USA > Nebraska > A Biographical and genealogical history of southeastern Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 6
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Cleveland, Tennessee. With his regiment Mr. Willoughby joined General Sherman's army at Buzzard's Roost and was in all of the en- gagements to Atlanta, Georgia, proceeding afterward to Griffin, Geor- gia, and to Jackson. He took part in a number of battles and skirmishes and was fortunate in that he was not wounded. It was some time after the actual close of the war that he was honorably discharged, for following the cessation of hostilities, there came an order for the es- tablishment of a provost marshal government in the south, and his regi- ment was kept on duty in that section of the country to suppress all riots and disturbances that might occur. It was on such duty that Mr. Willoughby was at Griffin and at Jackson, Georgia, until about the close of his term. Later the regiment was ordered back to Atlanta, Georgia, where it was reorganized, for in the meantime it had been sep- arated into different sections and the company stationed at different points in the south. Returning to the north Mr. Willoughby was mus- tered out of service at Camp Butler, Illinois, on the 16th of February, 1866. He was then but eighteen years of age, and yet he had done faith- ful service as a soldier in defense of the Union.
Following his military experiences Mr. Willoughby took up his res- idence in the county of his nativity and was married there to Catherine Crow, who has been to him a most faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey for thirty-four years. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Campbell) Crow, both of whom are now deceased. Her father was a native of Ireland. Mrs. Willoughby has a half brother, Asel McFarland. Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby have six children: Mrs. Cora Snow, of Reynolds, Ne- braska; Nellie, who is a popular and successful teacher of Reynolds ; John, at home; Earl; Scott; and W. J. Bryan. They also lost two
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children, Nora, who died at the age of three years, and one that died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby began their domestic life in Iroquois county, Illinois, where they remained until 1883, and then came to Reynolds. He has a fine property adjoining the town, and in public affairs here he has been prominent and influential. He is independent in his political views, and he belongs to the Grand Army of the Re- public, Major Potter Post No. 147, in which he has served as quarter- master and also as vice commander. He likewise has membership re- lations with the Masonic fraternity. He has served as township asses- sor of his precinct and is a member of the school board. He favors every movement that tends to promote the welfare and progress of his adopted county, and is well known as a man honorable in business, faithful in friendship and loyal in citizenship.
BENJAMIN WALKER.
Benjamin Walker is one of the representative, enterprising and pro- gressive business men of Reynolds, Nebraska, where he is conducting a drug store. He came here in the period of early development of the town, and has made for himself an enviable record for meriting and enjoying the esteem and good will of his fellow men. Moreover, he deserves special credit because of the fact that from early boyhood he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources, and he has justly won the proud American title of a self-made man.
Mr. Walker was born in England, January 27, 1844, and is a son of George Walker. He was left an orphan at the age of six years and commenced life for himself as a bootblack and news boy. He made
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his way in the world from that time forward, and the hardships and trials that face a friendless boy as he battles with the world became familiar to him. He labored diligently, however, making the most of his opportunities, and the inherent force of his character enabled him to work his way upward. Although reared amid the most unfavorable circumstances and surroundings, he has developed a strong and honor- able manhood and has accomplished success such as many a man reared with more favorable conditions might well envy. At the age of thirteen he hid in the hold of a vessel bound for New York, and as a stowaway started for the new world. Soon after the vessel started he was found in his hiding place, but the captain befriended him and made of him a cabin boy for the trip. For three months he was upon the way and then arrived in New York city. Not long afterward he proceeded to Buffalo, where his father was living. He remained in that city for a period and afterward proceeded to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by the way of the lakes. In the latter place he worked at different occupations that he could secure that would yield him an honest living. For some time he was employed at farm work, and during this period he devoted many of his evenings to reading and study that he might broaden his education, which has been acquired entirely in this way and through practical experience. He was a youth of seventeen years of age when he became a soldier of the Civil war.
