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 78

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 78
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 78
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 78
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 78

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Edgar A. Hodges. One of the neatest, most home-like and best-managed places in Clay County, Neb., is that owned by Mr. Hodges, comprising 160 acres of land, nearly all of which is enclosed by a good hedge fence. He was born in Macoupin County, Ill., November 24, 1860, and is a son of J. L. Hodges, whose sketch precedes this. He grew to manhood on his father's farm in Illinois and received the advantages of the common schools, but at the age of twenty-one years began the battle of life for himself, and was married on his birthday, November 24, 1881, to Miss Emma Henderson, a daughter of D. M. Henderson, Mrs. Hodges was born in Greene County, but was reared, educated and married in Macoupin County, the latter county being hers and her husband's home for three years after the celebration of their mar- riage. In the fall of 1884 they moved to Nebraska and purchased their present property in Clay County, which he has since put in excellent farm- ing condition. He has a fair house, and barns, etc., a good grove on the north, and an excellent bearing orchard of about 250 trees, consisting of

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select varieties of apple, cherry, peach and plum trees. He also raises a quantity of small fruit, and expects to make a speciality of the fruit busi- ness. He gives considerable attention to the rais- ing of fine stock, and keeps two fine horses for breeding purposes, one of the Black Hawk Morgan breed, and the other a Hambletonian, both of high grade. He also has a number of thoroughbred Poland China hogs, and his position relating to stock matters is conceded to be among the foremost in this portion of the State. He has always affil- iated with the Republican party, and in the fall of 1889 was elected constable of his township, and is still ably serving in that capacity. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and is ser- geant-at-arms in his lodge. He and wife have two children, Jessie and Lawrence Earl.

Frederick J. Hoerger, hardware merchant, Sut- ton, Neb. No better proof of the advancement of Sutton within the last ten years can be shown, than the dimensions which the hardware trade has assumed. Among others, one of the largest is the well-known house of Frederick J. Hoerger, which was established in 1877. Mr. Hoerger owes his nativity to Holmes County, Ohio, where his birth occurred on January 17, 1852, and is the son of Henry and Catherine (Schmidt) Hoerger, natives of Germany. The father was born on January 12, 1815, and died in Holmes County, Ohio, on January 19, 1881. He came to the United States in 1833, and one year later settled in Holmes County, Ohio. The mother was born on October 26, 1818, and came to the United States in 1835. She is now residing on the old Ohio homestead. Of the nine children born to their union Frederick J. is the sixth in order of birth, and six are now living. Frederick J. Hoerger was reared to farm life, and received his education in his native State. At the age of seventeen years he began learning the wagon-maker's trade at Winesburg, Ohio, and followed this in Ohio until 1875, after which he emigrated to Nebraska, settled in Sutton, Clay County, and there he has since remained. For two years after coming here he followed his trade, and in 1877 engaged in the implement business, which he continued until 1881, though previous to

this, in 1879, he was in the hardware business, and since 1881 he has given his entire attention to the same. He carries a complete stock and is doing a good business. He was married in 1878 to Miss Catharine Scheufler, a native of the Buck- eye State, born October 26, 1854, and the fruits of this union have been three children: Mabel L., Minnie V. and William F. Mr. Hoerger is a Democrat in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden. He is a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellow lodges, and was for five years a member of the Sutton council. He is one of the representative business men of Clay County, and is a much-esteemed citizen. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He is chairman of the Clay County Democratic Cen- tral Committee, and is a stock holder and vice- president of the Sutton Exchange Bank. He was one of the originators of the Sutton Creamery, which was established in 1883, and which, in 1889, made 368,893 pounds of butter.

Charles Hoevet. Mr. Hoevet was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, on June 3, 1832, being a son of William and Frederica (Smith) Hoevet, both of whom were born in Germany, and there resided until their death. The father was born on November 14, 1779, and died September 13, 1832, the grandfather's birth occurring in 1736, and his death in 1808. Mr. Hoevet is in possession of the genealogy of his family, which traces it back to the year 1139, and many members of the family were men of prominence. Charles Hoevet is the youngest of nine children, of whom four are still living: William, George, August and himself. Af- ter serving an apprenticeship of four years in the mercantile business, Mr. Hoevet emigrated to this country, arriving here in June, 1852, and chose farming for his calling; he staid a few years in Indiana, then located in Kankakee County, Ill., where he made his home until the spring of 1880, when he came to Nebraska and settled ou the farm he now ocenpies. His marriage to Miss Elizabeth Ritter took place in 1859, she being the daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Hamman) Ritter, who were born in Ohio. Nine children were boru to Mr. and Mrs. Hoevet, of whom seven are living

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at present: Louis, Charles, Delia, Otto, Edward, Albert and Floyd. Mr. Hoevet has been a Repub- lican in politics since the organization of the Re- publican party, has held offices of trust in Illinois, and is at present a member of the county board of Clay County.

