Davis
May 11, 1890

Sister Mary,

I write you a few lines this morning on business.

I want to know what a bonnet such a one as I would want will cost in Freeport. I do not want the best, nor the poorest hat, about half way between the two.

They charge so high for bonnets in Davis. I thought perhaps I could get one in Freeport and have it sent out cheaper than I can get it here.

How do they make dresses this Spring, and what do little girls ware around them, cafes or aprons or not anything?

I would write a long letter but have not the time and it must be in the office by eleven o'clock. We are all well a common which is nothing to brag, an I received a letter from Eliza not long since. They wer all tolerable well. She was complaining but I can write no more this time, but will write a long letter next time. H. A. Diemer

Write as soon as convenient and oblige your sister Het.

Excuse all mistakes and poor writing for I was in a great hurry.

Can't see the advantage of living in town¹³¹.

---

¹³¹Note: The words written in italic are questionable, as the letter is very hard to read.
The original letter donated to me, Don Baer Jr., by Bill Thompson, Grandson of Mary (Clingman) Steers on October 3, 1996

LETTER TO EDA BAER AND FAMILY
FROM MOTHER, HESTER DIEMER

Date: Monday morning, May 24th, 1907

Dear Daughter Eda & family,

I will write you a few times this morning. Arthur is going to Mitchell so you can get this Wednesday. I am fairly well, but tired and nervous and sorry to say that Pa has been in a very serious condition since we have been here. For the first few days he felt fine, and his asthma is all gone. But he has been threatened with Apoplexy. His face, on one sick, and one hand was slightly affected. We had Dr. Stuart from Mitchell yesterday, he thinks he might get over it soon. He does not feel sick in any way. He has not missed a meal, but was not up much yesterday. But that was the first day he was in bed. He slept well last night and says he feels all right. This morning he is sleeping now so I cannot tell how he will feel when he gets up but think he can start home on Thursday, the 30th, but I cannot tell. I do not want to start with him until he is much better. You know it is almost as much as I can do to take care of myself.

If it is passible for us to start on Thursday we will, and be in David City on Friday on the noon freight. He wanted me to write you we would be there. He is contented, here just so he gets home in time to attend to his business affairs. I will talk to him now and see if there is anything he wants me to write---- well he says tell you we will be there on Friday. He seems determined to get on Thursday so I hardly know what to say, but if we all start and get there, we will phone from Seward to you. We are comfortable here. They do everything they can to make it pleasant for us. But my greatest hurry to get home is to get where doctoring is so expensive, 10 dollars a trip. If there is no other way.

Arthur will have to help us home, for when the time comes, he will begin to Morrill I am afraid. We will start if he is able to get to Mitchell. You can imagine how I feel.

Will not attempt to write you, Affectionately, your Mother

Wish you were here¹³²

---

¹³²Source: Original letter in possession of Don Baer Jr.

Abner Briggs Clingman
Photograph courtesy of Gordon Clingman

 

ABNER BRIGGS CLINGMAN

Abner Briggs Clingman, born July 7, 1797

wife; Sarah Woolever (Wolever, Wolweber) born, 1807

Married May 16, 1822.

Abner Briggs Clingman's parents were pioneers in Ohio, and, living along the Miami River all through his youth, he was familiar with the heavy labor of "carving a home out of the wilderness."

Before his marriage, he and some other young men, built a log school house, secured a teacher by subscription and attended school about three months. This was all the "schooling" he ever got; but he studied at home, developed a talent for mathematics and mastered surveying. The studying was done by the light of the fireplace after his day's work was over. He filled the office of county surveyor in Ohio--did a good deal of surveying in Illinois but never made a business of it. He was a cabinet maker in his younger days and a fine workman. A brother-in-law, Mr. Ransom was a cabinet maker and doubtless he learned the trade from him. The huge "secretary" made by Grandfather Clingman and known to three generations or more, is now in the home of Burleigh S. Clingman.