Mr. Walker had been deeply interested in the course of events which preceded hostilities and resolved that if the country needed his aid to preserve the Union he would enlist in its defense. Accordingly in 1861, in response to the call for three hundred thousand troops, Mr. Walker donned the blue uniform of the nation and became a member of Company K, Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry. With his command he went to the front, and at the battle of Shiloh, on the 6th of April, 1862.
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he was wounded, being shot through the lungs and the left side. His severe injuries caused him to be honorably discharged in the fall of that year. After spending this winter at Shiloh he was for three days without food. He lay alone in the garret of a private house. Later he was taken to Keokuk, Iowa, by boat, and was there placed in a hos- pital, where he received the usual army medical treatment. One day a lady, the mayor's daughter, visited the hospital, and she became inter- ested in Mr. Walker and took him out riding and to her father's house. She enlisted her father's sympathies in his behalf, and the mayor se- cured a permit whereby he was enabled to go by boat to his home. He arrived in a very weak condition, but his natural robust constitution tri- umphed over wounds and disease, and in a comparatively short space of time he had recovered from the severe injuries he had sustained in behalf of his adopted country. Still his patriotic spirit was undaunted, and he enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry under command of Colonel Orff. He was stationed in the south for a time, being at Burnside, Texas. He participated in the battles of Spanish Fort and of Mobile, Alabama. He made for himself a splendid military record, and the gratitude of the country is certainly due him for what he ac- complished in defense of the old flag.
Following his military service Mr. Walker engaged in business, at Colby, Wisconsin, for a time. Later he sold out and came to Jefferson county, Nebraska, where he again engaged in business, conducting a general hardware store for about two years; then engaged in the drug and furniture business. By fair and honorable dealings he has built up a large business and now occupies a commodious brick block which he owns. This is filled with a large line of drugs and furniture, and through his honorable business methods and earnest desire to please his patrons he has secured a very liberal patronage and thereby received
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each year a good income. For a number of years he was in partnership with A. H. Bothwell, but is now alone in his undertakings. His busi- ness block is twenty-five by sixty feet, one of the substantial buildings of the city.
In 1866, in Wisconsin, Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Annie C. Daggett, who was born in New Brunswick, but was reared and educated in Wisconsin. They have many friends in Reynolds and throughout the surrounding locality and both are members of the Bap- tist church, taking an active part in its work. Mr. Walker is one of the church officers, and he has also held official relations with the Grand Army of the Republic, being at the present time senior vice commander. He is also identified with the Masonic fraternity. In matters of citizen- ship he is public-spirited and progressive and his co-operation has been given to many measures for the general good. He is a man who, in the every-day walks of life, is found faithful to its principles and a high standard of conduct, and Jefferson county numbers him among its representative and valued citizens.
REV. JOSEPH D. MASTERS.
Rev. Joseph D. Masters, who has largely devoted his life to the work of the Christian ministry and is now living at Thompson, Nebraska, was born near Athens, in Athens county, Ohio, April, 28, 1845, a representa- tive of an old family of that locality. His father was Amos Masters and grandfather Levi Masters. The latter was born in Pennsylvania and his parents were from New Jersey. He married Miss Susan Rickey, also a native of the Keystone state, and both died in Athens, Ohio. Amos Masters wedded Miss Eliza Stout, of Athens county and a
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daughter of Noah Stout, who was born in Pennsylvania and was of Scotch descent. Amos Masters is now living at Hibbardsville, Ohio, at the advanced age of eighty years, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy-three years, in the faith of the Baptist church, of which she had long been a member. He is yet identified with that church and he gives his political support to the Prohibition party. In their family were four children : Joseph, of this review; Henry, who was a soldier of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry and also served for six months with a cavalry regiment of Ohio; Angie; and William.
Rev. Joseph D. Masters was reared upon the home farm and pur- sued his early education in the public schools. He afterward con- tinued his literary studies at Albany, Ohio, and later began prepara- tion for the ministry. On putting aside his text books he began preach- ing and in his holy calling has done effective service for the cause of Christianity. He served as state evangelist for several years in Ne- braska and also in Kansas and Colorado, and the seeds of good he has sown have borne rich and plenteous harvests.
