USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 36
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farming and stock feeding. In 1899 he decided to retire from active life and removed to York.
In July, 1865, in Illinois, Mr. Thamer was united in marriage to Miss Margaret J. MeCloud whose death occurred on August 11. 1913. at the advanced age of seventy-five years. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thamer: John C .. who is residing in York, and William G., who is his twin; Flora E., the wife of Sam Mapps of York; Mary E., living at home; Trennie L., the wife of Lewis Rothman of York: Ida J., the widow of N. G. Brown of Hastings; George H .. an osteopath residing in Stamford, Connecticut ; Charles O .. farming in York county : Margaret E., who is engaged in nursing at Hastings : and Teha M., the wife of Ed A. Garvin of Chester. Mrs. Thamer was a consistent member of the United Brethren church.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Thamer the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party and is well versed on all questions and issues of the day. Ile served for some time as tax collector in Illinois and also held the same position in Lockridge township, and he was at one time sent as a delegate to a state republican convention. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Thamer is likewise a member of Post No. 32, G. A. R., in which organization he has held official positions. He has always been active in the development and improvement of the community in which he resides and is a highly respected and honored citizen of York.
WILHELM HEIDEN
Wilhelm Heiden is widely and favorably known as one of the worthy pioneer farmers of York county where he owns a valuable farm property from which he derives a gratifying income. He has been actively indentified with the agricultural interests of the county for fifty years. Hle is a native of Germany, born in that country November 19, 1848, and there received his early education.
In 1865 when he was seventeen years old Mr. Heiden immigrated to America, making the ocean voyage on a sailing vessel which occupied five weeks in the crossing. On his arrival at New York he went through to the state of lowa and there worked on farms by the month, doing that kind of work for two years during which he acquired a good knowledge of agricultural operations and thus fitted himself to work a place of his own at a later date. In 1867 he migrated to Nebraska City, finding work in a brewery at which he continued for a time. When the first state capitol was being built at Lincoln Mr. leiden assisted in its con- struction, doing the work of a laboror and remaining until the job was finished. Ile was one of the first settlers in York county and has therefore witnessed the greater part of its growth and development. He took eighty acres of land in Thayer township where he built himself a dugout of two rooms, which he con- tinned to occupy until he moved to his present place. He is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of prime land and has been giving his undivided attention to stock raising and general farming. By steady application and industry he surmounted all the initial difficulties in the path of the pioneer, and today he is
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recognized as an excellent farmer who fought all obstacles for the worthy purpose of reaching his present satisfactory condition.
Mr. Heiden was united in marriage to Carolina Reitz and they have become the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters. He votes with the republican party but has never been an aspirant for office. His religious affilation is with the Lutheran church, in the faith of which he was reared and to whose tenets he rigidly holds. He has many friends who entertain the warmest esteem for him.
ASA B. BENNETT
Asa B. Bennett who died in 1911 in York county was one of the representative residents of the county and a self-made man who in his farming career steadily progressed. He was born in Clark county, Indiana, January 14, 1843, a son of Thomas H. and Rachael ( Prather) Bennett, also natives of the Hoosier state, where they lived for several years and later went to Illinois and there spent the remainder of their lives. They were earnest, conscientious people and left the impress of excellent qualities on all the duties which fell to their lot.
Asa B. Bennett was educated in the schools of Indiana and accompanied his parents to Illinois and lived in that state until his thirty-fourth year. In 1876 he decided to try his fortunes in Nebraska and settled in York county. In 1875 he had purchased a quarter section of land, upon which he built a sod house with board floors and board roof, these additions being in advance of the usual start made by the early settler. The board roof had sod on the outside and the walls were composed of plaster made of alkali clay and lime, while the bottom wall was three feet thick, and in this abode Mr Bennett lived for thirteen years. Later he built a frame house which was the equal of any in the district and was substantial in every respect. The first stage of his journey to his farm was made from Illinois to Seward and from the latter place he went by team to York county. It was from Seward also that supplies had to be hauled.
