Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 89

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

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Richard Wallingford.

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complishments of a thorough housewife. To Mr. and Mrs. Wallingford have been born six children, four of whom are living, namely: Jane, wife of Jerome Schamp; John A. married Selia Miller; Mary, wife of G. B. P. Reynolds; and James R., who married a Miss Mattie Williams.

Mr. and Mrs. Wallingford spent the first years of their wedded life in their native State. In 1856 they started for Iowa, going with teams, the jour- ney consuming about three weeks, there being no railways in lowa at that time, They settled in Decatur County, where Mr. Wallingford bought land from the Government. Keokuk, lowa, was the nearest market, and all the grain that was sold had to be drawn to that town, but the greater part of the wheat was needed for home consumption by the emigrants who were settling up the country. In 1859 our subject sold out in lowa and once more took up the journey westward, the Territory of Nebraska being his objective point. After his arrival here he entered a tract of Government land in what is now Yankee HIill Precinct. Then com- menced for him the task that befell all the early settlers of this country, of reclaiming his land from its wild state, and his experience in pioneering was like that of many others, fraught with much that would be interesting to our readers did the limits of this brief sketch allow us to transcribe it on these pages. There was a log house on his claim that the man who had previously settled on the land had built, and in that our subject and his family lived for some years, until he erected a more sub- stantial frame dwelling. At different times the Indians caused much trouble among the settlers, who would occasionally take refuge in Nebraska City, Plattsmouth and other convenient points. Once in the winter season a honse in the neighbor- hood was robbed by the Indians and some shooting was indulged in; the whites thought it best to leave their settlements and go to Weeping Water for shelter, taking most of their stock along with them. While there three families lived for two weeks in a small log cabin. They then returned to their homes, and after that never left them again on account of the Indians, although they continued troublesome for some years, stealing their stock, and in fact everything they could lay their hands on. Mr.

Wallingford improved a fine farm, which under his able management greatly increased in value, and has proved the source of an ample income. Ile con- tinued to reside in Yankee IIill Precinet until 1886, when he rented his farm and came to Lincoln to make his home, and soon after erected his present commodious residence. Our subject and his wife are now enjoying the fruits of their early labors. and the respect and consideration due to them for the rectitude and integrity of their conduct are not withheld, and in the many years that they have re- sided in Nebraska they have made many warm friends. In politics Mr. Wallingford is a Repub- lican. Ifis first vote for President was cast for Gen. William Henry Harrison.

We may be permitted to draw the attention of those of our readers who know our subject and those who, though not so favored, are interested to become better acquainted with him than the above sketch can make them, to the portrait which is herewith presented, where the well-known features are skillfully delineated by the artist.

OIIN C. THOMPSON. Among the younger men of West Oak Precinct, the subject of this biography occupies a good position, and is successfully operating on 160 acres of good land on section 28. In addition to the raising of cereals and the products of home consumption, both for man and beast, he gives considerable attention to stoek-breeding, keeping good grades of cattle, horses and swine. He acquired his present property in 1885, and has effeeted many improvements upon land which had previously been indifferently cul- tivated, and the buildings now present the air of thrift and comfort.

A native of the Dominion of Canada, our sub- ject was born Aug. 19, 1865, where he lived until a lad of seven years. His father then coming over into the States, traced his steps across the Missis- sippi to this county, loeating with his family in West Oak Precinct, where our subject acquired a common-school education, and developed into man- hood. After studying for a year in the school at Lineoln, he began farming on his own account, and

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after becoming assured that he coukt support a fam- ily comfortably, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Sterns, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride, in Seward County, Nov. 23, 1887.

John Thompson, the father of our subject, and a native of Yorkshire, England, was born about 1830, and continued upon his native soil until thirty years of age. In early manhood he served an apprentice- ship at the blacksmith trade, and in 1863 was united in marriage with Miss Jane Hammond, a maiden of his own county, and who became the mother of three children, all of whom are living, and all in Amer- ica. With his little family. John Thompson crossed the Atlantic, locating in Canada, where he carried on blacksmithing until coming to Nebraska. He is now Postmaster of Crounse; a further sketch of him will be found elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Jane (Hammond) Thompson, the mother of our subjeet, was born about 1840. and was the daughter of Thomas Hammond, who was of pure English an- cestry, and who died when his daughter Jane was a young girl of twelve years. She afterward, until her marriage, made her home with her maternal grandfather. She died at the home of the family in West Oak Precinct, July 20, 1881.

