Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 26

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 812

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Of the four children now living, the gentleman who forms the subject of our sketch is next to the youngest. His sisters are: Mrs. Dr. Rebecea Van Derslice, Mrs. Mary A. Ellinger and Mrs. Maggie F. Coleman. The subject of our sketch was born Dec. 1 upon reference to the illustration provided by the

16. 1847, in South Hanover, Dauphin Co., Pa., twelve miles west of Harrisburg. He received that best of all preparations for success in life-a "eom- mon-school" education. IIe continued at home until his marriage, in 1872, to Miss Marion J., daughter of Henry N. and Susan Stouffer, nee Mull. Mrs. Rauch's parents were born in Cumberland County, Pa., whenee they removed to Putnam County, III. This lady's parents are still living at Hennepin, Ill., where the father, who is now sixty-six years of age, is a professor, teacher and gardener. He is also an active Sunday-school worker. Her mother is now sixty-seven years of age. This worthy couple had six children, of whom Mrs. Rauch, who was born Feb. 15, 1851, at Shiremanstown, Cum- berland Co., Pa., is third. She enjoyed superior educational advantages.

In March, 1886, Mr. Rauch moved with his fam- ily to Nebraska, where he purchased 160 acres of fine land. As a farmer, he has been very suceess- ful. He owns a fine orchard of apple, plum and cherry trees, all in fine bearing condition. He also set out a large number of apple and apricot trees last spring, and made a good start in vine culture, strawberries and other small fruits. Besides the raising of fruit, Mr. Ranch carries on general farming with growing success. His house and out- buildings are of the most approved pattern, and but recently built.

Mr. and Mrs. Ranch are the parents of eight children-Anna, Willie, Gertrude, Jennie M., Merle A., Robert, Mina and Maggie. Of these, Willie and Gertrude, who were twins, are dead. The four oldest are at present attending school.

Mr. Rauch is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of Roca. He is sound on the temper- ance question, favoring a strict enforcement of the law for the control of the liquor traffic. He has refused several important offices, but has served the public in the capacity of School Trustee for the long period of six years. Mr. Rauch is one of the most intelligent and industrious farmers in Saltillo Precinct. He owns a good farm, which his ingenu- ity, intelligence and good taste will eventually con- vert into a farmer's paradise. Ile believes in good homes, and his is one of the best, as will be seen

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artist, and presented upon another page of this vol- ume, which shows faithfully not only the beautiful residence and some of its picturesque surroundings, but also the commodious farm buildings near by.

In political affairs our subject is always deeply interested, as a good and true citizen, and usually votes with the Republican party, of which he is an old and tried member.

AJ. CHIARLES W. PIERCE, one of the prominent men of Waverly Precinct, has a fine estate on section 31, where he makes a specialty of Galloway cattle, being one of the first to introduce this breed of stock into Nebraska. His farm, with its appurtenances, is amply suggestive of the means and standing of the proprietor. He is the owner of 660 acres, nearly all of which is in one body, and which, with its handsome and substantial buildings, is one of the leading points of interest in the northeastern part of Lancaster County.

The town of Benton, Yates Co., N. Y .. was the early home of our subject, and where his birth took place Oct. 7, 1823. His father was Spooner R. and his mother, Mary (Wilson) Pierce, who were also natives of the Empire State. The family it is be- lieved was of Scotch ancestry, and was represented on this side of the water, in New England, over 200 years ago. Elisha Pierce, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, prob- ably a native of Massachusetts, where he grew to manhood and was married. Later he started for New York State, and while on the journey there was born to him, near the present city of Albany, his son, Spooner R.

This edition of the Pierce family settled in Yates County, and Grandfather Pierce subsequently car- ried a musket in the War of 1812, participating in the battle of Lundy's Lane and other engagements. When the British were once more driven from American soil he returned to the peaceful vocation of farming, later removing to Livingston County, N. Y., where he spent the remainder of his life. His son Spooner grew up familiar with farming pur-

suits, and was married in his native State. In 1829 he emigrated to Ohio, settling in the vicinity of Sandusky, where he lived until 1846, then changed his residence, first to Huntsville, Logan County, subsequently to Seneca County, and in 1856 to Mason County, Ill., where his death took place about 1880. He followed farming continuously and was fairly successful in life. The wife and mother had preceded her husband to the silent land six years, her death taking place at the home of her son, our subject, in Waverly Precinct, this county, June 11, 1874.

