These biographies were transcribed from Goodspeed’s Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton Counties. They are only the biographies for individuals who resided in Hall County Nebraska in 1890 whose surname starts with the letters U or V.
UNDERWOOD, Benjamin Grant
Benjamin Grant Underwood, farmer and stockman, Underwood, Neb. Prominent among the successful farmers and stock-raisers of Hall County stands the name of Benjamin G. Underwood, who owes his nativity to Oakland County, Mich., where he was born in 1830, and is the son of Asa B. and Sabrina (Loomis) Underwood, natives of Canada. The father emigrated to Oakland County, Mich., in 1827, and although a carpenter and ship-builder by trade, he settled on a farm and tilled the soil until his death, which occurred in January, 1844. He took quite an active part in politics in the campaign of 1840, and was a Whig. The mother survived him until 1885, and had been a resident of the farm, where she reared her family of ten children, for over fifty-eight years. Benjamin G. Underwood began the duties of farm life at an early age, and received his education in the primitive log school house of pioneer days. He commenced farming for himself in Michigan, and was married in McComb County of that State, in 1857, to Miss Cleantha Lerich, a native of McComb County, Mich., and the daughter of Peter and Sarah (Fishbough) Lerich, natives of New Jersey. Mr. Lerich was married in New Jersey, and in 1835 moved to what is now McComb County, Mich., where he purchased a partly improved farm and made that county his home. He and wife still reside in that county. Mr. Underwood followed farming in Michigan until 1884, when he came to Nebraska and purchased a partly improved farm of 160 acres, on which he has since erected a good house, outbuildings, etc. He takes an interest in the votes of the Republican party, and is now serving his second term as justice of the peace, being elected in 1887. Mrs. Underwood was appointed postmistress in 1885, and the post-office was called Underwood. It is a good, strong office, and has tri-weekly mail from Underwood to Hansen. Forty-two families get their mail at this office. Mr. Underwood is a member of the South Platte Alliance No. 373, and takes an active interest in the same. To his marriage were born seven children: Frank (married, and resides in South Platte Township), Hale (is the owner of a farm in Martin Township), William (resides at home), Charles, Mary, Clifford and Fred. The younger ones are attending school. Mr. Underwood has seen a great many changes in the country since settling here, and has always taken a prominent part in everything for the good of the county. He expects to make this State his permanent home.
VIEREGG, Henry
Henry Vieregg, the proprietor of the Grand Island Bottling Works, is a native German, and possesses all the sterling characteristics of his race. He was born in the village of Gaidersdorf, Holstein, Germany, December 22, 1840, his parents, Hans and Elsie (Kruse) Vieregg, being worthy residents of that place. He was one of their five children, and at the early age of sixteen years came to the United States to seek his fortune, and after spending two years in Davenport, Iowa, he came to Grand Island, Neb., and upon attaining his majority he entered some land and was engaged in farming for some time in Merrick County, but in 1876 he returned to Grand Island, and after giving his time and attention to the ice business for quite a period, he engaged in the bottling business and also sells mineral waters and temperance beverages. He was married in Grand Island to Miss Caroline Spethmann, a native of Holstein, Germany, and a daughter of John and Malvina Spethmann, and by her has had a family of eleven children born to him: Malvina (wife of Franz Rosser, assistant post-master, by whom she has had a son named August), Louisa, Willie, Othelia, Albert, Emil, Henrietta, Oscar and Elsie. August and Carl died in early youth. Mr. Vieregg and family attend the Lutheran Church, and he is a prominent Democrat and has been a member of the City council and alderman of his ward for two terms of two years each. He was a candidate for the Legislature against a very popular Republican, but owing to the great Republican majority in the county was defeated. He is well known and highly respected, and besides the farm which he owns and his present business, he is the owner of a bottling establishment at St. Paul. He belongs to two German societies.
Source: Goodspeed brothers. Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state: a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties… Chicago: The Goodspeed publishing co., 1890.
Back to: 1890 Hall County Biographies
Back to: Hall County Nebraska History and Genealogy Project