USA > Nebraska > A Biographical and genealogical history of southeastern Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 16
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WENCIL VILDA.
Wencil Vilda, justice of the peace of Wilber, Saline county, and a retired and successful farmer, has lived in this county since the 29th day of May, 1866, so long that he is counted among the pioneers and old-time settlers. He is a Bohemian by birth, but came to this country when a boy of twelve years, and is one of the sterling foreign-born Americans who are an honor to both their native and their adopted land. He successfully carried on farming until August, 1892, twelve years ago, and since then has been living in town, mainly retired from the strenuous toil of his former years. His public-spirited and genuine citizenship is shown by his election to his present office, and that is also evidence of how thoroughly he possesses the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
Mr. Vilda was born in Bohemia, July 11, 1843. His father Joseph Vilda, was born in the same place February 14, 1807, and married Anna Barta, who was born in the same neighborhood in 1814, and their marriage was celebrated in 1835. They had two children, but the elder, a son, died in Bohemia at the age of two years. Joseph Vilda was a blacksmith by trade, and followed it most of his life. He brought his family by sailing vessel to America, being nine weeks less two days on the passage from Bremen to New Orleans, in which latter port they landed October 2, 1855. The family possessed but small means. They arrived in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on December 4, and there Joseph opened his shop and did business for nine and a half years. In the early part of May, 1866, he accompanied his son Wencil to Nebraska, and they took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie in Wilber township. Joseph Vilda died on this homestead about 1888 and his wife in 1884. They were members of the Catholic church.
Mr. Wencil Vilda lived with his parents till their death. He
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was reared and received some of his schooling in Wisconsin. He was a prosperous farmer for many years, but in 1892 sold his farm and moved to town, where he built a residence, which he has also since sold, and now lives in the home of one of his sons. He and his noble wife both suffer much from the rheumatism, especially the latter. Mr. Vilda is an intelligent and broad-minded man, reading much. In matters of religion he is free-thinking and prefers to reason out questions of faith, wearing no shackles of dogma, and by many of his neighbors is accounted an agnostic. He is a Master Mason, and in politics is a socialist. He was recently elected to his present office of justice of the peace, and in 1868 was elected assessor of Wilber precinct, serving two terms. He was county commissioner for three years, and was chair- man of the board at the time the court house was being built.
Mr. Vilda was married in Wisconsin, May 5, 1866, to Miss Mary Libal, who was born in Bohemia in 1846. or '47, being one of six children, five sons and one daughter, born to Wencil Libal and his wife, who were farmers in fair circumstances, and both died in Wisconsin in old age. Mr. and Mrs. Vilda lost two children, Edward at the age of eleven years and Charles aged eighteen months, and their eight living sons are as follows: Joseph, single, in Colorado; Anton, who is married and living in Wilber; Stephen, who trained himself to be a stationary engineer, and is unmarried and living in Wilber precinct ; Fred, unmarried, in Colorado; Adolph, who is married and lives in Wilber; Vincent, of Colorado and single; John and Edward, at home.
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DAVID UPTON.
David Upton, to whom has been vouchsafed a well earned rest after many years of honorable and untiring business activity, is a prominent and influential citizen of Tobias, where he has made his home since 1891. His has in some respects been an eventful career, and he saw especially hazardous service during the period of the Civil war. He has always been progressive and loyal in citizenship, re- liable and industrious in business, and his career is one which is worthy of commendation.
Mr. Upton was born near Moores Junction, Clinton county, New York, on the 7th of February, 1833, his birthplace being in the beauti- ful Lake Champlain region upon the old battle ground of Plattsburg. He was thus reared in a neighborhood which aroused his patriotic spirit, and this was manifest in later life when the country needed his military service. His father, Edward Upton, was born at Loch Naugh in county Antrim, Ireland, and was of Scotch-Irish lineage, his an- cestors being of the Protestant faith. He married Sydney Porter, who was of English lineage. Her people belonged to the Episcopal church, but she became a member of the Presbyterian church, in which her husband held membership. On becoming residents of New York this couple won the respect and esteem of neighbors and friends, for they manifested those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken friendship and deep regard. Mr. Edward Upton passed away at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, and his wife at the age of ninety years. They carefully reared their family, instilling into the minds of their children lessons of morality and honesty and bringing them up to habits of industry. They were the parents of eight sons, but David is the only one now living. Two of the sons
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were soldiers in the Civil war. Walker was a member of the army, doing service in a mechanical capacity.
