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 50

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 50
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 50
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 50
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 50

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was a glove maker and weaver by occupation. W. W. Philleo, the immediate subject of this sketch, says that all the Fillows, Philos, and Philleos, with all the variations and spellings of the name in this country, are the descendants of John Fillow. The family throughout are honest, industrious and law- abiding citizens, and although they can not claim to be descended from the French nobility, or to having achieved any very prominent place in American his- tory, yet wherever members of the family are found they are considered honored and useful citizens. Like the Jews, the Philleos have an ancestral pride in industry, and in fostering these hereditary habits; and in connection with this they are possessed of virtue, reliability, strength of character, and pros- perity. Historian Foude says, " There are but three ways of living: working, begging or stealing, and he who is not doing the one is doing the other." The Philleos seem to have chosen the former occu- pation of obtaining a livelihood, and are not ashamed to labor. Nearly every profession is represented, and in the family are to be found able divines, physi- cians, lawyers and agriculturists, while the muse was not lacking in many. The first school taught in the neighborhood in which W. W. Philleo was born, was in charge of Annett Holmes, and consisted of a two months' term which Mr. Philleo had the good fortune to attend, while an older brother was obliged to stay at home and aid his father in plowing corn and pota- toes. His luck did not last long, however, for the following four or five years were spent in assisting his father on the farm, and in hauling logs for rails, and to a neighboring sawmill, so that the entire schooling he received amounted to hut about eighteen months. IIe was often called lazy by his father, and for no other reason than that he was of an inventive turn of mind, and was always trying to find the easiest way of doing his tasks. When about thir- teen years of age, he was thrown from a horse, the fall nearly breaking his back, and owing to the fact that he could sit down only for a little while at a time, he could not attend school, so he got an old shot gun and during the spring and fall hunted pigeons, becoming by the time he had reached his sixteenth year, one of the best riffe shots in his por- tion of Illinois. The following summer after receiv-

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ing his injury, his father and uncle thought they would make a printer of him, and so secured him a position in the office of the first daily paper pub- lished in Rock Island, Ill., and here he learned to set type, and do the general dirty work of a print- ing office. He had been apprenticed for two years, and all went well until hot weather approached, when he ran away, and began hunting and trapping, and succeeded in laying up some money. In the spring of 1857 he began canvassing for two books, and in the first part of the season made lots of money, but in the fall and winter lost it all by the failure in the wild cat banks of those good old Dem- ocratie days. During the winter of 1857-58, he attended school for two months in Port Byron, Ill., paying his own board and tuition, and while there improved his advantages to the utmost, as he had just begun to learn the value of an education. Up- on the approach of spring, he determined he would not return to the farm, and as the war in Utah Territory was then in progress, he decided to go there and see what that country had in store for him. His sole possessions then consisted of $15, a shot gun and a rifle. He traded the shot gun for a revolver, and finding a party of four young men who were going to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., he joined them, investing all the money he possessed in the expedition. His father strongly opposed this meas- ure, and tried to dissuade him from his purpose, but of no avail, and finding that he was to start on April 14, he met him at Port Byron, and again used all his eloquence to persuade him to remain at home. Upon finding his efforts fruitless, he presented him with $5, and bade him God speed. After experi- encing a good many hardships, they at last reached Fort Leavenworth, where Mr. Philleo hired out to the government as a driver, and accompanied the last detachment of cavalry that was sent out to reinforce Gen. Johnson, at Salt Lake City. After a few days he gave up this work, as he did not like the rough class of men he had fallen in with, and then went to work for Majors Russell and Waddell, breaking Texas steers, and getting trains ready for the plains, they having all the government contracts at that time. Owing to the great demand for ox yokes, he entered that business and made considerable money. |

