USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 1
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume II > Part 1
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محمن
NEALOGY COMLECTIO
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History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska And Their People
Editors REV. WILLIAM H. BUSS, Fremont THOMAS T. OSTERMAN, Blair
Advisory Editorial Board
L D RICHARDS, Fremont C D. MARR, Fremont JAMES M. BEAVER, Scribner W. J. CRANE, Arlington EDMOND C. JACKSON, Blair WM. E. SWIHART, Kennard
T. L. MATHEWS, Fremont M. T. ZELLERS, M. D., Hooper ROY CUSACK, North Bend CHAS. E. MAJERS, Scribner J. C. ELLER, Blair C. M. WEED, Kennard
VOLUME II
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY CHICAGO 1921
Vol. II-1
1
1209376
For Lhoom
History of Dodge and Washington Counties
JUDGE GEORGE L. LOOMIS has been a prominent and representative member of the Nebraska bar since 1876, ranking as the pioneer attorney in this judicial district of six counties, and is the head of the law firm of Loomis, Laird & Loomis of Fremont, in which city he centralized his large and important law practice until his appointment to his present office, that of collector of internal revenue for the District of Nebraska, his appointment to this position having been made early in the first administration of President Wilson. In his official capacity Mr. Loomis maintains his headquarters in the City of Omaha, but he still resides at Fremont, where he began the practice of his profession forty-four years ago.
Mr. Loomis was born in Chautauqua County, New York, on the 28th of November, 1849, and he was reared and educated in the old Empire State, where, in 1875, he received the degree of Bachelor of Law, upon his graduation from Union University, Department of Law, Albany, New York. In 1876 he established his residence at Fremont, county seat of Dodge County, Nebraska, where success has attended his professional activities. He has long been recognized as one of the specially able members of the Nebraska bar, the while his law practice came to be one of broad scope and important order. As an effective advocate of the principles and policies for which the democratic party stands sponsor, Mr. Loomis has been influential in political affairs in the state. He served two terms as city attorney of Fremont, was for two terms county attorney of Dodge County, has represented this county as a member of the State Legislature two terms, and was for eleven years a member of the Board of Education of his home city. His civic loyalty has been intense, and no citizen has been more appreciative of the advan- tages and attractions of the State of Nebraska, in whose prosperity and progress he has taken the deepest interest. Mr. Loomis was one of the founders of the Commercial Law League of America in 1895, has served with characteristic efficiency as a member of the Board of Directors of Doane College at Crete, Nebraska, for twenty-three years. In his home city he has been a director of the Commercial National Bank and the Home Savings Bank since their organization nearly thirty years ago, and for more than twenty years of the Equitable Building and Loan Association. He represented Nebraska as a delegate at large to the democratic national convention in Baltimore where Woodrow Wilson was first nominated for the presidency, and he has wielded much influ- ence in the councils and campaign activities of the party in his home state. He has been long and actively affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was grand master in 1889-90, grand repre- sentative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge eight years, grand instructor fif- teen years. Has been a member of the Board of Home Trustees nearly
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twenty years and was president of the board at the time of erecting and equipping the Odd Fellows Home at York, this state. He and his family hold membership in the Congregational Church. Is past state regent of Sons of the American Revolution.
On the 21st of July, 1880, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Loomis to Miss Alice Hadley, who was born in the picturesque little City of Hillsdale, Michigan, November 1, 1856, her parents having been pioneer citizens of that state, where they continued to reside until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Loomis have six children: Bayard is engaged in the moving-picture business in the City of Omaha; Floyd is a successful newspaper man in the City of Portland, Oregon; Leo is the wife of Fred C. Laird, of whom individual mention is made on other pages of this volume ; Zela H. is vice president of the Telegram Company, publishers of the leading newspaper at Columbus, Nebraska; Howard W. is the youngest member of the Fremont law firm of Loomis, Laird & Loomis, and concerning him further mention is made in appending paragraphs of this review; and Wayne is a student in the University of Nebraska as a member of the class of 1922.
