USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska > Part 61
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Mr. Healy and his family are held in high appre- ciation by the community, and he, by strict atten- tion to business, faultless integrity and manliness, holds a prominent place among his townsmen. Ile has for some time been the Moderator of his dis- triet, and also Supervisor of his township. He is a stanch friend of the Democratie party, and has, we believe, yet to be heard from in positions of politi- cal trust, which his high character would suggest his fitness for.
E UGENE F. SULLIVAN passed the years of his early youth in the home of his nativ- ity, the county of Cork, Ireland, the date of his birth being about 1850. IIe is the son of Eugene and Mary Sullivan, who spent their entire lives on their own loved "Emerald Isle." They had three chil- dren : Murty, Ilannah, and Eugene, the subject of this sketch. When about nine years old Eugene, with his brother and sister, emigrated to America to try their fortunes in a new and strange country. They first went to Massachusetts, where for four years they resided, and then, alone, the subject of our sketch went to Michigan, and remained there until 1877, when he came to Laneaster County, where he has since resided.
Mr. Sullivan received but a limited education, having been carly thrown on his own resources. In the month of August, 1872, he was married in
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Massachusetts to Bridget Sullivan, and was the father of eight children, five of whom are living, viz: Murty. Timothy. Katie, Ella and Eugene.
As a reward of his diligence and persevering in- dustry, Mr. Sullivan is now the owner of 160 acres of land in Denton Precinct, section 25. For his land he paid the price of about $4.95 per aere, purchasing it from the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company. With untiring zeal and energy he has cultivated his land, until it is now worth many times its former value. It is under such circum- stances as these more than any other that a man is able to appreciate and enjoy the fruits of his in- dustry.
Mr. Sullivan is a member of the Catholic Church, at Lincoln, and he so conducts himself, socially and in business, that among his acquaintances he is universally respected, and his word is considered as good as his bond. It is impossible to estimate the extent of the influence for good which the life of one honest, upright citizen exerts upon the lives and conduct of those with whom he comes in con- taet. It is the silent influence of a worthy example that tells more truly than sounding words or out- ward profession the state of the heart within.
When a man aflirms that he belongs to this or that political party, and gives his influence to the support of that party, irrespective of the platform and opinions which that party adopts, he sometimes makes an irretrievable error; by his influence he may mislead others. The gentleman in whose honor this sketch is written seeks to avoid that error by upholding and approving only that which is good in a party and as illustrated by its representative- the man.
C HRISTEL RAUSCHI, a large land-owner of South Pass Precinet, residing on section 19, occupies a leading position among the pro- gressive and well-to-do farmers of Lancaster County. Ile is a fine example of a self-made man, as he began at the foot of the ladder as a carpenter, at which trade he has worked in various places in
the Northwest. By his industry, skill, and good business habits, he worked his way up to the posi- tion of a contractor, and earned quite a fortune in that business. He then turned his attention to agriculture, and has been equally successful in this.
Mr. Rausch is a native of the town of Minden, Province of Hanover, Germany, his birth taking place there May 14, 1839. This was also the birth- place of his parents, Frederic and Henrietta ( Lotze) Rausch. His father was a carpenter by trade, and in 1855 emigrated with his family to America. He first went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lived six months, and then he removed with his wife and children to Clayton County, Iowa, where he bought a farm. He accumulated quite a fortune before his death in 1877, at the age of seventy-one years. His devoted wife did not long survive the severe blow of his death, as she died six weeks later, at the age of seventy-six years. They were heartily re- spected by all who knew them, as people whose daily lives exemplified the honesty and uprightness of their characters. They were the parents of four children-Fred, Louis, Christel and Fredreke.
Christel Rausch, of this sketch, received a fine education in the excellent schools of his native land, and at the age of fourteen was confirmed in the church. He learned the carpenter's trade and worked at it for one year before coming to America with his parents, when he was a boy of fifteen. ile was employed at his trade in Cincin- nati the first summer that he lived in this country, and then went to Clayton County, lowa, with his father and mother, and worked at his trade there in the summers and on his father's farm in winters until he was twenty-one. He then went with his two brothers, Frederick and Louis, to St. Paul, Minn., where they set up a shop and became con- tractors and builders. He continued in St. Paul five years, and made a small fortune at his business. lfe then went back to Clayton County, Iowa, pur- chased a farm of eighty acres, and was there mar- ried, in 1865, to Miss Wilhelmina, daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Lindekul) Severin, natives of Saxony, Prussia, who came to America with their family in 1856. Mr. Severin was a wagon- maker by trade, but when he settled in Guttenberg, Clayton Co., Iowa, he bought a farm and worked it.
