USA > Nebraska > A Biographical and genealogical history of southeastern Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 3
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precinct ; John Henry, who married Bertha Clark and lives in Richland precinct of Jefferson county; Anna Belle, the wife of Cecil Bosley, of Jefferson county ; and George Edward, who married Carrie Moser, and resides upon the old homestead farm. They also lost three children : Elizabeth, who died at the age of seven years; Flora May, at the age of four years ; and William J., when ninteen months' old.
The first home of Mr. Robinson in Jefferson county was a dugout fourteen by sixteen feet. In this he lived for three years and then built a log cabin, which he occupied for eighteen months. He afterward erected a farm house and also built a modern and commodious home in Fairbury, where he and his family now reside. He owns six hundred and forty acres of as good land as can be found in Nebraska. This is well improved, being equipped with all modern conveniences, and he keeps on hand one hundred and fifty head of cattle and a large number of hogs. He had but limited financial resouces at the time of his mar- riage, but he and his wife have worked courageously and harmoniously together, and they have now a very valuable property and are numbered among the substantial citizens of Jefferson county. They hold member- ship in the United Brethren church. and Mr. Robinson is serving as one of its board of trustees, while both take an active part in church work. His political allegiance is given to the Populist party. The family home is noted for its generous and cordial hospitality, and both Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have the warm regard of many with whom they have been brought in contact during their long residence in this locality. Mr. Rob- inson as one of the early settlers is entitled to mention in this volume, and, moreover, he has taken an active and helpful part in the work of improvement as the county has emerged from its pioneer conditions to take a place among the leading counties of this great commonwealth.
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JASPER HELVEY.
For almost a half century Jasper Helvey has been a resident of Ne- braska, and since 1859 he has made his home in Jefferson county, so that few if any of its settlers have a more intimate knowledge of its history from a personal recollection of events than has Mr. Helvey. His name should certainly be inscribed high among the honored pioneers, for he has contributed in large measure to the work of reclaiming the state for the purpose of civilization, and Jefferson county owes him much for its development along agricultural lines. He is the proprie- tor of the Pioneer Stock Farm and is one of the leading stock-raisers and dealers of southeastern Nebraska, while through his well directed labors he has achieved very gratifying success.
Mr. Helvey was born in Huntington county, Indiana, on the ioth of December, 1842. a son of Joel Helvey and a grandson of Jacob Hel- vey. Both were natives of Virginia, representatives of a family noted for industry, integrity and courage. Joel Helvey was born in 1801 and after his removal to Huntington county, Indiana, he was married to Miss Mary Fouts, who was born in Ohio and belonged to an old Penn- sylvania German family. In the year 1846 they removed to Missouri, settling in Atchison county, near the Missouri river, at Sonora. After two years he went to Fremont county, Iowa, where he continued until the fall of 1855. when he brought his family to Nebraska, casting in his lot among the pioneer settlers of Otoe county. Indians were numerous in the state at that time, and for miles one could ride over the prairies without coming to a fence to impede his progress. The land was still in its primitive condition, and deer, antelope and buffalo roamed over the country at will. In 1859 the family came to Jefferson county, set- tling at Little Sandy on the old military road, which was General Fre- mont's old trail. Joel Helvey was a typical pioneer, brave and resolute,
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undeterred by the hardships and privations of frontier life, and his labors proved of value in the early development and upbuilding of the state. He was a man firm in his opinions of right and wrong, yet possessed a kindly manner and generous sympathy, and in all his busi- ness dealings was strictly honorable. He died in 1864, in the sixty- fourth year of his age, and his wife passed away in this county at the age of seventy-one years. He was a man of fine physique and vigorous constitution, and was thus well qualified to meet the conditions found upon the frontier. To him and his wife were born ten children : Thomas, of Jefferson county ; Henry W., who was in the war and who died in the same county ; Benjamin F., of Daykin ; Jasper, of this review; Albert, who is living in Oklahoma; George, who is state solicitor of Nebraska : Hiram P., who is living in Fairbury; Joanna, of Daykin; Mrs. Sarah Guilford; and Caroline, who died in Otoe county.
