Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 98

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

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When the father of our subject came into posses- sion of his land there had been no care spent on its cultivation, and he took it just as it was offered from the hand of Nature, and prepared to make on it a pleasant home for his family. He has not only succeeded in that desire, but has been enabled to purchase other traets of land, so that he is now the owner of 260 acres of splendid farming land, a com- pliment to his industry and excellent management. He has erected good and convenient buildings,

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and in other ways has adorned his farm and added to its utility. Ile is now almost seventy years old, and is leading a quiet and happy life in the enjoy- ment of the entire confidence of his neighbors. His wife is now in her sixty-fourth year, and together they are reaping the reward of a life well spent in usefulness, surrounded by their children and their friends.

To the parents of our subject there came a family of eleven children, nine of whom are living, and in close proximity to the home of their parents, and we name them as follows: Frederick, Arnold; Anne, wife of Frederiek Boesiger; Elizabeth, wife of Peter Gensemer, of Gage County; Rosetta, wife of George Pillard; Albert; Mary, wife of Jacob Shaffer, of Cass County ; Louisa, wife of Frederick Broecker, of Cass County; and Emily. Both the father and mother of this estimable family are well- known members of the Lutheran Church, the former allied to the Republican party in politics.

Albert Egger came to this county in the year 1871, and here he has been reared to manhood amid the scenes of pioneer life, having seen the develop- ment of the country from its primitive state to the finely cultivated and well-arranged farms with their buildings, and all modern conveniences in use at the present day. He was reared in the school of agri- cultural life, and having become well acquainted with that occupation he has successfully followed it. He received a good common-school education in the English language, and also was well equipped with a knowledge of his native language.

On the 25th of October, 1885, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mary Lesoing, daugh- ter of Frank Lesoing, of South Pass Precinct. They are the parents of two children : a little son, Leon J. F., who was born on the 15th of April, 1886, and a little daughter, Maggie, who was born on the 30th of November, 1887. As a tribute to the sterling qualities possessed by our subject, he can point with pride to his splendid farm consisting of 170 acres of land, and he has not only been successful in his chosen oceupation, but has spent an active life in the endeavor to secure advantages and im- provements in the community of which he is a resi- dent. While he resided with his father in Center- ville Precinct he served as Treasurer of the school

district, and in politics he has earnestly advocated the policy of the Republican party. He is yet a young man, and notwithstanding the success that has come to him thus early he has very fair pros- pects of rising to a position of wealth and eminence, being on the sure road to prosperity. A view of Mr. Egger's homestead and surroundings may be seen elsewhere in this volume.

R EV. JOIIN F. KUHLMAN, pastor of the English Lutheran Church at Roea, Neb., is one of the leading ministers of his denomi- nation in the West. He is widely known and honored thronghoat the State for the good work that he has done in elevating its moral, social and religious status. He was born in 1829, in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. Ilis parents. Henry and Elizabeth (Kruger) Kuhlman, were natives of the Kingdom of Ilanover. They belonged to the lower classes, and the fatber supported his family by working as a day laborer. Anxious to improve his condition and to give his children better chances than he had had, he emigrated with his family to America, sailing on board the ship "Neptune," in the early part of May, 1837. On the evening of the 4th of July they were near enough to the shores of Maryland to see the fireworks displayed at Balti- more in honor of our National holiday. On the 8th of July they for the first time set foot on American soil; Somerset County, Pa., was their destination.

The father and mother of our subjeet spent the remainder of their lives in this country, becoming useful and highly respected members of the com- munity where they settled, rounding out their periods of existence far beyond the Scriptural limi- tations of human life, the father dying in 1871, in the eightieth year of his age, and the mother in her ninety-first year, Jan. 12, 1888, being the date of her death. The father had served in the German army, and took part in the battle of Waterloo. Our subject had three brothers who died in infancy, and two who grew to maturity, namely : Henry and Arnold.

At the age of six our subject commenced to at- tend a public school in his native country, but his

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education was interrupted there at the age of seven by the emigration of his parents to the United States of America. Shortly after his parents had settled in Pennsylvania, he resumed his education by becoming a pupil in the common schools of that commonwealth during three months of the winter terms until he was sixteen years old, when his father sent him to learn the carpenter's trade. He worked at that until he was twenty-one, and then, ambitious to fit himself for a higher calling, he commenced to teach and to study, continuing so engaged until he was twenty-nine, when in 1858 he entered Pennsyl- vania College, having attended several terms at preparatory schools, and he also studied privately under the Rev. M. F. Pfaliler.

