USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 38
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Axel Renquist was reared in his father's home in Sweden and in the schools of that country received such education as the family circumstances permitted him to secure. In 1870, being then seventeen years old, lie and other members of the Renquist family immigrated to America and he went to Illinois, shortly after arriving in that state seenring work on farms, thereby acquiring knowledge of American agricultural methods and continuing in this line for three years. Ile then went to California, spending one year in that state and going thence to Sweden to visit relatives and friends to whom he reconnted his experiences in America and the possibilities which this country offered to industrious people. In 1875 Mr. Renquist returned to Ilinois, re-engaged in farming and kindred pursuits, spent about five years in that state and then in 1880 moved to Nebraska in quest of that fortune which all new territory is expected to yield.
On coming to Nebraska in 1880 Mr. Renquist was one of a number who came by immigrant train to Stromburg, and it is stated that it was the first car of its kind to touch that town. He bought land in Morton township and erected a sod house. With characteristic Swedish application he proceeded to develop and eultivate his land, gradually adding to the original tract as his efforts proved successful and he is now the owner of four hundred acres of valuable, well improved land, the equal of any in Morton township. His main energies were directed to the supervision of general farming and stock raising and in the latter line his produce always found ready markets. Having acquired sufficient of the world's goods to justify him in handing over his agricultural responsibilities to others Mr. Renquist retired from the farm in 1903 and moved to Benedict, where he is in enjoyment of that rest to which his early energy and industry fully entitle him. Apart form his work in connection with the farm he was for eleven years a stockholder and director
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of the Farmers Elevator at Benedict, bringing sound business judgment to bear on the duties which his directorship called for.
In 1876, while living in Illinois, Mr Renquist was united in marriage to Bettie Johnson, a native of Sweden, and to their union four children have been born: Hennie, wife of John P. Seymour, of Arborville township: J. A., of Scottsbluff, Nebraska: Alice Maud, wife of A. R. Marshall, of Omaha, and Henry E., who operates the old home farm. Mr. Renquist and the members of his immediate family have religious affiliations with the Methodist Episcopal church at Benediet. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and has practically passed all the chairs in the organization. He gives his political support to the democratie party but prefers at all times to devote his energies to the demands of his farm rather than to the seeking of publie office. He is held in high esteem as a citizen and as a man, and his success as a farmer entitles him to rank among the leaders in the agricultural development of York county.
ALBERT HEINE
Albert Heine is a resident and a well-to-do farmer of York county, owning and cultivating two hundred and forty acres of land, eighty acres of which lie in York township and one hundred and sixty acres in Thayer township. He was born in Germany, February 2, 1863, and was reared on a farm where he acquired a sound knowledge of agricultural operations. In 1882, when he was nineteen years old, he accompanied his parents and six other children to America, the family coming to Nebraska and settling in York county, residing here for one year. At the end of that time the family went to North Dakota and there the father entered a homestead, while the son Albert went to Dickey county in North Dakota and there preempted a tract of one hundred and sixty acres. He put up a sod house, proved up on the land, broke the sod and began to get in some erops, at the same time working at the carpenter trade, and he continued to live on that holding for about seven years.
In 1889 Albert Heine returned to Nebraska and located in Buffalo where he bought a quarter section of land and resumed his trade of carpenter. He remained in Buffalo until 1900 and then moved to York county, settling on seetion 35, Thayer township, buying one hundred and sixty acres of land for which he paid fifty dollars an acre. At that time there was one old shack on the farm doing duty for a house, but as he progressed with his farming operations he effected many valuable improvements and by degrees, giving unremitting effort and attention to the place, he brought the holding up to a standard which ranks it as a valuable property. Ile later bought eighty acres in York township on which some excellent improvements were made and he is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres well fenced with substantial buildings and good farming machinery and everything about his place indieates his careful supervision and his practical and progressive methods. The results from his general farming and stock raising have been commensurate with the uniform energy and industry put into the work.
In 1889 Mr. Heine was united in marriage to Miss Helen Reetz, born in the state of Minnesota. She came to York county in 1868, being then a mere child,
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and her father took a homestead of eighty acres where his son John Reetz now lives. Their first house was a dugout which was later replaced by a log cabin. Mrs. Heine recalls that when she was a little girl wild deer, buffalo and antelopes were plentiful on the surrounding prairie and all the trading was done at Nebraska City. To Mr. and Mrs. Heine four children were born : Otto, a farmer, of Thyer township; Ernest, who lives on his father's farm in York township: Martha, the widow of William Schoeneck ; and John, who farms the home place. The Heine family are members of the Lutheran church and its teachings have been the guiding force in their lives. In his efforts to advance the welfare of the community he has displayed the same spirit of enterprise and recognition of opportunity that has marked his business career and York county has reason to be proud of him as a citizen.
BENJAMIN A. ROOT, M. D.
