USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska > Part 33
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It is an undisputed fact that an individual or a faction allowed unlimited sway for a length of time becomes tyrannical, and it is well for the adminis- tration of jastice that there should be opposing in- dividuals and factions, whose very opposition will prevent the outgrowth of tyranny. In the govern- ment of such a country as ours. every man has a voice, and it is well that he should join himself to one or the other of the parties whose policy meets his approval, but he is not using the privilege of a free man if he becomes so thoroughly partisan that he cares only for the upholding of his party, re- gardless of its principles. Our subject has tried to avoid sneh partisanship, and while he affiliates with the Republican party he is sufficiently independent to support the men whom he respects and honors, though they should not belong to his party. believ- ing that the best administration can be secured by placing only honest and honorable men in the pub- lic ofliees.
The younger men of a community should pre- pare themselves by the advice and example of their elders to assume the public burdens when the latter are no longer able to take an active share in them, thus perpetuating from generation to generation all the advantages gained by the untiring labor of the earliest settlers, and augmenting them whenever
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opportunity affords. In this way only can a new country be developed to the heights of prosperity that distinguish some of the older settled States, and in this way only have the older settled States attained their eminent suceess and development, for their beginning was similar to that of this State. Let all the younger men join with our enterprising subject in the good work of developing the coun- try's resources, and the result will be beyond even their most sanguine expectation.
ENRY MEYER is one of the pioneer far- mers of Buda Precinct, residing on section 34. He is a son of G. L. W. and Anne C. Meyer, the former of whom is deceased, and was born on the 27th of October, 1848, in Germany, the native country of his parents. He is the eldest son of his father's family, and enjoyed the advantages by which he was able to secure, a fair edu- cation in his native tongue. In the fall of the year 1868, accompanied by his brother John, he started to America, making the voyage from Bremen to New York City on a steamer in seventeen days. He at once went out to the Great West, and remained for a time in Clayton County, Iowa. In order to gain a knowledge of the tongue of his adopted country he attended sehool for one winter in Clayton County, and with the knowledge thus acquired and that sub- sequently obtained in business life among the peo- ple, he has secured a fair knowledge of the English language also.
Our subject came to this county in the year 1868 and has since resided here, having taken note of the vast improvements as they were made since the first year of his arrival. In 1875 the father of our sub- ject died, and there remain six of the family of chil- dren which he reared: Henry, our subject; John, in California; Maggie, wife of G. Rippen; Kate, wife of Detrick Rippen; Peter and Mary, all resi- dents of Buda Precinct.
On the 17th of November, 1882, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Lena Warneke, by whom he has three children, viz: Anne D. was born on the 30th of July, 1883; William, on the 21st of March, 1885; and John on the 20th of
March, 1887. Mr. Meyer is the owner of 160 aeres of land, which he purchased with the price of his own industry and self-reliance. He has worked hard to improve it, and is now comfortably situated. While he is interested in the political government of the country and is a Republican in politics, he is not sufficiently partisan to always adhere to that party, generally making use of his privilege to vote for the men whom he thinks the best qualified to conduct public affairs, no matter to which party they belong.
For twenty years has our subject lived in this county, and no doubt if he were to tell of all the changes that have taken place in that time, and de- scribe the surroundings as they were when his eyes first looked upon them, the younger members of the community who have not passed through an experi- ence like his, could scarcely be made to believe that the scenes so familiar to their eyes have been created within a few decades. But rapidly as the country has been developed, and wonderful as are the achieve- ments of her inhabitants, the end is not yet, and she will go on continuing to improve, the land be- coming fairer and more fruitful, until perhaps there will have been made as great changes in the coming deeades as have been made in those of the past. Many of these important changes have been brought about by the active industry of just such men as onr subject, and to them is due the honor arising from so great accomplishments. Mr. Meyer is a member of the Lutheran Church, and merits the confidence and esteem in which he is held by his fellowmen.
