THE PLATTSMOUTH JOURNAL THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY EDITION.
Avoca, one of the most prosper
ous little towns In Cass or Otoe
counties, is located hear the south
ern line of the county and fifteen
miles west of the Missouri river,
and two miles from the Otoe coun
ty line. In the location of Avoca,
or about the time the Missouri Pa
cific railroad was completed through
Ihe town, great hopes of securing a
line of the Wabash Railroad were
entertained. The route had been
Surveyed and had been much talked
a m 1 1 HfAu Ana-
01 lor severm " " . . . . farm ,n th,
..i i n..iA ran uc ui vu
Missouri ruui -
summer ana ciemeu
THE VILLAGE IF
A Brief Historical Sketch of One of Cass County's Thriving
Little Towns Brief Biographical Sketches
direct to Avoca, where for several
lined to cross the
at this point aid a big town was ex
pected. The town was platted for
Amos Tefft, the first settler and
owner or In land. The town prom
ised great things, and In a very few
months eight store rooms were
erected. The postoffice was es
tablished in 1857, with S. J. Carr,
postmaster, the office being at that
time located about two miles east
of the present town. Amos Tefft was
appointed postmaHter after the of
fice was removed to the village. At
the time the town was laid out the
best land could bo bought for $15
and $20 per acre. That same soil
cannot be bought now for less than
$90 and $125 per acre. From the
date of its lnclpiencey Avoca has al
ways been a good business point,
and today is one of the best tock
and grain markets in the ocunty.
All lines of trade are represented
here and the merchants are an
prosperous and hiippy, seemingly
contented with their lot. Avoca has
charms Decullar to itself. Naturo
store in
winter, until 1895, when he was
married, and then made farming his
permanant business, until he moved
to town to assume his duties as a
member of the above firm. Mr.
Dunkak has an excellent family
and owns a new and up-to-date
home in this village. Mr. Dunkak
Is a member of the I. O. O. F. In
which order he takes a great inter
est. George I). Maseman, the Junior
member of the firm, was born in
Mason county, Illinois on the 15th
day of September, 1883. He carnii
here vlth his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Maseman, when only eight
years of age and you might say was
reared upon his father's farm, ad
Joining Avoca. He received a com
mon school education and attended
the Lincoln Business College for
several months.
He clerked for one year for J. H.
Arends & Sons at the village of Elm
wood. He was united In marriage
with Miss Minnie Mohr, of Syracuse,
v i, ,isvna rviiiAh in maVo thla nn. find
no one can long remain here and on the 11th day of January, 1909
not be impressed with a feeling of
and started In life under the most
favorable prospects for a long, happy
and useful career.
A very essential branch of busi
ness In the up-building of a town or
reverence and relief for the great
artist of the beautiful. The loca
tion and general surroundings are
blmnlv nrniwl nn much nn. that one
im,t uith th mnv .Want city, and for public and private con
uV,aH .tr.t. h well kent venlence Is a well stocked up-to-date
lawns. All modern and up-to-date hardware and furniture house and It
homes, with a sublime appearance. c bo 8ald t0 the cred,t of. Me8H"
rt.i. nf Awr r nf that Dunkak & Maseman that Avoca Is
friendly, kind and courteous class luPPed ln thls respect This
that one likes to meet and mingle
with. The little town does not
greet you. upon entrance with vain,
unsightly, pretentious blocks of bus
iness houses such as one Bees In the
titles, where men slave their lives
away, seeking the dollar the god
firm carries a larger stock of hard
ware, stoves, and furniture than any
firm of any town double the size of
Avoca In the state of Nebraska. The
second floor of their building tfa
filled with a new line of furniture
In this department they carry a
Gus F. Mohr, Saloon.
Mr. Mohr was born "in Otoe coun
ty on May 3, 1878, where he was
born and reared on a farm and where
he remained until 1905, when he
went to Berlin, and began tending
bar for Louis Wulf. He was In the
employ of Mr. Wulf for one year, and
then went back to the farm, where
he remained until the following July.
In 1906, he was united in marriage
with Miss Agnes Swartzman," making
their home with Mr. Mohr's par
ents, until 1908, when he came to
Avoca, and in connection with Amel
Amande, cf Syracuse, opened a sa
loon. Thys partnership continued
until the first of May of this year,
when Mr. Mohr purchased Mr.
Amande's Interest and continues the
business at the old stand, carrying
in stock the very finest brands tf
liquors, cigars and the finest beer on
draught and bottled, on the market.
