USA > Nebraska > A Biographical and genealogical history of southeastern Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 36
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In 1879 Mr. Poe was married to Miss Ethel Beaver, who was born in Ohio, being a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Iker) Beaver. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Poe are as follows: John Edgar, Fred W., Vernie W., Thonias Harrison, John Raymond, and Walter, who died at the age of eighteen years. Mrs. Poe comes of a family of the follow- ing children : Sylvia, Charles, Delbert, Dottie, Gracie, besides four that are deceased.
In politics Mr. Poe is a Republican, and is prominent in G. A. R. circles, belonging to Odell Post. He and his wife are much esteemed by all who know them, and have many friends not only in the township but throughout the entire county where they have made their home for so many years.
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GEORGE W. PYLE.
Among the representative citizens of Gage county none stand higher in public esteem than George W. Pyle, who is now successfully engaged in farming in Island Grove township. He was born on this side of the Mississippi, his birth having occurred near Chillicothe, Livingston county, Missouri, December 3, 1842. His father, Joel C. Pyle, died In 1840 he had been married in in Carroll county, that state, in 1855.
Indiana to Miss Mary A. Livingston, who was born in 1822 and was reared in the Hoosier state. She survived her husband many years, dying in Pawnee county, Nebraska, on the 31st of January, 1899. Our subject is the oldest of the three children of the family. Jeremiah, now deceased, was born in 1847 and when the country became involved in civil war entered the service. He was taken prisoner at Lexington, Missouri, during General Price's raid. Joel C., the youngest son, is now a resident of Gage county, Nebraska.
George W. Pyle was only thirteen years of age when his father died, and as his mother was in rather limited circumstances he had to help in the support of the family. In this way he was deprived of the usual educational advantages afforded boys, though he attended school to some extent. At the outbreak of the Civil war he was in White Cloud, Kansas, and from there went to Omaha to enlist, becoming a member of the Second Nebraska Cavalry, under the command of Captain Ed Patrick and Colonel Furnas, who was afterward governor of Ne- braska. The regiment was stationed for some time at Omaha, North Platte and Sioux City, Iowa. Mr. Pyle was ill with lung fever during his service but was able to take part in the engagement at White Stone Hills, where about eight hundred Indians were captured and about five hundred were estimated to have been killed. Some of these red men be-
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longed to the band that massacred the white settlers at New Ulm, Min- nesota, a short time previous.
At the close of the war Mr. Pyle received an honorable discharge and for some time thereafter made his home in Nemaha county, Nebraska. In 1866 he removed to Pawnee county, this state, where he took a home- stead, making his home there for the following ten years. Subsequently he resided in Chautauqua county, Kansas, but in 1901 returned to Ne- braska and settled in Gage county, where he now owns and operates a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Island Grove township. There is a nice orchard and grove upon the place and the buildings are of a neat and substantial character.
On the 29th of June, 1865, Mr. Pyle was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth (Hansbury) Bohn, widow of Charles Bohn, who was also a soldier of the Civil war and died leaving three children, Mary, Frank and John C. Fremont. The last named entered the service of his country during the Spanish-American war and was stationed for a time in the Philippines. He is now living at Muskogee, Indian Terri- tory. Mrs. Pyle was born in Ohio, and is a daughter of J. D. and Elizabeth (Nichols) Hansbury, both natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Ohio, and later to Wabash county, Indiana, but their last days were passed in Custer county, Nebraska, where the father died at the age of seventy-eight years and the mother at the age of seventy- nine. They were faithful members of the Christian church and most estimable people. They had five children who reached years of ma- turity, namely: Mary, Elizabeth, William, Joseph and Albert. All of the sons were in the Union army during the rebellion, Albert being only sixteen years of age when he entered the service. To Mr. and Mrs. Pyle have been born five children who are still living, as follows: William C., a resident of Pawnee county, Nebraska ; Mrs. Rilla Mason,
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of Oklahoma; Mrs. Louisa Randall, of Liberty, Nebraska; Eli, of Pawnee county; and Mrs. Rebecca Pierce, of Oklahoma territory. A son, James, died at the age of twenty-one years, and nine children died in infancy.
