EMAHA
County's history is the story of the development of the wealth in
its land--pure loess soil equalled in richness by few other places
in the world. The seven families who made the first white
settlement in the Nemaha County region depended on the natural
growth this virgin soil supported. Their diet was wild grapes and
meat from animals and fowl attracted to the region. These persons
lived in Nemaha County during the winter of 1852-53; today the
county's extensive orchards provide apples, peaches, pears,
grapes, plums and berries unmatched for quality and yield.The settlement in 1852-53, located about three miles west of the present Auburn, was called Dog Town. These seven families, however, remained only until the beginning of summer, 1853, when a band of Omaha Indians came down the Nemaha river and frightened the settlers into fleeing across the Missouri. Early in the spring the men in the party had gone on an exploration tour. Reaching the top of a hill, they saw a hundred Indians quietly sleeping on the side of the next hill. When nothing happened after several hours, the men gained enough courage to investigate, only to discover their "sleeping Indians" were merely rocks. The only one of these settlers of whom there is any record is John Dirks, who, with his sons, became a freight driver between Nebraska City and Denver and Laramie.
Dedrich Dirks, one of John's sons, later became the object of a beautiful Indian maiden's affections while they were encamped during the noon meal on one of their freight trips to the west, a band of gaily bedecked Indians suddenly rode up. They wore ceremonial trappings but no war paint. An Indian maiden dismounted, and through her interpreter addressed the motley crew of bull-whackers in this fashion:
"I am the big chief's daughter. I am of the age when I wish to choose a husband. None of the young men of my tribe suits me. It is my privilege to marry whom I wish, whether black, white or red. The man I choose will never have to work; my tribe will grant his every desire. I am come to see if any of your young men would please me." And then she commanded, "Men, stand up!"
Every man came immediately to attention. After looking over the group, the Indian girl pointed her finger at Dedrich with as little temerity as though she were choosing a steer, and said, "There is the man I want."
Dedrich, who had spent much of his life among the Indians and knew their language well, took her aside from the crowd. After a lengthy conversation, the two came back to announce they would not be married. That ended the romance.
Later in the afternoon Chris asked his brother why he had not married the pretty Indian girl.
This was the answer: "The Indians have many traditions. I had visions of burning at the stake for violating some of their ideals and concluded I had rather drive oxen." What Dedrich told the Indian girl, however, he did not say, He later bought a Nemaha County farm, married and spent the rest of his life on the land.
In 1853 a halfbreed Indian named Deroin laid out the town of St. Deroin. Robert Hawke built a store there and brought the first consignment of goods to Nemaha County. Deroin was killed by a neighbor in 1858, and Hawke later moved to Nebraska City where he became a leading merchant. As an inducement to settlers of the county, he built the first bridge across the Nemaha river at the present site of Brock.
Jake Delay was another early Nemaha County settler. He arrived in the summer of 1854, taking up land on the Nemaha river bottom. There he, his son, John, and his nephew, David Kinnison began constructing a log cabin. Before the building was completed Delay noticed several Indians creeping through the brush, apparently displeased at the sight of such a permanent "wigwam." The men stopped their work and began moulding bullets, but the Indians failed to attack. Delay, however, became seriously ill and died before midnight.
The boys remained awake all night, and in the morning Kinnison set out to get a coffin at the fort on the Missouri bank. John remained with his father's body, which they had carefully laid on a pallet of buffalo robes. The next day the two boys buried Delay in the most beautiful spot they could find, the crest of a hill overlooking the broad Nemaha valley with a view which extends for miles. The same year Philip Star settled on the quarter section in which the grave was, and set aside several acres for a cemetery. That ground is today the Lafayette Cemetery two miles north of Brock. John Delay and Kinnison took up land and made their homes for many years near the elder Delay's grave.
Early in the spring of 1855 John Villars, Jake Delay's father-in-law, came to Nebraska with his wife and family. He died in a short while from a severe cold, however, and was buried near his son-in-law. Later in the summer a band of Indians
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Nemaha |
visited the Villars home, acting in an unfriendly manner. When
one old brave went to the grindstone and began sharpening his
tomahawk, Mrs. Villars ordered him off the place in no uncertain
terms. The old Indian answered her with: "Sharpen tomahawk kill
white squaw. White squaw brave. Me no kill." One season in the new
country, however, had been too much for the widow. When her son
returned home that evening they began packing and before morning
had begun the long journey back to Indiana.
