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 65
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The property of Mr. Bossemeyer includes 160 acres of finely cultivated land, upon which he has effected good improvements, fully in keeping with the enterprise and intelligence which he pos- sesses in no ordinary degree. The farm residence is noticeable for its air of convenience, neatness and comfort, and the barn and other out-buildings are good. There are fruit and shade trees, choice live stock, cattle, horses and swine, and all the other appliances of a well-regulated country estate.
While industriously engaged in the tilling of the soil, our subject has at the same time given due attention to the cultivation of his intellect, being one of the best informed men in Gage County. He chooses a choice and instructive course of reading, is independent in religious thought and convictions, and stands upon that broad and liberal platform characteristic of the school of modern thought. The world of art and nature provides him abun- dant recreation, and he delights in following the
Daniel Freeman
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researches of science. whose course is ever onward and progressive. In his domestic relations he is peculiarly blessed, having a very interesting and intelligent family, composed of a wife and six children, the latter comprising a group of which the parents have reason to be proud.
The marriage of Ernest Bossemeyer and Miss Anna Ackerman was celebrated at the home of the bride, in Sterling, Ill., Dec. 25, 1863. Mrs. B., like her husband, was born in Germany. her early home having been in Hesse-Cassel, where she first opened her eyes to the light Aug. 12, 1846. Her parents were Paul and Christine Ackerman, natives of Germany. The mother has long since been dead, and the father is living in Whiteside County. Ill. Mrs. Bossemeyer came to the United States with her father in 1850, and until her marriage was a resident of Illinois. This union resulted in the birth of eight children, two of whom, John and Clara, died at the ages of nine months and five years respectively. Those surviving are: Eliza- beth, Henry, Frank, Ernest, Harry and Paul; the eldest is twenty-four years of age. Elizabeth is the wife of George Marshall. Amidst the surroundings of such a home as theirs, it is but natural they should grow up possessing all the qualities of good citizen- ship, an honor to their parents and useful members of the community. Mrs. Bossemeyer is a lady of more than ordinary intelligence, the suitable companion in all respects of such a man as her husband. In politics Mr. Bossemeyer supports the principles of the Republican party.
D ANIEL FREEMAN, who is one of the best known citizens of this county, has been a prominent character here since the close of the war, and as a farmer and stock-raiser has accumulated quite a fortune. His home is located on section 26, Blakely Township, the ground being well adapted to general farming and stock-raising, lying as it does along Cub Creek, which supplies it with water, and at the same time furnishes an abun- dance of timber. The farm at present embraces about 1,480 acres of land, 160 acres of which formed the
original homestead. the first one taken in the United States, and which has a history of national interest.
Mr. Freeman was born in Preble County, Ohio, on the 26th of April. 1826, and was of a fine fam- ily, most of the members of which have been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. His father, Samuel Freeman (who died on the 6th of February, in the year 1887, at Abingdon, Knox Co., Ill., at the advanced age of eighty-four years), was born in Vermont in the early part of the present century, and came of a hardy, old New England ancestry. While yet a single man he went to Ohio, where he married after a time a Miss Phoebe Willis, who is a native of that State, and is yet living at her home in Abingdon, at the good old age of eighty-four years, still in possession of her mental faculties, and cheerful and happy as is her natural disposition. In 1835 the parents of our subject had moved to the above-named city, where they were among the early pioneers of Knox County, and for many years prominent citizens and successful farmers, the father being prominent as a politician in behalf of the old Whig and Republican principles for many years.
