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 36

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 36
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 36
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 36
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 36

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1878, he practiced his profession in Paris, Ill., be- ing admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of that State June 4, 1875, after which he came to Hastings, Neb., and in December, 1878, became a member of the Adams County bar. He also holds a certificate to practice in the federal courts. De- cember 26, 1876, he was married to Miss Mary J. Vance, who was born in Wisconsin in 1857, and died May 16, 1888, leaving two children, Louis Junia and Harry F. V. Mr. Capps has always been a stanch Republican.

Levi Carkins, farmer and stock breeder, Hast- ings, Neb. Among the influential and respected citizens of Adams County, there is no one more justly entitled to representation in this work than Levi Carkins. He came to the county in the spring of 1873, entered 160 acres of land, erected a frame house and commenced improving his farm. Ile was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., in October, 1841, and was the fifth of ten children born to the union of Levi and Lefy (Richmond) Carkins, both natives of the southern part of New York State. The parents were married in New York in 1832, moved to Mc- Henry County, Ill. , in 1845, and here the father cul- tivated the soil until 1856. They then moved to Chickasaw County, Iowa, where the father continued his former pursuit until his death the following year. The mother was born in Onondaga County, in 1813, and survived her husband until 1884, having been a resident of Iowa for twenty-eight years. Their family consisted of the following children: Mary, died in Iowa; Sarah, now Mrs. Graves, of New Hamp- ton, Iowa; Amaziah, died in MeHenry County, Ill. , many years ago; Sylvester, died November 14, 1881; Levi (our subject), Richmond, enlisted in the Union Army, Company C, Thirty-eighth Iowa Infantry, at Chickasaw, Iowa, in 1862, and was assigned to the Western Department; he died at New Orleans in 1863 of chronic diarrhea, contracted in service; Phoebe Jane, now Mrs. Gregory, of Charles City, Iowa; George Washington, married and resides in Iowa; Ruthfield, married and resides in Hayes County, Neb., and Cyrus who resides in Hayes County, Neb. Levi Carkins' time in early life was divided between assisting on the farm and receiving an ordinary education in the schools of Chickasaw,

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Iowa. He enlisted in Company B, Seventh Iowa Infantry, at Hampton, Iowa, July 8, 1861, for three years, and was sent to the Western Department. He was in the battle of Belmont and there received a gunshot wound. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, also several other prominent battles, and was with Sher- man on his march to the sea. He was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tenn., in Angust, 1864. Returning home to Iowa he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and this has continued ever since. His marriage occurred in Chickasaw County, Iowa, in 1884, to Miss C. D. Carpenter, a native of Ohio, who bore him two children: Kittie M., now Mrs. Minkler, of Ohio, and H. E., who now resides in Nebraska. Mr. Carkins took for his second wife Mrs. Angeline (Keene) Hudson, the daughter of Alvin and Sarah (Cheever) Keene, natives of New York, and was married to her in Nebraska, in 1877. Her parents moved to Monroe County, Mich., in 1837, settled on a farm, and there the mother died in 1852. The father died January 30, 1879. Mrs. Carkins was married in Monroe County, Mich., in 1865, to Fer- nando Hudson, a native of Monroe County, Mich., and came to Adams County, Neb., in 1872, settling in Denver Township, where they entered eighty acres of land within the present limits of Hastings, which at that time consisted of a few sod cabins. Mr. Hudson's death occurred in 1874. Mr. Carkins has continued to improve his farm, and now has 320 acres under cultivation. He feeds considerable stock, has a good grade, and has made many and vast improvements. He is the township committee- man of Highland Township, takes an active part in politics and votes with the Republican party. He was school treasurer in 1876, and has filled many other local positions. He assisted in the organiza- tion of Highland Township. Mrs. Carkins is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is active in its varions workings. Mr. Carkins has seen a vast change in the county since his residence here, and being one of the pioneers has taken a deep interest in everything that per- tains to the good of the same. When he first settled here he was offered a lot in Hastings for a watch, but refused the offer. He is a self-made

man and has accumulated all his property since coming here.

