Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties, Part 118

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820

USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 118
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 118
USA > Nebraska > Hall County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 118
USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 118

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Andrew J. Thompson. Perhaps it is not to be so much wondered at that Mr. Thompson is pos- sessed of such progressive ideas and tendencies regarding the management and conduct of his farm when the fact becomes known that he is originally from a community of intelligent and progressive agriculturists-Columbiana County, Ohio-where he was born on April 15, 1845. He was the young- est of ten children, six now living, born to James and Nancy (Magee) Thompson. natives, respective- ly, of Baltimore, Md., and Allegheny, Pa., the former dying May 16, 1881, and the latter July 14, 1878. The paternal grandfather was Gen. Thomas Thompson, of Revolutionary War fame, and his wife was Rebecca Thompson. The maternal grand- parents were John and Rebecca Ann Magee. An- drew J. Thompson spent his boyhood days on a farm in his native county, and at the age of four- teen years he accompanied his parents to Portage County, Ohio, and remained with them, assisting to till the home farm until he was eighteen years old, at which time he entered the Union army, be- coming a member of Company I, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, participating, during this time, in nineteen battles under Gen. Sherman, among which may be mentioned Knox- ville, Franklin, Nashville, Lookont Monntain, siege and battle of Atlanta, Fort Fisher and Fort Alex- ander. He was also with Sherman on his march to the sea, and July 1, 1865, he was honorably dis- charged at Salisbury, N. C., whereupon he re- turned to Portage County,-Ohio, where he tilled the soil for three years. In 1868 he came westward

to Muscatine, Iowa, and after farming there for one year removed to Vermillion County, Ind., and a few months later returned to his former home in Iowa. He continued to follow agricultural pur- suits there until 1887, and the following year came to Hall County, Neb. August 23, 1870, he was married, in Muscatine County, to Miss Lora O. Deming, a native of Portage County, Ohio, born March 24, 1843, being a daughter of Donald and Roxana (Fitch) Deming, the former born in Hart- ford, Conn., April 11, 1795, and the latter in Cov- entry, Tolland County, Conn., August 14, 1805. They were married April 11, 1822, and became the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Thompson was the youngest, six being now alive. The mother of these children died in Portage County, Ohio, March 1, 1868, and the father in Muscatine Coun- ty, Iowa, August 14, 1870. The paternal grand- parents of Mrs. Thompson were Theron and Electa (Ensign) Deming, the maternal grandparents being John and Marilla (Gregory) Fitch. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have resided on the farm they now oc- cupy ever since coming to the State, which com- prises 160 acres of well cultivated land, and have proved themselves to be valuable residents of the county. . They have three children: Sherman A., Allie L. and Lora M. Mr. Thompson is a Demo- crat, and invariably supports the men and meas- ures of his party. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Thompson was engaged in teaching school, and in eight years taught twelve terms in Portage County, Ohio.

Elmer E. Thompson is the superintendent of public instruction for Hall County, Neb., to which position he was elected on the Republican ticket in 1889, and is now ably and successfully discharging the duties of this office. He was born in West Union, Fayette County, Iowa, June 3, 1860, and is a son of Alexander and Lavina (Foster) Thomp- son, both of whom were born in the "Buckeye State," and removed to Iowa in 1859, where the father followed the occupation of cabinet-making and carpentering for many years. In 1873 he re- moved to Nebraska, and made a home for himself and family on a farm near Cairo. He and wife reared a family of three sons and two daughters,

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their names being as follows: Charles S. (cashier of a bank at Provo City, Utah), Will F. (a teacher at Wood River, Neb .. ), Alma E. (the accomplished wife of Hon. James Ewing, is now deceased) and Anna J. (who is one of the county's most success- ful educators). The paternal grandparents were Zachariah and Priscilla Thompson, the former a native of Scotland, who came to the United States when a young man, and was here married. Elmer E. Thompson spent his youth in following the plow on his father's farm and in attending the district schools near his home, and, being intelligent and studious, he had soon a sufficient knowledge of the "world of books" to enable him to engage in teach- ing, and by this means he was permitted to accu- mulate sufficient means with which to defray his expenses at college. He entered the seminary at College Springs, Iowa, and later the State Normal School at Peru, where he completed his education. He then applied himself to teaching, and has since devoted himself to this calling in Hall and adjacent counties, where he has become well and favorably known as an educator of ability. He has always been an active Republican in politics, and socially is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W.

