USA > Nebraska > Platte County > Past and present of Platte County, Nebraska : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 8
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Wensel J. Trojan attended the district and public schools of Colfax county, and the Fremont Normal College at Fremont, Nebraska, after which he entered
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upon his business carcer as bookkeeper in the First National Bank at Leigh, where he remained for nine months. He then opened a bank of his own at Royal, Nebraska, which he called the Royal State Bank and which he conducted for two years. He then sold out, returned home and operated a farm for two years but at the end of that time rented the land, although he still owns two hundred acres there, from which he obtains a good annual income. Removing to Tarnov, he became financially interested in the Bank of Tarnov, which is capitalized for fifteeen thousand dollars and has sixty thousand dollars on deposit. The officers of the institution are: George P. Bissell, president; J. W. Hutchison, vice president; and Wensel J. Trojan, cashier; and these gentlemen, together with W. J. Panek, con- stitute the board of directors. Mr. Trojan's long experience in the banking business well qualifies him for the duties now devolving upon him and he is a popular cashier, always courteous to the patrons of the bank and at the same time carefully safeguarding the interests of depositors and of the institution.
Mr. Trojan holds membership in the Catholic church. In politics he is a democrat and has served as overscer of streets, while at the present time he is a member of the town board. He takes an active interest in public affairs and does everything to promote the welfare and upbuilding of the community in which he lives.
HERMAN GEORGE PERSON.
Herman George Person is actively and successfully engaged in business at Columbus as a dealer in agricultural implements and the proprietor of a blacksmith shop. His birth occurred in Leer, Ostfriesland, Germany, on the 9th of May, 1873. his parents being Henry and Marie (Kluever) Person, who were married in that country. The father, born in 1842, was a German soldier during the period of the Franco-Prussian war. In 1893 he emigrated with his family to the United States and took up his abode in Columbus, Nebraska, but at present resides with his wife at Niobrara, Knox county, this state. The ancestry of the family is traced back to Louis de Person, who was a native of France and had a coat of arms but who fled to Germany to escape the religious persecution suffered by the French Hugue- nots.
Herman G. Person acquired his education in the schools of the fatherland and was a young man of twenty years when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. During the first two years of his residence in this country he worked on a farm in Platte county, Nebraska, and subsequently spent a year in a wagon shop at Concordia, Missouri. He then returned to this county and started out as an agriculturist on his own account, here carrying on farming for four years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Columbus and opened a blacksmith shop which he has conducted continuously and successfully to the present time, while since 190+ he has also dealt in agricultural implements, finding this branch of his business a remunerative undertaking. In the conduct of his interests he displays excellent ability and sound judgment which insure his continued and growing prosperity.
In November, 1896, in Columbus, Nebraska, Mr. Person was united in marriage
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to Miss Sophie Klnever, a daughter of Henry Klnever. They have three sons: Henry George, Rudolph and Herbert. Mr. Person gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has fraternal relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church. Both he and his wife are widely and favorably known in Columbus, having won the unqualified confidence and regard of all with whom they have come in contact during the period of their residence here.
WILLIAM FINLEY DODDS.
William Finley Dodds, an honored veteran of the Civil war, is a well known and representative agriculturist residing on section 27, Shell Creek township, and has lived on his present farm for the past twenty years. His birth occurred in Butler county, Pennsylvania, on the 5th of March, 1840, his parents being Joseph and Sarah Ann (Lowry) Dodds, who spent their entire lives in that county. He was reared to manhood on the home farm and attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education, receiving his early instruction in a log schoolhouse. In 1861 he enlisted in defense of the Union as a member of Company D. Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves, serving with that command for sixteen months. At the seven days' siege of Richmond he received a bullet wound in the knee and had a knuckle shot from his right hand while reaching to pick up the rebel flag. He was taken prisoner and was incarcerated in Libby prison for three months, at the end of which time he was sent home on account of disability. His brother Mathew died in the service of the Union and another brother, John R., also followed the stars and stripes on southern battlefields. The latter lived to come home.