Jasper Helvey was but five years of age when his parents removed to Missouri, and he remained a resident of that state and Iowa until thirteen years of age, when he went with the family to Otoe county, Nebraska. It was on the 25th of May, 1859, when seventeen years of age, that he arrived in Jefferson county. He was an expert hunter in an early day and many deer, turkeys and buffalo fell before his sure aim. He spent a number of years upon the plains, making trips to gor- ernment forts, and he has had some narrow.escapes from the Indians. One one occasion he stopped to eat wild grapes on Blue river and look- ing across the stream he saw an Indian hiding in a patch of willow trees, drawing his bow to shoot him. Mr. Helvey, however, dodged under cover and managed to make his escape. Later he saw some government soldiers, to whom he reported the incident, but they refused to cross the river in pursuit of the red men, saying that they had lost one of their number in that patch of willows.
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Mr. Helvey followed the plains for seven years and then turned his attention to farming interests in Jefferson county. He was married No- vember 1. 1868, in Saline county, Nebraska, to Miss Sarah J. Powell, and they have traveled life's journey together most happily for thirty-six years, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the years have gone by, while the labors of Mr. Helvey have been ably supplemented by the careful management of his wife in her houshold affairs. She was born in Graysville, Ohio, June 10, 1853, a daughter of John and Amelia (Blair) Powell, both of whom were natives of Ohio and died in Jeffer- son county, Nebraska. They came to Nebraska in 1865. While living in the Buckeye state her father engaged in business as a packer of and dealer in tobacco, and in this state he followed farming. He was a Populist in his political faith and his religious belief was that of the Christian church. He died at the age of sixty-seven years and his wife passed away at the age of seventy-eight years. In their family were seven children, of whom four are living : Lucy ; Mrs. Helvey ; Thomas J .. of Powell. Nebraska; and Emma. Those who have passed away are Reuben, who was a soldier of the Civil war: James D., who also be- longed to the Union army ; and Lucinda.
To Mr. and Mrs. Helvey four children have been born : H. W., who married Ada Shaw and has four children-Ethel, Hazel, Mabel and Lena : Ida, the wife of U. S. Moore. of White City, Kansas, by whom she has two children, Bertha and Alfred; Ora, who died at the age of three years ; and Emma, who passed away at about the same age. They were bright little girls and their loss was deeply felt.
It was in the year 1878 that Mr. Helvey took up his abode on the farm which he now owns. His landed possessions comprise thirteen hundred acres, and on his home farm is a fine country residence. There are good barns and sheds for the shelter of grain and stock, feed lots
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and pasture lands, a windmill, large scales for the weighing of the grain, the latest improved machinery, and in fact all modern equipments. There is also a natural grove of forest trees. The Pioneer Stock Farm is one of the best in southeastern Nebraska, and upon the place Mr. Helvey has from one to three hundred head of cattle. He also owns two mammoth Kentucky jacks and some fine Norman horses, and is one of the leading stock dealers of the state, carrying on a business which is now very extensive and profitable. For twenty years he was also engaged in buying stock with his brother, B. F., buying at Dayken, Powell, and K. C. and O. Junction.
In politics Mr. Helvey is a stalwart Republican. He has frequently been a delegate to county and state conventions of his party, and has served as county clerk with credit to himself and satisfaction to his con- stituents in 1866 and 1867 and part of 1868, but while he is never re- miss in citizenship and in fact has been a co-operant factor in many measures for the public good, his attention is chiefly given to his busi- ness affairs, which are so capably and honorably managed as to bring to him a very desirable and gratifying financial return.
GEORGE Y. SMITH.
The life history of George Y. Smith demonstrates what can be accomplished through determined purpose and well directed and forceful energy. He has in his business career steadily advanced along lines of progress which have led to prosperity, and is to-day the owner of one of the finest farms in Richland precinct of Jefferson county. The land, rich and arable, quickly responds to the care and cultivation he bestows
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upon it, and yet it has not been without much hard labor that it has been brought to its present state of productiveness.