When Mr. Bennett had taken up his residence on the land he commenced without delay to get it into a state of cultivation and presently had a large part of it under tillage. He progressed nicely and the resultant crops yielded good returns. notwithstanding the distance to markets and other disadvantages insepar- able from circumstances of the county in its formative stage. He carried out some valuable improvements, including the planting of trees and setting out of an orchard, and brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and demonstrated the possibility of producing fine crops in this section of the state. But his efforts were hampered when the grasshoppers destroyed every vestige of vegetation and left the fields barren. And again during the dry seasons of 1892-94 the work of the farmer was seriously harassed and nothing was produced, in those years. Attempts at economy included the burning of weeds and cornstalks as substitutes for fuel. An occasional roving band of Indians might be seen in the spring and fall of each year, but the settlers were never molested.
On January 24. 1867, Mr. Bennett was united in marriage to Kate Davidson, a native of Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of the following children : Flora, the wife of William Perry of York; Eugene, a farmer of Scottsbluff,
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Nebraska : John, who lives in Chase county. Nebraska; Ida M., the wife of Frank Stevens of Julesburg, Colorado ; Charles E., who died in 1902; and William, whose death occurred in 1888. Mr. Bennett was an earnest member of the Methodist Protestant church, to the upkeep of which he was a liberal contributor. He was an independent voter and was affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Following his retirement from the farm in 1901 he moved to Waco and there spent the next ten years of his life-a life which at all times was marked by uncompro- mising honesty. At the date of his death, July 27, 1911, many expressions of sincere sympathy found their way to his widow and other members of his family. His passing was regarded as a distinct loss to the community and those who knew him well still cherish his memory.
HERMAN BEHLING
Though more than a decade has passed away since Herman Belling was called to his final rest he is yet remembered by many of York's citizens as a most sub- stantial and progressive business man and one who at all times commanded the respect, confidence and esteem of those who knew him. He was born in Watertown. Wisconsin. November 30, 1844, and died on the 13th of February, 1909. His parents were Herman and Caroline Behling, who settled at Watertown at a very carly day, the father there engaging in the furniture business. The son was educated in the schools of Watertown and turned his attention to the dry goods business in connection with George Crawford of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In the `60s he removed westward to York county, Nebraska, and homesteaded land. Hle also opened a general store at North York and was one of the oldest merchants of the city. He afterward removed to the present city of York, where he continued in merchandising as a dealer in clothing, remaining active in the business to the time of his death.
January 19. 1882, Mr. Behling was united in marriage to Miss Ida Ganzer. of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a daughter of Matthew and Caroline (Arnold) Ganzer, who were early residents of Wisconsin where the father engaged extensively in vinegar manufacturing. Both he and his wife there passed away. They were parents of four sons and three daughters, of whom five. are yet living: Mrs. Brauer, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin : Mrs. Maria Doman, also of Oshkosh : Lewis, who is living in the same city, where he is a mill man: Edward, a wood buyer of Oshkosh : and Mrs. Behling. The parents were members of the Lutheran church, while the children have become members of the Episcopal church. In his political views Mr. Ganzer was a democrat and fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Sons of Herman.
To Mr. and Mrs. Behling were born three children: Carl F., who is an auto- mobile dealer of Long Beach, California: Eda, the wife of E. U. Gunzel, who is a merchant in Lincoln; and Lena, who is a graduate of Notre Dame College of Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Behling were members of the Episcopal church and he was a Scottish Rite Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine. In fact he was very active in Masonic eireles and his funeral services were conducted by his brethren
HERMAN BEHLING
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
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of the order. He likewise belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he was a democrat but never an office seeker. He started out in the business world with a small general store in North York and for some time devoted his attention exclusively to the clothing trade, building up an extensive business. He was county treasurer of York county for two years, and owned con- siderable farm lands, buying at different times. His success was entirely due to his enterprise, energy and ability and he left his family in comfortable financial circumstances notwithstanding the fact that during the last seven years of his life he suffered from paralysis. He was a well educated man who read extensively and was a most interesting talker. His widow and daughter now occupy a beautiful home in York and are well known socially throughout the city.