In 1851 Rev. Mr. Kuhlman was united in mar- riage to Miss Louisa Smith. Their wedded life was brief indeed, as the happy and beloved wife died in 1852, leaving two children, Winfield Scott and Lu- ther. The former is a graduate of the Medical School of Baltimore, and is now enjoying an exten- sive practice in his profession in Pennsylvania; he married Miss Martha Walter, and they have four children. Luther is a graduate of the Pennsyl- vania College and Theological School at Gettysburg, and is at present pastor of a Lutheran Church, of Frederick City, Md .; he was married to Miss Alice Warren.

Our subject was a second time married in 1859, to Miss Rachel, daughter of Jacob and Ruth (Ogg) Rush. She was born Sept. 24, 1834, in Somerset County, Pa., the fourth of a family of twelve chil- dren. She was well educated and taught school two terms prior to her marriage. In 1881 our subject and his children were bereaved by the death of the noble wife and mother. She had ever been an in- fluence for good to those about her, had cheerfully assisted her husband and sympathized with him in his great work, had been a tender and wise parent, and to her neighbors had always been a true friend.

Our subject entered upon his ministerial work in Wilmore, Pa., occupying the pulpit of the Luth- eran Church in that place from the spring of 1859 until the fall of 1864. At that time the Allegheny Synod was looking about for a missionary, as it had been decided to send one to the Territory of Ne- Traska, as soon as a suitable man could be found

possessing all the qualifications necessary for carry- ing out the work in that new field. Our subject was finally selected as one singularly fitted for the position by the purity and uprightness of his char- acter, his learning, strong religious faith, and great tact and ability as an organizer. He went to work with zeal as soon as he arrived in Nebraska, and following the trail of the first settlers along the Missouri River, he soon had several churches and societies organized. His first charge consisted of societies at Fontanelle, Logan Creek, West Point, Tekamah, and Columbus, with which he was con- nected until 1870. Ile visited a great many points throughout the State, established churches in Da- kota County, Ponca, Dixon County, Waverly, Lan- caster County, at Roca, Lancaster County, two churches in York County, a church in Red Cloud, and one in North Platte. In 1870 Mr. Kuhlman was called to the pulpit of the church at Dakota City, left vacant by the resignation of Prof. Ang- ley, who had been offered the Chair of Natural Seiences in the University of Nebraska, and our subject was the pastor of that people until 1872. Half of the time when he has been doing pastoral work our subject has also been engaged as a mis- sionary. He has been very successful in both de- partments of the church, as is testified by the strong hold that the Lutheran denomination has obtained in Nebraska. IIe has put the whole strength of his mind and body into his work, and his labors have been abundantly blessed by the many churches that have sprung up on these Nebraska prairies under his watchful care, and by the love and confi- dence of the people who have sat under his teach- ings. During some of these years the State was struggling for its very existence, having to contend with monetary depressions, grasshopper raids, and many other troubles too numerous to mention. But when the times were hardest and the people were almost too poor to support themselves, much less church societies and pastors, our subject nobly re- sumed his old calling, that of a carpenter, which he had learned in his youth, and thus kept want from his door, though at the same time he devoted his leisure to his pastoral work. The following is a list of the remaining places where he has had charge of churches, and the length of his pastorate in each :

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Ponca. 1872-78; Nebraska City, 1878-82; La- vansville, 1882-85; then Roca, his present charge. lle was Secretary of the first meeting of the Luth- eran ministers ever held west of the Missouri River, the synod meeting at Monrovia, Atchison Co., Kan., and he preserves the documents of that meeting. Our reverend subject was also Presi- dent of the Nebraska District Evangelical Luth- eran Synod, convoked at Omaha in 1871. It is his distinction also to have been the first delegate from Nebraska to the General Synod convened at Baltimore in 1873, and he served as a delegate to the General Synod at Altoona, Pa. We can do but seant justice to his elevated character and to the noble work to which he has devoted the best years of his life. We can but say, as these pages have shown, that he wields a powerful influence for good not only in his church, but in society at large. In his political views he is a strong Prohibitionist.