William Thorpe is a member of the firm of W. & F. Thorpe, and is a native of Ohio, born in 1845, a son of Thomas and Eliza (Herron) Thorpe, who were born near Dublin, in County Wicklow, Ire- land, being from the same neighborhood as Par- nell, the agitator. They came to America with a family of small children and settled in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio, where they reared six of their ten children to maturity, five of whom are still living and three residents of Ohio. The father was a carpenter and builder by occupation, and about 1856 removed with his family to Canada and settled in the town of Guelph, Wellington County, where two of his children were born. After about fourteen years he returned to the States, and from that time until his death in 1887 resided at his old home in Ohio, he being about ninety years of age upon his demise. His widow, who was born in 1820, survives him and lives at Auburn, Ohio .. Thomas Thorpe was reared by an uncle, a land agent, and he and his sister, Elizabeth, were re-

markably well educated, being very fond of rend ing. The paternal grandfather, Fred Thorpe, was an officer in the English navy. William Thorpe, the immediate subject of this sketch, was educated in Ohio, Canada and Michigan, and in his youth served an apprenticeship at the miller's trade, learning the details of the work in the last-named State. After following this occupation on his own responsibility at Buchanan for some five years, he went to Ohio and settled near his old home, which was prior to his parents return, and worked as journeyman there for three years. He then bought a mill of his own at Anburn, but eleven years later, in 1881, came to Nebraska, and built the present Atlantic Mills at Wood River. He was joined by his brother in March, 1882, and their mill is now capable of turning out 100 barrels of flour per day, which is of an excellent quality and gives the best of satisfaction wherever used. Their mill is fitted up with the roller process and is in other respects very complete. He still owns his mill property at Anburn, Ohio, but as it has always made a living for the family he leaves it in possession of a younger brother. He also owns a steam circular saw-mill and two dwellings there, which are now very valu- able property. Fred Thorpe, one of the proprietors of the above-named mills, and also the proprietor of the Commercial Hotel of Wood River, was born in Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1848, and went with his parents to Canada, where his educa. tion was received. During the Civil War in this country he returned to the United States, and settled at Woonsocket, R. I., where he worked for some time for a cattle dealer, and later became connected with an oil firm of Boston. At the end of one year he went to Chicago, Ill., and was first in the employ of S. W. McBride & Co., and later with another firm, being superintendent of oil works all this time, but in March, 1882, he came to Nebraska, and became associated with his brother in the flour mills of Wood River. He opened the Commercial Hotel of this place in 1885, which is one of the best establishments of the kind in the town, and besides this property is the owner of several town lots, 160 acres of land, and a one-half interest in the mill, which alone is worth over $27,-

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000. Although a Republican in politics, he is not a partisan, and socially is a member of the K. of P. and the I. O. O. F. In 1872 he was married in Chicago, to Mrs. Shelton, a widow with one daughter, Annie M., who is now the wife of E. A. Wedgwood, of Grand Island. Mrs. Thorpe was born in Quebec, Canada, and is of Irish descent. These gentlemen by their many excellent qualities have succeeded in establishing a large and remun- erative trade, which the excellent quality of their product fully justifies, and they are safe, reliable and upright men of business.

Benjamin Grant Underwood, farmer and stock- man, Underwood, Neb. Prominent among the suc- cessful farmers and stock-raisers of Hall County stands the name of Benjamin G. Underwood, who owes his nativity to Oakland County, Mich., where he was born in 1830, and is the son of Asa B. and Sabrina (Loomis) Underwood, natives of Canada. The father emigrated to Oakland County, Mich., in 1827, and although a carpenter and ship-builder by trade, he settled on a farm and tilled the soil until his death, which occurred in January, 1844. He took quite an active part in politics in the cam- paign of 1840, and was a Whig. The mother sur- vived him until 1885, and had been a resident of the farm, where she reared her family of ten chil- dren, for over fifty-eight years. Benjamin G. Underwood began the duties of farm life at an early age, and received his education in the prim- itive log school house of pioneer days. He com- menced farming for himself in Michigan, and was married in McComb County of that State, in 1857, to Miss Cleantha Lerich, a native of McComb County, Mich., and the daughter of Peter and Sarah (Fishbough) Lerich, natives of New Jersey. Mr. Lerich was married in New Jersey, and in 1835 moved to what is now McComb County, Mich., where he purchased a partly improved farm and made that county his home. He and

