USA > Nebraska > A Biographical and genealogical history of southeastern Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 15
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VICTOR GERALD LYFORD.
Victor Gerald Lyford, proprietor of one of the leading department stores of general merchandise in Falls City, has been in business here for five years, with steadily increasing trade and profitable patronage. He is a man of more than ordinary ability, both in business and in the general affairs of life, and for a time was a young Nebraska attorney, with good prospects for success in that vocation had he desired to con- tinue it. He has an assured place in the regard and esteem of the citizens of Richardson county and Falls City, and takes a public-spirited interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare and progress of the community.
Mr. Lyford is a member of one of the oldest American families, the history going back in unbroken line many generations to men of mark in the early New England colonies. He was born in Bureau county, Illinois, August 16, 1859, a son of Joseph and Josephine (Hin- man) Lyford. The first Lyford in America was the Rev. John, who came from England to the Plymouth colony in 1634, and by his efforts
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to win over the dissenters to the Established Church of England in- curred the displeasure of the colonists to such an extent that he was compelled to move to Nantucket. He was a minister at Salem and other places, and, according to his last will and testament, died about 1642. A generation or so later, Thomas Lyford was born in Boston in 1672, and died in 1727 at Exeter, Massachusetts. His son John was born in Exeter and died at Canterbury, New Hampshire, in March or April, 1798. A son of the latter, and the great-grandfather of Mr. V. G. Lyford, was born in Epping, New Hampshire, in February, 1765.
Joseph Lyford, the grandfather of Mr. Lyford, was born at Can- terbury, New Hampshire, July II, 1792. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and in 1836 joined a colony of settlers and drove an ox team through to Bureau county, Illinois. In that early day he knew all his neighbors within a radius of forty miles, and the market place was Peoria, with no beaten highways leading to that place. He died shortly after arriving in Bureau county. His widow, who survived him until 1868, being nearly eighty years old at the time of her death, was of the maiden name of Charlotte Dow, also of Canterbury, New Hampshire. All their children were born at Canterbury, as follows: Augustus. was a merchant of Galesburg, Illinois, where he died leaving one son and one daughter; Alfred, born in 1818, was a Bureau county farmer, and died at Sheffield, Illinois, at the age of eighty-four ; Mrs. Caroline Craig died at Walnut, Iowa, in 1895, leaving two sons and one daughter ; Joseph is mentioned below; Moses died at the age of twenty-five, un- married.
Joseph Lyford, the father of Mr. V. G. Lyford, was born in Can- terbury, New Hampshire, in 1828, and died in Bureau county, Illinois, in March, 1900. For many years of his life he was a grain merchant at Neponset, Illinois. He married, February 15, 1855, at Groveland,
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Illinois, Miss Josephine Hinman, who was born at Groveland, April 22, 1837, a daughter of Charles and Sarah Ann ( Whitcomb) Hinman, both of Connecticut. Her father was a machinist and carriage manu- facturer in Illinois and Iowa, being one of the early settlers to the latter state, and he and his wife both died there and now rest in the burial plot at Clarinda. There were five children in the Hinman family. Joseph and Josephine Lyford had eight children : A son, born May 7, 1856, died at the age of one year; Charles Edgar, born November 4, 1857, is a salesman in Chicago, and is married: Victor G. is the next of the family ; Leo Lincoln, born November 30, 1860, married Jane Ot- ley in February, 1883; Sarah Lottie, born June 16, 1862, married, February 15, 1882, Carlos B. Craig; Nellie Ella, born October 1, 1865, married Robert Rounseville; Grant Hinman, born April 8, 1868, died March II, 1869; and Joseph Hinman, born in 1870, died in 1871. The mother of these children died in Illinois January 20, 1870, and on May 7. 1872, Mr. Joseph Lyford married Mrs. Mary Jane Quinby, nec Gasten, who was born in Canada, April 22, 1845, and by this marriage had six children : Florence Josephine, born March 12, 1873 ; Luella Rose, born May II, 1875; Moses Herbert, born August 24, 1877; Scott Dow, born May 18, 1879; Mattie Della, born November 3, 1880, died October 14, 1881 ; and Bertha Winifred, born April 29, 1883. The family resi- dence is still at Neponset, Illinois.