Our subject is the eldest but one of a family of six sons and one daughter, all his brothers now be- ing deceased, while the sister, who is the eldest of the family, is yet living on a farm near Abingdon, the wife of Walter Richmond. Four of the brothers of our subject died when young and single men, one of them. James H., having served as a private in the 83d Illinois Infantry during the Rebellion, and dying from exposure and sickness at Ft. Donel- son. He was a graduate from Abingdon College, and had a bright future before him. Our subject was not quite ten years old when his father moved from Prehle County, Ohio, to Illinois, and he grew to manhood in the latter State, and about the , time of the war became connected with the interests of the Government, and was sent West and South- west. While thus engaged he traveled over a large portion of the undeveloped Western country, be- coming one of the most familiar characters of this section. He was peculiarly adapted for coming in contact with unruly frontiersmen and the native Indians, nature having endowed him with an un- usually commanding physique, whose nobility was heightened by his military air, and his keen black
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eye seemed to penetrate through hidden things. He has ridden over the wilds of the West acting as a watch against the wary Indians, for weeks at a time, leaving his saddle only to gain refreshment by sleep, and then making it his pillow as he lay on the hard ground. Such has been the character of his experience that he has a wide range of informa- tion and unlimited knowledge of the country in which he took up his permanent residence before the close of the war.
Mr. Freeman has been interested in the promo- tion of the welfare of his county, and while he is a prominent figure in local politics, he is classed among the independent Republicans. He was mar- ried in Illinois to Miss Elizabeth Wilber, who was born in Ohio, and came to Illinois when she was young. She was a true helpmate to her husband, and sympathized with him in his labors until the time of her death, which occurred in Rock Island, Ill., in 1861. She left three children, of whom we have the following record : J. F. makes his home in Des Moines, Iowa; Charles lives in Hoxie, Kan .; Loretta, the wife of Martin Rich, also makes her home in Hoxie. Our subject was a second time married, in Scott County, Iowa, on the 8th of Feb- ruary, 1865, to Miss Agnes Suiter, who was born in Le Claire, that county, on the 16th of Novem- ber, 1843, and is the daughter of John and Eliza (Wright) Suiter, who are natives of Ohio. The father was a rapids pilot on the Mississippi River, and his father was also engaged in a like business. The grandfather of Mrs. Freeman, Philip Suiter, was an early settler in Ohio, where be spent a num- ber of years, and afterward came to this State, mak- ing his home in De Witt, Saline County. There he lived a retired life for some time, and died on the 25th of November, 1884, at the age of eighty-five years. He had been four times married, his last wife surviving him but a short time, she having died since 1884. John Suiter moved to Iowa when the State was in the beginning of its develop- ment, while he was yet a young and single man, and he became engaged as a pilot for boats over the rapids between Le Claire, Davenport and Rock Island, He has since made his home in the first- named city, and having retired from river life, he devotes some attention to farming, his place on the
river now being supplied by his two sons. He is now sixty-six years old, and is living in Le Claire with his wife, whom he married in Iowa.
Mrs. Freeman was reared to womanhood in her native county, entering Abingdon College when she was fourteen years old, and after completing her education she taught school for some time, one term of which labor was spent in this county, she being the first teacher in Blakely Township, and her school taught in a private house. She is the mother of seven children, one of whom, named Daniel, died when he was three years old, and of the remaining six, Samuel, James, John, Frank and Le Claire, are at home; Eliza is the wife of Webster Carre, and resides in Beatrice. Mr. and Mrs. Free- man are highly esteemed as old settlers, and are in- finential and enterprising citizens. The following extract from the Beatrice Daily and Weekly Ex- press describes the manner in which our subject secured his homestead in this county: "One of the events connected with the early settlement of Gage County, which will eventually form a page of na- tional history, is the taking up of the homestead of Daniel Freeman, the first under the Homestead Act. The securing of the first homestead, or the filing of the first application by Mr. Freeman, was more by accident than design. The "Homestead Act" was approved on the 20th of May, 1862, and took effect Jan. 1, 1863. In July, 1862, Mr. Freeman pur- chased a "squatter's right," which be held until the 31st day of December following. The rights of a squatter consisted in his possession of the land by actual settlement thereon, and whatever improve- ments be had made, in this case the improvements being a log cabin, a log stable and a little breaking. The Government land-office was located at Brown- ville, and on December 31 Mr. Freeman went to that place to make an entry and file his application under the homestead laws. At this time he had been regularly enlisted in the United States Army, and was in Nebraska upon special duty. He was under orders to report to headquarters, and was therefore in some haste to file his application, for which purpose he had gone to Brownville. At the hotel where Mr. Freeman put up there was a ball, and upon invitation he joined the party. Balls at that time were not as frequent as now, and places
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large enough to hold a ball in were still scarcer than balls. During the evening's entertainment Mr. Freeman was introduced to a young man who was to be clerk or assistant to the land-office re- ceiver. By this young man Mr. Freeman was in- formed that the next day being New Year's, and consequently a holiday, the office would not be open. Mr. Freeman stated the urgency of his busi- ness, and that he was ordered to report to the army headquarters without delay, and said it would be a great accommodation to him if he could file his ap- plication before leaving for the army. Upon this representation of the state of affairs, the clerk sent for the Register, and at midnight the office was opened, and before 12:05 o'clock on the morning of Jannary 1, Mr. Freeman had made his filing upon the first homestead ever taken under the Homestead Act. Herewith is a verbatim copy of the record, so far as it relates to the homestead in question :
The United States of America to Daniel Freeman. Homestead Certificate No. 1. Application No. 1.
