Hall County, Nebraska - Chapter 28, 1920 (part 8 of 16)

Carrie L. Eraser was born at Chatham, in the province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, the only child born to William and Sarah E. (Huson) Eraser. Miss Eraser's father was born in Canada in 1846, and died at Chatham, where he had been in business for five years, September 8, 1872. He was identified with the order of Odd Eellows. The mother of Miss Eraser was born at Buffalo, New York. In 1877 her second marriage took place, she being united to Daniel Ferguson, a merchant in Chatham. In September, 1878, Mr. Ferguson, with his brother, came to Grand Island to take charge of the Hooper foundry, which he managed for several years, and this city has been the family home ever since. Mr. Ferguson died here in August, 1907, his widow and two daughters surviving; Grace L., who is a teacher in the public schools of Grand Island, and Flora E., who is the wife of Glenn G. Reeder, of Council Bluff's, Iowa.

In recalling educational conditions at the time of her own graduation from the high school in Grand Island, Miss, Eraser pays tribute to the scholarship Of Superintendent Henry Garm and his assisants, one of whom was Mrs. T. O. C. Harrison. At that time four frame store buildings (there were no brick ones then) were used as schoolrooms, the high school being held in the German Lutheran church, but the Dodge school building was in course of erection. Miss Eraser soon took up school work and has been identified with this profession continuously for twentynine years, at the present time having in her classes children of her earliest pupils. When she took charge as principal of the Piatt school in 1894, she had but two teachers, while now seven are employed. Miss Eraser is much beloved in Grand Island where she has always been an uplifting influence, very active as a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church, and prominent in the high school alumnae.

SAMUEL HEXTER. - One of the men who came in the early days to Grand Island, and through good citizenship greatly assisted in the remarkable development of the city, is found in Samuel Hexter, a highly esteemed retired citizen, whose comfortable home is at No. 708 West First street. For many years Mr. Hexter was active in business circles and became well and favorably known over the county.

Samuel Hexter was born in Germany, February 4, 1845. His parents were Judah and Miriam (Strauss) Hexter, natives of Germany, his mother being a sister of Johann Strauss, the great musical composer. The father of Mr. Hexter was in the grain business, a man of high character and prominent in the Orthodox Jewish church. There were seven children in the family, four of \\hom at one time lived in Hall Counry. Mrs. Sophia Rothschild and Mrs. Rosa Boehm are deceased, but Samuel and David Hexter still reside here.

In June, 1860, well educated in the schools and trained for business, Samuel Hexter came to the United States. For a short time he lived in New York City, then went to North Carolina and from there proceeded to Petersburg. Virginia, where he was practically a prisoner because the siege of the city by the Federal troops followed and he was forced to remain there until the close of the Civil War. Mr. Hexter then joined his brother-inlaw, J. Rothschild, in Baltimore, Maryland, subsequently becoming his manager of stores at Aurora, Illinois, and Columbus, Kansas. From the latter place, in 1883, he came to Hall County and entered the employ of the Wolbach Bros. Company, a firm that did much to develop Grand Island, remaining in the employ of that concern for seventeen years. Mr. Hexter then embarked in business for himself, in 1899, continuing in the commercial field for twelve years, during which time he added to the excellent reputation he already had made for honesty and good citizenship. Because of the sale of the building for other purposes, JMr. Hexter found himself obliged to close out his store in 1911, and as he had been in business for so many years he decided to retire rather than build up a new connection. On March 5, 1884, Mr. Hexter married Miss Bertha Yost, who was bom in the city of New York, a daughter of Abraham and Clara (Freund) Yost. Her father was born in Baden and her mother in Bavaria, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Hexter have four children: Miriam, the wife of Oscar Veit, of Grand Island; Florence, the wife of Solomon Hirsch, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Maud, a teacher in the public schools, and one who is deceased. Mr. Hexter and family are prominent in the membership of the Orthodox Jewish church. In his early political life in the United States, Mr. Hexter was a Democrat, but the issues that came up during the first administration of President McKinley, caused him to change his opinions and he has been identified with the Republican party since then. He belongs to the ]\Iasonic fraternity and has had the honor of twice being master of his lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Hexter remember when Grand Island was nothing but a country village, with no permanent sidewalks, no lights, no water or sewer system. Mr. Hexter has been one of the enterprising and progressive men who have helped to bring about present modem conditions.

JENS ERICKSEN, a well known and highly respected resident of Hall County, came to Grand Island thirty-two years ago and has lived here ever since. Master of several trades he has been a hard worker as well as a useful citizen. No one has had a higher reputation for business integrity.

Jens Ericksen was born at Veborg, Denmark, January 5, 1844, the son of Jens and Anna ( Brundom) Ericksen, who spent their lives in Denmark, where the father was a farmer and stockman. They were faithful members of the Danish Lutheran church. Their family consisted of three children, two daughters who died in Copenhagen, and one son, who came to ^America, landing in the United States in 1887. Jens Ericksen attended school and helped his father on the farm until he was eighteen years old, when he entered the army and for his reward in serving during the war with Germany in 1864, he receives a pension from the Danish government of one hundred kronen annually. He learned the cvabinet-making trade in the old country and after coming to the United States, the carpenter trade, but prior to leaving Denmark he owned and conducted a general store for sixteen years. In the meanwhile Mr. Ericksen had learned much concerning the business opportunities that the great country across the Atlantic offered to men of industry, especially in its western states, and as many of his countrymen were prospering in Grand Island, it was to this place he came with his family. A ready welcome awaited men of his class, honest, sturdy, dependable, hardworking, and it is not remarkable that Mr. Ericksen prospered. In 1904 he began contracting, and as a private venture he built ten houses in the city, on which he performed practically all the work himself. These houses he owned and since then has sold all but three.

In Denmark, on May 28, 1865, Mr. Ericksen married Miss Anna M. Carstensen. They have the following children : Jens, who lives in Denver, Colorado ; Mrs. Maggie Rasmussen, deceased ; Walter, a business man of Grand Island ; Mrs. Gertrude Alexander, who resides in Omaha ; Mrs. Emma Dalgus, of Grand Island ; Charles, in business at Grand Island ; Martin, deceased ; Ernest, who lives in Grand Island ; Albert, in business in Seattle, Washington; Anna, the wife of C. Petersen, and Christ, who makes his home in Grand Island. All the children were bom in Denmark except the youngest, a native son of Grand Island. The family belongs to the English Lutheran church. In his political opinions Mr. Ericksen is a Democrat.

REV. GUSTAV H. MICHELMANN. - Perhaps the Lutheran clergy in Nebraska has no more scholarly representative than Rev. Gustav Hemian Michelmann. pastor of the German-English St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran congregation, on Seventh and . Locust streets. Grand Island, who for the past five years has been president of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Nebraska.

Rev. Michelmann was born at Prosigk, dukedom Anhalt, Germany, July 17th, 1871. His parents were bom in Anhalt, the father at Muehno and his mother at Coethen.

In the latter year he became a pupil of the gymnasium of the same city. At that institution he paid especial attention to the languages, Latin, Greek, French and English. On March 10, 1891, he passed the examination, the so-called abiturium which qualifies for admission to the university. In April, 1891, he became a student of the university of Tuebingen (Wurtemberg) and registered as a student of philosophy and evangelical theology. At the close of the first semester he passed the examination in the Hebrew language. In April, 1892, he went to the university of Halle (Saxony) to continue and to complete his studies in the same branches. In the fall of 1894 he was graduated and accepted a call as private instructor from, a Lutheran minister in a village of Mecklenburg. He remained there one year engaged in preparing five boys for the higher classes of a gymnasium.

Due to the fact that there were so many candidates for the ministry at that time in Germany, Rev. Michelmann resolved to emigrate to the United States of America, landing at New York City December 20, 1895, and went from there to Chicago, where he accepted a call as assistant professor in a Lutheran Theological seminar)^ In June, 1896, he received a call from a Lutheran congregation of Chicago, and wasi ordained a minister of the Gospel in September, 1897. Since that time he has served churches in the following places : Chicago, Brookville, Indiana, Oak Park, Illinois, and Grand Island, Nebraska, coming to the last named city in August 1906. In August, 1915, Rev. Michelmann accepted a call from the Grand Island College to teach German and French, at that institution, from which he received the degree of Ph.B., in 1916. In November, 1905, Rev. Michelmann became a citizen of the United States.

In Brookville, Indiana, in 1899, Rev. Mr. Michelmann married Miss Elizabeth Klemme. Five children have been born to them : Oswald C, Hans F,, Margaret, Clara W. and Use Pearl. The oldest son is a student of philology in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

REV. HERMAN SCHUMANN. - There are few old-time German residents of a number of counties in Nebraska who have not heard or come under the ministrations of Rev. Herman Schumann, who now, having retired from active ministerial work, resides in Grand Island, his pleasant home being situated at No. 304 West Sixth street. As one of the pioneer preachers of the Lutheran faith,

Rev. Schumann for years traveled back and forth visiting scattered settlements and lonely farmhouses, sharing the hardships of his parishioners while helping them both materially and spiritually. In passing from one field of labor to another, he never failed to leave behind tangible evidence of his interest, and the religious bodies he then organized, in many cases were plants that have developed into the large congregations of the present.

