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 46

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 46
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 46
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 46
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 46

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Willis Pearson MeCreary, attorney-at-law. This member of the Hastings bar is to the " manor born." and is a true type of the progressive, business-like and painstaking lawyer, is concise in argument and thoroughly posted in legal lore. November 8, 1854, was the date of his birth in Lawrence County, Pa., and he is one of two children born to Pearson and Nancy (Dean) MeCreary, both natives of Lawrence County, Pa., the former's birth occurring in 1829 and the latter's in 1831. Mr. McCreary's father died in the State of his birth in 1856. He followed the occupation of farming and stock dealing through- out life, his only brother having died the year pre- vious. His mother and two danghters (by second husband) lost their lives in the terrible railroad disaster at Chatsworth, Ill., on August 10, 1887. In 1865 the family removed with her from Pennsyl- vania to Iowa, where she made her home for many years. Willis P. MeCreary first attended the country schools and later entered an academy of Lee County, finally supplementing his education with an attend- ance at the State University at Iowa City, gradua- ting from there June 28, 1876, in the law depart- ment. In July of that year he opened an office in Cedar Rapids, where he continued the practice of his profession until 1884, at which time he came to Hastings, and is now a member of the law firm of Capps & McCreary, which association was formed in 1886. Being compelled to make his own way in life, he first engaged in teaching school, continning for two winters after he had reached the age of sev- enteen years, but concluded that this was rather a laborious way of making money, and accordingly fitted himself for the practice of law, in the prosecu- tion of which he has succeeded far beyond his ex- pectations. Ile is a Republican in politics, and since 1883 has been a Mason. In 1878 he wedded Mary B., danghter of William Greene, of Iowa, her birth ocenrring in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, October 20, 1858. They have three children: Mary Pearson, Willis M. and Dorothy.

II. B. MeGaw, farmer and stock raiser, ITast- ings, Neb. This most successful and progressive agriculturist is a native of the Buckeye State, his birth occurring in Stark County in 1842, and is the son of John E. and Anna (Earl) MeGaw. The

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father was born at Chambersburg, Pa., in 1813, was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and ministered to the spiritual wants of his fellowmen all his life .. He reared a family of five children: Carroll (in the east), Hugh (in Pittsburgh, Pa.), Mary (now Mrs. MeLain, wife of Prof. B. W. MeLain, of Athens College, Tennessee), H. B., and Homer L. (who is a public man and is living in Pittsburgh, Pa.). The mother of these children died in 1869, bnt the father is still living and makes his home in Athens, Tenn. The paternal grandfather of our subject, James F. McGaw, was a soldier in the War of 1812. H. B. McGaw's early life was passed in Ohio, and at the breaking out of the war he enlisted at McConnelsville, Ohio, in Company C, Ninety- seventh Ohio Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, Capt. S. S. Scott, under Col. I. Q. Lane. He enlisted for three years, entering as a corporal, and was pro- moted to the rank of sergeant. He was in the bat- tles of Perryville, Stone River, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and in some skirmishės. He was discharged in July, 1865, and afterward went to Pittsburgh, Pa., thence to Iowa, and later settled in Benton County, near Cedar Rapids, where he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. He resided in Iowa for about eleven years. He was married in Penn- sylvania to Miss Julia A. Boyd, a native of Penn- sylvania, and the daughter of Rev. John and Martha (Maclewain) Boyd, her father being a minister in the. Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Boyd was the father of eight children, four of whom are now living. He now makes his home with his son-in-law, H. B. McGaw. The mother died in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. McGaw were born five children: Alice M. (teacher), Harold L., Lulu, Mabel and Agnes. Mr. McGaw followed farming in Iowa until 1876, when he emigrated to Nebraska and settled on his present property, where he has eighty acres of land, all un- der cultivation. He has been a member of the school board for ten years, was elected county super- visor in 1887 and served one term, and is at present justice of the peace. He is a member of the G. A. R., also a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and is county secretary and treasurer of the same; is a member of the K. of L., has been judge of the order, and is a man universally respected. He was for-

merly a Republican in his political views, but now votes for principle, not for party. He is interested in the upbuilding of schools and churches, and all things for the good of the county. When he first settled in Adams County deer, wolves, antelope, and all such game were abundant.