Howard W. Loomis was born at Fremont, and after here completing the curriculum of the public schools he entered Fremont College, in which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1912. In preparation for the profession of his choice he then entered the law department of the University of Nebraska, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1915, his reception of the degree of Bachelor of Laws being practically coincident with his admission to the bar of his native state. He forthwith became associated with his father in active general practice at Fremont and is now the youngest member of the law firm of Loomis, Laird & Loomis, his father being the senior member and the third member being Fred C. Laird, whose wife is a daughter of the senior member of the firm, as noted in the preceding paragraph. In his professional work Howard W. Loomis is well upholding the prestige of the family name and is one of the leading lawyers of the younger gen- eration in his native county. The firm of which he is a member controls a large and important law business, and incidental to the same he has proved himself a resourceful lawyer and well fortified counselor. When the nation became involved in the World war he promptly subordinated his professional ambition to the call of patriotism. He entered service in November, 1917, received his preliminary training at Camp Johnson, and finally became a member of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, where he was in active service fifteen months, his honorable dis- charge having been received in September, 1919, after the close of the war and his return to his native land. He is an appreciative and popular member of the local post of the American Legion in his home city.
Mr. Loomis is found aligned as a stanch supporter of the principles of the democratic party, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Alpha Tau Omega college fraternity and the Phi Delta Phi fraternity of the law school. He holds membership in the Congregational Church at Fre- mont, where he remains at the parental home, as his name is still found listed on the roll of eligible young bachelors in his native county.
Ross L. HAMMOND. In writing of the men that have been prominent and influential in developing and promoting the highest and best interests of Dodge County, special mention should be made of Ross L. Hammond, widely known as one of the most enterprising and popular newspaper
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men of the state, who was editor of the Fremont Tribune for forty years, and in addition to his duties in that capacity helped to build up an exten- sive and remunerative business by the Hammond Printing Company, of which he was president. In October, 1919, he disposed of his principal interests in Fremont, and is now, in 1920, located at Riverside, Califor- nia, engaged in investments and banking. A son of George and Jane (Leech) Hammond, he was born May 13, 1861, in Le Grand, Marshall County, Iowa, coming on both sides of the house of English colonial stock and of honored Quaker ancestry.
Born in Jefferson County, Ohio, George Hammond migrated to Iowa in early life, and as a pioneer settler of Marshall County bought land and began the improvement of a homestead. He met with good success as a farmer and stock raiser, and also engaged in mercantile pur- suits, building up a prosperous business as a dealer in lumber and grain. A man of strong individuality, he was influential in advancing the pros- perity of Le Grand, his home town, and was identified with the estab- lishment therein of two colleges, and was a generous contributor toward their support.
Scholarly in his tastes and ambitions, Ross L. Hammond received his preliminary education in Le Grand, Iowa, attending the public schools and Friends' Academy, and subsequently continuing his studies at Penn College, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Yielding, no doubt, to a natural tendency, he began his connection with printing and journalism soon after leaving college, and in September, 1879, came to Fremont to assume a position on the Fremont Tribune, which was then owned by his father and his brother Frank under the firm name of Hammond & Son. Becoming of age in 1882, Mr. Hammond was admitted to partnership in the firm, and the name was changed to Hammond Brothers. The publishing business grew with surprising rapidity and in 1901 was incorporated, with a paid-up capital of $100,000, the Hammond Printing Company, Mr. Ham- mond being made president of the concern. He also became officially connected as vice president with the Hammond & Stephens Company, an entirely separate concern, which has a capital of $50,000 and is devoted to educational publications and supplies.
He was for twenty-five years a director of the Nebraska Building and Loan Association, the largest financial institution of Fremont. For several years before leaving the city he was its vice president. He was for twenty years a member of the City Library Board and for several of the latter years its president. He was a director of the First National Bank and interested in several other banks of the state, and a farm owner in Nebraska and Minnesota.