Mr. Smith was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, on the 3d of July, 1849. His father, George C. Smith, was a native of the same province and a representative of an old and honorable German family. In his home neighborhood he was reared and educated, and in early manhood he married Miss Margaret Hoffman, who was also born in the same locality. They continued to reside in the fatherland until April, 1865, when they crossed the Atlantic on a westward-bound steamship, arriving about the time that President Lincoln was assassinated. From New York they went by rail to Alton, Illinois, where the father pur- chased land and improved a good farm near Alton Junction. His en- tire life was devoted to agricultural pursuits, and his business dealings were characterized by the strictest integrity. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and reared their children in that faith. The father died at the advanced age of eighty-eight years and the mother passed away when seventy-seven years of age. They were the parents of four children : Henry, who is living in this county; Mrs. Anna Young, of California; George Y; and Mrs. Margaret Herman, of Alton, Illinois.
In his native country George Y. Smith spent the first sixteen years of his life and during that period acquired his education in the public schools. He then accompanied his parents to the new world and con- tinued his studies in Alton, Illinois, thus becoming familiar with the English language and gaining broad knowledge that has well fitted him to cope with the practical and responsible duties of a business career. He worked upon the home farm in Madison county, Illinois, until twenty- one years of age, when he went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he fol-
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lowed the carpenter's trade for a time, and thus started out upon an in- dependent business career.
Mr. Smith was married at Springdale, Leavenworth county, Kan- sas, to Miss Eudora Way, who was born near Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, and was a daughter of a well known and prominent citizen of that county, Anthony Way, who was born in North Carolina in 1808 and removed from there to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1828, becoming one of its pioneer settlers. He aided in its early development and was closely connected with its progress and improvement for many years. He married Ruby Lane, who was born in 1814 and belonged to a well known family of Indiana, being a cousin of Colonel James Lane, who took so prominent a part in public affairs in Kansas prior to the Civil war, when the attempt was being made to secure the admission of the Istate into the Union as a slave state. Mrs. Way died when her daugh- ter Eudora was but four years of age. There were thirteen children in the family, of whom five are living: Dr. Susanna W. Doods, who is proprietor of the Hygiene Sanitarium, of St. Louis, Missouri; Dr. Rachel Swain, proprietor of the Hygiene Sanitarium, of Indianapolis, Indiana ; Dr. Anna Lou Morton, of St. Louis, Missouri; Mrs. Esther Barker, of Kansas; and Mrs. Eudora Smith.
In the year 1873 Mr. Smith removed from Illinois to Nebraska settling in Meriden precinct, Jefferson county, securing a homestead claim where the town of Powell now stands. There he built a dugout, sixteen by twenty-four feet. He had then but two dollars in cash, in addition to which he possessed a hunting dog, a shotgun and a chest of carpenter's tools, but he possessed health. resolute will and strong de- termination, and these stood him in stead of capital. He set to work to make for himself and family a good living, and he has ever had the hearty encouragement and sympathy of his wife. They lived on their
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first farm until 1880, when Mr. Smith sold that property and purchased land west of Daykin in Thayer county, Nebraska, there living until 1882, when he returned to Madison county, Illinois, continuing to make that district his place of residence for four years, when he came again to Nebraska and lived in Eureka township for some time. He purchased the town site of Daykin, laid one nine hundred and eighty town lots and sold them. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Richland precinct, and has since devoted his energies to the develop- ment of what has become one of the best farms of the locality. He built a modern residence, twenty-eight by thirty-two feet and two stories in height. It stands in the midst of a natural park on an excellent and elevated building site, and the lawn has been planted to blue grass and is adorned with fine oak trees. Shrubs and flowers also add to the beauty and attractive appearance of the place, and the home is tastefully and handsomely furnished, while within its walls an air of refinement and cordiality abounds. There is a large rock cellar and a spring-house upon the place, and the excellent spring water is piped to the residence and also to the barns for the use of the stock. There is a fish pond on the farm, besides all the necessary buildings, which are substantial, com- modious and always kept in good repair. The farm is of rich bottom land and woodland and a creek crosses the place, which is well watered thereby. For twenty-five years he has operated a steam thresher and has found this profitable work, in addition to which he derives a good income from his own richly cultivated fields.
