Gage County, Nebraska - Chapter 31: People Who Have Done Their Part in Making Gage County, 1918 (part 29 of 29)

George Kriter was united in marriage to Barbara Erb, who likewise was born in Alsace-Lorraine and who had come to America with her parents when a child. She had the experience of being left alone with a family of children while her husband was with the army at the front. She shared with him the hardships of the early pioneer days, aided in establishing their home, and became one of Gage county's pioneer women. Here she resided until the time of her death, at the age of forty-nine years. For many years Mrs. Kriter and her husband were members of the Lutheran church, but before her death she joined the Methodist church. Mr. and Mrs. Kriter were the parents of seven children, as follows : Frederick D. ; Emma, wife of A. N. Horn, of Emporia, Kansas; Lena, wife of Daniel Wagner, of Quincy, Kansas.; Edith, deceased wife of Thomas Bloomfield ; Charles, who died at the age of twenty-four years ; George, of Oklahoma; and Mary, wife of E. C. Marks, of Emporia, Kansas.

Frederick D. Kriter accompanied his parents on their several removals and was a young man of twenty when they came to Gage county. At the age of twenty-one he found employment with the Union Pacific Railroad for about three months, and he then became a member of a construction crew engaged in building the Burlington Railroad. He was one of the gang who, on that memorable Sunday, drove the last spike of the line extending the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad from the Missouri river to Denver, Colorado. After two years of this work Mr. Kriter purchased eighty acres in Section 11, Paddock township, adjoining his father's farm. For thirty-five years he has been one of the successful farmers of the township. After the death of his parents he purchased the interest of the other heirs and became the owner of the old home place. This he further improved, and the present buildings have all been erected by him, replacing the humbler ones erected by his father. Mr. Kriter is to-day

For companion and helpmate Mr. Kriter chose Miss Lillie Baughman, who was bom at Effingham, Illinois, a daughter of Philip and Jemima Baughman, now deceased. To this union seven children were born : Nellie is the wife of Frank Fulton, of Wymore, this county; George, Minnie, and Luella are at home; Elsie is the wife of Earl Slocum, of Diller, Nebraska; and Fred and Jesse are at the parental home. Mr. and Mrs. Kriter are members of the Methodist church and in politics Mr. Kriter is a Republican. He has served fourteen years as member of the school board of his district, and has filled also the position of road overseer. At Wymore he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, including the adjunct organization, the Daughters of Rebekah, and also of the Knights & Eadies of Security. By industry and careful management Mr. Kriter has achieved success, and his support for a worthy cause can always be relied upon.

RICHMOND KIVETT. - One of the earliest settlers of Gage county was Richmond Kivett, who was called from his labors March 6, 1880. In the year 1867 Mr. and Mrs. Richmond Kivett came to Gage county and settled on a homestead in Section 24, Liberty township, and Mrs. Kivett has continuously made her home upon this same land since those faraway pioneer days.

Richmond Kivett was born May 16, 1834, in Tennessee, and August 24, 1856, he married Miss Nancy Johnson, who is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Sharp) Johnson, the former bom in Georgia Purchase and the latter in Tennessee. They farmed in Tennessee, where were born their children, three of whom ar living - Mrs. Kivett, the widow of the subject of this memoir; William H., retired and living in Missouri; and Elizabeth, the widow of Joseph Vittoe, residing in Colorado.

in Tennessee, where he also operated a saw mill. He came with his family to Gage county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in Liberty township. His sons and daughters grew to maturity upon Gage county soil, participating in the young life and duties of their associates. They are as follows : Milton and Alvis, who are at home, operating the farm for their mother, are not married; Rosanna is the wife of E. H. Lynch, residing in Oregon; Rhoda is the wife of L. S. Dalton, a farmer of Randolph, Nebraska; Nathaniel C. is a large cattle man of Austin, Nevada; Henry Sherman is a farmer near Freedom, Nebraska; Bertha E. is the wife of I. M. Fisher, residing near Liberty, Gage county; and Nathan R. is a cigar maker at Wilber, Saline county.

Richmond Kivett added to his land holdings as the years of his residence in Gage county increased, and at the time of his death he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land. He was a Republican in politics and was a man who was loved by all his neighbors and friends. He did not live to see the progress that time has made in the county, but his sons have taken the burden where he laid it aside and have continued to add to the material and civic wealth of the county. They have replaced the crude sod house with a home of substantial proportions and conveniences and have provided the other necessary farm buildings, to accommodate their growing herds of cattle and their productions of wheat and com. Their mother, with the days of youth gone by and tjie sunset side of life still so bright and joyous, is still their housekeeper, still their guide and counselor. For over a half century she has made Gage county her home, her interests have been tangibly connected with the interests of the county and she has always taken a keen interest in all of its affairs.