S. C. "He made a number of trips down the Ohio and Mississippi. I do not know whether he ever reached New Orleans. He was in the War of 1812 but not, I think in active service. I have seen his commission as Lieutenant from Governor Lucas of Ohio. The Company was drilled and, I think, held subject to call." S.C. "Father came to Illinois in 1839. He had lived in the Miami River bottom. Had cleared two farms of heavy timber. Had very bad water (sulphur) and for years hauled the drinking and cooking water. Then he decided to change location and prepared for his journey on horseback. Questioned about his destination, he said it was uncertain, but that he was going until he found a good prairie farm with a spring of good water upon it and within reach of timber. He went through Central Illinois, I suppose because his brothers John and Cyrus had located there, went on to Iowa, was at Iowa City when it was being surveyed, struck north and east and went into Northern Illinois, probably because his Uncle Washington was there. He located about two and a half miles from Uncle Washington's place and found what he wanted - good prairie land, a spring of good water (four springs and a spring-fed creek on the place) and timber about three miles away. He then went to the timber, selected, cut and hewed the logs for a house. He got an extra horse and a wagon, hauled the logs to his claim, and built the house, himself, a two-room structure with clapboard roof, puncheon floor and fire-place ready for occupancy. He went back to Ohio, disposed of his property and with his brother Hiram and the two families, started to the new home-over land, of course. They drove ox-teams and arrived the last of December, 1839 in a snow-storm. I do not know the size of the house, but it was probably 16 by 24. At any rate, seventeen people stayed there during the winter. Uncle Hiram built a house the next spring and finally settled about one mile south of us.

Father was married in 1822. He had nothing but land covered with heavy timber. With his ax and a few tools, he made all the furniture in his house. He lived at this time eighteen miles from Chillicothe, Ohio. He got a horse, also a cow. Kept milk in a vessel hewed from a small log. I remember the story that one day he walked to Chillicothe on business, saw some earthen crocks, bought several for Mother to keep milk in, and carried them home in a bag across his shoulder. Reaching home, he fell over a stump in the door-yard and broke every one!

His leaving his early environment and moving to Illinois was perhaps the most important event of his life. Where did he get his incentive to strive for something better, to get an education, to accomplish things? I regret deeply that I never knew enough to appreciate what he had done until too late. We all just took him as a matter of course. If there was a difficult thing to do, either a physical or a mental problem to be solved, we realized that Father could do it. He had five boys that grew to manhood and none of them could measure up to him in work, tenacity of purpose and real accomplishments.

After his active life which led him across the continent, he rests peacefully on a beautiful mound overlooking the Pacific, with his sons Cyrus and George beside him."

Cyrus Clingman
Photograph courtesy of Gordon Clingman

Note: It has been determined since the original printing of this diary, that this is not Cyrus Clingman. Photo is most likely of Hiram Clingman. Hiram was the brother of Abner Briggs Clingman, father of Hester. Hiram died in the Civil War on April 6th, 1862, at the age of 24.

Cyrus Clingman who is spoken of in the diary is correctly identified as Hester’s brother.

CYRUS CLINGMAN

Cyrus Clingman married Lavina Haughey in 1851 and they went to California in the spring of 1852. They made the trip overland. Here is a curious and unexplained incident of the trip. They had to take a boat from some point on the Mississippi to St. Louis where they started on the second lap of their journey. The night before they were to take the boat, Cyrus dreamed that it was lost during the trip. I do not remember just what was supposed to happen, but it seems to me it was an explosion followed by fire. The dream was very realistic and made such an impression on him that he decided to wait for the next boat. His decision was justified by the event for the boat was destroyed as he had dreamed.

S.C. "They lived in California a year or two and then moved to Oregon City. Later they moved into the Walla Walla Valley. Their oldest son, Horace, moved to Washington. Their daughter, Honora, married and she and her husband have a restaurant in Seattle. I do not know their names. A David City man, Ed. Runyon took dinner at their place a few years ago and they inquired about me. Cyrus lost a daughter, 14 years of age, and I think there is a son who is Professor of Biology in the Agricultural College of the state.

