USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska > Part 25
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Levi Snell was bnt three years old when his mother died, and he fell to the care of an aunt for a time until his stepmother took charge of him. In his boyhood he attended school, and assisted in doing the farm work. Inheriting industrious and honest habits, he grew to be a manly. reliable lad, and at the age of sixteen began to make his own way in the world, going at that age to Franklin County, Pa., where he was engaged to work for a man who owned a hotel and a general store, and did a large business. He had charge of the hotel, and did anything else that he was called upon to do. He remained there three years, and then went to Carlisle, Pa., where he entered the employ of Dr. Norton as collector. At the expiration of a year and a half he left the doctor in order to establish
RESIDENCE OF ALBERT EGGER , SEC . 3. BUDA PRECINCT,
RESIDENCE OF FRED. BERRYMAN, SEC. 10. DENTON PRECINCT.
RESIDENCE OF HENRY ALBERS"SEC.32. BUDA PRECINCT.
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himself in business at Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, opening there a hat and cap store. Two years later he was doing so well that he was en- couraged to add clothing and gentlemen's furnish- ing goods to his stock. In 1859 he settled up his affairs in his native State and removed to Mt. Pleasant. Iowa. and engaged in the same business. He soon after opened another store for the sale of ladies' goods, and later opened a branch store in Afton, placing in charge a young man to whom he had taught the business. In 1869 Mr. Snell sold out in Iowa, and came to Lincoln, and established himself in the mercantile business as proprietor of a general store of gentlemen's furnishing goods and dry-goods. At the end of two years he was obliged to dispose of his business on account of ill- health, and he then bought prairie land in Lancas- ter Precinct, on section 16. Ile erected suitable buildings on the place, planted fruit and shade trees, improved all the land, and lived thereon nearly ten years. He then sold, and bought a tract comprising twenty acres of land of unsurpassed fertility, joining the State farm. He then devoted some of his time to raising stock, always taking pride in having stock of good grades. Ile had Jersey red hogs and high-grade Short-horns, buy- ing thoroughbreds of ex-Gov. Furnas. Ile also started a nursery, and propagated both fruit and shade trees, many of the trees now beautifying the streets and lawns of Lincoln having been furnished by him. He resided on his 20-acre farm until 1886, when he came to Lincoln, and has made his home ever since at No. 2800 R street.
Mr. Snell was married, May 1, 1851, to Miss Martha E. Forrey, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John Forrey. Mrs. Snell was a woman of rare character, and her death in 1859, after a tranquil and happy wedded life, was a sad blow to the husband and little children whose home she had made so pleasant. Three children were born of this union, namely : William H., Samuel F. and Marlett I. Mr. Snell was subsequently married to Miss Laura J. Housel, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. She was the sister of Hon. C. C. Housel, a prominent citizen of Omaha. She died of consumption about two years after their marriage.
Wherever our subject has resided he has borne
an influential part in public affairs, and has in- terested himself much in educational matters, hav- ing been a member of the School Board in Mechan- iesburg, Pa., in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he served as President and Vice-President and Secretary, and was re-elected from time to time, and as a member of the City Council of Mt. Pleasant. Ile also served on the School Board while a resident of Lan- caster Precinct, and he was elected to fill a vacancy in the State Senate. Ile has been a faithful mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, having joined it when young, and he has held all the offices in the church, has been Trustee, Steward and Class-Leader, and has been a dele- gate to the General Conference of the Method- ists. In his early years he was a Democrat in politics, but as soon as the Republican party was formed he fell into the ranks, and has ever since been a stanch supporter of its policy, although he now votes with the Prohibition party. He has always been a total abstainer, and first differed with the Democratic party on the temperance ques- tion and in his views concerning slavery; he was in fact a Republican before the party was formed. It will be seen from the perusal of this sketch that the most prominent trait of the character of our subject is his unswerving adherence to principle, and he is always strictly honest and upright in all his dealings. Ilis nature is adjusted on a large and generous scale, and no one appeals to him in vain for aid or sympathy.