Herman Schumann was bora in Gennany, February 13, 1857, one of a family of eleven children born to Julius and Anna (Dunskus) Schumann, who passed their entire lives in Germany, the father dying in 1869 and the mother in 1914. Two of their six surviving children live in Grand Island, Rev. Schumann and Mrs. Anna Freeland. From the high school in his native land, Herman Schumann entered the university at Basel, Switzerland, and was ordained to the Lutheran ministry before coming to the United States in 1885. He located first in Platte County, Nebraska, his first charge being near Columbus. In those early days he visited the three churches to which he was usually asssigned, at regular intervals, driving alone over miles of prairie from one to the other, often carrying with him the consolations of religion to the sick and afflicted while at other times his advent was awaited anxiously for the celebration of a wedding or a baptism. From Platte County he removed to Fillmore county and five years later from there to Dodge County, where he resided until in 1898, when he accepted a call to Grand Island. Here he continued active in church work until his retirement in the fall .of 1918. He was a faithful laborer and was instrumental in building four churches beside organizing five congregations.

At Shell Creek, in Platte County, Nebraska, Rev. Schumann married, November 18, 1886, Miss Amelia Radtke. They have the following children: Lydia, the wife of Rev. Fred Motckus, of Hastings, Nebraska; Albert, a resident of Cameron township. Hall County, married Freda Buckow ; Reinhold, a farmer in Cameron township, married Opal Stewart ; Emma, the wife of Leves Seddell, of Omaha; Martha, a talented musician, resides at home ; Freda, a teacher in the public schools, resides at home ; Ferdinand, a student in the high school in Grand Island; Hulda, also a high school student, and Rosalie, who resides with her parents.

When Mr. Schumann retired from the ministry as a profession it was from no lack of Christian zeal nor with the expectation of living entirely at ease. He has some im- portant interests to claim his time, included in these being the management of his three farms, and looking after the affairs of the Grand Island Manufacturing Company, of which he is president. Many years ago he became a citizen of the United States. He is a Republican in his political identification.

GEORGE W. BROADWELL. who does an extensive business in Grand Island as a general contractor, is prominent in public as well as business affairs. Although not a native of Nebraska almost all of his life has been spent here and he takes much pride in the present status of this state in comparison to her sister states.

Mr. Broadwell was born in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, June 13th, 1868, a son of Cyrus F. and Ella A. (Goft') Broadwell. Cyrus F. Broadwell was bom in Springfield and in boyhood attended school with the sons of Abraham Lincoln. He was a general farmer and raiser of stock. He removed from Illinois to Colorado, where he lived for three years and then came to Nebraska, May 8, 1871, homesteading near Lincoln. He lived in Webster County until the spring of 1887, moving then to Hall County, where his death occurred in 1894, at the age of forty-eight years. He was a member of the American Order United Workmen, and in politics was a Republican. His wife was born in St. Louis, Missouri. They had six children, George W. being the only one of the four survivors to live in Hall County. His mother makes her home with him. She remembers many interesting events of early times in Hall County. On one occasion, when she was yet a young woman, she drove a yoke of oxen all the way from Omaha to Denver, and when the family removed to Nebraska, young George W. was entrusted with the duty of driving the ox-team, which was not always an undertaking devoid of danger.

After his school days were over, George W. Broadwell worked as a farmer until he was twenty years old, when he came to Grand Island and learned the brickmason trade, which he pursued until 1897, when he became a general contractor, in which he has been very successful.

On December 25, 1889, Mr. Broadwell married Miss Minnie Balcom. a daughter of James and Elzina (Bowen) Balcom, who came to Grand Island thirty years ago and still reside here. Mr. and Mrs. Broadwell have no children. Mr. Broadwell has taken an active part in public matters and is a prominent factor in Republican political circles. He has been chairman of his ward organization at different times and for thirteen years prior to 1917, was a member of the city board of aldennen. His eft'orts at all times are directed to advance the general welfare. In early days he assisted in the organization of Alexander Fire Company No. 4, and many old settlers will recall the station at Elm and Seventh streets. He belongs to the fraternal orders of the Elks, and the Eagles.

JOHN PETER WINDOLPH, for many years well known in the newspaper business in Nebraska, yet connected with the printing business, was born in Uder Kreis Heiligenstadt, Germany, January 24, 1865. His parents were John and Katherina (Kellner) Windolph, both natives of Germany.

In 1872 the father of Mr. Windolph came to the United States, the mother and children following in April, 1873. They settled in Hall County, the father buying a farm of eighty acres south of Grand Island, on which they lived ten years, then sold and bought 160 acres east of Grand Island. The father died in the same year, on September 23, 1882. The mother continued on the farm for a number of years and thet^ removed to Grand Island, where she still resides. She is a member of the Catholic church. She remembers when the cyclone blew the first Catholic church away and afterward for some time there was no church building in this section of that denomination. She also remembers the hardships of the farmer's life in those early days including the losses of crops from hail, drought and grasshoppers. Nine children were born to John and Catherine Windolph, as follows : John P., who resides one mile east of Grand Island ; Mary, who is the wife of Chris Mangelsen, of near Palmer, Nebraska ; Katherine, who is the widow of Henry Eberhard, resides with her mother in Granc}; Island; Dora, who is deceased, was the wife of John Goettsche of Grand Island ; Hedwig, who lives with her brother William in Creighton, Nebraska ; William, a Catholic priest, resides at Creighton ; John, who is a clerk in the post office in Grand Island, married Freda Cords ; Charles, who lives on the old farm of his mother and operates it, is a twin brother of John, usually called Peter, who married Antonia Cords, and Oscar, a druggist at Humphrey, Nebraska, married Miss Burkhardt.

began, April 1, 188L his apprenticeship to the printing trade, in the office of the Herald, in Grand Island, where he remained several years. For some time afterward he operated a store, then was in the railway mail service, from which latter he resigned in 1888, shortly afterward starting a job printing office, which was the nucleus of a newspaper, which he founded and named the Grand Island Anzeiger, of which he was editor. The venture succeeded and within two years Mr. Windolph had enlarged to an eight page six column sheet, continuing to operate as such until April, 1-894, when he purchased the Herald plant and good will, consolidating the two papers. In 1900 he bought the Staats Anzeiger, of Lincoln, Nebraska, which he consolidated with his other journals and continixed publication until 1906, before he disposed of all his newspaper interests.

In 1907 Mr. Windolph treated himself to a vacation, spending several months in his native land. This pleasant experience he repeated in 1913 when he went to Germany accompanied by his wife. On September 9, 1887, he married Miss Amanda Rieck, a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Reimers) Rieck. The father of Mrs. Windolph died in Germany and the mother afterward married Christian Bade, both of whom are deceased. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Windolph : William, who lives in Grand Island, married Elizabeth Koch ; Hugo, a resident of Grand Island, married Anna Wetzel ; Peter, whose home is at Cortland, New York, was a soldier in the United States army, having just returned home from France ; Clara, the wife of Albert Schultz, a meat merchant in Grand Island ; Walter, who is a soldier in the United States army of occupation in Germany; Otto, at home was recently released from miltitary training at Camp Dodge; Albert, who lives at Grand Island, and Elsie, a photographist, lives at home.

In 1896 Mr. Windolph and family moved out of the city of Grand Island to their country place of ten acres, one mile east, this being part of the old homestead. In 1908 he started a job printing office here and has operated it ever since. In politics he is a Democrat. He has never had any ambition to hold office and the only public position he ever accepted was that of moderator of schools for four terms. He belongs fraternally to the Eagles, the Sons of Herman, the Liederkranz and the riatfsdeutschen society.

business life for many years well known in Nebraska, is John F. Walsh, the retiring commandant of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, at Burkett, Nebraska. Mr. Walsh was bom in Dublin, Ireland. March 31, 1846. His parents were Patrick K. and Susan (Woods) Walsh, natives of Ireland who came to the United States in 1848.

Patrick K. Walsh was a shoemaker by trade but a leader of men by nature. He was a man of education and brilliant mind, a writer of books and a welcome contributor to such well known literary journals as the Celtic Index and the Irish National Magazine. He was one of a very active group of agitators in the rebelHon of 1884 in Ireland and it became expedient that he leave his country, hence his emigration to the United States when that uprising in Erin was unsuccessful. He never ceased his active interest in Irish affairs and was recognized in Ohio as a devoted worker for Ireland's freedom. His death occurred July 28, 1886, and in St. Joseph cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio, stands a monument erected to his memory by his followers. In 1862 he showed his willingness to fight for what he believed to be right, by enlisting as a private for service in the Civil War, being placed in command of a telegraph construction division and later was promoted to the rank of captain. Although he was not the type of man to shun danger and his work took him into many hazardous situations, he was never either wounded or taken prisoner. His wife died in 1891. Of their six children three are living, John F. being the only one in Hall County.

John F. Walsh was instructed in his early years by his father but later attended the public schools in Cincinnati. In 1862, when his father entered the Union army, he also endeavored to be accepted as a soldier, and twice afterward made further ineffectual efforts, but succeeded in 1864 and served until the war closed, during this time having been a prisoner of war on one occasion for two hours. He returned then to his father's house in Cleveland and completed his appreticeship to the shoemaking trade while, for two years, he attended night schools to further his education.