REV. HEINRICH D. EPP
The statement that prosperity is the outcome of persistent effort and indefati- gable industry combined with close application, finds verification in the life record of Rev. Heinrich D. Epp, a well known educator of Henderson township, York county. He is a native son of this township and, county, born October 12, 1882, a son of H. H. and Helena (Peters)"Epp, natives of southern Russia, who came to America in 1874. Four years later the mother came and they settled in York county, where she and her husband are still -living, well known and respected citizens. To their marriage eleven children were born, eight of whom are living.
Ileinrich D. Epp was reared in the home of his parents and secured his preliminary education in the common schools of York county. He later entered Bethel College, at Newton. Kansas, and was graduated from that institution in 1905, following which he taught school for three years, during this period proving his fitness for the instruction of youth in educational matters. With the view to better equipping himself for carrying on his professional career Mr. Epp entered the State University of Nebraska, there taking a two-year course and emerging master of all educational requirements. He then resumed teaching school at Henderson, in which occupation he is now actively engaged, bringing to bear upon the conduct of his exacting duties a ripe experience and practical methods, coupled with a resourceful and tactful disposition, the whole tending in no small degree to promote the welfare of the community at large. He also is an assistant minister in the services of the Bethesda church at Henderson. He is the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres adjoining Henderson, the place being well improved and successfully operated under his supervision. His life is an example worthy the emulation of every young man.
In 1910 Mr. Epp was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Richert, a native of MePherson county, Kansas, and a daughter of Il. and Helena ( Unruh) Richert, both of whom were born in southern Russia and immigrated to America in 1874, settling in Kansas, where the father died in 1895 and where the mother is still living. Mr. Unruh was twice married and was the father of fourteen children. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Epp two children have been born : Dorothea Ilelena, born March 11, 1913, and Karl Heinrich, born February 13, 1919. Mr. Epp gives his political support to the republican party but has never sought public office,
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preferring to devote his time to the demands of his school and to his other under- takings. Ile serves as a director on the Henderson school board, his experience and sound judgment being of especial value to that body in the conduct of its affairs. Mr. Epp and his wife manifest a praiseworthy interest in the social and cultural movements of their town and distriet and are always to be found assisting those projects designed to advance the welfare and happiness of the community.
CHARLES E. CALLENDER
Charles E. Callender has been a resident of Nebraska for the last forty years, and is therefore numbered among the pioneers. He was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, his parents being Newell and Harriet (Ferris) Callender, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, where the former spent many useful years as an active minister of the Baptist church. Rev. Mr. Callender was an abolitionist, later a prohibitionist, and always a stanch supporter of the republican party. 'Ile died in 1910 at the age of eighty-nine years, and his wife died in 1901 at the age of seventy-eight. They were the parents of ten children, only three of whom are now living: Dr. J. M. Callender, a physician of forty-five years' experience in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Nebraska, now living in Kansas: C. E. Callender, the subject of this sketch; and Nathan Callender, a market gardener living near Scranton, Pennsylvania. The two oldest sons, Samuel N. and Dr. J. M., served in the Civil war.
After attending the public schools of Pennsylvania Charles E. Callender entered the Waverly Normal School of the same state. from which institution he was graduated in 1874. After finishing his education he taught school in Pennsylvania and later in Illinois. In 1879 he was married to Miss Emily S. Snyder of Waverly, Pennsylvania, whose ancestors were also pioneers in northeastern Pennsylvania where they were prominent in religious and social work.
In the fall of 1879 Mr. Callender came with his wife to Nebraska where he engaged in the mercantile business in Webster county. Later he was in business in Fillmore county where he lived for five years before removing to the north- western part of the state where he acquired a ranch. He took a prominent part in the organization of Thomas county where he became the first county clerk. The had studied law and in 1890 was admitted to the bar, subsequently becoming county attorney. In 1905 he sold the ranch and removed to York where for more than thirteen years he has been engaged in the real estate business, a line of work for which his knowledge of the west and of legal usage has especially fitted him. Ile has confined his attention mostly to the emigration business, and has handled land in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, western Nebraska, and eastern Colorado.
