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 35

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 35
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 35
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 35
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 35

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settled in a new residence which he had just com- pleted, being engaged for two years in selling agri- cultural machinery. The three following years were spent on his farm, and in 1886 he bought a one- half block in town, built him a residence, set out trees, shrubs, etc., and has made him a very pleas- ant home. He was a consistent Republican in poli- ties until 1884. when he became a Prohibitionist, and in 1886 began lecturing for that party, his labors in this direction being recognized in nearly every part of the State, and in the campaign of 1888 did excellent work for his party, He was married in 1866 to Miss Rachel R. Smith, a native of Michigan, and a daughter of Rev. J. Smith, a minister of the United Brethren Church and an old missionary to the Indians. Mr. and Mrs. Brass attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are the parents of four children: Bertha, wife of Charles Allen; Frankliu A .. Fred Adna A .. and Willie, who died at the age of two and one-half years

John Brechner, farmer and stock raiser, Hast- ings, Neb. The agricultural affairs of Adams County, and particularly of this township, are ably represented among others by the subject of this sketch, who has been a resident of the same since 1880. He was originally from Stark County, Ohio, where he was born in 1845, and is the son of John and Delilah (Lindersmith) Brechner. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1813, and although he learned the blacksmith trade when a hoy, in later years he followed the occupation of a farmer and blacksmith. He died in 1860, but the mother is still living in Indiana. Their family consisted of fifteen children: Aaron, Joseph, Anna, Wilson, Peter. John, Samuel, Lu- cinda, Susan, Matilda, Saloma, Jacob F., Mary E., George and Genevera. They reared all these chil- dren but Mary E. and Jacob F. The mother is a member of the United Brethren Church, of which the father was also a member. John Brechner emi- grated from Ohio to Indiana when a boy, and in the latter State he received the principal part of his edu- cation. In 1866 he went to the lumber regions of Michigan, and there remained for seven years, when he returned to Indiana and engaged in farming. He was married in 1872 to Miss Harriet Barnes,

daughter of Amos Barnes, and eight children have been the result of this union: J. Harvey, George W., Lydia B., Henry, Delilah, Stella, Daisy and Sady. Mr. Brechner followed farming in Indiana for six years, and in 1880 he emigrated to Nebraska, and settled on his present property. He bought a partly improved farm of eighty acres, and also eighty acres of railroad land, which he has since improved very much. In politics Mr. Brechner votes for principle and not for party. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and has been a member of the school board three terms. He and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and are much es- teemed citizens. He has been very successful since coming to Nebraska, and has one of the best farms in the township, all the result of his own exertions. His brothers, Aaron, Wilson, Joseph and Peter, all enlisted in the Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry, and were in a great many hard fought battles. Samuel was in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana In- fantry, Aaron and Peter lost their health while in the war, and the former died from the effects of his service in 1867. Mr. Brechner is the only one of his father's family who came to this State.

Rev. Jacob Brinkema is the present pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Hanover Township, Adams County, Neb., and is a native German, having been born in Hanover, March 2, 1836, being the youngest of seven children born to the marriage of Justus and Anna (Green) Brinkema. The father was an en- terprising and successful agriculturist and he and his wife were members of the Reformed Church, and died in 1844 and 1843, respectively. Their children are George, Margaret, Agnes, Ernest, who died in 1853; Justns, and two who died in infancy. Rev. Jacob Brinkema attended the schools of Hanover in his youth, but in 1864 left his native land to seek a home in the New World, and settled first in Ogle County, Ill. In 1866 he entered a school at Du- buque, Iowa, and in this institution began his theo- logical studies, but in April, 1871, left school, and in the fall of that year was ordained a minister of the Gospel and put in charge of a church in Grundy County, Iowa. After spending six months in Ack- ley, he preached in Hamilton County for some time, and while in that State was instrumental in organizing

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a number of churches. On the 3d day of July. 1883, he organized a church in Hanover Township. Adams County, Neb., and was put in charge of the same in May, 1884, and since his residence here has been instrumental in bringing many people into the church. January 11, 1872, he was married to Miss Bernhardine Gruis, a daughter of Ralph and Bern- hardine Gruis, all natives of Hanover, Germany, and by his wife has had a family of ten children: Kuno, who died January, 1873; Juslon, who died January 16, 1881; Anna, was born in 1875: Kuno, died in 1887; Barnhard, who was born in 1879; Jus- tus, born in 1881 and died March 15, 1885; Kuno, born in 1882 and died in 1885; Rubalt, who died in 1884; Margaret, who was born in 1886, and Justus born in 1888. Mr. Brinkema is deeply interested in the welfare of the county, and is an earnest, faithful and consistent worker for the cause of Christianity.