Nemaha County's first Fourth of July celebration
was held in 1856. Preparations began early and from reports it
would appear everyone in the county must have been present. An
immense barbecued dinner was in charge of one committee which
roasted buffalo, elk, deer, beef and pork over a great pit of
coals. After the dinner, W. H. Lake's voice echoed through the
hills as he read the Declaration of Independence. Robert W.
Furnas, the moving spirit in Brownville's early days, gave the
patriotic oration of the day including an enthusiastic prediction
of Nebraska's future. There were music, games, sports and dancing.
That night the greatest throng which had ever assembled in
Brownville wended homeward on foot, on horseback or by ox
team.
In 1856 Judge Kennedy settled on a farm a few
miles northwest of Brownville. One stormy night two years later
some travelers asked shelter for their team. The next morning
Kennedy told the gentleman who seemed to be in charge of the party
that they could prepare their breakfast on his kitchen stove, and
asked some of the men into his home. Presently a Negress came to
the door and said "Massa Brown, breakfast ready." Kennedy,
somewhat surprised, remarked, "Could it be possible you are
related to the noted John Brown?" "I am John Brown, on my way
north with a company of escaped slaves," was the answer. The
congenial gentleman whose company Kennedy had enjoyed was none
other than the notorious John Brown on his way north over the
famous "underground railroad" which had several stations in Nemaha
County.
Cultivation of fruit has been one of Nemaha
County's principal industries almost since it was first settled.
When Robert Furnas first made a trip to Nebraska in 1854 and saw
the profusion of wild grapes, choke cherries, gooseberries,
elderberries and plums on the hills around Brownville, he decided
orchards would be more successful than grains in this country. He
returned to Brownville two years later with his family, his
printing press and a large box of nursery stock, which had come by
boat from Cincinnati, Ohio. When Furnas opened the box he found a
pear tree already blooming. It was planted and bore fruit the same
year.
An Englishman, John Loveless, planted ten acres
of apples in the London precinct. A few years later persons were
driving seventy miles to his orchard for apples. John Maley, an
Irishman from Douglas precinct, went to Brownville for cottonwood
seedlings to plant a ten acre grove. Furnas advised him to plant
half the land with peaches, which he did. Five years later Maley
sold $1,800 worth of peaches-nearly three times the value of his
160 acres of land.
The phenomenal success of these early plantings
was responsible for an orchard on every farm whose owner had
ambition enough to plant one. In the early seventies, thousands of
bushels of peaches rotted on the ground for want of a market.
Robert Furnas planted a three acre vineyard on his original forty
acres and it continued to bear fruit until replaced by new
plantings in 1936. Nemaha County fruit created a sensation at the
Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876 by capturing most of
the blue ribbons offered. When the railroad was completed to
Denver, Little Delaware grapes from Brownville vineyards sold for
fifty cents per pound in Denver. The fruit business in Nemaha
County is still expanding--in 1939 more than 180,000 baskets of
grapes left Brownville by truck, auto and train for markets in
Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and
Wisconsin. Trucks and autos hauled 40,000 bushels of peaches from
Nemaha County orchards and 100,000 bushels of apples in 1939.
Governor Furnas' old farm, still owned by the widow of John
Furnas, marketed 4,000 bushels of grapes and 1,500 bushels of
pears. The Ak-Sar-Ben orchards packing sheds were a beehive of
industry during the picking and packing season, handling 9,000
bushels of peaches and 40,000 bushels of apples. The Brownville
Fruit Growers Association packed and sold 93,000 baskets of grapes
shipping them into seven states. Strawberries, raspberries,
peaches, grapes, pears, plums and apples are produced in
commercial quantities.
Brownville's first house was built in 1854, the
same year Nebraska Territory was opened for settlement and exactly
a half century after the Lewis and Clark expedition passed up the
Missouri. Within the next two years Forney County (later Nemaha)
had been created by the governor and Brownville made the county
seat. A. J. Benedict, probate julge (sic); H. W. Lake, county
clerk, and Thomas B. Edwards, sheriff, were the county officers
appointed. On Dec. 12, 1855, the county's first election was held
with Richard Brown's home the only voting place. The first
territorial legislature changed the county's name to Nemaha and
reduced its size.
Brownville, despite many removal attempts,
remained the county seat for 31 years. Auburn, nearer the county's
center, is now the seat of government. Brownville grew rapidly,
and vied to be the first city in the new territory. Within a short
while, corner lots in Brownville were equal in price to Omaha
corner lots. A land office was located in Brownville and in it was
filed the first homestead claim to be made in the United States.
Daniel Freeman took out this claim at 12:01 a. m., Jan. 1, 1862.
His homestead has now been made into a state park.
