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HISTORY AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF LOUISVILLE NEBRASKA;
continued
CAPT. J.T.A. HOOVER
UPON our streets every day of the year may be seen the
gray-haired, venerable oldgentleman, who, more than thirty long years
ago, laid out the plans for the beautiful little townin which we make
our home today. He put up the first house in the place, and the town
hassince been the object of his fostering care.
This man is Captain John T.A. Hoover, born at Nagold, Wurtemberg,
Germany,September 13, 1826, and the record left behind in those
seventy-six years on earth is oneoccupying a place second to none
among the early promoters of our state.
Attending the common schools of his native country until he was
fourteen years of age,he entered a laboratory and learned the
compounding of medicines, devoting most of his timeto the study of
chemistry. At the age of eighteen he entered the employ of Dr.
FrancesCroener, spending two years with this gentleman traveling
about Europe. By this time hisparents had decided to emigrate to
America so young Hoover gave up the road and in 1846accompanied them
to this country, settling on a farm in Ohio. In 1848 Mr. Hoover
wasmarried to Miss Effie Houfnatrale, of Pennsylvania, her parents
having spent their last days inOhio. He still stayed at home with his
parents, working for them on the farm. In 1853 hejoined the Ohio
state militia, soon afterward becoming captain of his company,
commissionedby the governor. His father died in 1856 and young
Captain was then left in whole charge ofthe farm affairs. This he did
until the breaking out of the war in 1861. At the first call
forvolunteers he made up a commpany known as Co. D 58th Ohio Vol.
infantry of which he wasthe head, receiving his commission from
Governor Denison of Ohio. He was thus activelyengaged for two years
being compelled to return home in '63 owing to ill health.
Upon return to his family, whom he had left on the farm well cared
for during hisabsence, he disposed of all his property in Ohio and
removed to Cass county, Nebraska, andpurchased land on section 23,
Louisville precinct, securing at once 320 acres, upon whichthere were
no improvements, with the exception of a small log house. Under
manydisadvantages he commmenced the opening up of a farm, and six
years later erected a largestone dwelling, which is today his present
home. The material for this structure was quarriedon his own
land.
After signalizing himself in a most
decided manner as a man well fitted for positions of trustand
responsibility, Captain Hoover was, in 1865, elected to represent
this county in theNebraska lagislature[sic] on the Republican ticket,
endorsed by the democrats. He served histerm aceptably there and
returned to his farm. In 1870, when the B. & M. Railroad companybuilt
their road through this section, Mr. Hoover gave them $500 out of his
own pocket tolocate their station at this place. This move was the
foundation of Louisville. He then erected asmall frame building on
what today are Second and Main streets. Here he kept the first
postoffice of the town, together with a small stock of groceries,
tobacco, etc., at the sametime caring for his farm and promoting the
interests of our little city. In 1881 he resigned hiscommission as
postmaster to Mr. J.V. Glover, and turned his whole attention to his
farm.Captain Hoover is now retired form active service but he and his
faithful wife still live on theold home place with plenty of this
world's goods to make their last years, years ofcontentment and
pleasure; to which they are so justly entitled.
Ten children were born to Captain and Mrs. Hoover, four boys and
six girls, all of whomare living.
HENRY J. TANGEMAN
LIKE the majority of our successful business men of today,
Mr. Tangeman was born on hisfather's farm in Clayton county, Iowa,
December 6, 1860, where he remained until he wastwenty-six years of
age. He began taking part in the running of the farm as soon as he
was oldenough to do so, at the same time attending the schools of his
neighborhood until he receivedan education suitable for all practical
purpses. In 1886 he began farming for hmself in thatstate and
continued so to do for fourteen years. At the end of this time he
sold out there andremoved to Gresham, Neb., again going into the farm
and stock raising business. He lived atGresham until 1902, when he
disposed of his property there and moved to Louisville, wherehe is at
present engaged in the mercantile business with his brother-in-law,
Mr. Wm. Diers.Mr. Tangeman is a plain, practical business man who is
well capable of taking care of hisaffairs wherever they may be,
having been successful in all his undertakings. He is a sober,honest,
public spirited man who has made a friend of every acquaintance, and
a man whoadds strength and stability to the community in which he
lives.