David Upton was reared under the parental roof, spending his boy- hood days in his native county, where he acquired his education in the public schools. He afterward learned the carpenter's trade and con- tinued in that business in the east until twenty-two years of age, when he went to Mahaska county, Iowa. In 1855 he removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, and in 1856 to Poweshiek county, and there in 1857 he chose a companion and helpmate for life's journey, being united in marriage to Miss Lucy Bangham, an intelligent lady. They have now lived as man and wife for forty-seven years, sharing with each other the joys and sorrows, the adversity and prosperity of life. Mrs. Upton was born in Clinton county, Ohio, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Jen- kins) Bangham. The father was a native of Ohio, and both he and his wife died in Iowa. Their religious belief was that of the Society of Friends or Quakers.
For twenty years Mr. Upton engaged in building and contracting in Poweshiek and Mahaska counties, Iowa, and then removed to Saline county, now making his home in Tobias. He has lived retired since 1891, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He built a good resi- dence at the cost of twenty-four hundred dollars, this being one of the attractive, pleasant and hospitable homes of the town. All that he possesses has been acquired through his own efforts, and his life proves what can be accomplished through determination and honorable purpose.
Mr. Upton was a soldier of the Civil war and he made a good record as a gallant warrior. He enlisted at Montezuma, Poweshiek county, lowa, on the 2d of August, 1862, when President Lincoln called for sixty thousand more troops to aid in the defense of the Union. He
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joined Company B of the Fortieth Iowa Volunteers, with Captain Frank Campbell in command of the company and Colonel John A. Garrett, of Newton, Iowa, in command of the regiment. The rendez- vous was at Iowa City, and under orders the Fortieth Iowa thence proceeded south to Columbus, Kentucky, afterward to Paducah and on to Vicksburg, defending the breastworks there. The regiment was en- gaged in besieging the city for forty-seven days or until its surrender on the 4th of July, 1863. A week later the command went to Helena, Arkansas, under General Steele, took part in the Little Rock expedition, and in that city Mr. Upton was detached as General Steele's special messenger; this was a position of much responsibility and importance and was also a hazardous one. It was necessary that a man of good judgment, calm in thought and courageous in action should fill the place, and because of these qualities Mr. Upton was chosen. He did his full duty regardless of the danger to which he was exposed. He acted as mail agent from Little Rock to Memphis, Tennessee, going by way of Duvall's Bluff on the White river. His life was many times en- dangered, as he carried mail and papers of much importance. He had orders if captured to burn or destroy the papers and dispatches that he might be carrying. Later he was appointed hospital steward in charge of eighty convalescents and afterward was assigned to duty to take these men back to Iowa. Again he displayed excellent judgment in perform- ing the task assigned him, and he did valuable service in behalf of his ill and wounded comrades, whom he conveyed to the north and placed in charge of Adjutant General Baker at Davenport, Iowa. There Mr. Upton was honorably discharged after long and faithfull service. He has every reason to be proud of his military record, and it is such as entitles him to rank with the brave defenders to whom the Union owes her perpetuation and present prosperity.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Upton have been born nine children, six living : Mrs. Emma Tallon, who is living in Tobias; Ada, the wife of Rev. W. W. Hull, of Bircher, Nebraska; Albert, who is a banker of Mahaska, Washington county, Kansas; F. C., who is engaged in the hardware business in Belvidere, Nebraska; L. K., who follows farming in Tobias; and Garfield, who is a partner of his brother, F. C. Upton, in Belvidere. Mr. Upton votes with the Republican party and he served as justice of the peace in Iowa for several years. He belongs to the Grand Army post at Tobias and for many years he has been a devoted Mason, having become identified with the fraternity in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1872. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His life has been a success. His entire career is illustrative of the fact that certain actions are followed by certain results. As a business man he was energetic and successful, as a soldier he displayed bravery, sagacity and true patriotism, and as a citizen he is an illustration of the high type of our American manhood.
HENRY C. WELCH.