Mr. Mohr Is a very quiet and unas
suming young man, and It can be
said, to his credit, that he keeps an
up-to-date saloon ln every respect ln
neatness and order. Gus Mohr is
one of those genial fellows you
don't meet every day, and by his
gentlemanly qualities has won the
confidence and respect of all who have
the pleasure of his acquaintance, and
the people are happy in knowing that
they can boast of having Buch a
gentleman to run their saloon.
Ora E. Copes, Druggist.
The above named gentleman was
born near Atlanta, Illinois, Novem
ber 15, 1876, and came to Nebras
ka City with his parents In 1877,
where they resided for twelve years.
From there they removed to a farm
near Dunbar, thence to Cook, Neb.,'
where his parents still live. The sub
ject of this sketch graduated from
the Cook High school ln 1896, then
entered the drug store of O. F. Har
lan at that place, and remained until
1901, when he purchased the drug
stock of Mr. George II. Betz, at
Avoca, and where he has enjoyed a
successful business ever since.
Mr. Copes was united in marriage
with Miss D. Cecil Young, of Cook,
and while no children are living to
bless this union, they are happy and
contented in the possession of each
other's love.
Mr. Copes' old store room becom
ing inadequate to accomodate his
growing trade and increasing stock,
a new building was erected especial
ly for his business. The same is 22
by 60 with all modern Improvements,
with new furniture, etc. Here his
stock shows to a good advantage,
and in the arrangement of his goods,
we can say Mr. Copes can boast of
having one of the prettiest establish
ments of its character in the state.
Here can be found everything us
ually found in a drug store, includ
ing books, stationary, notions, toilet
Gillin is active and quick to grasp the
business situation.
The two gentlemen are very popu
lar with all classes.
The store comprises all sorts of
merchandise usually kept ln a gener
al merchandise store. The stock Is
carefully selected to meet the require
ments of the people of Avoca and the
surrounding country and Is kept at its
best at all times. Modern goods and
close prices being kept always ln
mind.
snown at t. as tie Douglas, bcotiana.
He was also first prize winner at the
International, Chicago, as a two-
ear-old. Today Straub Bros, have
at the head of their herd Captain
Tarbroech, who stood at the top of
the yearling class where there wer
over one hundred entered at the Cas
tle Douglas bull show in Scotland, in
907, won first and Junior Champion
at the International, Chicago, same
year. He is the undefeated two-year-old
of the 1908 show circuit.
Recognizing the show ring as one
of the best possible means of bring
ing a good herd before the general
public, Straub Bros, exhibited a full
show herd at some of the biggest
stock shows and stock fairs on the
circuit la 1908, exhibiting
Iowa State Fair, Des Moines; Ne
braska State Fair, Lincoln; Inter-
State Fair and Exposition at Den
ver; Colorado State Fair at Pueblo;
Interstate Fair, St. Joseph, Mo.; Illi
nois State Fair, Springfield; Mis-
of day unmindful of the fact that lu" u,,u "'" "l
they owe something to their faml- fan( furnlture' undertaking, WOod
goods, ciotn ana Dunai rones, iney
take charge of funerals, from crepe
to flowers and assist ln the laRt
lies and the world, but her business
houses will compare favorably with
those of any towns of its size ln
Nebraska and the stores are up-to-date
In every respect. Avoca Is right
In the midst of the finest agricul
tural and stock raising country In
the west, and those who have tilled
the soil for the past twenty-five
years, and came here poor men can
now count their wealth by the thous
ands of dollars, and arc Indifferent
to the outside world
, ' '' ' ' "'
sod rltea In laying away the depart
ed ones from earth.
In connection with their other de
partments, they have a harness and
saddlery department, where can be
bought all such supplies as cheap as i
at any place on earth. The beauty
of It la, they have In their employ,
Mr. W. H. 11111, of Seward, Neb.,
who Is a splendd workman and
Avoca boasts of a good graded mnKP9 tho harness by hand which
Bchool, one of the most substantial ln8,,rp8 eyvry Pe(e ,0 ,,e JUHt 08 re"
banks In the county, two large gral.i Presented.
ilevators, municipal acetyllne gas 0,1 lho r,th of November,
plant, a commercial club of which J. 1907' Mt'HHr8 I)nkak & Maseman
r 7immrn la t.mui,i-.n .iit fi purchased their present business
Wellenslek Is secretary. ' Two large from tne n,'lr8 of the ,ule JoM',h
and well equipped general stores rham, deceased, and by being af-
fable with everybody, and being
tributary to h tw- in ,h. i, first-class business men, they have 'gating $15,000 the bank is fully
n , ,h k..,.. ...J built uo .a trade they should be capable of handling all legtlmate dub.
