USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 49
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On his return to Towa after the close of the Civil war Mr. Church was united in marriage to Miss Alice Hurlbutt, a native of Connecticut and a daughter of William and Sarah Hurlbutt, also natives of that state. Her parents came to Iowa in 1854 and the father engaged in the carpenter and contraeting business for the remainder of his life. Mrs. Church is the second in order of birth in a family of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hurlbutt. To the union of Mr. and Mrs.
PHILANDER CHURCH
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
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Church seven children have been born, three of whom are living: Nellie, Jennie, and Julia. Nellie is the wife of George Tilden, of Stromsburg, an auctioneer, now working for the Harrison Murray Company. Two children have been born to them : Wallace and Donald; Jennie is the wife of Pirl Frazer, a farmer and stock raiser, and they are the parents of six children : Lloyd, Vesta, Iva, Laura, Dorothy, and Enola ; Julia, now Mrs. August Dreier, of York, has become the mother of two children : Albert and Alice. Mr. Dreier is manager of the outside work of the electric plant in York.
Politically Mr. Church is a staneh supporter of the republican party and of the principles for which it stands. For a number of years he was justice of the peace and for five years served on the county board of supervisors. Throughout the seventy-nine years of his life Mr. Church has witnessed the great advances made in civilization. His life has been one of labor and diligence and the success which he now enjoys is only his fair reward. Mr. and Mrs. Church are now retired, happy in the love of their children and grandchildren and in the respect and esteem of the community. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post.
REV. H. WUNDERLICH
One of the spiritual leaders in York county who is the object of much affection and veneration is Rev. II. Wunderlich, pastor of the German Evangelical Lutheran John's congregation, at Beaver Creek. He was born in Spring, Texas, July 13, 1860, a son of Peter and Marie (Hofius) Wunderlich, both natives of Westphalia, Germany. His parents came to the United States when young people and met and were married in Texas. The father was killed in 1864 when an explosion destroyed the powder mill in which he was working. He had been in the employ of the government for some time. The mother is now also deceased.
Rev. II. Wunderlich received his early education in his native town and at the age of fourteen years entered Concordia College at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he remained for a period of six years. He then decided to enter the ministry and as a result went to the Evangelical Lutheran College in St. Louis for his theological training. His first charge was at Perry, Texas, where he ministered to the spiritual welfare of that community for a period of twenty years. In 1907 he came to his present charge at Beaver Creek and during the years of his residence has endeared himself to the hearts of his people. He is pastor of a church with a membership of three hundred and sixty and is in charge of two schools of thirty- six and forty-two pupils respectively. Mr. Wunderlich has found his work a great physical and mental strain and he prepares the greatest part of his material on the typewriter.
Mr. Wunderlich was married in Texas to Miss Bertha Klein. whose death occurred three years ago. They were the parents of twelve children, namely : Travengott and Theophile, who are teaching in Chicago: Alma, who is the wife of a Mr. Wanke, teacher in the schools of St. Louis: Ellen, a musician : Renata, who keeps house for the father; Frieda, who is attending the state university at Lincoln : Walter and Arthur at home: Lawrence, who is attending the high school
Vol. II-31
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in Lincoln ; Roland and Robert. in school in Lincoln; and Herald in school at St. Louis.
Mr. Wunderlich is a man of broad sympathies and the poor and needy have found in him a friend. It is widely acknowledged fact that the most important work to which a man can direct his energies is that of teaching, whether it be from the pulpit, from the lecture platform or from the schoolroom, and to this teaching of the gospel Mr. Wunderlich has devoted his time, energies and thought.
CITIZEN BENSON CLITHERO
Citizen Benson C'lithero is an honored resident of York. For many years he engaged in farming but retired from active life in 1901. He is a native of Belmont county, Ohio, having been born there on the 1st of February, 1846, son of J. D. and Jemima R. (Rush) Clithero. His parents were both born in Ohio and were married and died there. The father was a well-to-do farmer and one of the most progressive men in his community. Eleven children were born to this umon, two of whom are living: Citizen B., the subject of this review; and Cyrus W., who lives in Kansas and is a retired farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Clithero were reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church in the affairs of which they took an active part. The father was known throughout the community as Bishop Clithero. The paternal grandfather was a native of England and the maternal grandfather. Isaac Rush, was born in Ohio.
In the acquirement of an education Citizen B. Clithero attended the schools of Ohio. His first work after putting his textbooks aside was farming and he followed that occupation for the greater part of his life. He learned the carpenter's trade in early youth and in 1865 went to Grundy county, Illinois, where he engaged in that line of work for a period of ten years. At the termination of that time he came to York county where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. He moved onto this place in 1826. The land was unimproved and badly in need of cultivation, Along with his household goods he had brought enough timber to erect a small frame hone. eighteen by twenty feet, and this was his home for about ten years. lle laler built a more modern home on the place and it is still standing. Subsequently he sold the old home place and purchased another piece of land in York county. He is now the owner of a quarter section of the finest land in the county, in McFadden township. In 1905 he removed to the city of York and purchased two lots, putting ont >hade trees. Hle built a modern home on one of the lots al 1202 Nebraska avenue and here he and Mrs. Clithero are residing. For four years before coming to York Mr. and Mrs. Clithero were residents of Benedict.