M. J. McKenna, one of the pioneers of High- land Township, Adams County, Neb., came to this eounty in 1875, settled where he now resides, and purchased 160 acres of prairie land. He owes his nativity to Tipperary County, Ireland, where his birth occurred in 1830, and is the eldest of six chil- dren born to Patrick and Catherine (Quinn) Mc- Kenna, natives also of Ireland. The father was a tiller of the soil, and died in his native country in 1842. The mother died in 1830. M. J. MeKenna was early taught the duties of farm life, and received his education in the schools of Ireland. When twenty-one years of age he resolved to try his for- tune in the New World, and in March, 1851, he sailed from Liverpool on the vessel "George A. Hapley," making the trip to America in two months. He landed in Charleston, S. C., remained there one year, and then moved to New York City, where he worked in a brick yard, and there remained until 1856. In November of the year previous he was married to Miss Mary Delaney, a native of Tipper- ary County, Ireland, and in 1856 he moved to Wis- consin, Dodge County, where he followed farming. He purchased and improved a good farm in that State, but in 1875 he concluded to make a change, and moved to Adams Connty, Neb. He is the owner of a good farm of 320 acres, in that and Hall Counties, all under cultivation. He is making a specialty of raising Poland Angus cattle and Nor- man horses. In his political views Mr. McKenna affiliates with the Democratic party. He is the present supervisor of Highland Township, and he was also the assessor of the township for four or five years. He has always taken a deep interest in educational matters, and was a member of the school board for five or six vears. He is a member of the Catholic Church at Hastings, as was also his excellent wife, who received her final summons in August, 1889, they having been companions in life for nearly thirty-four years. She was a kind and

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loving wife and mother, and assisted her husband in all his work. Their family consisted of ten chil- dren, nine now living: Catherine (now Mrs. Mon- tague, of Hastings), Patrick (married and lives in MeCook, Neb.), John (married and resides in High- land), Ann (now Mrs. Gamrean, of Hastings), Mary, James, Edward, Joseph and Thomas. Wil- liam died in 1878, at the age of eighteen years.

K. W. Mckenzie, farmer and stockman of Adams County, Neb., was born in Nova Scotia in 1847, being the fourth of eleven children born to the marriage of John McKenzie and Christina Kerr, both of whom were of Scotch descent, the father having been born in Scotland in 1815. When about seven years of age he went to Nova Scotia, and there reared the following family of children: Murdock, Elizabeth, Jessie, K. W., Annabel, Donald, Maggie, William, John, Mary J. and Hugh. After living in Nova Scotia until 1851, Mr. Mckenzie removed his family to Upper Canada, and was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits there until 1887, when his death occurred, his wife dying the same year. They were worthy and consistent members of the Baptist Church. K. W. Mckenzie emigrated to Michigan in 1866, and was engaged in lumbering and carpen- tering in the northern part of the State until 1873, when he removed to Adams County, Neb., and took up a homestead claim of 160 acres, and by careful, painstaking and earnest labor, has increased his acreage to 400, it being well improved and excel- lently stocked. He has devoted all his time and attention to agriculture, and has met with more than ordinary success, everything about his place showing that a wide-awake gentleman is at the head of affairs. His marriage occurred in 1879, at which time Miss Sarah C. Curry, a daughter of Josiah and Jemimah B. (Beaber) Curry, became his wife. The parents were born in Ohio, and in 1878 removed to Webster County, Neb. Their children are: Mary E. , Sarah C., Jacob B., Daniel W. and William D. Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie have a family of four chil- dren: Pearl F., Ellis L., Ethel May and Mamie C. Mr. Mckenzie is a man who is interested in the improvement of his county, and in his political views is a Republican. Since his removal to Ne- braska he has shot a number of buffaloes.