By his ballot Mr. Pyle usually supports the men and measures of the Republican party. He is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and both he and his wife are consistent and faithful members of the Christian church. His life has been most exemplary, and the causes of temperance and morality find in him a stanch supporter.
PHILLIP GOIN.
Phillip Goin, who was one of the defenders of the Union cause during the dark days of the rebellion, is now a prominent and successful farmer of Gage county, Nebraska, his home being in Island Grove township. He came to this state in 1869 and has therefore witnessed almost its entire development and upbuilding, in the work of which he has borne an important part as an agriculturist.
Mr. Goin was born on the 15th of August, 1846, in Claiborne county, Tennessee, and is a worthy representative of a prominent old family of that locality, his paternal grandfather being Levi Goin, of Tennessee. His parents, Sterling and Mary (Keck) Goin, were na- tives of the same state. The latter died in 1868 at the age of forty- five years. She was a loving wife, a tender mother and kind neighbor, and was withal a true southern woman in the best sense of that term. The father is still living in Tennessee at the advanced age of eighty- five years. By occupation he is a farmer. His political support has always been given the Whig and Republican parties, and during the
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Civil war he was a strong Union man, and many sufferings was he called upon to endure on account of his loyalty to the United States, as he was surrounded on all sides by secessionists. In his family were sixteen children, fifteen of whom reached manhood and womanhood. James K. Goin, one of the number, who was a Union soldier in the Civil war, is now living in Island Grove township, Gage county, Ne- braska; Proctor is also a resident of this county; and one lives in Mar- shall county, Kansas. All of the others, with the exception of our sub- ject, still make their home in the south.
Upon the home farm Phillip Goin passed the days of his boyhood and youth, and he received a limited education in the schools of Ten- nessee, but his time was mainly devoted to the labors of the farm. On the 30th of October, 1864, at the age of eighteen years, he joined the boys in blue of Company B, First Tennessee Light Artillery, and was under the command of Captain Beebe and Colonel Crawford. He was in the battle of Ball's Bridge, Virginia, and in the engagements at Cum- berland Gap and Strawberry Plains, together with others of lesser im- portance in Tennessee and Virginia. At the close of the war he re- ceived an honorable discharge at Nashville, July 20, 1865, and returned home with a fine military record for so young a man, being not quite nineteen years of age.
In 1868 Mr. Goin was united in marriage to Miss Elinor Bolinger, and a year later they came to Nebraska, locating in Pawnee county, where she died in 1888, loved and respected by all who knew her for her sterling worth and many excellent traits of character. Besides her husband nine children were left to mourn her loss, namely: Sterling, Florence M., Emeline, Matilda, Hugh, Proctor, Andrew, Lionel and Clyde.
Mr. Goin now owns an excellent farm of four hundred and fifty
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acres of rich bottom land in Island Grove township, Gage county, con- veniently located one mile east of Liberty. The place is under a high state of cultivation and is improved with good and substantial buildings, which stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. In connection with general farming, Mr. Goin carries on stock raising to some extent. He is a man of excellent business ability and thoroughly reliable, his word being considered as good as his bond. True to the principles for which he fought, he continues to support the Republican party, and he is a prominent member of Barry Post, G. A. R., in which he is serving as senior vice commander. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity.
JAMES HAMERSHAM.
James Hamersham, of Paddock township, Gage county, Nebraska, and one of the well known and highly respected veterans of the Civil war, has a record of which he may well be proud, he having enlisted at Joliet, Will county, Illinois, October 1, 1863, for three years or until the close of the war. He was placed in Captain White's company, Chicago Battery, and was honorably discharged in July, 1865. He served in the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, as well as numerous skir- mishes in Arkansas and Texas, and was wounded at the first engage- ment, but not seriously. Returning from New Orleans, where he was discharged, to Illinois, he resumed his more peaceful pursuits.