The family of Spooner R. and Mary Pierce in- cluded seven children, all of whom grew to mature years. Charles W., our subject, was the eldest born ; John W. died in Havana, Ill .; James F. during the late war served as a Union soldier in Company B, 85th Illinois Infantry, and is now a miller by oc- cupation, residing at Havana, Ill. ; Thornton S. was a member of Company B, 85th Illinois Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain ; JJulia, Mrs. Lewis, lives in Peoria, Ill .; Angeline is the wife of O. C. Easton, of Havana; and Emily, Mrs. Caldwell, lives in the city of Lincoln, this State.

Maj. Pierce was a member of his father's house- hold until a youth of seventeen, in the meantime acquiring a practical education in the common school and fitting himself for the future duties of life. He now started out on his own account, and making his way to Rochester, N. Y., engaged in a woolen factory, where he worked three years. Then returning to Ohio, he was employed in various fac- tories in different parts of the State until 1855, in the meantime also engaged in speculation and trade. He had been married in 1850, and now going to Illinois, located in advance of the family at Ilavana, Mason County. He embarked in the real-estate busi- ness, and was thus occupied until a few months after the outbreak of the Rebellion. In August, 1862, he assisted in raising a company of which he was elected First Lieutenant, which was named Com- pany B. and became a part of the 85th Illinois In- fantry. Maj. Pierce received his commission from Gov. Richard Yates, and first met the enemy in battle at Perryville, Ky. He was next in the fight at Stone River and Mission Ridge, but not long afterward, on account of failing health. was sent to

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Nashville and assigned to the Quartermaster's de- partment, and was subsequently stationed at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio.

The spring following Maj. Pierce was transferred to Washington, where he was made Acting Brigade Quartermaster, Harden's division, serving as such until peace was declared. He was also at the same time upon staff duty. In November, 1865, he was ordered to Alabama, as a member of the staff of Gen. Swain, and later assigned to the command of a district of thirteen counties. In 1867 he was elected a Member of Congress from the Fourth Ala- bama District, and on the Ist of January, 1868, resigned his commission in the army to devote him- self to the duties of his new position.

Maj. Pierce, after serving acceptably his term as a member of the Fortieth Congress, declined a renomination because he did not desire to remain in the State of Alabama. In 1869 he was appointed Assessor of Internal Revenue for the First Alabama District, with headquarters at Mobile, and remained in the South until the close of 1872. On the 1st of January, 1873, we find him in the city of Lincoln, Neb., although he had previously visited the State with Gen. Cobb, in 1869. Not long afterward the Major selected his present location, and began mak- ing improvements, while at the same time he was recognized as a valued addition to the commu- nity, and soon became identified with local affairs. In 1875 he was elected a member of the Constitu- tional Convention, which drafted the present Con- stitution of Nebraska, and two years later was elected Senator to fill a vacancy and re-elected for the full term. He resigned this office in 1881, to accept that of Register of the United States Land Office, and changed his residence from his farm to the city of Lincoln, and was the incumbent of this office until May, 1886. Then, disposing of his prop- erty in Lincoln, he returned to his farm, to which he has since given his undivided attention. In sympathy with Republican principles, Maj. Pierce has given his support to this party since its organi- zation, in the year 1854. He was formerly a Whig but supported Millard Fillmore for the Presidency. Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R., the Loyal Legion, and a Knight Templar of the Masonic fra- ternity.

The marriage of Charles W. Pierce and Miss Isabella Burton was celebrated at the home of the bride in Republic, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1850. Mrs. Pierce is of New England birth and ancestry, having been born in Norwich, Vt., in 1825, and is the daughter of William S. and Nancy E. Burton, the former of whom spent his entire life in the Green Mountain State. After the death of the father the mother, with her children, removed to Ohio, where her death took place in 1887. The other members of the fam- ily are mostly in Illinois.

To our subject and his wife there have been born five children, only two of whom are living: Flor- ence B., at home with her parents, and Charles A., who is cashier of the Citizens' Bank, at Bennet, of which institution the Major is a stockholder. The Pierce estate is valuable, and is finely illustrative of the perseverance and energy of the man who has built it up.