Mrs. Lucinda (Sterns) Thompson, the wife of onr subject. was born Sept. 12, 1865, in Ogle County, Ill., and is the daughter of William Sterns, who emigrated across the Mississippi into Black Hawk County, Iowa, a few years later. She acquired her education in the common schools of Iowa, living there with her parents until 1884, when they changed their residence to this county. A year later, how- ever, they removed to Butler County, where they now reside. Mr. Sterns was born in Canada, in 1840, where he spent his younger years, and where he was married. To him and his estimable wife Elizabeth (Youker) Sterns, there were born six ehil- dren, one of whom died when an infant. Lucinda, the wife of our subject, was next to the youngest. The Sterns family made the journey from Illinois to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in a wagon, and in com- mon with the pioneers around them, endured many hardships and privations. The father became owner of a tract of land which he brought toa good state of cultivation. The parents are both living, and with

their daughter Lucinda. and most of their fam- ily, are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Sterns is an intelligent and public-spirited man, and while a resident of this county was considerably interested in school mat- ters, and acted as Moderator in his district.

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Crounse, in which our subject has been Secretary and Treasurer of the Sunday -school, and is warmly interested in the welfare of the society. Ile also represents the history of "Protective Tariff" by R. W. Thompson, in West Oak Precinct, and politi- cally, is identified with the Republican party.

UGUSTUS C. RUDOLF is one of the pio- neers and early settlers of Lincoln. His father, Michael Rudolf, was born in Lunen- burg, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. The grandfather of our subject was a native of Austria, and was at one time Secretary to Queen Katherine of Russia, and later was a Commander in the Aus- trian army. He came to Nova Scotia, where he founded a colony under the Austrian auspices, and named it Lunenburg, in which place he spent his last years. The father of our subject was engaged in mercantile business in Lunenburg, and then re- moved from there to New York City, where he spent a few years, afterward going to Illinois, and residing in Jacksonville and Chicago until the year 1867, At that time he came to Lincoln, where he spent his last days, his death occurring in March, 1886. His wife, with whom he had spent over fifty years of happy married life, died on the same hour of the same day, and both were buried in the same grave.

It seemed a fitting close that they who had spent half a century or more in congenial associations, should together depart from the world, the husband at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, and the wife aged seventy-eight. Her maiden name was Isabella Jacobs, and she was a native of Halifax. There were five children given to this family: Emma Pope (now deceased); Lonisa Morrison, Helen Geiger, and James, who died at fifteen years

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of age. Our subject, Augustus, was the third child born at Lunenburg, where he attended the public and select schools until the age of thirteen years and six months, at which time he left home and went to the West Indies on one of his father's vessels.

On his return trip from the West Indies our sub- ject stopped at New York City, and there a friend secured him a position as clerk in a retail store, where he remained for one year. Then he engaged with a ship-chandler, and clerked for six months with him, afterward going to Augusta, Ga., where his brother-in-law, Thomas Pope, was Professor of Languages in the University of Georgia. For a short time he secured employment in a grocery store, and then engaged as an accountant in the office of the Georgia & South Carolina Railroad Company, and was in their employ for nine years. He went to Jacksonville, IH., and engaged in the grocery business until the year 1865, when he re- turned South to spend the winter, after which, going to Louisville, Ky., he bought a woolen-mill.

Our subject remained in Louisville for one year, and then sold his mill at an advanced price, and then came to Omaha via the Mississippi and Mis- souri Rivers, arriving at that place in August, 1867. He stopped there for a short time, then went to Nebraska City, and from there to Lincoln, making the last journey in a wagon, and following the Pike's Peak trail. The first sale of lots in the newly located eity had just taken place, and he bought a lot on the corner of Tenth and O streets, and made a contract to build the Union Block. The block is still standing, being built of stone gathered on the prairies.

