USA > Nebraska > Gage County > Portrait and biographical album of Gage County, Nebraska : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 34
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Of German birth and parentage, our subject first opened his eyes in the Province of Wittenberg, July 17, 1833. His parents, Leonard and Mary N. (Munch) Grund, were natives of the same. where
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the father carried on farming, and was accidentally killed by the fall of a tree in 1842, at the age of forty-two years. The mother also spent her entire life upon her native soil, and died in 1856, when fifty-eight years old. Their family included two children only, of whom Frederick, our subject, was the younger. His sister, Mary Magdalene, is now in Nebraska. Mr. Grund, in common with the majority of the children of Germany, was placed in school at an early age, and pursued his studies quite steadily for a period of eight years, until he was fourteen. He was a little lad of nine years at the time of his father's death, and continued with his widowed mother until a youth of twenty. The mother then rented their little homestead, and Frederick started out for himself, determined to make his way to the New World. Embarking at Havre, France, on a sailing-vessel bound for Amer- ica, Oct. 14, 1854, he landed in New York City, November 20, and proceeded to the town of Marietta, Susquehanna Co., Pa., where for a brief time he employed himself at whatever he could find to do.
From Marietta young Grund went to Harris- burg, where he was employed in farming and dairy- ing at 84 per month. His first employer took advantage of his inexperience, and sought to make the most of it, but the young man soon found out his game, and left him for a more humane task- master, who paid him $10. He was soon afterward taken down with chills and fever, which greatly crippled him financially, and was the cause of much discouragement, but he finally rallied both in mind and body, and worked two years longer in the Key- stone State, and until a recurrence of his old trou- bles led him to seek a change of climate, when he migrated to Chicago, Ill.
In the Garden City Mr. Grund was employed in a meat market, and continued there until the spring of 1858. He then started for the Territory of Nebraska. He traveled by rail first to St. Louis, Mo., thence up the Missouri River to Leavenworth, Kan., arriving there at the time of the border war when men were shot down in the streets in cold. blood. Six weeks at that point sufficed, and Mr. Grund proceeded on his way to his final destination, taking up his abode finally in Nebraska City, which
then bore little resemblance to its present condition. There he became the employe of Messrs. Russell, Major & Waddell, who had a Government contract for the hauling of provisions to Salt Lake City. Teams were fitted ont, and wagons loaded with harley, oats, corn, sugar, bacon, salt, etc., and our hero in charge of one of them set out with a num- ber of others for the place mentioned. The train consisted of thirty wagons, each wagon drawn by twelve oxen-Texas steers. Upon arriving at Ft. Bridger, in Wyoming. they were obliged to stop on account of the snow, and Mr. Grund returned to Nebraska City, arriving there Jan. 5, 1859. IIe now engaged in a brewery, where he remained for four years following, and in the meantime, with genuine German thrift and prudence, saved a sung little sum of money, which he invested in land in Adams Township, this county, in the year 1862.
The above year, also, Mr. Grund took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Emily A. Goklen, to whom he was married in Nebraska City, March 3, 1862. Mrs. Grund was born in Crawford County. Pa., Dec. 12, 1842, and remained there with her parents until a maiden of seventeen years, when she came to Nebraska City with them. Soon after their marriage our subject and his wife settled upon their land, but a short time later abandoned it for the time on account of Indian troubles, and returned with their cattle to Nebraska City. Mr. Grund, however, was soon enabled to possess his property again, and had the satisfaction of participating in the first Fourth of July celebration in the Nemaha Valley.
The Indian troubles finally terminating, the par- ents of Mrs. Grund came to this section, where they continued until 1863. Our subject, however, again returned to Nebraska City, where he engaged in farming, and remained until the year 1869, then homesteaded his present farm of 160 acres, and here has since remained. He has made some fine improvements, putting up good buildings, plant- ing orchard and shade trees, and otherwise adding to the value and beauty of his property. He has seventy-five fine apple trees in good bearing condi- tion and a quarter of an acre in blackberries, be- sides other fruit for the enjoyment of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Grund are the parents of eight
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children-Catherine R., now deceased; Tillie, Ben- jamin, Anna M., Minnie M., Hiram L., Lnella J. and Bessie. The eldest daughter, Tillie, is the wife of Frank Lyons, and resides in Adams; they have two children-Charles H. and Elsie. Anna M. is the wife of William Blackhart, and a resident of Adams. The other children are at home with their parents. Mr. Grund cast his first Presidential vote for Grant, and is a stanch supporter of Republican principles. He lias been in all respects a worthy representative of one of the best nationalities on the face of the globe, from whence sprung a Martin Luther and numbers of other illustrious men whose names have been handed down to the posterity of both continents, as the names of those whose careers have been worthy of imitation.