Thomas Carroll, farmer and stockman, Ayr, Neb. If, as is self-evident, this work would be incomplete without sketches of the more public spirited of the successful agriculturists and stockmen, and substan- tial, well-to-do citizens of Adams County, the biog- raphy of the subject of this sketch justly finds a conspicuous place in the present volume. Mr. Car- roll was originally from New York City, where his birth occurred in 1843, but his education was re- ceived in Illinois. His parents, John and Bridget (Mooney) Carroll, were both natives of County Mayo, Province of Connaught, Ireland. The father was born in 1803, and in 1838 emigrated to New York City, where he remained until 1845. From there he removed to Vermont, thence in 1846 to Illinois, and from there, in 1878, to Union County, Iowa, where he lived a retired life. He died in that State in 1884, and the mother in Illinois in 1864. The father was a Democrat in politics, and was a member of the Catholic Church. Thomas Carroll spent his school-boy days in Illinois, and at the breaking ont of the war he enlisted in Company H, Twelfth Illi- nois Infantry, under Col. John McCarthy, and was in many of the principal engagements. He was in the battles of Donelson and Shiloh, where he was wounded by a minie-ball (which he carries to this day), and being unable to do further service on ac- count of this, was discharged in 1862. He has since been unable to do"manual labor. In 1864 he was married to Miss Lucelia Bort, daughter of Daniel Bort, of Illinois, and afterward followed agricultural pursuits in that State for a number of years. In 1873 he came to Nebraska, settled in Ayr Township, Adams County, entered 160 acres of land, which he has since increased to 640 acres, and has this all under fence and well improved. Although a Demo- crat he is not a party man and votes for principle. He has been school treasurer in his district, and is interested in all local affairs. To Mr. and Mrs. Carroll have been born ten children: John M., Charles H., Thomas B., Louis H., Frank, James C., Wesley A., Herron G., Maggie Lue and Mary O. The children are all at home.

Thomas W. Carter, farmer and stock raiser, Rose-

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land, Neb. Mr. Carter is a native of Rhode Island, and was born in the city of Providence on August 21, 1844. Ilis father, Charles W. Carter, was born on Breed's Hill, Charleston, Mass., was reared there, and when a young man went to Rhode Island, where he married Miss Phoebe Ann Patt, a native of that State. Mr. Carter was a blacksmith and machinist by trade, and after remaining in Rhode Island from 1852 until 1872 he moved to Adams County, Neh., and here passed the closing scenes of his life, his death occurring on August 19, 1882. His wife is still living. He was in Rhode Island during the Dorr trouble. T. W. Carter moved with his parents to Illinois in 1852, settled in McLean County, and August 15, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Infantry, and was transferred in 1863 to the Seventh Illinois Battery, and in 1864 to Battery K, First Illinois Light Artillery, serving until the close of the war. Ile was discharged in July, 1865, and was mustered out at Knoxville. He participated in the fight at Bean Station, and his battery whipped the famous Gray Horse battery of Longstreet. He also participated in the battle of Perryville, siege of Knoxville, Strawberry Plains and a great many lesser battles. He was not sick nor did he lose any time during his term of service. Returning to Illinois, MeLean County, he there re- sided until 1872, when he moved to Adams County, Neb., in the fall of that year. In March, 1873, he entered land, and has since added to this and now has his place in a good state of cultivation. He was married here on March 19, 1883, to Mrs. Lydia J. Barnard, a native of Stueben County, Ind., born near Angola, and the daughter of O. V. Barnard. In his political views Mr. Carter affiliates with the Demo- cratic party and has held some local positions. He was elected supervisor in 1886 and re-elected in 1887, serving two terms in that capacity. He then resigned in the last named year, moved to Alma and engaged in business there for one season, renting out his farm. He was appointed magistrate of Rose- land Township in 1889, and is a man who has the confidence and respect of all acquainted with him. He and Mrs. Carter are hospitable and very pleas- ant in all their intercourse with the public, and as such have the esteem of all. Mr. Carter in-

tends building a fine residence on his place the present season.