Mr. Walsh then went as far west as St. Louis, Missouri, where he joined a company of fur traders whose life of adventure led them to the source of the Missouri river. In those wild regions they were attacked by a band of Indians who killed two of their party and stole their pelts. Being unable under the circumstances to resent this injustice, the fur men went down the river in skiff's as far as Sioux City and from there to Brownsville,

Nebraska. His first marriage took place at Brownsville, and from there he went to what was then the hamlet of Humboldt, in Richardson County, Nebraska. The village at that time had but fifty inhabitants and Mr. Walsh was the first shoe merchant in the town, owning and operating his store until 1888, when he embarked in general merchandising. He was a resident of Humboldt for forty-four years and was one of the leading factors in its development. He was a member of the first city council, was on the school board for eighteen years, was post master during the four years of President Cleveland's first administration, was mayor of Humboldt, and during the early 'nineties was treasurer of Richardson County. Mr. Walsh then engaged in the banking businss, in which he continued up to the time he gave way to the solicitation of Governor Moorhead to accept the position at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Burkett, having been cashier of the bank for twenty-three consecutive years.

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Home of Hall County was organized October 20, 1887. It is situated on 640 acres of land and until 1913 the home was under the control of a board of Public Land and Buildings. Since then it has been under the management of a constitutional body known as the Board of Commissioners of State Institutions, appointments under this board being considered based on efficiency only. At the present time there are two hundred and forty women and three hundred and sixty men residing at the institution. The United States government allows $100 per year for each inmate, the state providing the balance of expense. The average age of the inmates is over seventy years, and there is always a waiting list. In March, 1915, Mr. Walsh upon appointment took charge of the home as commandant, a position he has resigned as indicated by the following letter made public addressed to the board of control. After courteous preliminaries Mr. Walsh said as follows in this communication : "To the State Board of Control :

"I herewith tender you my resignation as commandant of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Llome at Burkett, to take effect March 15, 1919, or not later than April 1, following, for the following reasons : When I was solicited to take the position four years ago, I was given to understand that it was a non-partisan civil service proposition, and not a political football, but from reading the newspapers I learn of the petty and pernicious political activity of some members of the legislature, and the public and emphatic pronouncement of Governor McKelvie that this administration was to be one of the ultra partisan type, I do not care to undergo the nagging and annoyance of such conditions. I must say for you, gentlemen, that I have never discovered any partisan discrimination on your part. The good of the institution seemed to be your sole object, and I consider the board of control one of the best executive departments in our state government. I will say nothing of my personal record as you have that in black and white. I heartily thank you one and all for your uniform kindness and support during my service under your jurisdiction. Respectfully submitted. J. F. Walsh."

Mr. Walsh married Miss Cora V. Layton, a daughter of Judge Layton, of Pottawattomie County, Iowa. Her death occurred July 25th, 1886; their children are all deceased. His second marriage took place November 29, 1888, to Miss Kate B. Murphy, who is a daughter of Barney and Margaret (Mc- Sweeney) Murphy. To this union the following children were born: Patrick R., who lives in Omaha; Morgan A., of Los Angeles; Paul E., whose home is Omaha ; Ernest, who has been farm boss at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, and Vinetta M., who is a skilled stenographer in the Union Pacific offices at Grand Island.

During his lifetime Mr. Walsh has been associated with men of large affairs and has been on temis of intimacy and friendship with such national characters as J. Sterling Morton, Governor Butler, Governor Moorhead, Governor Furness and Governor Poynter.

GEORGE ALBERT ENGLE, depot agent for the American Express Company in Grand Island, has been identified with this important business organization for a number of years, and was advanced to his present position because of merit. Mr. Engle has spent his life in Grand Island, and while his business associations have made him widely known, his personal demeanor has made him equally respected.

Mr. Engle was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, February 14, 1889, son of Charles and Lillie (Ruby) Engle, natives of Iowa. The father of Mr. Engle is interested in fanning in South Dakota, but the mother is residing in Grand Island. Mr. Engle had one sister who is deceased. He has the following half brothers and sisters : Dora, the wife of Frank Deeds, of Mendon, Nebraska; Roy Kent, a resident of Grand Island, and Ethel,

George Albert Engle attended the public schools in his native city, immediately afterward looking about for a useful line of industry and subsequently learning the trade of plasterer and mason, in which he was more or less continuously engaged for twelve years. He then entered the employ of the American Express Company, serving first as platform man, then as teamster, next as agent, in June, 1913, becoming station agent. Mr. Engle is known to be careful, reliable and courteous and he has many friends among the home people as well as the general traveling public.

Mr. Engle married, July 4, 1910, Miss Augusta Ottomiller, a daughter of the late John Ottomiller, who died on his farm near Grand Island, in January, 1914. The mother of Mrs. Engle still lives on the farm. Mrs. Engle has three brothers and two sisters : John, a farmer in Hall County; Anna, the wife of Rudolph Reher, of Grand Island; Fred, a farmer; Henry, a soldier in the United States army ; and Katie, who lives with her mother. Mr. and Mrs. Engle have had the following children : George, Ruby, Harold, Robert and Eugene, all of whom survive except Harold. Mr. Engle is a good citizen but is not active in politics.

REV. CONRAD WOELZ, who was connected with the active ministry of the Evangelical church both in Germany and in the United States for many years, is a resident of Grand Island who is held in the highest esteem. Although the weight of more than four score years rests upon him, he still responds to ministerial calls in local churches and still takes a deep interest in everything of moral import that is brought to his attention.

Rev. Woelz was born at Lautern, Wurttemberg, Germany, February 17, 1838. His parents were Jacob and Margaretha (Grimm) Woelz, who never left Germany, where the father lived to the age of eighty -three years and the mother, seventy-six years. They had six children, three of whom live, Conrad being the only one to come to the United States. The father was a weaver in a cotton factory.

After attending the local schools, Conrad Woelz was accepted as a theological student in the seminary at Reutlingen, Germany, where he completed his studies and became a minister of the Evangelical association. In 1876 he began his active labors in the Evangelical ministry, attended conferences in Switzerland and organized several churches in southern Germany. In 1883 he came to the

United States with his family, locating in Milford, Seward County, as a minister, from which place he came as a minister to Grand Island, in 1884, where he continued active in church affairs until 1890.

In Germany, May 21, 1866, Rev. Woelz married Anna M. Zeuner, who was bom at Herbrechtingen, Germany, and eight children were bom to them: Charles, who resides in Grand Island, married Elvina Janss ; Christian, who now lives at Fort Collins, Colorado ; Gottleib, at present a resident of Longmont, Colorado ; John who is at home ; Lydia, also at home; Herman, who lives at Longmont, Colorado; Theodore, who died February 7, 1919; and an infant that died unnamed. There is only one grandchild in the family. The sons of Rev. Woelz developed into young men of unusual stability and business capacity, all of them being connected for years with the well known mercantile house of Wolbach & Sons. The late Theodore Woelz was engaged with this important firm for twenty years of his life, while Charles has been there sixteen years, John, twenty-two years, and Christian, Gottleib and Herman, six, fourteen and ten years respectively. It may not be out of place to comment, in this connection, on the very evident value of Christian home training and Rev. and Mrs. Woelz may well be proud of a family so creditable in every way. The family home is at No. 1323 West First street. Grand Island.

FRANK SALLINGER. one of Hall County's well known and highly respected citizens, now lives in comfortable retirement in Grand Island, after almost forty years of active life here as a fanner. He came to Hall County in 1879 and has never felt inclined to leave, finding here land, business opportunity, good neighbors and many friends.

Frank Sallinger was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1848, a son of Alda and Mary (Cokenaur) Sallinger, both of whom were born in Westmoreland County. They died in Pennsylvania aged respectively eighty and eighty-seven years. The father was a farmer all his active life. He was a quiet, industrious man, honest and fair in all dealings, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Republican in politics.

In the country schools near his father's farm in Westmoreland County, Frank Sallinger obtained the usual education of the farmer boy of that peiod, laying a good foundation on which he built the higher, wider experi- ences of life. He began to be useful on the home farm by the time hei was twelve years old and farm pursuits have interested him ever since. In 1879 he left his native state and came to Hall County, Nebraska, as above mentioned, where he continued to be a farmer until 1913, when he retired and removed to Grand Island, locating in his comfortable home at No. 1836 Lafayette Avenue,

On December 31, 1871, Mr. Sallinger married Miss Margaret Kerns, who was born in Northumberland County, England, being brought to the United States when a small child, by her parents and reared in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Sallinger died in Nebraska, March 14, 1916. Her parents were natives of England from which country they emigrated. The father died on the voyage to America and was buried at sea. The mother subsequently married August Nettle. She died in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Sallinger became the parents of seven children, five of whom are living, namely : Charles, lives in Hall County, married Mary Miles; Edward, residing in Grand Island, married Emma Ring, who was born on her parents' homestead in Hall County; Frank, also lives at Grand Island ; Jennie, the wife of William Thomas, of Hall County; and William, who lives in Perkins County, Nebraska, has been twice married, first to Maggie Benson and after her death married Katherine Nagel. Mr. Sallinger is a member of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church. Grand Island. He has never desired to hold public office but has been interested in the developement of this section as a good citizen. He votes with the Republican party.

