Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 32

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

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cinct, and Wilhelmina. the wife of Christian Rausch, living in South Pass Precinct. The parents are both well advanced in years, and make their home with their son-in-law, Mr. Frederick Lucke.

Our subject was born on the 2d of August, 1848, in Prussia, Germany, and having made the long journey across the ocean he came with his parents to Iowa in 1856. He also made the removal with them to Lancaster County in 1869, and may be classed among the early settlers of this county. The greater part of his education was acquired in the district schools of Iowa during his residence in that State, to which he added a fair amount of busi- ness knowledge acquired in an evening school, which he attended during a short stay in Chicago, Ill. He went to Chicago when he was eighteen years old, and was for a time engaged as clerk in the mercantile business, but after three months' resi- dence in that city he became ill and was obliged to return to his home in Iowa,

Having obtained eighty acres of land from the Government under the homestead provision, our subject pre-empted an additional eighty acres, mak- ing 160 acres of land in the home farm. He also owns another eighty acres in the same precinct, and 160 acres in Chase County. Since his return from Chicago he has devoted his time exclusively to farming, and has secured excellent results on his own land. He has a very fine grove, containing about five acres planted with soft maple trees, averaging perhaps thirty-five feet in height, thus showing that even in a prairie country trees will grow well under favorable conditions, which con- sist firstly in the planting of them.

In the past three years Mr. Severin has added improvements to the amount of over $2,500 on his already fine home farm, and now has one of the best in the county, in appearance as well as utility. He was married, on the 16th of March, 1872, to Miss Gesine Albert, and they are the parents of eight children, to whom they have given the names : William, Minnie, Mary, Richard, Carlo, Albert, llubert and Frederick, all of whom are yet living at home with their parents.

Not only has our subject distinguished himself as a thorough and scientific farmer, but he has taken a prominent part in the public affairs of this

county, and is well known in political cireles, as well as educational and judiciary. For a period of ten years he has served as School Director, and for a time has been the Assessor of his precinct, be- sides in the tribunals of justice having served for six terms, and at present being the honorable in- cumbent of the office of Justice of the Peace. fle is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Since the above was written our subject has been nominated for the State Legislature on the first ballot, by a unanimous vote of the delegates of the Republican Convention held in Lincoln on the 16th of August, 1888, which is almost equivalent to an election.

LEXIS HALTER. Among the various trades and occupations represented in a large city, none is of more importance than a well-conducted meat market, an institu- tion which necessarily has more or less effect upon the health and well-being of the people. An estab- lishment of this kind, presided over by the subject of this sketch. located at No. 216 North Tenth street, is quite a model in its way, being conveniently arranged, cleanly, and offering for sale the most wholesome viands in its department which it is com- mon for men to use. Mr. Halter has served a thorough apprenticeship at this business and has a proper understanding of its details. Ile is a man who commenced in life dependent upon his own resources, and has attained to a good position, so- cially and financially, by pursuing the straightfor- ward course of an upright citizen, always aiming to maintain his self-respect, and thus furnishing the surest guarantee to the respect of others.

The Province of Ontario, Canada, was the early home of our subject, where his birth took place July 17, 1858. llis father, Edward Halter, was born in France, while the mother, Mary A. (Shar- bach) llalter, was a native of the Dominion. Both are of German extraction, and are still living in Canada, where the father carries on farming. They are devoted members of the Catholic Church, hon- est and upright people, who trained their children carefully and maintained a good position in their

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community. Their household circle included twelve children, ten of whom are living and residents of Canada.