After a time he went to St. Louis, but shortly after returned to Fort Leavenworth, going from there to Lawrence, where his four companions on his journey westward were sick with agne and had spent all their money, their investments in lands proving un- fortunate. Mr. Philleo purchased them provisions and medicine, then returned to Fort Leavenworth and went to work for Sam Bissell, who had a large hay contract with the government. After remaining with him for about five months, he entered the em- ploy of Nichols & Morton, eight miles south of Atchison, Kan., and hauled and rafted logs for them until June, 1859, then went to bull whacking for Jones & Cartwright, freighters to Denver, Col., and on his way to that place, stopped at a house on the present site of Marysville, Kan., which was owned by a cripple who had previously run a saloon and gambling house in Port Byron, Ill., in defiance of the law, and had at last been burned out by the in- dignaut citizens. His whereabouts had remained unknown until he was discovered by Mr. Philleo, whom he was very glad to see. His house was a sort of stopping place for men going and return- ing from the gold fields of Pike's Peak. In 1859, when Mr. Philleo was on one of his trips to Den- ver, Adams County, Neb., was being surveyed, and when they came back in the month of October, all the river and creek claims were taken by squatters, and also a great deal of the upland near the streams was also taken, the settlers being mostly parties returning from Pike's Peak and Salt Lake. In the fall of 1859, he went to work in Flood's Mill, Cass County, Mo., continuing until July 14, 1860, which was the year of the greatest dronth known in the West. On that date he started for his old home in Illinois, never having written a line to his relatives during his absence. He rented part of his father's farm and settled down to work, but in the spring the Rebellion broke out, and at the first call for troops he, on April 14, left his team harnessed in the stable, and his crops one-half sown, and started for Rock Island, where he was mustered into Company D, Twelfth Regiment Illinois Infantry, and after his term of three months' enlistment had expired, he joined Company A, Thirty-seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and was mustered into the United States

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service at Chicago, Ill., August 21, 1861, and was honorably discharged September 23, 1863, by reason of promotion to second lieutenant of Company K, Twenty-second Regiment Corps D, Afrique, later the Ninety-second Regiment United States Colored Infantry, being recommended for promotion in the winter of 1864, to the regular army, but failed to receive such promotion as the following notice shows:

"MORGANZIA, LA., January 28, 1865.

Second Lieut. W. W. Philleo, 92nd U. S. C. Inft.,

SIR :- I have to inform you that you were not examined for promotion, as the surgeon's examination found yon physically disqualified.

By order of the Board, C. B. GASTELL,

Lieut. Col. 81st U. S. Col. Inf., Recorder.

He remained with his regiment until May 16, 1865, and was then mustered out of service by gen- eral order from the War Department, on account of physical disability. He first served in Missouri, and while at Boonville was detailed with eighty other men to catch and break a large number of horses and mules. Here his two years' experience on the plains served him in good stead as he was the only man in his entire army who could throw the lariat. He made a dozen lariats and before night had every mule caught, and the soldiers had them harnessed. After holding the position of company teamster for one year, he was chosen wagon master, afterward becoming division wagon and forage master, holding this position until after the siege of Vicksburg. While at New Orleans he was detailed by Gen. Heron to take charge of a wagon train des- tined for the Red River campaign, and here received his commission. He was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, siege of Vicksburg and the Red River campaign. After his return home from the war, he began the study of medicine, making the diseases of the eye a specialty, and what he learned has since served him well, for during a period of twenty years he has paid out but $15 for doctor bills, and that for services when he was not at home. He con- siders the practice of medicine the greatest humbug of the nineteenth century, and surgery the greatest science. In the fall of 1870 he and A. C. Moore became associated in the agricultural implement trade, Crete, Neb .. being their chosen place of bus-