Bedford Brown, attorney, Hastings, Neb. Of the many prominent names that go to make up the strength of the Nebraska bar is that of Mr. Bed- ford Brown, who though young in years, is looked upon with considerable pride by the people of Adams County, not only for his brilliant efforts in his profes- sion, but for his unquestioned integrity and honesty of purpose. He was born near where stands the present village of Divernon, III., October 7, 1861, and first attended the district schools of Sangamon County, Ill. Subsequently he attended Whipple Academy at Jacksonville, III., and also at Illinois College, of the same place, from which he graduated in 1884 with the degree of A. B. He then taught school for one year, and in the fall of 1885 entered the Columbian University Law School at Washing- ton, D. C., from which he graduated in the spring of 1877. After this he was in the office of Dilworth, Smith & Dilworth, at Hastings, for three months, and in April, 1888, he formed a co-partnership for the practice of law with W. L. Marshall, which contin- ued until January 25, 1890, when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Brown is a close student, is one of the popular young men of Hastings, and is a bril- liant young lawyer. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Ile is the sixth of nine children born to Reuben S. and Sallie (Wright) Brown, natives of Kentucky and Illi-

nois, respectively. The parents and most of the family reside in Sangamon County, III. The father is an agriculturist by occupation near Divernon, Ill., and occupies a prominent position among the many successful business men of that community.

William R. Burton, county judge-elect of Adams County, Neb., is a man of recognized worth, and to his natural abilities have been added the wisdom and experience of a useful and well spent life. He was born on the frontier in Southwestern Missouri, May 31, 1844, his father, Garrett Burton, who was a na- tive Kentuckian, born in 1820, being of a wandering disposition, and with his family, was in Missouri at the time of William's birth. The mother was a most estimable lady, and was a faithful wife and mother. Hler maiden name was Catherine Wangh, and she was born in Tennessee in 1819, and is now a resident of Harrison County, Ind. Her husband's death occurred in 1862, and upon her devolved the rearing, support and education of her children, five in number, and how well this duty was fulfilled is evident in looking upon her children, who have grown to honored man- hood and womanhood. William R. Burton is the eldest of the family, and in early boyhood he re- turned to Indiana with his mother, and here his early scholastic advantages were enjoyed, and besides oh- taining all the knowledge to be acquired in the com- mon schools, he was so fortunate as to obtain a four years' schooling in the Northwestern Christian University at Indianapolis. In July, 1861, he en- listed in Company E. Twenty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, to do battle for the Union, and was a faith- ful servant for " Unele Sam" until the last of May, 1865, and during his term of service was in many important engagements. Ile was wounded at the siege of Vicksburg, captured on the field of battle and was cast in prison, but was soon after paroled and sent to a hospital at St. Louis. Upon his re- covery he entered the quarter-master's department of the Army of the Cumberland under Gen. Thomas, and in that capacity served until the close of the war. In 1872 he began the study of law, and two years later was admitted to the bar in I'nion County, Ind., where he continued the practice of his pro- fession until 1881, at which time he accepted a posi- tion on the editorial staff of the Indianapolis Jour-

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nal, in which capacity he remained two years. He then came to Adams County, Neb., and for some time was engaged in wielding the ferule, but in 1887 was chosen judge of the city court of Hastings, re- ceiving all the votes cast with the exception of one. In 1889 he was elected to his present position, with a plurality of 700, and his devotion to the welfare of this county, and his ability and fidelity in his present position, have been recognized by all. Polit- ically he has always been a Republican, and socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. January 1, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna J. Langtree, of Madison, Ind., by whom he has one son: Harry G.