The United States of America, to all whom these presents shall come. Greeting: WHEREAS-There has been deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Brownville, Nebraska, whereby it appears that pursuant to the Act of Congress ap- proved the 20th of May. A. D., 1862, "to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," and the acts supplemental thereto, the claim of Daniel Freeman has been established and duly con- summated in conformity to the law for the south half of the northeast quarter, and the northeast quar- ter of the northwest quarter, and the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter, of seetion twenty- six, in township 4, north of range 5 east, in the dis- triet of lands formerly subject to sale at Brownville (now Beatrice. Neb.), containing one hundred and sixty (160) aeres, according to the official plat of the survey of the said land returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General;
Now Know Ye : That there is therefore granted by the United States unto the said Daniel Freeman the tracts of land above described, to have and to hold the said tracts of land with the appurtenances there- of, unto the said Daniel Freeman and his heirs and assigns forever.
In Testimony Whereof: I, Ulysses S. Grant, Presi- dent of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made Patent and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand at the city of Washington the first day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States. the ninety- fourth.
SEAL.
U. S. GRANT, President. I. BARRETT, Secretary. I. W. GRANGER, Recorder of the General Land Office.
Recorded Volume 1, Page 1.
Filed for record at the office of the County Clerk. January 5th, A. D., 1870, at 4 o'clock P. M .. and recorded in Deed Record "F." at Page 114. Re- corded January 6th, A. D., 1870.
Mrs. W. C. Strohm, of this city, is now painting a large picture of the old homestead, and the new and comfortable mansion in which Mr. Freeman now resides. which will be forwarded to Mrs. John A. Logan, at her request, and placed among her great collection of antiquities and relics. Mr. Free- man has certainly complied with the spirit and let- ter of the law in taking this piece of land, having made it his continuous home ever since his dis- charge from the army. It is located just four miles from this city. A view of it, engraved from a pho- tograph, is presented in this volume. We are the more gratified, however. to present to our readers the portrait of the distinguished owner of this prop- erty. This may be found on an adjoining page.
Mr. Freeman has been prominently identified with the public affairs of this county, having been Sheriff and Coroner of the county, and Justice of the Peace of his township for twelve years, and he justly merits a commeudatory notice in this work.
L AWRENCE SHEEN, who is operating the farm of his father in Grant Township, has been a resident of this county only since the spring of 1887, but has already established him- self as an enterprising and industrious citizen, emi- nently fitted to rank among the members of a
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community more than ordinarily intelligent. He is the youngest son and child of Peter and Melissa (Robinson) Sheen, who are now living retired in Peoria County, Ill., where they settled during its pioneer days. The elder Sheen, it is believed, represents property to the amount of $100,000. He was for a time a resident of this county, and purchased a section of land in Grant Township, of which he still retains ownership.
The father of our subject is a native of Ireland, but crossed the Atlantic with his parents when a mere child, the latter settling in Peoria County. Ill., where Peter was reared to manhood. There also his son, our subject, was born, Nov. 14, 1869. The pa- rental household included fifteen children, and one of the sisters married J. R. Higgins, of Grant Township, this county, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, and in which mention is made more fully of the parents. Mr. Sheen is a young man energetic and capable, takes pride in his farming, and is a general favorite among the people of his community, who during his brief so- journ here have learned to value him at his true worth. He operates 160 acres on section 26.