Neil R. Macalaster, the subject of this sketch. has been a successful practitioner of dentistry in Hastings since 1885. Born in Oxford County, Me., August 14, 1844, his parents, Peter and Ruth (Bryant) Macalaster, were also born in that State, the former's birth occurring in Oxford County, March 8, 1801, and the latter's in York County in 1809. The father is now a resident of Lovell, but the mother died in 1878. Dr. Macalaster is the tenth of thirteen children, nine of whom are now living. His parental grandfather, Zacchens Macalaster, was born and spent his life in Oxford County, Me., liv- ing to a ripe old age. The maternal grandfather, Benjamin Bryant, was an Englishman by birth, and was killed at the battle of Waterloo. Dr. Neil Macalaster, after being reared to a farm life and re- ceiving his education in the common schools, left home and with the determination to acquire a better knowledge of the " world of books " entered Frey- burg Academy, where his course was marked by rapid progress. In 1860 he went to Nova Scotia, and for five years was a resident of Halifax, during which time he was in the office of his brother, Oris P. Macalaster, in the study of dentistry. At the end of this time he returned to the United States, and after a two years' residence at Freyburg removed to Portland, and with his brother, who had returned from Halifax, engaged in business under the firm name of Macalaster Bros., which connection con- tinued from 1869 to 1878, when the Doctor pur- chased his brother's interest, and conducted the business alone there until 1885, on September 24 of that year moving to Hastings, Neb. , where he estab- lished his present office. He is one of the leading dentists of this region, and has obtained a liberal share of public favor, the best proof of his skill and talent. He is a member of the Nebraska Dental Association, and in his polities is Independent. Ile joined the I. O. O. F. in Lovell, Me., in 1868, but is now a member of Hastings Lodge. He was mar- ried in the "city of brotherly love" August 11. 1876, to Miss Ella F. Barrows, born in Boone County, Ill., November 1, 1854, and a daughter of Asahel and Arvilla (Nason) Barrows. Mr. Barrows was born in Vermont in the year 1829. Mrs. Bar- rows was born in New Hampshire in the year 1830.

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They are both living in Hastings. To Dr. and Mrs. Macalaster a son was born February 12, 1887, and died July 6, 1887. His name was Melvin Lyman.

Alvin T. Mecham, retired farmer, Kenesaw, Neb. That a life time spent in pursuing one occupa- tion will in the end result in substantial snccess, where energy and perseverance are applied, cannot for a moment be doubted, and such is found to be the case with Mr. Mecham, who from boyhood has given his attention principally to agricultural pur- suits. He is at present the owner of 160 acres of the best land in this section, situated one and a half miles south of the village of Kenesaw, and is one of the progressive citizens of the county. He was born in Mercer County, Pa., October 14, 1834, and is the son of Caleb and Mary (Currier) Mecham, bothi natives of New Hampshire, the father born in 1810, and the mother in 1813. Both came to Penn- sylvania with their parents in 1817, and both were descendants of prominent families of New England. In the early days of New Hampshire the great-grand- father's family was massacred by Indians, two little sons alone escaping. When Alvin T. Mecham was sixteen years of age, he came with his parents to Illinois, and settled with them in Grundy County, where the father died in 1852. The mother still survives and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Farabee, at Juniata, Neb .. Of a family of eight children, Alvin T. was second in order of birth. He attained his growth in Grundy County, and received his education in the subscrip- tion schools in Pennsylvania. In 1856 he married Miss Lucy Booth, a native of Trumbull County, Ohio, and the daughter of Truman and Rebecca (Percy) Booth, natives of Connecticut. The Percy family trace their ancestry in this country back to two brothers, who came to America previous to the Revo- lutionary War and served in the same. Mrs. Booth was a niece of Lord Percy. Truman Booth and Miss Rebecca Percy were married at Waterbury, Conn., in 1814, and emigrated to Ohio at an early day. There Truman Booth died. A number of years after, in 1854, the mother removed to Grundy County, Ill., and there died in 1882, at the age of eighty-eight years. Edward R. Booth and Oliver J. Booth, brothers of Mrs. Mecham, had moved to

Grundy County in 1846, and were among the pion- eers of that county. They received their final sum- mons there, and both were prominent citizens, hold- ing many positions of trust and honor in that county. After residing three years in Livingston County, Ill. , in 1865 Mr. and Mrs. Meeham located in Kankakee County, Ill., and in 1878 moved to Nebraska, loca- ting one and a half miles south of Kenesaw, where as before stated, they have 160 acres of excellent land. In 1883 Mr. Mecham retired from active bus- iness and removed to Kenesaw, where he has a pleasant home. Mr. Mecham is a carpenter by trade and has done considerable contracting and building in Kenesaw. To his marriage have been born two children: Chloe R. (now Mrs. Horace G. Armitage, of Kenesaw), and Clinton Perey (who is married, is a farmer, and resides in Kenesaw).