Henry C. Welch, who is now filling the position of commander of J. W. Moorehouse Post No. 188, G. A. R., at Tobias, Nebraska, well merits representation in this volume not alone because of his excellent army record but also because he is one of the early homesteaders of the county, having established his residence here on the 20th of May, 1871. He secured a tract of land from the government, and with the agricul- tural interests of the county has since been closely identified.
Mr. Welch was born in Lake county, Illinois, about forty miles north of Chicago, where Zion City now is, and is a son of Daniel and
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Caroline (Parker) Welch, both of whom were natives of Vermont, in which state they spent the days of their childhood. After their mar- riage they came to Illinois in 1846, settling in Lake county upon a farm, and subsequently they removed to Will county, Illinois, residing near Joliet, and in 1853 they removed to Iowa, settling near North English, in Iowa county. The father devoted his energies to agricul- tural pursuits throughout his entire life. In politics he was a Repub- lican, and as a citizen was always loyal to the best interests of the community in which he made his home. He died in Iowa at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife passed away in Iowa at the age of thirty-three years. She left seven children, three sons and four daugh- ters, namely : Henry C., Albert, Clarissa, Emma, Almeda, David H. and May.
Henry C. Welch was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, spending the days of his childhood and youth in Illinois and Iowa. He attended the public schools through the winter months and in the sum- mer seasons assisted in the work of the fields. Experience, reading and observation have added greatly to his knowledge and made him a well informed man. He was a resident of Iowa until 1871, when he came to Saline county and secured a homestead near where the town of Tobias has since been built. He has here one hundred and sixty acres of land constituting a very desirable farm. Its splendid appearance is due to his efforts, for when the property came into his possession it was un- improved. The place is located on section 10, township 6, range one east, in Atlanta township. The first house was a little board shanty eight by sixteen feet, and in the succeeding fall he built a sod house twelve by sixteen feet. Many hardships and discouragements were to be faced, but with resolute spirit he met all the difficulties that lay in the path to success. In the year 1874 the grasshoppers entirely des-
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troyed all crops, and droughts were caused by hot winds, while the blizzards of winter also proved detrimental, but Mr. Welch never faltered in his determination to make a good farm in Nebraska and his labors were at length crowned with a gratifying measure of success. He continued to reside upon his farm until 1890 and he still owns the property, upon which is a substantial residence, good barns, an orchard and grove, and many other modern accessories. His residence is a modern structure comfortably furnished, and hospitality there reigns supreme. He owns in all two hundred and forty acres.
Mr. Welch was married in Marengo, Iowa, in 1865, to Miss Malinda J. Baldwin, a daughter of Noah and Lydia E. Baldwin, of Iowa, who removed from Ohio to the Hawkeye state in 1854, becoming early residents there. The father's death occurred in the Buckeye state, and the mother is still living in Ohio. To Mr and Mrs. Welch have been born five children : Cora M. Hall, who is now living near Friend, Nebraska; Mrs. Caroline A. Porter, a resident of Atwater, Ohio; Elmer S., who is serving as cashier of a bank in Cameron, Illinois; Mrs. Mellie A. Upton, of Tobias, Nebraska; and Marietta, at home. The children were all provided with good educational privileges, and Elmer S. finished his course in Elliott's Business College at Burlington, Iowa.
Mr. Welch is numbered among the veterans of the Civil war, for on the 3Ist of October, 1864, he enlisted at Grinnell, Iowa, as one of the boys in blue of Company K, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry. He served under Captain William McDowell and Colonel George P. Premott. He went from Iowa City to the south and marched through Georgia with General Sherman's army. He was also at Columbia, South Carolina, took part in the Carolina campaign and was in the battle of Bentonville when General Joe Johnston surrendered. He after- ward marched on to Richmond, thence to Washington, D. C., where he
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participated in the grand review, which was the closing ceremony of the long and great struggle which was necessary to preserve the Union in- tact. He was then honorably discharged in the capital city on the 26th of June, 1865. He votes with the Republican party and has filled a number of local offices. He has also been a delegate to the county conventions and is active in support of the interests of his friends. A leading member of the Grand Army of the Republic in southeastern Nebraska, he is now serving as commander of the post at Tobias, and is popular with the members of that organization, and with the citizens in general throughout this portion of the state. As and energetic, up- right and conscientious business man and a gentleman of attractive social qualities, he stands high in the estimation of the entire community.