The subject of this biography was the second son of the parental family, and like his brothers and sisters was reared at the farm and attended the common school. When a youth of seventeen he started out for himself as an apprentice at the butcher's trade, and eighteen months later estab- lished in business for himself. Believing that the States would furnish a better field for the aspira- tions of an enterprising youth, he left the Dominion, and in 1884 came to Nebraska, and at once estab- lished his present business in the city of Lincoln. He has been very successful, and besides his mar- ket and its appurtenances, and his home on G street, has twenty or thirty dwelling-houses and stores, besides a good farm of 160 acres in Lancas- ter County. His accumulation of property has not been 'confined exactly to this county, as he has also property in Denver, Hastings and Kearney. He came West with the sum of $7, and now sched- ules property worth $50,000. His market receives more patronage than any two shops of the kind in the city. In 1888 he was elected Alderman from his ward on the Republican ticket in a seetion where the Democracy prevailed, coming out with a handsome majority of 126 votes. IIe is Chairman of the committee on elections and occupies the same post on the paving committee of the city, besides being Vice President of the German Banking Company, and a Director in the German National Bank, one of the strongest institutions of its kind in the city of Lincoln. He is also Director in the Clay Manufacturing Company, of Lincoln, and a stock- holder in the Nebraska Stoekyards Company, and stockholder in the Lincoln Canning and Provision Company, besides being Secretary of the Working- men's Building Association.

Our subject occupies a handsome and comfortable home on G street, his domestic affairs being pre- sided over by a capable and intelligent wife, to whom he was married on the 26th of August, 1881, and whose maiden name was Mary J. Shepard. Mrs. Halter was born in Paris, Canada, in 1859, and is of Irish ancestry. She is a lady of culture and refinement and possesses rare musical talent, being

the organist and leader of the Catholic Church choir. Both Mr. and Mrs. Halter were reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, to which they re- ligiously adhere, and our subject, politically, is a stanch Republican. He is a man of decided views, keeps himself well posted upon current events, and ranks equally among the intelligent men of his com- munity.

C HARLES HERPOLSHEIMER. This ALBUM would be incomplete without at least a sue- cinct recital of the chief points of interest in the life of Charles Herpolsheimer, whose admir- ably kept farm is situated on section 29, Denton Precinet. He is a native of Prussia, born on the 18th of October, 1835, and is a son of Christian and Anne Herpolsheimer, the latter of whom is deceased. His parents emigrated to the United States in 1849, taking passage at Bremen. The voyage, which was undertaken in a sailing-vessel, was long and tedious. They landed in New York, and shortly after proceeded by way of the lakes to Milwaukee, Wis., where they made their first home and continued to reside for the space of two and one-half years, when they removed to St. Joseph County, Ind., in which place our subject was reared to manhood and received his early education and training, although some time had been given to his education before leaving his native country. He completed the same in the Lutheran Seminary, at Ft. Wayne, Ind .; from this institution he was graduated as a competent instructor, and followed the profession of teaching for about thirteen years.

Our subject, although very successful in teaching, both in English and German, was compelled to change his calling owing to a difficulty which in- terfered with his speech. In the year 1873 he re- moved with his family to Grand Rapids, Mich., and took a course in the business college at that city. Upon completing the same he took a position as cashier and book-keeper with Messrs. Voigt, Herpolsheimer & Co., dry-goods merchant in Grand Rapids, and continued in the same for six years. The year 1880 saw another change of location, and removal was made to Lincoln, where for a short time he was cashier and book-keeper in the same

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line of business for Henry Herpolsheimer. The following spring he settled upon his present prop- erty, then in an unimproved state. He is the owner of 475 acres of first-class, arable farming land, which he has earned for himself by the work and the struggle of previous years. He received little help beyond that of his education, and is therefore enjoying the fruit of his labor.

While a resident of Cook County, Ill., our sub- ject made the acquaintance of Augusta Soss, and feeling that her presence continually with him would be the most desirable of all, arrangements were made which irrevocably bound them to each other, and they were married on the 9th of March, 1863. They have had nine children, whose names are here given : Emma, Paul, Martin, Otto (deceased), Emil, Adolph, Clara, Rudolph and Aida.

The noise of the hammer with which Dr. Martin Luther nailed his Theses to the door of the church sounded through the halls of the Vatican and aroused the Pope and Roman Consistory ; mad- dened his enemies and gladdened the friends of liberty; resulted in his imprisonment by his dear friend in order to save him from the martyr's death ; gave the Bible in the vernacular to the German people, and founded the Lutheran Evangelical Chureb. Of this our subject is a member, having continued his allegiance to the same since his bap- tism, and is still found among its most consistent and devoted members.