Mr. and Mrs. Callender have two daughters, Edith M. and Ruth E., both of whom were graduated from York high school with first honors in their respective classes. Both are graduates of York College where they received the Bachelor of Arts degree. Edith M. has had post-graduate work in the University of Nebraska and in the University of Chicago, and is now Principal of York College Academy,
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where she is instructor in English. Ruth E. has had post-graduate work in the University of Nebraska and is now teaching geometry in York high school.
The Callender family are all members of the Baptist church and Mr. Callender is a member of the Royal Ilighlanders and of the Modern Woodmen, which organization he serves as clerk. In politics he has always been a republican. He now holds the office of city treasurer, in which capacity he has shown himself to be both reliable and efficient. In his long residence in Nebraska he has had opportunity to watch the steady growth and increasing prosperity of the state and has always contributed his influence to clean politics and good citizenship. His active disposition will not allow him to retire as long as he is able to work, and his work has always been such as to command the respect and esteem of all who know him.
SAMUEL A. TOBEY
Samuel A. Tobey, the popular and efficient postmaster of Gresham, formerly connected with the operation of farm land and with the management of a grain elevator, and who has witnessed the growth and development of the town since it was organized in 1887, is a native of Whiteside county, Illinois, born May 21, 1861, a son of George A. and Sylvania B. (Barney) Tobey, both natives of New England, where the father learned the blacksmith's trade.
About 1857 George A. Tobey left Rhode Island and crossed the country to Illinois, settling in the town of Erie and resuming his occupation of blacksmithing. Sometime later he moved to Cedar county, Iowa, and there followed his trade for four years, at the end of that period going to Boone county, where he conducted a hotel for five years. In 1844 he arrived in Butler county. Nebraska, making the journey from Iowa by horse team, and crossing the Missouri river on a ferry boat, the entire trip occupying abont three weeks. He took a homestead in Butler county and built a two room sod house with board roof. constructing a cellar under the house and a barn of the dugout variety. All the hauling had to be done from Seward and Columbus and in the winter season, owing to the condition of the roads, it was practically impossible to obtain supplies from these points. Mr. Tobey broke the land on his homestead of eighty acres and set out the fields to the cultivation of crops, but the grasshoppers destroyed almost everything on the land but a small quantity of growing wheat. He recovered from the effects of the disaster and applied himself with renewed vigor to the work of the homestead, which he gradually improved and developed and brought to an excellent state of cultivation, and there he remained until his death at the age of seventy-eight. His wife died in 1895, being then in her sixty-fifth year. Both were members of the Baptist church and their Christian lives gained them the respect of all who knew them. He gave his political support to the democratic party.
Samuel A. Tobey accompanied his parents to Nebraska but before he left Iowa he had been attending the schools of that state and continued his course in the common schools of Butler county, the term being about three months in each year. He assisted his father in the work of the farm and when he reached his twenty- fourth year started farming on his own account by buying eighty acres of railroad land in Polk county for which he paid seven dollars an acre. He occupied this
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place for four years, during this time improving and cultivating the holding to advantage and then disposed of it at a substantial protit. In 1887 Mr. Tobey moved to Gresham just as it was beginning to take on town-like form and for the next five years he worked in the grain elevator then owned by Lord & Spitts. Under the Cleveland administration in 1893 he was appointed postmaster of Gresham and in that office gave very general satisfaction. He then entered the service of the Updike Grain Elevator Company of Gresham, first as earpenter and then as manager. the entire period of his connection with the elevator being twenty- one years. On January 5. 1916, President Wilson appointed him postmaster of Gresham and in this capacity he still continues, his fidelity and efficiency being beyond all question. He has not at any time held himself aloof from the everyday interests of life, but has been a factor in the development of Gresham along various lines.