John A. Casto, a leading member of that well known and popular law firm of Batty & Casto, of Hastings, Neb., is a successful business man and in every respect is self-made. His birth took place in Clinton County, Ohio, May 31, 1852, and he is a son of Firman and Susan (Moore) Casto, natives of Pennsylvania, the father's birth occurring March 1, 1805. At an early day he removed to Ohio, and in 1858 from there to Illinois, and died in McDonough County, this State, on January 4, 1889, having lived the honest and worthy life of a farmer. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania, survives him, and is a resident of Good Hope, Ill. From the time he was four years of age until he attained his majority. John A. Casto resided on the homestead in Illinois, and from his father learned the intricacies of farm life, also lessons of industry and economy, which have been his stepping stones to success in later years. After attending the public schools a suffi- cient length of time he finished his education in the Normal School of Abingdon, Ill., and still later, as a law student, entered the office of C. F. Wheat, at Macomb, Ill. (in the fall of 1870), and at the end of twenty-one months took a course in the Chicago Union College of Law, and graduated in June with the class of 1883. In September of that year he came to Hastings where he entered upon the active practice of his profession, and in March, 1884. formed a partnership with Morris Cliggitt, a college classmate, which connection continued until May, 1887. Since that time Mr. Casto has been associa- ted with Mr. Batty, and they constitute one of the leading firms of the county. Miss Etta M. Ratkin became his wife November 16, 1876. She was born in Illinois, and is the mother of a son, Earle. Mr. Casto belongs to the I. O. O. F., the K. of P. , and in his political views has always been a Republican, and on this ticket was elected in 1888 to the posi- tion of county attorney of Adams County. Three of his brothers, Jonathan, George and Thomas J., served in the Union army during the war, and the first named was killed in battle, the second died in the hospital, and only Thomas returned to his home from the field of action.

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J. B. Cessna, attorney, Hastings, Neb. Promi- nent among the comparatively young men of Adams County, whose career thus far has been both honor- able and successful, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Bedford County, Pa., on the 24th of March, 1840, and his parents, William and Rachel (Mogart) Cessna, were natives also of the Keystone State. The father was born in 1800, and died in Bedford County, Pa., at the age of sixty-four years. The mother was born in 1789 and died in 1860. She was of German descent, while the father was of French and Italian. J. B. Cessna is the youngest of eleven children, ten of whom are now living. His brother John is a prominent politician of Pennsylvania, was speaker of the House of the Pennsylvania Legislature for three terms, and three times represented the Eighteenth Congressional Dis- trict in Congress. He has been a prominent poli- tician for forty years. J. B. Cessna first attended the public schools of Pennsylvania, and later at- tended the Alleghany Male and Female Seminary at Rainsburg, Pa. He entered the sophomore class of Franklin Marshall College, at Lancaster, Pa., in September, 1861, and gradnated from the same in July, 1864. One year later he was admitted to the bar at Bedford, Pa., and practiced law in that and other counties until April, 1885, when he came to Hastings, Neb. He had a good practice in the counties of his native State, and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States on Jannary 26, 1876, on motion of Hon. Jeremiah Black, His marriage to Miss Kate B. Brown, of Erie, Pa., occurred on June 12, 1872, and they have two children living: W. Brown and Reon B. In politics he adheres strictly to the Re- publican party. He is a member of the College Fraternity Phi Kapa Psi. He was admitted to prac- tice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on May 15, 1872, and during his practice in that State he had quite a number of important cases, notable among which was the case entitled "Noble vs. The Thompson Oil Company." The case was in the court for fifteen years. Mr. Cessna was connected with it as counsel for the plaintiffs below and de- fendants in error, and in March, 1879, the case was decided in favor of the defendants, in the Supreme

Court of the United States. The case involved $50,000 and was of great legal importance. Since coming to Hastings. Mr. Cessna has had a good practice and is an independent thinker, deriving his information when practical from original sources, and is a hard working, industrious lawyer. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