iness. At the end of two years Mr. Moore with- drew from the firm, and Mr. Philleo continued alone until in 1874, when he failed on account of the drouths and grasshoppers. On May 16, 1871, he took up a homestead claim in Adams County, and had some breaking done that fall and the fol- lowing summer. llis wife moved on this place July 22, 1872, his brother and a cousin living with her, and in the spring of 1873 he planted an orchard of 200 trees, a large quantity of small fruits. besides 10,000 apple grafts which did very well, as the season was favorable. The next spring he en- larged his orchard, set out 20,000 grafts, but all was destroyed that season by the drouth and grass- hoppers, which was rather discouraging. In 1875 Mr. Philleo went to work for the Walter A. Wood Machine Company, and put his wages into apple trees and grafts, and soon had another orchard, 1,100 trees and 20,000 grafts, beside 400 grape vines. This was in the spring of 1876, and all promised well, but grasshoppers came down from the North in immense swarms and destroyed every thing but one apple tree, and about 400 grafts. These he set ont the following spring and notwithstanding con- siderable bad luck, which he had with them until 1882, he has now a fine orchard of 2,700 fruit trees, and acres of grape vines and small fruits, all of which he raises in quantities for sale. For a summer apple he recommends the Early Harvest, Red Astrachan and Duchess; for fall, the Wealthy, Haas and Snow, and for winter, Ben Davis, Pewaukee and Rowls Janet. Politically he is a Republican, but would not vote for his best friend unless his views in regard to public measures were in accord with his own. In the fall of 1886 he was a candidate for the Legislature, but was defeated. J. B. Hartwell was nominated for Senator. and A. V. Cole and H. C. Minnix for representatives. Mr. Philleo, think- ing to test the position of the candidates. drew up the following: " To the electors of Adams County: I hereby certify that if elected to represent Adams County in the next Legislative Assembly, I pledge myself not to receive or ride on a pass from any rail- road company, nor will I solicit or receive one for any other person whomsoever, and that I will intro- duce or support a bill making it a felony for any

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elected or appointed officer in the State of Nebraska, senators and representatives to the United States Congress included, to receive and ride on a pass, and that I will introduce or support a railroad freight bill for this State pro rata with the freights now charged from Omaha to the sea board, and will do all in my power to secure the passage of the same; also House Roll No. 329, of the session of 1885." This was a bill drawn by Mr. Philleo to compel rail- road and other corporations to make and keep in repair public crossings, which became a law in 1887. This he subsequently presented to the candidates of the Anti-Monopoly party, who were H. P. Fitch, H. G. Armitage and H. M. Palmer, and they hav- ing signed it he cast his vote and used his influ- ence for their election. In the winter of 1873 he drew up a petition to Congress asking for a repeal of the pre-emption laws, in lieu thereof giving a timber culture act. He had 100 of these petitions printed and sent to postmasters all over the State for signatures, and this petition was placed in the hands of Senator P. W. Hitchcock, of Nebraska, who at once drew up a bill in accord with the peti- tion (except that it did not repeal the pre-emption laws), which passed both Houses of Congress and became a law March 3, 1873. At this writing (March 6, 1890), there are several living in Adams County who signed this petition and know the facts as set forth, but the credit of its passage has always been given P. W. Hitchcock, and Senator Paddock, who has amended it; while every tree that grows upon a timber claim is a living monument to W. W. Philleo.

A. F. Powers, farmer and stock raiser, Hast- ings, Neb. This gentleman is another representa- tive citizen who owes his nativity to Illinois, his birth occurring in St. Clair County in 1829, and is the second in a family of eleven children, five now living, born to the union of John and Nancy (Ford) Powers, natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut, respectively. The parents were married in St. Clair County, Ill., whither John Powers had emigrated at the age of sixteen years, and here he followed farm- ing until 1834, when he moved to La Salle County, Ill. There he received his final summons in 1862. The mother died in Kansas in 1874. Grandfather

Aaron Ford was a soldier in the War of 1812. On both sides of the family, the Powers and Fords can trace their ancestors back to the Mayflower. A. F. Powers was early taught the duties of farm life, and received his education in the district schools of La Salle County, Ill. He commenced farming for him- self at the age of twenty-five years, and continued thus employed until the breaking out of the war. He then enlisted in Brookfield Township, La Salle County, in 1865, in the Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Veteran Infantry for one year, and was mustered into service at Joliet. He remained with the Eleventh until it was mustered out. He was in the engagement at Fort Blakely, and was transferred to the Eight Illinois Infantry, being in the Red River country on garrison duty. He was honorably dis- charged at New Orleans in February, 1866, and afterward returned to La Salle County, Ill. Previous to the war, in 1856, he had married Miss Margaret S. Leech, a native of Ohio, who died in Illinois on February 26, 1862, during which time he resided on a farm he had purchased in Brookfield Township, La Salle County, Ill. By that union were born three children: Robert W. (married and resides at Culbertson, Neb.), John F. (died in 1860), and Aaron S. (died in 1862). Mr. Powers was married the second time in La Salle County, Ill. , on January 1, 1867, to Miss Ann Clark, a native of Scotland, and the daughter of Thomas and Agnes (Nevin) Clark, natives of Scotland, who came to America in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Clark settled in Allen Town- ship, La Salle County, and here the father tilled the soil until his death, which occurred in June, 1886. The mother is still living and resides in Livingston County, Ill., in the vicinity of Dwight. After his marriage Mr. Powers continued to reside on his farm in Brookfield Township until his removal to Adams County, Neb., in 1874. He entered 160 acres of land and bought a tree claim, and purchased railroad land. He commenced im- proving the farm, erected a good frame house and substantial outbuildings, and is now the owner of 476 acres of good land, all in a good state of culti- vation. He raises some stock. He is independent in his political views, and votes for the best men and measures; he is the present supervisor of West