After spending the winter in Chicago, in the following April, 1868, our subject returned to Lin- coln with a stock of groceries, and engaged in that business, which he has continued to the present time. He has seen the city grow from a small vil- lage to a flourishing city of nearly 50,000 people, and has been prominently identified with its many enterprises. When he first came here the greater part of the surrounding country consisted of wild prairie land, which the Government offered for sale at $1.25 per aere. In 1868 Mr. Rudolph built a residence on the corner of J and Twelfth streets, it

being the third house built south of O street, Ile paid $200 for the lot, and then sold the place at two prices a little later, and bought lots on the corner of G and Twelfth streets, for which he paid $100, erecting a house there. Ile has dealt quite extensively in real estate, and has been successful in his business transactions.

Our subject attended the first religious services held by the Episcopalians in Lincoln, in the sum- mer of 1868, the services being held in a small frame school-house on the corner of P and Thir- teenth streets. He was the only one in attendance who possessed a prayer-book and responded to the services. In the same year he attended the first court ever held in Lincoln, Judge Cadmen presid- ing, and the defendant in the case a man who was accused of horse-stealing. Our subjeet has always been a Republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.

On the 1st of January, 1869, our subject, in com- pany with J. L. McConnell, H. J. Walsh and Mr. Putnam, inangurated in Lincoln the custom of making New Year's calls. They had cards for the occasion with their photographs engraved on them, and they found the people ready to receive them, extending a hearty welcome. They had no car- riages, and had to walk from 11 o'clock in the morning until 8 o'clock in the evening. in order to eall on all the prominent families in the village. Our subject has raised himself to a position of in- fluence, and he receives, as he justly merits, the entire confidence and the highest respect of his fellow-citizens.

Le EWIS KREUGER. Among the German settlers of Nebraska, there are few if any more deserving mention under conditions similar to the present, than Lewis Kreuger, one of Centerville's prosperous farmers, whose home and property is situated on section 15. He was born Feb. 2, 1823, in Prussia, to Frederick and Eliza- beth Kreuger. He received his education in his native town, which was complete so far as an eduea-

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tion in his own language would be considered for a boy, but the difficulty of applying his knowledge in another language was for a time almost impassa- ble.

In the year 1849 our subject emigrated to this country and took his passage upon a sailing-vessel. The voyage occupied almost fully three- months. and was marked by all the pleasure, discomfort, amusement, sickness and buoyant health usually incident to such a trip, in spite of their seeming paradox. Our subject landed in New Orleans, and proceeded to St. Louis, and there made his home for two years, during that time being fairly pros- perous. At the end of that period he removed to Clayton County, Iowa, took a tract of land and en- gaged in farming.

During his residence in Iowa Mr. Krueger be- came attached to a lady of most excellent and ap- preciable character, and was united in marriage with her. The name of the lady of his choice was Elizabeth Winch. Their marriage was fruitful in the birth of several children, of whom seven are living, whose names are here appended: William, August, Margaret, Paul, Elizabeth, Hannah and Lena. The eldest son is now a resident upon sec- tion 24, and was born Feb. 3, 1858, at the Clay- ton County homestead, and has made husbandry his chosen profession; he accompanied his, parents when they came to this State in 1869, and con- tinned with them until he took up his farm. On the Ist of February, 1883, he was married to Helena Meyer, and they have become the parents of three children-Lewis (deceased), John and William. As a farmer he is very successful, and in political mat- ters affiliates with the Republican party.

The second son, August, is one of the most suc- cessful young farmers of the precinet, and owns property situated on section 13. He was born upon the Clayton County homestead, and was about six years of age when his parents came to this county. Ile went to school in the local institution, and has been reared to manhood in this precinct. He has given considerable attention to farm work, under the direction of his father, and later became the owner of 100 acres of land. Ile is one of the stanch members of the Lutheran Church, and ex- hibits qualities and character istics most praiseworthy.

In political matters he has associated himself with the Democratic party, and it is not too much to say that Nebraska will yet hear from him.