RESIDENCE OF O. S. LAMB, SEC.16. STEVENS CREEK PRECINCT.
ENTER PHIL
PASTURE
CORN
PASTURE
MEADOW
MEADOW
CORN
RESIDENCE OF CHRISTEL RAUSCH , SEC, 19. SOUTH PASS PRECINCT.
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He brought considerable money with him from Germany, and is now very well off, and at the age of seventy-three is enjoying the comforts of a good home in the pleasant companionship of his estimable wife, who is sixty-six years old. Seven children blessed their union, namely : Christian, Henry, Wilhelmina, Charles, Mary, August and Amelia, all in Nebraska. Mrs. Rausch was born July 26, 1846, in the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany, and re- ceived the preliminaries of her education in the famous Saxon schools. She was ten years old when she came to America with her parents, and made her home with them in Clayton, County, Iowa, where she first attended an English school. She be- came very proficient in the language, and also re- tains her knowledge of German, and is well versed in the literature of both languages, being an intelli- gent and accomplished lady. The chief sorrow of the happy wedded life of our subject and his wife has been in the death of their only child, at the age of one year and four months. But life's lesson may have taught them that it is better,
Far better to smile with a deep content, O'er a baby quietly sleeping, O'er a little one safe from all that ean harm, Safe and quietly sleeping.
The sun comes up, and the sun goes down, On sorrow, and sin, and aching, And to all the evil that's in the world. Their darling will know no waking.
Mr. Rausch continued to farm in Iowa for ten years after his marriage, finally leaving that State and coming to Nebraska in 1875. He lived in Buda Preeinet for two years, and then purchased his present homestead in 1877, comprising 160 acres of land. The man who had owned the land having left it, it was sold a second time, to our subjeet, only fonr acres of it having been broken, he paying for it $1,000. He has since bought 160 aeres more land on section 33, the northeast quarter, and eighty acres on section 20. Mr. Rausch built a sub- stantial and commodious barn in 1877, doing the work with his own hands. The next year he erected his present fine residence, living in the meantime in the first house that he had built for a granary until the next spring. Our subject has paid much attention to fruit culture, has an orchard
of forty trees of choice varieties of cherries, and he set out two acres of grape vines, and now has a fine vineyard, his vintage of 1887 yielding 420 gal- lons of a wine of superior quality. Mr. Ransch also owns some valuable village property in Roca and Firth. and may be classed among the wealthy men of Lancaster County. He and his wife are widely respected, and occupy an important social position in the community. In their religious views they adhere to the creed of the Lutheran Church, in which they were reared. In his political affiliations Mr. Rausch is a Democrat.
The Rausch homestead is amply worthy of a place among the other illustrations of the enter- prise and industry of the men of Lancaster County, and it gives us pleasure to assign it among such good company, as fulfilling the modern idea of the well- regulated country estate.
SCAR S. LAMB. The subject of this sketch located on the northeast quarter of section 16, in Stevens Creek Precinct, in the spring of 1877. Ile has now 160 acres of land under cul- tivation, with a good residence, a substantial barn, and the other out-buildings necessary for his con- venience. Although perhaps not the hero of any very thrilling event, he has pursued the course of an honest man and a good citizen, and contributed his quota toward the building up of his county, in the establishment of one of its valuable homesteads, a view of which will be noticed on an accompany- ing page.
The childhood home of our subject was in the vicinity of Ft. Ann, Washington Co., N. Y., where his birth took place April 29, 1849. His parents. Samuel and Emma ( Lilley) Lamb, were among the earliest settlers of that region. The father also was a native of the Empire State, but the mother was born in Vermont. Samuel Lamb in early man- hood became an expert in the manufacture of woolen goods, and for a number of years was part owner of a factory at Ft. Ann. Later he kept hotel, and died at Ft. Ann, Oct. 14, 1886, when well advanced in years. The mother is still living,
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and makes her home with her daughter at White- hall, N. Y.