HARRY H. DARNER. - One of the successful farmers of Island Grove township is the subject of this record and he has been a resident of Gage county for thirty-four years.

county, Iowa, December 6, 1858, a son of Andrew and Jane (Haywood) Darner. The father was a native of the Buckeye state, born near Zenia, Ohio, April 17, 1817, while the birth of the mother occurred in New Jersey, December 13, 1817. They were united in marriage in Ohio and became residents of Washington county, Iowa, in 1848. In early life Mr. Darner was a carpenter, and he worked at that trade until 1861, when he purchased a farm and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1884 he came to Nebraska, establishing his home at Blue Springs, Gage county. He passed away at the home of his son Harry H., November 14, 1900. The mother was called to her final rest June 9, 1897. They were members of the Baptist church and in politics he was a Democrat. He was a successful man and was selfmade. Of the eight children four are living: Amelia is the wife of Robert A. Wilson, of Blue Springs ; Sarah is the wife of J. F. Robertson, a government inspector, residing at South Omaha; Charles J. is a farmer in Clay county, Kansas; and Harry H. is the subject of this sketch.

Harry H. Darner was reared on a farm in his native county, attended the district schools and became a farmer. In 1884 he came to Gage county, and at Blue Springs he found employment as a teamster. He finally purchased eighty acres of land in Island Grove township, his resources being at such a low ebb that he was obliged to buy on time. By industry and good management he has succeeded in making his tract one of the valuable farms of the township. He has erected excellent buildings and made other good improvements and is engaged in general farming. He has extended the area of his acreage by an additional purchase and is now the owner ol a quarter-section of land.

February 25, 1899, Mr. Darner was united in marriage to Miss Lena Sandritter, a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Yetter) Sandritter, natives of Germany, who came to Gage county in 1868 and took tip a homestead in Blakely township: a number of years later they moved to Blue Springs, where their last days were spent. Mr. Sandritter was bom in Waldolph, Baden, Germany, May 17, 1830. He came to America in 1854 and resided in Illinois until coming to Nebraska. He was a stone mason by trade and among other structures in Gage county which he helped to build is the Burwood hotel at Beatrice. In 1861, at Peoria, Illinois, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, and he rendered valiant aid as a soldier of the Union until 1865. He died at Blue Springs, November 6, 1903. His wife was bom at Volmervelen, Germany, in 1837, and passed away November 17, 1913.

Mr. and Mrs. Darner have two children: Mabel is the wife of R. E. Ernhart, a farmer of Island Grove township, and they have three children : Neva, Hope, and Wayne. Pearl L. is the wife of E. W, Hinnenkamp and is the mother of one child, Neta.

Mr. Darner and his family are members of the Evangelical church and in politics he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Damer were the first members of the Zion church and in the same he was class leader for many years. He is one of the trustees of the church and has thus served from the time of its organization. The year after he moved to the farm Mr. Darner helped to build the "Union Hall," an old landmark of Island Grove township. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has efficiently served as justice of the peace, assessor, and member of the school board, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. Progressive in citizenship, he has rendered valuable service in all movements for the public good and he and his family are held in the highest of esteem by all who know them.

JOSEPH BURES is a progressive young farmer of Glenwood township and by indefatigable industry and faithfulness to his work he has risen to a prominent place in the agricultural circles of his township. Mr. Bures is a son of Frank and Anna (Nespor) Bures, who was bom, reared and educated in Bohemia, their married life commencing in the homeland, in 1856. In 1861 they left their native land, filled with ambition to better their condition by coming to the land where there have always been great opportunities for the hard-working and faithful man. They first made their home in Jones county, Iowa, where they rented land until 1875, when they established their home as pioneers in Saline county, Nebraska. In 1879 they came to Gage county and purchased land in Paddock township. Here Mr. Bures continued his earnest labors until he sold his land to his son Joseph, the subject of this sketch. Frank Bures was born in Bohemia, December 5, 1832, and makes his home with his son Joseph. His wife, who was born February 5, 1839, and who for sixty years was her husband's constant companion, passed to her reward August 17, 1916. Mrs. Bures was a faithful member of the Catholic church and imbued her sons with the love of the church and of the God whom she worshiped. Of the three children two are living, Frank being deceased; John resides in Elm township; and Joseph is the subject of this sketch.

