Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 35

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

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After his marriage Mr. Bingham went West, in the spring of 1842, settling in Bureau County, III., about 100 miles from Chicago, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. This he made his home for about twenty-six years, living in Dover and Princeton. From thence he removed to Union County, in Southern Illinois, engaging for the sub- sequent ten years in the fruit business. In 1878 the removal to Nebraska was proposed and effected,

and the property two and a half miles from Lincoln was purchased. At that time it was unbroken prai- rie in all its native wildness, and was at that time valued and purchased at the rate of $9 per acre. Immediately he set about the work of providing a home for his family and improving his farm. His present elegant and commodious residence was erected in the year 1885. The view which will be found elsewhere in this volume will convey, how- ever, a better idea of this model home and its sur- roundings than is possible in the written description. He sold 145 acres of his farm in the year 1887, re- ceiving for the same $30,000, which speaks more eloquently than mere words his prosperity during the years intervening, and the high state of cultiva- tion to which he had brought the property. This sale still left him his residence and unusually fine orchard, containing about 500 plum, 200 apple trees, and one acre of grape vines, with sufficient land for his purpose-about fifteen acres in all- making this property an exceptionally fine suburban residence. It is considered by all who know it as one of the most beautiful homes in the county. Previ- ous to the sale of his farm our subject had been one

of the most extensive stock-raisers and sheep-raisers in the entire district, carrying on also a large dairy business in the city. Although now no longer a representative of the farming and stock interests, he is one of the most prominent and prosperous citizens.

To our subject and wife there have been given four daughters: Mary Ellen, who is now the wife of A. M. Trimball, of Lincoln; Sarah A., who be- came the wife of Edwin Collins, who is since deceased, leaving his widow with one son; Hattie B. was married to Prof. G. H. French, of the Nor- mal University, of Carbondale, Ill. It was their misfortune and sorrow to lose by death the young- est daughter, Helen E .. shortly after she had reached the age of eleven years. The only grandchild of our subject is Eddie B. Collins, the son of his sec- ond daughter above referred to.

The parents of our subject bore into their daily lives the Christian influences of a faith which received the highest devotion of their being. These influ- ences surrounded the earliest days of our subject, and continued through the days when he was better enabled to grasp their meaning; they were not without result, being reproduced in daily emana- tion from the heart they had affected so deeply, and have continued growing stronger and deeper through the years of life. At the age of eighteen our subject made public profession of his devotion to the Christian faith, was immersed by the Rev. John Peacock, and received into the membership of the Baptist Church at Keene, becoming an active worker in the cause. Upon removal to Dover he transferred his membership to the church there, and for twenty-six years was unwearied in well-doing. Soon after he had reached the age of thirty-four he was elected and ordained Deacon of the church, and for fifteen years filled with efficiency the posi- tion of chorister, and for a similar period that of Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Upon the removal to Union he was obliged to resign these offices, to the great regret of all connected with the church and school.

Mr. Bingham then transferred his allegiance to the church adjacent to his new home. During the years of his superintendency he had become pas- sionately devoted to Sunday-school work, and in his

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new home his energies were spent in the establish- ment and support of similar institutions. In every school-house for quite a large distance around his home, he went to work to found a Sunday-school, and until he could find some one living near by who could take charge thereof, he would superin- tend it himself. His plan was to visit each school in regular order, and not infrequently the list of schools he visited in this way was quite lengthy. The Sunday-School Mass Meetings, which have be- come so deservedly popular in Illinois, were intro- duced by Mr. Bingham when he was sent as a delegate to the Clear Creek Association. In the Baptist communion our subject was considered their best worker in this department. The Colored Sun- day-School Association, of which our subject was President until his removal to Nebraska, exists as a result of the largeness of his liberality and untiring effort. When he determined to remove to this place he received, as was most just, a highly commendatory letter to the church at Lincoln, with which he united upon his arrival. This was in the year 1878. Since that time he has served the church as Treasurer and Deacon, and has been un- tiring in interest and zealous effort in Sunday- school work. He has established a large number of such schools in the county, and superintends the one held in the school-house opposite his home. For seven years Mr. Bingham held the office of Treasurer to the Ottawa Baptist Association.