"Horace had a neighbor, an old soldier from Missouri, who came back on a visit. On his way, he stopped to see me at Horace's suggestion. He said, "Horace is one of the best men I ever knew. I have lived neighbor to him for fourteen years and like him better and better each year."

As far as I know, Lavin is still living. If so, she must be well over eighty years of age."

MARY ANN CLINGMAN

Mary married Joseph Steers, a dentist and they lived in Monroe, Wisconsin, about fifteen miles from the old home. Luther, the oldest child, disappeared many years ago in the west and has never been heard from. He left the western part of Iowa about 1860 or a little later.

Cyrus Steers, if living, is somewhere in the west. In the early 80's he visited in Nebraska for a time, with us and Aunt Hester's family.

Alvah is dead.

Ella married a Mr. Anderson and lived for a time on a farm in Southern Wisconsin. She looked like her mother and was rather an exceptionally fine woman.

Cora married a man named McDowell and went to Chicago to live.

Mary, after her children left home, married a Mr. Allen, a typical Vermont Yankee.

He did not live long. Afterwards she married a Mr. Carpenter, a man of means and education, and had I think, a comfortable home. Her life had many hardships and sorrows, but she lived in pioneer times.

CORNELIA CLINGMAN

Cornelia married Henry Clay DeHaven. They had two children, "Little Mary" and Oscar. I do not know why she was called "Little" Mary but I never heard her spoken of otherwise. She died at perhaps two years of age, and her father a short time afterwards. I cannot be definite about these dates as it is a matter of memory. I remember "Old Man DeHaven," Clay's father. He used frequently to visit our house and he and Father played checkers. He had a habit of whistling when deeply absorbed in a game.

After the death of her husband, Cornelia came home with Oscar and lived with Father until Oscar became of age. She then moved to a farm in Illinois close to the Wisconsin line, which her husband had owned. This must have been about 1872 or 1873. The old DeHaven place where Cornelia lived after her marriage was a little over a mile from our house in a straight line across the prairie. Several years ago, when Hester visited the old home place, one of John's girls was living on the DeHaven place. I believe they owned it, but do not remember her name.

Cornelia died at the home of her son Oscar when about eighty-five years of age. She had become feeble and almost helpless and required constant care.

ANN ELIZA CLINGMAN

"Ann Eliza, always called Eliza, married William C. Best. I remember the occasion. It was during the summer term of school. Some boys and I had come over home to get a bucket of water from the spring for the school. There were a number of people there, and we stood and watched the ceremony. That must have been 1852 or 1853 or thereabouts. I always like Will Best. He seemed to understand boys. He was a farmer. I remember him as always cheerful and enjoying life. They lived in our vicinity for a while, moved to Cornelia's farm near the Wisconsin line, then came back and farmed a part of the old place, finally moving to Iowa, I think not far from Cedar Falls. Eliza's health failing, they live in the South for awhile, and either there, or just before going, they lost a married daughter. They returned to Iowa and both died there. Their children were Frank C., Elmer, Harlan, and the daughter who died." S.C.

FRANKLIN CLINGMAN

Franklin Clingman was born August 25, 1837 in Ohio. In 1858, he was married to Miss Rachel Snyder.

Their children are Eva, Burleigh and Ora.

Frank Clingman settled on a farm near Cedarville and lived in the vicinity for twenty years or more. He and his brother, Stephen, farmed the home place together a few years. They lost a large corn crop the year of the historic August freeze. He afterwards located near Austin, Minnesota and lived there many years. He was nearly all his adult life an active and devoted worker in the church, making Sunday-school work his specialty, a work which is ably carried on now by his son, Burleigh, and Burleigh's wife, Mabel.