At the time of the Civil war Rev. Masters offered his services to his country and enlisted at Athens, Ohio, on the Ist of June, 1862, as a member of the Union army. He joined the Eighty-seventh Ohio In- fantry for three months under the command of Captain McVey, and on the expiration of his term of service was honorably discharged. He af- terward re-enlisted on the 9th of November, 1863, at Athens, Ohio, and then became a member of Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio Infantry, under command of Colonel Manchester and Colonel Opdyke. In September, 1865, he was mustered out, the war having been brought to a successful termination. He participated in a num- ber of important battles, including the engagements at Rocky Faced Ridge, Dalton (Georgia), Buzzard's Roost, Marietta, Rome, Kenesaw
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Mountain, where his captain was killed, the siege of Atlanta, and Jones- boro. He was also in the battle of Strawberry Plains, Knoxville, Blue Ridge and later returned to Nashville, after which the regiment was sent across the Gulf of Mexico to Texas and was stationed at Mata- gorda Bay, and on the Rio Grande river. On the 25th of September, 1865, he left Texas and in the fall of that year reached Cincinnati, Oliio. He was with the Third Brigade of the Second Division of the Fourth Army Corps, and was for a time under command of General Stanley.
In 1867 Rev. Masters was united in marriage to Miss R. A. Bor- der, a lady of intelligence and good family, who was reared and edu- cated in Athens, Ohio. Her father, Joseph Border, a native of Penn- sylvania, was a soldier of the Civil war, serving with the Fifty-third Ohio Infantry. He died on the 15th of June, 1870, and her mother, who was born in Virginia, died at the age of fifty years. In their family were eleven children. To Mr. and Mrs. Masters were born six children ; Ed Grant, who is living in Auburn, Nebraska; Elsie E. Fike, of Thomp- son, Nebraska; Myrtle, who is the wife of Bishop Fairbury; Artie R., of Auburn, this state; Charles, also of Auburn; and Amos Ray, at home. They also lost two children, Riley, who was killed at the age of fifteen years; and Orley, who died at the age of thirteen years.
Rev. Masters came to Thompson, Nebraska, in 1880, and has here since made his home. He is a Prohibitionist in his political faith, and he served as postmaster of Thompson for three terms of four years each. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and is chaplain of his post, being now associated with Major Potter Post, No. 147, of Reyn- olds. He is also identified with the Ohio Veterans' Association of Ne- braska. He has traveled extensively over the United States, spent con- siderable time in California and thus has a comprehensive knowledge
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of this country. He has a strong attachment for his native land and her free institutions, and in citizenship he has always been loyal and pro- gressive.
GEORGE A. ROGERS.
The prosperity of any community, town or city, depends upon its commercial activity, its industrial interests and its trade relations, and, therefore, the real upbuilders of a town are those who stand at the head of its leading enterprises. Among this class George A. Rogers is num- bered, being the proprietor of the Reynolds Mills at Reynolds, Nebraska. In all his business affairs he is so thoroughly reliable and progressive that he has come to be known as one of the representative citizens of the community. He has resided in this state since 1867, and has there- fore been the witness of its growth and progress through a long period covering more than one-third of a century.
Mr. Rogers was born in Tioga county, New York, on the 14th of December, 1843. His paternal grandfather was John H. Rogers, and his father was John Rogers, who on arriving at years of maturity mar- ried Eliza Spencer, a native of New England. Mrs. Eliza Rogers died when her son George A. was five years of age. In the family were six children, three sons and three daughters. The father was a basket- maker by trade and followed that pursuit for a time, but afterward turned his attention to farming and by this means provided for his family. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and lived a consistent Christian life. He died at Reynolds, Nebraska, at the age of eighty-four years, while his wife had passed away in New York at the age of thirty years.
