USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 61
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and is at the head of a growing business, which was originally conducted as a partner- ship under the style of Schram & Kurth, but after a year he purchased his partner's interest and the business is now incorporated under the name of the Duncan Mer- cantile Company with Mr. Kurth as general manager, secretary and treasurer. He has built up a large trade and his success is well merited, for in his business career he has ever been industrious, energetic and honest.
On the 1st of June, 1910, Mr. Kurth was united in marriage to Miss Estella Welch, a daughter of Henry Welch, and they have two children, Mary and Leonard. Mr. Kurth holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America at Columbus, with the Sons of Herman and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. While in Columbus he served for seven years as a member of the fire department and was foreman of Hose Company No. 2. He was active in organizing the town of Duncan and has served as a member of its council. He is always interested in everything pertaining to the general welfare and as a member of the German Reformed church contributes to the moral progress of the community. In fact, he cooperates in all measures rela- tive to the public good and his influence is always on the side of right and progress. At a time when most boys were having the privilege of attending school he was earn- ing his own living and his entire life has been one of unfaltering industry, his per- sistent, earnest labor bringing the success which is now his.
A. O. PEARSON.
Farming interests of Oconee township find a worthy representative in A. O. Pearson, who is devoting his time and energies to the further development and im- provement of his farm of two hundred and eleven acres situated on section 17. He is a representative of that substantial class of citizens that Sweden has furnished to this county, for he was born in the northern part of Sweden, July 29, 1867, and in that country remained until he reached his fifteenth year, coming with his parents to the United States in 1882. He had acquired a common-school education in his native land and experience has since brought to him broad knowledge, particularly along the line which he has chosen as a life work. For some time after coming to America he aided his father in farming. but, desirous of starting in business for him- self, he purchased his present place and has since bent his energies to its cultivation and improvement. The farm presents an attractive appearance, for upon it is a nice residence and large and substantial barns and outbuildings. He has prospered in his undertakings, for his work is carefully managed and directed and unfaltering industry actuates him in all of his business pursuits. He raises fine Hereford cattle in addition to general farming and his fields bring forth rich crops because of the care and cultivation which he bestows upon them. His work is conducted according to modern scientific methods and his place is thoroughly pleasing and attractive in appearance.
On the 24th of December, 1903, Mr. Pearson was married to Miss Florence Mitchell, a daughter of Lee Mitchell, of North Carolina, and to them have been born the following named: Edward, Anton, Sarah, Ura, Lec. George, Homer, Leonard and Oakley, all of whom are at home.
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Mr. Pearson exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party and has filled the office of road supervisor. He has also been a school director and the cause of education finds in him an earnest champion. In fact, he stands for advancement and improvement along all lines relating to the general welfare and his cooperation can be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the public good.
LYTTON FRANKLIN.
Lytton Franklin is the proprietor of a general mercantile store at Monroe, and his long experience makes it possible for him to know the wishes and desires of the publie. His business measures up to high standards of commercial ethics, and his success is the merited reward of close application and honorable dealing. Iowa claims Mr. Franklin as a native son, his birth having occurred in Adams county, September 30, 1876, his parents being Levi W. and Elizabeth Franklin. The father, a native of Ohio, was born in Ashtabula county in 1834. His father, Harry Franklin, being a shoemaker, he learned and Followed this trade, working at it most of the time. When a young man he went with his parents to Crawford county, Indiana, and was married to Elizabeth Hardin in 1858. He enlisted in the army August 14, 1862, with Company G, Sixty-sixth Indiana Regiment. He was taken prisoner at Lexington, Kentucky. He participated in battles at Columbus, South Carolina, at Corinth, at Rome, Georgia, and marched with Sherman to the sea. He was discharged from service June 3, 1865, at Washington, D. C. In 1873 he and his wife removed to Carbon, Iowa, traveling in wagons drawn by ox teams, and there began farming. He also worked in the coal mines at that place. Mrs. Franklin was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Meridith Hardin, natives of Virginia and Tennessee, who came to Indiana and were engaged in farming. She was born in Crawford county, Indiana, September 12, 1813, and was one of a family of five. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin were the parents of three sons and two daughters, Alonzo, Clinton, Lytton. Alice and Zella. Death called Mr. Franklin in 1912, when he had reached the venerable age of almost eighty years. He belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic and was a very active champion of the republican party but had no political aspirations. He lived a Christian life, was a total abstainer, never used an oath, and because of his many sterling traits of heart and mind enjoyed in full measure the respect of his friends and neighbors. His widow survives and is now living in Carbon.