JOSEPH D. WILSON.
Joseph D. Wilson, of Atlanta precinct. Saline county, has been a resident of this particular portion of southeastern Nebraska for twenty- five years, and is numbered among the successful and influential citizens of his locality. Farming pursuits and country life have always appealed to him, and his long career spent in agricultural enterprises has brought him prosperity that is well deserved.
Mr. Wilson was born on the Monongahela river, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, November 27, 1842, and comes of a family noted for honesty, industry and integrity. His grandfather Robert Wilson was born of Scotch-Irish Protestant parents. His father, Robert, Jr., was reared in Pennsylvania and was a shoemaker by trade, keeping a shoe store. His wife was Phebe Baker, daughter of Joseph Baker, of Scotch-Irish stock. Robert and Phebe Wilson both died in Pennsyl-
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vania, the latter at the age of thrity-eight, the former when seventy- two years old, and they were both of the Presbyterian faith, and the former was a Republican in politics. They had five children: Joseph D., John A., Charles, William and Ida.
Mr. Joseph D. Wilson was reared in Pennsylvania, received his education in the district schools, and after the death of his mother took up the battle of life on his own account. On February 10, 1863, he enlisted in Company H of the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Captain Greens and Colonel Sipes, and he was in General Stoneman's division and in General Wilson's famous cavalry. He was in the Army of the Cumberland, and saw much service in Tennessee, Georgia, Ala- bama and the swamps of Florida. He was among the rough riders, and took part in the great cavalry raid made by General Wilson through the south. He received his honorable discharge at Macon, Georgia, September 2, 1865, and returned home with a good soldier's record to his credit for all the rest of his life.
He was married in 1865 to Miss Sarah Hull, who has played her part equally well with her husband for the subsequent period of nearly forty years and is devoted to her home and family and is an esteemed member of social circles in the community. She was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, near Oskaloosa, her parents, John and Levina Hull, being among the first settlers of that part of Iowa. Her maternal grandpar- ents were among the first settlers of Wayne county, Indiana. John Hull died at Tobias, Nebraska, in 1901, aged eighty-three years, and his widow is still living at the age of eighty-one, making her home with her son in Tobias. Mrs. Wilson was one of a large family of children, and the others were named as follows : F. T., Anna, Elizabeth, Solomon, George, Don, Charles, John F. and William W.
In 1867 Mr. Wilson located in Iowa, and remained there until
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his removal in 1879 to Saline county of this state. He has a fine farm- ing estate of eighty acres, on which are a nice grove and orchard, a good residence, barn, windmill, and all the appurtenances and equipments so necessary to progressive and up-to-date agriculture, which is, of course, the kind of enterprise Mr. Wilson carries on. This beautiful rural home is located five miles northwest of Tobias, and whether for its social charms or the industry and worth of its inhabitants this home is one of the most delightful in the entire neighborhood. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson : Ida May, who died at the age of sixteen years; Elmer W., Robert B., Carrie L. Crouch, Frank B. and Harry E. Mr. Wilson is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are active in church and religious work.
LUMON CHASE.
Lumon Chase, living in Atlantic precinct in Saline county, not far from the town of Tobias, secured a homestead claim here in 1873 and has since made it his place of residence. He was born in Hartford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, on the 11th of May, 1846. His paternal grandfather, Charles Chase, was a native of the Empire state, and as a soldier of the war of 1812 participated in the battle of Plattsburg, one of the important engagements in the second war with England. Timothy Chase, the father of our subject, was born in York State and after arriving at years of maturity he wedded Lucy Irene Howe, a native of Connecticut and a representative of one of the old and dis- tinguished families of that state. On leaving the east Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Chase removed to Ohio, establishing their home in Ashtabula county at South Dorset, when their son Lumon was a youth of four
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years of age. When he was a youth of thirteen they removed to Mer- cer county, Illinois. The mother died near Crete, Nebraska, in 1872 treatment and charitable in her judgment of others. The father, who devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, died at the age of sixty-four years. He was a Jackson Democrat, interested in the success and wel- fare of his party, but he had neither time nor inclination to seek public office. To him and his wife were born fourteen children, eleven of whom reached adult age, namely : Sarah, Crawford, Wells, Ralph, Jane, Emily, Lumon, Marsh, Delila, Hattie and Buchanan.