Aunt Rachel was taken very suddenly as she was sitting in her chair one evening. She died February 15, 1922; since that time Uncle Frank has made his home with Burleigh at Brownsdale, Minnesota. In the fall of 1922 C.W. and I had a very pleasant visit at Brownsdale and it came about in this way. We had planned a two week's automobile trip, expecting to visit first at Hampton, Iowa, thence going west, via the Lakes through northern Iowa to Pierre, South Dakota, etc. After leaving Hampton, we stopped at Mason City and at an oil station were advised to cross into Minnesota before going west as the roads were much better. Following that advice, we crossed the line and a short distance out of Albert Lea, we met a car with a window in the back through which I could see a pennant. I had curiosity enough to turn after the car had passed, and the pennant said "Austin." I remembered that Father's only living brother had lived there the last we had heard, and since we were so near, it seemed a pity to pass without seeing him, especially as we would stop at David City before our return, and the brothers had not met since 1879. So we turned around and went back to Albert Lea where we found that Austin was about 25 miles east. We got on the wrong road and lost an hour or two, but finally reached Austin about 3:30 P.M. C.W. consulted a city directory and a telephone directory and the name was in neither. We hardly knew what to do. The banks were closed. We were thinking of going to a newspaper office when I saw two elderly gentlemen talking on a street corner. I just walked up to them and asked if they knew Mr. Frank Clingman. They looked at me a moment, then one of them said he was acquainted with the old gentleman and asked if I was. He directed us to his home just outside the city. I suppose Austin is a city of ten thousand or more, and the first person I asked had the information I wanted! We drove out to his home and found a very attractive place, but learned that it was rented and that he lived with his son at Brownsdale, about six miles in the opposite direction from Austin. So we turned around again and headed for Brownsdale. This time we had no difficulty in finding the place and the pleasant visit we had, more than repaid us for our time and trouble. Uncle Frank at this time, was eighty-five years of age. He was alert mentally, interested in everything and a most interesting talker. I should have thought him at least fifteen years younger. We examined the family Bibles of both Abner Briggs Clingman and his father, John Clingman and some pictures of older members of the family.

Of the three children, Eva is single and lives in Austin.

Ora, who, I believe, is the youngest, is the wife of a minister, Mr. George V. Walker. She visited David City on her wedding trip in 1901 and I remember seeing her at that time. They say we resemble each other somewhat. She has a married daughter and a son still at home. She died in 1942.

Burleigh, the son, lives on his farm at the edge of Brownsdale. He owns another farm a few miles farther out. His wife was Mabel Barnes of Leona, Illinois.

They have three sons, a fine group of young men. The oldest, Own, is married and lives, I believe, in St. Paul, Minnesota. The second son, Elwyn, has not completed his education. He went to college a year or two. Last year he taught at Canistota, South Dakota and had charge of athletics.

The youngest son, Frank, about 18, is at home, helping his father and planning for college.

STEPHEN CLINGMAN

The following is substantially a copy of a sketch that was published in a David City paper a few years ago, and it contains the more important facts in his biography.

"Stephen Clingman was born in Stephenson County, Illinois, near Cedarville, August 9, 1845. He was raised on the farm where he was born and received his early education in the schools of that vicinity. He enlisted in the Civil War in 1863 but was rejected on account of his youth and disability due to the fact that he had not attained his growth. In the summer of 1864 he again enlisted and was accepted. At this time he was nearly 19 years of age. He was a member of Company E. 146th Illinois Infantry and served until the close of the war. His Company was detached to guard the White house the last night that Abraham Lincoln's body lay in state there. This Company also escorted the body to Springfield, Illinois, where it was buried. After the close of the War he was so broken in health that he remained at home for a year, recuperating. In the fall of 1867, he entered Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, Iowa where he graduated in 1870, having completed four years' course in three years. Following this, he took the law course at the State University at Iowa City, finishing in 1870. He practiced law at Fairfield, Iowa for two or three years. On September 24, 1874 he was married to Anna Elizabeth Myers of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, second daughter of David and Anne Hatton Myers. They located on the home farm in Illinois where they lived until 1879 when they removed to David City, Nebraska. They bought lots, built a home and are still living in the same place. As their children grew to manhood and womanhood, they enlarged their home and later on, remodeled it and added conveniences and now they have an attractive and convenient home surrounded by a pretty lawn in which are many beautiful large trees set out by Mr. Clingman in an early day.