After returning from the war Mr. Dodds turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and successfully followed farming in Pennsylvania until 1880, when he came to Platte county, Nebraska, arriving here on the 18th day of March. Herc he has been engaged in farming continuously to the present time, now owning a forty-acre tract of land near Columbus, while for the past twenty years he has lived on his present farm in Shell Creek township, which he operates as a renter in association with his sons. He carries on the work of the fields in accordance with the most modern and practical methods of agriculture and annually gathers rich harvests.
On the 30th of January, 1865, Mr. Dodds was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Jane Shannon, who was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1842. To them have been born nine children, as follows: Olive, who is the wife of John Cooper, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania; Joseph, who wedded Miss Lena Phillips and lives in Cambridge, Nebraska; Roy, who married Miss Lillian Bartmess and makes his home in Portland, Oregon; John L .; William; Flora Birde, who is engaged in teaching; Anna Marie; Elizabeth May; and Grace Shannon, a trained nurse in Omaha.
Mr. Dodds gives his political allegiance to the democracy and for nine years has served as assessor of Shell Creek township, making a most creditable record in that capacity. He and his wife were formerly members of the United Presby- terian church and now attend the Presbyterian church in their home locality.
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They have lived in Platte county for thirty-five years and enjoy an extensive and favorable acquaintance within its borders. Mr. Dodds has now passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey and his career has ever been such that he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear.
JAMES NOONAN.
When death called James Noonan Platte county lost one of its representative citizens and largest landowners. His life record proved what can be accomplished by determination and intelligently directed energy and constituted an example well worthy of being followed. He worked hard, recognizing the fact that industry is the basis of all honorable success. Born in Ireland in April, 1854, he was a son of James and Bridget (Welch) Noonan, who were also natives of that country and there remained throughout life.
The son spent his youthful days with his parents and the national schools of the country afforded him his educational opportunities. He was ambitious, however, to make the best use of his time and talents and, thinking that the new world offered superior advantages, he came to America in 1871, landing at New York. where he worked for a time in a stone quarry. For four years he continued a resident of that state and then again started westward, making his way to this county, which was still a frontier district, much of the land being yet in posses- sion of the government. He made claim to a homestead in Burrows township, proved up on and secured the title to the place and bent his energies to its development and cultivation. He and his brother Peter engaged in farming together for eighteen years and won recognition as leading agriculturists of the county. As he prospered in his undertakings James Noonan added to his possessions, purchasing more land from time to time until his holdings comprised eleven hundred acres, which his widow now owns. Carefully, systematically and persistently he carried on the farm work, his efforts bringing him substantial success. He was thus busily en- gaged up to the time of his demise, which occurred in July, 1912, after a short illness, when he was sixty-eight years of age. It scemed that he might yet have been spared for further activity and usefulness, for he had become one of the valued and representative farmers of Platte county. His home place was on sec- tion 6, Burrows township, and all of his land was in that township save one hun- dred and sixty acres lying in Joliet township. His son is now cultivating a tract of one hundred and eighty-five acres, while the remainder of the land is rented to others, bringing the family a good annual income.
In July, 1876, Mr. Noonan was married to Miss Nellie Dixon, a daughter of William and Mary (Flynn) Dixon, both of whom were natives of Ireland, in which country Mrs. Noonan was born in April, 1852. Her father followed farming there and never sought a home in the new world, passing away on the Emerald isle in 1901. His wife had died long before, her death occurring in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Noonan became the parents of a son, William James, now thirty-three years of age, who is operating the home place.
Mr. Noonan was a Catholic in his church relations, and he was always an earnest democrat from the time that he became a naturalized Americn citizen. He
JAMES NOONAN
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never regretted his determination to come to the new world, for here he found favorable business conditions and in their improvement worked his way steadily upward, winning a most creditable place among the prosperous farmers and highly respected residents of Platte county.
REV. ERNEST DENNINGER.