While Mr. Clithero was residing in Illinois he returned to Ohio for a short period and was at that time married to Miss Amanda MI. Timberlake, a native of Noble county, Ohio, and a daughter of Nelson and Hannah Timberlake. Her parents were Ohioans and the father who was a carriage-maker, was killed when Mrs. Clithero was but a child. Five children have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Clithero. four of whom are living : Alice who is the wife of Willis Moul, a farmer near Fairmont: William, who is engaged in farming and vegetable trucking in Kimball county : Lonis B., who is farming in York county ; and Mary
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Lonise, the wife of Otis M. Smith who is a very successful grain man of Omaha. Mr. Smith is president of the Updyke Grain Company. Mr. and Mrs. Clithero lost their youngest son, Romeo, in 1910. Hle was but twenty-six years of age and a young man of considerable ability. He was a graduate of the York high school in the activities of which he had always taken an active part. He was also the possessor of a splendid tenor voice.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Clithero the right of franchise he has been a stauch supporter of the republican party and the principles for which it stands. Although most of his time was spent in farming he served on the city council for a number of years. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen and takes an active interest in the order. Mr. and Mrs. Clithero are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Clithero has conducted the church choir for many years. For thirty years he has conducted the choirs of the various churches which he has attended. He is at present assistant chorister in the Sunday school and is likewise a class leader. He has served in this capacity for a period of thirty years. To every occupation undertaken he has given his entire attention and energy with the result that his life is now crowned with successful achievement. He takes an active interest in the development and improvement of his community and York is fortunate in having him for a citizen.
DIETRICH PETERS
For four years Dietrich Peters, now deceased, was a prominent and progressive farmer of York county. He was born in southern Russia and died in this county in 1882 at the age of fifty-four years. He received his education in the common schools of his native land, engaged in farming for some time there, and in 1878 came to the United States, settling in York county. Here he purchased a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres and also eighty acres of railroad land.
Dietrich Peters was married in his native land to Helena Fast. a native of Russia, whose death occurred in 1910 at the age of seventy-five years. Nine children were born to this union : Helena, who is now the wife of H. H. Epp, a farmer of York county ; Sarah. the wife of Isaac Bergen, farming in York county ; Dietrich, deceased : Cornelius, farming in York county; Marguerite, the wife of Peter Hliebert, a farmer of Hamilton county : Jacob; John, farming in York county; Isaac, farming in York county ; and Abraham, who is living in Henderson.
Deitrich Peters, whose name initiates this review, maintained an independent course in politics and his religious faith was that of the Mennonite church in which organization he always took a prominent part. The Peters family have taken a prominent and active part in the affairs of York county since their emigration here, and all of them are citizens of whom York county has a right to be proud.
Jacob D. Peters was eleven years of age when his parents removed to this country. He helped his father break the land of the homestead and received his education in the country schools of the county. He remained at home assisting his mother until he was twenty-seven years of age, at which time he bought eighty aeres and started farming on his own account. He later bought one hundred and sixty acres which land he highly cultivated and improved. During the drought of '93,
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'94, and '95 he raised no crops and it was necessary for him to burn cornstalks. corn and straw. In 1895 Jacob Peters was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Thieszen, a native of Russia whose death occurred in 1918. To this union four children were born : Mary, who was the wife of George Friesen, both of whom are now deceased, her death having occurred in 1918; and Fred, Aaron and Helena, at home. Some time after his wife's death Jacob Peters was again wed, Miss Sarah Harder becoming his wife. To this union one child, Sarah, has been born. The Peters family are members of the Mennonite church, of which Mr. Peters is a trustee. He maintains an independent course in politics supporting the man rather than the party. As an active man in the community he has served as road over- seer and is director of school board district, number 32. Mr. Peters has always engaged in general farming and stock raising and is recognized as a representative agricultorist throughout the county.
SWAN LINDSTROM
An eventful career has been that of Swan Lindstrom, who, of Swedish birth, came to America when he was about twenty years old, unaccompanied by any friends, and being of a progressive spirit speedily applied himself to the new conditions and ultimately achieved success along agricultural lines. He was born in Sweden, July 23, 1849, a son of Swan and Josephine ( Swanson) Lindstrom. also natives of that country where the father was a manufacturer of pig iron for many years.