Perhaps no early settler has been more active in public affairs than was Mr. Clingman. Coming here when the town was new, he was one of the village trustees for several years at a time when the village treasury was so hard up that Mr. Clingman had to take up collections to buy coal for the office in which the chemical fire extinguisher was kept, in order that it would not freeze.

He was mayor of David City for a couple of terms, was councilman for a term or two and held the office of police judge for several terms. In 1885 he was appointed county judge to fill a vacancy and after several months was elected to the office in the fall of 1885. He held this office for four years, being re-elected in 1887. At present (1918) he is city engineer of David City and secretary of the board of Trustees of the public library, having held the latter office for many years. For the last 12 years he has been official weather observer, a duty he performs as faithfully as though he received compensation for it. No doubt he gained his popularity through the conscientious manner in which he has performed his official duties."

He is still in December 1923, city engineer and in active service. He has also been superintendent of the waterworks for many years and in charge of construction. He has just given up the weather bureau service which he has cared for since 1902. (The newspaper account was not quite accurate.) I quote from a letter written October 3, 1920. "Have been working at the septic tank and had three men to help. A few days before we expected to finish, one of the men quit abruptly. We were paying these men eight dollars a day. It was supposed to be hard as well as disagreeable work. We couldn't replace the man so I told them I would take his place. They laughed and said I might last 30 minutes. But I took the place and did the work for four and a half days and we finished as planned. It wasn't much work for a real man but a fair job for a 75 year old."

GEORGE OSTERHOUT
b. May 15, 1828
d. 1901

The following is taken directly from "The Illustrated Album of Biography"
It is a Memorial and Biographical record containing a compendium of local
biography of hundreds of Prominent Old Settlers and Representative Citizens
of Butler, Polk, Seward, York, and Filmore Counties, Nebraska.
Published 1899 by Geo. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago

Judge George Osterhout, now interested in the business of real estate and loans in David City, Nebraska, was born in Albany, New York, May 15, 1828. His father, Nicholas Osterhout, also a native of Albany county, New York, was by occupation a farmer, was in the war of 1812 a colonel in the militia and ranked second in the state at the time of his registration. He died at the age of eighty odd years. His grandfather, George Osterhout, was born in New York, supposed to be in Albany. He had two brothers in the Revolutionary war. He lived to be ninety-three years of age. All of his paternal ancestors were long-lived. He was of Holland descent. The two brothers came from Holland and settled in New York at an early age.

The mother of the subject of our sketch, Anna Warner, was born in Albany county, New York, and was reared there. Her death occurred there in the year 1828, at the time our subject was born. Her father, Peter Warner, was also a native of Albany county, New York, where he died aged ninety-five.

Nicholas Osterhout was the father of fourteen children, six of whom were by his first marriage. George Osterhout was the youngest and on account of the death of his mother at his birth was reared by his father's parents, with whom he lived until he had attained the age of eighteen years. At about that age he went to Thorndyke, Massachusetts, where he was a brick layer and cutter of stone. He made this point his home for about ten years and in 1856 he came to Stephenson county, Illinois, where he was engaged in the lumber and stone business, as well as being a contractor for bridge work for the railroad, etc. He first came to Butler county, Nebraska, in 1870, and in 1872 he moved his family and located on a farm that he still owns on Section 7, Franklin township, one mile north of David City. He made improvements on this farm of one hundred and sixty acres.

In 1879 he was elected county judge, and in 1881 was re-elected to the same office and moved to David City, where he has resided ever since and rents his farm. Was supervisor in Stephenson county and, and held the same office in Butler county for several years. He was married September 12, 1850, to Margaret Francis, who was of Scotch descent, coming to America when quite young, with her parents, and was reared in Newport, Rhode Island. In Hampdon county, Massachusetts, she was married to our subject. They were the parents of four children, one daughter and three sons: Agnes, wife of Geo. W. Becker, a lumberman of David City; Geo. W.., a lumberman of David City; Frank M., also a lumberman of David City; and Earl H., a railroad man of Chicago, Illinois.