- ,. . . ln,if , ,im,i,t Dm Th..tr ucss which may come Its way. In as
lurnuure stores in western Lass is F " , , ..
ln,..J it,- i....fcM. store Is a model of neatness In every a place as Avoca one would
Is supplied 'with everything frbm' particular, having "a place for every- hardly expect to find very large per
,,v or-m i .h fln. k..., thing and everything In Its deposits, yet the Bank of Avoca
phh ..... .... 4,..Jplacc" and the people canvas over $115,000 on deposit as an
hero can bo found one good lumber 800 nearly on flr8t B8nt- what they average,
vnnl that ...m.ii... h m..i t want without asking. Avoca people The o
the neoDlo. flour and feed store. n J and the surrounding country should ,d,,,t: "enry Wohlers, vice president
xcellent hotel, one iloctor. nn law. '"'I a pride In supporting thU firm.
yer. confectionery, two Implement for are enterprising In their ef
houses, one of the neatest drm M0"9 10 P'ease,
Mores In the county, ono Jeweler,
John lltiscli, Lumber Denier.
Avoca can boast of one of the most
complete and up-to-date lumber yards
in Cass or Otoe counties. John
Busch, the present proprietor, was
reared in North Branch precinct, Otoe
county, and came to Avoca nearly two
years ago, and in connection with
Mr. Sam. Johnson, bought the lumber
yard.
About seven months sine.'. Mr.
Busch bought Mr. Johnson's Interests
and Js now "going It alone."
The stocks carried by Mr. Busch
consists of the very best qualities of
hard and soft pine lumber, doors,
lime, cement and In fact all kinds of
building material. Mr. Busch is a
splendid business man, and being well
acquainted with the people and ter
ritory tributary to Avoca, does a big
business. His prices are as low as
thoso of his competitors of the near
by towns, and withal a clever gentle
man to deal with. The farmers, as a
general rule prefer to come to Avoca
to that of going to other towns to
pet their building supplies. Mr
nusch's motto Is "to sell the best at a
fair profit and please the patrons,
and It Is unnecessary to remark that
he Is holding good to this proposl
tion.
the
-p t
RESIDENCE OF FRED RUHGE
The Hank of Avoca.
This Institution Is a state bank
and a very prosperous one. fcither
as officers or stock-holders some of
the leading men of Avoca are identi
fied with It.
With a capital and surplus ag-
The officers are V. W. Straub, pre-
and H. G. Wellenslek, cashier
The last named gentleman has
been with the bank for the past two
years and has the active management
of It.
Mr. Wellenslek was born In Otoe
County 24 years ago, his former
Mr. Wellen-
articles, wall paper, elg'irs, etc. Mr.
Copes is up-to-date in all drug store
appliances, and being a genial, enter
prising citizen, has hosts of friends
In Avoca and the surrounding coun
try who wish him continued suc
cess.
two barber shops, one meat market,
one livery barn, one blacksmith J. M. M Finland, Contractor.
Uuy .mo cuuirM-iun. ono weu reg- T,1B tt of this sketch camo i.... c.
l I " " I U-.IB PJIPIUBC
u.nl,- ., ullo ,,,,, Bnp, one ,h Avnm In lt Infancv itnvn an.l hna ...... ... .. .......
u .. , . . ft l Bit-it in n wen uitiiiru uuniiirns iiiui.
wen ZenTJ f , hi U, "I'""'4 hcre wr B,nCe' h, fully able to meet any exigency
well rnntentoif nrwl nnnnv riMvnn. I...... .. . 1' '
,,,.., .. " "'"i i " vuu- which may arise at any time. Me is
iu.n.niv.nny .fnKiuK, IIIO lommun- ,rcnr M.nv nf h roihlnnrn. nf
. v- wi'ii i km i in . iih I'll in ni ii ii ii v mill
a prominent part ln the af-
nr niu miieniiui wnrKnnKnin. i nnr in i ... . . m. i i
. , i-- r --iiuiiB ui me luwii. i no nil ii n h hum-
I.""'"""; :",BVr t"uriu,wno the reason Mr. McFarland Is busy the ,. oxtenu8 over the torr1ory trlb
zrirzxr:y M tuMy t0 Km anil C01u,nlltly
' " ..... v. iu. ne s a man whoso mechanism
r L. r i - . - . .1
4i. uaa reiiows ana Modern wood- ...n hi. r rn h n..mirf 7. . ." I
men have each a
i. i. ....... i . . . , ' '"J ' "'o ' "'well lined ln
w bu-u.u i u.e.r i-piruuBi thu vicinity Btand as fair gpeclmens tako8
welfare by two pastors Congrega-
large membership, ,.nnn i .ha rt,nHtrurtlnn and nlan
and are prospering nicely. Tho clt- nlng of new bundlngs. and la .ought
.zen. oi Avoca are very social, as by thoHO who contemplate the erec
IKn mi. 1 1 til ... I
w. ..umuvr ui s.uini socieues in tlon of a ncw Btore houi!o or new res
nrn. ..111 a m i I
1,8 "ear eviuence. lane laence or barn, Mr McFarland Is
u an in ail, this village Is a pleas- marr(1(j anj
nt placo In which to reside and no Lome.