A. J. Hull, farmer and stock-raiser, Spring Ranche, Neb. In Pennsylvania, in the year 1832, there was born to Francis and Polly (Lee) Hull a son, who is now taken as the subject of this sketch. The parents were both natives of the Keystone State, and the father was a sailor by occupation, first mate of the steamer "Madison," running between Buffalo and Chicago. He re- ceived a fair education in the common schools, learning the miller's trade, which he followed in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., until 1837, when he went on the lake as a sailor. He went to California in 1849, embarked in the fur business, and was killed by a grizzly bear in 1857. A. J. Hull came to La Salle County, Ill., when seven years of age, and, as his mother was deceased, he lived with an uncle, receiving his education in the common schools. Subsequently he learned the trade of plasterer or stucco workman, and began working for himself at the age of fifteen years. He followed his trade in connection with contracting and build- ing, at different places, until 1862, and in that year he entered the United States service, in the Seventy fourth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of Perryville, Hoover's Gap, Chicka- manga, Missionary Ridge, and numerous other minor engagements. He lost the hearing in his right ear at Chickamauga, and was discharged at Louisville, Ky., in 1865, after being in service for three years. Mr. Hull was married in 1867 to Mrs. Susan Hill McCagg, of Orland, Steuben County, Ind., and by this union became the father of two children: Eugene and Frank. He lost his wife in Clay County, Neb., in 1875, and was married the second time, in 1877, to Miss Margaret Anderson, the daughter of James and Nancy (Langly) Ander- son, natives of Erie County, Pa. Mr. Hull came to Clay County, Neb., in 1871, homesteaded a farm, and was among the first settlers of that county. In 1877 he purchased his present home,

the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 8-5-8, Spring Ranche Township, Clay County, Neb. In 1881 he had charge of the mason work of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in Colorado, for one year, after which he was in the Elk Moun- tain range mines for five years, and was also superintendent of the Menominee Gold & Silver Mining Company. When Mr. Hull first settled in Nebraska game was plentiful, and he spent a great deal of his time in hunting, of which employment he was very fond. He has seen the full develop- ment of the country to its present prosperous con- dition, and is one of the energetic and successful citizens of Clay County. He takes an active inter- est in politics, and votes the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Josiah N. Hursh, county superintendent of schools, Clay Center, Neb. This prominent and enterprising citizen owes his nativity to Franklin County, Pa., where his birth occurred on Novem- ber 24, 1852, and his parents, John and Cath- erine (Niswander) Hursh, were natives of the same State and of German descent. The father died in 1855, and the mother and family emigrated to Illi- nois in 1870. Here Josiah N. attended the Wes- leyan and State Normal Universities, and later followed teaching in that State. In 1884 he came to Clay County, Neb., took charge of the Fairfield schools, and there continued until the fall of 1887, when he was elected county superintendent. So great was his popularity, and so well did he fill this position, that he was re-elected in the fall of 1889. He studied law while in Illinois, and the same characteristics which marked his progress in the school room, were prominent in his legal stud- ies, and after a thorough course of instruction he was admitted to the bar in that State. At present he is a member of the bar in Clay Center and is a man of judgment and unusual ability. In October, 1887, he married Miss Nellie H. Loomis, a native of Lee County, Iowa. Prof. Hursh is a Republi- can in politics and a strong adhereut to that party. Socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., and belongs to the Modern Wood- men of America.