OHN W. PREY. In the present sketch it is our pleasure to present a biographical epitome of the oldest living pioneer of Cen- terville Precinct, and residing on section 24. Mr. Prey is a native of New York City. The day of his nativity is the 11th of May, 1828. He is the third son of John D. and Margaret Prey. His father was one of the hardy race from Scotland, whose peo- ple had more just cause for national pride than any other, our own excepted. His mother was born on the island of eternal green, the land of the sham- rock, and suppressed liberty. Our subject then is of Scotch-Irish extraction, and is by no means the
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first, who, under similar conditions have made their way to the front rank of prominent and prosperous men, for the national characteristics thus blended seem to form a most happy combination. Ilis parents were married in Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1820, landing at St. Andrews, N. B., but shortly afterward came to the United States, believ- ing that its larger opportunities and freer Govern- ment afforded larger scope for their efforts, and was more likely to result favorably to their success. Accordingly they came into the States, and took up their residence at Boston.
In the city of Boston the father of our subject speedily obtained employment. He had been a slater, and found a demand for such service, but before many months had passed, larger induce- ments being presented from New York, he removed thither. While residents in the latter city, their home received a new inmate, our subject being born shortly after the removal. Four years subsequently the family removed to Onondaga County, and re- sided there for several years, being occupied with farming. About the year 1839 they removed to Allegany County, which continued to be their residence until our subject was about fourteen years of age. This was followed by a removal to Illinois, and after a few months another change, this time to Milwaukee. The father of our subject while in the city followed his trade. leaving his sons to exe- cute the work required upon the farm which he had purchased, and was situated not far from the city. By their combined efforts they were enabled to live comfortably, although not luxuriously. The fam- ily of which our subject was a member included twelve children. of whom eleven survive.
The first-born in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Prey, Sr., was Gilbert G., at present a resident of Eagle Village, N. Y. ; then Jane, now Mrs. Buckland, whose home is in Michigan, upon "the beautiful peninsula;" Thomas R., who makes his home in Lincoln; John W., our subject; William L., who resides in Idaho; Margaret, deceased ; Mary E., hap- pily married to Lester Nash, of Iludson, Wis .; James J., of Otoe County, Neb .; Julia A., wife of James Goodwin, of St. Croix County, Wis. ; David E., of this precinct; Rebecca E., now Mrs. Henry Stoops, whose home is in Colorado, and George W.,
of Centerville. The parents of this interesting fam- ily have passed to their last rest, the father in Sep- tember, 1873, the mother in January, 1880, and are buried at Centerville.
The subject of this writing was reared to man- hood upon the farm in Wisconsin. Ilis education was such as is usually obtained in the common school, although it was unfortunate that he was able to attend only a part of the time. He con- tinued so to do until the family removed to Lan- caster County, in 1856, and settled in this precinct. This is said to be the earliest date of settlement in the county ; i. e., speaking of those who settled and established a home.
The great step in life for our subject was taken on the 10th of October, 1870, when he was united in wedlock with Frances C. Lehmer. This lady is a native of Indiana, and is the daughter of Derrick and Isabelle Lehmer, now of Yankee Hill Precinct. Our subject has become the parent of seven chil- dren, of whom six are living. They are recorded as follows: Grace I., Annie E., Margaret F., Edna E., Esther O., and an infant unnamed.
Necessarily our subject has seen the country de- velop from the primitive condition of things; the rolling prairie in all its native wildness to broad acres of golden grain, interspersed by farmhouses and barns, towns and cities. Ile is the owner of 220 acres of ground, which has been brought to as near perfection in agriculture as possible, and is a standing monument of the energy, economy, thrift and labor that have gone hand in hand to establish his success, and this commands the venerable es- teem which is so freely offered to our subject on account of his age in the community, and also his social status. Our subject has for years been an active supporter and an affiliate of the Republican party, and his high character, manhood and un- questionable integrity have secured for him the con- fidence and esteem of his compatriots, who have shown the same in electing him to serve for two con- secutive terms as Commissioner of Lancaster County, and he has filled the duties of his office with the greatest credit to himself and satisfaction to the people. Another office which he filled in like man- ner, was that of Treasurer of Clay County, which at that time included also a part of Gage and Lancas-
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ter Counties, his home being then in Clay County.