His birth occurred in county Kent, England, July 12, 1831, and he is a son of Thomas Hamersham, a farmer of that locality, and his wife Margaret (Tegg) Hamersham, both of whom were members of the Established Church. James, our subject, remained in England for some years, marrying at the age of twenty-three years, in county Kent,
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Hannah Hobday, and soon after the young people emigrated to the United States, settling at Lockport, Illinois, where they remained until 1866, when they removed to Johnson county, Illinois, and in 1880 they took up their residence in Marshall county, Kansas. The next change was made when they sold their farm of one hundred and twenty acres in that county and purchased the present home in Paddock township, Gage county, Nebraska. There the property is in excellent shape, and twelve acres is in small fruits suitable to the climate. The house and other buildings are well kept up, and on every side may be seen that a man of good management is in charge.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hamersham, namely : Margaret, Fred, William, Agnes and Henry, that are living, and one, George, who died at the age of eleven years. The family are members of the Christian church, and the children have been reared after the teachings of the Divine Master. Both our subject and his good wife are very hospitable, and make welcome every guest who enters their home. They are highly respected in their community, and they and their children are citizens of whom any neighborhood may well feel proud.
SAMUEL D. VERTREES.
Samuel D. Vertrees, one of the best known farmers and residents of Blakely township, Gage county, took up his home here in 1886, and has taken rank with the progressive, public-spirted and energetic citi- zens who have contributed so much to the development of this section of southeastern Nebraska. He is a veteran of the Civil war, in which he served with credit, although he was but a boy in years during the entire period of his enlistment. He has been successful in his farming
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operations and business affairs, but at the same time has gained the esteem and respect of all his fellow citizens and associates through his worth and upright character, manifested in all his dealings and relations at home and in business.
Mr. Vertrees was born in Scott county, Illinois, in 1846. His father was Thomas Vertrees, a native of Kentucky. Mr. Vertrees was bereft of his mother when he was but three years old, and his father died two years later, so that he and the other children were left alone at an early age.
Mr. Vertrees grew up on a farm in Illinois, and attended the public schools and was taught the value of manual labor. He enlisted at Springfield, Illinois, in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, under Captain Horton and Colonel Flynn. He was in several battles and skirmishes. He returned to farming, which he con- tinued until he came to Gage county in 1886. He has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, conceded to be one of the best in the township.
In 1868 Mr. Vertrees was married in Scott county, Illinois, to Miss Sarah Berry, who was born, reared and educated in Illinois, a daughter of Alexander Berry, of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Vertrees have four children living. The son William was accidently killed in Scott county. The others are George; Newton: Carrie May, the wife of James Lester, of Omaha; and Fred. Mr. Vertrees is a stanch Repub- lican, and served as county commissioner one term. He is very much interested in the raising of fine Poland China hogs, and has some of as fine specimens as are to be found in Gage county. Mrs. Vertrees is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, has been a noble helpmate to her husband in all his endeavors, and they are both the recipients of the highest esteem from their many friends in the township and county.
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PETER W. FEATHER.
Peter W. Feather, a well known citizen of Adams, Gage county, Nebraska, having spent a quarter of a century in Gage county, deserves the appellation of old settler, with the honor and respect which that title brings. He is also an old soldier of the Civil war, and in many ways has given a good citizen's attention and devotion to the public welfare, besides performing his individual labors. Mr. Feather is a young old man, and his seventy years still sit lightly on him, so that he is by no means beyond the time when he can be of service to himself and others.
Mr. Feather was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1833. The family is of German extraction, and his father, William, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He married Catherine Rus- sell. Among their children were: John, Johanna, Wheeler, Peter, William, Steve, Jefferson, who was a soldier ; Joseph, James, and Henry, a soldier in Company K, Twenty-second Wisconsin Infantry, and now lives in Ottawa county, Kansas.
Peter W. Feather was reared in Green county, Wisconsin, where he lived until the war. He enlisted from that county in 1862, in Com- pany K, Twenty-second Wisconsin Infantry. He was in camp at Ra- cine, Wisconsin, was then ordered south to Covington, Kentucky, and served against General Bragg's forces, and was in General Buell's com- mand for a time. He was taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison. He was sent home, but recuperated and rejoined his regiment, serving as sergeant orderly until the close of the war. He took part in the grand review at Washington, and received an honorable discharge with a creditable record. Mr. Feather came to Nebraska in 1868, and first settled in Johnson county, near Sterling, where he lived until 1876, when he came to Gage county, and has been a permanent and respected resident here ever since.