Kiiiimei-er & (illlin.
This firm has a general store In
Avoca which is a most popular trading
place for the town and farmers In the
vicinity.
Jos. C. Zlmmerer was born in Otoe
County ln 1877 and was brought up
In that county, attending the country
school, and in the fall of 1896 went
to the Lincoln Normal University,
taking a business course and graduat
ed.' He made Otoe County his home
until 1902 when. In company with D.
Stcffens, bought a stock of merchan
dise and entered the business field
as a competitor for the business of
the town and the country.
He was highly successful. October
1st, 1908. Mr. W. L. C.lllln bought
the Interest of Mr. Steffens In the
store.
Mr.Gtllln was born in St. Joseph,
Mo., In 1887, being 21 years of age.
He hns lived 14 years In Nebraska,
4 years of which have been In Cass
The picture below shows (.County . Although a very young man
to be In business for himself, Mr.
It. C. Mnrqunrdt & Co.
This Is the oldest mercantile estab.
llshment In Avoca, and the best
known in the section of country sur
I rounding the town. Mr. B. C. Mar
quardt, the senior member of the
firm, was born ln Germany and came
to the United States 40 years ago.
He lived In Freeport, Illinois, for six
years and moved from that town
to Fremont, Nebraska, where he re
sided until 1882. In that year he
went to Avoca and in connection
with a brother opened the store
which hns ever since been continued
under the name of Marquardt.
The store is known as a place
where every thing sold, is exactly
represented to be what It Is and no
one connected with the establish
ment Is allowed to tell anything
but the straight fact concerning all
merchandise. The stock Includes dry
goods, groceries, clothing, boots,
shoes; etc., and every thing is
of the best quality In every depart
ment.
Mr. L. J. Marquardt, a nephew is
associated with the elder Marquardt
In the management of the store and
this gentleman also enjoys the esteem
of all in the community.
No town ln the county is better
provided with reputable tradesmen
than Avoca and It is a growing little
place.
Hon. V. W. Straub
souri State Fair, Sedalla; American
Royal, Kansas City, Mo.; Otoe Breed
ers' Association, Nebraska City, and
the International Exposition, Chicago.
Messrs. Straub Bros, have the hon
or and credit of winning a prize every
time one of their animals was led into
the show ring at the above named
places, and a large per cent being
firsts and champions. They won first
on exhibition herd at such stock
shows as St. Joseph, Kansas City and
Chicago. Also own and exhibit the
grand champion female at Lincoln,
Denver, Peublo, Sedalla, Kansas City
and Chicago. They also bred, owned
and exhibited the undefeated heifer
calf. They bred the three pure bred
steers shown by the University of
Nebraska at the last International in
Chicago; winning first on calf, sec
ond on yearling, and first prize ln
carcass contest.all breeds competing.
At the American Royal, Kansas City,
a souvenir cup was won on best fit
ted herd. At Nebraska City a cup was
awarded them on the best fenialo of
any age. At Denver a bronze medal
was voted to Straub Bros, by tho
board of directors for having a mer
itorious exhibit of cattlo. Buyers
will always find good cattle for ale
at reasonable prices, and can select
from twenty different families, in
cluding the best to be found in
America, Canada and Scotland.
Mr. V. W. Straub of the above firm
Is president of the American Gallo
way Breeders Association and presi
dent of the Bank of Avoca. Avoca
Is located on the M. P. railroad,
about forty miles south of Omaha.
It will pay all fine cattle breeders to
visit the Straub Bros, at their stock
farm, near Avoca, If they want the
best cattle ln the land, and inspect
this herd. If it is impossible to make
them a personal visit, write them for
further particulars.
Straub Bros.