Joseph Bures was born February 4, 1873, in Jones county, Iowa, and was about seven years old when his parents established their home in Paddock township, Gage county. He remained under the parental roof until he was 27 years of age. His education was received in the district schools and he served his apprenticeship as a farm hand for two or three seasons ere he launched on a farming career for himself. In 1900 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Paddock township, and here he farmed until 1905, when he sold the property and purchased his present home farm, in Section 2, Glenwood township. He has built a large, modem house and made various other improvements in his farm buildings. In 1908 he purchased two hundred acres in Section 12, and this he is farming in conjunction with his home place.

April 7, 1899, Mr. Bures married Mary Cacek, who is a daughter of Bohemian parents who came to Gage county to farm and to rear their children. Mary. (Cacek) Bures was a schoolmate of her husband's and the friendship which had grown between the young girl and the ungainly, growing lad ripened into love, their marriage being the culmination of their early friendship. Mary Cacek was bom June 11, 1880, in Gage county, and is a daughter of Joseph and Anna (Teple) Cacek, nati-ves of Bohemia. Mr. and Mrs. Bures became the parents of six children: Joseph, Albert, Clara, Rosa, and Charles are under the parental roof, and Anton is deceased.

Mr. Bures is a breeder of Chester White hogs and is farming his land in a very efficient manner. His home is among the many nice ones of the township. In politics Mr. Bures votes the Democratic ticket and he is a member of the Catholic church. He is affiliated with the Z. C. B. J., a Bohemian brotherhood.

WILLIAM E. RIFE, city treasurer of Beatrice, has for the past thirteen years been closely identified with the business interests of the city and county. He was born' at Seneca, La Salle county, Illinois, February 11, 1867, a son of Ephraim and Savilla (Cochran) Rife, the former born in Pennsylvania, in 1834,' the latter born in New York, in 1844. The parents married in Illinois and there Ephraim Rife became a farmer and merchant. He remained in the state of Illinois until 1881, when he came to Gage county, Nebraska, and purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres, five miles east of Wilber, where he resided three years. He then traded for a farm near Adams, where the family made their home two years. On disposing of this tract the parents moved to Lincoln, where they resided five years, and they then became residents of Red Cloud, Nebraska, where they spent their remaining days, the father passing away in 1896, and the mother surviving until 1913. Ephraim Rife was a successful man in business and he and his wife were lifelong members of the Methodist church. Eleven children were born to them and eight of the number are now living: John H., a merchant in western Nebraska ; Samuel L., a business man of Bridger, Montana ; William E., of this review; Katura, married and residing in Seattle, Washington ; Grace, the wife of G. L. Griffis, vice-president of the Blue Valley Mercantile Company, at Beatrice; Susan, the wife of Mr. BauflEman, residing at San Francisco, California ; Elmer Roy, in the employ of the Standard Oil Company at Red Cloud, Nebraska; and Lydia, the wife of Rev. I. F. Roach, of Oklahoma City, who for five years was pastor of the Methodist church at Lincoln, Nebraska.

William E. Rife was reared on a farm, acquired his education in the public schools, and followed farming until he was twenty-eight years of age. He then engaged in business at Red Cloud, Nebraska, making his home there for ten years. He then, in 1905, came to Beatrice and became one of the promoters of the Blue Valley Mercantile Company, with which wholesale concern he was actively connected, as a buyer, until 1916. He is still a member of the board of directors of the company. In 1916 he established mercantile stores at Clatonia and Pickrell, and these are still conducted by him.

In December, 1916, Mr. Rife was appointed city commissioner of Beatrice, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. G. P. Reynolds, and was made treasurer at the same time. At the election in April, 1918, Mr. Rife was duly elected to the same office, a fact which attests to the confidence and esteem in which he is uniformly held. ' In 1889, at Lincoln, Nebraska, was solemnized the marriage of William E. Rife and Miss Magdaline Wooden, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, and they became the parents of seven children: George Edward, of Denver, Colorado, is now in the military service of the United States and is located at Newport News, Virginia, at the time of this writing; Grace Bell is the wife of Henry Doerch, manager of Mr. Rife's store at Pickrell; Beulah Irene is a bookkeeper in the Beatrice City Hall ; Floyd Ivan is at Deming, New Mexico, in the service of the United States ; Pearl Le Van died in infancy ; Lydia Mae is at home ; and William E., Jr., also is under the parental roof.

the Royal Highlanders; and the Modern W^oodmen of America. He and his wife also affiliate with the Daughters of Rebekah and the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Rife is a Republican in politics and is one of the substantial men of the city, where his support can be depended on for any measure that is of benefit to the people of the community.