Mr. Tangeman was married on March 31, 1886 to Miss Annie Diers of
Motor, Iowa.They are the happy parents of two bright children, a boy
and a girl.
MILTON A. SAMS.
PRIN. MILTON A. SAMS was born near Anamosa, Iowa, November
10th, 1871. Hisfather is a native of Ohio, being of Welsh descent,
while his mother born in Pennsylvania, is ofpure Germanic blood. He
was born and reared on a farm, the place most conductive to
thedevelopment of a strong mind in a strong boy. At the age of twelve
he moved with his parentsfrom Iowa to a farm near Table Rock,
Nebraska. Living there ten years they then moved(1894) to their
present home near Elmwood, Nebraska. After completing the work in
thedistrict school near his home in Pawnee county, he entered the
Pawnee City Acadamy.Leaving the acadamy he began teaching his first
term of school in October, 1890 in a countryschool near Burchard,
Nebraska. Not content with the opportunities offered for
advancementin the country schools, he enrolled as a student in the
Nebraska State normal school, fromwhich institution he graduated in a
class of fifty-two, ranking first for ability and practical workin
the model school there conducted. After graduation he was elected to
the principalship ofthe schools in Kennard, Nebraska, which position
he held for three successive years, giving itup for a more lucrative
position as principal of the Silver Creek schools in Merrick
county.This position he had since held, being re-elected for the
present year but resigned to acceptthe principalship of the
Louisville schools, which brings him to his home county. Prof.
Samsprepared a new course of study for the school which was adopted
by the Board of Educationat the beginning of the year. Several marked
changes in the school were made and at presentLouisville is having
one of the best schools she has ever had. Prof. Sams comes from a
familyof teachers, having two brothers and three sisters who are
known among the successfulteachers of the state. On November 30th,
1899, he was married to Miss Lenora Gaines, ofKennard, Nebraska. Mrs.
Sams graduated form the Kennard schools in the class of '98.
DR. E.H. WORTHMAN
DR. E.H. WORTHMAN was born October 9, 1875 in Chicago. In
1877 the family movedto Lincoln, Nebraska and from there to Seward
where his parents yet make their home. Thedoctor graduated in both
English and German from the schools of that city afterwardsattending
the Walther College of St. Louis for two years. He then spent four
years at John A.Creighton Medical College, Omaha, graduating from
that institution in 1900. He first locatedat Dubois, Neb., but six
months later he removed to Louisville, where he has a good practiceat
the present time. Mr. Worthman was married June 4, 1902 to Miss
Hattie Stevenson, ofLincoln, a lady who stands high in the social
circles of her adopted home town. The doctor iswell liked as a
physician and as a man, being moral in character and temperate in
habits, justthat kind of a man who may be relied upon at all times, a
very necessary qualification for adoctor to possess.(A copy of this
work at the NE State Library contains a handwritten notation below
this entrythat reads, "His son, Dr Herbert Worthman is still a
practicing Doctor in Louisville, Nebr")
WILLIAM OSSENKOP
WILLIAM OSSENKOP was born on his father's farm in Cass
county, December 17, 1872,where he spent the greater part of his
life. He attended the schools of his neighborhood untilhe secured a
good business education, which afterward proved a great benefit. He
took a partin all the affairs of the farm when a boy and upon the
death of his father took solemanagement; this he conducted
successfully, as a matter of course, until 1900. At this time
hedecided that he would like to go into business in town, so he
purchased the saloon businessowned by S.P. Metz, in Louisville, which
he has carried on successfully to this time. Mr.Ossenkop is a quiet,
good natured young man and enjoys a large circle of friends.