Rev. O. A. Buzzell has been long and worthily identified with the farming and religious interests of Adams County, Neb., and no history of this imme- diate vicinity would be complete which failed to make proper mention of Mr. Buzzell. Originally from Grafton County, N. H., he was born there in 1835, and was the third of a family of eight chil- dren born to his parents, D. R. and Anna D. (Pease) Buzzell. The father is yet living, and has resided on one farm in New Hampshire since he was seven years of age, the farm being originally pur- chased by his father, the grandfather of our sub- ject. Since he attained his majority he has been an active spirit in the affairs of Grafton County, which he has represented twice in the State Legislature. For over fifty years he served as clerk of the Free Will Baptist Church of his town, and politically was a Jacksonian Democrat; and still adheres to the principles of that party. For a number of years he was extensively engaged in the lumber business, and operated two saw mills on a stream which ran through his farm, but a freshet swept both these structures away, which loss financially embarrassed Mr. Buzzell for many years. He eventually recov- ered his losses, and paid his debts to the last dol- lar. He was born in 1806, and accordingly is now at the advanced age of eighty-three years, and is yet quite hale and hearty, bearing his burden of many years with ease, his memory especially show- ing few indications of the ravages of time. His wife died in 1879 at the age of sixty-nine years. The parental grandfather was a sturdy pioneer

farmer of New Hampshire, and died in 1872 at the ripe old age of ninety-eight and one-half years, hav- ing enlisted, but not taking an active part, in the War of 1812. The mother's parents were also among the sturdy pioneers of New Hampshire, and lived to a goodly age. O. A. Buzzell's days from his earliest recollections were occupied with the monotonous duties of farm life, and in acquiring an education in the district schools near his home, and when his twentieth year was reached he went to Lowell, Mass., and began clerking in a book store; but in December, 1857, bought out the proprietor and started in business for himself, conducting the establishment until the outbreak of the late Civil War. In July, 1862, he joined Company F of the Thirty-third Regiment Massachusetts Infantry, and was a member of the Army of the Potomac for one year. After becoming a member of the Eleventh Army Corps, he participated in the battle of Chan- cellorsville, and in the fall of 1863 was transferred to the Army of the West, and marched from Bridge- port to Chattanooga; and after reaching the latter place took part in the battles of Lookout Valley, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. He also participated in nearly all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign in the Twentieth Corps (Joe Hooker's), and while in the city of Atlanta his regi- ment was detailed for provost duty, and upon the evacuation of the army their regiment set fire to the city. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and on March 7, 1865, received injuries which confined him to the hospital for some time. He was discharged May 24, 1865, and returned home with the rank of corporal, to which he had been promoted while on the Atlanta campaign. Before reaching his home, however, he was stricken down by fever, and for a time his life was despaired of; but by fall he had recovered sufficiently to engage in business, which he did in the city of Lowell, Mass., continuing until May, 1867, at which date he sold out and engaged in the manufacture of shoe findings in Boston, this occupation receiving his at- tention for some three years. During this time he had purchased the exclusive control of Dr. James Craigue's Indian family medicines, and three years were spent in the preparation of these remedies for

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the public. In 1872 he removed to Nebraska, con- sidering that the new country beyond the Mississippi offered better advantages to a man than the East; and time has proved the wisdom of his decision in loeating here. He settled on a homestead in Buf- falo County, near where Kearney now is; but after living on it five years and making many improve- ments, he sold out and moved to a farm of eighty aeres near the town of Juniata, which he has suc- ceeded in putting in a fine state of cultivation. He has a pleasant and commodions residence, and his farm is well supplied with fruit and is abundantly stocked, this branch of business receiving a con- siderable portion of Mr. Buzzell's attention. Mr. Buzzell joined the Free Will Baptist Church when about nineteen years of age, and the following year changed his membership to the First (regular) Bap- tist Church of Lowell, Mass .; and while in Lowell, in 1866, he and two gentlemen friends started the Y. M. C. A., of which he was an active member during his stay in the city. On May 27, 1873, he was licensed to preach by the Baptist Church of Gibbon, Neb., and served that church as pastor for one year, during which time also he organized a church at Huntsville. In 1874 he became pastor of the First Church of Kearney, and later organized a church at Overton, and became pastor of the Plum Creek Church, ten miles west. Hle was or- dained March 9, 1877, and in the fall of the same year he received a call from Juniata, which he accepted, and moved to this town; and under his guidanee the membership soon became doubled, which necessitated the erection of a new church, which still stands as a tribute to his zeal and fidelity. In 1881 he organized a church at Minden; in 1884. the Mount Pleasant Church, south of Juniata, and has also assisted in organizing a number of other churches. He was pastor of a church in Hamilton County two years; was pastor of the Union and Catherton Churches in Webster County, and the Pleasant Home Church in Polk County. He was one of the organizers of the Grand Island and South Central Baptist Associations, and was one of the Board of Directors for the State Convention, and Chairman of the State Committee of Foreign Missions, and has served as Moderator of each of