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Blue Township, and is re-elected for the two ensu- ing years; he is chairman of the board of super- visors, also chairman of the building committee, and assisted in organizing the township. He was justice of the peace from the organization of the precinct until elected to his present office, and has been a member of the school board, being quite active in educational matters. Socially he is a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Hansen, Mr. Powers being one of the elders. To his second marriage were born nine children, five now living: John T., Aaron C., Agnes May (died March 15, 1879, at the age of eight years), James A. (died March 16, 1879, at the age of six years), Ann E. (died March 12. 1879, at the age of nearly four years), Bertha E. (died March 27, 1879, at the age of six months), Inez E., Ida A. and Phoebe I. Mr. Powers is one of the early settlers of the town- ship; has seen the full development of the county, and has assisted very much in the building up of the same. He has taken a decided interest in every- thing for the good of Adams County; is progressive in his ideas, and is taking an active interest in the court house (being chairman of the building com- mittee), erected at a cost of about 866,587.50.

C. R. Powers, farmer and stock raiser, Hastings, Neb. In enumerating the enterprising and pro- gressive agriculturists and stockmen of this town- ship, Mr. Powers must not be overlooked. He owes his nativity to La Salle County, Ill, where his birth occurred in 1837, and is the son of John and Nancy (Ford) Powers, natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut, respectively. The father moved to Illinois in 1822, when a boy, settled in St. Clair Connty, and was there married. He moved to La Salle County, Ill., in 1834, and there followed farming for many years. He was magistrate for many years, and died in 1862. The mother sur- vived him until 1874. Their family consisted of eleven children, five of whom are still living. C. R. Powers passed his boyhood days in the common schools of La Salle County, Ill .. and commenced life for himself by farming in Illinois. He was married in his native county in 1861, to Miss Phoebe R. Greenlees, a native of New York, and the daugh-

ter of Andrew and Rebecca (Dominy) Greenlees, natives respectively of Scotland and New York. ller parents came to Illinois in about 1840; the father engaged in farming, and made that State his home until his death, which occurred about 1859. The mother is still living and resides on the old farm in Illinois. After his marriage Mr. Powers settled in La Salle County, and carried on farming until 1873, when he moved to Adams County, Neb., and there purchased 292 acres of wild land. This he has sinee improved, and has erected a good house and out buildings. He is engaged in raising and feeding stock, and is making a specialty of Short-horu cattle. He assisted in the organization of West Blne Township, and is a representative citi- zen of the same. He and Mrs. Powers and family are members of the Presbyterian Church, at Hast- ings. To his marriage were born five children: Clara R., Mary, Ella, Robert and Arthur. Mr. Powers is a great temperance advocate.

William Turner Putt, M. D., is the present effi- cient superintendent of the Parkview Cemetery, and was one of the leading spirits in its establishment. He was born in Torquay, Devonshire, England, Oc- tober 10, 1850, being a son of John and Sarah (Turner) Putt, who were also born in England, the former's birth occurring in 1823. He died at Lisbon, Kendall County, Ill., in 1867, still survived by his widow, who is now sixty-seven years of age, and is a resident of Washington, Kan. Dr. W. T. Putt is the eldest of eight children, four now living, and came with his parents to the United States in 1854. and took up his abode in Grundy County, Ill. , subsequently removing to Kendall County, Ill .; he attended the public schools of Lisbon, and later en- tered the Jennings Seminary at Aurora, Ill. lIe learned the carpenter's trade of his father, but in 1869 he dropped his tools to take up the study of medicine, entering the office of Dr. N. G. Smith, at Lisbon, Ill. After considerable preparatory .study he entered the Electric Medical Institute, at Cincin- nati, Ohio, from which institution he graduated on May 13, 1874, locating the following June for prac- tice at Oswego, Ill., where he was a successful practitioner from 1874 to 1884. In March of the latter year he came to Adams County, Neb., and