ON. SOLON M. HAZEN, late a member of the Nebraska Legislature, is now engaged as a general merchant, and also gives a large share of his attention to farming and stock-raising. He is a man of means and promi- nence, and one who has contributed materially to the business and agricultural interests of South- ern Nebraska. His farm lies just outside the cor- poration, on Mud Creek, in Rockford Township, and comprises 160 acres of fertile land, which has been brought to a fine state of cultivation. Within the city also he owns quite a number of unim- proved building lots, which will in due time un- doubtedly realize for him a snug sum of money. He is industrious, energetic and enterprising, just such a man as is needed in the progress and ad- vancement of a growing town.
The subject of this sketch is the son of Suel Hazen, who was a native of Fonda County, Vt., whence he removed early in life to Little Falls,
N. Y. There he completed his education. His father having died when he was but a little lad two years of age, he was taken into the home of his brothers, with whom he lived until fifteen. He then went up into the Black River Country, in the Empire State.
Solon M. Hazen was born in Denmark, N. Y., Ang. 11, 1829, and continued there under the pa- rental roof until reaching manhood. He received a common-school education, and when of suitable years and attainments adopted the profession of a teacher, and thereafter for some years taught and studied alternately until approaching the thirtieth year of his age. Then, desirous of a change of scene and occupation, he migrated across the Mis- sissippi in 1857 to Brown Connty, Kan., where he spent one winter, and whence the following April he came to this county.
Mr. Hazen, upon taking up his abode in Southern Nebraska, found himself among the earliest pio- neers, there being then but a few families. in this region, viz: that of Mr. Marlin, Henry Elliot, three other families, Jacob Toff, the son-in-law of Elliot James, and a Mr. Johnson and family. There were also Rankin Johnson and Pat Geary, who oc- cupied log houses north of the present site of Blue Springs. They had settled upon wild laud, and were doing their best to make a living and culti- vate the soil. Of those early settlers only Mrs. James M. Johnson and our subject are living, be- sides some of the children of the former. Mr. Hazen found a log house on the land he purchased containing three rooms, and occupied his claim until the fall of 1861. Then, returning to Lewis Connty, N. Y., he engaged in teaching until 1867. A few months later he purchased the Journal and Republican at Lowville, which he conducted three years. In 1868 he removed with his family to the West, taking up his abode at Blue Springs, this county, and has since been a resident of this lo- cality.
The marriage of our subject and Miss Prissa A. Vary, of Harrisburg, N. Y., was celebrated at the home of the bride, Dec. 24, 1863. This lady is the daughter of Deacon Willett Vary, and was born Oct. 27, 1837, in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Hazen became the parents of eight children, seven of whom
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are living, viz: Nellie, Anna. Grant and Grace (twins), Bessie, Lulu P. and George. Clarence died when six years old; Nellie, the eldest dangh- ter. is the wife of Omer J. Deland, and Anna the wife of James Shields, both of Blue Springs. The other children are at home with their parents. The family residence is pleasantly located just outside the city, and in all its appointments is indicative of fine taste and ample means.
Mr. Hazen in 1884 was elected to the Nebraska Legislature, on the Republican ticket, and was soon placed on various important committees, in- cluding that of Ways and Means, and Cities and Villages, and was also Chairman of the Peniten- tiary Committee. In this position, as in all others which he has been called on to fill, Mr. Hazen exhibited the same industry and efficiency which have been the most leading traits of his character. Among other good works which have been placed to his credit was the introduction of the bill per- fecting the title to property in the city of Wymore, which he enginecred safely through until it be- came law. He also entered a bill to compel rail- roads to establish depots in towns of 500 population. Eis vote was always recorded on the side of the people and in behalf of their best interests.
Besides his legislative labors Mr. Hazen has held the office of County Commissioner, two years at one time and one year at another time. He was Justice of the Peace at Blue Springs, and incum- bent of the post-office at Blue Springs from 1869 to 1878, there having been very few holding this office previously at this point. He was the second Surveyor of Gage County, and has been one of its mnost industrious and efficient men.