WILLIAM A. HAGGE. - The history of a community is best told in the life record of its citizens. In gathering the records for the early history of Hall County, we find that the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is one of the three survivors of the original colony that settled on the present site of Grand Island, and at a meeting held to decide upon a name for the new town, the name finally adopted was the one suggested by William A. Hagge. It is nearly sixty-two years since that little band of sturdy German people came here and during all these years the subject of this record has been a resident of this community.

William A. Hagge was born in the village of Pratsdorf, province of Holstein, Germany, April 3, 1834, a son of Johann and Ida (Klindt) Hagge, natives of the same province.

The father, who was a school teacher, died in Germany and the mother with her family, in company with a party of neighbors started for America. The were opposed to the militarism in vogue in that country, and to escape the possibility of its young men having to serve in the army, they sought refuge on this side of the Atlantic. They sailed from the harbor of Hamburg on April 9, 1849, on a vessel flying the Russian flag, and from the start were pursued by Danish warships. The ship also encountered severe storms and after a voyage of eight weeks they landed at New Orleans. Cholera was raging at the tirpe and the disease attacked the little band. Before they reached St. Louis several of their number had succumbed to the dread disease, among the number being the mother, an older brother and a sister of our subject. The party continued up the Mississippi River to Davenport, Iowa, and here William A. Hagge grew to manhood and became a merchant. His store enjoyed the best German trade in Davenport and he continued to prosper until the panic of 1857, and though there was much money owing him he was forced to give up the business. It was that year that a party of congressmen and bankers of Washington, D. C, planned to form a colony in the valley of the Platte somewhere in Nebraska, and Mr. Hagge became a member of the second Nebraska colony and was with them when they settled on the present site of Grand Island. Here Mr. Hagge took a homestead and a pre-emption claim and became a successful farmer. He erected the first house to be built in the neighborhood which was destoyed by a prairie fire the next year. He was the first justice of peace of this district and the first trial on record was held before him.

He has always been a Republican in politics and took an active part in all things that had to do with the developement of the county. He was called to public office and served twoterms as treasurer of Hall County. Later he engaged in the banking business, but for many years has lived retired, his sons under the name of Hagge Brothers carrying on the work of the farm.

October 26, 1865, occurred the marriage of William A. Hagge and Miss Caroline S. Moller, who was born in the village of Darry, Holstein, Germany, February 10, 1846. Her parents, Frederick and Katrina (Lillienthal) Moller, emigrated to America in 1857 and settled first in Davenport. Iowa, and in 1859 became residents of Hall County. They drove overland from Iowa with horse and ox teams and cast their lot with the early settlers of Washington township. They were farming people and spent the remainder of their lives here, the father passing away at the age of eighty-five and the mother was seventy-two when called to her final rest.

Mr. and Mrs. Hagge became the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living: Ida Adelia, the wife of Harman C. Petersen, of Davenport, Iowa ; Emma, married F. W. Behms and resides at home ; William A., Jr., and Frederick J. are operating the old farm ; August W., is a member of the firm of Hagge Brothers, and for twenty years has been on the agricultural staff of the American Beet Sugar Company ; Helen M., the wife of John G. Rioby, residing in Hall County ; Clara, unmarried and resides at home ; and Minnie, who died at the age of nineteen.

Though for several years Mr. Hagge has been bereft of his hearing and his eyesight is impaired, he still delights in recounting the reminiscenses of the early days. He is one of the few remaining pioneers to whom we are indebted for the information that makes possible an authentic history of Hall County. He endured the hardships, overcame obstacles and helped to make the community a better place in which to live. Indians, grasshoppers, prairie fires and drouth were some of the trials they had to meet. On one occasion Mr. Hagge had gone to the woods for a log when he was surrounded by Indians. When they searched him 'a postage stamp was all they found. His resourcefulness was brought into play and when he told them that this stamp was his protection, and that if he was harmed Uncle Sam would deal harshly with them at once, they seemed satisfied and went on the way leaving him unharmed.

A full account of the trials and experiences of these early settlers will be found in the general history and the people of the county should appreciate the opportunity to have this done before it is too late. In giving space to those who are deserving especial mention, we trust the life record here preserved will prove not only an inspiration to his own family but to all future generations of Hall County.

JOHN H. WINDOLPH, one of Grand Island's well known business men and reputable citizens, bears a name that has been held in great respect in Hall County for over a half century. Mr. Windolph was born in Hall County, Nebraska, January 6, 1871, the eldest of the four children of John L, and

Mary (Magdalene) Windolph, the latter of whom is deceased. His father was born in Germany. He came to the United States in early manhood, and to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1861. An octogenarian but still vigorous in mind and body, he now lives in comfortable retirement on a part of his original homestead adjoining the city limits of Grand Island.

John H. Windolph was educated in the public schools of Hall County and the Grand Island Business College. He has been employed by his father more or less throughout his entire business life and it is recognized that he possesses decided commercial ability. He is now operating the finely improved farm of eighty acres, all that the reaching out and expansion of Grand Island has left of the original homestead which grew to a farm of 240 acres. Business streets and fine residences now occupy the rest of the land other than the home farm, it having been sold gradually after being divided in city lots. Mr. Windolph has spent his entire life in Hall County with the exception of two and a half years during which he was looking after his father's property in Oklahoma. He gives his father assistance in looking after the latter's many Grand Island interests.

January 20, 1909, Mr. Windolph married Miss Helen Krause, a daughter of W. T. and Pauline (Gebauer) Krause, who came to Hall County in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Windolph have two children : Chester Charles and Marie Magdalena. They are members of the Roman Catholic church. In politics Mr. Windolph is a Republican. He has never accepted political ofiice, but for five years was member of the Grand Island Fire Department, and secretary of the same as well as secretary of the Pacific Hose Volunteer Company No. 1.

SIMON NYCUM LYSINGER, a substantial citizen of Grand Island, has been identified with the city's best interests for the past twenty years, but he is still interested in agricultural pursuits, owning large bodies of valuable land in different sections, aggregating over 1,700 acres.

Simon N. Lysinger was born in Bureau County, Illinois", March 18, 1854, one of a family of seven children born to Isaac and Rachel (Sparks) Lysinger, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born in 1820 and died in 1897, at which time he owned 260 acres of land in Illinois. He setttled in that state in 1852 and remained there, gradually acquiring land through his indust^\^ He was a Republican in politics. The mother of Simon

N. Lysinger was a member of the English Lutheran church. Of their three surviving children, Simon N. is the only one living in Hall County. He came to this state on March 4, 1874, settling in Hamilton County, where he took an 80 acre timber claim to which he subsequently added land by purchase until now he owns over 400 acres in Hamilton County alone. His only property in Hall County is his comfortable, commodious residence beautifully located in Grand Island, but he has 320 acres of farm land in Oklahoma, and has 1,000 acres in Oregon. Mr. Lysinger had common school advantages in Illinois, and at the age of twenty years began business as a farmer on his own account. He resided on his farm in Hamilton County managing his industries himself until 1899, when he came to Grand Island. Since then he has had his sons associated with him, two of whom have been called from the peaceful home circles to take part in the World War.

In Aurora, Nebraska, November 1, 1874, Mr. Lysinger married Miss Julia E. Lehen. The following children have been born to them: Anastasia, who lives at Grand Island, is the widow of William Harrison; Isaac L., who resides at Comstock, Nebraska, married Emma Peachon ; Mary E., the wife of Albert Sprague, of York, Nebraska ; Harriet H., the wife of Horton Tully, of Spaulding, Nebraska ; Joseph, a resident of Kansas City ; Lenora, the wife of Emmet O'Connell, of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Gertrude C, the wife of Omer Schills, of Grand Island; Bessie, the wife of Louis Rigle, of Savannah, Georgia ; Evelyn, the wife of Donald Martin, of Helena, Montana ; and Simon Richard and Lawrence L., both of whom are members of the American Expeditionary Force in France. Mr. Lysinger has given his children educational and other advantages and without exception, they are respected members of society. Mrs. Lysinger is a member of the Roman Catholic church. An active citizen in all that concerns the welfare of country and community, Mr. Lysinger feels better satisfied in political matters, to cast his vote according to his own intelligent judgment than to submit to the domination of any particular party.

JOHN SCHIMMER, a member of an old andimportant family of Hall County, has spent his entire life here and is interested in Hall County enterprises. He was born in Hall County, Nebraska, October 11, 1873, and is a son of Martin Schimmer, who is widely known as a capitalist, farmer and stockman. An extended history of the Schimmer family will be found in this work.

John Schimmer grew up on his fatjier's farm and was educated in the public schools of Hall County and the Grand Island Business College. He is operating a farm for his father and together they are interested extensively in buying and feeding stock, annually handling about 700 beef cattle, and also turning out a car load of hogs. Their business standing in every market is the best. Mr. Schimmer is concerned also with the operation of the well known and popular summer resort. Sand Krog, which is under the able management of his sister, Mrs. Lena Scheel. Sand Krog was founded by his father in 1874 and was the first road house in Hall County.

On May 5, 1896, John Schimmer married Miss Anna Thavenet.a daughter of George and Maggie (Scheel ) Thavenet, now deceased, who were pioneer settlers in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Schimmer have two sons : Martin and Walter, both of whom reside at home. Mr. Schimmer is not identified with any political party but is a careful, watchful citizen and casts his vote according to his own excellent judgment. He belongs to the fraternal order of Eagles, attending the lodge at Grand Island. He maintains his home at Sand Krog.