Situated near Avoca, Neb., is the
fine stock farm of Straub Bros., who
for years have made a specialty of
breeding fine cattle, paying direct at
tention to the celebrated Galloways,
a herd of which they established
over twenty years ago, the founda
tion of their herd being Imported di
rect from Scotland, arriving at their
farm In April, 1887. From the very
beginning the purchased cattle have
demonstrated plenty of scale and
owns a comfortable
one need look for a more pleasant
class of citizens among whom to re
tide, becauso they will make a dis
mal failure In nn effort to do so.
Following will bo found a few of
the prominent, energetic and enter
prising firms of this live ltttlo town,
who hnvo contributed their mite ln
fixslHtlng tho Journal In the publica
tion of this anniversary edition:
Duiiknk .V MiiMenwm.
Louis F. Dunknk. senior mem
V'er of (ho firm of Dunkak & Mase
man, who hnvo tho only hardware
nl f nmlt uro storo In Avoca, was
born In. Hanover, Germnny, 39
years nxo. Ho came to America
when only 14 yenrs old, landing In
New York City, where ho remained confidence of the
Somo time since Mr. McFarland
saw that there was one branch of
trade not represented In Avoca that
was very much needed a flour and
feed store and opened up an es
tablishment of this character. The
people nppreclato his enterprise lu
this direction from which can bo ob
tained any and everything kept In
stock by such nn establishment
flour, bran, corn meal, chops, etc.
Mrs. McFarland superintends this
branch of tho business w hile her bus.
baud Is occupied with his carpenter
work. So far tho business has proved
very good, nnd In tho futuro ho ex
pects to branch out on a larger scale.
Mr. and Mrs. McFarland nro excel
lent pcoplo and have tho respect and
pcoplo of Avoca
1 i n.l. i
, i '
--m mm J
one year. From which city he came and surrounding country.
BANK OF AVOCA'S BUILDING
Ir. J. W. Urendel.
ui, xj.cuuci woo uviu ui Dig
Springs, Boone County, Indiana, in
the year of 1880, and came to Ne
braska with his parents, Dr. and
Mrs. B. F. Brendel, In 1883, locat
ing at Murray, where his father has
since practiced medicine. The sub
ject of this sketch commenced tho
study of his chosen profession In
1897 at the Lincoln Medical Colleze.
finishing the course in 1901, stay
ing with his father during 'his vaca
tions. Dr. Brendel took Post Gradu
ate course In the Chicago Chemical
College In the year of 1904. He
quality, as the showing In late years , .. ,, . . . . ...
h.. nvn tki v j v In the state, starting at Avoca at the
has proven. This herd had for its
foundation . sire Dalkleth, 9634.
(3828) by Scotland Booster, (669),
one of the greatest sires of the breed.
They have continued adding to their
herd from time to time by purchas
ing top-notchers In various sales of
Importance. In Chicago In 1902,
they bought the top of all offerings,
when they purchased the great show
and breeding bull, Grand Scatthcr.
This animal was a success ns a sire
In the herd of Thomas Biggs, of
Scotland, who was the foreign Judge
at the International that yeor. At
this sale they also purchased a two-yenr-old
International prlzo winning
bull and four choice heifers, nil bred
by tho best breeders In Scotland.
In 1!0I they bought Scottish
Standard of Durhnmhlll, whoso sire
wns champion of both continents.
Ills dam, the gold mednl cow, Louise
2nd of Durhnmhlll. Ho himself won
Sweepstakes at tho Nebraska State
Fair. Also sire of Junior Sweep
stakes, female, at tho same plnco In
1907. They have used Morlo of Cas
tlemllk, who was so successfully
age of 21, in the year 1901, and has
been there ever since, meeting with
phenomenal success from the very
start. In 1907, he was united in
marriage with Miss Minnie Mar
quardt, a young lady who was reared
In the vicinity, and Is known for her
most charming manners and excellent
qualities. Dr. Brendel Is very atten
tive to his patients, and being a
voting man of sterling qualities has
won for himself nn enviable reputa
tion, both ns a citizen and a physi
cian. There nre no better men anywhere
than Dr. J. W. Urendel, nnd the
people of Avoca nre proud that he is
one pniong them.
I'xlru (ilc, 10c Facli.
Extra copies of this issue of tho
liitttsmouth Journal's thirtieth nn
nlvcrsnry edition may bo secured at
this office. Trice 10 cents each.
Secure a number of extra copies
nnd mall them to your friends. This
Is the most complete write-up ever
made of Cass county.