Our subject is a large-hearted, generous and publie-spirited man, and with his family enjoys the sincerest respect of the community. Politically, his sympathies are with the Democratic party, which finds in him a sincere friend and ardent supporter.

C HARLES A. HEIDENREICHI, a fair repre- sentative of the thrifty German farmer, has been a resident of this county since a lad of thirteen years, his father having come to Nebraska in the fall of 1867, a few months after it was ad- mitted into the Union as a State. Ile was born in Germany, Aug. 26, 1855, and is the son of Charles Ileidenreich, Sr., a native of the same place, where he was reared and married. The family, in 1859,

crossed the Atlantic, and after landing in New York City, made their way first to Dane County, Wis., where they settled upon a tract of timber land, a part of which the father cleared and lived there until the fall of 1867. Then starting out, overland, they made their way to this county, trav- eling after the fashion of the emigrants of those days, carrying with them their provisions, cooking and camping by the wayside.

There was at that time no railroad west of Omaha, and upon the site of the present city of Lincoln stood only two houses and one store. The nearest market was at Nebraska City. The father of our subject purchased a traet of land on section 22 of what is now Middle Creek Precinct, and upon which stood a small frame house, while a few acres of land had been broken. The elder Heidenreich resided here until his death, which took place in January, 1883. He had in the meantime erected a good frame house and a granary, and had the greater por- tion of the land in a state of cultivation. He lived to see great improvement in the face of the country, and was an honest, hard-working man, respected by all his neighbors.

Mrs. Sophie (Brinkhoof) Heidenreich, the mother of our subject, died in Wisconsin about 1860. The paternal family consisted of five children, four of whom are living. The eldest daughter, Mary, is the wife of D. Brant, and a resident of Seward County, this State, of which also Lizzie, Mrs. Chris. Beal, and Minnie, Mrs. Herman Meyer, are also residents. The two eldest, with our subject, were born in Germany, and there the eldest daughter, Charlotte, died when about eight years old. The father, in 1865, contracted a second marriage, with Miss Minnie Meyer, who was also a native of Ger- many, and who is still living. Of this union there were no children.

Our subject was a little lad four years of age when he crossed the Atlantic with his parents, and consequently remembers little of his native land. He has, however, a distinct recollection of the over- land journey from Wisconsin to Nebraska, and the vicissitudes of pioneer life after the settlement of the family in this county. Deer and prairie wolves were plentiful, besides all kinds of wild game. Mr. Heidenreich has watched with the interest which

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every intelligent man must feel the growth and de- velopment of his adopted county, and has seen the city of Lincoln emerge from a hamlet to a city of 40,000. Being the only son, the management of the farm devolved upon him after the death of his father, and here he has since resided. He brought a bride to the old rooftree in the early part of 1884, being married on the 11th of February to Miss Augusta Steinbauer, who was born in Dane County, Wis., and is of German parentage. They have three interesting children, all daughters-Clara, Paulina and Melinda. Mr. Heidenreich, politically, votes the straight Republican ticket, and still clings to the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, in which he was reared. The first wife of Charles Heiden- reich, the mother of our subject, died in 1860, in Dane County, Wis.

AMES G. SOUTHWICK. This gentleman established the first banking institution of Bennet, which is familiarly known as the Bank of Bennet, and he is besides a stock- holder and President of the Nebraska Savings Bank, at Lincoln, which has a capital of $100,000 and is doing an extensive business. Among the philan- thropic and leading men of Lancaster County there are few who have been more unselfish in their labors or taken a warmer interest in the growth and development of the town which struggled into exis- tence fifteen years ago.

Essentially a self-made man, the subject of this sketch is a fine illustration of what may be accom- plished by industry and perseverance, and the ex- ereise of those qualities best calculated to result not only in good to the man who possesses them, but which naturally shed their influence upon all those with whom he comes in contact. It was a fortun- ate thing for Bennet and vicinity that the men who took an interest in its incipient growth were pos- sessed of that large and liberal spirit which made them willing to labor and make sacrifices for the sake of its future good. Mr. Southwick was one of those willing to risk his capital and his labor, and did not think wholly of self or selfish interests. Ile is spoken of by the people among whom he has lived

many years as one of their most praiseworthy citi- zens, and to whom is due great credit for the man- ner in which he has labored to build up the various interests of his community.

