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Schuyler, Nebraska,
March 13 – Special Correspondence of the World Herald
In Colfax
County are many fine
examples of the vigor of youth lingering to brighten declining years.
Among those whose births were in the very dawn of the
current century. Much of the most
interesting history of the nation is known to them without reading it, and they
discuss to great interest to the hearer,
the primitive life of years agone and that the present, which is so very
different because of the changes wrought by American genius and invention. In securing sketches of their lives, how like
dreaming it seemed to her them tell of the growth an development of cities and
states, and of the great changes in customs and manners.
Isaac Van Housen, now living in Schuyler, was born in Greene County, New
York, on the 20th day of June, 1810, being
now near the close of the 80th year of his age. He was born and raised on a farm, has never
done anything else, and was one of the successful ones. Was with his father till 1884, when Charlotte
E. Maven, a companion of his boyhood and youth, was wooed and wedded, and the
two moved to Cherry
County, there together to
engage in the foils and joys of life.
His home in New York was
left in 1869 and a new one began in Midland
precinct, this county, where, at first distantly situated from human
habitation, he began the unpleasant work of carving the present valuable and
nice home from the wilderness. His was
finally stricken with paralysis and his own health failed, so they moved to Iowa.
The subject is father of fourteen children, ten boys, four
girls, seven of whom are living, and has twelve grandchildren.
He has been a strong democrat, taught principles of same to
his children, and now enjoys seeing a son, John a member, of the present
Nebraska Senate.
One of the most interesting octogenarians is the fine old
gentleman known as “Uncle George” Sprecher, who first saw the light of day in
the city of Lebanon, state of Pennsylvania on the 22d day of October,
1808.
Here, at his father’s home passed ten years of his life, at
which time he was taken to a farm and into the house of a Mennonite minister,
Rev. Harsha, with the understanding that he was to remain five years. Though it was the general practice to have
papers drawn in such instances. Mr.
Sprecher was not “articled,” but, said he, “I liked my home with the minister
so well that I remained with him till I was 18.” At the age of 18 he learned the butcher
business and later on became a bricklayer and then worked at butchering during
the winter and at bricklaying during the summer.
In 1828 he moved to Ohio, where he followed his trades till 1838 after which
time his attentions was turned to farming a place of land on the river south
from Dayton. From this place he supplied one of the Dayton papers with important news which was sent to Dayton by the captain of
a steamboat that made frequent trips, and in payment for which he received the
paper.
In 1849 he was married to Sarah Ann Renshaw of Miamisburg, Ohio. Twelve children, seven boys and five girls,
ten of whom are living, were born to them, and fourteen grandchildren and two
great grandchildren owe their existence to the above union. In 1873 it was decided to move westward with
the mighty wave of emigration then filling the western states. The decision resulted in a trip to this state
and in the selection of a site for a new home in Midland precinct, Colfax County,
where twelve more years of live were spent and a fine farm and home founded.
In 1884, principally
because of failing health, Mr. Sprecher moved to Schuyler, where he now
resides. His children, excepting a
younger son, Edward, who is staying him this winter, are away from him. Both he and his wife now enjoy good health,
and it goes without saying that he who attentively listens to the conversation
of either will hear matters of interest and profit.
Mr. Sprecher enlisted to fight to save the union in 1861,
serving three years with the Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteers and did battle at
Opequan, Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek.
He was with Sheridan’s forces in the Shenandoah Valley that executed the order to render the
beautiful valley ‘untenable for anther rebel army,” and is now drawing a
liberal pension for sufferings brought on by the hardships of field
service. Three of his sons were in the
army.
Sheridan Post, No. 34, Grand Army of the Republic, claim him
as one of the most interesting veterans.
Politically Mr. Sprecher is an ardent supporter of the
principles of the Republican Party; has great faith in what it can do towards
saving the country, as well as in “its prospects of continued sovereignty.
At present a member of Acacia Lodge No. 34, Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons, and Ophir chapter No. 88, Royal Arch Masons, be began his
connection with Masonry in 1843, in which year he was made a Mason and became a
member of Minerva Lodge No. 48, Greenville, Ohio, soon after finding fellowship
with the members of Greenville Chapter No. 77.
An ardent lover of the mysticisms of the order his familiar face and
form are oftener seen among the workers than are those of younger and stronger
men physically than he; and his reverence for the beauty and potency of the
order so instilled itself into the minds of his sons that they, too, are energetic
and progressive members of the order.
David Brauchtla of German decent, his ancestors having come
to America
in the colonial times and fought in the battles of the revolutionary war. Was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania,
May 21, 1815. His work in school
previous to 9 years of age was done in a German School; after that age he
attended English schools, when there was “no work for Dave to do,” until he was
14. At the age of 17 he as apprenticed
for two years, during which time he learned blacksmithing and received $2 per
month and board. At the age of 19, being
eldest of the children, he moved with his father to Hancock County, Ohio,
at that time an unbroken wilderness of beech timber, where he helped his father
to make a new home.