Rev. Ernest Denninger, pastor of the German Lutheran church in Bismark township, his home being on section 11, was born in Berlin, Germany, on the 9th of October, 1819, and in the acquirement of an education there attended the common and high schools. He had reached the age of twenty-three years when, in 1872, he came to the United States. Later he pursued a course in Concordia College at St. Louis, Missouri, after which he took up the active work of the ministry, to which he has now devoted forty years of his life, his labors being attended with good results and constituting an important factor in the moral progress of the communities in which he has made his home. His first pastoral service was in Holmes county, Ohio, where he remained for eleven years. He afterward spent a year and a half in Clark county, Wisconsin, and eighteen years in Madison county, Nebraska. He was called to his present charge in Bismark township in 1906 and here has a congregation of sixty voting members. In the intervening period of nine years he has conscientiously and zealously carried on his work with good results, his labors constituting an effective force in shaping moral thought and interests in the community.
In Ohio the Rev. Denninger was married to Miss Barbara Lehner, and they have become the parents of nine children: Theodere, who is living in Battle Creek, Nebraska; Lena, the wife of Frank Scheer, of Madison county, Nebraska; Celia, the wife of Oscar Goeriz, of Wurtemberg, Germany; Sybilla, who is a nurse in Fort Wayne, Indiana; Nellic, the wife of Paul Johannes, of Omaha, Nebraska; Robert, a parochial school teacher in Columbus, Indiana; Hulda, who is with her sister Nellie in Omaha; and Walter and Ella, at home. Rev. and Mrs. Denninger are widely known in Bismark township and their part of the county and the warmest regard is entertained for them by all with whom they have come in contact.
FERDINAND FUCHS.
Ferdinand Fuchs is a prominent farmer and stockman, owner of the Humphrey View Farm on sections 29 and 30, Humphrey township. His carefully tilled fields respond readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon them and he is today ranked with the representative agriculturists of his community. He was born in Austria, October 14, 1857, a son of Matthew and Rosella (Steinbeck) Fuchs. both natives of Austria, where the father learned and followed the trade of cloth weaving. After coming to America, however, he turned his attention to farming, settling in 1867 in Dane county, Wisconsin, where for a time he worked at anything that he could get to do which would yield him an honest living. In 1873 he removed with
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his family to Platte county, Nebraska, taking up his abode in Humphrey township, where he homesteaded on section 28. There he carried on general farming until 1884, when he retired from active business life and removed to Humphrey, enjoying well earned rest throughout his remaining days. He died in 1898, while his widow, now eighty-seven years of age, makes her home with her children.
Ferdinand Fuchs acquired his education in the schools of Germany. He remained upon the home farm with his parents and assisted in the development of the fields until he reached the age of twenty-five years. He then married and began farming on his own account, at which time he located on his father's place on section 28, Humphrey township, devoting four and one-half years to the further development and improvement of that property. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres where he now lives on section 29 and, removing thereto, has since made it his home. He has worked hard, industry and enterprise being numbered among his salient characteristics, and at various times he has added to his holdings until today he owns eleven hundred and twenty acres of well improved land. Some of this he rents, while his sons farm the remainder. Mr. Fuchs is one of the most promi- nent, progressive and successful farmers and stock-raisers of Humphrey township. He displays sound judgment in the management of all of his interests and his plans are at once practical and progressive. He was also one of the organizers of the Farmers Elevator Company of Humphrey and has continuously served on its board of directors. He assisted in drawing up the by-laws for the company and his sagacity and sound judgment have constituted strong elements in its success.