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Nemaha |
Who's Who |
Over the. Brownville and Tecumseh road after the adoption of
the Homestead law, one hundred covered wagons going west to new
homes often passed in a single day. After the grasshopper scourge
of 1874 some covered wagons went east. One had this significant
lettering on the side: "In God we trusted ... in Kansas we
busted."
Among the early Nemaha County pioneers were many
men with strong religious convictions, who soon gathered
followings with similar beliefs. Thomas Edwards, a Christian
minister who later was appointed sheriff and Joel M. Wood, both
came to Brownville in 1854 and soon had organized the state's
first religious group. Robert Furnas, a Presbyterian, also had a
following in the new town. T. W. Tipton, a Congregational
preacher, built a fine church in Brownville in 1861. That
structure is now used by the Methodist congregation and is the
oldest church in the state continuously used for religious
worship.
Methodists were also numerous in Nemaha County's
early days. When Philip and Mary Starr established a home near
Brock in 1854, their house became the meeting place for Methodist
ministers and laymen. Rev. Mr. Taylor organized a class which soon
outgrew the Starr Home, and services were then held in the
Lafayette schoolhouse. When the congregation grew too large for
the schoolhouse, a church was built in Brock. Six Russell
families, the Hoovers, Dr. Kelling, William Hawk, James Antressel
and the Alderman families made Nemaha City quite a Methodist
center. All these were governed by the Indiana Conference until
April 1861, when the first Methodist Conference in the state met
at Brownville with Bishop Morris of Indiana presiding.
Fred Kiechel often told how he and his mother
drove an ox team to Sunday School and church every week during
territorial days. Despite these difficulties, however, Nemaha
County's citizens managed to build an excellent Sunday School
organization. In 1913 a silk flag offered by the national
Inter-denominational Sunday School convention was awarded to
Nemaha County and the Brock Christian Sunday school. E. E. Briggs
was pastor then and Mrs. A. C. DePue and G. G. Gilbert were
superintendents. The county's churches have ministered to several
persons who later in life received national recognition for their
abilities. In this group are Andrew and Nathan Harmon, Cleveland
Kleihauer, and Bertha M. Thomson.
When the Union Pacific began construction at
Omaha, Brownville citizens determined to get a railroad. Promoters
soon organized the Brownville and Fort Kearny railroad company,
and Brownville voted bonds to build it. The bonds stipulated they
were due and payable whenever ten miles of track was laid and had
rolling stock on it. The promoters proceeded to build ten miles of
track and run a single box car over it. A yoke of oxen provided
the motive power, some persons said. The line was then junked and
the bonds paid.
William Daily is the pioneer Nemaha County
resident to whom founding of the Peru State Teachers College may
be credited. When there were no churches in Peru, a soliciting
committee from the Methodist organization approached him for a
contribution. His reply was, "Not one dollar for a church but five
hundred dollars if you will build a college." With this nucleus,
enough money was soon subscribed to establish Mount Vernon
College, which was changed to the, Peru State Teachers College
when Nebraska was admitted to the union. At the time Daily made
his offer, Nemaha County was seriously in need of educational
facilities. There was no state university; any person who could
read and write and had mastered Ray's third arithmetic could get a
teaching certificate; the schools were not graded and a new
teacher guessed at a pupil's class.
When the first bridge across the Missouri river
was being discussed, Brownville citizens believed their town was
the logical place for it, because they thought it was the only
position which could promise a rock bottom foundation. Omaha,
however, offered the bridge promoters many inducements, and
Brownville learned, too late, that a bridge could be built at
other points.
Brownville's determination for a Missouri span
never flagged. But it was not until several years ago that the
federal government agreed to finance the project. This beautiful
bridge makes eastern markets more easily available to Nemaha
County orchardists and farmers, and is a link in the shortest
highway between Chicago and Denver.
Today Nemaha County is still developing. Its
orchard industry grows with the passage of nearly every year. The
Ak-San-Ben (sic) Company has one hundred acres of peaches and one
hundred acres of apples, all young trees which have not yet borne
fruit, Mrs. John Furnas is planting peaches on her farm and many
acres have recently been added to Nemaha County's vineyards.