DENNIS MAGNER has been a resident of Gage county for fifty years, and is still engaged in agricultural pursuits in Island Grove township, as one of the sterling pioneers of the county.

Dennis Magner was bom in County Cork, Ireland, in September, 1833, and is a son of David and Margaret (Landers) Magner, who spent their entire lives in the Emerald Isle and who were the parents of eight children, Dennis being the only one now living; John and Winnie came to America about 1848, settling in Iowa, where they spent the rest of their lives. Dennis Magner came to the United States in 1851 and after a residence of nine years in Chicago he located in Iowa, making his home there until 1868, when he came to Gage county^ Nebraska. Here he secured a homestead in Island Grove township, and this has been his home continuously since pioneer days. He came to the county the next year after Nebraska had become a state, and pioneer conditions were to be found on every hand. He set about improving his farm, tilling the soil, planting and harvesting, and he has met with that success which properly rewards intelligently directed effort. He is to-day the owner of four hundred acres of good land.

Mr. Magner was married, in Ohio, in 1859, to Miss Margaset Shannahan, a native of Ireland, and this union has been blessed with seven children, four of whom are living: Margaret became the wife of Mr. Betro and resides in the state of Washington; Edmund resides at Maple Falls, Washington ; and Anastasia and John F. are at the parental home.

The family are communicants of the Catholic church at Wymore and in politics Mr. Magner is a Republican. With no unusual advantages at the beginning of his career, ex- cept a laudable ambition and a determination to succeed, the advancement of Mr. Magner has come to him as the result of his own efforts. He is now living practically retired, having placed labor's burden on younger shoulders, and he is enjoying the rest which he justly deserves.

WIIvEIAM L. DEWEY. - A native of Gage county, and a representative of one of its pioneer families, William L,. Dewey was born on a farm on Wolf creek, August 13, 1866. His father, Timothy Dewey, was born in Ohio and in 1859 came to Gage county, Nebraska Territory, where he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land. After proving up on this land he made his home in Iowa four years. Returning to Gage county, he became a successful farmer and here he passed the remainder of his days. He disposed of his homestead and purchased land in the Otoe Indian reservation, but later he returned to Island Grove township and purchased the land where his son William L. now resides. He and his brother William were here during the Indian uprising, and were among the very early settlers of the county, sharing in all of the hardships and pioneer experiences of those times. He was a cousin of Admiral George -Dewey, who won fame at the battle of Manila JBay, that memorable May 1, 1898. The progenitors of the Dewey family came to America during the colonial period of our nation's history. The mother of our subject was Margaret (Pilcher) Dewey, a native of Connecticut, and of her six children, five are living: Mrs. Minnie Titus resides in Iowa; William L. is the subject of this sketch; Selicia is the wife of Louis Curry, a merchant at Stroud, Oklahoma ; Charles is a farmer in Oklahoma ; and Belle remains in Gage county.

William L. Dewey was reared and educated in Gage county and took up farming as a life work, wisely choosing the occupation for which he had been fitted under the direction and teaching of his father. In October, 1913, he purchased the interest of the other heirs and beca,me owner of the old home farm in Island Grove township, where he successfully

In 1891 Mr. Dewey was united in marriage to Miss Anna Retchless, a native of New York state and a daughter of William Retchless, who settled in Pawnee county, Nebraska, in 1877. In 1887 Mr. Retchless became a resident of Gage county, where he passed the remainder of his life.

Mr. and Mrs. Dewey became the parents of six children : Charles is a resident of Armour, Nebraska, where he conducts an elevator and is agent for the Missouri Pacific Railroad; Fannie and Herbert are at home; Nellie is the wife of Steve Rotney, of the state of Washington; and Hattie and George are the younger children. In August, 1908, Mr. Dewey was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, and her death called from earth a devoted wife and loving mother.

Mr. Dewey is a Republican in politics and has served in various township offices. He is a member of Liberty Lodge, No. 152, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and his life is definitely guided by the benevolent teachings of this time-honored fraternity. He is progressive in his methods and is a successful farmer and stock-raiser.

FRANK DVORAK. - On the farm known as "Sunny Slope," in Section 29, Glenwood township, live Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dvorak. This farm was owned by O. J. Lyndes, of Beatrice, until 1914, when Mr. Dvorak purchased it and established his home upon the veritable "Sunny Slope." Since 1915 he has been doing a general farming business, and he is one of the progressive exponents of farm industry in Gage county.