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George Hutton, farmer and stockman, Harvard, Neb. Mr. Hutton, one of the most successful and enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of the coun- ty, was born at Sterling, Whiteside County, Ill., in 1850, and is the second of six children, the result of the union of George and Louisa (Davis) Hutton, natives of Kentucky, the former horn in 1823 and the son of Spencer Hutton. George Hutton passed his youthful days in his native State, and when twenty one years of age went to Whiteside County, Ill., settled at Sterling, and there engaged at brick-laying and also followed milling. He mar- ried our subject's mother in Kentucky about 1842. and reared a family of six children: Ann, George, Mary, Spencer, Cordelia and Stephen. The mother was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and died July 18, 1861. The father enlisted in the army at Sterling in 1862, and was a brave and fearless soldier. He is still living and makes his home in Sterling, Ill. George Hutton passed his boyhood days in Whiteside County, Ill., and at- tended school at Sterling, where he received a good, practical education. He started out for himself at the early age of thirteen and first worked on a farm. In 1873 he married Miss Margaret Lyle, a native of Ogle County, Ill .. born in 1844, and the daughter of James and Agnes (Allison) Lyle, natives of Scotland. the father born in 1811 and the mother in 1812. Her parents came to the United States at an early day and died in Illinois in 1866 and 1875, respectively. Mr. Hutton en- gaged in farming in Whiteside County, Ill., in 1875, and three years later emigrated to Clay County, Neb., where he now resides. He pur- chased 160 acres of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company and there resided until 1881, when he returned to Illinois and settled at Rock Falls, where he worked in a machine shop. In 1886 he came back to Nebraska and settled again on this farm, where he is at present engaged in farm- ing and stock raising. He has a fine farm, good orchard and grove and is comfortably fixed. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is much respected by all. Mr. Hutton has been a member of the school board in District No. 37, is interested in schools and churches, and

all things for the good of the county. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and in his polit- ical views affiliates with the Democratic party. To his marriage were born the following children: Annie L. (born November 27, 1873), George E. (born March 16, 1875), Janette L. (born July 31. 1876), Charles R. (born October 30, 1879), Mary F. (born September 3, 1881), and Agnes J. (born March 22, 1887).

John W. Iliff, farmer and stock-raiser of Eldo- rado Township, Clay County. Mr. Iliff is one of many young men who came to this county while comparatively in its infancy, and by their energy, pluck and enterprise have established for themselves and families good homes. He was born in Hunt- erdon County, N. J., March 30, 1852, the third in a family of seven children born to the union of Alpheus and Mary E. (Philhower) Iliff. His father was a native of New Jersey, born August 15, 1828, attending school and learning the blacksmith's trade in his native State. He married at about the age of twenty three years. He enlisted in the United States service in July, 1862. in Company E, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Bull Run, and skirmishes and battles of lesser import- ance. He was captured at the battle of the Wil- derness while on detached duty, and was compelled to spend seven months in Andersonville Prison. In Angust, 1863, he was honorably discharged, after having served three years. He is still living on a farm near Pottersville. The subject of this sketch spent his school days in New Jersey, and at the age of eighteen began life for himself as a farm hand. In 1877 he went to Bureau County, Ill., and worked on a farm for abont seven years, when he removed to Clay County, Neb., and engaged in farming on a farm which he bought in 1882, cou- sisting of 160 acres of land, which he has since improved with a good, comfortable dwelling, barn, outbuildings, fences, etc., and by planting fruit and forest trees. He was married, in 1885, to Miss Barbara Osborn, danghter of Wesley and Sarah (Barnet) Osborn, natives of Pennsylvania, and by this union has one child, Fermin H. Mr. Iliff has been exceedingly successful since coming to Ne-

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braska, and is well satisfied to make his permanent home in this State. He is a member of the Farm- ers' Alliance, and is the present supervisor of El- dorado Township. He is a Republican in his po. litical views, and takes an active interest in politics, as he does in all public enterprises.

Ira B. Iliff, a well-known farmer of Clay Coun- ty, Neb., owes his nativity to that land of progres- sive farmers-Iowa-his birth occurring in Fayette County on June 10, 1856. He is a son of Benja- min and Hannah (Kirkpatrick) Iliff, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively. Ira B. Iliff was reared and educated in his native State and county, and in the month of May, 1872, came to Clay Coun- ty, Neb., and purchased the farm where he now re- sides of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad. He has been a successful farmer and stockman ever since, and he fully deserves the success which has attended his efforts, for he has spared neither time nor energy in the acquirement of his present pos- sessions. He has proved a valuable citizen to the county, and has always contributed liberally of his means in the support of worthy enterprises. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and in his political views is a Prohibitionist. His worthy wife, before her marriage, was Miss Laura Han- cock, who was born in Taylor County, Iowa, and is a daughter of A. A. Hancock, who resides in Lone Tree Township, Clay County, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Iliff are the parents of two children, Winfred and Clarence, and are members of the United Brethren Church, enjoying the respect and es- teem of all who know them.

