DIED
HELD--On Thursday, Dec. 18th, at 4 P.M., of lung fever, Mr. John Held, aged forty-eight years. Mr. Held was an old resident of Platte co., one of the first settlers, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him, for his generosity, kind heartedness and honesty.

BIO JOHN HELD

John Held, one of the thirteen original founders of Columbus, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, January 13, 1824. He died at his farm home in Bismark Township in 1873.

Mr. Held received his early education in Wurtemberg, Germany. In 1854, after five years in the German Army, he immigrated to the United States.

He settled first in Columbus, Ohio. In 1856, he came west to Omaha, and in March of that year joined a group known as the Columbus Town Company. The thirteen men of this company founded Columbus May 29, 1856. Mr. Held was among the first group who settled on farms in Columbus Township. His home was where the Smith Dairy is now located. He later moved to Bismark Township.

On March 13, 1861, he was married to Miss Margaret Schneller, who was born in Hessen, Germany, January 1, 1840. She came to the United States in 1855.

John and Margaret Schneller Held had a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters. Jacob and Gesene died in childhood. The others were: Louis, John, Julius and Richard of Bismark Township, all deceased; and Emil and Mary, Mrs. Albert Klug, of Columbus.

Mr. Held fought in the Indian Wars in 1859. He helped organize the first rural school district in Bismark Township, District ; served as first school director, and was a Democrat.

He died in December, 1873.


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You can find the brief obit about John Held from the old newspapers located on the website of Platte County, Nebraska Researchers located HERE it's listed under 1873.

The Bio of his life was taken from M. Curry and is located HERE