The subject of this sketch is a scion of one of the best families of the Empire State, his father being Jonathan I. Southwick, who was born in North Collins, Erie County, and who married Miss Sarah Hull, of Ellery, Chautauqua County. After mar- riage they settled in North Collins, but removed later to Springdale, Cedar Co., Iowa, where the mother passed away in 1878. Jonathan Southwick is still living, and makes his home with his son, our subject, in Bennet. The parental household in- cluded six children, namely: Joseph; James G., our subject; Mark W. ; Sumner, who died when two years old; Henry L. and Alice B. They are resi- dents mostly of Nebraska.

James G. Southwiek was born in North Collins, Erie Co., N. Y., Nov. 10, 1845. Early in life he became familiar with farm pursuits, receiving but a limited education. At the age of sixteen years his father gave him his time and he migrated west- ward, erossing the Mississippi into Cedar County, Iowa, where he landed with a cash capital of $2.50. He engaged to work on a farm at $10 per month, and was thus employed until after reaching his ma- jority. In the meantime, with commendable pru- dence and forethought, he had saved what he could of his earnings, and now became the proud pur- chaser of a tract of land in Cedar County, upon which he operated until the spring of 1877. At the same time he operated as Station Agent and Postmaster of the village of Center Dale, and, as is usual with country officials of that grade, purchased a stock of goods and engaged in general merchan- dising. At the time spoken of he disposed of his interests in the Hawkeye State, and coming to this county invested a portion of his capital in a farm on section 5, in Nemaha Precinct, but six months later resumed merchandising, this time in Bennet. In 1880 he sold out his stock of goods and put up the first livery barn in the place, which he conducted two years, and at the expiration of this time was ready to engage in banking.

In addition to his other interests, Mr. Southwick has operated extensively in real estate, and is the

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owner of valuable property in Bennet and vicinity, also in Lincoln. His pleasant home on First street is presided over by a most amiable and estimable lady, who in her girlhood was Miss Esther Austin, and to whom he was married April 6, 1871, in Cedar County, Iowa. Mrs. Southwick was born in Erie County, N. Y., and is a daughter of Timothy and Mary Austin, who were natives of England and New York, and now the father resides in Bennet; the mother is deceased. Of this union there have been born three children-Allison D .. Vesta M. and Winnie L. The latter died when an interesting child of seven and one-half years, at the home of her parents in Bennet. Mr. Southwick was first married in Cedar County, Iowa, to Miss Mary Doniphan, who was born in the city of Buffalo, N. Y., and who only survived her marriage two years, her decease taking place in Cedar County, Iowa. Of this union there were no children.

Mr. Southwick, politically, uniformly supports Republican principles, and with his estimable wife, religiously, adheres to the simple doctrines of the Society of Friends. Considering what he has ac- complished as a man and a citizen, it is not strange that his fellow-townsmen should select him as one eminently fitted to look after their common interests, but he has steadily declined assuming the responsibil- ities of office. In manner he is polite and affable, both to friend and stranger, thus exhibiting the inherent manliness which can only come by birth and breeding.

AMES A. BAILEY, wholesale dealer in paints and wall paper, and also a contractor in paint- ing, whose place of business is at the corner of Twelfth and N Sts., has for several years been prominently identified with the industrial interests of Lincoln, and is the most extensive con- traetor in his line in the city. Ile was born in Huron County, Ohio, Feb. 12, 1839, being a son of Hiram and Olive (Isham) Bailey, who were born in Ohio in 1801 and 1806, respectively, The grand- parents of our subject, Ephroditus and Zulpha (Wells) Bailey, were of English stock, and his grandfather was the first white settler on the West-

ern Reserve in Ohio, where he carried on the occu- pation of a farmer, becoming very wealthy. He lived there the remainder of his life, and in their pioneer home he and his wife reared a family of six children.