Dr. Benjamin A. Root, who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in York, has by reason of broad study and wide experience gained dis- tinction as one of the eminent physicians of his community. He was born in Cass county, in the month of August, 1875, his parents being Byron A. and Eliza A. (Alton) Root, both natives of Ohio. Byron A. Root settled in Cass county in 1874 and has resided there the greater part of his life. Before engaging in farming in that county, however, he had lived in Denel conuty for a period of five or six years owning and operating a farm there. He is now residing in Murray where for a number of years he conducted a drug business, but is now retired. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is also a member of the Christian church. The grandfather of Dr. Benjamin Root, Anson L. Root, was born in Ohio. The Root family originally came from England in the sixteenth century, three brothers of that name settling in Connecticut. The great-grand- father on the paternal side was a surgeon in the Revolutionary war. Benjamin Alton, the maternal grandfather, was born in Indiana and later removed to Newaygo county, Michigan. He served in the Civil war for a period of three years.
In the acquirement of his education Dr. Benjamin A. Root attended the rural schools of Cass county and graduated from the high school at Elmwood. He then entered the State Normal school at Peru, and in 1898 entered the service of the United States in the Spanish-American war. He served in Cuba and was dis- charged on the 11th day of May, 1899. He returned to Cass county in 1901, entered a medical college, and in 1905 was graduated from the Lincoln Medical College. He commenced the practice of his profession in Phillips where he remained until November 8, 1908, when he came to York. He has since resided in York and has built up a large general practice, and in addition to his professional duties takes a good deal of interest in his real estate.
In 1901 Dr. Root was married to Miss Lucy Duncan, a native of Michigan, whose death occurred in 1916. She was the mother of one son, Carl E., who is seventeen years of age. Dr. Root is a member of the Christian church of which his wife was also a member. Politically he is an independent republican and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the
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Encampment of Odd Fellows. He is also a Mason, a Woodmen of the World, and a member of the Spanish Veterans. He is the present commander of the Walter Poor Post, Camp No. 13, York, and has passed through all the chairs of the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen.
Dr. Root makes no specialty in his profession and is active in the county, state and American medical societies. From the age of fourteen years he has made his own way in the world and his is therefore the notable record of a self-made man who by the sheer force of his determination and ability has gained prominence and success.
WILLIAM B. MALCOLM
William B. Malcolm, a real estate dealer of York, is in every sense of the word a self-made man. Starting out in the business world early in life and working at various oceupations he has gradually advanced until he now has one of the largest and most lucrative real estate businesses in York county.
William B. Malcolm was born at High Prairie. near Lodi, Wisconsin, on the 22nd day of July, 1867. He was a son of Daniel and Martha (Burt) Malcohn, the former born in Edinburgh, Scotland, while the latter was born near Cincinnati, Ohio. The father lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years and the mother died when sixty-five years of age. In their early youth, coming to Wisconsin they had met and married and in 1869 removed to Towa. The journey was made with their children by wagon. Mr. Malcolm purchased some railroad land, the seetion being located in Poweshiek county, Iowa. This land he improved and built a fine home on it where he resided until he retired to Belle Plaine where his death occurred in 1904. Five children were born to this union, only one of whom is living. Mrs. Malcolm was formerly married to a Mr. Clarke and to them two children were born, one of whom, David H. Clarke, is still living. David H. Clarke is residing in Boulder, Wyoming, and was one of the early pioneers of that state. He has a large horse ranch one hundred miles northwest of Green River. During their entire wedded lives Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and every year he gave a settled amount to the church. He had always given his allegiance to the republican party and was very active in its interests.
In the acquirement of his education William B. Malcohn attended the distriet school and high school at Belle Plaine, Iowa, and after putting his text-books aside made his initial step in the business world as a brakeman on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. He served at this occupation until September 10, 1887, when he came to Grand Island, Nebraska, and entered a business college for six months. At the termination of that period he entered into the employ of W. F. Cody at North Platte, remaining there until 1889, when he removed to Merrick county and farmed for one year. For three years he farmed in Polk county and then on the 1st of March, 1896, moved to York. On first removing to York county he had engaged as a salesman in an implement house for two years and then became connected with the Deering Harvester Company, for which concern he traveled five years. He also traveled for the International Harvester Company for one year. On the 1st of March, 1905, he again moved onto a farm because of his wife's health, but
WILLIAM B. MALCOLM
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
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her death occurred on the 10th of November, 1907, and the following spring he moved to York, where he engaged in the real estate business in which he has since continued. Mr. Malcolm has made a specialty of emigration business and has land in Texas, Colorado, and Wyoming. He also has local land for sale and trade and owns land in Kimball county. The offices of Mr. Malcolm in the City National Bank building are handsomely appointed.