There are two kinds of religion in the world to- day, and the failure to discriminate between them is at the bottom of all the atheism and most of the dissatisfaction that is observed in regard to such matters. It is the difference between the true and false; the genuine and counterfeit; the vital and the superficial; the profession and the possession. That of our subject, which has enabled him to sustain such high positions in the esteem and affection of the very extensive circle in which he has moved in the different States of which he has been a resi- dent, stamps the religion of our subject as that which has its strong hold in the heart, and, reaching out into all the happenings, duties and surround- ings of each day and hour, produces a life and not a mere "I believe" profession.

In political affairs the subject of our sketch has

seen many changes. In early life he was a Whig; later he became an Abolitionist, and during the war was a strong Union man. Ever since the or- ganization of the Republican party he has been a cordial supporter thereof, and at all times energetic in its behalf. By the members of the party he has been considered one of its faithful friends and firmest adherents. The friends of this gentleman will be pleased to find the portrait of Mr. Bingham in this volume, and the general reader cannot fail to be interested to look into the face of such a man and citizen.

P ETER OSTRAN. Upon the map of Eu- rope, in the northern part, is marked a country which in the days of old played perhaps a more important part in the affairs of that continent than it does to-day, when it is overshadowed largely by massive, consolidated em- pires. What is known regarding this country, how- ever, is as a whole more to its credit than the history of some of its neighboring States. From this country-Sweden-there have come to Amer- ica as emigrants many, who, as they have obtained a larger grasp of the condition of things in their adopted country, have taken their places in the first rank of citizens.

The subject of this writing is a native of the above country, the son of Sven and Sarah (Peter- son) Ostran, both of whom were likewise natives of Sweden. His father was engaged in mercantile pursuits and had a large wholesale and retail estab- lishment. Ile also filled with honor, for a period of twenty-eight years, the office of County Judge. He was the parent of seven children, three of whom were boys. Our subject, who was the fourth child of the family, was born Jan. 1, 1845. The life of a child in Sweden would seem to be a busy one, for after twelve short years school and playground became things of the past, and at that early age he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade. His talents rapidly developed themselves, and after about four years he is found carrying on a business and employing several hands. After con-

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tinuing to work at his trade for some three years, he sold out his business and eame to this country.

Our subject was about twenty-four years of age when he landed in New York, which event tran- spired July 2, 1869. In a few days he proceeded to Princeton, Il., and obtained work almost at onee as foreman. He continued thus engaged and with the same firm for a period of four years. He afterward remained, still working at his trade, for another six years, making ten years of life in Illinois. He came to Nebraska Oct. 5, 1879, and settled in Bennet. At this time his family in- cluded besides himself his wife and two chil- dren. A farm on section 32, Nemaha Precinct, was then for sale and held out inducements which led him finally to its purchase. Ilere he con- tinued to reside and was very successful in hus- bandry for three years, when he removed to a farm on section 4, which his prosperity enabled him to pur- chase. This comprised 160 acres of land, a portion of which was improved.

Miss Martha B. Coddington, an Illinois lady of education, culture and womanly grace, had capti- vated his affections, and this culminated on July 28. 1872, in their marriage. This lady is the daughter of James and Catherine (Fearer) Cod- dington, both natives of Virginia. The family first settled in Bureau County, Ill. It was the great sorrow and misfortune of this family that death re- moved by violent accident the father, which event occurred as the result of a severe fall from the back of a wagon while it was in motion. When this sad incident occurred, our subject was in the midst of a somewhat extended visit in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Mrs. Coddington, his wife, con- tinues to make her residence in Bureau County, Ill. The family circle included ten children, four of whom were sons. The youngest of the family is the lady who afterward became Mrs. Ostran. She was born Jan, 31, 1854. The family of our subject numbers three children-Lottie M., James R. and Lee R.