ULIUS H. WETTSTRUCK. As the tiny coral builders begin working far down un- der the water, and bit by bit contribute a mite to the structure which they have begun, until at last their goal is reached, and they appear above the surface, so must there be a commence- ment of the building which every man does, adding here and there a mite to the structure until at last it comes forth finished from the hands of the work- man. But let not the tiny coral worker that has reached the surface scorn the way by which he has
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risen, for if his foundation were withdrawn, he would be cast as low as any ; and let not that man who prides himself on his achievements and suc- eess, scorn the way by which he has risen, for he had to mount the ladder step by step, there was no taking the rounds out of it and making one great leap to the top, and to each step he owes a certain amount of the strength and solidity of the founda- tion which upholdls him. By successive steps has the subject of our sketch climbed from a condition in which he was virtually without means, to his pres- ent condition of luxury and wealth.
The gentleman of whom we speak is the only son of John and Frederica Wittstruck, and was born on the 6th of January, 1842, in Prussia, lle received a very good education in his native tongue, and also has a fair English education. When about six or seven years old the first great sorrow of his life fell upon him, in the death of his mother, and a few years after that sad event, in the year 1857. he emigrated to Ameriea in company with an uncle, Frank Wettstruck. They took passage at Hamburg, on a sailing-vessel, and after an ocean voyage of five weeks and three days, they landed in New York City. Our subject at once went to Wisconsin, where he worked as a farm hand for two years, and then going to Woodford County, Ill., for a time he worked there by the month as a farm hand, and for a short time rented a farm.
In the year 1865 our subject was married to Mary A. Debolt, and to them four children were given : Charlotte, wife of J. II. Ames; Arthur. de- ceased ; Caroline and Carl. He was a second time married, on the 24th of May, 1876, to Halldora Hall- dorson, a native of Iceland. In the year 1865 he came to Lancaster County, Neb., and here home- steaded 160 acres of land, which is his present farm. Since then he has purchased eighty acres in South Pass Precinct, making in all 240 acres. He settled on his farm when there was not a furrow turned, and to him it must have seemed like an enormous undertaking to bring that large tract of virgin soil into a fertile state of cultivation. Ilowever, he knew there was no way of accomplishing the task but by beginning and then keeping at it. This he did, and in the course of time, and by dint of en- ergy and good management, he has made of it one
of the best farms in his precinct. When he came to Nebraska he had but $75, with which beginning he has accumulated his present splendid property.
Thus we may say that among self-made men our subject is entitled to take a high rank, owing all he has to his own business-like qualifications and en- terprise. He is a firm believer that the political organization which Thomas Jefferson inaugurated is the one whose able management will secure the best results to the country, therefore he gives his vote and his influence to the Democratic party. For five or six years he has served as Road Super- visor. His experience has been worth much to him, and yet he would not again willingly undergo all the trials and difficulties incident to the life of an early settler, and we are glad to know that he is happily enjoying the fruits of his industry.
Le ARUS BARNASON. The remarkable ad- vantages for not only making a comfortable living in this country, but for securing a competeney, and also the political advantages af- forded every American citizen. and the opportunity given for educating the young, have attracted from every country the world around, many of their most valued and enterprising citizens. We find on the streets of our great cities people from all nations, but perhaps the most seldom met are those born in the far-off northern island of Iceland. We have in this brief sketch to give a record of the life of a native of Iceland, a gentleman who is to-day an influential and enterprising farmer of Buda Pre- cinet, residing on section 36, and although a young man-for he was born on the 26th of December, 1855-he was a pioneer of the precinct in which he now owns a good farm, and is a well-to-do and respected citizen.
Mr. Barnason is the son of Barney and Emma Barnason, both of whom were also natives of Ice- land. When Larus was a youth of fourteen years of age he had the great misfortune to lose by death both father and mother. Thus left to shift for him- self we find him three years later in company with his brother Thomas on his way to America, lle came on a steamer via England, the voyage requir-
RESIDENCE OF ROBERT M & DEVITT, SEC.26, NORTH BLUFF PRECINCT,
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RESIDENCE OF WALTER J. HARRIS, SEC. 10, LANCASTER PRECINCT.
RESIDENCE OF W. H. AMES, SEC.35 YANKEE HILL PRECINCT.