Lytton Franklin, the fourth in order of birth, attended the Carbon schools, also the Corning Academy, and in 1898 graduated from the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Iowa. He made a start in the workaday world by securing employment in a store in Carbon, at ten dollars per month. It was by means of his labors that he was enabled to make his way through the advanced schools which he attended. After his graduation he again worked in a general store, and after a few years bought a small establishment, consisting of groceries and meats, in the town where he was raised, and received the appointment as postmaster there. Later he went to Corning, lowa, and was employed as shoe salesman in A. B. Turner's store. The year 1906 witnessed his arrival in Monroe, Nebraska, where he became one of the
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successors to the business of J. E. Dack & Company, under the firm name of Coulter & Franklin. A year later they dissolved partnership and he conducted the business under the style of L. Franklin. He has a good clean stock of general merchandise, and the appointments of his store are attractive. He makes it his purpose to please his patrons in every possible way and in his dealing never deviates from high standards of business integrity.
In 1906 Mr. Franklin was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Stokes, of Corning, Iowa, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Stokes. Mr. Stokes was born in Putnam county, Indiana, in 1832, and came to Iowa in 1880. In 1881 he was united in marriage to Miss Luella V. Morris, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Morris, of Brooks, Iowa, who were among the early settlers of Adams county. Before her marriage she was engaged in teaching school. Mr. and Mrs. Stokes owned land and were engaged in farming in Adams county until 1906, when they moved to Corning to secure better school advantages. After moving to Corning he worked at the carpenter trade until 1909, since which time he has been employed as rural mail. carrier. He is still active in public affairs and is now one of the well known and highly respected residents of Corning. He has been identified with the Masonic lodge since 1874. He also belongs to the Methodist church, which indicates the high principles that govern him in his relations of life. Mrs. Franklin, the first child, was born in 1883, near Brooks, Iowa. She attended the country school and at the age of seventeen began teaching. She later attended the Corning Academy. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin have become the parents of two children, Elizabeth Lovella and Thomas Lytton.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Franklin is an Odd Fellow, holding membership with Mystic Lodge, No. 321, and also with the canton and the Rebekah degrees. He aided in organizing Mystic Lodge, No. 321, of which he became a charter member, was the first secretary, and has held all of the other offices. He also belongs to the Masonic lodge of Corning. In politics he is a standpat republican, believing firmly in the principles and policy of the party, from which he has never deviated. For eight years he filled the office of village clerk, and at all times he has been regarded . as one of the progressive and valuable residents of Monroe. Of the Methodist church Mr. and Mrs. Franklin are active members, and he is one of its trustees. While he has made steady advancement in business, he has never allowed material things to so monopolize his time that it would be impossible for him to participate in public affairs or in church work. In a word, he has recognized his duties and obligations in every relation and has done much to advance the best interests of his community.
DENIS REGAN.