Frank Dvorak was bom February 18, 1891, at Table Rock, Pawnee county, Nebraska, and is a son of Anton and Antonia (Svarscop) Dvorak. Anton Dvorak, who was bom in 1865, in Bohemia, came with his parents to this country in 1874, and the family settled in Pawnee county, where the parents farmed until their death. For further family history reference may be made to the sketch of Anton Dvoralc, on other pages of this volume.

the opportunities of the average lad of to-day, when we have free schools and text-books of excellent order. After finishing his schooling he chose farming as his calling in life and chose as his home the sunniest spot in Glenwood township, known as "Sunny Slope."

To share his home with him he chose Miss Anna Zaribnicy, and their marriage was solemnized May 11, 1915. Mrs. Dvorak is a daughter of Frank and Theresa (Bednar) Zaribnicy, the former a farmer of Glenwood township, and the latter deceased. Mr. Zaribnicy married for his second wife, Miss Anna Kalsus. Mr. and Mrs. Dvorak are members of the Presbyterian church and the Democratic party receives his political support.

AMOS SPROWLS. - For thirty-two years Amos Sprowls has been a resident of Gage county, and in the work of development he has contributed his full share. Mr. Sprowls is a native of the old Keystone state, born September 7, 1835, and is the only survivor of a family of nine children born to William and Anna (Montgomery) Sprowls, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they spent their entire lives. The father was a farmer and made a specialty of raising Spanish Merino sheep, being a good judge of those animals and well versed in proper methods of breeding and raising them. He brought his flock to a high standard, and the subject of this sketch recalls that at one time his father had a flock of two hundred ewes, each yielding six pounds of wool. The paternal grandfather, Arthur Sprowls, was a native of Ireland, and during the days of the American Revolution he went to England, expecting to immigrate to America, but it was two years before he could get passage, owing to the war. He finally succeeded in securing passage on a sailing vessel, and he became an early settler of Pennsylvania, where he purchased one hundred acres of land and where he spent the remainder of his life. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Hugh Montgomery, who '"'as born in Belfast, Ireland. He was a tveaver by trade and at his death was a man of considerable wealth.

Amos Sprowls spent his boyhood days on a farm in his native state and his public-school education was supplemented by a course in Waynesburg College, his studies here being interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil war, when he was compelled to return home. His two younger brothers, George and Jesse M., entered the Union army and Jesse was killed at Gettysburg. George was wounded and taken prisoner, sent to Andersonville and then to Richmond, where he was released, and the transport boat on which he was returning to his home was sunk, and he lost his life.

In 1866 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sprowls to Miss Elizabeth Enlow, who was born in Pennsylvania and whose ancestors were of English descent. After a married life of almost a half century Mrs. Sprowls was called to the home beyond, in 1914, having become the mother of five children, namely : Thomas Willard Sprowles, of Chicago, Illinois, where he is connected with the Butler Memorial House, was formerly in active service as a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was educated at historic Washington and Jefferson College, in Pennsylvania, and Nebraska Wesleyan University, at Lincoln. The other children - Luella Martha, William Enlow, Horace Alvin, and Francis Vernon - all remain at the paternal home.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics Mr. Sprowls is a Democrat. He came to Gage county in 1886 and purchased 240>4 acres of land, on which he has made substantial improvements, his farm being to-day one of the valuable properties of Island Grove, township. In all work of improvement and progress Mr. Sprowls has taken an active interest, and for many years he has held secure place as one of the representative agriculturists of Gage county.

M. H. FREEL. - The subject of this record is one of the self-made men of Gage county, and he owns and operates a well improved farm in Island Grove township.

Iowa, where he was born in 1852, a son of Benona and Margaret (Prentice) Free!, natives of Indiana. They were married in Illinois and became residents of Nebraska before the Civil war. They settled in Richardson county, where they resided for many years. They then came to Gage county, where their last days were spent. They were members of the Methodist church and in politics Mr. Freel was a Republican. Of the thirteen children six are now living.

M. H. Freel was only a boy when the home was established in Nebraska, and he was reared on a pioneer farm. He attended the public schools, and when he became a man he chose the calling to which he had been reared.

and became a farmer. In 1876 he married Miss Sarah Main, a native of Iowa, and while they have not been blessed with children di their own they have reared five children. Mr. and Mrs. Freel are members of the Christian church and in politics he is a Republican.

Mr. Freel is the owner of two hundred acres of valuable farm land, well improved, and his success has been achieved through his own efforts. Having come to Nebraska when this state was a pioneer district, he has been an eye-witness of the innumerable changes that have taken place, and in this work of transformation he has contributed his full share.