William A. Chapman, M. D., is a man whom nature seems to have especially designed to be a physician, for he has met with more than ordinary success in the practice of his profession, and owing to his desire to keep out of the beaten path, his in- telligence and energy, he has become well known to the citizens and the medical fraternity of Adams and many surrounding counties. He was born in Delaware, Ohio, on September 11, 1843, and is the eldest of four living children born to Rev. A. D. and Alma E. (Wigton) Chapman, the former's birth occurring in the " Green Mountain State " Novem- ber 16, 1809, and his death in Malcom, Iowa, in 1880. He was a well known and popular minister of the Presbyterian Church, and was licensed to preach the gospel to his fellow men in the year 1838, being ordained the following year, from which date he continued an active worker for his Master until death called him home. His wife was born in Bradford, Pa., December 1, 1816, and is still re- siding in Malcom. Dr. Chapman removed to Iowa with his parents in 1859, and after attending the public schools until he acquired a fair education, he entered Iowa College, which he attended for some time. On September 30, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and was in active service for Uncle Sam until he received his discharge at Helena, Ark., in 1863. After remain- ing in college two years longer he went to Delaware, Ohio, and began carrying ont a long cherished de- sire, that of studying medicine, in the office of Dr. T. B. Williams, who was surgeon of the Eighty- second Ohio during the war. He then took two courses of lectures in the Cleveland Medical College, and from this institution was graduated March 4, 1868, after which he returned to Malcom and entered at once upon the practice of the " healing art." In 1860 he removed to Marshalltown, Iowa, where he made his home till 1881; and while there

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was for eight years chief surgeon of the Towa Cen- tral Railroad. During the winter of 1878-79 he took lectures at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, graduating in the latter year; and the year 1885 found him also a graduate of the New York Poly- clinic. In the fall of 1881 he removed to Trinidad, Colo., but five years later came to Hastings, Neb., and here has become well and favorably known, as stated above. Dr. Chapman makes a specialty of general surgery. He has a name for good judg- ment, and for being a cool, careful and skillful operator. This, with his uniform success, has won for him a reputation throughout Central Nebraska, of which he may justly feel proud. In 1887 he was appointed surgeon of the Burlington & Mis- souri Railroad, and of the Chicago & Northwestern in 1889. He is a Mason, a member of the G. A. R., and he and his wife, whom he married November 25, 1868, and whose maiden name was Mary L. Clark, are members of the Presbyterian Church. She was born in Peacham, Vt. They have two children: Alma J. and William H.

Carlos Clark, one of the leading farmers and rep- resentative men of Adams County, was born in the Empire State on September 10, 1828, and is the eldest of eleven children, eight of whom are now living, born to the union of Dolphus and Sally (Lor- ing) Clark, natives of New York. The family set- tled in Illinois in 1838, and there the father enlti- vated the soil until his death, which occurred in La Salle County in 1886, when he was eighty years of age. The mother now resides in La Salle County, Ill., and is eighty years of age. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Clark, was born in Massachu- setts and died in New York. In 1852 Carlos Clark began farming for himself in La Salle County, and there continued for eighteen years. He was then two years in Missouri, and in 1876 came to Adams County, Neb., and settled in Highland Township. In 1884 he moved to his present residence, two and a half miles from Hastings, and is now the owner of 160 acres of land, one of the best improved farms in Western Nebraska. He was married in 1852 to Miss Clarissa Dike, a native of Connecticut, who died in Missouri in 1869, leaving three children: Dolphus, Lee and Carlos. Mr. Clark's second mar-

riage occurred in 1878, to Miss Helen E. Kilmer, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of John and Betsey (Burger) Kilmer. Mr. and Mrs. Kilmer are both living, and are eighty-nine years of age each. They are natives of New York, and now re- side in La Salle County, III. They are the parents of eleven children. Mr. Clark is one of the well-to- do farmers of the county.

T. M. Clark, city water works engineer, Hast- Ings, Neb. This honorable and upright citizen of Hastings was originally from Darke County, Ohio, where he was born July 14, 1840, and is the son of A. B. and Julia (Lawrence) Clark, natives also of the Buckeye State. The father was born in 1813, and died in Darke County, Ohio, in 1865, and the mother, who was born in 1821, died in the same county in 1863. Of the fourteen children born to their union, eleven of whom are still living, T. M. Clark is the second in order of birth. He was early instructed in the mysteries of farm life, received his education in the public schools, and remained with his father until Angust, 1861, when he enlisted in Company G, Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Winchester, Lynchi- burg raid, Charleston (West Va.), Lewisburg, Mound- field, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Beverly, Va. He was kept confined at Pemberton for forty-five days and was exchanged in February, 1864, after which he returned home on a furlongh for thirty days. After this he joined the regiment at Clarksburg, Va., where he was discharged in 1865. and then returned to his native State, where he en- gaged in the grocery business at New Madison. This occupation he continued until 1871, when he emigrated to Nebraska, and lived for eighteen months in Saline County. From there he went to Nebraska City, entered the employ of the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad, and for twelve years ran one of the " Q" engines. For five years after this he was a passenger engineer, and in the spring of 1878 he removed to Hastings, where he continued railroading until the strike in the spring of 1882. Since May, 1888, he has been engineer of the City Water Works. He was married in 1866 to Miss Naney E. Cloyd, who was born in Ohio, January 24. 1843, and the fruits of this union have been two

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children: Harry V. and Curt A. In his political views Mr. Clark is a Republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., also Encampment, Patriotic Order Sons of America, and Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers. He is one of the old settlers of Nebraska, and one of Hastings' respected citizens.

