|
VINCENT WIESER. At the age of twenty-one years Vincent Wieser began farming for himself on section 17, Grand Prairie township, where he still makes his home. With the passing years he has won success and at one time was the owner of eight hundred acres of rich and valuable land in this county but has since divided with his children. He is a native of Austria, his birth having there occurred on the 14th of December, 1865, his parents being August and Mary (Kohler) Wieser. The father owned a farm in Austria and continued to make his home in that land until 1870, when, attracted by the favorable reports which he heard concerning business conditions and opportunities in the new world, he made his way to the United States, arriving in Madison, Wisconsin. He there bought eighty acres of land which he cultivated for about three years but in 1873 he made his way to Nebraska and established his home in what is now Grand Prairie township, Platte county. His farm was on section 8 and was an undeveloped and unimproved tract of land when it came into his possession. His first home was a sod house -- one of the early primitive dwellings of the locality. Few improvements had been made in the entire township and there were many hardships and difficulties to be borne that are incident to pioneer life. He resolutely set to work to develop his land and after a time removed from section 8, where he had first taken up his abode, to section 17 of the same township, making that place his home farm. To his holdings he added from time to time until he was the owner of six hundred and forty acres of valuable land which he brought to a high state of cultivation. He also built one of the first frame houses of the township and took the initial step along many lines in the way of making modern improvements. He was actuated at all times by the spirit of progress and upbuilding and deserved much credit for what he accomplished. He helped to organize the school district near his home and was also one of the charter members of St. Mary's Catholic church on section 5, Grand Prairie township and donated the land on which the church edifice was erected. He continued his residence upon the old home farm until death called him in 1905, when he was eighty-two years of age. His wife, who was born in 1824, passed away in 1897, and thus the community lost two of its worthy pioneer people. Vincent Wieser was but five years of age when his parents brought their family to the new world and was a little lad of eight summers at the time of the removal to Nebraska. He attended school which was held in the home of John Brown on section 6, Grand Prairie township, afterward was a pupil in district school No. 30 and also for three months attended a sisters' school in Omaha. When twenty-one years of age he began farming on section 17, Grand Prairie township, where he still resides. He inherited two hundred acres of land from his father but he added to his holdings from time to time until he became the owner of eight hundred acres of valuable land, of which four hundred acres is situated on section 17. He has since divided with his children, giving farms to his boys, but still owns a valuable property from which he derives a gratifying annual income. His fields are carefully tilled and he has placed good improvements upon his land. He has ever manifested the spirit of modern progress and advancement that has characterized farm work and revolutionized methods of agricultural development. His farm presents a neat and well kept appearance and everything about his place is indicative of careful supervision. He is a director and vice president of the Farmers State Bank of Humphrey and one of the directors of the Farmers Elevator Company there. In addition to tilling the soil upon the home farm he raises stock and this constitutes an important and remunerative branch of his business. On June 21, 1887, Mr. Wieser was united in marriage to Miss Mary Brockhaus, who was born near Green Bay, Wisconsin, a daughter of Gerhard and Gertrude Brockhaus, the former born in Hanover and the latter in Westphalia, Germany. Gerhard Brockhaus came to the United States when a youth of eighteen years and worked for a time as a laborer at Boston, Massachusetts. He afterward married and made his way to Wisconsin, where he carried on farming until 1875. He then came to Platte county, Nebraska, establishing his home on Grand Prairie, where he became the owner of a good farm. Later he removed to Humphrey township, where the remainder of his life was passed. He was an active and influential resident of his township, not only along agricultural lines but also in relation to public affairs. He served as assessor and tax collector for many years and was always loyal to his public duties and responsibilities. His religious belief was that of the Catholic church. Prospering in his undertakings he became the owner of seven hundred acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Wieser have become the parents of nine children, who are yet living: Mary, the wife of T. Wemhoff, a farmer of Grand Prairie township, by whom she has three children; Frank, who is farming one hundred and sixty acres of land, is married and has two children; John M., who is also engaged in the operation of one hundred and sixty acres; and Henry, Agnes, Clara, Joseph, Barbara and Frances, who complete the family.
Mr. Wieser exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party but does
not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he has won
substantial and well merited success. He is, however, a very active member of St. Mary's Catholic church, doing
all in his power to further its work and promote its growth. Almost his entire life has been passed in Platte county,
where he has now lived for a period of forty-two years -- a period that covers the greater part of the growth and
development of this section, so that he is familiar with its history from pioneer times down to the present.
*Source:
PAST AND PRESENT OF PLATTE COUNTY NEBRASKA |