Under the wise control of Mr. Hammond the Tribune greatly pros- pered and grew in influence, and with the development of the paper, the job printing industry grew in a corresponding manner, its business hav- ing become extensive and lucrative, it being at the present time one of the most important industrial concerns in the city.
Mr. Hammond obtained his rudimentary knowledge of printing and journalism on the home farm, he and his brothers having set up a small press in their mother's pantry. Working evenings, rainy days and holi- days these enterprising boys became familiar with the art of printing, and subsequently began the publication of the "Amateur Star," a miniature weekly paper which they published two or three years, supplying copies to about 150 regular subscribers.
An active and influential member of the republican party, Mr. Ham- mond served as a delegate to every state convention within the past
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quarter of a century, and often assisted in the framing of the party platforms, and as a pleasing and effective speaker has been prominent in campaign work. He was a candidate for Congress from the Third Dis- trict in 1896, when the republican party was defeated by the fusion element. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster at Fremont by President McKinley and having afterwards been reappointed by President Roose- velt, served in that capacity five years, when he resigned the position, his business requiring his entire attention. In March, 1908, Mr. Ham- mond became collector of internal revenue for the State of Nebraska, holding the position for six years, when he resigned.
An active and influential member of the Nebraska Press Association, Mr. Hammond served as a delegate to many meetings of the National Editorial Association. He was long prominent in the State Association, which he has served as secretary and as president, and was first president of the Fremont Men's Club, which was organized by sixty of the leading men of the city for the purpose of considering questions of interest to the general public. In 1918 he was candidate for the United States Sen- ate, and while he polled a big vote was narrowly defeated. A highly esteemed citizen, popular with all classes of people, Mr. Hammond and his family were entertained in Fremont many times at dinners given in their honor after their decision to go to California. The climax of this series of functions doing them honor was a public banquet given at the Hotel Pathfinder. Two hundred prominent men and women of the city gathered to pay testimony of the high esteem in which they were held. A loving cup, suitably engraved, was presented as an enduring proof of this regard. As a means of giving his friends throughout the state a similar opportunity to attest their esteem a banquet was given at Lincoln to him and his family under the auspices of the Nebraska Press Association. This was a brilliant and unusual affair, attended by men and women of prominence in and out of the editorial profession. A gridiron performance followed the dinner in which Mr. Hammond was given a mock trial on the charge of desertion. The indictment was pre- ferred by the governor, the chief justice of the supreme court presided, the attorney-general and two or three former attorneys-general took part in the prosecution and defense. While the unique affair was filled with mirth it afforded a vehicle for giving expression of the universal regret that Mr. Hammond was leaving Nebraska.
Mr. Hammond married in Fremont in 1885, Louise F. Reynolds and into their home four children have made their advent, namely: Louise, Le Ross, Howard and Constance. Fraternally Mr. Hammond is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Religiously he was reared in the Quaker faith, being a birthright Quaker, but for many years he has been a member of the Congregational Church, being for a long time before leaving Fremont chairman of its board of trustees.
JOSEPH G. WIDHELM is one of the representative business men of the younger generation in Dodge County, where he has built up a most prosperous enterprise as executive head, as well as founder, of the Widhelm Remedy and Manufacturing Company, through which he has produced a valuable line of livestock remedies and a complete line of sanitary feeders' supplies, which he has protected with patents granted him by this and other governments. This industry which he has estab- lished in Fremont is one of the fastest growing enterprises in the city.
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Mr. Widhelm was born in Platte County, Nebraska, February 28, 1880, and is the son of Joseph and Theresa (Weimer) Widhelm, natives of Austria, who established their home in Platte County, Nebraska, prior to the admission of this state into the Union and here the father developed one of the finest farm estates in that county. Joseph G. was the fifth son of this worthy couple. At the early age of sixteen he started out to make his own way in the world and to achieve his heart's greatest desire. a more advanced education. By putting in a portion of each year at hard labor, he was enabled to spend the remainder of the year at the Fremont College until he completed a course of study which entitled him to a state certificate. After spending a few years in the schoolroom as instructor he finally retired from the work and engaged in the remedy and manufacturing business in the year of 1908. He began his business career with only a few hundred dollars, but by making every dollar do full duty, preparing his remedies by night and selling them by day, he quickly forged ahead. The worth of his goods soon became evident and their wide and ever-increasing sale attracted the attention of a number of Dodge County's most substantial citizens who came forward and offered to assist him in incorporating the business under the name of the Widhelm Remedy and Manufacturing Company. In the year of 1918, he received his permit from the state and the business was incor- porated for $100,000. Joseph G. Widhelm became its first president and general manager. The products of this plant are now being shipped to all parts of the United States.