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in Nebraska |
Nemaha |
ARMSTRONG, MRS ALMA: Homemaker; b Stella, Neb Dec 3, 1892; d of Isaac Lee Plasters-Grace Paris; ed Auburn HS; U of N; m Robert M Armstrong May 6, 1914 Stella; s Robert Eugene, James Lee; 1914 homemaker; 1935-36 state pres Amer Leg aux, natl committee woman 1936-37, chmn state advisory bd 1937-38; DAR 1935-37 natl vice-chmn Americanism com, 1937-39 state recording secy, 1939 state vice-regent, 1937 del to natl defense conf, Washington DC; during World War, Nemaha Co chmn surgical dressings, recd ARC badge for hours of service; past pres ch DB PEO; past worthy matron OES; past pres Mental Culture Club; First Meth Ch; hobbies, interior decorating & landscaping; grandfather, Davidson Plasters, settled at Brownville 1885 and was sheriff of Nemaha Co 12 years; great grandfather, Jesse Cole, mbr 1st territorial legislature; res 1517 I, Auburn.
ARMSTRONG, JOHN WILLIAM: Merchant; b Des Moines Co, Ia Nov 15, 1854; s of Thomas Douden Armstrong-Eve McDonald; ed Des Moines Co Ia; Howes Acad, Mt Pleasant Ia; m Julia Stevens Feb 10, 1876 Mt Pleasant Ia; s William Lester, Ernest F; d Eva (Mrs Ford Skeen), Laura (Mrs James); 1876-82 farmed in Ia, came to Auburn 1882; 1882-83 ptr in Stevens & Armstrong Brickyard; 1884-87 P M, Calvert; 1888-92 owner & opr Armstrong Hdw Store, Calvert; 1892-94 ptr Armstrong & Armstrong Hdw Co; 1894- owner & opr Armstrong Hdw & Furn Co, Auburn; 1892- owner & opr Armstrong Funeral Home; 1915 son W L became ptr; past mbr sch bd; mbr Neb St legislature, 1898-1902, 1908-10, 1920-22; WOW; Meth Ch, trustee & steward; hobby, football; res 1806 O, Auburn.
ARMSTRONG, ROBERT McDOWELL: Attorney; b Auburn, Neb Apr 29, 1892; s of James McDowell Armstrong-Eunice E Skeen; ed Auburn HS; U of N, LLB 1913; Delta Chi; m Alma G Plasters May 1914 Stella; s Robert Eugene, James Lee; 1913 adm to Neb bar; 1913-21 Auburn city atty, jr mbr, Lambert & Armstrong, Auburn; 1921-25 Nemaha Co judge; 1925- prac law Auburn, 1937- sr ptr Armstrong & Wiltse; 1919 city clk; 1937-39 sen from 2nd dist in 1st unicameral legislature; during World War in US army, MTC 1918; Amer Leg, ch mbr, past post comm, judge advocate, dept comm 1932; Nemaha Co & Neb St Bar Assns; Kiwanis, dist gov 1931, ch mbr; C of C, past secy; Country Club; U of N Foundation, trustee, mbr exec com; AF&AM; RAM, KT; Meth Ch; Rep; hobby, golf; off 1213 1/2 J; res 1517 I, Auburn.
BLAKENSHIP, ROSCOE R: Abstracter; b Peru, Neb Apr 28, 1881; s of John W Blankenship-Harriet Hutchinson; ed PSTC; m Ethel L Kennedy June 19, 1912 Brownville; s George Robert, John Eugene; 1904-10 with Bank of Syracuse; 1911-12 with Peoples State Bank, Wray Colo; 1912-32 cash Bank of Brock; 1932- owner Nemaha County Abstract Co; mbr town bd; city clk of Brock 9 years during which city waterworks were completed; Neb Title Assn; Amer Title Assn; Kiwanis, past VP; C of C; AF&AM; Meth Ch; Rep; hobbies, hunting & fishing; res Auburn.
BLINDE, JOHN L: Assistant Bank Cashier; b Nemaha Co, Neb Aug 5, 1895; s of August Blinde-Bertha Walkenhorst; ed Johnson HS; correspondence work in law from Amer Sch of Law, Chicago; m Elizabeth Hansen Jan 28, 1918 Johnson; s Alfred A R, Leonard O M; 1911-18 with M J Blinde Gen Merc Store, Johnson; 1918- with First State Bank, Johnson, asst cash since 1920; chief of vol fire dept; 1926- chmn of village bd; 3 terms town treas, during installation of electricity; 2 terms city clk of Johnson during installation of waterworks; during World War enl in U S inf short term; mbr Fourth Regional Clearing House Assn; Neb Bankers Assn; Amer Bankers Assn; St Matthews Luth Ch, chmn bd of trustees; Rep; hobbies, sports, comm work; father Civil War veteran, homesteaded in Nemaha Co; off First State Bank; res Johnson.