OHN G. PAUL. In Sicily Township there are few farms presenting a more perfect picture of successful, thrifty agricultural prosperity and beauty than does the prop- erty of our subject, which issituated on section 16, and ineludes about 160 acres, all of which are highly cultivated. Our subject was born in Janesville, Ohio, July 11, 1842. His educational advantages were very meager. He has, however, recognizing this fact, given careful attention to reading. in order to improvement upon that deficiency.
When onr subject was still an infant, his motber removed to Illinois, and located in Rock Island County. His father, John G. Paul, died in Ohio six months after he was born. The mother of onr subject was Margareta (Churchill) Paul. By her first marriage she had two sons-Adam and our subject. Her second marriage occurred Oct. 8, 1844, when she was united with Adam Vogel, in Rock Island County, Ill. Of this marriage there were three sons, who were named respectively : John, James and Jacob, all of whom are still residents of Illinois.
Our subject was reared and married in Rock Island County as above; his wife was Miss Julia Walter, whom he led to the altar on the 30th of March, 1869, and who has been a faithful and true helpmate through all the succeeding years. The
happiness of their wedded life owes much of its brightness to the presence of the little ones who have been born to them, of whom there are six : John A., born May 2, 1870; Anna, Sept. 28, 1872; Charles, Oct. 20, 1874; Joseph, Feb. 2, 1879; Mary A., Oct. 16, 1881 ; and Rosa, Dec. 11, 1884. Mrs. Paul was born in Germany, on the 25th of October, 1848, and is the daughter of Francis and Cesillia (Bookmiller) Walter. Her father is successfully engaged in farming.
Besides his home farm, our subject has quite ex- tensive property elsewhere, including 320 acres upon section 13 of Elm Township, on which he has 120 acres well cultivated, also 160 acres on section 1, in Sicily Township, and seventy-five acres on section 18 of Blue Spring Township. Upon the property on section 1 there is an excel- lent honse, stable, granary and other buildings. Upon the home farm our subject has erected with his own hands all the necessary farm buildings, also a well-arranged ice honse, work-shop, corn- crib, extensive stabling, and an exceptionally fine barn, but, as is simply to be expected, has devoted far more time and care to his dwelling. These are all well planned, well built, and nicely painted and decorated, although the latter would apply more especially to the house. When it is considered that these various works are the result of his own labor, it is an achievement of which manly pride is justifiable. In addition to the above, the whole farm, with the exception of a small portion of board fence around the yard, is all separated into the various divisions required by a well-kept wire fence, and the whole property is in a most excellent state of repair and finish.
Onr subject has realized in the presence and faithful help of his life companion that this di- vinely instituted relation is the best condition of life. The property that he has been enabled to ac- cumulate would possibly never have been but for this. Without exaggeration it were safe to say that by continned diligence, industry and labor our subject has acquired property to the value of about $22,000, and of this property there was no promise at the death of his father, or the subsequent years of his mother's widowhood. He had already begun the struggle when he received $2,000 from
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his mother's estate, which was afterward supple- mented by an additional $1,000 upon his marriage. This is all the help he received; the remainder is the result of his own exertions, and the inspiring influence of his wife.
Our subject and his wife and family are mem- bers in good standing of the Catholic Church of this place, and among its most devout members. Mr. Paul, although meeting cheerfully all his obli- gations as a citizen, is not prominent in eivie and political matters. He gives his suffrage consistently to the Democratic party. and has for many years been counted as a stanch member of the party.
P RANCIS M. RICKARDS, the well-to-do far- mer and stock-raiser whose property is on section 10 of Riverside Township, was born in Adams County, Ohio, on the 24th of October, 1831. He was reared in his native county, and in its common schools received his education. In 1857 he made his way to Peru, Neb., and remained for two years. The State at that time was very little known, and this city was unknown, and upon its site stood a solitary house.