Mr. Widhelm is a liberal and progressive citizen even as he is a business man. He is an active member of the Rotary Club, Commercial Club and Knights of Columbus, in which last-named he has held some of the highest offices. He also holds membership in the Modern Wood- men and the Eagles.
October 23, 1907, recorded the marriage of Mr. Widhelm to Miss Margaret V. O'Donnell, who was born and raised in Saunders County, Nebraska, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret O'Donnell, both natives of Ireland. Mr. O'Donnell was for many years in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company and was one of those who took part in the ceremony of the driving of the golden spike incidental to the join- ing of the Union Pacific with the Southern Pacific at Promontory Point, Utah, which completed the great transcontinental line linking the east with the west for the first time in the history of America.
Mr. and Mrs. Widhelm have two children, Virginia and Eugene.
THE MARSHALL FAMILY. The firm of Marshalls Nurseries, com- posed of George A., Chester C. and Harvey W. Marshall, nurserymen, is one of the solid institutions of Arlington, and the history of their family is interesting enough to merit special attention in a work of this high class. They are the sons of Benjamin Clark and Catherine (Nonna- maker) Marshall, he born in Trumbull County, Ohio, and she in Han- cock County, the same state. Both families were old established ones of Ohio, where Benjamin C. Marshall continued to reside until 1881, at that time he with his family coming west to Nebraska and locating 31/2 miles northeast of Arlington. There he bought land and lived on it until 1910, and then retired, moving at that time to Arlington, where he lived until his death which occurred on February 15, 1919. After the death of his wife in 1904, he did not maintain a home of his own, but lived with his daughters. He and his wife had nine children, eight of whom are living, namely : Eli W., who is a stockholder of the company
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of Marshalls Nurseries, and is its representative at Lincoln, Nebraska, and he married Josie Dalley, their children being: Clark, May, Shirley, Eula, Tina and Dorothy; Ami, who represents Marshalls Nurseries at Bayard, Nebraska, married Minnie Marquard, and their children are: Maude, Cora, Lula, Irma and Chet; Chester C., who is vice president of Marshalls Nurseries, married Mary Fellers and their children are: Gail, Leta and Eva ; George A., who is president of Marshalls Nurseries, married Dora Goltry and their children are: Vernon, Catherine, Ruth, Ralph and Maurice; Harvey W., who is treasurer of Marshalls Nur- series, married Allie Snodgrass and they have one child, Esther, now attending National Park Seminary, Forest Glen, Maryland; Dora, who is the widow of G. M. Whitford, who died in August, 1917, leaving her and two children, Murray and Bernice, the three now living at Arlington ; Lucy E., who is the wife of William A. Whitford, a retired resident of Arlington, and they have one child, Gladys; Austin C., who is engaged in farming in Washington County, married Nettie McMillan and they have six children : Leslie, Hazel, Clayton, Julia, Howard and Georgia. Benjamin C. Marshall was a democrat in politics. His wife was a con- sistent member of the Evangelical Church. Starting out in life with a very small capital, through persistent effort and strict economy, Mr. Mar- shall accumulated a comfortable property and died a man of means.
