his labor yields him a good income.
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Mr. Swanson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Jensen, a native of Sweden and a daughter of Nels Jensen. The wife and mother died in 1911, leaving a daugh- ter, Edna.
Mr. Swanson is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the work of which he furthers in every way possible and the teachings of which guide his life. In carefully managing his private interests and in continuing the develop- ment of his farm he is not only gaining individual success, but is contributing to the agricultural development of his county. He is widely known and the genuine worth of his character is indicated by the fact that those who have been most intimately associated with him are his stanchest friends.
JOHN GIBBON.
John Gibbon is mayor of Monroe, serving for the fourth year in that office of honor and responsibility. He is also well known as a capable business man, hav- ing had charge of the business of the Hord Grain Company since 1901. He is a native of Pembrokeshire, Wales, born February 12, 1856, and is a son of Benja- min and Mary (Evans) Gibbon. The father was born in Wales about 1828 and, leaving that little rock-ribbed country in 1857, sailed for the new world, making his way to Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he entered two hundred and forty acres of land from the government. He there engaged in farming throughout the remain- der of his days, his death occurring in 1906, while his wife survived until 1909. They were consistent Christian people, holding membership in the Congregational church, and Mr. Gibbon served as deacon in the local church organization with which he was connected. In politics he was an ardent republican, giving stalwart support to the party and its principles. In fact, he displayed many sterling traits of character which made him valuable as a man and a citizen.
John_ Gibbon acquired a good English education in the public schools of Wis- consin and in his youth began working on the home farm, so that he early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. Taking up the profession of teaching, he devoted twenty-two years to that work in Wis- consin and in Platte county, Nebraska. proving an able educator by reason of his ability to impart clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. In 1901 he took charge of the business of the Hord Grain Company. This has changed hands three times in the intervening period of fourteen years, but through all of the changes Mr. Gibbon has remained with the company, carefully directing the interests of the business at this place, his labors being attended with a substan- tial measure of success. He closely studies the market, knows the conditions of the trade and is therefore able to so direct his efforts as to make the business at Monroc a profitable one.
On the 15th of February, 1888. Mr. Gibbon was united in marriage to Miss Ella Miller, of Monroe, Wisconsin, and they have become the parents of eight chil- dren: Raymond, who resides in South Dakota; Mary, a graduate of the State Nor- mal School and now a teacher at Creston, Nebraska; Leslie, at home; Gladys, who is also a graduate of the State Normal School and resides with her parents; Audrey, a graduate of the local high school; and Laura, Hazel and Margie, all at home.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN GIBBON
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Fraternally Mr. Gibbon is connected with the Aneient Order of United Work- men and politically is a democrat. He has served as eentral committeeman for Oeonee township and has been elerk of the township board. He is now serving as mayor of Monroe and for three years previously filled the office. His record discloses a publie-spirited administration characterized by needed reforms and im- provements. He has also been the seeretary of the Monroe school board for the past eleven years and the eause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. His entire life has been characterized by a spirit of progress and improvement, and strong purpose, commendable determination and laudable ambition have carried him into important business relations.
JOSEPH M. BROCKHAUS.
Joseph M. Broekhaus, a partner in the firm of Braun & Broekhaus, general mer- ehants of Humphrey, was born in the town where he still makes his home and where he has won for himself a ereditable position in commercial eireles. His natal day was August 2, 1884, his parents being Frank and Johanna (Fuehs) Brockhaus. The mother was born in Austria, but was only two years of age when brought by her parents to the new world. The father, who was a native of Wisconsin, became a carpenter, learning his trade in the Badger state, after which he worked at ear- pentering there until eighteen years of age. In 1876 he eame to Nebraska with his parents, who took up a homestead in Platte county, but Frank Brockhaus continued to follow earpentering until 1893, when his father gave him two hundred and forty acres of land, one hundred and sixty aeres in Granville township and eighty aeres in Grand Prairie township. He then began to develop and improve the property, which he converted into fine farms. He erected the buildings upon his place in Granville township and he has continuously operated his land, proving as eapable in the oeeupation of agriculture as he was in building. He has purchased more land and is now the owner of an entire seetion. To him and his wife were born ten chil- dren: Joseph M .; Henry; two daughters who were named Mary and are now deeeased; Rose : Bernard: Mathew ; Anna; John ; and Cecelia.