The Baptist Church for several years was their religious home, but for a long time Mr. and Mrs. Ostran have been worthy members of the United Brethren denomination, and enjoy the confidence and high regard of their fellow-members. Our sub-

ject affiliates with the Republican party, the princi- ples of which he most firmly believes and most strongly advocates; nevertheless he takes a de- eided stand upon the much agitated question of the liquor traffic, and upon that he is a Prohibitionist. We may perhaps trace this feeling to the fact that our subject has the bringing up of these bright, in- telligent children, especially his two sons, for no one can look upon the temptations which surround children as a result of this traffic, without feeling more or less the need of a strong safeguard against the same. We have only to add in the brief space permitted by this sketeh that Mrs. Ostran is as worthy of high regard, confidence and esteem for the position she sustains in church, social and domestic spheres, as her husband in his more varied relations, and that both husband and wife de- servedly enjoy the utmost esteem and respect of the community.

W. MUSSETTER, proprietor of the Musset- ter quarry, and a farmer, is one of the most energetic and enterprising business men of Roea Village. As that of a man who has risen superior to adversity, and has nobly conquered all the difficulties that lay in his pathway, the life of our subject has been a grand one, well worthy of emulation by the youth of the rising generation. It has been one long struggle for the success that he has finally achieved. Twice during his career has he been down to almost desperation in his financial standing, but his indomitable will and persevering toil have each time brought him up triumphantly, and his present prosperity is established on a sure foundation.

The parents of our subjeet, Michael and Maria (Smith) Mussetter. were natives of Virginia, the father of Berkeley County, and the mother of Hamp- shire County. ITis paternal grandfather, Christian Mussetter, was a German by birth, and his maternal grandfather, Reuben Smith, who fought in the War of 1812, was of Welsh and English blood. The parents of our subject settled in Hampshire County, Va., where for seventeen years Mr. Mussetter car-

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ried on blacksmithing very prosperously. Ile then removed with his family to Wood County, W. Va., where he bought a farm, continuing to reside there until his death, at the age of sixty-two years. He was an intelligent, well-informed man, tender and true hearted in his relations with his family and friends. and as a citizen, intensely loyal to his coun- try, his only regret on his dying bed being, that he could not live to see the Union cause triumphant. Ilis worthy wife died in 1876, at the age of sixty- four years. They were the parents of eleven chil- dren, nine of whom grew to maturity, six sons and three daughters.

Our subject, the second son and child, was born Aug. 22, 1833, in Hampshire County, Va., near Ridgeville. Ilis educational advantages were lim- ited, as there were then no free schools in the part of the country where he was reared, and his father having a large family of children, could not afford to keep them in the rate schools much of the time. J. W. was sixteen years old when his father went to farming in Wood County. W. Va., and he assisted his father some on his farm. But the latter suc- ceeded so poorly in his farming venture that it became necessary for our subject to seck work else- where, that he might help support the family. Ac- cordingly he worked as a farm laborer and on public works, and with noble self-sacrifice gave all his earnings toward defraying the household ex- penses, quietly suppressing his own desires and am- bitions, and never saving up a dollar for himself until he was twenty-eight years old. In that year, 1861, he married Miss Mary Martha, daughter of Edward and Rebecca (Spaun) Leach, natives re- spectively of Maryland and Marshall County. Va. Her father followed his vocation of farmer in Mar- shall County, Va., until 1850, when he removed to Wood County, Ohio, where his wife died in 1854, at the age of forty-eight. Mr. Leach continued to live in Wood County for some time, but finally came to Nebraska, and spent his last days with our subject and his daughter, dying in 1887, at the remarkable age of ninety-nine years. He was the father of eight children, two boys and six girls, and Mrs. Mussetter was his third child in order of birth. She was born June 9, 1829, in Marshall County. Va .. and was eight years old when her parents

moved to Wood County. Her educational advan- tages were similar to those of her husband.