Our subject is a man of large public spirit and generosity, ever anxious to see the county move for- ward, and glad to aid therein; a friend of morals and good order, and conscientiously particular re- garding the daily happenings of life.
ILLIAM P. LARSH. "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of," says Franklin. Select from the farms or business houses the men who have made the most money and have done the most good, who have no idle day in a year, and they are the men who have time to attend relief societies, hear political speeches and lectures, who read and can chat pleasantly with you. Such men economize their time, cramming it full with works of energy, and thus they can accomplish much while others of dilatory habits are wondering where they shall be- gin. The world gives every man an opportunity, and he who has faith in the value of honest hard work may attain success slowly, but it comes surely, and at the close of life that means everything.
Success to an experienced man encourages further perseverance, but to a novice it sometimes becomes a siren that soothes all his energies to sleep. No man must be deluded by the thought of his being born under a lucky star, and that he can leave the shaping of his fortune to the gods. It is a delusion, for as regards success there is no respecter of per- sons. Persistency will outrun mere brilliancy. As an illustration of the progress upward, and the eminence attained through honest labor, we give this sketeh of our subject, Mr. Larsh, who is entitled to a place among the earliest pioneers of Lancaster County. Although the immediate descendants of many of the old pioneers grew up with but little op- portunity for education, many of them, yes, most of them, are noble, high-minded men and women, and are generally among the first to make a sacrifice to secure for their children a substantial education.
The school-house of "Ye olden time" is described as searcely more than a hut or cabin, a small, low building, barn-like in appearance, made in some cases of logs, lighted perhaps by two windows, with
a narrow door of rough boards at one end. With- in they were completely unfurnished, some low benches without backs, and a chair or stool for "the master" constituting the furniture. The education of a boy was considered sullicient if he could read, spell, write and "cipher to the rule of three." The pupil gathered his pencils from the brooks, and plucked his quill from the wing of a raven or wild goose shot by his father's rifle. Now how changed are all these things.
Thus growing up into manhood and passing on- ward in the rugged path of time, disciplined in the stern school of experience, our subject was prepared to meet every emergeney with a steady and a ready hand. He is a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (MeNntt) Larsh, whose nativity was in the neigh- borhood of Maysville, Ky. The grandfather of our subject, then bearing the name of "Larshav," came from France, and as time elapsed the name was changed to Larsh, the present family name. This noble gentleman, leaving his sunny land to em- bark in the fortunes of the new country, shortly after coming here engaged to serve in the War of 1812, and for the country which had so lately adopted him he laid down his life. All honor to his re- membrance.
The parents of our subject were married in the neighborhood in which they had been brought up, near Maysville, Ky., the husband following the oe- cupation of farming, but they soon removed to Hendricks County, Ind., where they settled as pio- neers in 1835. The city of Indianapolis was then in its infaney, being composed of but a few log houses. The father of our subject entered a quar- ter-section of land, improved it, and made it his home until he died in 1852, at the age of sixty-two years, having had a rich pioneer experience of seven- teen years, and having seen vast improvements wrought by the rapid development of the country. 'The wife, who had shared his joys and sorrows, lived until 1860, when she died, at the age of sixty years. In their family there had been thirteen children, five girls and eight boys, all living to grow up to manhood and womanhood.
Our subjeet, the youngest boy and twelfth child, was born May 6, 1843, in Washington Township, Ilendrieks Co., Ind. The first great sorrow of his
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life, the death of his father, came to him early, when he was in his tenth year, so that he was left in charge of the homestead for whose care he was called upon to contribute his share, suffering, in common with all of the earlier days, a general lack of educational facilities, although he attended the common schools in winter. He remained at home until the death of his mother occurred, when, the homestead being divided, he started out to do for himself at the age of seventeen. He worked on a farm the first year. and then learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked with his brother for three years, and then, in the fall of 1864, he went to Sullivan County, Ill., where he worked on a farm for Mr. McLain, now of South Pass, Neb.