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until 1886 was engaged in farming, since which time he has been superintendent of the Parkview Cemetery, the beautiful appearance of which is largely due to his untiring efforts, and no better man could be found to fill the position. In 1889 he in- vented and had copyrighted Putt's Atlas System of Cemetery Records, which is the most complete book of records ever placed before the public. He owns six acres of fine land within the corporation of Hast- ings, and intends making many valnable improve- ments thereon in a short time. The Doctor is a Re- publican in his political views, and socially is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the I. O. O. F. On February 10, 1876, he was married to Miss Catherine E. Hall, who was born in New Jersey, April 25, 1851, a daughter of John D. and Gertrude (Carkhuff) Hall, also natives of that State. Dr. Putt and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and the esteem which is ac- corded them is conceded by all to be well merited.

Adam Reader, farmer and stock raiser, Ayr, Neb. Adams County is indeed fortunate in having among her foreign-born element men whose indus- try, strict attention to business, economy and perse- verance have produced such substantial results in the different affairs with which they have connected themselves. Mr. Reader belongs to this class, for, originally from Germany, his location in this county dates from 1880. He was born in 1850, and is the son of Adam J. and Elizabeth (Rummel) Reader, both natives of Germany. The father's birth oc- curred in 1813, and he was married in the old coun- try to Miss Rummel abont 1837. He was a weaver by trade, and followed this for many years in Ger- many. He came to the United States in 1854, located in La Salle County, III., about fifteen miles from Ottawa, and there tilled the soil. He died in 1856, and the mother, in Nebraska, in 1884. Their family consisted of the following children: John, Dorotha, Barbara, Adam and Frederick (who was born in Illinois.) Adam Reader assisted his mother on the farm in Illinois, received his education in the schools of that State, and in 1871 was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Heilman, daughter of A. S. Heilman, of Pennsylvania. Mr. Reader bought land in Illinois about 1873, but sold it in 1879, and

in 1880 emigrated to Adams Connty, Neb., settling in Zero Township. He purchased 320 acres of land in Section 11, and since then has added to this until he now owns 640 acres, which is well improved. The fruits of his marriage are: Henry A. , Lizzie A., Celia J., John F., Freddie S. (deceased) and Char- ley A. (also deceased). Mr. Reader was elected moderator of his school district in 1881, and has held that position ever since. He was elected supervisor of Zero Township in 1886, held this position for three terms, and went out in 1890. He is a Republican in his political preferences. He is active in church work, and he and wife are members of the Evangelical Church. His brother John was in the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Infantry for three years during the late war, and was shot and killed at the battle of Hartsville, Tenn.

J. E. Reed, farmer and stock raiser, Hastings, Neb. Mr. Reed has been a resident of Blaine Township, Adams County, Neb., since 1878, and during that time has lived upon his neat and pleas- ant homestead of 160 acres, all under cultivation, gaining in the meantime a large acquaintance and the confidence of all who know him. His birth occurred in New Hampshire, in 1841, and he was the eldest of six children, the result of the union of Erastus B. and Bettie H. (Marks) Reed. The father was born in 1811, and died in New Hampshire in 1867. He was a shoemaker by trade, but also fol- lowed farming, and was a man universally respected. He and wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was trustee of the same for years. The mother died in 1854. They were the parents, as before stated, of six children: J. E., Josiah M., Mary J., George C., Lizzie and Anngen- ette. J. E. Reed remained in New Hampshire until twenty-one years of age, when he went to Lowell, Mass., and there remained three years. In 1865 he moved to Illinois with his parents, settled in Lee County, and there followed farming. While living in Lowell, Mass., he was married to Miss Josephine Patton, of Bangor, Me., and the daughter of Joseph Patton. To this marriage were born two children: Lizzie P. , and Addie F. (deceased). Mrs. Reed died in Illinois in 1868, and in 1871 Mr. Reed took for his second wife Miss Sarah Snodgrass, a

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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