BOSSHAMMER, FREDERICK GEORGE: Tailor & Cleaner; b Atchison, Kas Jan 15, 1883; s of George H. Bosshammer-Christina Clites; ed Atchison HS; m Anna 13 Maclay Sept 1906 Auburn; 1902-09 with Graham Bros & McKnight Clothing Co, Auburn; 1909- owner & opr Fred Bosshammer Tailor & Cleaners Shop, Auburn, in same location past 26 years; Neb Assn of Cleaners & Dyers; AF&AM; RAM, secy, past grand high priest; chmn on Masonic homes; KT, secy; R&SM, secy; Amer Philatelic Soc; Chris Ch; Dem; hobby, stamp collecting; off 9071/2 Central ave; res 1111 16th, Auburn.
BOYD, ROBERT CATRON: Bank President; b Uptown, Penn Oct 25, 1866; s of Robert J Boyd-Susan C White; ed Franklin Co Penn; m Lillie B Angle Apr 24, 1890 Welsh Run1, Penn; s William N, John C; d Avis A (Mrs William C Atwater), Mary Jane; 1880-84 with father in gen merc store, Uptown Penn; 1884-1900 with brother Edward M, in Carson Bank; 1900-22 asst cash Carson Natl Bank of Auburn, 1922-33 cash, 1938- pres; has one of 3 longest banking records in Neb; pres First Natl Bank of Johnson; org of Auburn Mutual Light & Power Co, past dir & treas; past city treas, Auburn; active many years in BSA & 4-H Club work; during World War active in fund drives; Neb State Hist Soc; Neb Bankers Assn; Auburn Country Club; Kiwanis; AF&AM, past master; RAM, past high priest; KT, past comm; Scot Rite; Sesostris Shrine; OES; BPOE 80, life mbr; IOOF, past noble grand; Rebekah; Rep, past mbr State Central Com; Presby Ch; hobbies, boys & girls club work, golf; res Auburn.
1Welsh Run, Penn mail now delivered from Greencastle, Penn.
BROCK, ERNEST RAULSON: Auto Dealer; b St Paul, Neb June 25, 1897; s of A R Brock-Carrie Christensen; ed Blair HS; U of N 1915-17; Sigma Nu; m Margaret Roberts Jan 6, 1923 Columbus; d Genene; 1914-15 tchr, Sioux Co; 1919-20 asst cash, Farmers State Bank, Rising City; 1920-21 VP Citizens State Bank of Blair; 1921-23 Neb St bank examiner; 1923-25 pres Bank of Belgrade; 1925-27 with state guaranty fund commission, special agt in charge of liquidation Bank of Belgrade, S S Hadley Co of Cedar Rapids, Farmers & Mchts Bank of Sterling, & Vesta State Bank; 1927-28 with credit dept Gen Motors Corp of Omaha; 1928- opr Chevrolet & Oldsmobile Agcy, Auburn; during World War, USN hydroplane div anti-submarine service, O/S approximately 4 mos; Amer Leg; C of C; Kiwanis; AF&AM, RAM, Blair; Indep; hobbies, photography, fishing; mother & father were of pioneer families who homesteaded in Howard Co; off 902 Central ave; res 1422 J, Auburn.
BUCKRIDGE, THOMAS McCALVY: Merchant; b Otoe Co, Neb Dec, 2, 1868; s of Leander Buckridge-Harriet Lewis; ed Otoe Co; Nebraska City HS; m Cora A Wilcox Sept 1, 1901 Brock; d Lorene Norton, Mildred Wilcox (Mrs O A Jones); 1890-95 in blacksmith & wagon bldg trades, Cook; 1895 buyer & shipper of horses & mules, Brock; 1899-1902 with H L Hanks Grain Co & Bartlett Grain Co, Brock; 1902-05 grain buyer with George Coryell, Brock; 1905-19 & 1923- mgr Brock Grain Co Inc; 1919- 23 oprd garage & gen store; 1913- mgr Brock Grain & Lbr Yard; mbr city coun 5 years; past dep sheriff; constable 14 years; Neb Lbr Mchts Assn; Neb Grain Dlrs Assn, dir; SE Neb Grain Dlrs Assn, VP; Grain & Feed Dlrs Natl Assn; MWA; WOW; Royal Mystic Legion; Dem; res Brock.
CASEY, DANIEL CLARKE: Bank Cashier; b Johnson, Neb Nov 30, 1903; s of Madison L Casey-Ellen Clarke; ed Johnson HS; U of N, BSc 1926; Lambda Chi Alpha; m Lois Carle June 1936 Lincoln; s Donald C; 1926-28 tchr Stromsburg schs; 1928- with First Natl Bank of Johnson, cash since 1930; 1933 mbr bd of edn; treas Johnson Cemetery Assn; Amer Bankers Assn; Fourth Regional Clearing House Assn; Kiwanis; AF&AM, Brock; Meth Ch, trustee; Dem; res Johnson.