This gentleman having come to Nebraska in 1865, our subject came with him to Lancaster County, and remained in his employ until the following spring of 1866, when he was married. He led to the altar Miss Elizabeth Grim, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Grim, formerly from Missouri, where the father died at the age of forty years. Mrs. Larsh was the fifth of a family of nine children, her birth- place being Holmes County, Ohio, at which place her parents lived prior to their moving to Missouri. She was born on the 8th of June, 1842, and in her girlhood she had to put up with all the disadvan- tages of a new country. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Larsh settled on a farm for which the husband had traded, formerly belonging to Mr. Mc- Lain, and containing 160 acres.
Since his settlement in Lancaster County our subject has seen its improvement in all its phases, at that time there being but five houses between Hickman and Nebraska City. In that time there were many discouragements and many disadvan- tages against which he had to contend : the loss from prairie fires, the long distance to be traversed in order to reach the flouring-mills and the post-office, and a general lack of the necessities of life. He had to live within his means, while the plains abounded with prairie chickens, grouse and wild turkeys. Vividly does our subject recall to mind the first log cabin which he helped Mr. McLain to build, its dimensions being fourteen feet square. The log cabin stood in its solitude, the wide-spread prairie stretching its undulations beyond the vision.
As our subject owned no team he was obliged to hire his farm work done, spending his own time in working at his trade, carpentering. Soon he was able to purchase some horses, and then, in the autumn of 1866, he engaged as carpenter for llardenberg, Linderman & Co., at the salt basin two miles west of Lincoln. He was sent up to Lancaster City, now Lincoln, and it fell to his lot to be the builder of the first frame house in that city, its dimensions be- ing 14x18 feet, and the material of which it was built being lumber from the cottonwood trees. In 1871 he sold his farm and bought another in Sal- tillo Precinct, at which place he continued until 1885, when he came to Hickman and formed a part- nership with Mr. Morrison, buying out Mr. Chris- tianson. The new firm thus formed are dealers in clothing, dry-goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, groceries, crockery, and notions of all kinds. Our subject carries a large stock of goods valued at be- tween 86,000 and 87,000, and has enjoyed a good and constantly increasing trade.
Soon after our subject engaged in the mercantile business, he was appointed Postmaster, which office he has since honorably held. Ile is a first-class good business man, and his steadily growing trade, and the Government position which he fills, are but a good testimonial to his integrity. He also owns a farm of 160 acres, which he rents, on which he has erected a frame dwelling, and five lots of valu- able city property. He isa member of the K. of P., being the Master of Exchequer. He is a member of the Democratic party, having been one of the first Postmasters appointed in Eastern Nebraska. He has twice served the term of Justice of the Peace, and has been very active in developing the educa- tional interests, having for a great many years been a School Director, and at present is filling that hon- orable position on the Board of Education at Ilick- man. He has been a delegate to nearly every Democratic County Convention in the county, and was a delegate to the State Convention in 1872. At that time his instructions were to vote for Gree- ley, but he did not attend.
Our subject is the father of one child, a daughter Mary, at home. Ile brought up a family of four children of his wife's sister-John W., Minnie Ann, Lillie May Shatto and Solomon O. Cox. The
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youngest child is still living at home with him. Mrs. Larsh is a cultivated lady, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To her companion- ship and encouragement are due much of the suc- cess and popularity of this energetic, enterprising man.
P. JENSEN. Among the foreign-born element of Nebraska that is doing so much in building up the State and developing her resources, no nationality is more cordially welcomed or makes better citizens than the Scandinavian, as represented by the intelligent, thrifty and enter- prising Danes. Our subject is one of these, and the beautiful, well-managed farm that he owns on see- tions 23, Lancaster Precinct, proclaims that he is one of the most prosperous farmers in Lancaster County.
Mr. Jensen was born July 12, 1849, in the King- dom of Denmark, on the Island of Falster, whose shores are washed by the waves of the Baltic Sea. His parents were likewise natives of Denmark, and his father, Jens Larsen, who was born March 23, 1802, carried on the occupation of a farmer during his life, and always lived on the same place. He also learned the trade of a weaver and worked at that twenty-five years. He married in middle life Karen Nielsen, who was born March 20, 1813, and is still living in Denmark. They had a family of nine children, four of whom were sons and five of them were daughters, and six of the family are now living. They were all of them given good educa- tions, attending school seven years, until fourteen years of age, according to the wise law of their na- tive land, and then they had to learn a trade. The good father of our subject died in 1872, leaving to his descendants the precious legacy of a life well spent.