At the age of 23, on April 19, 1838, he married Joanna
Brown, and at once began clearing a farm, upon which he remained twelve
years. His farm at that time was held to
be of little value, but today, is in the midst of the oil and gas wells, and
teems with both.
In 1850 he once more became a pioneer by moving to and
settling in Mercer County, Illinois, where he resided thirty-two years
on a farm.
In 1883 he came to Nebraska
and located on a farm in the southern part of Colfax
County, where he now resides, near the
post office of Clarkson, which has been built since the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley
Railroad was put through in 1887.
At present he is engaged with his son, H. G. Braucht, in
breeding Norman horses and shorthorn cattle.
He is hale and hearty and bids fair to see many summers yet.
He has been a life long Democrat, casting his first vote for
Martin Van Buren, and has seen many ups and downs of his political friends, but
nothing has yet been sufficient to wreck the solid foundation of his democracy
and he expects to live to see democracy rule supreme.
He is father of eight children, six of whom live, counts
thirty five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He had one son and three sons-in-laws in the
war of the rebellion.
Jesse M. Jarvis was born on Long Island, Suffolk County,
town of Islip, March 31, 1820, and at the age of
10 moved with his parents to Painesville, Lake County, Ohio, where
in 1830 he was married to Miss Catherine Pilcher of Sodus, New York. She is one year older the date of her birth
being February 8, 1819. They had eleven
children, six of whom are now living, nineteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
After marriage they removed to Cleveland
where Mr. Jarvis followed the water freighting between Buffalo
and Chicago. He was captain of a vessel which was
shipwrecked. He lost all.
In 1858 they moved to Blackhawk County, Iowa and in 1863
enlisted in the Fourteenth Iowa, company A, and was engaged in fighting the
Indians up at Fort Randall one and one half years.
In 1872 having met with many losses in various ways, he came
to Nebraska a poor man, homesteaded and
settled with his family in the north part of Colfax County
where he has since resided, and is now enjoying a comfortable home.
Mr. Jarvis and wife two years ago celebrated their golden
wedding with a family reunion.
William Smith, a citizen of Schuyler and one of the oldest
men in its vicinity was born April 9, 1808 in West Fairfield, northern New York. Here he spent his boyhood, grew to manhood and
married Julia Tifney.
About three years after his marriage, thinking more valuable
lands than those in his possession might be obtained in Michigan, he, his wife
and infant daughter left their home and started for the then far west.
With tow yokes of oxen, a large wagon and well provide with
guns and ammunition, our little party took a route through the Canadas, coming
as far west at the present site of the city of Chicago, then but a hamlet
consisting of perhaps a dozen buildings.
Land there might have been purchased for $40 an acre, but like many
other practical farmers, Mr. Smith thought the land being low and marshy, $40
too great a price.
The trio returned to Jackson County, Michigan, where
unimproved lands were selected and preparations for a new home were began. The family occupied temporarily a vacant
house that was near, while logs were cut and prepared for their dwelling. Many and varied were the experiences of the
frontier.
About seven years after the journey form New
York, Mr. Smith exchanged the farm he had cleared in Jackson County for one still more improved five
miles distant. This was, in turn,
occupied about seven years when the family, now, consisting of parents and four
children, removed to Litchfield, Michigan, which continued to be their place of
resident until 1875, when on account of failing health, Mrs. Smith visited her
sons and daughter who had made for themselves homes in Schuyler, Nebraska. This visit resulted in the disposal of all
property in Michigan and a removal to Nebraska.
Mrs. Smith has been called to her rewards. Four children, Mary E. Barnes, L. O. Smith,
O. J. Smith and Emma C. Allen still reside in Schuyler. There are in the family five grandchildren.
Mr. Smith is a member of Judge Allen’s household; Mr. Allen
being his youngest daughter.
He is a devote and consistent Christian, having been a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church fifty years. Stern old Father Time has dealt gently and
tenderly with this old man. The caresses
that furrow the brow and wrinkle the check have not silvered his hair nor
dimmed his sight. He reads ordinary
print without the aid of glasses and has lost but five of his natural
teeth. Physically, many of 85 years have
less vigor and might envy him his splendid vitality.
Andrew M. Allen,
residing in Leigh, was born Antrim, Ireland, May 10, 1810. He was apprenticed to a tailor when quite
young for five years. At the expiration
of that time he enlisted in the Eighty-eighth English light infantry; serving eleven
years, six years of his service being in the West Indies. Three of his brothers in the United States bought his discharge and he joined
them at Cleveland, Ohio.
He was married to Miss Jane Davis, a native of Pennsylvania. He ran a tailor shop until 1854, when he
moved to Illinois
and followed farming.
In 1861, he again enlisted in the Fifty Seventh Illinois
Volunteer Infantry and served three years and three month.
He moved to Taylor County, Iowa in the fall of 1870.
In 1883 he moved to Colfax
County, Nebraska,
where he now lives. His wife died in
June, 1888.
He joined the Masonic Order about 1815. There being nine children, seven of whom are
living, and thirty one grandchildren.
Omaha
World Herald – April 5, 1891
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