In 1869 our subject came to Lancaster County and took up his present property, comprising 240 acres of land, which is all well improved, as he is an indefatigable worker and very energetie and en- thusiastic in all that pertains to his farm and stock. In political matters he gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and is a strong partisan of that cause. In things religious, with his family, he is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is held in the highest respect as a true and faithful member of the same.

AMES B. ABBOTT is a representative far- mer and stock-raiser of Denton Precinct, residing on section 1. He is a native of Norfolk County, England, the date of his birth being Feb. 13, 1829. To his parents, Edward and Jane Abbott, both natives of England, were born the following children : Gertrude M., wife of Rev. Charles Turner, of near Norwich, England; James B., our subject; Charles E. and Robert J., both being lawyers in London; Alice J., in En- gland; and Elizabeth C., deceased, who had been the wife of Edward Alston, formerly Register Gen- eral of Victoria, Vancouver's Island; he now also is deceased.

Our subject attained his majority in his native country, where he received a good classical edu- cation. Engaging in the pursuit of agriculture, for twenty years he rented some 2,200 acres of land, and being successful, at different times he gave in- struction to seventy-three pupils in the elements of English farming.

On the 20th of September, 1853, Mr. Abbott married Ann Gates, also a native of Norfolk County, the date of her birth being May 6, 1835. Mrs. Abbott is a daughter of Francis and Charlotte Gates, the father being deceased, and the mother now in her eighty-sixth year, and still residing in Norwich, England. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Abbott has been blessed with thirteen children, nme of whom are living, as follows: Frank E., of the adjoining precinct of Yankee Ilill; Harry, of Den-

RESIDENCE OF MRS. ELNORAH FREYE, SEC. 22. CENTERVILLE PRECINCT.

AVENUE TO PARK.

LAKE IN PARK.

RESIDENCE OF JAS. B. ABBOTT, SEC. 1. DENTON PRECINCT.

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ton Precinet; Ann, residing in Lincoln. Neb .: Ed- ward, in Montana; Gertrude N., in Idaho; Ruth, wife of John Wigg; John, Lotta M. and James B., the last four named being in Denton Precinct.

On the 17th of June, 1871, our subject with his family took passage at Liverpool for America, and after an ocean voyage of eleven days landed at Quebec, and came directly to Nebraska. He re- sided for one year in Lincoln, at that time a place of 3,000 inhabitants, and removed in the following year to his present place of residence. On his ar- rival in Nebraska, in 1871, Mr. Abbott purchased from the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company 160 acres of land, at $15 an acre. Not a furrow had been turned, and he set about im- mediately to improve and cultivate his land, which achievement he accomplished by dint of industry and much hard labor. Thus he and his family duly appreciate and enjoy their present possession.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are members of the Episcopal Church, and while in England Mr. Ab- bott was Church Warden some twenty years. He has the confidence and esteem of the general pub- lie, one evidence of which lies in the fact that he has ereditably served as School Treasurer of Dis- triet No. 69 for sixteen years, and is now serving his seventh year as Assessor of Denton Precinct. In political matters he bestows the honor of his in- fluence on the Republican side, and approves of every measure which tends to the advancement and elevation of society in general and the public good.

When Mr. Abbott first came here there were but six settlers in Denton Precinct. Ile engaged rather heavily in speculation with Texas cattle, but find- ing the business to be not remunerative he discon- tinued it. Hle now has one of the best farms in Lancaster County. With an artist's eye he com- bines the beautiful with the useful, and on his grounds surrounding the residence and through the fields he has nicely arranged rows of various kinds of shade trees, a source of blessing and comfort to the tired pedestrian during the sultry summer months. A fine fish-pond, now becoming well stocked with Ger- man carp, is likewise one of the many useful as well as ornamental improvements which the proprietor has constructed. In taking a birds-eye view of this excellent farm, the observer realizes that the pio-

neer, who converted what was once virgin prairie soil into this cultivated and valuable estate, is a true type of the cultured scientific English agri- culturist.