Swan Lindstrom was educated in the schools of Sweden and when he was about twenty years old he decided to immigrate to this country. After his arrival in New York he went to Princeton, Illinois, and there worked at the carpenter trade which he had learned in Sweden and in that way made a living for several years. Altogether he spent eleven years in Illinois and three of these he devoted to farming, renting land for the purpose and materially increasing his income by laboring in the fields engaged in the cultivation of crops. In 1880 Mr. Lindstrom rame to Nebraska and settled in York county, but prior to coming he had bought eighty acres of land in Stewart township, for which he paid six dollars and ninety cents an acre. On taking possession of the holding he built a small frame honse which now forms part of his home and put up a small frame barn, also planting large numbers of trees and otherwise improving the place. He broke all the land and prospered in his farming operations from the beginning, his success inducing him in 1895 to buy a further traet of one hundred and sixty acres, which is in excellent condition. In 1893 he raised corn which yielded fifty bushels to the acre. this being regarded as a record crop at that time. When fuel was scarce he burned corn and cornstalks as substitute. There were ample supplies of prairie chickens and geese in the district and Mr Lindstrom relates that on one occasion he killed five geese in his cornfield with one shot. Being in York county for forty years he is familiar with all phases of the history of the district in its development and he rejoices in what has been accomplished as the work of improvement has been carried forward.
In 1872, while living in Illinois, Mr. Lindstrom was united in marriage to
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
Hanna Swanson, a native of Sweden, and to their union four children have been born : S. A., a farmer, of Stewart township; John M., of Gresham, working as a carpenter ; Frank, who farms in Stewart township; and C. A., who conducts a mercantile business in Gresham. The family are members of the Methodist church and are earnest advocates of its teachings.
Mr. Lindstrom in his political views is a stanch democrat and served on the county board at the time the present courthouse was being built. Interested in the cause of education he has served as a school director in district 35 for over thirty- five years, and in other directions he has given unstintingly of his help to all projects intended to serve the public welfare. For some time past he has been renting the greater part of his land, and from this source derives a handsome income. Ile retains ten acres for his own nse, on which he carries on farming. The period of his residence in York county covers four decades and he has won a place among its esteemed and representative citizens.
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WILLIAM STAEIIR
One of the most successful farmers and largest landowners in York county is William Staehr, who has resided in this county since he was a boy of ten years. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, October 15, 1863, a son of Carsten Staehr, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work.
The early education of William Staehr was obtained in his native town in Germany and he was but ten years of age when be removed with his parents to the United States, settling in York county. He has vivid recollections of the early pioneer days and of his first home in this country-a dugout. He assisted in farming in the early days, being so small that he had to stand on tiptoe to grasp the handles of the plow while his brother drove the oxen. When he was twenty- five years of age he began farming on his own account and four years later with the assistance of his father purchased one hundred acres of land, the improvements on the land consisting of a small house and shed for a stable. Today he is in posses- sion of twenty acres in addition to his four eighty-acre tracts. He has a fine set of buildings on each of his farms and is widely recognized throughout the sur- rounding country as a successful and progressive farmer. Mr. Staehr recollects the awful cold winters when he first came to York county, there being days at a time when no member of the household would venture out-of-doors. During these cold, stormy spells the oxen were put in the dugout to keep them from freezing.
Mr. Staehr at an early age was united in marriage to Miss Mary Huffschneider, a native of York county, and a daughter of Henry Huffschneider. Her father, who is now deceased, was an early settler of York county. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Staehr, ten children were born, eight of whom are living: Bertha, who is the wife of Carl Stuhr; John, who is married and lives in North Dakota : Martin, who is married and residing on one of his father's farms: Emma, who is employed at Lincoln ; and Walter, Dora, Elsie, and Edmond who are at home. Two children died in early childhood.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Staehr the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party and the principles for which it stands. He is
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TIISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
also well informed on the topies of the day. The Staehr family are all consistent members of the Lutheran church, attending the church at Beaver Creek, and Mr. Staehr is serving his second year as elder in the local church. A life of intense and well directed activity has brought Mr. Staehr to a position among the most successful farmers of York county.
EDGAR A. WELLS
Edgar A. Wells, a retired farmer and stock raiser who in former years was most actively and extensively engaged in carrying on agricultural pursuits in York county and who now makes his home in the city of York, was born in Chenango county, New York, on September 23, 1854, a son of Halsey and Lorania ( Rogers) Wells, both of whom were born in the Empire state. They went to Illinois in 1855, settling in De Kalb county, where the father purchased land and thereon spent his remaining days. He was of English lineage, while the maternal grandfather, Davis Rogers, was born in New York but was of Irish descent. Halsey Wells gave his political support to the republican party and in his religions faith was a Baptist. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom three are living: Augusta, the wife of Marcinas Hall, a farmer of De Kalb county, Illinois; George, who also follows farming in De Kalb county ; and Edgar A., of this review.