At the elose of his second year in this State our subject started to return to Ohio, but stopped in Lewis County, Mo., and was there married, on the 26th of November, 1858, to Miss Mahala S. Pollard. After his marriage, accompanied by his wife, he continued his journey to his home. The young couple continued to live in Ohio until October of 1861, our subject engaging in farming, and was re- warded by a good measure of success. In the above month he enlisted in Company F. 70th Ohio In- fantry, and served until the 14th of August, 1865. Hle enlisted as a private, but in September, 1864, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Ilis regiment was attached to the 15th Army Corps, and served under the command of McPherson and Logan. Be- sides a large number of engagements of lesser im- portance, our subject took part in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss, and Mis- sionary Ridge. He received an honorable discharge and returned home without a wound, but with his health impaired by exposure. In his home is found
a highly-prized relic or memento of those stirring times; it is a camp chair, presented to him by Lieut. lleaton, of A. R. Q. M., of the 70th Ohio Regiment.
Returning to Ohio in the fall of 1865, our sub- jeet remained recuperating until the spring of 1866; then he removed to Illinois, in which State he con- tinned to live for some sixteen years. His home was in LaSalle County, near Seneca, and through- ont this lengthy residence he was engaged in farmi- ing, and every year witnessed an increase of pros- perity and success. At the end of that period he removed to this county, locating in 1882 upon the farm on section 10. which is 160 acres in extent. From the time of his settlement he has been con- tinually and industriously employed in its improve- ment. He has moved both house and barn to their present position, has planted a row of trees along the south and east sides of his farm, has set out an orchard of nearly 200 apple and other fruit trees, besides planting a large number of grape vines, etc. His house is most admirably situated amid pleasant surroundings, while its interior is no less happily inviting. Quite a large section of the farm is util- ized for agricultural purposes, chiefly the raising of grain and for stock purposes.
Mr. and Mrs. Rickards are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, of Beatrice, in which faith they are educating their five children. Socially, our subject is connected with the G. A. R. and the A. F. & A. M., at Beatrice. In political matters he is a stalwart Republican, voting for and with the party whose cause he sustained at the front during 1861-65.
E NOS RISHEL. As a whole Nebraska repre- sents one of the most perfect climates of any State in the Union, and from its general topographical features affords the most pleasing variety of scenery; it is not like the proverbial search for a needle in a hale of hay to find a good location for a home spot and rooftree. But among the most pleasant for situation, beautiful in general outline, fertile and productive, is that part of which is included in the property of our subject upon sec- tion 17 of Sherman Township, which is a farm cul-
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tivated in the interest of general grain farming. although some attention is given to stock-raising.
In Schuylkill County, Pa., was born William Rishel, the father of our subject. There he was brought up and began to labor, continuing therein until he was twenty-six years of age. At that time he went to Clinton County, Ind., where he still resides. His chosen occupation through life has been that of a blacksmith, which business be has followed with much ability and considerable finan- cial success. The maiden name of his wife was Lydia Snyder. Their marriage was celebrated in Pennsylvania, and immediately afterward they re- moved to Clinton County, Ind. During her life she enjoyed, with her husband and family, the religions lielp and consolation offered in the Lutheran Church. Her death occurred about the year 1848. Our subject was the second of four children born to his parents, of whom only he and his brother Jolin are living. His brother is a resident of How- ard County, Ind., where he follows the business of a painter.
Enos Rishel, the subject of this writing, entered upon the stage of things mundane in September of 1844, and made his home with his parents until the year 1867. His youth was occupied in laying a broad, solid foundation for his after experience, in the shape of a good, practical education, and from the time of leaving the institution of learning until the above date he was occupied in various occupa- tions. The years from 1869 to 1876 were spent in traveling through the States of Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and back home; away again through Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, back through Ohio to Indiana, down to Missouri and back to Illinois and on to Nebraska. He pur- chased a quarter of section 17, at $1.50 an acre, in May, 1868, before he started on bis journey through the East. His father also purchased the adjoining quarter-section not long after, for which he paid $6.25 per acre, the entire half-seetion now being operated by our subject. He first broke the prai- rie on his farm in 1876, finished forty acres, and then rented it for $1 per acre, In 1879 he built a house, commodious, convenient, and not entirely lacking in points of embellishment. In the mean- time he had been occupied with improving his land;
in the year after his entry he broke an additional forty acres, and rented the same for one-third grain rent, which amounted to $85. The year following (1978) he broke an additional seventy-five aeres, and rented them upon the same agreement, realiz- ing $90. He now superintends the work of the entire farm and takes great pleasure therein. His specialty in stock-raising is large cattle, and in this he has had much success, having made a careful study of the subject and become perfectly familiar with it in its many important practical and neces- sary details.