CASEY, ROY ALLYN: Mortician; b Johnson, Neb July 27, 1893; s of Daniel Casey-Laura C Noland; ed Johnson HS; m Ruby E Waggoner Apr 1914 Humboldt; s M Allan, Lee Roy; d Patricia E; until 1914 with father & brother in undertaking bus founded 1893; 1914 assumed father's int, 1914-30 mgr with brother, 1930- owner & mgr; lic embalmer since 1923; since 1932 sr ptr in Casey & Timm Funeral Rome, Auburn; past mbr bd of edn; VP & dir First Natl Bank of Johnson; Neb & Natl Funeral Dirs Assns; C of C; Kiwanis; AF&AM, sr warden at Brock; OES; Meth Ch, trustee; Dem, mbr Nemaha Co Central Com; father came from Holt Co Mo to Johnson 1881, helped lay out site of town; off Roy A Casey Funeral Home, Johnson; Casey & Timm Funeral Home, Auburn; res Johnson.
CHRISTY, GEORGE SIMEON: Retired; b
White Pigeon2, Ia Oct 25, 1863; s of John
Christy-Sophia Riggs; ed Lamoni Ia; Fairfield Coll 1883-87; m
Hattie Fredenberg Aug 1887 Auburn; s Lauren D, Claude Clair, Vance
(dec 1917), Floyd, Howard C; d Zora (Mrs Melvin Horn), Gladys
Irene (Mrs Roland Evans); came in covered wagon from Keokuk Co Ia
to Neb 1873; 1882-83 & 1889-89 tchr, Nemaha Co; 1884-85 math
tchr at Fairfield Coll, 1885-86 tchr of ancient history; 1890-1936
farmed near Brock, specializing in berry & cherry crops; 1936-
ret; 1903-05 & 1919-21
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Nemaha |
Who's Who |
mbr Neb St legislature, chmn agrl com 1903; 1906-09 lecturer on horticulture in Neb; 1939 mbr city coun; supt of Horticultural Hall at Neb St Fair many years, first exhibited at Neb St Fair 1895, has exhibited each year since; won medals for fruit exhibits at St Louis World's Fair; 1903-06 pres Neb St Horticultural Soc; past pres Nemaha Co Taxpayers League; past mbr IOOF; Chris Ch, elder; Rep; hobby, collecting semiprecious stones; res Brock.
2White Pigeon, country P O discontinued when RFD routes were established.
CLAYBURN, ANSEL B: Teacher; b Monroe, Neb Mar 14, 1894; s of Henry Clayburn-Anna Wright; ed Monroe HS; KSTC; U of N, BA, MA; U of Chicago; PI Kappa Alpha; Phi Delta Kappa; Pi Gamma Epsilon; Pi Gamma. Mu; m Ethel Linnabery Aug 1924 Bridgeport; s Gerald E, Ansel E, d Laurine E; 1922- prof of geography & geology PSTC; 1936 published book Our Nebraska; active in BSA work; during World War, O/S with 338th field arty, musician; Amer Leg; NSTA; AAAS; Natl Coun of Geography Tchrs; Kiwanis, past pres; AF&AM; Scot Rite; res Peru.
CLEMENTS, SANFORD LYNN: Educator; b Elmwood, Neb Mar 18, 1891; s of B I Clements-Minnie Bailey; ed Elmwood HS; PSTC; U of N, BA 1916; Columbia U, MA 1920; Kappa Delta Pi; Phi Delta Kappa; m Hattie Renswold Aug 16, 1920 Washington D C, s Richard V, Arthur B, John A, Fred D; 1908-09 with father in store at Elmwood; 1910-11 tchr in Elmwood schs; 1912-15 tchr Alliance HS; 1916-17 coach, dir of music CSTC; 1921-22 tchr in training sch, CSTC; 1922-25 asst prin, Lincoln HS; 1925- supt T J Majors Training Sch, PSTC; 1932- chmn dist 2 state music contest com; chmn Peru park bd; during World War in US army, AS, 1st air depot Colombe, Labelle France; NSTA; NEA; Nebr Schoolmasters Club, past secy; Natl Bandmasters Assn; BSA troop committeeman; Kiwanis, past pres; Lions, lion tamer; AF&AM; Meth Ch; Rep; hobbies, woodwork, directing bands; off T J Majors Training Sch; res Peru.