E. E. Merritt, editor of the Daily and Weekly Nebraskan, comes of a long line of New England ancestry, and was born at Burlington, Vt., February 6, 1845, with a twin brother named Edgar. He is a son of Crittenden and Sarah (Ranney) Merritt, who moved West in 1851, and located in Janesville, Wis., moving from there to Sparta, Wis., in 1857, their first year's residence at this place being on a farm. The father died May 20, 1876, at the age of seventy years, and the mother in April, 1863, at the age of fifty-five years. E. E. Merritt, the immediate subject of this memoir, attended the public schools until he was fourteen years of age, but March 21, 1859, began serving a regular apprenticeship at the printers' trade in the office of the Sparta (Wis.) Her- ald, continuing there until 1861 when he went to La Crosse, Wis., and finished his trade in the Republi- can office, which was situated in the same building where " Brick" Pomeroy published the Democrat, and started on the road to fame. In the spring of 1863 he acted as cabin boy on a steamer plying be- tween Memphis and Vicksburg, and a year later en- listed as a private in Company G, Fortieth Regi- ment, Wisconsin Infantry, and during the summer of that year was stationed on picket duty in the rear of Memphis, and was present when Forrest made his celebrated raid into that city. In the fall of that year he was mustered out of service and re- turned to Wisconsin, and during the winter of that

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year worked on a paper called the Union Flag, which was published at Neillsville, Wis., a lumbering town on the Black River, and the county seat of Clark County. In the spring of 1865 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and after " subbing " on cases, obtained a regular situation as a compositor on the Democrat. In the fall of 1866 he returned to Neillsville, Wis., and with John S. Dore founded the .Clark County Journal, but returned to St. Louis four months later, again working on the Democrat, before the Globe was known. In the fall of 1867 he again returned to Neillsville, and started the Clark County Repub- lican, and there continued as its editor and proprie- tor until the spring of 1874, when he sold out to C. J. Cooper. He was deputy under the census mar- shall of the State in 1870 and gathered the statistics of Clark County, and was elected for the district of Jackson and Clark Counties as assemblyman member of the Lower House of the State Legislature in 1872, serving during the winter session of 1873. He was chairman of the committee on Legislative expendi- tures, and was a member of printing, privileges and elections standing committees. He removed to the State of Iowa in the summer of 1875, and became editor and proprietor of the Victor Index. In the winter of 1878 he was second assistant of the Iowa Senate, and in the spring of that year was appointed postal clerk in the railway mail service on the Iowa Central Railroad, running between Mason City and Ottumwa, continuing the publication of his paper at the same time. In the fall of 1879 he moved with his family to Ottumwa, soon after moving his office, and in connection with William McClelland estab- lished a job office. About 1880 he left the road, sold his office, and became city editor of the Ot- tumwa Democrat, and later oceupied the same posi- tion on the Ottumwa Courier. In 1882 he returned to the road by new appointment, and by special leave of absence from the post office department served during the summer of 1883 as secretary of the Republican State central committee under Chairman W. A. MeGrew. In January, 1885, he was promoted to the position of head clerk between Burlington and Council Bluffs, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Railroad, but resigned this position the May follow- ing Cleveland's inauguration and became State agent

for an insurance company, and secretary of the Wapello County Agricultural Society. In the fall of 1885 he leased a half interest in the Mitchell County Press, at Osage, Iowa, but gave it up the following January, and went to Huron, Dak. , where he compiled a directory of that city, at the same time doing more or less work on the Daily Huronite, the following summer taking a directory of Watertown, Dak., and for a short time beeame a traveling cor- respondent of the Sioux Falls Daily Press. In 1886 he organized the Dakota Gazetteer and Business Directory Company, and was its manager. Ile ean- vassed the lines of the Northern Pacific & Manitoba Railroads in Dakota, and in the spring of 1887 went to Sioux City, Iowa, and was city editor of the Daily Tribune throughout the summer. In the fall of that year he came to Hastings, Neb., and the following January accepted the position of city editor of the Daily Gazette Journal, but this position resigned on August 1, and with John A. Creath bought of Dr. H. P. Fitch, the Nebraskan, then a weekly paper. On November 13, 1888, the day after the failure of the Gazette-Journal, they started the Daily Nebras- kan, which paper is regarded as one of the best in the State. Mr. Merritt and Mr. Creath are admira- ble newspaper men, and their progressive ideas are reflected in every corner of their paper; and its man- agement, which has had a most flattering increase in its circulation since it came into their possession. On November 30, 1871, Mr. Merritt was united in marriage to Miss Mattie A. Williams, at Homestead, Johnson County, Iowa, and their union has been blessed in the birth of three children: Mabel (born September 21, 1872), Maude (born April 23, 1876), and Edgar C. (born February 13, 1878).

