Herman John
TeSelle [Harmen Jan te
Selle] - Biography
Portrait and Biographical
Album, Lancaster County, Nebraska,
containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of
Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County
Chicago, Chapman Brothers 1888
Note:
Norma TeSelle Prophet (granddaughter of Harmen Jan
te Selle) first brought this article and reference book to our
attention several years ago. Recently Kim McConnell reminded
us of this biographical
information, which was found by her mother at the Bennett Martin
Library in Lincoln, Nebraska, in November 2005.
Page
560
HERMAN J. TE SELLE is a prominent farmer residing on
section 22, South Pass Precinct, Lancaster County. His father,
John Albert, and mother, Dela (Van Ten Damme) Te Selle, were
natives of Holland. The father was engaged in farming in that
country, and remained there until his death at the age of
forty-three years. The mother died in 1885, at the age of
eighty-two years, having been the mother of seven sons, their
names being as follows: Derrick W., Tobias, Henry J., John A.,
John H., Garret J., and Herman J., our subject. The gentleman of
whom we write was born on the 4th of December, 1844, in Holland,
and having begun attending school at the age of six years, he
secured a very good common-school education in the Dutch language.
At the age of twenty years he determined to come to America, and,
in company with his brother John Henry, he sailed from Rotterdam,
via Hull and Liverpool, by ocean steamer to New York, at which
place they arrived safely after a journey of seventeen days,
landing in November, 1865.
The destination of our subject being Sheboygan County, Wis., he
went at once to that place, and for five months he worked out at
general work. At the age of twenty-one he was married, in 1866, to
Miss Berendina A. Buesink, who was also a native of Holland,
having come to Sheboygan County when she was thirteen years old.
Mr. and Mrs. Te Selle and family came to Nebraska in 1871, where
the husband homesteaded a claim of eighty acres, then bought
eighty acres additional the following year, and again in 1881 he
bought his third eighty acres, having now a farm of 240 acres. He
also owns a dwelling in Lincoln.
Our subject is the father of eight children, the names of those by
his first wife being: Dela, who was born in Wisconsin; and Willie,
born in Nebraska. The children by the second wife are: Dena, Evert
J., Albert, Helena, Minnie and Bertha. The daughter Dela married
Mr. Dick Abbink, residing in Panama Precinct. Mr. Te Selle's first
wife died in the year 1874, and he married Miss Johana Brethower,
a daughter of Dr. Brethower, of Holland. Our subject and his wife
and family are devout members of the Reformed Church of America,
and lead active and consistent lives. The father coincides with
the opinions of the Republican political organization, and takes
an active interest in the educational affairs of his precinct,
having for twelve years held the office of School Treasurer.
While Mr. Te Selle experienced some disadvantages on his arrival
in this county, his own industry, self-reliance and energy have
enabled him successfully to surmount the difficulties presented,
and he has continued upward in the path of success until he has
reached a state of independence and prosperity. Although his
schooling in the English language was somewhat limited, he
compensated for that lack by a course of general reading, and has
become well informed on all matters relating to his adopted
country. He has a pleasant, cheerful disposition, is not averse to
enjoying a good joke occasionally, and is one of the real live
businessmen of South Pass Precinct.