CLINE, FRANK: Pharmacist; b Lansing, Mich May 3, 1875; s of Lawrence Cline-Mary Flear; ed Auburn HS; Kansas City Coll of Pharm, PhG 1897; m Lucile Ely Sept 1901 Auburn; s Frank Jr; 1897-98 with E H Dort Drug Co, Auburn; 1898-99 with T W Eustice Drug Co at Auburn, 1899-1904 ptr of T W Eustice 1904- owner, gen mgr Cline Drug Co, at same location 36 years; Neb Pharm Assn; Neb Rexall Club, past pres; C of C, past pres; Country Club; AF&AM, past master; KT; Rep, past chmn, Nemaha Co Central Com; res 1206 J, Auburn.
CODINGTON, GEORGE EDWIN: Orchardist; b Tallula, Ill Dec 1, 1868; s of Joseph W Codington-Charlotte Jones; ed Ill & Neb; Cotner Coll; Gem City Bus Coll, Quincy Ill; m Mamie I Dixon June 12, 1902 Falls City; d Ruth (Mrs J M Alden); 1889- farmer, Auburn; 1896-1900 Nemaha Co dep, treas; 1900-04 Nemaha Co treas; 1904-05 owner & mgr Cleveland Okla Tele Co, also, owner oil property; 1905-18 pres & mgr Auburn Tele Co, sold to Lincoln Tele & Teleg Co; 1918- dir Lincoln Tele & Teleg Co; 1928 pres Ak-Sar-Ben Orchard Co, originally Brownville Orchard Co; past 25 years has raised purebred Hereford cattle; C of C; Kiwanis; Chris Ch; Indep; res Auburn.
DARLING, CHARLES W: Co-Owner Transfer Co; b Adams Co, Neb Apr 28, 1877; s of Valorus Darling-Nancy Harnish; ed Gibbon; York; m Florence Pitcher, 1908 Alma; s Ralph, Paul, Joseph; d Ada; 1913-17 in amusement enterprise; 1917- owner & opr Darling Transfer, Auburn; C of C; IOOF; Meth Ch; hobby, travel; res Central Ave, Auburn.
DAUGHERTY, THOMAS C: City Engineer; b Blandinsville, Ill June 23, 1864; s of John Allen-Margaret Fisher; ed Ill & Neb; course in self-taught architecture & engineering; m Elizabeth Cress Mar 5, 1889 Brownville; d Alma (Mrs A K Collin); 1918-34 Nemaha Co engr; in construction work with J W Kerns Lbr Co; 1918- city engr of Auburn; lic engr in Neb; Amer Soc of Engrs; MWA, mbr 41 years; KP, mbr 40 years; Dem; hobbies, fine fruit, writing; father was blacksmith, later farmed, Nemaha Co; off City Hall; res 1323 10th, Auburn.
DEMAREST, ELMER CLAUDE: Farmer; b Ashland, Ill May 10, 1878; s of Calvin Demarest-Mary S Smith; ed Talmage; Nemaha Co; m Ella May Clark Dec 14, 1902 Talmage; s Frank Clark, Harry Calvin; d Arlene Marie (Mrs Herbert M J Ritter); 1900- gen grain & livestock grower near Talmage, specializing in ext raising of market hogs; 1931 Master Farmer; active in Farm Bur work & in Nemaha Co farm programs; treas bd of edn; Farmers Union, dir; Grant Cemetery Assn, pres, treas; AF&AM; MWA; Chris Ch; Dem; res Talmage.
DEPUE, MRS EMMA: Homemaker; b Winfield, Mo Feb 6, 1866; d of Beverly Duey-Dolly Grenshaw; ed Cap-Au-Gris, Winfield Mo; m Almon Cottle DePue Sept 2, 1891 Winfield Mo; s Almon C Jr; d Clara Lee (Mrs F M Swartwood), Alice Lucille (dec), Beverly Alma (Mrs T W Strain, dec); 1891-1922 ptr of husband in Famous Mdse Store, Brock; ret 1922; Sorosis; OES, ch mbr, first worthy matron, treas 22 years; Chris Ch, supt & tchr, active in ladies aid & missionary socs many years; Dem; hobby, needlework; husband secy of AF&AM 60 years, 1878-90 at Salem Mo, 1891- Brock, probably longest similar service in US; res Brock.