After marriage Mr. Mussetter bonght a small farm, and operated it a year or two, and then en- gaged in the mercantile business in the town of Deerwalk, Wood County. He was not very sue- cessful, as he was too liberal in trusting his custom- ers, and in the financial crisis of 1870 and 1871 he came down with a crash, which was aggravated by a fall in the price of oil. Mr. Mussetter then started in the blacksmith business in Volcano, Va., and was very successful there for two years, when the tide turned against him again, and he was again stranded, financially speaking. But he paid his indebtedness dollar for dollar, and with barely 8300 in his pocket, made his way with his family to Nebraska, arriv- ing at Lincoln in December, 1874. Ile succeeded in obtaining winter quarters, and in the next spring rented a farm and team. He was greatly encour- aged by the good harvests of 1875 and 1876, and continued renting land for six years. In 1881 he bought 120 acres of school land, and now has a first-class farm, with a commodious frame dwelling and various other improvements. Mr. Mussetter began to develop a stone quarry on his own farm on a small seale, and in 1884 he branched out in the business by leasing the Myers quarry, which he operated for three years, and in the spring of 1888 he leased the Mckinnon quarry. He has put in a side track, and employs about eight men and four or five teams, taking out about two or three car- loads a day. Ile ships stone to various Nebraska cities within a radius of 100 miles. His stone is found to possess every requisite of the best build- ing material, and he has quite an extensive busi- ness, is gradually getting into good working order, and will be able to fill large contracts. Taking everything into consideration, our subject has been very successful since coming to Nebraska,

Mr. Mussetter's life has been guided by prin- ciples of the highest honor and integrity, as a peru- sal of this biographical sketch will show, and he is a man of unspotted character, well dowered with firmness and stability. lle has the interest of this community deeply at heart, and has done much for its social, moral and religious elevation. He is a member of the Board of Education, and is School

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Treasurer for his district. Ile is a Trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which both he and his wife are leading members, and he is also Class- Leader. In politics, he is a Prohibitionist, and both he and Mrs. Mussetter have been actively engaged in the temperance cause for some time.

ON. HIERMAN J. LIESVELD. Andrew Jackson Davis' idea of life, as represented in the vision at Poughkeepsie, recited in his biography, frequently referred to in his "Harmony," and other works, is, after all, not with- ont a semblance of truth. It may be remembered that his vision takes the form of seven mountains, each rising higher than the other, and that, begin- ning at the foot of the lowest in childhood, one, through life, progresses in direct ratio to the perti- nacity and continued effort put forth in mounting the steep ascents, which are marked all the way by rocks, boulders, ravines, precipices, and other dan- gers and difficulties. Looking back from the highest summit of all, where, by the way, he finds himself almost alone, he sees the whole path occupied by struggling humanity, some advancing, others retro- gressing, stopping or falling. In the biography here presented it is our pleasure to offer that of one who has almost attained the summit of the seventh mountain, which includes not simply the success of finance and position, but manhood, in all that may be included in the term.

The parents of our subjeet, Derk and Martina (Van Der Teems) Liesveld, were born in Arnhem, an ancient and fortified town situated upon the Rhine, about fifty miles from Amsterdam, with a popula- tion of about 35,000 persons. By trade Mr. Leis- veld, Sr., was a shoemaker, and worked at the same until he came to this country, where he conceived that a better home could be made and his family better started in life than in the more crowded cities and Provinces of the old countries. Ile ac- cordingly sailed for the United States, landing in New York with his wife and child in the month of May, 1847, and began work almost immediately in a lumber-yard and sawmill upon the Hudson, near the city. He worked very little at his own trade,

until be removed to Grand Rapids, Mich., where he combined his old calling with the new. His next removal was to Zealand, Mich .. where he opened a shop, and for nine months continued with success as a boot and shoe maker. Thence he removed to Fulton, Ill., where he engaged in the dairy busi- ness for about nine months. The family then resided in Rockville, Wis., and again there is a re- version to the original business, coupled, however, with that of farming, which was sufficiently re- munerative and prosperous to continue its attrac- tions and hold the family for a period of ten years. Thence a removal was made to Chenoa, Ill., and he engaged as a nurseryman and purchased an in- terest in the business of M. T. Scott, which he held for four years, and then made his final removal to about seven miles south of Hastings, Iowa, where he carried on a large stock farm for Mr. Scott.