these associations. He has also served as mis- sionary in employ of the Baptist Home Missionary Society, American Bible Society and American Sun- day School I'nion, establishing work on the frontier. He was married in 1858 to Miss Addie M. Merrill, a native of New Hampshire, and a daughter of Jere- miah and Mary A. (George) Merrill, the father dying when Mrs. Buzzell was a child, and the mother in 1877. The former was a farmer by occupation, and an enterprising citizen. To Mr. and Mrs. Buzzell seven children have been born. Edgar A. . the ektest, is a graduate of the University of Chicago, having worked his way through this institution, and re- ceived at the end of the course $50 for the prize essay. In the fall of 1888 he was admitted to the bar of Chicago, and is now practicing law in that city. He was born October 10, 1860, and was mar- ried April 4, 1887, to Miss J. Isetta Gibson, by whom he has a son born Jannary 8, 1888, named Edgar Gibson. Minnie A., the second child, was born December 13, 1862, and was the first graduate of the Gibbon Baptist Seminary. She later spent one year in the University of Chicago in the study of special branches preparatory to engaging in foreign missionary work, and in the fall of 1884 sailed from San Francisco to China. Her support abroad was guaranteed by the ladies of Oregon, and she reached her destination. Swatow, China, Decem- ber 1, 1884; but after three years of successful labor among the heathen women, owing to ill health, returned to America in 1887, and is at present in Oregon for the benefit of her health, and is at the same time engaged in organizing women's mis- sionary societies in Oregon and Washington. She was the youngest single lady sent on this work, and the superintendent of the mission in China said that she made rapid progress in learning the language. Annie, Mr. Buzzell's second daughter, was born August 3, 1866, and received her education in Gibbon Seminary. She began teaching in the public schools of Adams County at the age of fifteen years, and is now in her third year in charge of the primary de- partment of the Juniata public school. Charles D., born November 8, 1870, is at home; Jennie M. was born November 22, 1873, and is a pupil in the high school at Juniata. Lewis J. was born September

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12, 1876, and died June 19, 1878, and Francis H. was born November 9, 1882, and died September 6, 1884. Mr. Buzzell cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and has ever since voted in general elections for the Republican candidate. He is a member of Geary Post No. 81, G. A. R., and has been honored with the office of Chaplain of that body.

W. P. W. Campbell, farmer and stockman, Trumbull, Neb. This representative citizen is one of the pioneers of West Blue Township, Adams County, Neb., whither he had emigrated in Febru- ary, 1874, and where he has since homesteaded 160 acres on Section 12. He was born in Kanawha County, Va., on November 24, 1826, and is the sixth in a family of eight children born to the union of Robert and Mary (Griffith) Campbell, natives of the Old Dominion, Botetourt County. The father was a cabinet maker by trade, and was the inventor of the old fashioned auger pump. He moved to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1830, settled on a farm, eutered land, and made that county his home until his death, which occurred in December, 1844. His wife survived him until November, 1861. Of their children Charles resides in Labette County, Kan., John, in St. Louis, who is a master machinist, and W. P. W. The latter (the subject of this sketch) remained on the farm until twenty-one years of age and then entered a machine shop, where he became a master mechanic. He set up machinery all over Illinois, and later ran stationary engines in different parts of the country. After this he worked in the shop and on the road for ten years. On May 26, 1861, he enlisted in the Fourteenth Infantry, Com- pany I, for three years, at Waverly, Ill., and was engaged in the battles of Shiloh, Hatchie and siege of Vicksburg. While at Natchez he was transferred to the invalid corps on account of disability, being sent to guard the prison at Rock Island until the expiration of term of service. He was discharged at the latter place on May 27, 1864, after which he went to Springfield, Ill. Mr. Campbell was mar- ried previous to the war, in 1852, to Miss Julia M. Slater, a native of Sangamon County, Ill., and the daughter of Jay and Lucretia (Carman) Slater, natives of New York and Virginia, respectively.