To Samuel and Emma Lamb there were born nine children, one of whom, a son, Charles M .. died at the age of three years. Seven daughters and one son are still surviving. Harriet, the eklest, is the wife of William B. Nelson, of Toulon, Ill. ; Adeline, Mrs. William Bilson, lives in Green Island, N. Y .; Carrie married Mr. H. E. Griswold, who is now deceased, and she, still remaining a widow, resides at Ft. Ann, N. Y .; Emma, Mrs. Alphonso Brown, and Cornelia, the wife of Rodney Van Wormer, continne residents of their native place; Eva is the wife of James P'. Gillette, of Whitehall, N. Y .; Ger- trude married Edward W. Clark, and they live in Nebraska City. this State; Oscar S., our subject, is the only son living.
Mr. Lamb remained under the parental roof until twenty-three years of age, occupying bimself mostly in a woolen factory. When twenty-three years old he was married, March 13, 1872, at the home of the bride in Ft. Ann, to Miss Frances L., daughter of Sylvester and Sarah A. (Colton) Skinner, who was a native also of Ft. Ann, N. Y., and was born Oct. 16, 1853. Her father was a native of Ft. Ann, and her mother of Middletown, Vt. Sylvester Skinner was a farmer by occupation, and spent his last days in Ft. Ann, passing away on the 17th of January, 1884. The mother is still living there. The parental household included three children only, a daughter and two sons, Mrs. Lamb being the only girl in the family. Her brother, Charles H., died at the age of twenty-five years, leaving a widow and one son, Freddie; the other brother, Calvin C., died when a lad of nine years.
Mr. and Mrs. Lamb after their marriage settled near Ft. Ann, N. Y., where our subject occupied himself at farming until coming to this State, in 1877. The little household embraces two children only, a son and a daughter, Herman S. and Millie E. Mr. Lamb east his first Presidential vote for Gen. Grant, and uniformly supports Republican principles. He occupies a good position among his fellow-citizens, and has served in the various local offices. Socially, he is a Royal Areh Masou, becoming identified with the fraternity while a resi- dent of his native State, and now belongs to the
lodge at Lincoln. About 1880, desirous of a change of location and occupation. he went into the gold and silver mines of Colorado, where he spent about three years. With the exception of that time, he has been a continuous resident for the last eleven years of Lancaster County.
R OLLIN E. BAKER is one of the prosperous farmers of Centerville Precinct. He is the owner of an exceptionally well-cultivated farm, comprising 240 acres, situated upon section 2. The day of his nativity was the 2d of September, 1856, and the place of his birth Kane County, Ill .; he was the second child born to Samnel and Mary A. Baker, who at present reside in Henry County, Ill. The father of our subjeet is a native of Washington County, N. Y., and his mother of the Province of Quebec. Their family comprised five children, only two of whom, how- ever, are living, our subject and Emerit E., who is living in Henry County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Baker, Sr., are devout members of the Christian or Disciple Church; Mr. Baker has held for several years official connection in the church. He is now about sixty-seven years of age, and his wife about fifty-six. They are now enjoying in retired life the results of former years of toil and trouble.
The family ean be clearly traced, and always with honorable record, back to the colony formed by the voyagers of the "Mayflower." The grandfather of our subject, Nestor Baker, served throughout the War of 1812, and received commendation and pro- motion. The various phases of the conflict for freedom through which our beloved country has passed have not been without beneficial effect to the citizens, but also through them to the world at large. The storms which have beaten upon the tree of independence planted at Philadelphia in 1776, have but made it strike its roots deeper into the soil, take firmer hold, drink more deeply of the hidden springs of loyalty, patriotism, liberty and humanity, and flourish until the peoples of the carth, from every clime, nation and tongue, come to her for refuge, home and welcome.
Our subject was reared to manhood in his native
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State, received a thorough groundwork of educa- tion in the common and High schools, and afterward took a full course in and graduated from the North- western Business College. of Naperville, III. When sixteen years of age he engaged in the grocery trade as clerk, continuing for three years. From that until he was about twenty-two he was engaged in attending sehool. About the year 1878, with his parents, our subject removed to Lancaster County, which has continued to be his place of residence ever sinee. Ile was united in marriage, on the 20th of July, 1882, with Eliza Reugnitz, a daughter of Charles and Mary Reugnitz, both of whom are deceased.