To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born four children: Frank, the eldest, is married and lives upon a farm of his own near the old home- stead; Lizzie, the wife of George Stewart, of Powell, Nebraska, died August 21, 1904, at Indianapolis, Indiana, and she was buried in Keeney cemetery, near Powell; Mollie is the wife of Homer Bacon, of
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Eureka precinct; and Charles, who is in the railroad service, makes his home in Alton, Illinois. They also adopted a daughter, Viola. Their children were carefully reared and have become useful and valued mem- bers of society in the various communities in which they reside. Mrs. Stewart had two children: Mira Eudora and Cameron Stewart, while Mrs. Bacon has a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Bacon.
Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a patriotic, public-spirited citizen, deeply interested in the welfare of his community and doing whatever he can for its im- provement. His business career demonstrates the possiblities which this state offers to the man of determination and energy. for through well directed activity Mr. Smith has won a very desirable measure of success.
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JAMES S. MOLES.
James S. Moles is numbered among the first settlers of Jefferson county. He secured a homestead claim here in 1869 and for many years has resided in Meriden township, where he has carried on agri- cultural pursuits and as a public-spirited citizen has contributed to the general welfare, taking deep and helpful interest in everything that has calculated to benefit his community.
He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1842, a son of Francis Moles, who was a native of Ireland and was reared in that country. After coming to the United States he married Miss Rebecca Fresh, who was born in Germany, but died in Muscatine county, Iowa. Francis Moles departed this life at the advanced age of seventy-nine years, while his wife passed away at the age of sixty-eight years. In politics
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he was a Republican, and in religious faith his wife was a Methodist. This worthy couple became the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, namely: Mary A., William, Sarah, John, Margaret, Frank, Eliza, Harriet, James S. and Wilson. Of this number Frank was a soldier of the Thirtieth Ohio Infantry, Wilson was a soldier of the Sixth Ohio Heavy Artillery and James S. Moles was also an ad- vocate of the Union cause, so that the family was well represented in the Union troops, to whom the country owes an unbounded debt of grat- itude.
James S. Moles was reared in Jackson county, Ohio, upon the home farm, and is indebted to the public schools of that locality for the edu- cational privileges which he enjoyed. He enlisted in Jackson county, Ohio, in February, 1862, in response to the president's call for sixty thousand men and was assigned to duty with the boys in blue of Com- pany C, Fifty-third Ohio Infantry. The company was commanded by Captain Jacob Davis and the regiment by Colonel Apler, who later was succeeded by Colonel Jones. They were for a time at Camp Diamond, Ohio, and thence were sent to Paducah, Ken- tucky. Mr. Moles was first under fire at the battle of Shiloh and he later participated in the siege of Corinth and the battles of Memphis and the raid near Vicksburg. The troops afterward returned to the Black River bridge at Jackson, Tennessee, and later aided in besieging Vicksburg until the fall of that city on the 4th of July, 1863. Mr. Moles was also at Chickamauga, and took part in the battle against General Pemberton's division at Scottsville, Alabama. Later he was granted a veteran furlough, which he spent at home, and when his term of rest had ended he returned to the south and took part in the engagements at Lookout Mountain, New Hope Church, Burnt Hickory and Resaca. He was also in the battle of Atlanta when General McPherson fell and
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later he went to Savannah and participated in the capture of Fort Mc- Allister and the battles of Jonesboro and Richmond. He likewise par- ticipated in the grand review in Washington, D. C., the most celebrated military pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere, and then went to Little Rock, Arkansas, on reconstruction duty. On more than one occa- sion his clothing was pierced by bullets, and he had many narrow escapes, but was never wounded. He received an honorable discharge and with a most creditable military record returned to his home.
Mr. Moles was married on the Ist of March, 1864, to Miss Abigail Hilighass, who was born in Pennsylvania, but spent her girlhood days in Ohio. Her mother died when Mrs. Moles was twenty-seven years of age, leaving four children : William, who was a soldier of Company K, Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; Sarah E .; and John, deceased. Her father was Jacob Hilighass.