Mr. Slater settled in Illinois at an early day, and there followed agricultural pursuits. Both he and wife are deceased. Mrs. Campbell's brother, James H. Slater, was United States Senator from Oregon, and was also in the XLIst Congress. He is now a resident of Oregon and a prominent criminal lawyer of La Grande. Mr. Campbell, after marriage, set- tled in Springfield, Ill., whither he had returned after the war, and there resided until 1874, when he emigrated to Adams County, Neb. He entered 160 acres of land, and now has all that in a good state of cultivation. He is also interested in the raising of stock. Mr. Campbell is not active in politics, but votes with the Republican party. He has been a member of the school board, and was one of the first in the district. He is a member of William H. Harrison Post No. 183, G. A. R., at Trumbull, and is Senior Vice Commander. Mrs. Campbell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To their union have been born three children: Mary, now Mrs. L. F. Gould, of Orange Vale, Cal .; Olive, now Mrs. Ramsey, of Nebraska, and Charles R., who is married and resides at home. Mr. Campbell has seen the complete growth of the county, and in its early settlement has been obliged to go to the Platte River to get willows for fuel. He takes an interest in and aids all causes for the good of the county.

L. M. Campbell, secretary of the Nebraska Real Estate and Live Stock Association, and one of the prominent business men of Hastings, was born at DeWitt, Iowa, on September 12, 1859, and is the son of W. R. and Rebecca (McBride) Campbell, natives of Ohio, and now residents of South Dakota, the former being about sixty-two years of age and the latter sixty-five years of age. Mr. Campbell is the second of five children. He remained at De- Witt, Iowa, until 1871, and then for five years at- tended school at Washington, Iowa, and a business college at Davenport, Iowa. In 1876 he went to Des Moines, and during the winter season for five years was book keeper for the Des Moines Pork Packing Company. In 1881 he came to Hastings, and until September, 1888, was bookkeeper for the Nebraska Loan and Trust Company, and since then has been actively engaged in the real estate business,

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in connection with one of the most extensive real estate firms in the West. The same was organized August 1, 1883. Mr. Campbell takes an active part in the advancement of Ilastings, and readily gives his support to all landable enterprises. He was married in 1882 to Miss Almira U. Dillanback, a native of Kalamazoo, Mich., who died in Hastings, Neb., in 1886, leaving two children, Sidney E., born in 1883, and Almira U., born in 1886. Mr. Campbell was married the second time on January 18, 1888, to Miss Mary E. Ritter, a native of Con- stantine, Mich. Mr. Campbell is an ardent Repub- lican, and cast his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield, at Creston, Iowa. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W., and is one of the popular men of Hastings.

Lucius Junia Capps is the senior member of the law firm of Capps, McCreary & Stevens, of Hastings, Neb. As a copartnership whose honor is above criticism, whose ability places it in the front rank of the Western bar, whose name is well known through- ont Adams and surrounding counties, this firm occupies an enviable place. The gentlemen com- posing the firm are admirably adapted to their call- ing, and Mr. Capps is especially well known. He was born in Indiana, October 10, 1852, and is a son of J. W. and Julia (Boone) Capps, who were born in North Carolina and Indiana, in 1824 and 1834, respectively. They removed to Boone County, Iowa, at an early day, and here the mother's death occurred in 1873, her husband being still alive and a prominent resident of that county. Lncius J. Capps is the eldest of their seven children, and when a little less than one year old his parents located in Iowa, and until nineteen years of age he was an attendant of the public schools of Boone County. He then began studying law in the office of W. R. Lawrence, but finished his legal studies in the office of Judge Mitchell, and on May 15, 1873, he was admitted to the Boone County bar. The same year he went to Utah Terntory, but a few months later returned home, and in September, 1874, entered the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and on March 24, graduated with the class of 1875. From that time until December,

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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