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George A. Rogers was reared in the county of his nativity and in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and the public school system of these localities afforded him his educational privileges. He was a young man of only about nineteen years of age when in August, 1862, he responded to President Lincoln's call for troops to aid in crushing out the rebellion. Offering his services to the government he was assigned to Company E of the One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, under Captain Clark and Colonel M. E. Dills. He participated in the second battle of Bull Run and at different times was under Generals Buell, Sickles and Hancock. He took part with the Army of the Potomac in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania and other en- gagements leading up to the attack on Petersburg. At one time he was struck by a spent shell, and he was ill with lung fever at Washing- ton, D. C., for about six months. He made for himself a good war rec- ord and became a corporal and received an honorable discharge in June, I865.
Mr. Rogers returned to his home in Pennsylvania following the close of hostilities and remained in the east until 1867, when he came to Nebraska. For two years he worked at the carpenter's trade in Omaha and in 1869 he came to Reynolds. He took up a homestead in 1869, was there until 1873, when he bought a mill at Rose Creek city. In 1887 he built a roller mill there, conducting it until 1891, when he moved his mill to Reynolds, where he has been ever since. He is an expert miller and the flour which he manufactures is second in quality to none made in the state. His mill now has a capacity of thirty-five barrels per day and is supplied with four double rollers and one feed roller. His practical experience enables him to carry on business along progres- sive lines, and his earnest desire to please his customers and his honorable
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business methods have secured to him a patronage which is very desira- ble, making him one of the substantial citizens of his community.
Mr. Rogers was married in 1871 to Miss Jennie Kimberly, of Iowa, a daughter of Jesse Kimberly, who was a soldier of the Civil war, belonging to an Iowa regiment. To Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have been born three chrildren: Hattie, who is a proficient music teacher; Alice; and Earl, They also lost two children, Fred and William, both of whom died in early childhood.
Mr. Rogers is a stalwart Republican in his political views and soci- ally he is identified with the Reynolds Lodge No. 121, I. O. O. F., which he has represented in the grand lodge. He is also connected with the Grand Army post and maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his association with this organization. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a man of strong purpose, of laudable ambition and unremitting diligence, and these have been the qualities which have entered into his successful business career.
EDWIN J. ROGERS.
As long as memory remains to the American people and as long as the history of the country is recorded, so long will the soldiers of the Civil war be held in grateful remembrance. When the attempt was made to overthrow the Union, loyal men from all walks of life flocked to the standard of the nation. They came from the workshops, the offices and the fields, all actuated by a common impulse of patriotism and with strong resolve to perpetuate an undivided union. Mr. Rogers was among the number who proved a loyal defender of his country,
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and as such and also as one of the worthy agriculturists of Jefferson county he deserves mention in this volume.
A native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania, he was born on the 8th of February, 1841, and is a son of John H. Rogers, a native of Con- necticut. The latter married Eliza Spencer, who died when her son Edwin J. was but eight years of age. She left six children : Beulah ; John P .: Hulda and Mary, both deceased; Edwin J .; and George A., who is living in Reynolds, Nebraska. The father came to this state in 1872, but his death occurred in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, when he was eighty- five years of age. His political support was given to the Republican party.
Edwin J. Rogers was reared in Pennsylvania and New York and acquired a good education by attending the public schools. He was thus well fitted for life's practical duties, and he has added to his knowledge by reading and observation in later years. He was but twenty years of age when, on the 6th day of May, 1861, he enlisted at Elmira, New York. for service as a soldier of the Union army, becoming a member of Company F, Twenty-third New York Infantry, under Captain W. W. Dingleday and Colonel H. C. Huffmann. He went into camp at Wash- ington Hill near Washington, D. C., and was first in battle at Ball Crossroads in Virginia. He afterward took part in the engagements at Cedar Mountain, in the Rappahannock raid and in the battles of Sulphur Springs, Gainesville, the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. In the spring of 1863 he was sent home to Elmira, New York, and was honorably discharged with a good military record. He afterward helped raise a company which was mustered in in September, 1863, as Company B, First Battalion New York Cavalry, the captain being John Whitley, Jr., while Colonel Tay- lor was in command of the regiment, which was sent to Washington,
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D. C. With this command Mr. Rogers took part in the campaign in the Shenandoah valley and was under command of General Sigel at New Market, forming a part of an independent brigade. He was also with General Sheridan, the regiment being connected with the forty thou- sand cavalry troops under that intrepid leader.