On March 1, 1896, in Polk county, Mr. Malcolm was united in marriage to Naney A. Rystrom, a widow. She had five children by her first marriage and by her second marriage two children: Martha, the wife of J. H. LaMunyon, a farmer in Butler county ; and Daniel Dewey, who is in Denver, Colorado. Daniel D. Malcolm was too young for active service during the World war, but after the armistice was signed he enlisted at Des Moines, serving less than a year when he was honorably discharged because of a disabled hand. Mrs. Malcolm died in 190: and on the 6th of September, 1911, Mr. Malcolm was again married, this time to Mrs. Grace Roby. a widow.
Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a Mason and an Elk. He has always been independent in polities, voting for the man rather than the party, but 'he has slightly favored the democratic faction. Hard work is the keynote of Mr. Malcolm's success and every minute of his time is devoted to his business which is always on the increase.
D. J. KROEKER
Among the prominent and successful men of York county it is fitting to mention D. J. Kroeker, a progressive farmer, stock raiser and grain dealer. lle is a native of southern Russia, born there August 20, 1823, a son of Jacob and Agnes (Jensen ) Kroeker, also natives of that country where they spent their early lives and immigrated to America in 1875. Jacob I. Kroeker located in Brown town- ship, York county, and bought a farm which he operated successfully for many years and here spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring 1911. His widow survives and is now in her sixty-eighth year. They were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are living. When Mr. Kroeker settled in York county a process of development and expansion was in progress to which he rendered material assistance and practical effort.
D. J. Kroeker was but two years old when he was taken by his parents to York county and was here reared and educated in the common schools, later taking a course at the Fremont Normal School. When he was twenty-three years old Mr. Kroeker became identified with the grain business at Henderson, in this line of activity proving himself equal to the most exacting demands which the successful handling of that business entails. Ile rapidly gained a reputation as an expert in the buying and selling of grain, together with a keen knowledge of what con- stituted quality, and he realized corresponding financial results as a reward for his sagacity. Ile also engaged in farming, proving himself an adept from the very beginning in stock raising and general agricultural pursuits, controlling a business of large volume that brings him a good financial return. Ile is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, located in Brown township, all of
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which is splendidly improved with fine buildings, and its neat and attractive appearance indicates his intelligently directed activity. He has other business connections in Henderson and is a stockholder and one of the directors of the Farmers State Bank of Henderson, this prosperous concern deriving considerable advantage from his association with its atfairs.
Mr. Kroeker has been twice married. His first marriage was to Miss Anna Friesen and to this union was born one daughter, Anna, now the wife of Jacob HI. Rampel, who lives in California. Mrs. Anna Kroeker passed away in 1896 and two years later he was married to Miss Anna Wolff, a daughter of Peter Wolff, a resident of this county. To his second marriage eight children have been born : Jolm D., Era, Henry D., Peter, Agnes, Jacob, Mary and Daniel. Mr. Kroeker and his wife are members of the Bethesda church and their lives have been guided by high moral standards. Hle supports the democratic party and has served as assessor for five years, handling the duties of that office with strict impartiality. For thirty years he has been identified with the life and business of York county and has witnessed many favorable changes during this period, having by his own labors in no small measure contributed to the general development and progress which are in evidence on all sides.
WILLIAM HENRY DAVIS
Prominent among the energetic, farsighted, and successful business men of York is William Henry Davis, who has contributed much to the publie progress and improvement of this section of the state. Ile is one of the prominent insurance men of the state, being district manager of the Northwest Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, in York. He was born in Parke county, Indiana, July 15, 1855, the son of Alonzo and Maranda (Applegate) Davis. The father was born in New York in 1824 and passed away in March, 1919, while the mother was born in Kentucky in 1834, and died in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were married in Indiana where they came at an early day, and lived there until 1877, Mr. Davis being successfully engaged in the manufacture of lumber and shingles. Disposing of this business Mr. Davis removed to Howard county, Nebraska, where he bought land and homesteaded, remaining there for eighteen years, at the end of this time returning to Indiana where he bought a farm in Vigo county and resided until the death of his wife. After her death he lived with his children and died in Oklahoma at the home of his eldest daughter. Mr. Davis and his wife were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and he was a republican in politics. He was a man of importance in his community and did much to aid in the growth and upbuilding of Parke county, Indiana. The paternal grandfather, Leland Davis, was born in New York but was among the early settlers of Parke county, while the maternal grandfather, Nicholas Applegate, was born in Kentucky and later removed to Indiana where he died. William II. Davis, the subject of this review, is one of the fonr living children out of a family of seven born to Alonzo and Maranda Davis. The three other children are: Ella. the widow of William Irvin, who resides in Oklahoma; Ada, the wife of C. II. Patterson of Cheyenne,
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Wyoming, who is an engineer; and Levi, who is manager of an iee plant in Terre Haute.