The judge is one of the earliest settlers of Butler county. In 1884 he engaged in the business of real estate, loans and insurance, which business he still conducts. He is a staunch Republican, a member of the Masonic order, Fidelity Lodge No. 51, King David Chapter No. 31, is one of the trustees of the Congregational church and was a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church many years before coming to Nebraska. He has been most successful in his career of whatever nature the undertaking may have been, is a most honored and highly esteemed member of the community in which he lives and a man who is destined to influence the lives of those with whom he comes in daily contact.

SAMUEL WRIGHT RISING

The following is taken directly from "The Illustrated Album of Biography"
It is a Memorial and biographical record containing a compendium of local
biography of hundreds of Prominent Old Settlers and Representative Citizens
of Butler, Polk, Seward, York, and Filmore Counties, Nebraska.
Published 1899 by Geo. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago

Samuel Wright Rising is an honored resident of Rising City where he is living, retired from active business. He is one of the oldest settlers of Butler county, formerly being on of its successful farmers, and is now passing the evening of his life enjoying the fruits of his labor.

Mr. Rising was born in Oneida county, New York, July 1, 1820, a son of John Rising, also a native of New York state. Our subjects grandfather, Josiah Rising, came from England to New York, before the Revolution, and participated in the war of 1812, serving in his son's stead. He married Miss Huldah Miller of Massachusetts. Our subject's father, John Rising, was married in his native state to Miss Lucinda Wright, and they became the parents of a family of eight children, whose names in the order of birth are as follows: Aschel M., Samuel Wright, Lucy (Morey), Jane (Morey), John, Elizabeth Warboton and Andrew J.

Samuel Wright Rising, the subject of this sketch, moved from New York with his parents in 1937, or when he was sixteen years of age, and settled in Michigan. His father bought a large tract of land in Hillsdale county, Michigan, at ten shillings per acre, and his farm afterwards became one of the finest in that section and has taken second prize in the county. Our subject was married in Hillsdale county, Michigan, December 20, 1841, to Miss Polly Rising, his first cousin. Her father, Jesse Rising, was a younger brother of John Rising, our subject's father. After their marriage they continued to live in Reading township, of that county, and their children were born there. The names of the children in order of their birth are as follows: Albert Wright, Dennis William, Joseph Miller, and Jessie Hirman, all whom are living.

In the winter of 1870, at the suggestion of his son Albert Wright, who then was living in Iowa, our subject went west and joined him, and they together went to Butler county, Nebraska, driving across the prairie. They located on a farm where Rising City now stands, December 13, 1870, and our subject built his home on Section 10, the first house erected in Reading township. The township, also, was named at the suggestion of Mr. Rising, after the township, which was his former home in Hillsdale county, Michigan. he afterward assisted many of his friends in securing home in that new country, and through his efforts there was quite a colony induced to try their fortunes on the prairie of Butler county, Nebraska. Many of the prominent farmers and business men of the community, also, migrated hither from Reading township, Hillsdale county, Michigan. In addition to his farm work Mr. Rising was for a number of years engaged in the farm implement business at Rising City in partnership with D. W. Rising, and he together with A. W. Rising and A. F. Turpening were the founders of that city. Socially our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

ALBERT WRIGHT RISING

The following is taken directly from "The Illustrated Album of Biography"
It is a Memorial and Biographical record containing a compendium of local
biography of hundreds of Prominent Old Settlers and Representative Citizens
of Butler, Polk, Seward, York, and Filmore Counties, Nebraska.
Published 1899 by Geo. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago

Albert Wright Rising is one of the earliest settlers of Butler county, Nebraska the date of his settlement being April 29, 1871. He located on a farm which is the present town site of the city which now bears his name. There are few more enterprising and progressive men in Butler county, and his name is closely identified with the history of its growth and development.