Not until July, 1883, did our subject forsake the lonely pleasures of bachelordom and seek out a companion and helpmate. Lord Beaconsfield, bet- ter known to the world at large as Benjamin Dis- raeli, upon being twitted in the English Parliament by the opposition, quietly remarked. "All things come to the man who waits. I can wait." This has been the experience of Mr Rishel, and his waiting has proved of more value to him than the haste of some who figure conspicuously, if not pleasantly, though certainly more publicly. On the 10th of the above month he was united in marriage with Sarah Mangus, daughter of William and Catherine (Gerst) Mangus, natives of Virginia. The wife of our subject was born on the 28th of December, 1862, in Roanoke County of that State, and came to Illinois with her parents when five years of age. In 1881 her parents removing to this State, she ac- companied them and here met her husband. Their household is completed by two bright, happy chil- dren, who are increasingly necessary to that home. They have received the names respectively of Mar- tin Luther and Catherine.
Mr. Rishel is not a politician, although he has liis opinion concerning the leading questions of the political economy of America, and usually votes with the Republican party. He endeavors faith- fully to perform every duty and bear every respon- sibility of a true and loyal citizen, but is naturally so constituted as to be numbered among that class of men who believe they can serve the State as well and faithfully in a faithful attendance upon those matters that come to them in the course of business or profession, and by a faithful attendance to the same, and also the faithful discharge of the obliga-
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S. W. Newcom
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tions arising from the family relation, that in the proper training of their children, in the atmosphere of home, pure, bracing and healthful, this may be best accomplished. Consequently our subject is better satisfied to make his home what his ideal teaches him it should be, and upon his farm so la- boring as to supply what may be needed to that end, than by a larger devotion to extraneous mat- ters. He is none the less respected, admired or esteemed because of this course of conduct.
G EORGE W. NEWCOM, the Postmaster at Pickrell, and whose portrait is given on the opposite page, is numbered among the younger and more enterprising men of Holt Town- ship, and is a universal favorite both in social and business circles. Bright, well educated and ener- getic, he has the prospect before him of a useful and honored career, and possesses the elements es- sential to the development of a useful citizen. A native of Scotland County, Mo., he was born Aug. 1, 1852, and when a lad twelve years of age re- moved with his parents to Crawford County, Iowa. where he attended the common school, and con- tinued a member of the parental household until his marriage.
The parents of our subject were Willman T. and Margaretta (Dale) Newcom, natives of Kentucky. Willman Newcom left the Blue Grass region early in life, and going to Missouri finally engaged in farming until his removal to Iowa. IIe is still liv- ing, and a resident of Crawford County, that State. The mother is living with her husband. Their fam- ily consisted of ten children, namely: Mary E., James T .. John D., Samnel, Clara E .. Richard W., George W. (onr subject), Cash W., Louis and Joshma D. All are living, having their homes mostly in Iowa.
Our subject, when twenty-one years of age, led to the altar Miss Sarah M., daughter of Ethan A. and Elizabeth McKim, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in Denison, Iowa, April 7, 1874. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Newcom settled on a farm in Crawford County, Iowa, where they lived until changing their residence to Pick-
rell, this county, where Mr. N. first engaged in the lumber and hardware trade. His farm in Iowa, which he still retains, comprises 211 acres of good land, and is quite valuable. On the 16th of De- cember, 1886, Mr. Newcom disposed of his lumber interests, and now confines himself to his hardware trade, in connection with the duties of the post- office. He was the first incumbent of this office, being appointed by President Cleveland in the spring of 1887. He is a lively Democrat, politi- cally, and, with his estimable wife, a member in good standing of the United Brethren Church. Mrs. Newcom is a lady warmly interested in benevolent work, and is Treasurer of the Ladies' Aid Society, of Pickrell, which was organized in 1887.
To the parents of Mrs. Newcom there were born the following children : Mary E., James, Sarah M., John R. and Eugene. Mr. and Mrs. Newcom have two interesting children : Clifton T., born June 19, 1880, and Marga. Jan. 9, 1887. They occupy a snug home in the southwestern part of the village, and have many friends.