Denis Regan, a well known and highly respected farmer of Shell Creek township, living on section 4, was born in County Kerry, Ircland, on the 8th of September, 1836. He has therefore passed the seventy-ninth milestone on life's journey, being one of the venerable residents of his district. His parents, Richard and Nora (Con- land) Regan, were farming people of Ireland and there Denis Regan was reared, acquiring a good education in the public schools. The school session continued
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through the summer as well as the winter months, with a half-day holiday on Satur- day. Mr. Regan continued his residence in his native country until he reached the age of twenty years, when in 1856, attracted by the business opportunities which he heard existed in the new world, he came to the United States and made his way to Bureau county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for fourteen years. In 1871 he arrived in Nebraska and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres on section 4, Shell Creek township, which he still owns, the place being called the Bushmount Farm. He has devoted his attention to the further development and improvement of the property as the years have gone by and has raised stock for the market, thereby adding materially to his annual income. He has fenced and cross fenced his place, thus dividing it into fields of convenient size, and there are good buildings upon his land. In fact, all the equipments and accessories of the model farm are there to be found and the owner has ever been regarded as a man of energy and enterprise.
Mr. Regan married Miss Margaret Halland, whose birth occurred in County Cork, Ireland, March 3, 1839, and who passed away on the 3d of March, 1911. To them were born nine children, eight of whom survive, as follows: Richard, who has represented his county in the state legislature during three terms; Daniel, at home; Thomas, living in Joliet township; John, who is a resident of Adel, Iowa; Mary, who makes her home in St. Edward, Nebraska; Margaret ; Patrick ; and Jessie, at home.
In his political views Mr. Regan has always been a democrat since becoming a naturalized American citizen, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. However, he was one of the first directors in his school district and filled that position for twenty-four years. In religious faith he is a Catholic, holding membership in the church at Platte Center. His life has been one of industry and perseverance and his diligence and determination have enabled him to work his way steadily upward, bringing to him a substantial competence that supplies him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
RICHARD S. DICKINSON.
Richard S. Dickinson, who has been a resident of Platte county for nearly a third of a century, is widely recognized as one of its leading and influential citizens and has twice served as mayor of Columbus. He is the vice president of the Journal Company, but now devotes his attention merely to the supervision of his investments. His birth occurred in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 2d of June, 1859, his parents being Ebenezer D. and Helen (Heffernan) Dickinson, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Ireland. Their marriage was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri. Ebenezer D. Dickinson passed away in Chicago in 1867, while the demise of his wife occurred in Kankakee, Illinois, in 1880. Richard S. Dickinson, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts.
Richard S. Dickinson was graduated from the Massachusetts Agricultural Col- lege at Amherst in 1879 and four years later came to Platte county, Nebraska, here successfully carrying on farming for fifteen years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Columbus, where he has remained continuously to the present time. He is no longer actively identified with business interests, however, giving his
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attention only to the supervision of his investments, which include farm property and other holdings.
On the 25th of February, 1885, in Columbus, Nebraska, Mr. Dickinson was united in marriage to Miss Leona M. Holden, her father being Oscar Holden, a native of Vermont. Their children are three in number, namely: Oscar Dwight, Robert Smith and Elton Gilbert.
Mr. Dickinson is a republican in politics and has twice served as mayor of Colum- bus, giving to the city most beneficial, businesslike and progressive administrations. He likewise served as president of the Columbus Commercial Club for one term and in that capacity promoted the material interests of the city in marked degrce. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church and he is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity. His public-spirited devotion to the general good is manifest in many ways, including a loyal support of all the projects and measures which are undertaken for the upbuilding and welfare of his city and county.
CHARLES POTTER.
Charles Potter has spent practically his entire life in Platte county, although a native of Illinois, his birth having there occurred-in Kane county-on the 4th of July, 1870. He is a son of John Potter, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work, and he was only eight years of age when the family left Illinois and came to Nebraska, taking up their abode on section 29, Lost Creek township, Platte county. As his age and strength increased Charles Potter aided more and more largely in the work of the fields upon the home place and through the winter seasons he attended the public schools, thus acquiring a fair education. He continued to assist his father upon the home farm until 1892, when at the age of twenty-two years he started out in business on his own account, but made no change in his occupation, for he found farming congenial and hoped to make it a profitable pursuit for himself. He began on sections 32 and 33, Lost Creek township, where he has four hundred and eighty acres of rich and valuable land, his home being on section 33. He is today one of the most extensive agriculturists of his township and also one of the most progressive. In his farm work he uses all modern implements and machinery, including a tractor engine, and he employs the most advanced methods that science advocates in the care and cultivation of his land. He has erected new buildings upon his farm and everything is kept in excellent condition. There is no indication of slack methods in his work. Everything is done at the proper time and in the proper way and energy and determination have carried him far on the road to prosperity.