Our subject was born in Hillsdale county, Michigan, October 24, 1844, a son of Samuel W. Rising, a sketch of whom appears on anther page of his work. he was reared on a farm in his native county and was there married, in 1867, to Miss Nellie Wright, daughter of Jay Wright. Mrs. Rising is a native of Pennsylvania and moved from there with her parents to Branch county, Michigan. She was a successful teacher and was thus engaged when she met Mr. Rising, and they were married in Sturgess, Michigan, May 11 1867. Two years later they went to Iowa, and engaged in farming there for two years. It was at this time he prevailed on his father to move west, join him to Iowa, and the two drove together across the prairie to Butler county, Nebraska. Here they homesteaded and purchased a large farm and became the first settlers in Reading township.

Mr. Rising is public-spirited, broad minded, and has been the leader in the work of bringing the present state of growth and prosperity to which Reading township has attained. When the Union Pacific railroad was first proposed he immediately interested himself in the matter and his influence was largely instrumental in securing its present location. Upon the establishment of the town of Rising City, he donated to the new town site, each alternate lot in forty acres and in many ways promoted its best interest, and when the time came to name the new village in Reading township the honor was given to him who had been so untiring in his devotion to its interest. Rising City has always been noted for the purity of its social atmosphere, and it is due to the influence exerted by our subject and men of the same caliber that no saloons have found permanent lodgment in the village of Rising City, and although he operates a large farm also, he has added to these interest an agricultural implement business which he has conducted for several years. He is also charter member of the Methodist church and assisted largely in erecting a fine church building. Mr. and Mrs. Rising are the parents of one son, Dorr Rising, a bright boy of seventeen years.

P. N. MEYSENBURG

The following is taken directly from "The Illustrated Album of Biography"
It is a Memorial and Biographical record containing a compendium of local
biography of hundreds of Prominent Old Settlers and Representative Citizens
of Butler, Polk, Seward, York, and Filmore Counties, Nebraska.
Published 1899 by Geo. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago

P. N. Meysenburg, one of the earliest of the Luxemburg settlers, whose home is now in section 35, Savannah township, Butler county, first located on section 30, township 16, range 3, July 1839.

Mr. Meysenburg was born in Luxemburg, Germany, December 11, 1838, a son of Nicholas Meysenburg, and the first twenty-five years of his life were spent in his native country. He left the old country April 29, 1863, and came to New York, and without stopping in that city moved directly to and settled in Cascade, Iowa, and made that his home until 1869. Here he was married , January 19, 1869, and shortly after started, with his wife, father, brother and sister, on a prospecting tour through Kansas and Nebraska. Upon reaching the Platte Valley, July 3, 1869, he decided to locate there and lost no time in preparing a habitation and notifying his friends of the location of his new home, and many of them joined him later. In the following August he was joined by Jacob and Michael Demuth, who also moved to this locality from Cascade. They met Mr. Meysenburg on the prairie not far from his claim. Our subject bought his first farm for two dollars and fifty cents per acre, but he is now the proprietor of one thousand and six hundred acres of land that will compare favorably in value and fertility to the best in Butler county. Mr. Meysenburg is one of the substantial and leading members of the Catholic church in that community. He was one of the potent factors in the organization of a society in the township, first as a Franciscan mission and later as a charge of a secular priest, as will be seen in the sketch of Rev. Carl Stapf, on another page of this volume. His contributions, both for church erection and the support of the society, have always headed the list and he has always wielded a powerful influence throughout the valley. For several years before the church was built, mass was celebrated in Mr. Meysenburg's home.

Mrs. Meysenburg, who bore the maiden name of Miss Mary B. Dehner, is a sister of John Dehner, now of Bone Creek township, Butler county. To this union have been born six children, now living , upon whom they have bestowed the following names: John, Annie, Margaret, Carrie, Henry and Stephen, and five died in infancy.