Memorials › Axel Sherbeck

Axel Sherbeck

21 Jun 1854 – 6 May 1941

Birth21 Jun 1854
Death6 May 1941
CemeteryLee Park Cemetery
Custer County , Nebraska , USA
Added bymike sweet on 08 Feb 2018
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53894038

Bio

Remarkable pioneer from Sweden, man of faith, courage. Axel Sherbeck passed away on May 6, 1941. he was born Jun 21, 1854 in La Holam, Sweden, and had reached the age of 86 years, 10 months 15 days. His parents were Sven and Ingra Semeson, he was 4th of their 7 children. He had 4 brothers and 2 sisters and survived them all. In June. 1869, when 15, he came to America with an older sister, to join 2 older brothers who had located in Illinois state. Misfortune befell these 2 young people during their voyage when all their money was stolen from them on the ship. Upon arrival at New Castle, New York, penniless and unable to speak English, fate was again unkind when they found that the money sent by the brothers in Illinois had not yet arrived. They were obliged to seek employment at once; the sister, who was an excellent cook, had no trouble in procuring a position at once and Axel accepted the first work offered him, although he knew not what or where it was. He was taken aboard a boat and after several days at sea they landed at Damereskota, Maine. There he labored 14 months, by which time he had learned to speak English and had accumulated funds sufficient to pay his passage to the home of his parents who were now living at Woodhull, Illinois. He made the journey in safety and was within 30 miles of his destination when his train stopped at Gavel, Illinois on a Saturday evening and he there learned there was no train and he must wait to complete his journey until Monday; so homesick was the lonely boy that he set out at once up the rail road track, he walked at he full 30 miles to his brother's home, arriving there footsore and weary but weeping for joy at the happy reunion. He lived 6 years in Illinois, then located near Bedford, Iowa, where there he met and married Miss Mary Holeman in Hopkins, Missouri on Oct. 2, 1881. Had he lived until next October they would have completed 60 years of happy wedded life. Their first 12 years were spent near Bedford, Iowa, then they sold their farm in Iowa and in the year of 1888 came to Nebraska and settled on homestead east of Westerville which has been their home ever since. Axel Sherbeck was a self-made man and notwithstanding his unhappy experiences when first reaching America, he fought the battle of life with a strong heart and a vigorous arm. Sustained by an unwavering faith in his God and by his unwearing energy and industry his efforts were amply awarded. He loved trees and flowers and it was a joy for him to work with them. Just to walk above his fields was a pleasure to him and he lived to rejoice seeing abundant rain fall restore the land once more. Born of Christian parents, his religious training began in infancy and he was converted at the age of 10 years. He was in Sweden a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. After coming to America, he attended what ever church was available. In Illinois and Iowa, those churches were Presbyterian and the Baptist and it was the Methodist in Nebraska. He united with the Methodist church in Westerville and was a faithful supporter and member to the end of his life, being very generous in his financial support to the church. Mr. and Mrs. Sherbeck were the parents of 3 sons and 4 daughters: Hershel, I5rvin and Verna, now Mrs. John Hyatt, Alice, now Mrs. Ira Giddings, and Clarence who died in infancy, Prudy now Mrs. Fred Hunt and Florence, who became Mrs. J.F. Hickenbottom. Florence died on Dec. 8, 1918, leaving an infant daughter, Eileen Hickenbottom, now Mrs. Melvin Sherbeck, whom they took into their home and reared as one of their own. Son Irvin died Nov. 1919. Mr. Sherbeck is survived by his loving wife, son Hershel of Westerville, 3 daughters, Mrs. Hyatt and Mrs. Giddings of Ansley and Mrs. Hunt of Arcadia, 17 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and a host of friends. Funeral services were conducted at the home May 8, with his pastor, Rev. Edward G. Whale in charge. Music furnished by Westerville Church Choir. Pallbearers were Albert Slingsby, Johnnie Collier, Ray Casteel, Arthur Armstrong, Albert Hunt and W.E. Wolford. Interment was made in the rural Lee Park Cemetery (east of Westerville, Custer Co., Nebr.-note). -THE CUSTER COUNTY CHIEF newspaper, issue of May 15, 1941. printed in Broken Bow, Nebraska. The Sherbeck family The families of Axel Svenson and Anders Anderson had lived in the same village in Smolen, in old Sweden in Europe for many years and they were very good friends. At the time that Axel and Anders came to America (1869-1870 era), the immigration authorities had so many Andersons and Svensons (also known as Swansons), that they asked if some would be willing to change their names in the United States. Since there was a step-relationship in the families and the families were good friends, most of both families took the name of "Sherbeck," with Anders also changing his name to Andrew.(see #58935755) These two families thus settled close to each other in the state of Illinois, and did the same later in Iowa. Then, Axel Sherbeck in 1888 came on west to Nebraska, and settled in the Clear Creek valley east of the town of Westerville, and Andrew Sherbeck came here in 1889. Both bought out and finished proving up on timber-claims just one mile apart.

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