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ing some fourteen days. They landed in New York City and immediately proceeded West, coming to- getber to Lancaster County. They arrived in May, and in the autumn Thomas returned to Iceland. Larus preferred to remain here, and for the follow- ing eight years was engaged at work among the far- mers in the ordinary labor of a farm hand, in the meantime making his home with Hon. T. R. Bur- ling, of Firth. Larus had labored diligently, had been economical, and in the year 1884 was enabled to settle upon his present farm. IIere he owns eighty acres of good land, which has been devel- oped by his own labor.
After coming to this county, on the 25th of April. 1884, Mr. Barnason was united in marriage with Victoria Carter. This lady is a native of Kentucky, and has become the mother of one child, Mary, who was born Feb. 19, 1885. Mr. Barna- sou is an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, and considering the limited advantages which he has enjoyed has wielded considerable influence to- ward the improvement and betterment of the pre- cinet, and the years of his greater usefulness are yet to be enjoyed, for, as above mentioned, Mr. Barnason is yet a young man.
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OSEPH Z. BRISCOE, one of the leading business men and merchants of Lincoln, has been an important factor in developing its material, social and religious interests, hav- ing with great generosity and liberality devoted a large share of the wealth that he has accumulated here by patient toil and characteristic energy and enterprise, to the moral and educational elevation of the community. He is of Pennsylvanian origin and ancestry, first opening his eyes to the light of the world March 1, 1838, in the Keystone State, in the home of his parents, Frisby W. and Eva (Lo- gan) Briscoe, in the beautiful county of Somerset. His father was born of French origin in 1809, and the mother in Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1816.
Frisby Briscoe was a pioneer of Nebraska, com- ing here in the fall of 1863, in Territorial days, and locating in Omaha, finally dying in 1881, in Sarpy County, full of years and honors. Ile was, in
every sense of the word, a noble man, self-made and self-educated. Ile was left an orphan when quite young, and had to struggle hard for the edu- cation that made him one of the most prominent literary men and educators of his time and State of Pennsylvania, and he taught for many years in the academies at Berlin and Somerset. The latter part of his life was spent on a farm in Nebraska. Ilis good wife is still living, and although seventy-two years of age, retains much of her youthful mental and physical vigor, owing, perhaps, to the fact that she comes of a long-lived family, her father having attained the remarkable age of one hundred and three years. Her husband was a member of the Christian Church, and she has likewise belonged to it for many years, having joined when she was a small girl. She is very much interested in theology, in which she is well versed, and can discuss with zeal and animation the doctrines of the different churches. The marriage of herself and husband was blessed by the birth of the following children : Mary, wife of Prof. Manoah Eberhardt, of Iowa; Joseph Z .; Sarah, wife of Samuel Cotner, of Omaha, Neb .; William W., a farmer of Sarpy County; John L. and Fred E.
Our subject early became a student in the com- inon schools of his native State, and he was later sent to Duff's Merchant's College, at Pittsburgh, Pa., where he received a fine and complete business education. At the age of sixteen he began his career as a teacher in a common school at Oakland, Md., and afterward taught a select school at West- ville, Ind. The family moved from Pennsylvania to Indiana, and remained about six years. He then came to Nebraska, and locating in Sarpy County, was for some time actively and profitably engaged in farming. While a resident of that county he took a somewhat active part in public affairs. and at one time was County Commissioner, which office he has also held for one term in this county. In the winter seasons our subject resumed his profession as teacher, and was for several sea- sons pleasantly engaged in the occupation of teach- ing the youth of Sarpy County. In 1880 Mr. Briscoe removed to Lincoln and established him- self in the boot and shoe business. He afterward sold out, but subsequently formed a partnership
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with Mr. Webster in the same line. and they are now carrying on a flourishing trade, under the firm name of Webster & Briscoe, in a nicely fitted up store at No. 1043 O street, carrying a stock of $30,000, and by their courteous manners and thor- oughly honest and honorable dealings they have secured a large amount of custom, and are patron- ized by some of the best people in the city. In the year 1887 Mr. Briscoe erected an elegant and com- modious dwelling on the corner of Seventeenth and Locust streets, at a cost of $5,000.