ROBERT PAGE SHIPTON. - Undoubtedly the teacher is right who declared that the greatest task in the world is the turning the soil each year for the growing of crops. The importance of farming in all its branches is thoroughly recognized in Hall County, where many of the most intelligent young men turn - each year to this industry, and thus contribute to their own prosperity and the nation's wealth. One of the wide-awake, enterprising farmers of Washington township is Robert P. Shipton, who is operating a large tract of land situated on section five and meeting with deserved success.

Robert Page Shipton was born in Hall County, Nebraska, April 10, 1881, the son of Samuel F. and Lovina S. (Davison) Shipton, the latter of whom was born in Illinois, April 10, 1862. The father of Mr. Shipton was born in Kentucky, but early in life went to Illinois, and from there came to Hall County in 1879. He still owns the farm purchased when he first came here but now lives retired in Alda, Hall County. He has been more or less active in Democratic politics and both he and wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. For some years he has been identified with the M. W. A. and the

A. O. U. W. fraternal organizations. His three children are as follows : Robert P., who grew up on the home farm ; Ella, the wife of Wesley Knox, of Alda, Nebraska ; and Cassie, the wife of Mark Hessel, of Alda.

Mr. Shipton completed the public school course in Hall County and then spent some time in the Normal school at Fremont, following which he engaged in farming, in which business he has been interested ever since. xA.t the present time he is operating a well improved farm that belongs to his father-in-law, Martin Schimmer, and through his careful methods is making it one of the most profitable estates in Washington township.

On March 21, 1907, Mr. Shipton married Miss Dora Schimmer, born July 19, 1878, the daughter of Martin Schimmer, who is a prominent farmer and stockman of Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Shipton have three children : Lorraine, born March 4, 1908 ; Hazel, born August 21, 1909; and Samuel, born July 1, 1915. Like his father, Mr. Shipton is a Democrat, and belongs to the same fraternal orders, in addition he belongs to the F. O. E.

JOHN L. WINDOLPH. - There were not many householders in Grand Island, not more than seven or eight all told, when John L. Windolph came here over a half century ago. Fine, sturdy people they were and Mr. Windolph knew them all. For many years of an industrious life he worked for and with them in developing what has been made one of the finest cities in the state of Nebraska. This venerable and highly esteemed resident of Hall County, despite the weigth of eighty-three years, can so clearly recall people and events of the long ago, that it is a privilege as well as pleasure to listen to his reminiscences. Mr. Windolph has lived in Hall County for fifty-eight years. John L. Windolph was born in the village of Buchwilde, Germany, July 27, 1836. He was one of two children born to Nicholas and Elizabeth (Bingel) Windolph, and the only member of his family to come to the United States, His father followed the trade of wool carder. After a certain period spent in the public school, John L. Windolph was apprenticed to a cabinetmaker with whom he worked faithfully and laboriously. According to the rules of the trade, he was not considered entirely competent until he had traveled as a journeyman worker for three years. He started out on a small capital but was confident of earning more very easily, for he had become exceedingly expert as a cabinetmaker. He was about einghteen years old when he and his friend Lucas Flom, decided that they could probably do journeyman work just as profitably in America as in Europe, hence they took passage for the United States. The first city in which he worked at his trade in this country, was Sandusky, Ohio. After being employed there a few months he went to Logansport, Indiana, and a few months later to St. Louis, Missouri, and found himself on the way west.

In the meanwhile, Mr. Windolph had formed the acquaintance of Christopher Cornelius, Hans Maas and Philip Feldtman, and together they decided to look the country over with the idea of securing homesteads in the western country. They started for St. Louis and landed in Hall County, Nebraska, May 20, 1861, but went on to St. Louis and continued their inspection trip in that territory several months. Then Cornelius and Maas went to Davenport, Iowa, Feldtman went first to Fort Kearny and then to Toledo, C)hio. Mr. Windolph found no place that pleased him as well as Hall County, so he settled in Grand Island. Although at that time there was no demand for the fine finished workmanship of the cabinetmaker, the country was being settled and there was need of a carpenter and Mr. Windolph with his expert knowledge of tools, had no difficulty in turning his skill in that direction. His services were required very often to put up doors and fit window sash in the new log houses, and he was the carpenter that built the old O. K. store well remembered by the pioneers. The first slab turned out by the local sawmill was secured by Mr. Windolph and from it he fashioned a stool that he yet owns. He proved an astute business man as well as good workman, for he pre-empted 160 acres of land adjoining the village of Grand Island, of which land he still owns a small tract, the larger part of the original body having been divided into city lots and sold most advantageously. He owns several valuable building lots in Grand Island that he keeps as an investment, and also lots one and two in block seventy-nine which he has improved with store buildings.

Mr. Windolph married Miss Mary Jenneman, whose parents lived and died in Germany. There were four children born to them : John H,. who resides on the old home place in Grand Island ; Anna, married and lives at Washington, D. C. ; Frank, who lives in Denver, Colorado; and Christopher, who is deceased. Mrs. Windolph passed away December 6, 1906. Mr. Windolph has always been a faithful member, as was his wife, of the Roman Catholic church. He has never been very active in politics, not because of indiiiference to neighborhood progress, but because he has been a verj' busy man and inclined to look closely after his own business rather than that of others. He always casts his vote according to his own judgment and it is always on the side of law and order.

MRS. LENA SCHEEL. - There are many residents of Hall County who have been royally entertained at the fine summer resort. Sand Krog, on Schimmer's Lake, near Grand Island, and all of these acknowledge the business capacity and executive ability of Mrs. Lena Scheel, who with her brother John is general manager.

Mrs. Scheel was born in Hall County, Nebraska, August 3, 1882. She is a daughter of Martin Schimmer, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. Mrs. Scheel was educated in the public schools and remained at home with her parents until her marriage, in 1903 to Hans D. Scheel. He was born September 28, 1879, and died Stepember 26, 1912. His parents were Henry and Anna (Renting) Scheel, the former being a native of Germany and now deceased, and the latter of Pennsylvania but now lives in Grand Island. F(jr one year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Scheel resided in Grand Island, but in 1904 they went to Sand Krog, where Mrs. Scheel still resides and operates the summer resort. Sand Krog was founded in 1874 by Mrs. Scheel's father, Martin Schimmer, being the first road house in the county. It has always been a properly conducted resort and is beautifully located on a body of water that gives opportunity for fishing and water sports. The hotel is very popular and every summer is crowded with pleasure seekers, Mrs. Scheel is an admirable hostess and watches carefully the welfare of her guests. She has four children: Louis D., Elmer E., Henry F. and Evelyn E. Scheel. Sand Krog is situated one quarter mile west of the large stock farm of Martin Schimmer, >vho is one of Hall County's extensive dealers.

JUERGEN CLAUSEN, a leading citizen of Hall County and in every way a representative of its best interests, accompanied his parents to the United States, almost a half century ago. He was born September 28, 1853, iii Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the son of Claus and Christina (Wresener) Clausen, natives of

In 1870 Claus Clausen decided to follow his eldest son, Peter Clausen, who had come to the United States in 1869. Emigrating from the old country the family reached America safely and traveled as far west as the Mississippi River, spending their first year at Clinton, Iowa, land and establish a settled home. To this end he took advantage of the opportunity in Nebraska and in 1871 took up a claim in Hall County. On this land he continued to live throuhgout his life, his death occurring May 3, 1903. His widow survived him only a few months, her death following on October 4, of the same year. They had four children : Peter, now deceased ; Anna, the wife of John Schuefrt, of Boelus, Nebraska ; Claus, who lives in Grand Island, a farmer, married Kate Lassen, now deceased ; and Juergen, who lives on the old homestead in Washington township. Claus Clausen was a highly respected man, was a very successful agriculturist and stock raiser. Both he and his wife belonged to the Lutheran church. He was ver\^ enterprising and is credited with the aid of his sons, with making the first brick ever mixed and burned in Hall County. He found the clay on his own land and quickly turned it to good account. Consequently the family did not have to live in log houses or dugouts quite as long as did many of their neighbors, all having substantial brick residences built by themselves. Mr. Clausen also constructed his own windmiill, possessing, much ingenuity and mechanical skill.

Juergen Clausen was seventeen years old when he accompanied his parents to the United States, having attended school previously in Germany. He worked for his father until he was twenty-five years old, in the meanwhile, about 1875, taking up a homestead at Boelus, in Howard County, Nebraska. He lived on his place for a short time and then sold his claim and returned to the homestead as his father needed him. His brothers Peter and Claus determined to explore the region west of Dannebrog and if possible, homestead there. At that time the Sioux Indians were giving the settlers much trouble and United States soldiers were preventing the savages from coming south. The Clausens, however, broke through the military line, believing they could take care of themselves, but they found out their mistake when the Sioux drove them back.

