|
JOSEPH BROCKHAUS. Among the active, energetic farmers of Humphrey township is numbered Joseph Brockhaus, who is living on section 31. He arrived in this county when a youth of fifteen years, his birth having occurred in Wisconsin, February 2, 1861, his parents being G. H. and Annie G. (Summers) Brockhaus. He began his education in the schools of his native state and there had the usual training of the farm lad, remaining in Wisconsin until 1876, when he came with his parents to Platte county, Nebraska. He has always remained with his parents but started in business independently at the age of twenty-five years, when he took charge of the home place, which he has since cultivated, his father turning over two hundred and forty acres to him at that time. He now has a splendidly developed farm on which are lacking none of the accessories and improvements of the model farm of the twentieth century. He has added to his original holdings by the purchase of one hundred and twenty acres adjoining, so that he now has an excellent farm of three hundred and sixty acres situated on section 31, Humphrey township. He afterward bought two hundred and twenty acres on section 3, Humphrey township, which is also improved and which he rents. His work has been carried on along systematic lines, and the results of his carefully and intelligently directed labor are seen in the success which has crowned his efforts, his five hundred and eighty acres of land being the visible evidence of a life of well directed energy and thrift. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Humphrey and of the Farmers State Bank there. On the 16th of February, 1886, Mr. Brockhaus was joined in wedlock to Miss Josephine Fangmann, who was born in Kentucky, June 7, 1808 [another source I have has year as 1868] a daughter of Anton and Carrie Fangmann, who were natives of Germany. They came to America at an early day and located in Kentucky. The father was a cigar maker by trade and became the owner of a cigar factory and store in Kentucky, where he resided until he removed to Nebraska, settling in Omaha, where he engaged in the same business. He afterward came to Platte county and purchased land, which he cultivated for several years and then retired, at which time he removed to Humphrey, where he has since resided, being now eighty-five years of age. His wife died in September, 1913, at the age of eighty-three years. Their daughter, Mrs. Brockhaus, passed away March 18, 1909, after an illness of only four days, her death being a matter of deep regret to her many friends as well as to her relatives and immediate family. She had become the mother of nine children: Mary, the wife of John Wemhoff, a resident farmer of Idaho; Annie, the wife of August Weiser, who follows farming in Humphrey township; Gertrude, the wife of Edward Weiser, a resident farmer of Grand Prairie township; and Lizzie, Katie, Johanna, Frank, Ferdinand and Theresia, all at home.
The Catholic church claims the allegiance of Mr. Brockhaus, who has been a lifelong member thereof. He
gives his political support to the democratic party but aside from casting his ballot in defense of its principles is not an active politician, for he does not seek nor desire office as a reward for party fealty. On the contrary, he prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and, working persistently along the lines of modern farming, he has become one of the most prosperous and progressive agriculturists of his part of the county.
*Source:
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY NEBRASKA |