Mr. Victor G. Lyford was educated in the public schools, and from youth up had experience in a store. He was educated, however, for the law, at Hedding College, in Abingdon, Illinois, and at the Union College of Law, in Chicago, being a fellow student with W. J. Bryan. He was admitted to the bar in 1883, and practiced for one year in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was the firm of Lyford and Talbot for a time, and this was succeeded by Talbot and Bryan (W. J.). Mr. Lyford
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returned to Illinois, and from 1884 to 1890 was engaged in the general merchandise business at Neponset, and the following eight years in Humphrey, Nebraska. In 1899 he opened his establishment in Falls City. There are five department stores in Falls City, and his business has steadily increased until he holds the front rank among similar enter- prises in the city. He carries a full line of dry-goods, carpets and groceries, employs from ten to twelve clerks, and carries a stock worth about twenty-five thosand dollars.
September 16, 1885, Mr. Lyford married Miss Florence N. Willets, who was born in New Boston, Illinois, September 24, 1861, a daughter of William and Mary (Alyen) Willets, both of Indiana. Her parents were farmers near New Boston, and are now deceased. They had each been married twice, and had in all eighteen children. Mrs. Lyford was educated in Hedding College, where she met her future husband. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lyford: Mabel, born in Neponset, August 1, 1886, graduated in the Falls City high school in 1904; Grace and Gertrude, born April 22, 1889; Helen Mary, born at Humphrey, Nebraska, March 15, 1894; Constance, born in Humphrey, September 20, 1895; and Florence Willets, born in Humphrey, Febru- ary 27, 1898. Mr. Lyford affiliates with the Knights of Pythias. He is a stanch Republican, and served in minor offices while a resident of Illinois, and in 1904 was candidate of the prohibition element for the office of mayor.
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ARTHUR E. HILDEBRAND.
Arthur E. Hildebrand, who has been principal of the schools of Johnson for the past two years, is one of the enterprising and progressive educators of this section of the state. He has been engaged in this line of work since he was eighteen years old, and has manifested both talent and taste for the profession. In addition to his devotion to the act- ual work of the classroom and the performance of his duties as between teacher and pupil, he has shown much ability in school organization and system and all the duties of management and control which devolve upon the head of an institution of learning. He has effected some im- portant reforms and changes since taking charge of the Johnson schools, and has also been interested in the work of general education through- out the county.
Mr. Hildebrand was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, June 30, 1878, and has lived in Nebraska all his life with the exception of one year. He is a grandson of Henry Hildebrand, a farmer, who emigrated to Keo- kuk county, Iowa, in the early fifties, and about 1870 came to Pawnee county, Nebraska. He was a prosperous man, and owned several farms in Nebraska and Kansas, all of his property having come to him through his own diligent efforts and careful management. He died in Pawnee county, near Dubois, in 1896, in his eightieth year, having reared eight sons and one daughter, all of whom had families.
Junius Hildebrand, the father of Arthur E Hildebrand, was born in Pennsylvania in 1845. His wife was Mary McElroy, born in Pennsylva- nia in 1847, and her father, Henry McElroy, was a soldier in the Civil war and a farmer in Pennsylvania and in Iowa, in which latter state he died in 1902, when an octogenarian, having reared six daughters and two sons. Junius and Mary Hildebrand were married in Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1870, and had five children : Charles died at the age of six years;
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James G. P. is a farmer in Pawnee county, Nebraska, and has one son and two daughters; Lizzie was educated in the Pawnee Academy and graduated from the training class of the Peru Normal, and has been a teacher in Pawnee county for the past eleven years ; Myrtle and Arthur E. were twins, and the former graduated from the Dubois high school and the Peru normal, and has been a teacher for the last six years.
Mr. Hildebrand graduated from the Dubois high school at the age of eighteen years, with honors for scholarship, and in 1901 graduated from the State Normal at Peru. He began teaching a district school in Nemaha county after his graduation from high school, and was also principal of the Brock schools before coming to Johnson. He takes an active part in teachers' institutes and associations, as well as in the farmers' institutes and the summer schools. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, but has been too zealous in his professional work to care for partici- pation in practical politics. His fine appearance and winning ways make him popular in all circles, and as a young man he seems to stand on the threshold of a worthy and useful career.