Socially, Mr. Abbott is affable, of pleasing ad- dress, and possesses a high degree of culture, edu- cation and society in his youth having done much for him. None are more worthy of a place in the pages of this ALBUM than the enterprising subject of this sketch. llis splendid farm is a standing monument to his energy, perseverance and good management, and his honesty, steadfastness of pur- pose and high moral principles, stand out in bold relief. and are a true index to his character. As he is at all times strictly conscientious in his deal- ings with his fellowmen, his reputation among them is unsullied.

Mrs. Abbott, a well-educated and truly refined woman, has given much attention to the cultivation of her musical talent, and for the last five years she has been engaged in teaching that delightful aecom- plishment. Among the many views presented in this volume may be found that of the Abbott home- stead.

ENRY FREYE. In Hanover, Germany, upon the 8th of April, 1828, there was born to Ernest II Freye and wife a son, who was christened by the name Henry, and a sketch of the more salient features of his life is herein offered. Our subject was reared in his native country until he reached his eighteenth year, re- ceiving his education in its schools, and afterward being employed as a farmer, and continued in the same until he reached his eighteenth year, when he came to this country and located for a time in Jackson and Scioto Counties, Ohio, and followed the pursuits of agriculture upon land which he took up from the Government.

Our subject was married, in March, 1844, to Elnorah Shaffer, who, like himself, was a native of Hanover, and was born in that country in the month of March, 1832, and was the daughter of Adam and Gertrude Shaffer; she came to this country with her parents in the year 1843, and settled in Ohio, remaining in the home of her parents until

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her marriage. She was the fifthi child of six chil- dren born to her parents, of whom two are living: Mrs. Freye and her brother, Joseph II.

To our subject and wife there were born ten chil- dren, who are recorded as follows: Catherine, the wife of Lewis Willman; Mary, the wife of Fred- erick Steinmyer, of Gage County; Eliza, wife of William Wessel; Ilenry, William, Frank, Matilda, Lena, Emma and Ida, all at home.

In the spring of 1868 our subject emigrated to Lancaster County with his family, and settled upon the farm which is situated upon section 22, in Centerville Precinct, and which since his death has been operated by his wife. Our subject departed this life Dec. 31, 1873, after a long illness, from typhoid and lung fever, and left behind him many friends to mourn his death; for his life and character had been such that he was everywhere held in the highest estimation, and greatly respected. Hle did not leave much of worldly goods beyond his actual property, by which is meant the farm build- ings, residence and farm, which was well cultivated, tillable land, well stocked and provided with the necessary implements and much of the machinery, required for the proper working of a property of that size.

Our subject was a large-hearted, public-spirited man, inclined to lend his influence and energies in any and every enterprise calculated to help forward the community of which he was a resident. He was as a citizen true and loyal to the responsibili- ties incident thereto, patriotic and loyal; his home was the scene of true domesticity, and in the re- lations of husband and father he was most faithful, affectionate and true. He was a member for many years of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which communion his family continue. For many years prior to his demise our subject was Steward of the church, and was devoted to the interests of the society. In political questions he usually gave his support to the Republican party, although he was swayed in his decisions rather by principle than policy, as became his general character.

Mrs. Freye, despite the trials incident to life under the most favorable circumstances, and the great affliction that is hers in the loss of her hus- band, has always met these difficulties and troubles

with womanly spirit and Christian heroism and resignation. Throughout the years of wedded life she was linked with her husband so truly that she was a sharer in more than name in all the happen- ings and events of his life, rejoicing in his successes, cheering and sustaining him in the time of threat- ened defeat and actual trial, and throughout his sickness her presence was a necessity to him, a source of support and renewed strength, by which he was the better enabled to bear the pain and weakness of this last trial. A view of the Freye homestead is given in connection with this brief personal sketch.

OHIN THOMPSON. Thirty years ago this entire district and State was just beginning to feel the first influences of the scintillating rays of Eastern life, and receive to its broad bosom the men from east and south who should build the noble superstructure of its history. Had the prophet of thirty years ago told of Nebraska as it is to-day with its populous cities, its lightning express trains, its vestibule trains, its immense commercial importance, its weight of political in- fluence, there would not have been found wanting multitudes of incredulous, so little do we know of the future.

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Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 89

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

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