Our subject lived in the island home which had been his birthplace until his restless ambition to seek his fortune in the wide world led him to America in 1872. He was then in the prime of young manhood, was well endowed with mental and bodily vigor, and, fortified by good principles and industrious habits, his success was assured from the start. After his arrival in this country he found
his way to Toledo, Ohio, where he lived for ten months, working at his trade, that of a carpenter. He then went to the city of Cleveland, where he remained for a year, engaged in the same occupa- tion. After that he worked at his calling in Buf- falo, and while a resident of that city he sent for a brother and sister to join him from their native land in 1874. After their arrival he remained in Buffalo six months, and from there removed to Indianapolis. Ind. In the course of a year or two he had been so prospered that he had gathered to- gether a sufficient amount of money to marry and establish a home, and he sent for the young woman in his native land to whom he had plighted his troth, and she crossed the waters to join him in August, 1875, and they were united in marriage on the 5th of March, 1876. The maiden name of Mrs. Jensen was Karen Marie Johansen, and she was born in Denmark, Dec. 19, 1848. Iler father, Johan Benedict, was a native of Denmark, and died there in 1859. 1Ier mother. who was born Nov. 16, 1806, is still living in Denmark, where her bus- band worked as a farmer. The union of our sub- jeet and his wife has been blessed to them by the birth of a son and daughter, as follows: John F. was born Dec. 14, 1877, and Carrie M. Sept. 17, 1879.
Shortly after marriage Mr. Jensen came to Lin- coln. Neb., with his bride, having decided to try the life of a farmer on the fertile and productive prairie soil of Lancaster County. Ile soon bought a tract of eighty acres of land, five and one-half miles from the city, paying for the same $19.60 an acre. Its nearness to the flourishing metropolis, the capital of the State, and to the great commer- cial highways of the West, and the many fine im- provements that he has made, render his farm a very valuable piece of property. It is under good cultivation, and a beautiful grove of about 5,000 forest trees adorn the place. Mr. Jensen has a fine orchard, consisting of 100 choice fruit trees, which have already commenced to bear. Hle makes a specialty of stock-raising, however, and has been very successful in that line, as is attested by the sleek and well-fed appearance of his cattle and other stock, all of which are of good grades.
Mr. and Mrs. Jensen are active workers in the
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Methodist Episcopal Church, of Sharon, of which they are esteemed members. They are not those who "hide their light under a bushel," and in the selfish striving for gain forget their duty to others, but they are ever kind and thoughtful in their re- lations with those about them, and no one is more ready to extend sympathy or help to those in dis- tress than they. Mr. Jensen is a strong advocate of temperance and religion, and urges that they be taught in the public schools. In politics he is a stanch and consistent Prohibitionist.
H. RAUCH, one of Saltillo's comparatively late settlers, is a very enterprising man. He is one of the best of farmers, and takes a great pride in the preservation of his exten- tensive family history and in his ancestry. Ilis wife, who is a most estimable lady, comes of an il- lustrious family. Mr. Rauch endeavors to give his children all the advantages possible, and is, in con- sequence, greatly interested in educational and so- cial affairs, striving earnestly for the greatest good to the greatest number.
Mr. Rauch's father, Jacob, was born in South Hanover, Dauphin Co., Pa. ITis mother, Mary F. Felty, was also born in the same county. His great- grandfather came from a good old German stock, and emigrated to America in Colonial times. His grandfather served in the War of 1812. His father settled in Dauphin County, Pa., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and reared a family of six children, four of whom are still living. In the year 1869 he moved to Putnam County, Ill., and purchased a farm two miles from Hennepin. He was a gentleman in good circumstances, and served for some time as Assessor, as well as occu- pying other oflices of trust at various times. He died in 1876, at the age of seventy-four, respected by all who knew him. The mother died in 1874, aged sixty-eight years.
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