P REDERICK BERRYMAN. In this coun- try, abounding as it does in vast and seem- ingly unlimited quantities of minerals, is there one among us who has not heard the expression, "down in a coal mine?" In the literal sense of the term, the riches of the earth come not to us without some effort on our part to obtain them, so there must be men, women and children, too, perhaps, who are to know no other life than that spent deep down within the bowels of the earth, digging and delving to bring these riches to light. Not alone in this country but in other countries do people spend their lives among the mining fields. England, with her abundance of coal, iron, lead and tin, af- fords employment to thousands in this one industry.

In the extreme southwest of England, where the waves of the Bristol and English Channels dash against its shores, lies the county of Cornwall. the chief center of valuable tin mines. So inexhausti- ble does this supply of tin seem that, although the mines have been worked since the ancient Phoeni- cians came to trade, and the Romans to conquer on these shores. they are still a source of wealth to the inhabitants. In this part of England lived Freder- ick Berryman, the subject of this sketeh. IIe was

born May 7. 1836. a son of Job and Wilmot (Rey- nolds) Berryman. lle had ten brothers and sisters, but one of whom, his sister Mary, survives with him.

In his native country Mr. Berryman received a fair common-school education, and when a mere lad some thirteen years of age, he began working in the tin mines of Cornwall, at which employment he continued until a youth of about eighteen. Iu the spring of 1854 he decided to emigrate to America, for which purpose he took passage at Liverpool on a steamer, and after an ocean voyage of eleven days he landed in New York City. On his arrival he went to Cambria County, Pa., where he followed the pursuit that he had learned in his old home, for a time; thence he went to the Lake Superior copper mines, where he worked for two years. Subsequently he returned to Pennsylvania, where he again worked in the mines for several years. After this he went to Massachusetts, where he was appointed foreman over some forty work- men in the west end of the Hoosac Tunnel, his previous experience in mining fitting him to conduct with great credit his share of the work necessary to complete this wonderful excavation.

Leaving Massachusetts Mr. Berryman went to Bedford County, Pa., and took charge of a fossil ore mine, remaining there some two years, after which he went to Pulaski County, Va., and the first year he was there he entered into a contract to sup- ply the furnace in that place for one year with ore. After this he superintended the mines for some three years for the same company.

In Pennsylvania Mr. Berryman married Eliza Hocking. also a native of England. The result of this union was twelve children, nine of whom are living, viz: Frederick, Anne, Richard, Minnie, Bertha. John, Joseph, Howard and Eddie; the three deceased being Job, Anne and John. In the spring of 1876 our subject came to this county and settled on the farm which he now owns, on section 10 of Denton Precinct. There were then but ten acres under cultivation, but by dint of energy and perse- veranee Mr. Berryman so improved his land that now it is a splendid farm of great value, consisting of 160 acres.

By his labors as a tiller of the soil our subject

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has surrounded himself and family with the comforts of rural life. Let us give credit where credit is dne. Starting out a boy of thirteen, making his own way in the world year after year, providing for his family, and establishing for himself and his wife a home, in which their declining years may be spent in peace and happiness, free from anxious cares -- is this a little work? May he not well be proud of his achievements ?

Mr. Berryman votes with the Republican party, and is a public-spirited man, doing all in his power to improve and elevate the society and country of which he is a resident. He has been a member of the School Board of his precinct for a number of years. in faet since its organization, and is now serv- ing as Moderator.

A lithographie view of Mr. Berryman's property may be seen on another page of this ALBUM.

F REDERICK A. KORSMEYER, steam fitter and plumber, has one of the best conducted establishments of its kind in the city of Lincoln, and holds a leading position among its business men. He has a thorough understanding of the details of his calling, is prompt and reliable, thoroughly upright and honorable in his business transactions, and a man who is deservedly prosper- ous. Ile is a native of Prussia, Germany. He is doing a prosperous business.