George F. Iliff, like his brother, whose sketch immediately precedes this, was born in Fayette County, Iowa, January 20, 1852, and in his youth was brought up to learn the details of farm work. After attending the common schools until he had acquired a fair education he entered Western Col- lege, Iowa, in which institution he was an earnest and hard-working student for some time. Since October, 1873, he has been a resident of Clay County, Neb., and almost immediately became the owner of his present excellent farm, and here he is , now giving his attention to tilling the soil and rais- ing stock, his enterprises meeting with excellent

results, as they fully deserve to do. In addition to his homestead farm he owns an adjoining eighty acres on Section 1, in Glenville Township. Janu- ary 2, 1876, he was married to Miss Maggie J. Kin- caid, a native of Fayette County, Iowa, and their union has resulted in the birth of five children: Amy, Fannie, Reid K., Grace and Ruth. Although formerly a Republican in politics Mr. Iliff is now a Prohibitionist, and socially belongs to the Farm- ers' Alliance. He and his family worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church and are considered useful and valuable citizens.

Luther H. Ingersoll is possessed of advanced ideas and progressive principles regarding agri- cultural life, and being industrious and a shrewd manager he is now one of the well-to-do farmers and stockmen of Lone Tree Township. His birth occurred in Fayette County, Iowa, February 25, 1856, and he is a son of Franklin F. and Frances A. (Risley) Ingersoll, who were born in the State of New York and are energetic tillers of the soil. Luther H. Ingersoll was reared to manhood in his native State and secured a good education in the common schools and in Iowa College, at Grinnell, Iowa, and afterward followed the occupation of school-teaching off and on, until 1886, at the same time being engaged in farming and stock raising. In the fall of 1882 he came to Nebraska and lo- cated in Hamilton County, but in March, 1888, he came to Clay County, and purchased the property where he now lives and where he has since been engaged in farming. His estate comprises 220 acres, 80 acres in Section 19, and 140 acres in Section 8. To his wife, formerly Mrs. Jane B. (Cruickshank) Webber, he was married December 31, 1885, she being a native of Scotland. She and Mr. Ingersoll have one son, Charles H., and by her former husband, John A. Webber (de- ceased), she had the following family: Mary A. and Jessie M. Mr. Ingersoll is a Prohibitionist in his political views, is a member of the district school board and the Farmers' Alliance, and he and Mrs. Ingersoll are members of the United Brethren Church.

A. G. Jacobs is a contractor and builder and farmer of Clay County, Neb., his farm, which now

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comprises eighty (although he formerly owned 320) acres, being situated in Edgar Township. He was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, October 11, 1834. and is a son of Aaron and Lucy (Trask) Jacobs, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Ohio. They were married in the last-named State, and he followed contracting and building in Ashta- bula and Trumbull Counties until his death, which occurred in August, 1864, his wife surviving him until 1883. A family of five sons and three danghters were given to them, and all grew to mature years and became the heads of families, and all are now living with the exception of one son and one daughter. A. G. Jacobs is the youngest of this family, and in youth, under his father's instruction, he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until the opening of the war. November 17, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Sixth Ohio Cavalry, as a private, but was after. ward promoted to the position of sergeant and served until discharged in July, 1865, taking part in the engagements at Gettysburg, Wilderness, around Petersburg, Fort Stephenson, Hagerstown, South Mountain, Antietam Creek, Cold Harbor and Appomattox, being in all in sixty-seven en- gagements, both great and small. After the war he returned to Ashtabula County and engaged in farming and carpentering once more, and in his native State made his home until 1871, when he came West as far as Missonri, but after spending one year in Andrew County he came to Nebraska and entered the land on which he now resides, which then consisted of 320 acres. His buildings are all in good repair, and he has a fine fruit orchard and took eight premiums at the Harvest Home in 1889. In connection with farming he has followed contracting and building since locating here, and has built many honses, barns and other buildings in Clay County. While still a resident of Ohio he was married, December 30, 1855, to Frances M., the danghter of Chauncey Chapman. She was born in New York, but was reared in Portage County, Ohio, and her union with Mr. Jacobs has resulted in the birth of five children: Charles H. (who is married and resides in Kansas), Ida (wife of Stephen Northrop), N. E. and Lulie