In 1866 Mr. Moles removed to Muscatine county, Iowa, where he remained for three years, and in 1869 he came to Jefferson county, Ne- braska, where he secured a homestead claim. Upon this he built a house fourteen by twenty feet and later this was supplanted by a better resi- dence. He now has a good two-story dwelling well furnished and situated upon a good building site. There is a grove around the place, and in the rear are substantial barns and sheds for the shelter of grain and stock. There is also a good wooden mill, and the greater part of his farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land, is under a high state of cultivation. He keeps both cattle and hogs, and his sale of stock as well as of grain brings to him a good financial return annually. He was for five years in business in Fairbury, after which he returned to the farm and has since made it his home.
To Mr. and Mrs. Moles have been born the following children : Mary Frances; Sarah Ellen; William Edward, deceased; James Wilson,
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who has also passed away; Adrianna; Annette Candace, deceased; Don Pedro; Charles J .; Thomas R .: Roscoe; and C. K.
Mr. Moles is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Modern Woodmen of America and he also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. His life has in a way passed unevent- fully, yet it has been characterized by many qualities that are worthy of the highest commendation and of emulation. As a soldier he was true and loyal, never faltering in his allegiance to the old flag and the cause it represented, and in business life he has been found reliable, accurate and energetic.
WILLIAM M. GILMORE.
William M. Gilmore, proprietor of the Gilmore fine stock farm, is extensively engaged in the raising of Chester White hogs and Southdown sheep. Through his business activity he has contributed not only to his individual success. but also to the prosperity of the county, for by rais- ing fine stock he has also advanced the prices paid and thus the entire county has benefited thereby. He has resided in Jefferson county since 1877, and his business ability and enterpise have made him one of the substantial citizens of this part of the state.
Mr. Gilmore was born in Harrison county, Ohio, near Cadiz on the 17th of August, 1837, and belonged to an early family of that part of the state. His father, Cyrus Gilmore, was born in the east and was a son of William Gilmore, who removed to the west in 1797 when blazed trees were used to mark the way. One of the Gilmores was an officer in the war of 1812, serving under General Harrison and was also with Commodore Perry at the battle of Lake Champlain. Another mem- ber of the family served in the Revolutionary war. The family is of
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Scotch extraction and of Protestant faith. Cyrus Gilmore, the father, married Miss Hannah Moore, who was born on the 13th of April, 1813, in Harrison county, Ohio, and was a daughter of William Moore, who died in Cadiz, Ohio, at the age of sixty-six years. In order to provide for his family Cyrus Gilmore followed the occupation of farming. He gave his political allegiance to the Democracy and died at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, who is a consistent member of the Bap- tist church, is now living in Illinois at the age of ninety years. Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Gilmore were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom six are living.
William M. Gilmore was reared in Harrison county, Ohio, upon the home farm, and early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His education was acquired in the public schools and in the fall of 1857 he removed to Marshall county, Illinois, where he was employed at farm labor for some time. During the period of the Civil war, however, he put aside all business and per- sonal considerations in order to espouse the cause of the Union and enlisted in August, 1862, as a member of Battalion A, of the Third Regiment of Light Artillery, under command of Captain D. F. Vaughn. The regiment went into camp at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois, and thence was ordered south to Jackson, Tennessee. Mr. Gilmore partici- pated in an engagement with General Forrest's troops at Bolivar, Ten- nessee, and was on duty in guarding railroad bridges until the 4th of July, 1863, when he went to Helena, Arkansas. Later he fought the troops under General Price at Arkansas Post, and he was captured at Little Rock, Arkansas. Subsequently he took part in the battle at Prairie Du Ann, and at Condoin, Arkansas, and later returned to Little Rock. He participated in the battle of Duvalls Bluff and in two en- gagements near the railroad in that vicinity. He was also in other
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important engagements of note in Arkansas and saw active service in the arrest and pursuit of prisoners. He faced many of the hardships of war, and when hostilities were over was honorably discharged and re- turned to his home. He was a lieutenant of the company and made for himself a gallant record as an officer.
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