REV. JOSEPH M. HORNEY.
Rev. Joseph M. Horney, who has devoted many years to the active work of the ministry and is now living in Olive precinct in Saline county, Nebraska, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, on the 7th of September, 1833. His paternal grandfather, Daniel Horney, was a native of North Carolina and removed thence to Ohio. He mar- ried Miss Margaret Caloway, a representative of an old Quaker family, and among their children was John C. Horney, who was born in Ohio. The latter, after arriving at years of maturity, wedded Nancy A. Chany,
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who was born in Greene county, Ohio, and was a daughter of Edward Chany, of North Carolina. His wife bore the family name of Jackson prior to her marriage, and she too was identified with the Society of Friends or Quakers. The mother of our subject passed away in 1849, and the father died at Iuka, Pratt county, Kansas, when seventy-two years of age. He was a farmer by occupation, always following that pursuit in order to provide for his family. His political allegiance was given to the Whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the Republican party, and his religious faith was that of the Chris- tian or New Light church. In the family of this worthy couple were seven children besides Joseph M. : Charles; I. A., of Pratt City, Kansas, who was a soldier of the Fourth Iowa Infantry during the Civil war and went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea; Sarah J .; Henry ; Daniel; Phoebe; and one that died in childhood.
Rev. Joseph M. Horney was reared upon the home farm amid good home influences, and lessons of industry, integrity and morality were early instilled into his mind and have borne fruit in his later life. His literary education was acquired in the public schools, and he is a self- made man who owes whatever success he has achieved entirely to his own efforts. In 1854 he removed to Logan county, Illinois, settling near Lincoln, where he engaged in farming and also in preaching the gospel. He was thus engaged until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when his loyal spirit prompted his enlistment, and in August, 1862, he responded to President Lincoln's call for sixty thousand men, becoming a member of the One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostilities. He was in active duty at the siege of Vicksburg, where his hearing was largely destroyed by the roar of the cannon. He was also in the battle of Duvalls Bluff, and when
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the war was over he was honorably discharged, returning to his home, where he resumed the occupation of farming and preaching.
Mr. Horney had been married in Jeffersonville, Ohio, in 1853, to Almira A. (Harvey) Golsberry, the widow of Calvin Golsberry, a tailor, who died at Midway, Ohio, and left a daughter, Medora, who is now living near Lincoln, Illinois. Mrs. Horney was a daughter of John Harvey, who was born in Delaware and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He suffered many hardships during his military experiences, walking barefooted over the mountains with bleeding and wounded feet. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Jones, was of English lineage and was a descendant of Lord Jones, who was lost at sea. She was a representative of old and prominent English and Welsh fam- ilies. John Harvey died in St. Joseph county, Indiana, near South Bend, when seventy-three years of age. He was a man of liberal education and scholarly attainments, and was engaged in teaching in select and high schools for a number of years, thus leaving his impress upon the intellectual development in the various communities in which he made his home. His religious faith was that of the Baptist church and his support was also given to every progressive measure along moral, social and material lines. He became one of the pioneer residents of Indiana, settling there when the Indians were still numerous in the state. His wife also died in Indiana, and her loss was greatly mourned among those to whom she had become endeared by reason of her many ex- cellent traits of character. In the family were the following children : Mary; Andrew; Margaret; John; Amanda and Elizabeth, both de- ceased; James; Lydia; Susan; Mrs. Horney; Daniel; and Mary. To Mr. and Mrs. Horney have been born five children: Alice, who died at the age of thirty-four years ; John, a resident of Lincoln, Illinois; Joseph- ine, who is the wife of Rev. A. I. Bulkley, who was a missionary to
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Burmalı, India, for seven years and is now living in Denver, Colo- rado; Mrs. Minda Darsey, of Denver, Colorado; and James H., of Tobias.