Mr. Rogers participated in the battle of Winchester, Virginia, where General Mulligan was killed. Later he was under General Pope and participated in the battle of the Wilderness. He was under General Hunter at the engagement of Piedmont and in August. 1865, received an honorable discharge. He never faltered in the performance of any duty whether upon the firing line or the picket line, and at one time he had charge of the recruiting services at the barracks in Elmira, New York. He was discharged as commissary sergeant, acting as quarter- master.
Mr. Rogers returned to his home in Pennsylvania, where he re- mained until 1869, when he came to Nebraska and secured a homestead claim in Buckley township, Jefferson county, upon which he has since resided. His time and energies have been devoted to the development of his farm and his labors have been attended with good results, so that he now has one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, upon which he has erected a substantial house and barn. He has also planted a good orchard and has tilled his fields until they have returned to him excellent harvests.
In Omaha, Nebraska, in 1870, Mr. Rogers was united in marriage to Miss Theressa Christ, who died in 1876. leaving a daughter, Mrs. Martha Flagle, who is now living in Jefferson county. Mr. Rogers afterward married again, his second union being with Mary Ellen An- drews, the wedding being celebrated April 21, 1878. She has been a de- voted wife and helpmate to him. She acquired her education in Mis-
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souri and Nebraska and has been most careful in the management of her household interests. She is a daughter of James Andrews, a well known early settler of the county, prominent in its early development and prog- ress. The children of the second marriage are: James, Millie, George, Edgar and Mary.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are well known in the locality in which they reside. He is a frank and genial in manner, reliable in business, cordial in his treatment of his fellow men, and as a citizen is as true and loyal to the interests of his country as when he performed the soldier's full duty on the battlefields of the south.
FRANCIS GREEN, D. V. S.
Francis Green, one of the skilled representatives of veterinary surg- ery in this part of Nebraska, maintaining his office and also his residence in Reynolds, was born in Lowville, New York, in the year 1846, his parents being Francis M. and Polly (Stevens) Green, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Massachusetts. The son was a small lad when his parents removed to Midland county, Michigan, and later he accompanied them to Illinois and afterward to Iowa, where they lived until 1861, when they returned to Michigan. In Illinois they had been residents of Sheffield, Bureau county, and in Iowa their home was at Chariton, Lucas county. On again going to Michigan they settled in Midland county, and the father devoted his energies to agricultural pur- suits.
Dr. Green accompanied his parents on their various removals until after they had again become residents of Michigan. He was indebted to the public school system of the country for the educational privileges
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which he received, while upon the home farm under the direction of his father he obtained training at farm labor and also made himself familiar with many practical business ideas. He enlisted in Midland county, Michigan, in February, 1865, in response to his country's call for aid, being at that time only eighteen years of age. He became a member of CompanyB, Seventh Michigan Cavalry, under Captain R. Glover. The regiment went south to Virginia and was engaged in special duty in the vicinity of Washington, D. C., during most of the period of his enlist- ment. He was stationed, however, for a time at the mouth of the Chesapeake bay and was detailed for special guard duty in the capital city. He participated in the grand review in Washington, in 1865 and later was ordered west to St. Louis, Missouri. Subsequently he was sta- tioned at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and afterward at Denver, Colo- rado. He then saw active service at Julesburg, Colorado, at Fort Col- lins and later at Salt Lake City, Utah, after which he went with his command up the Snake river in Idaho, where the soldiers were engaged in some fighting with the Indians. Dr. Green was one of the soldiers who were captured by a band of five hundred Indians, but he managed to make his escape, although he was wounded three different times by Indian arrows and the scars of his injuries are still to be seen. His arm was broken and he sustained a wound in the left leg and one in the body. After a hard campaign against the Indians in Utah, Idaho and other sections of the far west the troops returned by way of Colorado to Kansas, marching or riding back to Fort Leavenworth, where in De- cember, 1865, Dr. Green was honorably discharged.
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