From a local paper, which gives a very full and exhaustive account of the last hours and funeral services of Charles Reugnitz, we cull the following : " The gentleman was born in Waren, Mecklenburg, Germany, on the 27th of January, 1822. He re- ceived his early education in the Fatherland, and there learned the cooper's trade, which he con- tinued to follow through life. Ile was married, Nov. 22, 1846, to Miss Mary Meder, of the same place. She had been the companion of his childhood and youth, and had grown up to maturity by his side, and through the long years had been faithful and loving as wife and mother. They became the par- ents of eleven children. nine of whom are still liv- ing, and grown to man and womanhood. His first wife died Dee. 12, 1879, and a few months before his death he was married a second time, the lady being Mrs. Elsie Seapper. Mr. Reugnitz had been siek for some weeks, but about the 10th of August, 1882, his illness assumed a more serious form, and he died at 2 o'clock, on Monday, Aug. 14, 1882, leaving a widow and nine children." The article above referred to is largely occupied with the very feeling, appropriate and impressive address, deliv- ered at the obsequies, by Mr. J. F. Thompson, at the request of the family, which sketches the life, development and success of Mr. Rengnitz, and his success in life, linked with remarks of a more gen- eral but no less opportune and happy nature.
Mrs. Baker was born in Germany, Dee. 7, 1859, and five years later accompanied her parents to this country. Shortly after arrival they settled in Clayton County, Iowa, and there made their home
until death. Iler brothers and sisters numbered ten, of whom eight besides herself are living. Their names are as follows: Charles, George, August and Max reside in lowa; Albert is in Wisconsin ; Mary is the wife of O. D. Outhout, and is a resident of Iowa; Ilerman and Lewis live in Colorado.
Our subject is the owner of 240 acres of well- improved land, the improvements comprising not simply the perfection of cultivation of broad acres in grain, but also horticulture, forestry and orchard trees, with the houses for storing and preparing the fruitful harvest of the same; barns, stabling and other buildings; and not excepting the pleasant, comfortable and convenient farm dwelling, which is his home, and of which an excellent view is given in this volume. Mr. Baker is in every regard a self-made man; that is to say, his start in life was the result of his own effort and energy, after the foundation had been laid for success by the educa- tion his parents were enabled to give him. lle is highly respected as a citizen and as a man, whether in social or domestic relations. He is not an office- holder, but at the same time realizes the privileges and duties of citizenship, and is loyal to the same. His political sentiments are in accord with those of the Republican party, and this receives his vote and support. Religiously, he is, with his wife, associ- ated in the membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they are accounted among the most consistent and devout, and are held in highest es- teem.
W ALTER J. HARRIS. To the energetie la- bors, enterprise and business taet of this gentleman and his associates, is Lancaster County indebted for her high position as one of the leading stock-growing and grain-raising sections of Nebraska. He is an extensive farmer and breeder of fine stock, and owns one of the largest and best managed farms to be found within a radius of many miles of the State capital. It is admirably located in Lancaster Precinct, town 10, range 7, southeast quarter of seetion 10, six miles from Lincoln, and em- braces 160 acres of very fertile and highly cultivated soil. Mr. Harris also owns two farms in Stevens
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Creek Precinct, three miles from his homestead, comprising altogether 460 acres. His favorite breed of cattle is the Hereford grades, also Poland-China hogs, and poultry of the best breeds.
Our subject is of mingled Scotch-Irish ancestry, his grandfather, Walter Harris, being a native of Scotland, who came to this country and settled near Martinsburg, Va., prior to the Revolutionary War. lle subsequently migrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the very early days of its settlement, and actively engaged in the Indian War that followed the Revo- lution during Washington's administration. Ile married Elizabeth Reed, a widow, and they had three children, two sons and one daughter. Ilis wife had four children by her first marriage, and the seven children were brought up harmoniously in the same family.