EREMIAH HEILMAN. Of the older States that contributed toward the settlement of Nebraska, none, perhaps, furnished better pioneer material than the old Quaker State, and it is a noticeable fact that, wherever a native of that State locates, his enterprise and good judg- ment will make him distinguished in whatever call- ing in life he may engage. To this class belongs the subject of this biographical sketch, who was born in Northumberland County, Pa., on the 4th of March, 1828. In 1878 he took possession of his present property, consisting of 120 acres of land on section 27, Waverly Precinct, and has since been a continuous resident of this place, Nearly all his land is under cultivation, and he has already accom- plished much in the way of improvement.

The parents of our subject, Daniel and Gertrude (Deal) Heilman, were natives of Lehigh County, Pa., the former a carpenter by trade. They spent their entire lives in their native State, engaged in agricultural pursuits, which Mr. Heilman followed in connection with his trade, and passed away in Northumberland County. Of his union with Ger- trude Deal there were born ten children-Julia, Lucy, Lydia, Hannah, Gertrude, John, Jeremiah,

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Daniel D., Maria and Esther. John is deceased. Daniel Heilman was a second time married, choos- ing for his wife Mrs. Margaret (Smelser) Umel, and of this union there were born two children-Diana and Isaiah. Jeremiah, after receiving a common- sehool education, learned the trade of a carpenter, and followed that ocenpation in connection with agricultural pursuits until he came to this State.

Our subject was united in marriage, in February, 1854, with Mary A. Reitz, but she died in 1858, leaving two children-William L. and Jonathan R. In 1860 Mr. Heilman married his present wife, who in her girlhood was Catherine Reitz, a sister of his first wife, and also of Jonathan Reitz, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. By this marriage there have been born three children-Newton D., Samuel E. and Lydia Rebecca, all at home. In politics our subject is a stanch Democrat, and is a man whose opinions are respected by those who are acquainted with his good judgment. In his native State he served as Justice of the Peace, and his dis- charge of the important duties of that office was such as to convince his constituents that they had put the right man in the right place. In early life Mr. Heilman joined the German Reformed Church, but sinee his marriage he has attended the Lutheran Church, of which his wife is a worthy member. She is a woman of kindly impulses, a devoted wife and affectionate mother, and has won the esteem of the best people of the precinct.

ENRY FREYE, residing on section 11, C'en- terville Precinct, is a native of Jackson County, Ohio, the date of his birth being Feb. 7, 1855. He is a son of Henry and Eleanor Freye, of whom a sketch appears in this work. The former is deceased. When he was but a boy he came with his parents to Laneaster County, where he has since lived. Ile has received a distriet- school education, and has followed the free and in- dependent life of a farmer, devoting himself to it exclusively.

On the 22d of February, 1883, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mary Krull, the ehil- dren granted to their family being Franklin E.,

Elmer C. and Clara E. He has become the owner of eighty acres of well-improved land, which he has been able to buy with the proceeds of his own hon- est labor and diligence, having had but very little outward assistance.

Because of his integrity, and his using of the strength and wisdom granted him for the making of his own way in life, our subject has met with good success and is now on the road to prosper- ity and affluence. He coincides with the opinions and principles ad vocated by the Republican political party, and takes an active interest in the general publie movements of the day. He and his wife are active and esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as Class- Leader and Sunday-school Superintendent. always taking an active part and interest in the general work of the church. He enjoys the confidence and esteem of the people of his community, and in re- turn for that he gives his influence and his aid as far as possible to the advancement and support of the institutions for the promotion of the general welfare.

ILLIAM II. HARTZ, a member of the firm of F. Schwake & Co., is interested in gen- eral merchandising at Roca, this house eon- trolling the patronage of the best people of this section. Ile is also interested in agricultural pur- suits, is prominent in polities, and during the late Civil War acquitted himself as a valiant soldier in the Union army. He has been a resident of Ne- braska sinee 1868, and is considered one of the lead- ing men of his community, possessing more than ordinary intelligence, with a fine understanding of general business, and is uniformly successful.

The parents of our subject, Conrad and Eliza (McMillen) Hartz, were natives respectively of Bucks and Lancaster Counties, in the State of Penn- sylvania, and of substantial German ancestry. The paternal great-grandfather emigrated from the Fa- therland during the Colonial days, and since that period the family has been quite largely represented in Cumberland and Lancaster Counties. Pa. Grand- father Hartz was largely interested in mill property. and the father of our subject also learned the busi-

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ness in all its details. The latter pursued his calling until 1848 in his native State. then became inter- ested in agriculture, and migrating to Wood County, Ohio, located there among the pioneers, where he carried on farming until 1868. Thence he removed to Michigan, settling near Portland, where his death took place in 1873. The mother died in 1865, in Ohio.