W. J. Clark, farmer and stock raiser, Hastings, Neb. Upon reaching the age when it became neces- sary for him to choose some calling in life to which he would afterwards adhere as his chosen occupa- tion, Mr. Clark wisely adopted agricultural pursuits, and this has continued to receive his attention. He was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1854, and is.the oldest son of six children born to Thomas and Nancy (Miller) Clark, natives of England and Can- ada, respectively. The father was born in 1809, and emigrated to Canada about 1830, settling at Toronto, where he carried on farming. He was first married to Miss Mary Linton, and they became the parents of these children: William, Mary, Sarah, Joseph, Francis, Alvina and Ellen. His first wife died in 1846, and in 1848 he married Miss Nancy Miller, who was born about 1825. They reared by this union six children, of whom four are still liv- ing: Orinda, Annie, I. W. J. and Hattie (Lydia and Johnnie deceased). Mr. Clark was a successful farmer, and died in 1889, at the age of eighty-one years. He was a publie spirited citizen, and was always interested in the affairs of the country. The mother is still living, and is a resident of Toronto, Canada. W. J. Clark's early life was spent in the school room and in labor upon the farm. He started for himself in 1878, and the same year was married to Miss Melissa Steffens, a daughter of Joseph and Orinda Steffens, natives of Canada, who emigrated to Illinois at an early day and settled in Carroll County. There the father tilled the soil un- til his death in 1881. The mother is still living and is a resident of Illinois. Mr. Clark emigrated from Canada to Nebraska in 1884, settled on his present property, which consists of 160 acres of land, which he has improved and which is well stocked with horses and cattle of the Durham breed. He is a Republican in politics, and is township treasurer for 1890. He and wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, of which he is steward, and

he is also president of the Ayr Township Sunday- school Association. He is interested in the upbuild- ing of schools and churches, and in fact every thing for the good of the county.

Isaac G. S. Cleland, contractor, Hastings, Neb. Were it necessary to include in the sketch of Mr. Cleland's life any items pertaining to his ability and skill as a mechanic or builder, perhaps the greatest compliment that could be paid him would be for us to point out those monuments of his handiwork which now grace so many of the cities and homesteads of Adams County. Mr. Cleland was originally from St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where his birth occurred on June 22, 1850, and is the youngest of ten children born to the union of Thomas and Jane M. (MeMillen) Cleland, natives of Scotland. The parents died in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., whither they had emigrated at an early date. They had four sons, John, William, Thomas and George, who were soldiers in the late war, and two of them were in rebel prisons. They all enlisted in 1861, and served until the surrender. The father was a farmer by occupation. Isaac G. S. Cleland attended the schools of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and spent two years at Canton Academy. At the age of seventeen he began the carriage making trade, which he continued for five years, and then commenced the carpenter trade, which he carried on in New York State until the summer of 1884. On July 28 of that year he came to Hastings, and for a year and a half was foreman for J. R. Sims in the carpenter business. For nearly four years he has now been carpentering and contracting for himself, and as before men- tioned, has built some of the best business houses and residences in Hastings. He erected the Cle- land flats on Lexington Avenue, seven in number, and worth about $12,000, and numerous other buildings. In his political views Mr. Cleland affiliates with the Republican party, without whisky. He was married on October 26, 1872, to Miss Mary Jane Allan, a native of Oneida County, N. Y., born in 1851, and the fruits of this union are two children, Charles A. and Celia M. Mrs. Cle- land is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the I. O. O. F., also of the

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Modern Woodmen of America. He is a self-made man, and by his energy and enterprise has aeenmu- lated a comfortable competency. He employs from eight to fifteen men in his business.

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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