0 SWIN W. HUTCHINSON. In giving to the world the steam engine, George Stephenson gave it that which has revolutionized civili- zation, and affected the whole world. It is at once a most helpful mechanism. a powerful agent, a mighty factor for good, and a terribly dangerous force for destruction and death. Generally speak- ing, the safety line, the frontier of the weal and woe, the helpful and the harmful, is passed when this glorious invention escapes from the controlling mind, the guiding hand of the engineer, who for this reason has come to occupy one of the most im- portant trusts of life and treasure the world has ever known. In the present sketch is presented an ont- line of the life of one of Nebraska's substantial farmers, whose property is situated on section 7 of Sherman Township, and who previously occupied the above position on the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.
The father of our subject, James O. Hutchinson, was ushered into life in Genesee County, N. Y., in 1810, and is still living. By trade he is a saddle
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and harness maker, and enjoyed the reputation of being a most able and honest workman. In the year 1852 he removed from Genesee County to Wisconsin, and settled in Janesville. Eight years later he made his home in Evansville of the same State, and in 1881 he came to Beatrice in this county, where he still resides. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our subject, was Julia A. Weed, a cousin of Thurlow Weed, of national jour- nalistic reputation. This lady was born in 1820. She married her husband in Oneida County, N. Y., when she was twenty years of age. Her husband was one of the old tetotalers, also prominent in the order of the Sons of Temperance, and for many years before the war a firm and thorough Abo- litionist. They are the parents of three children : Our subject; Rosalia, the widow of Martimore Faust, residing in Chicago; and Ada, the wife of C. V. Chase, of Milwaukee, Wis., who occupies the re- sponsible position of business manager for the Benton, Waldo & Co. Type Foundry.
The natal day of our subject was Sept. 19, 1840, and the place of his birth Verona, Oneida Co., N. Y. The first thirteen years of his life were spent at home, and occupied from the time he arrived at a proper age in the tasks and duties of school life, but having attained to that age he commenced to work for Mr. C. B. Kellogg, of Janesville, and for two years was engaged in selling fruit. At the end of that period he began to work for the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Railroad Company, in the capacity of engine cleaner. In this he continued for two years, when he was promoted to the position of fire- man on the same road, and followed the same for three years, when he left that company and engaged with the Milwaukee & St. Panl Railroad as fireman. After a service of one year in this position he was promoted to be locomotive engineer, remaining in that position in the service of five different com- panies until the year 1886, when he left the service, and went out to Wyoming to engage in the prod- uce and commission business at Douglas, remain- ing there for fourteen months, and then returned eastward, and settled in Sherman Township, Gage County.
In 1876 Mr. Hutchinson had been through the country, and had purchased the quarter-section
which is now his home. At that time he built a house, made some improvements, and broke a por- tion of the land. He then left his family upon the place, after having made every provision for their comfort, while he returned to his duty upon his en- gine. For about eight years his salary averaged about $1,100 per annum, and about 75 per cent has been used upon his farm for its im- provement, cultivation, and the thousand and one things daily called for under such circumstances.
Our subject was united in marriage with Frances Maynard, in the year 1859. This lady was a direct descendant of the family of that name who in other days played no unimportant part in the history of Virginia. She was born in Virginia in 1843, and after a wedded life that was practically without a domestic cloud throughout its entire course of eight years, died, at Logansport, Ind., in 1868. She presented her husband with three children, who are still living. They received the following names : Eva May, Dora L. and Oswin S. A second alli- ance was entered into in 1869, by which he became the husband of Marietta Ginger, daughter of James and Emeline (Randall) Ginger, who are descended from a long line of ancestry of Southern families. This most estimable lady was born on the 19th of June, 1850, at Pennville, Jay Co., Ind. Here both her father and mother died, about the years 1861 and 1886. They were the parents of five children, all of whom are living, and whose names are re- corded as follows: Alberta, of New Cumberland, Ind .; Frank M., who is by occupation a printer; Esther R., the wife of David Walters, of Dunkirk, Ind .; Amanda, now Mrs. Charles Ward, also of Dunkirk; and Marietta, the wife of our subject, who has become the mother of two children-James O. and Mortimer C. Eva May Hutchinson is now the wife of Frank Allison, of Colby, Kan .; Oswin S. is still at home; and Dora L., in St. Joseph, Mo.
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