A. (wife of J. D. Smith). Another child died in infancy. Mr. Jacobs has been a member of the school board and treasurer of his district for fifteen consecutive years. He is a member of the G. A. R., and is now adjutant of his post, having served in five other positions. He belongs to the Veteran Cavalry Corps and the Farmers' Alliance. He has filled all positions in the Nebraska Cavalry Corps from quartermaster to colonel, which position he now holds.

Edward J. Jenkins. For a period now of twen- ty-three years, Mr. Jeukins has resided in Clay County, Neb., and during this time he has made for himself an honorable name and secured a com- fortable competence with which to pass the remain- der of his days, when the mantle of old age is fall- ing about him. He was born in South Wales, October 7, 1830, and being imbued with the idea that the new world offered excellent opportunities for a young man, he emigrated to the United States in 1852, and first located in Carbon- dale, Pa., but afterward followed coal mining throughout that State until 1867, then moved to Missouri, and in that State was engaged in milling and logging until the spring of 1873. Since that time he has resided in Clay County. Neb., and up to 1880 was engaged in farming, one mile west of Fairfield, and owns considerable business and res- idence property in town. He is one of the pioneer citizens of the county, is a stanch Republican in his political views, and socially is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the I. O. O. F. He was first married, in 1860, to Miss Mary Johns, a native of Wales, who died in 1864, having borne a family of four children, all of whom are deceased. He mar- ried his second and present wife in 1866, her name being Winifred Pngh, a daughter of Rev. Thomas Pugh, a pioneer minister of the Congregational Church, and a resident of Fairfield. Mr. Jenkins and his present wife are the parents of seven chil- dren: John P., Evan L., Henry W., George W., Thomas W., Christopher C. and Winifred. Mrs. Jenkins is a member of the Congregational Church, and he believes in the doctrines of that church, al. though not a member. He is one of Clay County's enterprising and respected citizens, and, as has

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been shown, his life from his earliest youth up has not been uselessly or idly spent. His parents, John and Ann (Lewis) Jenkins, were born in Wales.

Davis S. Johnson has carved his way up from a humble station in life to a substantial and as- sured position, and although he is not what the world would call wealthy, he has gained a comforta- ble competency, and better than all, the respect of a large circle of friends. He was born in Essex County, N. J., August 27, 1823, being a son of W. D. and Martha (Shackelton) Johnson, the former of whom was born in New Jersey, on December 19, 1799, being a farmer by occupation, as were all his ancestors. His father and grandfather were in the Revolutionary War, one a colonel and the other a captain, under Gen. George Washington. W. D. Johnson was the eldest of five children: W. D., Isaac C., Samuel, Ira and Maria; and in 1819 was married, his wife having been born in Somer- set County. N. J., in 1796, their union resulting in the following children: Permelia (born in Jan- uary, 1822), U: S. (born in August, 1823), R. S. (born in February, 1824), Theodore (born in April, 1828), Oakley (born February, 1830), Mary J. (born in 1832), John H. (born in January, 1835) and Andrew R. (deceased, was born in 1837). Davis S. Johnson emigrated to Illinois with his parents in 1834, and was among the earliest settlers of Ful- ton County, where he grew to manhood and re- ceived a good common-school education, also learn- ing the carpenter trade in his youth. He was foreman on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, from 1868 to 1879, with headquarters at Chicago, III. In 1883 he came to Clay County, Neb., where he purchased a farm which is one of the best for successful agricultural purposes and stock-raising in the county. He has excellent buildings of all kinds, has a fine walnut grove and a timber tract of at least 2,000 trees, besides an ex- cellent young orchard. He was married in 1846, to Miss Esther A. Rapalee, of New York, who had removed with her parents to Illinois, and by her he became the father of ten children, born between 1848 and 1866. Losing his first wife, he mar- ried again, and to this union was born one child,

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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