The father of our subject was a painter by occu- pation, and carried on a large business in Norwalk, HIuron Co., Ohio, being also engaged in ornamental painting. Ilis death in 1849, when scarcely past the prime of life, was a severe blow to the business interests of the community where he had made his home and where he and his wife were held in high estecm. The mother of our subject is living at an advanced age in Shiocton, Outagamie Co., Wis. Six children were born to her and her husband, of whom the following is recorded: Hiram was scalded to death when a child; Charles is a farmer; of Ohio; Henry died in 1876, aged thirty-seven years; William lives in Michigan ; James A. is our subject, Susan is now Mrs. Hial Porter; her husband is a druggist and lives in Ohio.

James A. Bailey was reared in his native town, and educated at the common schools. His father dying when he was but a child, he was early thrown on his own resources, and became a manly, self- reliant lad. At the age of twelve years he left home to apprentiee himself to a painter for three years, becoming a thorough master of his trade under the skillful teaching of Mr. Smith, who was a fine work- man. At the expiration of his term of apprentiee- ship, he worked at journeyman's wages, and in 1859 moved to Brunswick, Mo., where he was employed as a contractor until the breaking out of the war. Ile then went to Chicago, and for some years worked as a journeyman for Heath & Milligan. In 1866 he struck out for the great Western plains beyond the Mississippi, and coming here, purchased eighty acres of land under the provisions of the Homestead Act, and pre-empted eighty acres of land besides, all lying in this eounty, and began the culture of fruit, without, however, abandoning his trade, which he pursued successfully in this city. IIe estab- lished himself in his present business in 1883, and by his enterprise and ability has greatly increased his business, and now occupies a leading position, both as a dealer in the line of stock that he carries, and as a painter. llis work is highly prized, and

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he has been employed on some of the finest buildings in the county.

To his estimable wife and helpinate, formerly Miss Esther McGregor, our subject was united in marriage Dec. 19. 1867, the Rev. H. T. Davis, pas- tor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, where they then resided, performing the ceremony that made them one. She was born in Maryland in 1847, and is a daughter of William and Alice (Hughes) MeGregor. She came to Nebraska the year that she was married. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, namely: William A., Olive A .. James, Charles (who died when seven weeks old), Maud and Ilester. They are interesting, bright children, and their parents are giving them the advantages of a fine education.

Mr. Bailey occupies a prominent social position, having been a member of the I. O. O. F. for many years, and he also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and to the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen. He is very liberal and public-spirited, always seeking to promote the best interests of the city and county, and has especially interested himself in securing good educational privileges to the youth of this city, and as School Treasurer for twelve years has done efficient service. Our subject has accumulated much valuable city property since his residence here, and also owns some fine farming land, and is classed among the wealthy men of this city. Mrs. Bailey is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is an active worker in the Sunday- school, and cordially lends her sympathy and aid in the good work that is carried on in Lincoln by her fellow-members.

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ELSON STEELE is a son of A. J. Steele, of whom a sketch appears in this volume, and he resides on section 35, Buda Precinct. HIe was born on the 18th of September, 1857, in Mon- roe County, Ohio, and when be was quite young, came with his parents, Andrew J. and Mary Steele, to Tazewell County, Ill., and thence to Lancaster County, in 1869. From a child he was accustomed to the labors of a farmer's life, having begun at an

early age to assist his father in the work of cultivat- ing his land, and doing the errands that a young boy can do. Ilere he has grown up to manhood gathering wisdom and strength of character from his experience, and finally launching out to do bat- tle for himself, and prepare a home for his own family.

On the 14th of November, 1886, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Moore, by whom he has one child, Irvin, who was born on the 7th of October, 1887. There were nine children in his father's family, he being the eldest son, and con- sequently he has been obliged to depend upon his own labors for the accumulation of his property. Putting into daily use the manly qualities and strength of character developed in his earlier life on his father's farm, he set about diligently to see what could be accomplished for himself, and he is now the owner of eighty acres of land, as a reward for his diligence.

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Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 32

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

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