Originally published to Facebook.com/NorthPlattePL on 5/14/2021

Today’s look at history looks at a Swedish immigrant who became a business owner and raised his large family here in North Platte. Enjoy!

Anders Otto Kocken (pronounced Kō-ken) was born October 11, 1840 near Linkoping Sweden. He married Christine Mylander in 1861 and came to America in 1868.

Once in America, Anders first lived in Waukon, Iowa, then Omaha, Nebraska; finally moving to North Platte in 1874. Anders and Christine had a large family: six girls and four boys: Edith, Lotta, Paulina, William, Margaret, Adda, Otto, Walter, Arthur, and Arta.

After arriving in North Platte, Mr. Kocken made his living as a merchant tailor. He was known for his fine tailoring and made clothing for Buffalo Bill. As one of North Platte’s early citizens, Anders was a charter member of the IOOF and the First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Kocken was a man of integrity and honor.

Anders built the brick home, which still stands at the corner of 6th Street and Sycamore in 1875 (220 W 6th St). <see photograph>

While roofing the house on September 11, 1875, two of the roofers were struck by lightning. The lightning struck the east end of the house and cracked the wall down to the window and continued on down to the foundation. The crack is still in the wall today. The house was originally built in an L-shape. Most of the walls are 16 inches thick. The evergreen trees in front were given to the Kockens by relatives living in the state of Washington. The sidewalk is Colorado Sandstone slabs. The home is now a private residence. <see color photograph from 2019>

Anders died of acute kidney problems in 1927, at age 86. He was preceded in death by his wife, who passed away in 1917.