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Henry J BACKES
is proprietor of the
famous Humphrey Nurseries, well known throughout Nebraska and in
other states. In this connection he is conducting an extensive and
profitable business, constituting one of the important enterprises
of Platte county. He has lived in this county from the age of
fourteen years, his birth having occurred in Lake county, Indiana,
April 14, 1872, his parents being Peter and Gertrude Backes, both of
whom were natives of Germany. The father was a farmer by occupation
and in 1850 came to the new world with his parents, settling at
Crown Point, Indiana. The lady whom he afterward wedded was brought
to the United States by her parents when but two years of age and
both Peter and Gertrude Backes were reared and educated at Crown
Point, where their marriage was also celebrated. In 1886 they
arrived in Platte county, Nebraska, settling at Humphrey, where Mr.
Backes carried on farming until 1914. He then retired from active
business life and removed to Lindsay, where he and his wife now make
their home. At the usual age Henry J. Backes became a public-school
pupil and for two years he pursued his studies in the normal school
at Fremont, Nebraska. He then remained at home until he attained his
majority. After which he engaged in the nursery business as an
employee of D. W. Schaff, who at that time was connected with the
Geneva Nursery. Mr. Backes spent three years in that way, after which
he worked on contract with the Geneva Nursery for eight years,
maintaining his headquarters at Humphrey throughout the entire
period. In 1904 he bought out the nursery business of P. McKillip
and assumed charge thereof. It was the small beginning of a big
business, however, for at that time he had but five acres. The
succeeding year he bought the eighty acre tract upon which he now
resides and where he maintains his nursery, having erected fine
buildings upon the place for this special purpose. He now cultivates
a full and complete line of nursery stock of every kind, which is
sold by traveling salesmen and by catalog. He uses sixty-five acres
for the growth of trees and in 1915 had five hundred thousand young
apple trees ready for market. There are very few nurseries located
on what is known as upland, but the Humphrey nurseries are so
situated and have proven that the upland gives better quality of
stock, although it costs more to raise the stock, which, however, is
of a hardier and sounder growth. Mr. Backes grows all of his trees
on upland on a divide between the Platte and Elkhorn rivers at an
altitude of sixteen hundred and forty feet above sea level. He has
built up an extensive nursery business, his stock being now widely
shipped, and he has gained a most enviable reputation in this
connection. In 1905 he extended his activities to include the raising
of registered Holstein-Friesian cattle and today sells to the farmer
for breeding purposes.
In 1912 he began breeding Tamworth hogs also
has upon his farm a six year old stallion, "Shade On Maulden," sired
by the famous "Shade On," with the record of 2.08 1⁄4. Mr. Backes is
today one of the prominent stockmen of western Nebraska and one of
the best known and most successful nurserymen of the state. In
addition to his home place he owns four hundred and eighty acres of
land near Osmond, Nebraska, which he rents. On the 9th of November,
1898, Mr. Backes was married to Miss Millie Billerbeck, a daughter
of Henry J. and Wilhelmina (Crossman) Biller- beck, both of whom
were natives of Germany. When eighteen years of age Mrs. Billerbeck
came to America. On crossing the Atlantic Mr. Billerbeck settled in
St. Louis, Missouri, and later removed to Freeport, Illinois, where
he worked as a farm hand, but afterward removed to Iowa, where he
again engaged in farming. In 1885 he arrived in Nebraska and
established a hardware and implement business at Pierce, while today
he is actively engaged in business at Osmond. His wife died in
Humphrey in January, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Backes have become the
parents of two children: Laura, who was born October 13, 1902, and
is a student in the high school; and Agnes, who passed away at the
age of two years. The parents and daughter are members of the
Catholic church at Humphrey and in politics Mr. Backes is a
republican. The family are well known socially and the hospitality
of their home is extended to their many friends. |