Mr. Briscoe was one of the members of the City Council who disobeyed the restraining order of Judge Brewer, of the United States District Court, in regard to ousting from office the Police Judge of Lincoln, for dereliction of duty. Judge Brewer regarded their action as contempt of court, and im- posed a fine on the council of $5,000, which the coun- cil refused to pay. The Judge then commanded the United States Marshal to place them in custody until the fine be paid. The case was taken before the Supreme Court at Washington, and the decision of that court was that the action of Judge Brewer was that of judicial usurpation, and the council was therefore released.
September 16, 1858, the marriage of our subjeet with Miss Eleanora Brandt was solemnized, the cere- mony being performed by the Rev. D. O. Stewart, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Briscoe was born in Bloomington, Va., April 9, 1840, and is a daughter of Elijah P. and Sarah (Kite) Brandt, natives of Maryland. Her father died in his native State at Oakland, the mother is still living, and she is a faithful member of the Christian Church. Mr. Brandt was a farmer by occupation, and was a prominent citizen of the community where he resided, his great integrity and sterling worth commanding the confidence of his fellowmen. He was in his daily life a true and con- scientious Christian, and was a pillar of the Luth- eran Church. To him and his wife six children were born, namely : Hettie M., Ptolma, Eleanora, Martin, Thomas and John.
The happy married life of our subject and his wife has been blessed to them by the birth of a daughter, Florence V., who is now an accomplished young lady. She is a student in the art depart-
ment of the Christian University, where her fine natural talent as an artist is receiving careful eulti- vation, and also her musical talents. Her pictures in oil and her erayou work are said to be unsur- passed by any amateur in the city. Our subject and his family are active and prominent members of the Christian Church, and the daughter is a teacher in the Sunday-school. Mr. Briscoe has been an ordained Elder of the church for twenty years, and, in fact, is one of the leading members; has been President of the Missionary Society for eight years; has taught in the Sunday-school for many years, and was greatly instrumental in build- ing the first Christian Church of this city. To his exertions it is due in great part that the Chris- tian University was located in this eity, as he was Chairman of the committee appointed to look up a suitable site for the proposed literary institution, and he has nobly endowed the Bible chair of the university with the munificent sum of $25,000. In polities, our subject proudly claims to be a member of the Democratic party, which has no more vigor- ous supporter of its principles than he.
AVID JACKSON. While there is an American history the name of Jackson will hold one of the most honored places in its pages, both as connected with the Presi- dential chair and its military achievements, for al- though the leader in the latter was mistaken in his opinions, he was a most able General, honorable man and Christian. He was the originator of the first colored Sunday-school, and the largest south of the Mason and Dixon line, and until the last was held in most affectionate regard by the colored people of his native eity, and the name " Stonewall Jackson " should be associated rather with this incident and that at Fredericksburg as indicative of the man, than with any position his mistaken opinion led him to take. In the history of Nebraska the name as connected with our subject will be also held in affec- tionate remembrance as one who did much for the development and success of the Statc.
Our subject is a direct descendant of President Jackson, and Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson was his
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nephew. Ile was the son of John and Eva (New- man) Jackson. His parents settled in Loudoun County, Va., where his father farmed a large tract of land for several years, and afterward removed to llardin County, Ohio, and continued in the same occupation, and in this latter home ched, in 1832, aged fifty-four years. llis death was the re- sult of a ferocious attack by a mad dog, in which he sustained several severe wounds from the teeth of the animal. His widow continued to make her home upon the Ohio farm until her death, in 1859, aged eighty-three. They were the parents of ten children, of whom four were boys. Our subject was the youngest, his natal day being Feb. 2, 1819, and the place of his birth Hillsboro, Va. At the time of the removal to Ohio he was five years of age, and about two years later he entered the com- mon school, continuing in the same until he bad gone the round of its classes.
