Southeastern Nebraska Archives – Page 2 of 8

Biography of Jeremiah Marlatt

A Biographical and genealogical history of southeastern Nebraska

Jeremiah Marlatt, born June 1, 1833, in Mendon, Monroe County, New York, was a prominent farmer and merchant in Nemaha County, Nebraska. Moving to Nebraska in 1856, Marlatt pre-empted a farm and later purchased eighty acres southwest of Brownville. He engaged in mercantile pursuits in Aspinwall from 1881 to 1885. Marlatt married Ellen Gulick on January 11, 1857, and they had two daughters, Effie and Sarah Ellen. Marlatt served as a teacher before his business endeavors and was known for his active involvement in the community. He and his wife traveled extensively and were respected residents of Brownville.

Biography of Frank W. Riesenberg

Frank W. Riesenberg, born December 21, 1856, in Peoria, Illinois, was a successful farmer in Nemaha County, Nebraska, owning 480 acres in Glen Rock Precinct. Moving to Nebraska in 1879, he initially bought and later sold land in the southwestern part of the state. In 1896, he purchased land in Nemaha County, where he established a prosperous farm. Known for his mechanical inventions, Riesenberg’s ingenuity contributed to his success. He married Frances Virginia Peck in 1885 and, after her death, Isabel Tapping Foster in 1898. Riesenberg was active in his community and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Biography of Daniel Confer

Daniel Confer, born March 3, 1838, in Hocking County, Ohio, was a respected farmer and citizen of Adams Township, Gage County, Nebraska, residing there from 1884. A Civil War veteran, he served in the Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry and participated in significant battles, including the siege of Vicksburg. After the war, Confer moved to Nebraska, where he became a successful farmer and community member. He married Mary L. Robb in 1864, and they had six children. Confer was active in the Grand Army of the Republic and a member of the United Brethren Church, known for his strong character and community contributions.

Biography of Thomas J. Stockman

Thomas J. Stockman, born April 28, 1838, near Goshen, Elkhart County, Indiana, was a well-known businessman in Adams, Nebraska. Along with his son Samuel, he operated the Adams livery and sales stables and served as a land agent. A Civil War veteran, Stockman enlisted in 1863 in the Nebraska Cavalry and served on the frontier. After various relocations, he settled in Gage County, Nebraska, in 1887. He married Mary Jane McKibben in 1859, and they had seven children. Stockman was respected for his business acumen and community contributions.

Biography of Captain Absalom M. Enoch

Absalom M. Enoch, a prominent figure in Humboldt, Richardson County, Nebraska, was born on September 18, 1825, in Miami County, Ohio. Moving to Nebraska in 1869, Enoch became a well-respected community member. He served as a captain in the Civil War with the Ninth Minnesota Infantry, participating in significant battles and conflicts with the Sioux Indians. After the war, he settled in Humboldt, where he engaged in farming and hotel-keeping, notably running the Enoch House for two decades. Enoch married twice, first to Elizabeth Caulfield and later to Anna Brickey. He remains active in his community, having served in various civic roles.

Biography of Andrew H. Gilmore

Andrew H. Gilmore, a pioneer and merchant in Auburn, Nebraska, first passed through the area in 1850 en route to California and settled there permanently in 1869. Born on January 8, 1829, in Preble County, Ohio, he belonged to a large Scotch-Irish Presbyterian family originally from Virginia. Gilmore made a significant journey to California during the Gold Rush and later returned to the Midwest, eventually moving to Nebraska. In Auburn, he established multiple businesses and contributed to the town’s development. Gilmore married Josephine Allen in 1862, and they had eight children, five of whom survived to adulthood. He was a prominent Republican, serving as county treasurer and in various local offices, and was an elder in the Presbyterian church.

Biography of Charles August Wey

Charles August Wey, a retired butcher from Peru, Nebraska, was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1837. He immigrated to the United States in 1867 and initially settled in Peru, Indiana. After a brief stay in St. Louis, he moved to Brownville, Nebraska, and then to Peru, Nebraska, in 1869, where he established the town’s first meat market. Wey’s successful 20-year career in butchering was marked by perseverance and hard work. He married Mary Margaret Wissig in 1884, and they had nine children, six of whom survived to adulthood. Wey was a respected community member, known for his integrity and reliability.

Biography of William M. Kauffman

William M. Kauffman, a leading merchant in Brownville, Nebraska, was born on February 2, 1848, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Of Swiss descent, he moved to Nemaha County in 1868. His father, John M. Kauffman, was also from Lancaster County, born in 1818. William worked as a clerk before establishing his own business in 1887. He married Teresa McLaughlin in 1881, and they had two sons, William and John. Kauffman was active in community affairs, serving as treasurer of Brownville and the school board, and was a prominent Mason and Democrat. He and his family have lived in Brownville since 1894.

Biography of Guilford Lilly

Guilford Lilly, a retired farmer residing in Auburn, Nebraska, was born on October 3, 1829, in Old Deerfield, Oneida County, New York. He moved to Nebraska in 1859 after farming in Wisconsin. Lilly served in the Civil War as a member of the Second Nebraska Cavalry. In 1861, he married Elizabeth Johnson, originally from Vermont, and they had one daughter, Encie. Lilly retired from farming in 1893 and has lived in Auburn since 1897. He was active in his community as a school director and a Mason, and he was a Republican.

Biography of Benjamin T. Skeen

Benjamin T. Skeen was a prominent farmer and stockman in Nemaha County, Nebraska, having lived in the region since 1855. Born in Tennessee in 1851, Skeen moved to Nebraska as a child and witnessed the transformation from prairie to prosperous farmland. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, with a lineage tracing back to Revolutionary War patriot Alexander Skeen. Benjamin married Hester V. Blount in 1873, and they had six children. An active community member, Skeen was a Master Mason and a former school director, contributing significantly to the local agricultural development.