In the acquirement of an education William Henry Davis attended the publie schools of Indiana and was employed in the woods during the summer months, earning the money with which to take a course in telegraphy. His first occupation was that of telegraph operator, and he served in that eapacity and as station agent for a period of twenty-nine years. He was engaged at several stations in Indiana, and in November, 1879, removed to Nebraska, settling in Sutton. The Burlington was building west and he was sent to Hampton and then to York as station agent in 1889. For five years he remained in this position and then became interested in the insurance business. He became connected with the Northwest Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee and has built up a very extensive business. He is district supervisor and has twelve distriet agents under his direction. Ile has an average yearly business of five hundred thousand dollars and the year of 1920 promises to be much larger.
In 1877 Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Cheney, whose death occurred on the 12th of September, 1894. She was the mother of two children : Dora May, the wife of I. M. Rice, postmaster at Valentine; and Glenn C., a physician and surgeon of California. On the first of January, 1896, he was again married, this time to Miss Clara Clift of Sutton. No children have been born to this union. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and she is very active in the affairs of the organization.
Politically Mr. Davis is a stanch supporter of the republican party. He is a Royal Arch Mason and has always been active in Masonic work. Ile is past master and past high priest, and exemplified the master masons degree before one of the largest bodies of Masons ever gathered, the event taking place in the Chicago Masonie Temple in 1893. For. many years he has been an officer and trustee of the York lodge. The success which Mr. Davis now enjoys is the result of his own individuality and merit, for he determined to allow no obstacles to bar his path if they could be overcome by persistent, earnest and honorable effort, and gradually as the result of his determination and enterprise he has advaneed until he is elassed with the representative business men of York.
SOLOMON SWANSON
Solomon Swanson, who is living retired in Gresham, York county, is now enjoying a period of well merited leisure made possible by his former successful labors as a farmer and stoek raiser, in which lines of labor he was actively engaged in the county for about thirty years. He was born in Sweden, September 25, 1839, a son of Swan Swanson and Mattie Lawson, both of whom spent their entire lives in that country where they passed away many years ago.
Solomon Swanson was a farmer in Sweden and when he had reached his thirty- second year he decided to try his fortune in the United States. Accordingly, in 1871. he immigrated to this country landing at New York, the passage being made by steamboat. He went to Branston, Illinois, and worked on farms by the month, remaining in one employment for nine years, which easily established a
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record in that connection. Later he worked on a railroad in Indiana, following which he came to Stewart township and bought eighty acres of railroad land for which he paid seven dollars an acre. This was in 1880 but he did not occupy his holding until 1882, when he arrived on the place and put up a frame house, four- teen feet by twenty feet and also a frame barn. He broke the sod and commenced the cultivation of crops, but during the dry seasons failed to produce anything of valne. He gave persistent attention to the improvement and care of his farm. planted many rows of trees and set out a fine orchard, while the management of his general farming and stock raising was the equal of any in the district. During the great blizzard of 1887 he was fortunate enough to have all his stock in the barns and so escaped much loss. In 1910 Mr. Swanson retired from the farm and moved to Gresham, where he is comfortably situated.
Mr. Swanson was married in Princeton, Illinois, to Ida Carlson, a native of Sweden, and they are the parents of one son, (. Henry, who now operates the old farm. The family are members of the Methodist church at Gresham and he gives his political support to the republican party. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator, in the Telephone Company and in the Farmers Co-operative Store, and in other ways has helped to promote the business interests of Gresham.
JOHN J. GOOSSEN
A successful career has been that of John J. Goossen, who now follows farming and stock raising on section 27. Brown township, York county. He has lived in this county for nearly forty years and is concentrating his efforts and attention upon the development and improvement of a farm of two hundred and forty acres. He is a native of southern Russia, born in that country January 16, 1868, a son of Johann and llellen (Peters) Goossen, also natives of Russia and who immigrated to America in 1879. The parents located in York county and became engaged in farming, operating with much snecess a holding which they acquired. On this farm the mother died in 1906 and in that year the father returned to Russia, where he survived until 1914, passing away at an advanced age. They were the parents of eleven children, four of whom are living. During their residence in York county they won the esteem and friendship of a large percentage of the citizenship, because of their sterling worth and uprightness of character.
When his parents left Russia John J. Goossen was but a lad of eleven years and he was reared on his father's farm in York county, attending the public schools for a few years. He helped on the home farm until he reached his majority when he started farming on his own account and has ever since been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Goossen is now the owner of two hundred and forty aeres of excellent land, located on section 27, Brown township, where he carries on general farming and stock raising, his efforts and industry from the beginning having been well rewarded. Upon this place many modern improvements have been made. the buildings are substantial and commodious, the fences well kept and every- thing about the place indicates the progressive spirit of the owner. In addition to looking after his business on the farm he finds time to take an interest in the affairs of the Farmers State Bank of Henderson, serving that institution as a
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