The elder of the Marshall children were educated in Ohio. Austin was graduated from the Fremont, Nebraska, Normal School; Harvey graduated in the commercial course at the Shenandoah, Iowa, College, and those younger than he received their education in the schools of Washington County, Nebraska. They were all reared on the farm, and in 1887 the sons started in the nursery business in a small way, grafting 40,000 apple trees and a smaller number of cherry and plum trees, and carrying a general line of small fruits, shrubbery and ornamental trees. The firmn was originally composed of C. C. Marshall, George A. Mar- shall and Harvey W. Marshall. In June, 1916, they incorporated with a paid-up capital of $60,000, all owned by the family, and of this company George A. Marshall is president, Chester C. Marshall is vice president and Harvey W. Marshall is treasurer, while C. G. Marshall is secretary.
The company ships all over the United States, but the principal trade comes from Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. The annual amount of business runs from 10,000 to 20,000 orders. In 1915 they built a modern plant at Arlington, and in 1917 they enlarged same in order to handle the increase of business. At present their main frost- proof storage building, which is one and a half to two stories high, cov- ers a space of 140 by 160 feet. At one time they had a forty-acre apple orchard, which during the last seven years that it was productive, bore from 10,000 to 15,000 bushels annually, and they shipped a large pro- portion of these apples to Europe. This orchard, which was planted in 1893, is now, of course, practically extinct. The company have two diplomas received from the Paris Exposition for apples there displayed, and also a gold medal awarded them for apples in the fruit display at the Omaha Exposition. They have Government diplomas for fruit displays at both the Columbian and St. Louis expositions, and won nine sweep- stakes during nine years, seven years in succession and one year between, from the Nebraska state fairs. The plant is perfect in every respect and the brothers own from 1,200 to 1,500 acres of land near Arlington, and this present immense business is the outgrowth of the small nursery established with $1,000 each, given the original partners by their father. Employment is given to as many as 100 persons, according to the season,
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and including salesmen and laborers. The somewhat remarkable success attained by the Marshall family would not have been possible if the indi- vidual members had not been men of sterling character, whose efforts have always been directed along constructive lines and with a definite end in view. Reared by careful and high-minded parents, they have grown into very desirable citizens and Arlington is fortunate in having them as residents and holders of valuable property interests here.
JOHN P. EATON. A Dodge County pioneer, one of its oldest and best-known citizens, an honored survivor of the Civil war, and a man whose work and influence have always been on the better side of the changes and developments in this section of the West.
A New Englander, he was born in New Hampshire August 18, 1843, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Libby) Eaton. His father was a machinist by trade and died in New Hampshire prior to the Civil war. In the family were the following children : Mary, James, Sarah, George, Abigail, John, Martha and Carrie. Of these John is the only survivor. Others of the family who also came to Nebraska were George, Martha and Carrie.
John P. Eaton had a common school education and was enrolled as a student in Pittsfield Academy for about a year when the war broke out and he finished his college course in the army. He was a fighting Union soldier four years. He enlisted August 16, 1862, in Company B of the Twelfth New Hampshire Regiment and fought in the battle of Gettys- burg. On April 24, 1864, he was commissioned first lieutenant of Com- pany G of the First United States Volunteer Infantry. He was put in command of that company and served in that regiment on the western frontier until after the close of the war. . He was honorably discharged May 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
He had not been out of the army long when he determined to estab- lish a home in the new country west of the Missouri River and reached Nebraska soil in 1867, traveling by train as far as the river. He home- steaded eighty acres in what is now section 14, township 18, range 6, in Cotterell Township, and that land has been his home and the scene of his activities for over half a century. His first house was a five-room board dwelling, which subsequently gave way to the modern residence in which he still lives.
Mr. Eaton owns 485 acres of Nebraska farm lands. For thirty-five years he was county correspondent for the Department of Agriculture and has always shown a willingness to exert himself for community benefit. He organized the first school in his section of Dodge County and for three years filled the office of county commissioner. He also laid out the star postal route from Fremont to Glencoe. Politically he is a republican of the same faith today as when he was fighting under the Union flag during the administration of President Lincoln. He is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic of North Bend, Nebraska, is a Mason and he and his family have long been identified with the First Congregational Church at Fremont, Rev. W. H. Buss having been their pastor and intimate friend for a quarter of a century.
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