UDSON HAGGERTY is a native of the Buckeye State, where he was born in War- ren County, March 28, 1854. His father, George Ilaggerty, was born in the county of Sussex, N. J., Oct. 14, 1814, and was the son of Chris Haggerty, who, it is believed, spent his entire life in New Jersey. The father of our subject was reared to manhood in that State, spending his days as was common to the sons of farmers, and upon reaching manhood he was married, and removing to Ohio, settled in Warren County, His means were limited, and he operated on rented land until at length he was enabled to buy a small place, to

which he subsequently added until he had a nice farm, which he finally sold, and purchased 130 acres of land in Franklin Township. He now re- sides in an adjoining township in that county. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Huldah Myers, was born in New Jersey, Feb. 14, 1825, and was the daughter of Robert Myers, who, it is believed, spent his entire life in New Jersey.

Judson Haggerty is one of a family of seven chil- dren, and was reared in his native county, alternat- ing between the district school and his father's farm until he attained his majority, and starting out in life for himself he directed his course to Tennessee, and spent the first year in farming. After a second year in that State, spent in broom- making, he returned to his native State, and was soon afterward married. After his marriage he rented a farm in Warren County, Ohio, and there labored diligently until 1881, when he turned his face toward the setting sun, and reaching Lancaster County bought a quarter-section of land in Elk Precinet, in company with his brother, At the end of two years he sold his interest in this property, and bought that on which he now resides on sec- sion 27, Middle Creek Precinct.

Our subject was united in marriage, March 7, 1878, with Lizzie J. Kemp, and their union has been blessed by the birth of two children-Pearly and Mabel. Pearly was born in Warren County, Ohio, Feb. 4, 1880, and Mabel at the homestead in Middle Creek Precinct, March 31, 1886. Mrs. Haggerty was born three miles from Franklin, Warren Co., Ohio, May 2, 1854, while her father, Peter Kemp, was born either in Maryland or Pennsylvania, and her grandfather, Rev. John Kemp, removed from Pennsylvania to Butler County, Ohio, in its earliest settlement, and lived there several years. Ile then removed to Montgomery County, in this State, and there spent the remainder of his days. The father of Mrs. Haggerty was but a boy when his parents settled in Ohio, and he received the benefits of a good education, and was graduated from the schools of Middletown. He never adopted a profession, but upon the completion of his studies he engaged in farming, and after his marriage he settled in War- ren County, where he purchased a farm of 173 acres. After a few years he sold this property and

RES. OF PETER HOMER, SEC. 35. YANKEE HILL PRECINCT.

VALLEY-VIEW. STOCK FARM, RESIDENCE OF G. W. MARSDEN, SEC. 1 . OAK PRECINCT, LANCASTER CO.

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purchased a farm three miles from Dayton Court House, upon which he still resides. The mother of Mrs. Haggerty, whose maiden name was Eliza M. Kemp, was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1827. Her parents were natives of Maryland, and of Ger- man ancestry. She died Aug. 23, 1882. She was a member of the United Brethren Church.

In politics Mr. Haggerty affiliates with the Re- publican party, and is an honest citizen and a man of influence among his acquaintances.

P ETER HOMER. The farming community of Yankee Hill Precinct acknowledges no more honest or industrious man than the subject of this sketch, who carries on agri- culture in a profitable manner on section 35. He began life on the southern line of the State of Penn- sylvania, in Adams County, not very many miles from the battle-field of Gettysburg, on the 20th of December, 1829, and is the offspring of a family of excellent German ancestry. His parents, John and Eliza (Linard) IIomer, were also natives of the Keystone State, where also his paternal grandfather spent his entire life.

The paternal great-grandfather of our subject crossed the Atlantic from Germany in the Colonial days, in time to do good service as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The family, without making any very great stir in the world, has been noted for its sterling honesty, indastry and enterprise, and from father to son, each generation, as far back as the records go, has produced a line of sturdy men and virtuous women. The parents of our subject, when the latter was a little lad eight years old, left the Keystone State for Ohio, and took up their abode amid the pioneers of Holmes County. There they lived and labored until well advanced in years, building up a good homestead, and both departed from the scenes of earth in 1884.

John and Eliza Homer had a family of fourteen children, eight of whom are living, and all with the exception of our subject are residents of Ohio. Barnard lives in Richland County ; Peter. Ephraim, John, Jacob, Benjamin, Margaret E., Mrs. Jane Her- ring and Elizabeth, in Holmes County. Peter was

reared to maturity on the farm which his father built up from the wilderness, and received an education afforded by the best country schools of that day. Ile assisted in the development of the primitive soil, remaining under the home roof until over thirty years of age. Ile was first married in the summer of 1860, to Miss Mary Emerick, who bore him one daughter. Sarah E., and who passed away in 1862. His second marriage occurred in 1865, with Miss Melinda Pierpont, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who still survives.