wife still reside in that county. Mr. Underwood followed farming in Michigan until 1884, when he came to Nebraska and purchased a partly improved farm of 160 acres, on which he has since erected a good house, ontbuildings, etc. He takes an in- terest in the votes of the Republican party, and is

now serving his second term as justice of the peace, being elected in 1887. Mrs. Underwood was appointed postmistress in 1885, and the post- office was called Underwood. It is a good, strong office, and has tri-weekly mail from Underwood to Hansen. Forty two families get their mail at this office. Mr. Underwood is a member of the South Platte Alliance No. 373, and takes an active inter- est in the same. To his marriage were born seven. children: Frank (married, and resides in South Platte Township), Hale (is the owner of a farm in Martin Township), William (resides at home), Charles, Mary, Clifford and Fred. The younger ones are attending school. Mr. Underwood has seen a great many changes in the country since settling here, and has always taken a prominent part in everything for the good of the county. He expects to make this State his permanent home.

Henry Vieregg, the proprietor of the Grand Island Bottling Works, is a native German, and possesses all the sterling characteristics of his race. He was born in the village of Gaidersdorf, Holstein, Germany, December 22, 1810, his par- ents, Hans and Elsie (Kruse) Vieregg, being worthy residents of that place. He was one of their five children, and at the early age of sixteen years came to the United States to seek his fortune, and after spending two years in Davenport, Iowa, he came to Grand Island, Neb., and upon attaining his majority he entered some land and was engaged in farming for some time in Merrick County, but in 1876 he returned to Grand Island, and after giving his time and attention to the ice business for quite a period, he engaged in the bottling business and also sells mineral waters and temper- ance beverages. He was married in Grand Island to Miss Caroline Spethmann, a native of Holstein, Germany, and a daughter of John and Malvina Spethmann, and by her has had a family of eleven children born to him: Malvina (wife of Franz Rosser assistant post master, by whom she has had a son named August), Louisa, Willie, Othelia, Albert, Emil, Henrietta, Oscar and Elsie. August and Carl died in early youth. Mr. Vieregg and family attend the Lutheran Church, and he is a promi- nent Democrat and has been a member of the City

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HALL COUNTY.

council and alderman of his ward for two terms of two years each. He was a candidate for the Legislature against a very popular Republican, but owing to the great Republican majority in the county was defeated. He is well known and highly respected, and besides the farm which he owns and his present business, he is the owner of a bottling establishment at St. Paul. He belongs to two German societies.

Isaac H. Waldron is a prominent pump dealer of Grand Island and is well known throughout Hall County as a man of sterling business princi- ples, sound judgment and intelligence. He is one of four surviving members of a family of eight children, and was born in Albany County, N. Y., December 23, 1837, his parents, Aaron and Susan Waldron, being born near Auburn and Albany, N. Y., respectively. Both parents are now deceased. Isaac H. Waldron spent his youth on a farm in his native county, receiving the advantages of the com mon schools in the meantime, but at the age of seventeen years he went to Schenectady, N. Y., where he was employed for two years as a hack driver. At the end of this time he emigrated westward, and until 1872 made his home in Syca- more, De Kalb County, Ill., his first work at this place being for Reuben Elwood, who was an exten- sive raiser of broom corn. After remaining with him for two months he was chiefly engaged at farm work until 1862, and on Angust- 7 of that year he was mustered into service in Company C, One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Infantry, United States Army, and was detailed as an orderly immedi- ately after entering, and held this position until his time had expired, which was at the end of two years and ten months. He was a participant in the battles .of Peach Tree Creek, Resaca, Dalton and Buzzard's Roost, and was with Sherman on his fa- mous march to the sea. June 7, 1865, he was mustered out of service at Chicago and returned to De Kalb County, Ill., and resumed farming. In 1872 he came to the fertile prairies of Nebraska and settled upon a homestead which he had taken in Hall County, and here he continued to follow ag- ricultural pursuits until 1885. In December of that year he removed to Grand Island and has

since given his attention to the sale of pumps and wind-mills, and has built up a paying business. He was married July 3, 1862, to Miss Ruth A. Depue, a daughter of James and Julia A. (Marsh) Depue. Mrs. Waldron was born in Pennsylvania, and she and Mr. Waldron are the parents of six children: Edith A., John C., Lettie M., Lewis J., Julia M. and Frederick, of whom John C. and Frederick are deceased. Mr. Waldron is a member of the A. O. U. W., and in politics is a stanch Republican.