DRESSLER, HERBERT R: Banker: b Nemaha, Neb Nov 12, 1892; s of J I Dressler-Bena Hartman; ed Nemaha HS; PSTA 1909-10, 1911-14; U of N 1916-17; Phi Alpha Delta; m Helen May Hutchinson Nov 1919 Brush Colo; d Barbara Jane, Margaret Eleanor; 1914-16 supt of Johnson schs; 1916-17 U of N, asst prof in methods; 1919-22 cash, Grant Co State Bank, Ashby; 1922 with War Finance Corp, Omaha; 1922- cash, dir, chief stockholder Bank of Nemaha; mbr sch bd 15 years; past mbr city coun; during World War, 1917-18 in radio corps 6th div USN, instr in radio sch at Great Lakes, Ill; Amer Leg; 4th Regional Clearing House Assn; Neb & Amer Bankers Assns; Kiwanis; IOOF, past noble grand; Meth Ch; Dem; hobby, gardening; res Nemaha.
ENGLES, ALBERT FRANCIS: Farmer; b Nemaha Co, Neb Aug 30, 1888; s of Thomas W Engles-Belinda Halligan; ed Auburn; m Beatrice Ryan Apr 14, 1915 Dawson; 1905- farmer & ext stock feeder at Auburn; 1932 Master Farmer; ch pres Nemaha Co Farm Bur; Country Club; Cath Ch; Dem; father came with parents from Ill to Nemaha Co in 1862, prominent stockman & Auburn bus man; res Auburn.
ENGLES, THOMAS A: Lumber Dealer; b Auburn, Neb Mar 12, 1898; s of Thomas W Engles-Belinda M Halligan; ed Auburn HS; St Benedict's Coll, Atchison Kas 1914-17; Creighton U, LLB 1920; Gamma Eta Gamma; m Florence Zimmer Sept 6, 1922 Lincoln; s Dick, Joe; d Patricia Ann, Mary; 1920 adm to bar; 1920- owner & gen mgr T W Engles Lbr Co, Auburn, also yards at Dunbar, Lorton, Elmwood, Murdock & Omaha; pres Capital Fire Ins Co, Lincoln; chmn city bd of, pub works; during World War, in SATC at Omaha; Amer Leg; Neb Lbr Mchts Assn; Auburn Improvement Club, secy; past dir Nemaha Co Fair Assn; Kiwanis; Country Club; KC, past grand knight; Cath Ch, past dir; Dem, past secy Nemaha Co Central Com; res 1800 K, Auburn.
ERISMAN, LEROY: Farmer; b Nemaha Co, Neb Jan 7, 1873; s of Jacob Erisman-Fannie Whitmer; ed Nemaha Co; Auburn HS; m Rosella Gates Apr 11, 1897 Otoe Co; s Charles, Robert G, Ivan, Harlan, Arthur; d Belle (Mrs James Sweenie), Pearl (Mrs Bart Barnes), Alice (Mrs Herman Teten), Leah, Ruth; 1894-97 tchr, Nemaha Co; 1894- farmer, stock raiser near Auburn, owns several farms; mbr bd of edn 40 years; mbr last Nebraska bicameral legislature 1935-36, mbr revenue, taxation & state institutions coms; pres Auburn Natl Farm Loan Assn 12 years; dir Nemaha Co Farm Bur 2 terms; Farmers Union; Meth Ch; Dem, chmn Nemaha Co Central Com, past Douglas pct committeeman several years; res Auburn.
EVANS, TROY SUTTON: County Sheriff; b Brock, Neb Dec 27, 1906; s of Ernest Evans-Georgia Sutton; ed Brock; Vesta HS; 1922-31 farmed near Brock & Vesta; 1932-35 emp in US projects on Missouri River between Peru & Falls City; 1936-38 owner & mgr cafe, Brock; 1938- Nemaha Co Sheriff; recd professional boxing license in Neb, 1933; Neb Sheriffs & Peace Ofcrs Assn; Meth Ch; Rep; hobbies, boxing, hunting, & fishing; off Courthouse; res 1802 O, Auburn,
FEISTNER, HENRY LUTHER: Veterinarian;
b Nemaha Co, Neb Dec 3, 1875; s of Michel Feistner- Barbara
Muller; ed Nemaha Co; Kansas City Veterinary Coll 1900-03; Western
Normal Coll, Shenandoah Ia 1904-05; m Alice Ely Oct 1908 Auburn
(dec 1917); s Ely, Henry Luther; m Flora Anderson Feb 17, 1923
Auburn; 1898-1900 with William Ernst of Wolf Creek Stock Farm,
importers of horses, Graf; 1905- veterinarian, Auburn; 1931-35 Neb
St veterinarian; past mbr bd of edn, chmn 4 years;
Part 2: bios Ferneau-Young
Who's Who in Nebraska (introduction & state directory, abbreviations list)
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