Mr. Clausen remembers many interesting events of those early days and in his own life and circumstances. There are sharp contrasts between then and now. He recalls the heavy losses the settlers encountered when the grass- hoppers destroyed entire crops of corn, oats, and potatoes, and the subsequent loss from the drouth of 1894, when cattle and stock succumbed in great numbers. In this connection he mentions the Pawnee Indians, who were yet quite numerous in the neighborhood but had never been considered dangerous. They proved beneficial at this time as they were not fastidious about their food and willingly removed all the dead animals from the fanners' fields. The lack of bridges sometimes occasioned loss to the settlers and Mr. Clausen recalls an experience of his own that was dangerous and thrilling. His father's cattle had strayed in search of herbage, to the farther side of the Platte River, ordinarily fordable on horseback, but the river had risen rapidly and was at flood stage when he crossed and succeeded in getting the cattle home. He remembers when they lived in a log house, carried on their first farm, ing with oxen, and started their great herds with two cows. On many occasions he has gone to a neighbor for coals to start their morning fire, there being no matches. His first work away from home was done for John Oldman and his wages were $18 a month. At that time corn brought eights cents a bushel, oats ten cents a bushel and hogs two cents a pound.

Since returning from Howard county, Mr. Clausen has remained on his father's homestead. He owns five hundred and seventy acres of land in different farms, all fenced and highly improved. His residence has every modern comfort, the commodious brick house beng lighted by electricity, with motor installed that also operates a washing machine, too! grinder, churn and meat cutter, while a gasoline engine is utilized for other machinery. Mr. Clausen and his family also enjoy a handsome automobile. His farms are well stocked and he raises Duroc-Jersey hogs and Hereford cattle, making a specialty of the latter.

On October 4, 1880, Mr. Clausen married Miss Anna Wiesner, a daughter of Juergen and Catherine (Fram) Wiesner, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Clausen have four children : Christina, the wife of Rudolph Sass, of Alda township ; Christopher, who lives in Alda township, married Ida Giese ; Claus, a farmer in Washington township, and Henry, recently welcomed home from France, to which country he went as a soldier with the American Expeditionary Forces. He is a sergeant in rank and served eighteen months in the Eighty-seventh division of the Three Hundred Thirty-fifth field artillery.

District No. 4. He has been helpfully interested in many local enterprises and at present is a director in the Holsatia Fire Insurance association, which is a local body confined to Hall County farmers. He has belonged to the Lutheran church since boyhood.

HENRY RIEF. - In well deserved enjoyment of material comforts which advancing years make particularly acceptable, Henry Rief, one of Hall County's early settlers, lives on his old homestead in Washington township, which he secured over a half century ago. Mr. Rief is one of Hall County's best known and most respected citizens.

He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, October 8, 1846, away back when that province was a part of Denmark. His parents were Hans and Margaretta (Brammer) Rief, natives of Germany. The father was a weaver by trade and was able to take care of his family thereby until political disturbances with Prussia, practically ruined the weaving business. Like many others of that time and condition, he turned his eyes toward that land of freedom, the United States, and in 1869 reached this country with wife and children, the son, Henry, having come to America five years previously. The Rief family settled permanently in Hall County, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded and also bought land that has never been out of the family. He was a farmer and raised stock and lived quietly and industriously on his homestead until his death in 1892. Both he and the mother were members of the Lutheran church. She died in 1909. They had eight children, four of whom are living: Henry, who resides in Washington township ; Mary, who lives at Boelus, Nebraska, is the widow of Peter Clausen; Juergen, who married Anna Bucholtz, lives in Washington township, and Emma, who lives at Council Bluffs, Iowa, is the widow of Sivert Rief. The four children now deceased, were : Margaretta, the wife of Fred Langinan, was accidentally drowned in the Platte River during a flood, leaving three children, the youngest but three months old ; Anna, the wife of Henry Bockman, died leaving eight children ; Charles, who married Anna Sick, died in California in 1915, and William, who died in 1909, married Catherine Bilfeld and was a farmer in Washington township. The late Charles Rief was a man of prominence in Hall County and elsewhere. He had been an extensive traveler as a sea captain prior to coming to the United States in 1871, having been a student of navigation in Flensburg, Denmark, and London.

England. He served a number of years as county clerk in Hall County, was a member of the school board and the examining board for teachers, then was elected to the state legislature and during his service in the general assembly worked for and secured the location of the Soldiers' Home in Hall County. He was also an author and one of his books entitled "Land and Light" has had wide circulation.

1864, when this country was yet in the throes of civil war. He first made a home at Valparaiso, Indiana, and within three months had taken out his first papers looking to American citizenship. He enlisted for any service needed by the Federal government and cheerfully performed every duty required of him until he was honorably dischaiged and mustered out April 5, 1865, having been mainly stationed at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He then started westward and on reaching Chicago, found employement as a clerk and made good use of his time by studying the English language in a night school. In the fall of 1865 he went to St. Louis, then to Hannibal and to St. Joseph on the Platte on his way to Omaha. On his trip up the Mississippi he was a passenger on the same steamer that carried the fourth engine for the Union Pacific Railroad.

On the present site of the great cominercial and railroad center, Kansas City, nothing was to be seen but swamp and prairie. Mr. Rief found work with the railroad construction gangs, helping to build the first two bridges for the LTnion Pacific Railroad over Papillon and Elk Horn rivers. He was one of a party of twenty-four that made plans to celebrate the completion of the first telegraph line between Omaha and Fremont, on December 26,

1865. They started for Omaha on hand cars, in the face of a blizzard, spending the night on the way, and when they reached the city found great trouble in getting accommodations in a boarding. house. Mr. Rief remembers the discomforts of that trip very vividly. During the rest of the winter he worked for the Union Pacific cutting wood and getting out railroad ties. The islands in the Platte River were heavily timbered and from these wood for burning and ties was secured. In those days there was little supervision of such work and large logs were left in the forests. There was a man by the name of Riddell, who took advantage of this condition and no doubt profited greatly. He owned a portable sawmill and

In the spring of 1866 Mr. Rief engaged in another enterprise with Peter Stuem to brinj;^ goods from Omaha. This was a considerable undertaking as the merchandise had to be transported over the military road and as there were no bridges, every river and creek had to be forded. It required about eight days to make the trip from Omaha to Hall County. In the same year he worked for a Mr. Monroe who, when he left, owed him the sum of $180, which he obtained only through the good offices of friends, and upon receiving it loaned it to a Mr. Wiebe, who also seems to have miscalculated his ability to pay it back, but later turned over a team of oxen to Mr. Rief, who humorously says that he had to take up a homestead in order to use the oxen. He filed on a claim in 1867 and has since lived on this place, for many years carrying on general farming and stockraising. During the early days he oftentimes furnished hay and cord wood to Fort Kearney. His land lies near what was the famous California trail, a path about forty rods wide. The Pawnee Indians were numerous here when he homesteaded but he always maintained friendly relations with them and when they started for their government reservation they came by the hundred to bid him goodbye.

In November, 1869, Mr. Rief married Miss Lizzie Prahm, the ceremony taking place in Grand Island, her parents being early settlers in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Rief had five children : Henry, who lives at Seattle, Washington ; Edwin, who lives in Adams County, Nebraska, married Amelia Siegert ; Matilda, the wife of William Sievers of Grand Island; Centennial, the wife of Joseph Wehr, of Doniphan, and Lillie, the wife of Washington Sampson, of Seattle. The mother of these children died March 17, 1877. The second marriage of A4r. Rief took place June 15, 1879, to Miss Emma Fischer, a daughter of August and Louise (Hahn) Fischer, who spent their lives in Germany. Of the four children born to this marriage the following survive : Arthur, who lives on the home farm, married Gertrude Westerburg; Nellie, the wife of Charles Ericksen, of Grand Island ; and Herbert, who was in the military training camp at Camp Dodge when this biography was written.

In early days in Hall County, school district No. 4 comprised territory in wjiich there are now five schools. Mr. Rief has always been greatly interested in this district, for he taught school there and in District No. 28 for nine years, and for ten years was a director in the former district. In his pohtical views he is a RepubHcan and has taken part in many a committee meeting. For eight years he served on the county board of supervisors from Washington township and for one year was chairman of the board.

ARTHUR ROBY, a substantial farmer and highly respected citizen of Hall County, has always lived on the old homestead in Washington township, where his birth took place June 5, 1878. His parents, Frederick and Johanna (Lillenthal) Roby, were born in Germany, from which country they came to the L'uited States as young people, in 1848. They were married in Iowa and in April, 1864, came to Nebraska.

For about eight years Mr. and Mrs. Roby lived in Center township, where they kept a road house and saloon where a stage delivered mail every other day until the Sioux Indians frightened the settlers away and held up the stage service for two months at a time. Soldiers were sent from the nearest fort for the protection of the pioneers, when the frightened settlers returned to their homesteads. The people grew accustomed to the Pawnee Indians and tolerated them as they were never savage, but the mother of Mr. Roby can remember when neither life nor property was safe in this section of the county. In 1872 Mr. Roby homesteaded in section 8, township 10, range 9, and here Mrs. Roby has continued to live, one of the best known and highly esteemed residents of Washington township. In her interesting reminiscences of early days here she tells of the difficulty experienced in securing even the commonest of household furniture and utensils. The nearest trading point was Omaha and it required four weeks to make the round trip and necessarily transportation charges were high. She lamented when she could not get wash tubs, but showed her resourcefulness when no bedstead could be secured, by helping^ to construct one out of poles easily obtained in the surrounding timber. She mentions also the lack of deep wells and the necessity of using surface water. Nevertheless, in spite of all these hardships, Mr. and Mrs. Roby prospered, and when he passed away, on June 3, 1903, he was not only one of the substantial men of the county but was one of influence and importance. He was prominent in Democratic politics, was one of the county commissioners for some years and also was on the township school board, and additionally, for many years was a director of the Lincoln Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Mr. and Mrs. Roby had children as follows : Gustave, who lives in Center township ; Ida, the wife of Conrad Lassen, died July 15, 1913; Dora, the wife of Henry Stoltenberg of Merrick County ; Nancy, born July 8, 1872. died February 6, 1873; Arthur, who lives in Washington township, and John, who married Helen Hagge.