The father of our subjeet became the owner of 200 acres of land in this county, but he was never permitted to enter the "Canaan of the West," for, just as arrangements were being made to that end, he was called to relinquish the properties of earth and enter the land of silent spirits. Ile was fifty-five years of age at his death, Aug. 21, 1875. The mother of our subject resides upon the farm at South Pass Precinct, this county, and, despite her seventy-eight years, enjoys fair health and strength. To this happy union, in the course of years, there came seven little ones, who alternated in sex after the original order of male and female, as will be noticed by the subjoined record of their names in order of their birth. The first-born, as above stated, was our subject, Herman J., who was born in Arnhem; then Johanna, Frank, Mary, Thomas, Sarah and Samuel, all of whom were born in this country.

Our subject has no recollection of the passage from Amsterdam or the early life in New York. At the age of seven he attended the public school at Grand Rapids, and completed his education in Fulton, Ill., and Rockville, Wis., where, in addi- tion to the studies of the school hours, he was thor- oughly instructed in the German language, and here his school education terminated. He con- tinued from this on until he attained his majority, working in the nursery, superintending the men

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employed, and having charge of the work depart- ment In 1868 our subject was wedded to Miss Mary Pramm, of Roekville, but a native of Han- over, Germany, where she was born Dee. 6, 1846. She is the youngest child of four born to her par- ents, and was eight years of age when she came to this country. She is the daughter of Henry and Christina Pramm. It was her misfortune to be left fatherless within twenty-four hours after landing at Potosi, on the Mississippi River, her father leaving his wife a widow with four children, to fight the bat- tles of a new life in a new country, her troubles being increased in a few days by the loss of her only son. She was, however, a lady of courage and resources; she, therefore, faced nobly the severe and well-nigh overpowering trial, and went to work for herself and children with a womanly spirit beyond all laudation, and shortly succeeded in placing them and herself in a position of comparative comfort and ease. She removed to Riley Center, Kan., in 1870, where she died ten years subsequently, at the age of seventy-seven years.

The education of Mrs. Liesveld was commenced in Germany, and was as thorough as her age would permit. This has since been supplemented and ex- tended until she is fitted for any position in life, and would grace any sphere, even the highest in the land. In 1869 our subject became the superin- tendent of Mr. Scott's stock farm, retaining the same for a period of nine years, making in all eleven years he had been with Mr. Scott. In 1872 a visit was made to Nebraska for the purpose of prospecting, in which several counties were visited, and eighty acres were purchased in South Pass Precinct. This, with his father's property, made a total of 320 acres, of which forty acres were shortly afterward sold. Ar- rangements were made by Mr. Liesveld for his land to be broken, and improvements commenced by way of farm buildings, his residence being erected later.

Our subject and family took up their residence upon the above farm in the spring of 1879, and continued to operate it for three years, meeting with an experience as checkered as the floor of Solomon's Temple. In the year 1881 he was em- ployed by T. W. Lowry to take charge of the grain elevator at Firth, continuing in the same for

three years. During this time the partnership of Lowry & Liesveld was formed, in the same line of business. With increasing prosperity came the opportunity for further investment, and in the fall of 1884 a partnership was arranged with J. J. Trompen in the grain business. The business of the new firm speedily demanded larger quarters, and the present substantial building was erected. It is a steam elevator, with a capacity of 13,000 bush- els, and is fitted and supplied with every modern convenience and implement, and has since been the recipient of many thousand bushels of the golden grain of Nebraska, that has ultimately found its way eastward, and supplied the staff of life to innumera- ble families. The business exceeds 125,000 bushels per annum, which is supplemented by a large trade in all kinds of farm machinery, implements, and gen- eral supplies.

The home circle of our subject includes seven children, and it is a source of gratification to the parents to recognize in them those qualities and estimable attributes which will result, with proper eare, in noble lives and characters. Appended are their names in order of seniority : Marena C., M. T. Seott, Julia G., Derika A., Bertha L., Matilda W. and Maude II. The eldest daughter is now the wife of Henry Meyer, a successful farmer in Sal- tillo Precinct; the remaining children are still at home, and attending school, except the youngest, who is but four years of age.

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Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 35

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

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