ยท On the 26th of June, 1883, Mr. Fuchs was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Brockhaus, whose birth occurred April 5, 1863, her parents being G. H. and Annie (Sommers) Brockhaus, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father emi- grated to the United States in 1848, while the mother came later. G. H. Brockhaus located in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was employed as a sailor and fisherman for a time, while subsequently he made his way to Chicago, where he remained a short time, and there worked at the cooper's trade. Later he located on a farm in Wisconsin, but in 1876 came to Platte county, Nebraska, purchased land and located in Grand Prairie township, where he made his home for two years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Humphrey township and bought a farm on which he spent the remainder of his life, passing away on the 16th of January, 1912. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1879.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fuchs have been born twelve children, as follows: John F., whose birth occurred October 20, 1884, and who is a farmer residing on section 27, Humphrey township; Mary, born December 3, 1886; Johanna, whose natal day was January 9, 1889; Joseph, born September 18, 1891; Elizabeth, born August 28, 1893; Rosa, born October 24, 1894; Frank, born December 3, 1896; Henry, born January 4, 1898; George, who was born in April, 1899, and passed away on the 23d of August following; Odelia, born August 24, 1900; Anton, born February 23, 1903; and Alice, born June 21, 1904.
Mr. Fuchs and his family are all members of St. Francis Catholic church of Humphrey, in which he has served as a trustee, and he is also a member of the St. Joseph's Men's Society of that church. His political allegiance is given the demo- cratic party where national issues are involved, but when occasion demands he votes for the candidate whom he regards as best qualified for office irrespective of party lines. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, have
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frequently called him to office and he is now serving for the third year as assessor of Humphrey township, while for one term he was township treasurer and for six years was a member of the Humphrey school board. To become the owner of eleven hundred and twenty acres of land is a notable and creditable record and Mr. Fuchs deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. His activities have been carefully directed and his persistency of purpose, reliable methods and inde- fatigable enterprise have brought him to a creditable position among the business men of the county.
THEODORE K. MATZEN.
Theodore K. Matzen is a retired farmer living in Columbus. For many years he was actively identified with the work of the fields and his industry and the intelligent direction of his labor brought to him a substantial measure of success that now permits him to enjoy the good things of life without further recourse to active work. He was born at Middelfart, Denmark, May 28, 1835, and is a son of Christian and Hannah (Lund) Matzen. The father devoted his early life to the drug business and afterward engaged in conducting a hotel.
In the family were eleven children, of whom Theodore K. was the fourth in order of birth. Hc acquired a common-school education and entered the workaday world as cabin boy on a sailing vessel when but thirteen and one-half years of age. Later he was employed as cook and during the war of 1848-9, between Denmark and Germany, the vessel on which he worked carried the wounded. He afterward went to Apenrade, Schleswig, Germany, where he spent three and one-half years in learning the shipbuilding trade, becoming quite expert as a ship carpenter. He then again sailed on the high seas, taking passage on a Danish vessel at Antwerp on which he went by way of Liverpool to South America, carrying a general cargo. From South America the ship sailed to Hongkong and at that place was chartered by a Chinese firm for a period of three years, after which the first trip made was to Rotterdam with a cargo of tea. On that trip the ship lost its chief mate and Mr. Matzen was advanced to the position of second mate, which rank he held until 1863. Through the succeeding two years he was employed in a shipyard in Australia and in 1865 he left Sydney for San Francisco. In that city he made his home for three years and for two years sailed on coast steamers plying between San Francisco and Panama and for one year between San Francisco and San Diego.
In 1867 Mr. Matzen took out his first papers of citizenship. The following year was spent in the mines of Montana and in the fall of 1868 he returned to San Francisco, where for two years he was employed on the Central Pacific Railroad in the bridge department. In 1871 he went to Chicago, arriving in that city soon after the great fire in October. He continued to reside there for two years and was employed by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company in the car shops as a carpenter.
It was while residing in that city that he met Miss Bertha Marie Iveson, a native of Denmark, who had been a resident of Chicago from 1869. They were married in June, 1872, and in April the next year removed to Platte county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead of eighty acres. Later Mr. Matzen secured
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several additional eighty-acre tracts of railroad land until his holdings comprised a half section. He passed through the grasshopper plague and through the drought, the crops being an entire failure for several years, but with unfaltering courage he persevered in his course and his labors were at length rewarded. In addition to tilling the soil in the cultivation of various cereals he engaged in raising Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and made of his farm a valuable and productive property. As the years passed on he gained a very substantial measure of success and with a handsome competence was able to retire.