Mr. Potter is now local agent for the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Lincoln and since accepting the position has largely increased the business of that concern. He is a man of marked ability, forceful and resourceful, and his efforts have won success along all the various lines to which he has turned his attention. He is now a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Monroe, of which he is serving as a director, is the vice president of the Monroe Coal Company and is also financially interested in the Monroe Independent Telephone Company.
In 1893 Mr. Potter was united in marriage to Miss Lena Talbitzer, her father being Charles W. Talbitzer, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this
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work. She passed away in October, 1909, leaving four children, namely: Ralph, Paul, Edna and Harold. Several years later Mr. Potter wedded Margaret Dirsch, of Madison county, Nebraska.
In his political views Mr. Potter is a demoerat, but has never been an aspirant for office nor sought other reward for party fealty. He has, however, served as sehool director for four years and the eause of education finds in liim a stalwart champion. Fraternally he is connected with the local organizations of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America at Monroe. He keeps thoroughly in touch with the topics of the times, is ever ready to support his position by intelligent argument and is always willing to forward movements for the interests of Platte county and especially to advance better farming conditions and qualifications. On his banner is emblazoned the word onward, and realizing that industry is the basis of all honorable success, he has made industry the beacon light of his life.
GEORGE BERNEY.
One is apt to consider the pioneer period of Platte county as covering the decade between 1870 and 1880. Long years before that time, however, George Berney arrived in this county and through the intervening period until his death was elosely associated with business affairs and public interests which have left their impress upon the material and political upbuilding of the county and its development in many ways. He arrived in Columbus in 1857, when the site of the now populous and prosperous city was marked by only a log cabin or two. His life was in many respeets eventful and covered a wide range of experiences-experiences from which he learned many valuable life lessons. A native of the land of the Alps, he was born in Volz, Canton Grisons, Switzerland, January 30, 1832, his parents being Anton and Ursula (Furger) Berney, and was but six years of age when his mother died. Three years later his father married again, and on that account he left home to provide for his own support, and for two years he was employed at herding eattle in Lindau, Germany. He then went to Milan, Italy, where he made his home with an uncle, who was proprietor of a hotel, assisting there in work connected with the hotel. He became actively interested in the revolution of 1848, was made a prisoner by the Austrians and nearly lost his life in the blowing up of an armory. Finally he escaped and eventually made his way to his old home in Switzerland, where he arrived in 1853.
Mr. Berney had studied European conditions, and with his love of liberty, resolved to seek "the land of the free and the home of the brave." It was in the fall of 1854 that he consummated his plans for coming to the new world and in the spring of 1855, then twenty-three years of age, he was at work in the lumber woods of northern Wisconsin, meeting the hardships incident to eutting timber in that region. He afterward went to New Orleans, where he seeured employment on a steamer plying between that city and Mobile. In 1856, at St. Louis, he learned that sixty men were wanted to drive cattle and teams to California from western Kansas and made inquiries concerning this, paying one dollar of his hard-earned money for the information. On reaching western Kansas he found that his informant had merely
ROSA HENGELLER BERNEY
GEORGE BERNEY
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swindled him out of his money and in May, 1856, he made his way northward to Omaha, from which date he was numbered among Nebraska's substantial residents.
From his boyhood Mr. Berney had known nothing but hard work and his charac- teristic spirit of industry at once caused him to seek employment in Omaha, which he found with John H. Green, a stonemason. In the fall of that year his employer sent him, in company with Fred Gottschalk and Fred Becker, to Columbus with two yoke of oxen to cut logs for a new sawmill which had just been started, but when within three miles of Fremont the oxen became stuck in the snow. Mr. Berney volunteered to remain with the teams while the other two men should proceed to Fremont, then a hamlet of three log huts, and secure aid. The storm became a blinding blizzard and Mr. Berney nearly perished before rescue reached him. The next day the little party had to return to Omaha, unable to continue on their westward way through the snow.