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Mr. Feather was married in Athens, Ohio, to Miss Mary Wagner, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of George and Christine Wagner. Mrs. Feather died at the age of sixty-three, in Gage county. She was a member of the Methodist church, and a true and devoted wife and mother. She left six children : Lillie, Christine, Alice, Emma, William and Ida. Mr. Feather later married Mrs. Rebecca Eliza Bennett, the widow of James Bennett, a mason and builder, and who was born in New York and died in Nebraska in May, 1897, at the age of fifty-six, leaving his wife and two children. Mrs. Feather was born in Saratoga county, New York, a daughter of Raymond and Pauline (Crandall) Betts, both natives of Saratoga county. The former, who was a farmer and a member of the Baptist church, died in Saratoga county, at the age of forty, and the latter at the age of fifty-one. Their children were : Morgan, Mary, Lucy, Jane, Walter L., Rhoda and Eliza. Mr. Feather is a strong Republican, is a popular member of the Sergeant Cox Post No. 100, G. A. R., at Adams, and holds the office of court chaplain. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal churchi, and have a large number of friends throughout the county.
JOHN D. JUMP.
John D. Jump, a prosperous farmer near Vesta, in Vesta township, Johnson county, Nebraska, has been engaged in agricultural pursuits here for fifteen years, having taken up his residence in this county in 1889. He is an intelligent, well informed and enterprising citizen, diligent and up-to-date in matters of farming, and in his relations with his fellow men has always shown himself upright and honorable, and deserving of implicit confidence and esteem. That he has performed the part of a
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loyal and patriotic citizen is evident from the fact that he served for nearly three years in the rebellion, and this highest mark of patriotism lias been maintained by his subsequent public-spirited attitude in all matters affecting the general welfare.
Mr. Jump was born in Greenville, New York, July 23, 1835, a son of Morris and Mary (Calderon) Jump. His father was a native of New York and a soldier in the war of 1812, drawing a land warrant for his services. He followed farming, and was a Whig in politics. He died in 1850 at the age of fifty-four, honored and respected by all. His wife was born in Edinburg, Scotland, and reared and educated in that country. After her husband's death she came to Illinois, in 1858, and her death occurred there. They had eleven children, and two sons were in the Civil war, James being a member of the Fifty-third Illinois In- fantry.
Mr. Jump was reared on a farm in New York, and attended the public schools. In 1858 he came to Illinois and settled in Marshall coun- ty, where he was engaged in farming until the war. August 7, 1862, he enlisted from Marshall county in Company C, Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry, under Captain James F. Thomas and Colonel Irons. The regiment was mustered in on August 27, 1862, and was sent to Buell's forces at Louisville. It participated in the battle of Perryville, Nashville, Stone River, Chickamauga; was then under Sherman in the great Geor- gia campaign, taking part in the historical engagements of Resaca, Kene- saw Mountain, New Hope Church; thence on the march from Atlanta to the sea, up through the Carolinas to Bentonville, and after the sur- render of Johnston went to Richmond and to Washington, where the Grand Review was held as the closing scene of the mightiest conflict of mortal arms. Mr. Jump was discharged at Camp Douglas, Chicago, June 6, 1865, and then returned to his family and farm. He farmed
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for some years in Livingston county, Illinois, and in 1889 came to Johnson county, Nebraska. He has one of the best farms in Vesta township, one hundred and sixty acres of rich and well improved land, a comfortable dwelling and an orchard and grove of twelve acres. It is situated two miles from Smartville.
Mr. Jump was married in Marshall county, Illinois, in 1861, to Miss Elvira Leigh, who was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, a daugh- ter of Elisha and Sarah (Bowman) Leigh, the former a native of New Jersey, and both died in Illinois, the former at the age of seventy and the latter aged eighty-six. They were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and he was a Republican. Mrs. Jump is one of six child- ren. Mr. and Mrs. Jump had six children : Ethel M. Whitney, of Indian Territory ; Fred Morris, near Tecumseh, Nebraska; Flora B. Benner, in Canada; Clinton, of Republic county, Kansas; J. Wilber and Myra, at home. All the children received good educations, and the daughters were successful teachers. Mr. Jump is a stanch Republican. He affil- iates with Sill Post No. 99, G. A. R., at Sterling, Nebraska. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM VIETTE.