Mr. Lumon Chase was reared in Ohio and Illinois, spending his boyhood days in the usual manner of farmer lads. He early became familiar with the duties of field and meadow and when not engaged with the work of the farm he devoted his attention to the mastery of the branches of learning taught in the public schools. He was married at Viola, Illinois, to Miss Lucy Elizabeth Pratt, who was born near London, England, and in her girlhood days came to America, where she was reared and educated, spending part of the time in Canada and part in Illinois. Her parents were John and Eliza Jane (Harrison) Pratt, both of whom were natives of London, England. They resided in Illinois for many years and died near Alexis, that state, the mother passing away at the age of fifty-five years, while the father died at the age of fifty-nine. She was an earnest Christian woman, true to the teachings of the church in which she held membership. Mr. Pratt carried on agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death. Interested in the condition of his adopted land, he studied its political questions with the result that he gave an earnest support to the Democracy. In the family of this worthy couple are seven chil- dren : Charles, Lucy E., Mary, William, Frank, John and George.
It was in the year 1873 that Mr. Chase came to Saline county,
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making the journey westward with team and wagon after the primitive manner of travel at that time. He secured a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres and began the development of a farm. On this he built a sod house twelve by sixteen feet, and later another fourteen by twenty feet. He now has a well improved property with a good orchard and grove, the former covering twelve acres. He set out the trees himself and they are now in bearing condition.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Chase has been blessed with six children : Fannie Irene, Charles H., Sarah Jane, Mary A., Hattie and Harry. The daughters are all married now. The parents are both intelligent and hospitable people, having many warm friends in this part of the state. Mr. Chase is a Democrat in his political views and fraternally is connected with Tobias Post, G. A. R., while his wife is identified with the Society of Friends.
DAVID FRANKFORTER.
In the early days when much of the land in Saline county was still in possession of the government, David Frankforter came to this state and secured a homestead within its borders, taking up his abode here in 1871. In the years which have since intervened he has given his attention to agricultural pursuits and what he has accomplished is indicative of his excellent business ability and sound and reliable judg- ment.
Mr. Frankforter is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred at Lima in Allen county on the 17th of July, 1841. His paternal grand- father, Philip Frankforter, was born of German parentage. He made his home in Maryland, and in that state occurred the birth of Andrew
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Frankforter, the father of our subject. Andrew Frankforter, married Elizabeth Swartz, who was born in Pennsylvania and was also of German parentage and ancestry, representing one of the old German families of the Keystone state. Her death occurred in Ohio when she was forty-five years of age, and the father, long surviving, passed away at the age of eighty-six years. He voted with the Democracy, and both he and his wife were Lutherans in religious faith. They were the parents of seven children, and by a second marriage the father had three chidren. Five of his sons were soldiers of the Civil war- certainly a most creditable military record of which the family has every reason to be proud. These sons were Henry, Andrew, Samuel, Jacob and David, all of whom served in Ohio regiments and three of the number were wounded in battle.
David Frankforter was reared in Mahoning county, Ohio, to the age of ten years, and then removed with his parents to Wood county, Ohio, where he spent his youth upon the home farm, while in the public schools of the neighborhood he acquired his education. He continued to assist his father in the care and cultivation of the old homestead until August, 1861, when being unable to content himself longer at the plow he put aside farm work and enlisted at Tiffin, Ohio, as a member of Company H, Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry. The regiment was commanded by Colonel W. H. Gibson, the company by Captain O. B. Hayes and was formed in response to President Lincoln's call for sixty thousand volunteers. The Forty-ninth Ohio went into camp at Tiffin and was afterward ordered south to Louisville, Kentucky. The first battle in which Mr. Frankforter engaged was at Shiloh, and later he took part in the battles of Corinth, Liberty Gap and Chickamauga, where many of the company were killed, including the lieutenant. At Missionary Ridge Mr. Frankforter was wounded in the upper lip. He was after-
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