In 1885 Mr. Tobey was united in marriage to Janet Davidson, a native of Canada, and to this union eight children have been born: Mary E., assistant postmaster at Gresham ; Leota, at home: Grace, the wife of Fred Hoscheit, a farmer of Boyd county; G. Archie, a railroad man of Wyoming; Paul H., of Ulysses. Nebraska: Bessie, who is employed in Gresham; Lynn, who died at the age of eighteen : and Reynold A., at home. Mrs. Tobey is a regular attendant on the services of the Presbyterian church. He is identified with the Masonie order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. A democrat in policy and practice Mr. Tobey has filled various local offices apart from his present responsibility as post- master and at all times has rendered excellent and valuable service. llis has been an active and useful life and one which, by its integrity and honor, has gained for him the respect and confidence of all with whom he has been brought into contact.
WILHELM GOCKE
In the period of pioneer development Wilhelm Gocke came to Nebraska. le was born in Hanover, Germany, June 22, 1843, and at the age of twenty-five years came to the United States. He made his way immediately to Nebraska and the first year of his arrival in this country was spent at the ranch of John Fouse, in Seward county. This ranch was at that time a well known stage station on the Nebraska city cutoff. and was located on a part of the Oregon trail. Mr. Gocke had heard many exciting tales of the Indian massacres and he tells of an interest- ing incident that happened soon after his arrival at the Fouse ranch. One day on returning to the Fouse residence he found Mrs. Fouse surrounded by twenty gesticulating Indians. On approaching the 'group he was questioned by one of the Indians in good English as to what he wanted. Mrs. Fouse then told him that there was no trouble, she was simply trading them groceries for what they might have in return, and that they were friendly. The following spring, in 1869, Mr. Gocke removed to York county and acquired a homestead of eighty acres in section thirty-four, now Beaver township. Here he built a log house, sixteen by sixteen feet, paying one hundred dollars for the logs, and then sent for his father, mother and brother in the old country. They soon arrived in York county and each took an eighty acre homestead adjoining Mr. Gocke's. For some time they
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lived in the house on Mr. Gocke's land, but when he was married he purchased some logs from Mr. Fouse and built himself another home. For five years he lived, cooked and slept all in one room. It was while he was residing there that the grasshoppers came. They made their first appearance one day at noon. Some- one on looking out of the window remarked that the flowers seemed to be drying up. Upon investigation great numbers of grasshoppers were found. The only method of conveyance Mr. Gocke had was his yoke of oxen, but in those early days they were thought to make good time. The nearest settlement to Mr. Gocke's homestead was at Milford, a distance of forty-two miles, and calling for a doctor there at one time Mr. Gocke made the trip between sun-up and sun-down, his oxen going along at a steady trot. He hauled his wheat to Lincoln, which was a three days trip, and sold it for from fifty to seventy cents a bushel. Mr. Gocke has many interesting experiences to tell of his early pioneer days. He is now making his home with his son. H. F., who is a prosperous farmer in West Blue township.
Mr. Goeke at an early age was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Schemft, a native of Germany. She was but a young girl when she came with her parents to York county. To this union five children were born, two of whom died in child- hood. The living are: H. F., with whom his father lives; Gustav, who is residing in California ; and Herman, residing in Grand Island. Mrs. Gocke died at the age of forty-one years, and some time later Mr. Gocke was united in marriage to a Mrs. Schwarting, whose death occurred six years ago.
Mr. Gocke has always given his allegiance to the republican party and is well versed on all questions and issues of the day. He is a consistent member of the Lutheran church. Not only has Mr. Gocke seen York county grow from a wild country with only a few white inhabitants to a rich agricultural country con- taining thousands of good homes and scores of growing towns inhabited by industrious, prosperous, enlightened and progressive people, but he has participated in the slow, persistent work of development which was necessary to produce a change which is so complete that it has come to be popularly referred to as magical.
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