William Viette, a successful retired farmer of Steele City, is an honored veteran of the Civil war and has been among the progressive and enterprising citizens of Jefferson county, Nebraska for twenty-six years. He has met with a good share of worldly prosperity in his under- takings, and is honored by all for his worth and character.
Mr. Viette was born in Washington county, New York, March 20, 1841, of a highly respected family of that county. Francis Viette,
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his father, was born in England, and in early life came to this country and participated in the battle of Plattsburg, during the war of 1812, when he was but sixteen years old. Elizabeth Viette, his wife, was born in France, and came to America an orphan, being reared by an aunt in New York. Francis Viette was a farmer, and in politics a Re- publican, and they were both members of the Catholic church. He died at the age of sixty-five. They were parents of eight children : Julian, Frank, Carlis, Peter, Eliza, Matilda, William and Isaac.
William Viette was reared in New York, being taught to work and also receiving a common school education. In early manhood he went to Wisconsin, and while there joined a company of seventy men, at Lone Rock, who went to St. Louis, Missouri, and on July 10, 1863, were enrolled in the service of the United States government. He was kept in camp at St. Louis for five days, and then sent to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was detailed for government work with the engi- neers and machinists corps. He did garrison duty for five months, and during much of the time suffered from dumb ague. He was finally discharged for disability, and had to spend the winter in a more northern climate, at Minneapolis, for recuperating his energies. He came to Jefferson county, Nebraska, in 1877, and began farming on one hundred and sixty acres. He also owned at one time eighty acres in Wabaunsee county, Kansas. He has a nice home in Steele City, well furnished and tastefully ornamented, where he is now passing the later years of his life.
Mr. Viette was married in Wisconsin to Miss Abigail Thompson, who was born in that state, a daughter of Richard Thompson, of Great Bend, New York. Mrs. Viette died in this county in 1897, at the age of forty-two, leaving three children: Albert, of Washington state; Ernest, of Washington state; and Miss Jessie, of Saline, Kansas. Mr. Viette
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was later married to Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Ferry, the widow of Dr. Ferry, a late prominent physician of Reynolds, Nebraska, and their daughter, Mary Ferry, died at the age of thirteen years. Mrs. Viette was born in Harrison county, Ohio, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Ackerman) Hilbert, the former of whom was born in Wheeling, Virginia, and lived for many years in Ohio. Mrs. Viette was one of five daughters, the others being Mrs. Lee, Mary, Louisa, and Alice, who is deceased. Mr. Viette is a stanch Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Congregational church, and she belongs to the Women's Christian Temperance Union.
DR. F. W. WINTER.
Dr. F. W. Winter, who is engaged in practice in Adams, Gage county, Nebraska, is one of the best known physicians of the county, and has gained the utmost confidence of the people in his skill and reliability. He has shown himself conscientious and sympathetic in his work, and whether as a man or in a professional relation he is held in high esteem and is popular with all.
Dr. Winter was born in Wapello, Iowa, in 1852, a member of one of the pioneer families of the state. His father, William Winter, was a native of Germany, and after his emigration to this country he enlisted in the army and served in the Mexican war. For his services he received a land warrant, and with this came to Iowa and took up land. He died at the age of fifty-six in Davenport, Iowa. His wife was Mina Filgen- baum, who was born, reared and educated in Germany.
Dr. Winter graduated from the high school in Muscatine, Iowa, and was a student in the Iowa Wesleyan College. He also taught
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school at Garner, Hancock county. He graduated from the medical de- partment of Iowa College at Iowa City, Iowa, in the class of 1880.
Dr. Winter was married in 1885 to Miss Lyda P. Bennett, who was born in New York state, a daughter of James Bennett, who died in Adams, Nebraska. Dr. and Mrs. Winter have five children: Ralph Bennett, May Irene, W. Waldo, Lewis Emerson, Elzie A. Dr. Winter is a strong Republican. He is a member of the State Medical Society, and of the Nebraska Valley Medical Society, and was secretary of the former for three years. He affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen and the Knights of Pythias, and Mrs Winter is a member of the Eastern Star. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he holds the office of steward and take- an active part in church work.
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