In March, 1857, Mr. Berncy traveled on foot from Omaha to Columbus, carrying all of his provisions in his camp kit. When he reached Shell creek he suffered from snow blindness but continued along, walking waist-deep in snow, attempting to reach the cabins of his friends, Charles Reinke and Henry Lusche, who had preempted claims along the creek a few months before. Because of the condition of his eyes he passed their shanties and would have been lost had not Reinke seen him and gone after him. Mr. Berney secured a squatter's elaim about two miles from the home of his friend and eight miles northeast of Columbus and walked back and forth to Bellevue for supplies. His life continued to be one of indefatigable and unfaltering industry and during the pioneer period he suffered great hardships, at times amount- ing to extreme privations. In the early days he took a contract to dig a deep ditch two miles long to serve in lieu of a fence for the cattle. He was busy at the work for a year and during that period lived almost entirely upon erude cornmeal and water. In 1860 he sold his claim for one hundred and fifty dollars, bought an ox team and started for Colorado. About thirty-five miles from Denver on the Platte river he engaged in raising hay, which he hauled to Denver, selling it to the government for the cavalry horses at the post, receiving as high as two hundred dollars per ton. He thus gained a good profit, but hauling hay at that time was a most difficult under- taking, for he had to ford streams, sleep under the wagon in the snow and cat frozen bread. Again disaster overtook him, for a flood swept down the Platte valley. burying his hay lands in two feet of sand and thus terminating the business which had been yielding him a good financial reward.
Mr. Berney then turned to freighting between Omaha and Denver, engaging in that business for a year. On one of his trips from Omaha, reaching Fort Kearney he was stopped by the soldiers on account of the Indians, as they had destroyed and killed everything for abont two hundred miles west of them. He was obliged to stay there about seven days; by this time about five hundred teams had gathered. They then made their way through in trains, camping at night about fifty teams together. When reaching Denver he got twenty dollars a saek for his flour, which cost him three dollars and fifty cents in Omaha-a very handsome profit, but freighting on the frontier among bands of hostile Indians is certainly an experience that the young man of today would think he could not endure. Pioneers were born not made.
After this he again came to Nebraska, traveling by stage in the spring of 1865. Making his way to Columbus, he married and then took up his abode on a homestead five miles southwest of Columbus, turning his attention to the raising of cattle and hogs, which business he conducted on an extensive scale. He was the first man in Vol 11 30
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Platte county to ship corn-fed cattle to the Chicago market. Some time afterward he sold his original farm and purchased a larger tract of land near the Platte, resid- ing thereon until 1892, when he removed to Columbus to spend his deelining days.
Mr. Berney spoke four languages, German, English, French and Italian. In 1881 he made a trip to his native country, visiting Franee, Switzerland, Italy and the principal towns in those countries. In 1889 he again made a trip to those coun- tries seeing the World's Fair at Paris, in company with Robert Kummer and John Gisin. In 1908 he made the third trip to Switzerland, remaining one year.
Mr. Berney was married February 27, 1865, to Miss Rosa Hengeller who was born October 13, 1847, in Unter-Egeri, Canton Zug, Switzerland. She was brought to America by her parents, Franz and Magdalena Hengeller, in 1854, and in 1858 the family eame to Platte eounty and settled nine miles northeast of Columbus, where seven years later she became the wife of George Berney. Her children, with the exception of Joseph Berney, now county assessor of Platte county, preceded her to the great beyond. In 1881 Mrs. Berney was married to Leo Merz in the state of Washington, who died about twenty years ago, after which Mrs. Merz returned to Nebraska and passed away at her home in David City, February 10, 1913, and was laid to rest in the Berney family lot in the Catholic cemetery of Columbus.
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