The genealogy of the Hazen family is found to be as follows: Suel Hazen was born at Denniston, Vt., April 25, 1793, and married Betsey Graves, of Copenhagen, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1815. They resided at Denmark, and became the parents of seven chil- dren. Suel, the son of Edward, was born at Gro- ton, Mass., May 21, 1738, and was twice married, first to Sarah Willard, of Lancaster, Jan. 10, 1758. After her death he was united in marriage to Mrs. Bathrick, of Lunenburg. Mr. Hazen resided in Shirley until 1790, then moved to Swansea, and from there, in 1794, to Little Falls, N. Y., where
his death took place in 1796. Samuel lfazen, his father, was born JJuly 20, 1699, and married Sarah Harriman, of Rowley, Oct. 1, 1723. They lived there until 1736, and removed thence to Groton in 1749, when he purchased a farm. Afterward this was annexed to Shirley, forming its entire southern boundary line. The estate remained in the family for five generations. He was Selectman of Sterling in 1753, when the town was organized, and after- ward held the same office several years. Says the Record of Shirley : "Few families pass through four generations like the Hazens, of Shirley, maintaining such a general good character, and sustaining such invariable thrift." His father was the Rev. Edward Hazen, the immediate ancestor of the family who lirst represented it on this side the Atlantic. Ile was born in 1660, and died in 1748. He married Jane Prichard. His father, Edward, was born Sept. 18, 1649, and also came to Rowley.
W ILLIAM TOWNSEND has for a number of years creditably served in the employ- ment of the Government as Postmaster in Hanover Township, the post office having been lo- cated at his residence in 1874. He was one of the appraisers of the land when securing a right of way for the Union Pacific Railroad, and has been prom- inently identified in public affairs in this county since 1870. He was born on the 1st of February, 1829, in Delaware County, N. Y., and is a sou of Moorehouse and Anna (Johnson) Townsend, who were natives of Fairfield County, Conn., and New York State, respectively. The father was a boy nine years old when, in 1812, his family moved from Connecticut to New York, and having all his life lived in close proximity to the great ocean, he grew up with a desire to try his fortune on the water. Ile became a sailor and followed the life of a "jolly tar " until he was about thirty years old, when he quit his roving life and engaged in farming.
The father of our subject resided in his native State until the year 1864, when he went to LaSalle County, Ill., and remained until the time of his coming to Nebraska in 1870. He settled on a farm in Hanover Township, on which he lived for eight
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years, his death occurring in 1878. The mother of our subject is still living, and although she is eighty- three years old she enjoys good health, and is in possession of all her faculties. She makes her home with her children, who are glad to have with them the mother who has done so much for them, and besides our subject they are: Eunice, the wife of Daniel Griffin; Caroline, the wife of William Bar- rett, and Wallace.
Our subject was early initiated into the duties of farm life, of which he was expected to assume his share, and he received his education from the com- mon schools under some disadvantages, the greatest of which was the distance which he was compelled to walk in order to reach the school-house. The nearest school was held at a distance of four miles from his home. in order to reach which he had to cross a mountain. We can imagine that the jour- ney to and fro was not altogether devoid of pleas- ure, since our subject had presented to him the varied beautiful scenery of a mountainous country, and inhaled the fresh, invigorating air.
On the 24th of November, 1851, our subject was married in Bradford County, Pa., to Miss Mary Denton, who was a native of Delaware County, N. Y., and in about the year 1850 had removed with her parents to the first-named State, whither our subject went to claim her as his wife. Our subject sold his property for $5,500, and invested the amount of $5,000 in land in Connecticut, whither he went in 1864, to Fairfield County. He subse- quently found that other parties had a life lease on the same land, and he was obliged to vacate it, but still holds the deed, and will come into possession of the land upon the death of the present occupants. In 1866 he went to Illinois and rented some land in LaSalle County, and while living there his house was destroyed by fire. He concluded to go further West, and thus came to Nebraska, and purchased 160 acres of raw prairie land at $7 per acre, and has added to that amount until now he is the owner of 320 acres of land devoted to farming and stock- raising.
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