Arthur Roby attended the country schools in boyhood and has made his home on the farm which he now owns. He has 240 acres of some of the best improved land in this section, his commodious and substantial buildings comparing favorably with any farm structures in the county. He is a man of progressive ideas, hence his stock is of standard grade, his farm machinery the best obtainable and his various farrn activities are carried on according to methods approved by experts who have scientifically studied Nebraska climate and soil. Intelligent farming and stockraising like this is certain to be profitable.

On April 20, 1900, Mr. Roby married Miss Margaretha Thavenet, whose parents were George and Margaretha (Scheel) Thavenet, who, when living, owned a fine homestead located just south of Grand Island, where they reared their eight children. All but two of the children live in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Roby have six children : Clara, who was born October 15, 1901 ; Nancy, who was born September 22, 1903 ; Olga, who was born March 3, 1905; Edna, who was born December 23, 1910; Evelyn, who was born February 19, 1915; and Roy Arthur, who was born February 19, 1918. For the past six years Mr. Roby has been a member of the township school board. In national political campaigns he supports the Democratic candidates, but in local affairs he exercises his own good judgment. In every way he is a man of high standing in his county, a good farmer, a friendly neighbor, an honest public official and a solid citizen.

GEORGE M. BAKER. - Perhaps there are few residents of Hall County who have not heard of Woodland Park, which is situated in Washington township and which, in its whole history and its present state of modern development, is one of the most interesting homesteads of the county. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land which its owner, George M. Baker, devotes largely to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle. Poland-China hogs and Rhode Island Red chickens. On this farm will be the "Wood- land Park Association," with golf grounds, another evidence of the vast changes that have taken place since the days of the early settlers. This is but one of his valuable holdings. Among his properties are included two handsome residences in Grand Island.

George M. Baker was born in La Salle County, Illinois, February 6, 1864, while his father was foreman in large coal mines there. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Keegan) Baker, the former of whom was bom in Germany and the latter in Ireland. Samuel Baker spent almost all of his life in the United States as he was only thirteen years old when he accompanied his parents here. Unusual responsibilities fell upon him almost immediately as his father died soon after landing, and the considerable amount of money and jewels he had brought with him were stolen by unknown robbers while his sorrowing relatives were attending his funeral. Samuel thus became the family breadwinner while yet a boy. He found workon boats plying on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers and finally became second officer on a large steamboat. His home was then established in the coal regions of La Salle County, Illinois, where he was soon given a position of authority by one of the big operating companies. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife died in 1880 but he survived until June, 1915. Both were faithful members of the Roman Catholic church. Of their seven children six are living, but only two reside in Hall County, George M. and Hubert, the latter making his home in Grand Lsland.

After securing a good common school education in La Salle County, George M. Baker started in life as a traveling salesman for a farm implement house, with which he remained three years, and then, in the same capacity, went out for the well known Omaha grocery firms of McCord & Brady and Allen Brothers, traveling continuously for these firms for twenty-five years and two days, retiring from a quarter century of service in this line with the record of never having lost a day. In the meanwhile he had been prudent in his expenditures and when he was ready to turn his attention into other channels of business, he found himself with abundant capital. He found a satisfactory investment in the First Bank of Cestos, Oklahoma, of which he was vice president for five years. He sold his interest and bought lands and livestock in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Idaho, much of which he still controls. He has two farms of one hundred and sixty acres each, in Oklahoma, which have been brought to the highest possible state of cultivation. His present farm in Hall County is the old Windolph property, which he purchased from his father-in-law at the time of his marriage. It has pleased him to give it the beautiful name of Woodland Park^ and here he and Mrs. Baker spend the greater part of the year, notwithstanding two comfortable residences await their occupancy in Grand Island. IMr. Baker intends to transform the farm into a dairy farm to be known as "Woodland Park Dairy." For some time he has not given personal attention to any of his land except a few acres, the cultivation of which gives him pleasant exercise, but all its industries are carefully overlooked, for Mr. Baker has been a keen and discerning business man for many vears.

On April 15, 1891, Mr. Baker married J^Iiss Catherina Windolph, one of a family of eight children born to Adam and Margaretta (Stender) Windolph, both of whom were natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have three children : Lillian, the wife of Charles Thirifay, of Omaha ; Margaretta Walburga, the wife of Joseph Power, of Grand Island ; and Marie C., employed in the First National Bank, Grand Island.

In 1864 the parents of Mrs. Baker came to the United States, and after living in New York for one year, earned west as far as Kankakee, Illinois, a few months later moving to Belle Plaine in Benton County, Iowa. Six months later Adam Windolph bought a wagon and team of horses and started with his family on the long journey to Hall Countv. \Mien they reached Columbus they discovered that there was no bridge and hence had to cross on the ice, also being delayed in many other ways they finally landed here, on April 1, 1866, having spent four weeks on the road. Mr. Windolph hoinesteaded in Washington township and Mrs. Baker still has the patent from the United States government for this farm. Adam Windolph was a practical, farseeing man and when he built his log house he built for the future and so substantially that the present attractive residence still includes a portion of the old log house plastered with clay. Seemingly no one could have a better right or reason to take pleasure in the beautiful surrounding grounds with luxuriant shade trees than Mrs. Baker, for it was with her own hands that many of these trees were set out and she and her sisters kept them alive with the water they had to carry a full half mile. She has one sister in the county, Mrs. Hubert Baker, of Grand Island.

language she tells of the old California trail and of Indians, of social customs and of the lack of entertainment in her childhood days. To the latter she ascribes her sometimes following the emigrant wagons as they passed by on the trail a few feet before her father's fence, on down to the fort, a few rods further, where they often stopped for provisions, and then about a mile still further to Mr. Michelson's blacksmith shop, where she could not fail being interested in seeing Mrs. Michelson, a very small woman, help with the shoeing of the horses and oxen, leather pads being attached to the latter's feet. No doubt she often looked wonderingly after the goldseeker's wagons as they passed into the mysterious West, where hung the rainbow of hope, and probably saw many of the travelers go by again, no richer than before. Educational advantages were very limited at this early day. Mrs. Baker recalls how they finally secured a teacher, and she was able to attend school a half day a week. In a rather lonely childhood, the semi-annual coming of the Indians with their furs and moccasins to exchange for eatables, was a great event and many times she joined the dark children in their play and helped them gather the leaves and bark of the kinnikinick (a kind of dogwood) bushes, which the Indians dried and smoked. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Cattholic church. He is a Republican in politics but has never accepted any public office.

CHRIS CLAUSEN. - A visitor of a decade ago, if he were to make a second jounrey through Hall County, would discover many wonderful changes throughout the agricultural sections. The farmers in the meanwhile have not been asleep and many of them have been particularly wide awake, heeding the call of progress. In Washington township he might some time-' find himself a gitest of Chris Clausen on the beautiful farm of two hundred and fifty-five acres that he and his brothers are so successfully operating. He could not long be in doubt of the value of the use of improved farm machinery and the adoption of scientific methods of agriculture. This model farm gives ample proof.

Chris Clausen belongs to one of the pioneer families of Hall County. He was born here August 27, 1883. His parents are Juergen and Anna (Wiesner) Clausen, who are highly esteemed residents of this section. The father of Mr. Clausen was born in- Germany, September 28, 1853. The subject of this sketch was seventeen years old when he accompanied his parents, Claus and Christina (Wresener) Clausen, to the United States. They lived one year in Clinton, Iowa, and then came to Hall County. In addition to his homestead, the father of Chris Clausen asquired a number of farms, becoming a man of substance and also of neighborhood prominence. Chris Clausen has been engaged in farming and stockraising since boyhood. He obtained his education in the schools of Washington township and when he started out for himself, rented the farm of two hundred and fifty-five acres of exceptionally well improved land belonging to his father which is situated on section 17, Washington township. Mr. Clausen gives much attention to raising high grade Durham cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. He is not only a clear-headed, progressive agriculturist, but he is also a representative of the county's best citizenship.

On January 12, 1905, Mr. Clausen married Miss Ida Giese, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Obermiller) Giese, early settlers in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Clausen have two children: Anna M., who was born June 24, 1906, and Mildred R., who was born October 20, 1912. In politics Mr. Clausen prefers to vote an independent ticket. He has been treasurer of his school district for the last twelve years and in many other ways has proved useful and trustworthy.

PETER HERMAN, who owns a well improved farm of eighty acres, situated south of Grand Island, has spent the greater part of his life in Hall County. He is known as an excellent farmer, good neighbor and worthy citizen, born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, March 2, 1868, the son of Peter and Margaret (Mahlsted) Herman, both natives of Germany. The father was a small farmer there but as he saw no opportunity to better his condition, decided to come to the United States with his family and endeavor to secure some of the government land that awaited settlers in the western country. In 1869 the family reached America, soon reaching Davenport, Iowa. In that vicinity the father engaged in farming until the fall of 1871, when he came to Hall County and lived on what was known as the Hooper place for two years, then homesteaded near Wood River. He remained on that place until 1890, when he removed to a location near Saint Libory, in Howard County, purchasing land which he cultivated four years. Pie returned to Grand Island, where his death occurred in

1906. He had survived the mother of Mr. Herman since 1899. Of their family of six children, the following are living: John and Fred, in Grand Island; Henry, in Wyoming; Peter, in Hall County, and William, in Hall County. The father was an American citizen and gave his political support to the Democratic party. Both parents belonged to the Lutheran church.