Joseph M. Broekhaus was reared under the parental roof and required his eduea- tion in the distriet schools and a parochial sehool at Humphrey. During the periods of vacation he became familiar with the work of the farm and remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-five years, when he went to Oklahoma and purebased three hundred and twenty aeres of land, which he operated for a year. He then rented that property and returned to Humphrey, where he seeured a elerkship in the store of Diers Brothers, remaining with the house for two years. On the expiration of that period he joined William P. Brann in organizing the firm of Braun & Brockhaus for the conduct of a general mereantile business. They now carry a large stock and enjoy a very gratifying patronage. They put forth earnest efforts to please their customers and their reasonable prices and honorable dealings also constitute features of their growing sneeess. The firm now operates a eream station in Humphrey, buying and selling eream, butter and eggs.
On the 26th of June, 1913. Mr. Broekhans wis married to Miss Rose Eisen- menger, a daughter of Anton and Elizabeth (Sehelkopf) Eisenmenger, natives of
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Illinois, in which state the father carried on farming until 1894, when he removed with his family to Platte county and purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in Burrows township. His attention has since been given to its further enltivation and the result of his labor is seen in well tilled fields, which annually bring forth golden harvests. Mr. and Mrs. Brockhaus have become the parents of a son, Gerard, who was born April 22, 1914.
In religious faith the parents are Catholics and Mr. Brockhaus belongs also to the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He votes with the democratic party and is loyal in support of its principles. Official preferment has no attraction for him as he desires rather to concentrate his energies upon the man- agement of a growing business, and already he has attained a reputation as one of the leading merchants of his town.
ALBERT KURTH.
Albert Kurth is one of the representative young business men of Duncan, where he is connected with commercial pursuits as a member of the Duncan Mercantile Company. He was born March 18, 1883, in Duncan, a son of Adolph and Mary Korth, natives of Switzerland. The father was a tinner by trade and after crossing the Atlantic to America made his way to Nebraska in 1876. He found only a few settlers in Butler township, Platte county, and became identified with the pioneer development of the district. He assisted in building the branch railroad which was extended to this county and took part in promoting other pioneer projects. He settled first on the Loup, where he secured a homestead claim and began farming, but the drouth and the grasshoppers took all of his crops in the early years. The first winter all that the family had to eat was corn and they used roasted wheat as a substitute for coffee. The father followed his trade in Duncan for a time in order to provide funds to meet the wants of his family. In his later years he was in ill health and he passed away in Duncan in 1890, when but forty-five years of age. He was a member of the German Reformed church and his life measured up to high standards. His widow survives and is living in Duncan at the age of sixty-five years.
Albert Kurth acquired his education in the public schools of Platte county. At ten years of age he began herding cattle for Lewis Jones, of Butler township, for which he received one dollar per week. The next year he acted as cook for his brothers, going to Scribner, Nebraska, and for two years he worked as a farm hand at six dollars per month. He then returned to Duncan and for four years was in the employ of Herman Ernst. In the meantime his mother had removed to Colum- bus, where he joined her, and in that city secured employment in a brick yard. He also drove a dairy wagon in Portland, Oregon, for six months, but after a brief period spent in the northwest returned to Nebraska, where he became connected with farming interests. He also worked in a livery barn at Columbus for three years, was employed to drive a delivery wagon and also worked in stores at Columbus for five years. In the meantime he had carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own account. He then removed to Duncan and organized the Duncan Mercantile Company in April, 1910. He now has a very complete stock of general merchandise
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