Nicholas Metzer, farmer and stock raiser, IIol- stein, Neb. The estate upon which Mr. Metzer now resides, and to which he has given such close at- tention in the cultivation, embraces 400 acres, with about 300 acres under cultivation, substantial and convenient buildings being a leading feature of these improvements. Ile is numbered among the thrifty, foreign-born residents of the county, having been born in Bavaria, Germany, on November 6, 1837. llis parents, Martin and Barbara (Google) Metzer, were also natives of that country, and emigrated to

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the States in 1851, locating in Wisconsin. There both parents died in Washington County. Nicholas Metzer came with his parents to the United States, and resided with them until about fifteen years of age, when he began working out by the month. After growing up he engaged in the brewery busi- ness in Washington County, Wis., and continued at this for several years. In 1873 he sold out and moved to Nebraska, settled in Adams County, and entered land adjoining the town of Holstein. He afterwards sold this and bought his present prop- erty. He filled the office of township collector and treasurer for some time, and to the satisfaction of all. While living in Washington County, Wis., he was married, in 1863, to Miss Pauline Hohlfeld, a native of Germany, but who was reared in Wiscon- sin. To this union have been born seven children: George, Alma (wife of Charles Kune), Frank, Adolph, Charles, Hattie and Oscar. Mr. and Mrs. Metzer are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Metzer enlisted in the Ninth Wisconsin Infantry in 1861, and served until discharged for disability in 1862.

J. C. F. Milliken, farmer, Hastings, Neb. Mr. Milliken, who is also numbered among the substan- tial and representative citizens of Eastern birth in Highland Township, came originally from Greene County, Pa., where his birth occurred in 1856, and is the fifth of seven children born to the marriage of Jonas and Elizabeth (Hughes) Milliken, natives of the Keystone State, where they are still living, the father engaged in tilling the soil. J. C. F. Milliken assisted his father on the farm, received his educa- tion in the schools of Pennsylvania, and commenced farming for himself in his native State in 1880. He was married in his native county that year to Miss Bell Rinehart, a native of Greene County, Pa., and the daughter of W. H. and Ruth A. (Bowen) Rinehart, natives of Pennsylvania. Her parents are both living, and the father is a promi- nent stock dealer. In 1883 Mr. Milliken and fam- ily moved to Adams County, Neb., purchased 160 acres of land, with twenty-five acres in tillable con- dition, and now have it all under cultivation. Mr. Milliken is raising a good grade of cattle, and is one of the progressive men of the county. He is the

present township assessor, elected in 1888, and has also been school treasurer two terms, being quite active in educational matters. He is active in pol- itics, votes with the Republican party, and he and wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To their union were born three children: George, Lauren and Ruth,

James P. Miltimore keeps an exceptionally com- plete livery, feed and sale stable in the city of Hast- ings, Neb., and is a native of York State, where he was born January 10, 1842, being one of two sur- viving members of a family of children born to Pardon and Elmina (Lampson) Miltimore, who were also born in that State. They died in the State of Wisconsin, the father in Jonesville, and the mother in Albany. James P. Miltimore, at the very early age of seven years, was cast upon the world to seek his own fortune, and for a number of years found it most difficult to secure a livelihood. Having always been of an ambitious disposition, he put his heart in his work, and as time went on suc- ceeded in accumulating considerable means. For a number of years prior to his coming to Adams County in June, 1873, he was engaged in the grain business in Wisconsin, but on coming to this county he settled about four miles from Hastings and opened a livery stable in the town, also carrying on a dray and transfer business, and being industrious and prudent he soon established an excellent busi- ness. This calling received his attention until the fall of 1881, after which he spent a number of years in buying and selling horses, and in 1887 opened the livery stable which he is now successfully con- ducting. His stables are excellently fitted up with all kinds of vehicles, among which are two hand- some hearses, and the animals which he keeps are all in excellent condition and are ready for use at all times. For some time during the war he drove a government team, and for one year was a member of Company I, Fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and is now a member of the G. A. R. His mar- riage to Miss Eliza Rawley was celebrated in 1870, but he was called upon to mourn her untimely death three years later, her body being taken to Wisconsin for burial. In 1880 Mr. Miltimore espoused Miss Idell Willoughby, by whom he has three children:

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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