Peter Herman was a babe in his mother's arms when his parents came to the United States. He obtained his schooling in Hall County and afterward assisted his father on the home farm as long as he was needed, when he began farming on his own account. His farm has been well stocked and all his industries here are carried on with the care and good judgment that assures success. The farmer of today is justly accounted one of the country's most important men and in the record of production that Nebraska is making, a great deal of credit may be given the sensible, hard-working farmers and stockmen of Hall County, Mr. Herman being one of these. He has devoted himself closely to his business. He has never been very active in politics, casting his ballot as an independent voter.

On February 11, 1891, Mr. Herman married Miss Delia Dibbern, a daughter of Jochem and Margaret (Weise) Dibbern, early settlers in the county who are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Herman have the following children, who have had every advantage their parents could give them: Edith, the wife of Bernie Schimmer; Albert, who assists his father; Linda, the wife of Henry Meyer; Edna, the wife of Arthur Knuth, and Martha, Josephine, Olga, Harry, Ernest and Mildred, all of whom live at home ; and one who is deceased. Mr. Herman and his family are members of the Lutheran church.

JULIUS MATTHIESEN, a prosperous farmer of Washington township, belongs to one of the oldest pioneer families of Hall County. He was born at Davenport, Iowa, March 29, 1863, a son of Frederick and Anna (Hansen) Matthiesen. The first wife of Frederick Matthiesen died during the voyage from Germany to the United States. They had two children, one of whom is living, Margaret, the widow of Frederick Lillenthal.

In 1857 Frederick Matthiesen married Anna Hansen and they had seven children. The following are living: Julius, who has lived in Hall County since 1866; Laura, the wife of Bernhard Ewoldt, near Sand iCrog; Ernest, a farmer south of Grand Island, married Dora

Ewoldt; and Anna, the wife of Frederick Schoel. For ten years after coming to the United States, Frederick Matthiesen conducted an express business in Davenport. From there he came to Hall County in 1866 and homesteaded in section 34, Washington township, south of Grand Island, where he resided until his death, which occurred June 14, 1914. His widow survives, being now in her eighty-seventh year. He was a member of the Lutheran church and in politics was a Democrat.

Julius Matthiesen was three years old when his people settled in Hall County in the spring of 1866. His school adavntages were rather meager for several reasons, one being the lack of easy school facilities, and the other that he was needed by his father on the farm. Among his recollections of early days the Indians play a prominent part for there were many of them in Hall County at that time. When the hunting season came on he has watched them pass by the hundred on their way to the Platte River. He sometimes played with the Indian children, who were much like other children except they were always hungry and if food was not given in answer to their begging, they would boldly steal it. These Indians were mostly the peaceable Pawnees, but he remembers one occasion when the savage Sioux came down in a raid from the North, killed several white people and carried two girls off with them, but the girls were rescued by the soldiers from Fort Kearny. He remained with his father until he was almost twenty-five years old before engaging in agricultural pursuits on the farm he now owns, which comprises one hundred and eigthy-eight acres. It is well stocked and finely improved. He has been very successful in his farming operations and is ranked with the substantial men of his township.

On February 1, 1889, Mr. Matthiesen married Miss Christina Gulzow, a daughter of Henry and Metha (Truelson) Gulzow, who came to Hall County in 1865. The father homesteaded in section 34, Washington township, where he died and the mother owns the one hundred and sixty acres. Of the eleven children in the Gulzow family, Mrs. Matthiesen is the eldest of the survivors, the others being: Hans, who operates the homestead for his mother, married Metha Wegner; Minnie, the wife of Diedrick Husman, of Merrick County ; Emma, the wife of William Brooks, of Grand Island ; Mary, the wife of William Thesenvitz, living near Alda, Nebraska ; Rosa, the wife of Nicholas Werner, living near Doniphan ; William, whoj lives at Grand Island, married Dora

To Mr. and Mrs. Matthiesen seven children were born : Lena, now deceased, was the wife of Claud Starling; William, who assists his father on the farm; Augusta, the wife of Herman Knuth, of Pitnam, Oklahoma ; Henry, who lives at Overton, Nebraska, married Emma Boltz ; Julius, who married Emma Wiese ; and Rosa and Lillie, both of whom live with their parents. The whole family stands well in the township where they have lived so long and where all the children have attended school. For one year Mr. Matthiesen was treasurer of Washington township, but he has never been very active in politics. He votes an independent ticket. In speaking of early days, Mr. Matthiesen tells of the coming of a young and earnest physician. Dr. Tosping, who soon found that the neighborhood was so healthy that either he would have to take his own tonics to keep alive or get to work with his hands. He chose wood chopping.

J(JHN FALLDORF, carrying on farming operations on the homestead in Washington township, which is the land his father preempted in 1873, is well known in Hall County where the family has been held in great esteem for almost a half century.

John Falldorf was born in Hall County, Nebraska, October 8, 1884, the third in a family of five children born to, Frederick and Dora (Parkman) Falldorf. The father was born in Germany in 1852 and the mother in the same county, in 1859. They were married in the fall of 1879, and all their children are living: Anna, the wife of John Heesch, of Hamilton County, Nebraska ; Henry, also in Hamilton County, married Dora Schuler; John lives in Washington township ; Emma, the wife of John Schuler, a farmer east of Grand Island ; and Otto, who lives in Hamilton County, married Clara Neubert. When the father of this family first came to Nebraska, his business of freighting was a very important and a dangerous one. There were many hostile Indians ever ready to attack the long train of frieght wagons that had to carry everything that was transported, not over the fine automobile highways of the present day, but over trails through the forests and unbridged streams. Mr. Falldorf also drove a stage for a time from the western part of the state to Sidney. In 1873 he came to Washington township. Hall County, and pre-empted land on section 2, on which he continued to live until 1910, when he retired. For a number of years he served as school moderator and director in his township and his sound judgment in school matters was generally accepted. In politics he is a Republican. He is one of the olderst members of the Plattsdeutch society at Grand Island.

John Falldorf has always lived in Hall County. He obtained his education in the public schools and learned the principles of farming in a practical way. For some years he has had charge of his father's old farm, and being experienced and thoroughgoing, he has been very successful. He married Freda, a daughter of John C. and Catherine Hann, and they have the following children : Lillie, Raymond, Louis and Maxine. In politics he is a Republican. He belongs to the Sons of Herman and the Plattsdeutch society.

HENRY KNUTH, whose well improved farm situated in Washington township, Hall County, shows evidences of thrift and good management, belongs to an old family of this section. Extended mention can be found on another page of this work. Mr. Knuth was born in Hall County, Nebraska, December 24, 1872, a son of Henry Knuth.

The boy was reared on his father's pioneer farm and remembers many interesting events of early days in the county, when hardships were many and comforts few. He recalls some creditable things of the Indians, also, and mentions one occasion when his brother broke his leg and an old Indian doctor was called in, who set the leg properly and treated it with his herbs so carefully that recovery was rapid. He attended one of the early schools but the most of his life until his twenty-sixth year, was spent in the cultivation of the home land. His present farm of one hundred and eighty acres has been improved with substantial buildings, and is exceedingly well stocked. Mr. Knuth breeds Shorthorn cattle and at the head of his herd has a pedigreed bull, while all his other stock is up to the same high standard.

On May 16, 1899, Henry Knuth married Miss Martha Baasch, who is a daughter of Charles and Minnie (Hansen) Baasch, well known early settlers of the county. They now live retired in Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Knuth have the following children : Rudolph, born January 25, 1900; Marie, born May 19, 1901 ; Emma, born October 3, 1903 ; Ella, born April 25, 1905 ; and Emil, born September 19, 1907. These children have had excellent educational advantages and are creditable representatives of Hall County's younger genera- tion. In politics Mr. Knuth has always been a Democrat, but he has never been willing to accept a public office, although well qualified through sound judgment and practical knowledge, to serve in many capacities. He belongs to the order of the Sons of Herman and also to the Plattsdeutch society.

HENRY A. KNUTH, one of the prosperous 3'ounger farmers of Washington township, Hall County, is a native of the county, born here January 10, 1889, and is a son of Juergen Kiiuth, an extended sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work. The family is an old and highly respscted one of this section.

Henry A. Knuth attended the public schools near his father's farm through boyhood, and afterward remained with his parents, assisting his father until he was twenty-three years old. March 15, 1912, he was united in marriage to Miss Dora Pieper, a daughter of Henry and Anna (Paustain) Pieper, early settlers in Washington township who now live retired. Mrs. Knuth is one of a family of seven children and the second oldest of the four sur\'ivors. She has two sisters and one brother: Erna. the wife of Otto Schimmer; Hugo, married Freda Heesch ; and Adele, lives with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Knuth have three sturdy little sons, namely : Raymond, Roy, and George.