As a boy Mr. Jackson was unusually industrious, and had his full share of the high spirit and inde- pendence of the true American boy, and like the illustrious Garfield and others, he early began to labor. The work he undertook was that of wood cutting in the forests near his home, and farm work. He was fifteen years of age when the acci- dent which removed his father occurred; he then the more manfully labored on, with the view of helping his mother, which he was enabled to do to no inconsiderable extent.
The great step of our subject's life was taken in 1840, when he became the husband of Miss Mary McAllister, a lady of character, culture, refinement and womanly grace. She was the daughter of John and Mary (Graton) McAllister. Her father was a native of Ireland; her mother, of New England. They had made their home in Ohio among the earliest of its pioneers, and their experience and life was in common with their neighbors. Shortly after his marriage our subject removed to Henry County, and settled there. He purchased a piece of wood- land, and was busily occupied in clearing and im- proving the same. He very shortly had a comfort- able, if not elegant, home, and was enabled to reap large harvests, and prospered well.
There were eight children born to our subject, whom it was his pleasure to see develop those
qualities which point to a successful life. Their names are recorded as follows: William, Martha, John, Mary, Isaac, Ella, Wilbert and Rebecca. Beside these a son was adopted into the family, and bears the name David Howard Jackson.
About the year 1850 our subject made the ac- quaintance of James A. Garfield, who was a mem- ber of the same church, and had also met him on several public occasions. A firm and ardent friend- ship sprang up between them, which continued un- til the martyrdom of the beloved Garfield. Thus he continued with his family during the formative period of Ohio's history, working, suffering hard- ship, enduring reverses, and yet, withal prosperous and happy. In the midst of this beautiful, although perhaps somewhat quiet life, the family was sud- denly disturbed and the quiet dispelled by the echo and reverberation of the guns which sent forth the shells to the walls of Sumter. This aroused all his patriotism, and stirred every instinct of man- hood; immediately, although past forty-four years of age, being unable to restrain himself and satisfy his feelings with the excuse that there were younger men, he left his home and farm, and took his place in the first regiment of Ohio Sharpshooters, enlist- ing in Company A. He was a man always fond of his gun, and was an excellent marksman ; at the target trial, which was given each man before enlisting in this regiment, he was the second upon the record of the entire regiment, and accounted a most perfect shot. From the report of the trial is given the fol- lowing: "Three shots, averaging one and a half inches; five shots, five and a quarter inches." The record of our subject would have been the best of all, had not Lient. Pickard, after Mr. Jackson's third shot, requested to be allowed to shoot the re- mainder for him, which was done in order to save his own record, as at first.
Our subject in connection with his company engaged the rebels at Ft. Donelson, Nashville, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Chattanooga. At the latter place he was seriously injured by the falling of a timber, disabled, and sent back to Nashville. He was also severely wounded in the same battle by a ball which took effect in his left arm. Finding that it would be impossible for him to serve again he was honorably
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discharged at Nashville. After coming home to Ohio he remained upon the farm about two years, when he sold his property, put his belongings in his wagon, hitched up the team and started West. Their journey was continued until they arrived at Plattsmouth. The first winter was spent in Ne- braska City, but early in the following year (1869) he came to Lincoln, purchasing his present prop- erty on section 4, Saltillo, which comprised eighty acres of what was then virgin prairie. He now be- gan the second chapter of his pioneer experience, diverse in many ways from that obtained in Ohio. There he had the forest trees to remove before anything could be done. Here he had nothing but the level prairie to tame, but several times did he nearly lose everything, including life, by experience harder and more terrible than anything in his former home. The danger which threatened here was that which came from that element which, the proverb informs us, is a good servant, but a terrible master.
A fire is bad enough when it is found in a city, even though it be surrounded by the darkness of the mid- night hour, and mingled with the roaring flames is the shriek of some heavy sleeper just wakened to his or her hour of peril; but, linked with the miti- gating circumstances of the powerful engines. the hook and ladder companies, the ready help of stal- wart and heroic firemen, it is as nothing compared with the awfulness of the prairie fire, as, roaring, leaping, flashing, burning, as far as the eye can reach on either hand, it travels rapidly toward the home- stead with the grain ripening in the field and the stock in stall or pasture. Only one other experience can be named with it-that of the fires at sea.
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