The parental family included five sons and six daughters, of whom our subject was the second child. His birth took place April 17, 1841, near the town of Middlesex, Cumberland Co., Pa. Ile was a lad twelve years of age when his parents re- moved to Ohio, where he completed a common- school education and learned the general methods of farm life. Ile was a young man twenty years of age upon the outbreak of the Rebellion, and on the 3d of September, 1861, a few months after the first call for troops, enlisted in Company H, 49th Ohio Infantry, and was mustered into service on the camping ground at Tiffin, Ohio. Soon after- ward the regiment was sent to the vicinity of Louis- ville, Ky., and our subject later was in the smoke of battle at Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, the fight at Battle Creek, Tenn., and was compelled to retreat with his comrades to Louisville. Ilere the depleted ranks of the regiment were soon filled out, and their next engagements were at Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Knoxville.

At the expiration of his first term of enlistment, our subject re-entered the ranks Dec. 25, 1863, but was allowed a thirty-days furlough. Upon rejoin- ing the re-organized regiment he went all through the Atlanta campaign. On the 27th of May, 1864, he was seriously wounded at Pickett's Mills, taken first to a field hospital, thence to Hospital 19. at Nashville, and from there to Jeffersonville, Ind. Next he proceeded to Camp Dennison and was per- mitted to again go home on a furlough of thirty days. For a time thereafter he was put on transient duty at Cincinnati, but in December following joined his regiment in Tennessee. Thence his regiment returned to Nashville to be present at the grand reunion, and subsequently the 4th. Corps, to which our subject belonged, was ordered to Texas to dis- arm the rebels in the vicinity of San Antonio. Our subject remained with his comrades in the South-

west until December, 1865, and when it became ap- parent that their services would not be needed any longer they repaired to Columbus, Ohio, and were honorably discharged. Mr. Hartz shortly after- ward, on the 2d of January, 1866, fulfilled a pledge he had made to one of the most estimable young ladies of Wood County, Ohio, being married to Miss Eliza Frankforter. Mrs. Hartz was born Feb. 24, 1846, in Mahoning County, Ohio, and is the daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Frankforter, who are natives of Maryland and Ohio, and are now residents of Saltillo Precinct, this county. She ac- quired her education in the common schools and received careful home training from her excellent parents, remaining with them until her marriage.

Our subject and his wife commenced the journey of life together in Ohio, where Mr. II. engaged in farming. They came to Nebraska in 1868, and are the parents of one child, a son, Charles, who was born July 28, 1867. In making the journey to Southern Nebraska Mrs. Hartz went from Western Ohio to Sterling, Ill., by rail, where she joined her husband, and they came the rest of the way to the embryo town of Lincoln, this county, in an emi- grant wagon. They arrived here on the 16th of June, 1868, and Mr. Hartz at once homesteaded eighty acres of land in Saltillo Precinct, on section 10. Their first dwelling was a dug-out, in which they lived until 1874.

Mr. Hartz, upon coming to this county, had a cash capital of $3, not even enough to secure a hc mestead claim. The best he could do, therefore, was to pre-empt his land, and the year following he secured the rights of a homesteader. He worked with all the energy of desperation to cultivate a portion of the soil and raise enough to sustain his family, and Providence kindly smiled upon his efforts. In 1874 they moved from the dug-out into a comfortable frame house, and gradually there were added to the premises those improvements best cal- culated for their comfort and happiness. Mr. Hartz in 1876 added to his real estate by the purchase of eighty acres additional, and now has a quarter-see- tion under a good state of cultivation and produc- ing in abundance the rich crops of this region. The residence is of a size sufficient for the comfort and convenience of the family ; the barn occupies an area

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of 28x40 feet. Mr. Hartz planted 200 choice apple sprouts in 1873, and now has a fine orchard in good bearing condition, besides cherry and plum trees in abundance. The premises presents that neat and comfortable appearance denoting the thrift and enterprise of the proprietor and the success which has attended his labors.