Mr. Homer left the Buckeye State in 1873, and settled in LaPorte County, Ind., on a farm, where he continued a resident for a period of seven years. The spring of 1881 found him in Nebraska looking around for a location, and he was not long in de- ciding to settle in this county. lle purchased eighty acres of land in Yankee Hill Precinct, where he has since operated to good advantage, and will pass muster as a self-made man of the first water. The illustration which accompanies this sketch will give the reader a good idea of the extensive farm and the very commodious and pleasant home he has provided for his family. He is a Republican, po- litically, and in favor of everything to improve the county and elevate society. In religious matters he is identified with the First Baptist Church at Jamaica Station, of which he is a Deacon, and one of its most liberal supporters. Our subject and his wife have no children. His daughter Sarah, by his first wife, is now deceased. Mr. Ilomer enlisted in Company K, 16th Ohio Infantry. and served until Sept. 10, 1864.

G EORGE W. MARSDEN. Among the most beautiful landscapes, tinged with the wild- ness of mountain scenery, which is the fort- une of man to gaze upon, is that found in the neighborhood of the Peak of Derbyshire, England ; winding through the valley is the beautiful, blue, limpid Derwent. which, after passing through the rich pastoral district above, washes the foot of HIulme Cliff, and finds time to pass through the grounds of the Duke of Devonshire, that most magnificent estate, Chatsworth Park, where the 1

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beautiful deer and graceful antelope come down, gratefully to drink of its cooling waters, after which it escapes though the quiet and sedate town of Bake- well, and passes on its way.

The father of the subject of this sketch was born in the beautiful district above referred to, on the 27th of January, 1808. In the schools of his native dis- trict he received his education. That most impor- tant work completed he went to work on a farm and also engaged in mining, until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he came to the United States. Ile first settled in Pottsville, Pa. In this place both he and his father went to work at the mines, and shortly became overseers, and continued for three years. Then they removed to Galena, Ill. The journey was undertaken with some knowledge of the difficulties to be encountered. A wagon and two horses were procured, and into this their belong- ings were placed and the journey commenced. Day after day they continued with their faces toward the setting sun, meeting trials, bearing hardships, and yet withal bearing a light heart and brave spirit; at night they had their choice of shelter, and could take their rest in the basement of their traveling house, or sleep under the wagon ; or they could retire to the upper story and repose in the wagon bed itself, or, lastly, slumber under the canopy of the starry heavens. After several weeks spent in this way they reached their destination.

When it is remembered that the events above described occurred in the year 1833, it will plainly be seen that the family had entered upon the life of advanced pioneers. After prospecting, a tract of land was taken up but one mile from Galena, and this continued to be their home until the year 1877, when the removal was made to Nebraska. While at Ga- lena, Mr. Marsden was engaged in supplying the city with milk. He was the owner of over 100 very fine cows, which enabled him to carry on suc- cessfully quite an extensive dairy, as the population of the city increased. He was also the owner of a one-third interest in the lead mines, situated about four miles from the city. After managing that property for about twenty years, he bought an in- terest in seven lead mines, in what was at that time called New California, of which he was Superin- tendent. lle was one of the few who were unques-

tionably successful in operating mines, and did more, perhaps, than any one man for the development of the mines in his distriet.

In the year 1887 Mr. Marsden put his city prop- erty, farm, mines, and 800 acres of land in Iowa in the market, and having sold them to advantage, came to Nebraska, purchased 800 acres of land in Red Cloud, and the section of land owned by his son in this township. Mr. Marsden makes his home in Red Cloud, where he has a very pleasantly situated home. He is one of the most prominent stock-raisers, and although well advanced in years still enjoys re- markably good health, and is receiving the benefit of his fortune, every dollar of which has come to him as the result of his own efforts, enterprise and intelligence. He was married in England, about the year 1829, to Miss Sarah Gregory, and to them were born nine children, of whom three are still living: Mary Ann, who is the wife of John Beres- ford, and resides at Red Cloud; Priscilla Marsden, who is still unmarried ; and George W., our subject. His wife was removed by death about 1870.

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Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 98

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

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