Edward C. Walker. Nowhere in Hall County, Neb., is there to be found a man of more energy, determined will or force of character, than Mr. Walker possesses, and no agriculturist is more de- serving of success in the conduct and management of his farm than he. His birth occurred in Clark County, Ohio, July 1, 1844, a son of Joseph J. and Delilah (Umbel) Walker, who were born, reared and married in Ohio, being among the early settlers of Ohio, where the father made his home until his death. His widow survives him, and re- sides in Hall County with a daughter. Edward C. Walker attended to the duties on the farm until 1861, but upon the call for troops to suppress the Rebellion which had arisen, he left the plow and enlisted in Company I, Forty fourth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and re-enlisted on January 5, 1864, his regiment becoming known as the Eighth Vol- unteer Cavalry. He was discharged in July, 1865, as a corporal, and during his term of service had participated in the battles of Louisburg and Charleston, W. Va .; Dutton's Hill, Ky .; the siege of Knoxville, and took part in numerous skirmishes. He was shot in the right fore-arm at Beverly, W. Va., was disabled for several months and was on detached duty. After the closing of the war he returned to his home in Ohio, but soon re- moved to Butler County, Iowa, and there made his home for about six years, after which he went to Nebraska, and in 1871 settled in Hall County, on the farm on which he is now living. He owns 160 acres, on which is a comfortable house, and was one of the first men in the county to locate north of Grand Island. He has always been a Republican in politics, supporting the men and measures of that party, and in 1872 was elected

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

to the position of magistrate, and after serving one term was elected to the position of supervisor. He is now serving his third term as justice of the peace, and his third term as collector and treas- urer. He was married at Grand Island Septem- ber 22, 1878, to Miss Mary J. Lamon, a daughter of E. S. Lamon, she being a native of Indiana. They have four children: Charles E., James L., Ernest L. and Pearl (an infant six months old). Mr. and Mrs. Walker are Baptists in faith, but are not members of any church.

George L. Warner, one of Hall County's most successful agriculturists, was born in the "Nut- meg State" December 5, 1821, and is a son of Martin and Nancy (Hart) Warner, the father being also a native of Connecticut, born in 1770. At the age of fifty-four years he left his birth- place and went to York State, where he farmed. He also owned a sailing vessel which plied the ocean and entered the then small city of New York, but afterward moved to Ohio and was a resident of Wood County until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-two years of age. He was a man of great physical strength, was six feet and one half inches in height, and never had a spell of sickness until he was fifty years old. He was a Presbyte- rian in faith. His father, Martin Warner, was born in Connecticut and was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary War, Solomon Warner, an uncle of the subject of this sketch, being also in that war. The maternal grandparents came originally from England, the grandfather serving in the Revolu- tionary War. On his father's side of the family Mr. Warner traces his ancestry back to three brothers who took passage in the good old ship, the "May- flower," landing at Plymouth Rock. The male members of the Hart family were principally sailors. Nancy (Hart) Warner was born in Connecticut, and she and Mr. Warner reared a family of ten children, six of whom are now alive. The mother died in 1866 over eighty years of age. George L. Warner resided in York State until he reached his twelfth year, then went with his parents to Wood County, Ohio, and there the greater part of his education was received. Upon the opening of the war he joined the Federal army, becoming a mem-

ber of the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio, but after the battle of Frederick City he returned home and took care of his parents until their deaths. He was first married in Ohio to Miss Charlotte Yates, but she left him a widower in 1874 with a family of four children: Ellen (wife of James W. White), William, John and Franklin. After residing in Ohio until 1866 Mr. Warner removed with his family to Burr Oak, Mich., but sold out there in 1871 and came to Nebraska. He took up a soldier's homestead of 160 acres, and soon after erected his present residence, but his labors at first were not attended with good results, for the grasshoppers ate his crops, and at one time from fourteen acres of corn he only secured a basket full of nubbins. He persevered, however, in his determination to make a home for his family in Nebraska, and in time became the owner of 400 acres of land, but has since sold a considerable portion of this. He is very philosophie in his views, is an exceptionally intelligent man, and is a deep thinker. He is a Republican, is a member of the G. A. R., J. Hooker Post, and in his relig- ious views is a Presbyterian. In October, 1875, he was married to Mrs. Jane A. Hill, who had a family of three daughters by her first husband.