Mr. Horney made his home in Logan county, Illinois, from 1854 until 1884 and conducted two farms in that locality. He then came to Saline county, where he had located land in 1874 by means of a land warrant which had been granted to his father-in-law, John Harvey, in recognition of his services in the war of 1812. Mr. Horney now has one hundred and twenty acres of rich land constituting what is known as the Fruitdale farm. It is one of the best farming properties in the town- ship, and is well equipped with modern accessories and with all the machinery that facilitates farm work. There is a good grove and orchard upon the place, barnyards and feed lots, well kept fences, sub- stantial buildings for the shelter of grain and stock, a windmill and a comfortable residence. The farm is pleasantly located a mile and a half east of Tobias, where Mr. Horney and his family now reside. He has engaged in preaching the gospel in this county for twenty years and is a zealous and active worker in the cause of the master. He has been a member of the Baptist church for forty years and for fourteen years has acted as pastor of the church at Tobias. His first presidential vote was cast for Fremont in 1856 and he has since voted for Lnicoln, Grant, Garfield and Mckinley, in fact, has never faltered in his allegiance to the Republican party. He is public-spirited in an eminent degree, de- voted to the national interests and local welfare, contributing liberally to all that is calculated to upbuild his adopted country. At the time of this writing (October, 1904) Rev. Mr. Horney is seventy-one years of age, and his wife in seventy-four, both being past the Psalmist's limit, and none are more highly esteemed in the vicinity of Tobias than they.
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WILLIAM JACOBS.
William Jacobs, who is engaged in general farming and stock- raising in Jefferson county, being proprietor of the Ash Grove stock farm, was born in Hancock county, Illinois, near Carthage, in August, 1857. His father, J. H. Jacobs, was a native of Prussia, Germany, was reared and educated in that land and when twenty-eight years of age crossed the Atlantic to the United States. He married Miss Bar- bara Wallmer, who was born in Bavaria, Germany. Her death oc- curred when she was seventy-two years of age, but J. H. Jacobs is still living and makes his home with his son William, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in the Eleventh Missouri Light Artillery. He was largely engaged in military duty in St. Louis and other parts of Missouri, and after remaining with the army three years he veteranized. His military record is most credit- able, and his loyalty to his adopted land has ever been above question. In his political views he has always been a stanch Republican from the organization of the party. In his religious belief he is a Protestant. In the family were but two children, the daughter being Mrs. Elizabeth Egley, of Holdridge, Nebraska.
William Jacobs was reared upon the home farm in Illinois, and no event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his youth. He was taught the value of industry and perseverance in business life, and these have characterized his career since he attained man's estate. He is truly a self-made man, having been dependent entirely upon his own efforts for the property he has acquired. He has made his home in Nebraska since 1879, and when he arrived here he had but limited means. For three years he resided upon a tract of school land of one hundred acres. To-day, having carefully saved his money and made judicious investment thereof, he is the owner
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of six hundred and forty acres of valuable land, of which he has placed three hundred and fifty acres under a high state of cultivation. There are rich pasture and meadow lands and broad fields of alfalfa. He also raises grain, and he is making a specialty of breeding and raising red-polled cattle and Poland China hogs. In this branch of his business he has been quite successful, and he now has some fine specimens of both upon his farm. His property is also well improved with modern equipments. He has a barn forty-eight by sixty feet, which was erected at a cost of twelve hundred and fifty dollars. He has a crib sixteen by forty-eight feet, and there is a good windmill and water tanks. There is also a well equipped blacksmith shop upon the place. His residence, thirty-two by sixty-four feet, is well furnished and was erected at a cost of two thousand dollars. There is a grove of ash trees, covering ten acres, which gives the name to the place, and in fact the entire farm, complete in its appointments, constitutes one of the best rural homes of the county. It is pleasantly located five miles from Daykin, and it is the visible evidence of the life of thrift, industry and enterprise led by the owner, who came to this county in comparatively limited circum- stances, but has since improved his opportunities and has steadily ad- vanced from a humble financial position to one of success, being now the possessor of a very handsome competence.
In 1883 Mr. Jacobs was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bockholdt, who was born in Germany, but spent her girlhood days in Illinois and Nebraska. Her father, Martin Bockholdt, is a prominent and wealthy retired farmer now living in Plymouth, Jefferson county, and his life history demonstrates what can be accomplished through determined and well directed effort. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs has been blessed with seven children: Elsie, who is attending school in Plymouth, Ne-
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braska; Eveline; Harrison; Edwin; Ida; and Irene. They also lost one son, William, who died at the age of twelve years.