Mr. Hartz cast his first Presidential vote for Lin- coln, and since that time has uniformly supported Republican principles. He is a member of Farragut Post No. 25, G. A. R., at Lincoln, has been selected as a delegate to the County Republican Conven- tions, and in his district has served on the School Board as Moderator. Ile also for five years offici- ated as Assessor of Saltillo Precinct. In 1887 he became identified with the K. of P., at Hickman, in which order he still retains a worthy position. He has made for himself a good record in life, and is entirely worthy of representation in a work which embraces some of the most valuable records of Lancaster County.

S IMON D. PARK. The farming and stock- breeding interests of Ilighland Precinct are ably represented by the subject of this sketch, especially the latter, he being much interested in graded Durham cattle, Poland-China swine and Norman horses. Of his operations in this department of agriculture he has reason to be prond, as he exhibits some of the finest animals in this part of the county.

Mr. Park has an interest in 220 acres of fine farming land, well improved, being the partner of his brother, F. G. Park, they having operated together since the spring of 1883. Previous to this they were connected with the Insane Hospital Farm, which embraces 480 acres adjacent to the city of Lincoln. They came to Nebraska from the Green Mountain State, in the spring of 1881, onr subject having been born there Dec. 30. 1853, and his brother nearly six years later, Oct. 22, 1859.

The Park brothers are the sons of Abel and Sophia (Dow) Park, who were also natives of Ver- mont and of New England ancestry. The family was first represented on thi- side of the Atlantic

during the Colonial days, and the mother's people came also not very long after the Pilgrim fathers established themselves in Massachusetts. The par- ents of our subject spent all of their lives in Lyn- don, Vt., and passed away at their home there, the father at the age of fifty-four, and the mother when about fifty-eight years old. The latter was a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church, and Abel Park, politically, was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party.

The early life of our subject (with his brother, Frank G.) was spent in his native township, where he acquired a common-school education, and upon reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Ward, who was also of New England stock, born and reared near the early home of her hus- band. The young wife died about two years after her wedding, leaving no family. Mr. Park, on the 30th of September, 1882, contracted a second mar- riage, with Miss Annie Walker, who was born April 10, 1865, in Sterling, Whiteside Co., Ill., where she lived until a maiden of sixteen years. She then came with her parents to this county. The latter were natives of Pennsylvania, and are now living in Albion, Boone County, this State. Of this union there have been born three children-Will- iam, Mary L. and Charles A.

Frank G. Park was married in Nepeuskun Town- ship, Winnebago Co., Wis., Dec. 2, 1883, to Miss Lola J. Sawyer, who was born Jan. 28, 1858, and there also was educated and reared to womanhood. Iler parents, George C. and Esther M. (Utter) Saw- yer, are natives of New York, and are now resi- dents of Wisconsin. The Park brothers are solid Democrats, politically, and men of standing in their community, where they are of material assistance in the maintenance of its agricultural interests.

REDERICK A. HOVEY, one of the pro- prietors of the Valparaiso flouring-mills, is a man whose merit, education, and business talent, have gained him an assured position in the commercial circles of Lancaster County. He is a native of Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., born Oct. 28, 1849. The early history of that town and

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county is indissolubly linked with the name of Hovey, as Simonein Hovey, the grandfather of our subject, was one of the first settlers, and his son Harry was the first male child born in Wyoming County. Mr. Hovey was a carpenter and builder, and also managed his farm, which he had wrested from the primeval forests.

Enoch Hovey, the father of our subject. was born on the homestead of his father, and was reared to manhood in his native county. He married Amelia Merrill, a native of Nunda, N. Y., and they contin- ued to live in Wyoming County until 1852. In that year they removed to Allegany County, where Mr. Hovey operated a sawmill. In 1855 they left their native State to make their home in Wisconsin, lo- cating in Janesville on a farm that Mr. Hovey purchased, and resided there until 1868. Mr. Ho- vey then sold his place there and came to Nebraska with his family. He spent the winter at Plattsmouth, and in March, 1869, eame to Lineoln and engaged in farming, buying a quarter-section of land near the city. It was wild prairie land at that time, but he improved it into a good farm, and bought other land in Grant Precinct, where he subsequently located, and resided some time. He bought a farm of 480 aeres in the same precinct, and engaged ex- tensively in agricultural pursuits until 1888, when he disposed of his property and came to Valparaiso, and in company with his son bought the flouringmills which they are now managing with marked success.

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Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 26

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers Number of Pages: 812

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 812