Edgar A. Wedgwood. Socially, politically and as a painstaking and zealous official, we find none whose record, in point of excellence, excels that of Mr. Wedgwood, who for a number of years was the efficient sheriff of Hall County. Although a stanch Democrat in his political views (his party having a minority of several hundreds below that of the Re- publican party in Hall County) he has, by a very creditable career, won the respect and liking of those opposed to him in his preferences, and owing to their hearty support, as well as to that of his constituents, he was elected to the office of · county sheriff November 1, 1885, and as a mark of respect for his painstaking services he was honored with a re-election in 1887, which fact speaks louder than mere words can do as to his ability, integrity and popularity, and his retirement from office in the spring of 1889 was witnessed with many re- grets. He has drawn around him a host of friends, who pay him a hearty respect in his official retire-

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ment. He was born in the "Old Bay State," at Lowell, May 2, 1856, and is a son of Andrew J. and Theresa A. (Gould) Wedgwood, who were born in the State of Maine, the former in Newport and the latter in Dixfield, both belonging to old and prom- inent families of the "Pine Tree State." The Wedgwoods are of English extraction. Andrew J. was a machinist by occupation, and for many years was in honorable employment with the Merrimac Manufacturing Company, of Lowell, Mass. In 1879 he came to Nebraska, with his family, and settled on a farm near Wood River, where he passed from life April 7, 1889, leaving his widow and the subject of this sketch as his survivors. The latter had received good advantages in the schools of his native city, being a graduate of the high school of that place when eighteen years of age, and on coming west with his parents took up the building business, with which he was identified until 1885, when, as above stated, he was elected to the sheriff's office. He has always interested himself in the advancement of all good works, and contributes liberally to their success. He has served Wood River as its treasurer, and Grand Island as a member of its council, and socially is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the A. O. U. W. and the K. of P. He contributes liberally and irre- spective of denomination to the different churches, looking on all as grand temples of morality. Him- self and wife enjoy the esteem of all who know them.

G. W. Weeter, M. D., physician and surgeon of Grand Island, Neb., is associated with Dr. Sumner Davis in his practice, they forming a firm worthy of all confidence. He owes his nativity to Clarion County, Pa., where he was born on Octo- ber 20, 1847, and was one of a family of twelve children born to George and Sarah (Lobaugh) Weeter, whose ages are, respectively, seventy-five and sixty-nine years. The father has three broth- ers living, one eighty one, another eighty-three and another eighty five. Dr. Weeter acquired his lit- erary education in Callensburg Academy and the Clarion Collegiate Institute, and in the latter was assistant principal for nearly two years. He put himself through these institutions, securing the

means with which to defray his expenses by teach- ing school during the winter months and attending school during the summer seasons. In 1871 be began the study of medicine under Dr. R. C. Cal- laban, remaining until the fall of 1873, at which time he entered the Western Reserve University, at Cleveland, Ohio, and after taking lectures one year, began practicing with Dr. I. W. Mease, of Shippenville, Clarion County, Pa., with whom he remained associated a year and a half. In the au- tumn of 1875 he again entered the Western Re- serve University, gradnating as an M. D. in the spring of the following year, and in Angust, 1876, he located in Crawford County, where he practiced for twelve years, two years having been appointed as physician of the county infirmary of that county. He spent a portion of the winter of 1886 at his old alma mater with a view to furthering his knowledge of medicine, and in May, 1888, de- cided to still further push his investigations, and for this purpose took a course in the New York Post Graduate College. In November, 1888, Dr. Weeter came to Grand Island, where he practiced his profession alone until July, 1889, when he formed a partnership with Dr. Davis and is doing well. He gives some special attention to diseases of the throat and nose, and in the treatment of the cases which have come under his control be has been very successful. On May 22, 1889, he was appointed secretary to the pension board of Grand Island. The Doctor is a Republican and has held various offices of trust in the different localities in which he has resided. He married Emma J. Mease, of Shippenville, Pa., on March 28, 1876, to whom two children have been born: Arthur R. (aged thirteen years) and Lelah Ma- nora (aged nine years and six months). They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 820

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820