One of these, Thomas, the father of our subject, was born April 23, 1803, in Butler County, Ohio. His father died when he was but three years old, and he lived with his mother until he was twenty- three years old. He married, in April, 1829, Miss Eliza Emmons, daughter of John and Johanna Em- mons, of New Jersey. He continued to live on the old homestead until after the birth of three of his children, when he removed to Vermillion, Ind., where the remaining five of his children were born. He was a man of sound, practical wisdom, and was influential and prominent in public affairs, and while a resident of Indiana was a Justice of the Peace for eight years. In politics he was an uncompro- mising Democrat. Ile died revered and lamented, June 28, 1844, on the farm that he had improved from a wild tract of Government land, located in Vermillion Township, Vermillion County, near New- port, the county seat, and only three miles from the Illinois line. His estimable wife survived him ten years, and then died on the home farm Nov. 10, 1854. Six of their eight children grew to maturity, as follows: Joanna II. became Mrs. French; at his death she married Mr. Lannen, and died at Beaver Crossing, Seward Co., Neb. James E. lives in Idaho; Elizabeth is Mrs. Southard, of Vermillion County, Ind .; Mary Jane is Mrs. Jackson, of Colorado; Hannah was Mrs. Clarke, who died in Indiana, and Walter .J.
The subject of this biographical sketch was born
March 5, 1832, in Trenton, Butler Co., Ohio, and when four years of age accompanied his parents to their future home that they planted in the wilds of Indiana. He lived at home until twenty-two years of age, attending the public schools during the winter terms, where he obtained a very good edu- cation, and, after the death of his father, actively assisting in the maintenance of the family. He es- tablished a home for himself at'the age mentioned, having been united in marriage, March 23, 1854, to Miss Charlotte Frances Shaw, daughter of Jesse and Mary (Harris) Shaw. She was born Nov. 3, 1832, at Rushville, Ind .. and there died March 5, 1861, at the age of twenty-nine years, leaving two children- Florence E. and Frances H. The former married Orin Richey, of Indiana, and the latter was united in marriage with Nathan Burris, a resident of Dayton, W. T.
After his marriage Mr. Harris had moved to Crawford County, Wis., where he engaged in farm- ing for six years. In 1860 he removed to Rush- ville, Rush Co., Ind., and his wife dying in the fol- lowing year, on the 5th of March, thus ending a happy wedded life and breaking up his home, he was ready to respond to his country's first call for assistance at the outbreak of the war, and on the 22d of April he enlisted in Company C, 16th Indi- ana Infantry. In June, 1861, he was transferred to the 13th Regiment for the three-years service, and fought bravely under the old flag in its defense until July, 1864, when he was honorably discharged, having undergone all the trials and hardships inci- dental to a soldier's life. He was in the Army of the Potomac when Mcclellan commanded it, but was under the immediate command of Rosecrans at Rich Mountain, which was the first battle he took part in. Ile at one time served as guard of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He took part in thirty- two battles and skirmishes with his regiment and was wounded but once, when he was disabled by a spent ball, and was thereby confined in camp in front of Petersburg until his discharge. The chief battles in which our subject engaged were: Win- chester, Rich Mountain, Cheat Mountain, Green- brier, Allegheny, Port Republic, Harrison's Land- ing, Battle Deserted Farm, siege of Suffolk, Hanover Run and Hanover Junction, siege of Ft. Wagner,
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Bermuda Hundred, Chester Station and many oth- ers, besides numerous skirmishes.
After his retirement from the service Mr. Harris made his home in Indiana for awhile, and was there a second time married. Feb. 23, 1865, Miss Emily J. Iloeker, daughter of Uriah and Frances E. Hocker, of Parke County. Ind., becoming his wife, a woman of much ability, who has greatly helped him in building up their pleasant and cozy home on the prairies of Nebraska. Four children, two sons and two daughters, complete the household, of whom the following is the record: Thomas U., born Jan. 4, 1866; Charlotte E., 'born June 14, 1867, is now the wife of George J. Johnson, and they reside in Lincoln ; John R., born Feb. 8, 1871; Hannah Augusta J., Feb. 25, 1874. Three are liv- ing at home with their parents.
Soon after marriage our subject and his wife came to Nebraska, June 5, 1865, and he took up 160 acres of land under the provisions of the Home- stead Act, located on the corner of Thirty-third street, and now near the heart of the city of Lin- coln. In the same year he bought the northwest quarter of section 17, township 10, range 7 east, which he owned until November, 1886, when it had so increased in value that he sold it for 8110 per acre. His home farm he sold for $30,000. On the 25th of the same month he bought the southwest quarter of section 10, township 10, range 7, paying therefor 844 per acre, and has since made his home here. A view of the residence and its surround- ings, which the artist enables us to present to the reader, will bring these within the mental grasp bet- ter than any verbal description, though ever so complete and graphie.
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