JAMES ALLOWAY
THE subject of this sketch was born in Clayton county, Iowa,
May 1, 1857, his parents atthat time living on a farm. He remained
there until thirteen years of age when he began thestruggle of life
for himself, working at different places and for different people
until he wastwenty-one years old. He then farmed for hmself a few
years in Iowa, afterwards coming tothis state where he farmed in
Saunders county. His next move was Louisville, where he is atpresent
engaged in the livery and feed business, enjoying a good trade. Mr
Alloway wasmarried in December, 1880 to Miss Johnson, who was a
resident of Cass county. Twochildren have been born to them.
ANCIENT ORDER UNITED WORKMEN
THIS order is the oldest fraternal insurance order in
America. Its founder, John JordonUpchurch, was born in the first part
of the past century; but not until the 27th of October,1868 was the
organization founded and ready for business. The first officers were,
H.C.Sessions, S.M.W.; M.W. Sackett, S.P.R.; John J. Acker, S.R. The
first assessment madewas in 1871. It is not necessary to tell of the
merits of this order or the good that it has done,for its fame is
world-wide, its beneficiaries live in every land, and the blessings
of thousands ofwidows and orphans rest upon the Ancient Order United
Workmen.
The order may truly be called the Ancient Order, especially is
this true with many of thenoble brethren who took part in the
founding and launching of this worthy and noble craft, thathas done
so much to rescue the widows and orphans of this land from the great
gulf of vice,sin, want and final ruin to which thousands might have
gone but for this their only hope andsuccor. When we are well and in
good health we need no physician, but there will come atime in all
our lives when death, like a dark storm cloud, will hover around us,
and to many ofus of today it will come as it has to many in the
past., 'like a thief in the night', when leastexpected. Let us then
try to be prepared for whatever may be God's will; what He does is
forour good, let us trust Him and hope for good things. Hope is one
of the corner stones of thegreat A.O.U.W. Temple. Hope is God's
beacon light adorning and lighting life's pathway.Hope is an anchor
of the soul, sure and steadfast, and when the shadows of death
approach,Hope draws back the veil and points to a blessed Haven of
Rest.
Hope like the gleaming tapers light adorns and cheers the way,
And still as darker grows the night, emits a brighter ray.
But Hope alone is not sufficient. We must so live and act that our
lives and hopes may bein harmony. Our loved ones are those for whom
we live, it is for them we brave the dangersand hardships of life and
in us they have all hope and confidence, giving us their help and
theirlove, and all earth contains no richer boon for mankind; if we
appreciate their love how shallwe prove it? By our love and kind
treatment while here and by protection provided when wemay no longer
walk with them; when our voice is hushed forever in that sleep of
death formwhich no word of love can come. This protection if offered
you by the Ancient Order UnitedWorkmen. Half a million men, good and
true, offer you their help and protection, both moraland financial,
for your loved ones when you can no longer provide for them. Can you
affordto slight their offer?
This protection is offered you at a
price that none are too poor topay. This order has stood the test for
years. It has paid every honest obligation and has theconfidence of
every man who has investigated its foundation and principles. It has
long sincepast the hundred-million mark in payments to widows and
orphans. It has in its ranks some ofthe brightest and brainiest men
in our nation and from every walk of life. Remember,
thatopportunities, like shadows, soon pass away. Louisville Lodge No.
137, was organizedAugust 16, 1887 by State Deputy Johnson with ten
charter members and the following namedofficers were elected: O.C.
Steele,P.M.W.; Dr. A.V. Robinson, M.W.; J.M. Jackman, F.;J.N. Drake,
O.; C.A. Manker, R.; Harvey Kelso, Fin.; M.N. Drake, Rdr; G. Nordval,
G.;J.H. Heasly, I.W.; E. Palmer, O.W. Today this lodge is in a
flourishing condition with amembership of 210.
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