Mr. Jacobs formerly gave his political support to the Republican party and afterward became a Populist. He now votes the fusion ticket, believing in and supporting the platform which seems to contain the best elements of good government for the majority of the people. He filled the office of county commissioner for three years and was most faithful, prompt and reliable in the discharge of his duties. He was renominated and carried his own district, but was not re-elected. In his citizenship he is always found progressive and practical, and he has the welfare of the community close at heart. In his business career he has been careful, painstaking and straightforward, and his life record proves that success may be attained through such means and does not depend upon genius or fortunate circumstances.
PETER D. STARR.
Peter D. Starr, an honored veteran of the Civil war and one of the early settlers of Jefferson county, where he has made his home since 1869, was born in Gallia county, Ohio, on the 13th of February, 1839. His father, Peter Starr, Sr., was born in Virginia in 1797 and was a representative of an old family of that state. The paternal grandfather, Henry Starr, was born of German parentage. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Catherine Houdescheldt and was born in Virginia in 1807 and was also of German lineage. On leaving the Old Dominion, Peter Starr, Sr., removed with his family to Ohio, where he followed the occupation of farming. He voted with the Democracy, and in his religious faith was a Methodist. He
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died at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife passed away in Nebraska at the advanced age of eighty-five years. When in the south she was taken prisoner at Haines Bluff and then taken to Jackson, Mississippi. General Grant captured her with other prisoners at Jack- son, Mississippi. Afterwards the south recaptured Jackson and also recaptured her. Afterwards she was taken to Richmond, Virginia and there confined in Libby prison, afterwards was taken to Belle Isle, where she was paroled with other prisoners. She was in military prison something like five months.
In the family of Peter and Catherine Starr were six children : Rosena; George; Levi; Peter D .; Henry; and Andrew J., Andrew was forced to join the rebel army. He suffered great hardships and privations. He was sent home on a sick furlough and was afterwards murdered, for fear he would desert and go and join the northern army. Peter Starr, Sr., at this time ( 1861) lived in the state of Missis- sippi.
Peter D. Starr was reared upon the home farm in Ohio and attended the public schools. On the soth of July, 1862, he enlisted at Memphis, Tennessee, as a member of the Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, known as the First Middle Tennessee Regiment of Cavalry. He served for eight months and was at Gallotin and Nashville in the hospital. At the close of that time he was honorably discharged. Go- ing to Iowa, Mr. Starr was married in Mills county, that state, to Miss Mary C. Tresler, who was born in Indiana and is a daughter of William and Nora (Donnelly) Tresler. In their family were four children : Mrs. Sarah J. Mizner, of Sherman county, Nebraska; Wil- liam F., of Jefferson county; John H., of the same county; and Addie I., deceased. Mr. Starr was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who died at the age of twenty-four years, and in 1879 he was
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married again, his second union being with Louisa C. Houdescheldt. She has been very helpful to him in his business career through the careful management of the household and its expenses. Her father was one of the first settlers of Mills county, Iowa, removing to that state from Virginia in 1856. He was a soldier of the Civil war, en- listing in the Fifteenth Iowa Infantry. He held membership in the Christian church and died in that faith in 1872, when fifty-two years of age. His wife passed away in Mills county, Iowa, on the 22d of February, 1869, when forty-five years of age, loved and respected by all who knew her. To Mr. and Mrs. Starr have been born three chil- dren; Mrs. Mary Julia Bellinger, who is now living in Sherman county, Nebraska; Asa W., and Arthur Leroy.
Mr. Starr owns a good farm of eighty acres, on which he has a substantial dwelling and good buildings; his farm is well improved and his land is under a high state of cultivation, yielding to him a good return for the care and labor he bestows upon it. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Re- publican party and he has served as constable and as a member of the school board. He is also a charter member of Alexander Post, G. A. R., and he belongs to the Presbyterian church. In his life he displays sterling qualities and is ever found loyal to honorable principles and to every interest which tends to benefit his county along substatial lines of progress.
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