The last named was educated in the schools of Illinois and after his textbooks were put aside he took up the work of boring wells and followed that occupation for a year and a half. He afterward rented a farm for two years in Illinois and in 1879 arrived in York county, Nebraska, where he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land. With characteristic energy he began the development and improvement of his farm and built thereon a small frame house. After obtaining title to his land he sold it the same year and then purchased a quarter section which he improved and upon which he erected new buildings. From time to time he bought other property, extending the boundaries of his farm until he became one of the leading agriculturists of his section of the state. He also engaged very extensively in raising hogs and cattle and also in feeding stock, and his carefully managed business affairs brought to him gratifying success. In 1907 he removed to York and built a beautiful home at 605 East Ninth street. However, he still gives supervision to his farming interests and raises between fonr hundred and six hundred head of hogs annually. His landed possessions embrace eight hundred and eighty acres and from his fields he annually gathers golden harvests, making his yearly income a most substantial one. He was largely without capital when he arrived in Nebraska. He paid six dollars per acre for his first land, making a payment of one dollar down and meeting the remaining payments on time. He became connected with the First National Bank of Bradshaw upon its organization, serving as a member of its board of directors, and is also the vice president. He is likewise on the directorate of the First National Bank of York and of the First Trust Company & Savings Bank. He assisted in organizing the Bradshaw Tele- phone Company, of which he was president for ten years. Thus he has been actively and prominently connected with business interests in this section of the
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state, his labors at all times being of a character that have contributed to publie prosperity and progress as well as to individual success.
In 1877 Mr. Wells was married to Miss Stella Ball, who was born in Kane county, Illinois, a daughter of William HI. and Julia Ann (Arnold) Ball, the former a native of Kentucky, while the latter was born in Ohio. They were married in Illinois and resided in that state for a number of years. Her father died in 1907. but Mrs. Ball is still living, making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Wells at the advanced age of ninety years. Mrs. Wells taught school in District 48 of York county in 1880 and 1881 and she was also a teacher in Illinois prior to her removal to the west. She had attended high school in Sycamore, Illinois, and was also a student in the normal school at Valparaiso, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Wells has been born a daughter, Coila, the wife of Frank Moyer, formerly a resident of York.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Wells hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He is also identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and his political sup- port is given to the republican party. He has never been an office seeker, however, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, and for many years his activity made him one of the leading live stock raisers of the county. He always gave more attention to feeding cattle than to cultivating his fields and always kept high-grade cattle, for which he received the highest market price. For thirty-five years, with the exception of one year, he never fed less than three car- loads of cattle and sometimes fed as many as five hundred head. He also raised more alfalfa than any other resident of the county and at one time had three hundred acres planted to that erop. His entire life has been actuated by a spirit of enterprise and progressiveness, and as the result of his earefully directed labors he is today one of the prosperous citizens of York county.
EDWARD BLENDER
Twelve years have passed since Edward Blender was called to his final rest, but his memory is cherished by many who knew him in and about York county, as he stood as a high type of manhood and citizenship and was devoted to the welfare and progress not only of his family but of the community in which he lived. He was born in Germany June 5, 1842, and died in 1908, being then in his sixty-fifth year. While a mere boy he accompanied his parents to America from the old country and on arrival the family went to the state of Illinois, where the father engaged in farming and spent the remainder of his life.
Edward Blender completed his edneation in the public schools of Illinois, eon- tinued to reside in his father's home helping in the work of the farm, and when he was about twenty years old enlisted as a member of the 58th Illinois Infantry and served with the Union army during the Civil war, his service covering a period of over three years. He was in numerous engagements while with the colors of the North and at the close of his military service he received an honorable discharge, returned to the family home in Illinois and resumed farming operations. He felt the call of the west and in 1872 set out for Nebraska, coming straight to York county and taking a homestead in Morton township. On taking up his residence
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on the holding he put a frame shanty together which served as a home until better times came, and his first barn was composed of sod and earth. Mr. Blender lived amid those primitive surroundings for about two years, in the meantime having steadily applied himself to the development and cultivation of the farm. He experienced the hardships of dry seasons and struggled through the grasshopper plague which made havoe among the crops in that region. However, fortune began to smile. His agricultural interests were carefully and successfully conducted and for many years he concentrated his efforts and attention upon the development of the fields. He ultimately became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of well improved land, and when he was called away February 13, 1908, he left behind him a substantial property for the benefit of his widow and family. With very little of this world's goods to his eredit when locating in the county he applied him- self to the problems of wresting from the soil all that it could be expected to yield. and marked success attended his efforts. Prosperity came to him, but his natural modesty and simplicity of manner were in nowise impaired. His personal qualities were such as won for him the warm regard of many and there was sincere regret when he died.
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