Mr. and Mrs. Matzen are the parents of nine children, as follows: Niels, who wedded Miss Carrie Friend and is engaged in the practice of dentistry in California ; Chris, who married Miss Laura Carstenson and is a farmer residing at St. Edward, Nebraska; Mamie, a nurse of Columbus who obtained her professional training in Omaha; Emma, who is a graduate of the Illinois Training School and is now a trained nurse living in Chicago; Estelle, a trained nurse of Columbus who prepared for her work in Omaha; Walter M., who follows farming in Columbus township; Elise, at home; and two who are deceased.
In politics Mr. Matzen has always been independent, yet has not been remiss in the duties of citizenship and has been active in furthering many movements for the general good. For many years he served on the school board and in 1899 helped to build the Danish Lutheran church in his township. In the fall of 1908 he removed to Columbus, where he is now residing, spending his days in the enjoyment of well earned rest. In 1913, when seventy-eight years of age, he returned on a trip to his old home in Denmark, spending three months in visiting the friends and scenes of his youth and early manhood. He greatly enjoys fishing and now has leisure to indulge his liking for that sport. He has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey and is one of the venerable citizens of Columbus, but in spirit and interests seems much younger, and young people as well as those of more mature years find him most companionable.
GLENN H. FRITZ. D. D. S.
Dr. Glenn H. Fritz, engaged in the practice of dental surgery in Humphrey, in which connection his conscientious and efficient work is winning him a well estab- lished and enviable reputation, was born in Garnavillo, Iowa, on the 3d of August, 1891, a son of H. W. and Matilda (Maurer) Fritz. The father was a native of Mercer county, Ohio, and was of German descent. When a boy, in 1860, he accompanied his parents to Iowa, the family home being established upon a farm in that state. His father, Daniel Fritz, was a bricklayer by trade, but at the time of the Civil war business interests were put aside and he responded to the country's call for troops, serving with distinction throughout the period of hostilities. At the close of the war he returned home and resumed work at his trade. In his youthful days H. W. Fritz learned the brick and stone mason's trade with his father and followed that pursuit until he reached the age of twenty-eight years, when he turned his attention to farming, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land which he capably and successfully cultivated until 1900. He then abandoned the work of the fields and devoted his entire time to the practice of veterinary
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surgery, which he is now following in Garnavillo, Iowa. His wife is also a native of Mercer county, Ohio, and in the town where they reside they are widely and favorably known.
At the usual age Dr. Fritz became a pupil in the public schools of Garnavillo and passed through consecutive grades until graduated from the high school with the class of 1908. He then entered the dental department of Creighton University at Omaha in the fall of 1910 and was graduated with honors in the class of 1913, at which time the D. D. S. degree was conferred upon him. In June of that year he came to Humphrey, where he opened an office and began practice. He has since followed his profession and a liberal patronage has been accorded him, for the public recognized that he was acquainted with the most modern scientific methods of dental work, that his office is well equipped and that he is capable of doing the mose delicate duties of dental surgery.
Dr. Fritz became a member of the Masonic lodge of Garnavillo and is a worthy exemplar of the craft. In politics he is a democrat where national issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot, regarding the capability of a candidate rather than his party affiliation. The Doctor is a young man possessed of laudable ambition and firm purpose and his friends feel no hesitancy in predicting for him a successful future.
JOHN C. BYRNES.
John C. Byrnes is active in the field of real estate in Columbus. He is engaged in business as partner in the firm of Regan & Byrnes, a firm which has enjoyed continuous and prosperous existence for six years. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, January 16, 1867. His father, Laurence Byrnes, was a native of County Wicklow, Ireland, and in the year 1831 came to the United States with his parents, being then twelve years of age. In St. Louis he was married to Miss Bridget O'Connor, who now resides in Columbus, Nebraska. Mr. Byrnes still makes his home in St. Louis.
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