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 82

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 82
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 82
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 82
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 82

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

Peach Tree Creek, in all of which he made a brave and competent officer. He returned to Scott County, Ill., and in the fall of 1865 was elected to the office of county clerk, and by re-election served in all twelve consecutive years. For four and a half years after his last term expired he served as deputy county clerk for his successor, but this position he resigned in June. 1882, and the follow- ing fall was elected sheriff of that county, serving one term of four years. In 1886 he removed to Harvard, Neb., reaching this place on December 10, and here he purchased a book and stationery establishment, which he has successfully conducted ever since. October 1, 1889, he was appointed postmaster of Harvard, and is a capable officer. He and his present wife have a family of nine children: Dora F., George L. A., Nora A., Ida C., Minnie A., May, Hoyt R., Holland and Ed- ward S., of whom Dora, George, Holland and Edward are deceased. Capt. Martin, his wife and all their children are members of the Christian Church, and he is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the G. A. R. and the I. O. O. F., be- ing a member of the Encampment in the last named order. He has always been a devoted member of the Republican party. He is an up- right and worthy citizen, and in every station in life, whether as a military or civil officer, or as a private citizen, he has discharged his duties in a manner becoming a loyal citizen and a true man. He had four children by his first wife: Eliza J., Susan H., Mary E. and John C .; Susan H. and John C. dying in infancy. Eliza J. married M. W. Wilcox, M. D., and Mary E. married Elijah Bradwell, who is a druggist of Fairfield, Neb. Dr. Wilcox is among the leading practitioners in Central Nebraska.

Thomas H. Matters. Bacon says, "the great- est trust between man and man is the trust of giv- ing counsel, for in other confidences men commit the parts of life-their lands, their goods, their child, their credit some particular affair; but to such as they make their counselors they commit the whole. By how much the more are they obliged to all faith and integrity. The profession of law is thus the most momentous and important of

human callings, and he who takes upon himself the practice of it assumes the weightiest responsibili- ties that the confidence and trust of his fellow-man can put upon his shoulders. As it is a branch of human endeavor which brings into play the most brilliant talents, the most extensive knowledge, the strongest sentiments, moral, spiritual, material, its power for good or evil is vast and invincible." Mr. Matters was born in La Salle County, Ill., August 24, 1858, a son of Thomas and Agnes (Brown) Matters, who were born, reared and married in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and emigrated to America in 1854, settling first in Thomastown, Pa., and later in La Salle County, Ill., where they made their home until 1865. They then moved to Grundy County, Ill., and here the mother's death occurred September 13, 1871, and three years later Thomas H. accompanied his father to Clay County, Neb. Up to this time he had received very meager educational advantages, and as his father was in very needy circumstances and he, himself, had no means whatsoever save willing hands and a mental capacity to direct them with prudence, he was thrown almost if not entirely upon his own re- sources. His first object was to secure an educa- tion, and he began applying himself diligently to his studies, knowing this to be a sure foundation for any future success which he might hope to.at- tain, being for some time a student in the Harvard public schools, and during his leisure moments he worked hard and diligently at whatever he could find to do, and in this manner passed through school. In the meantime he had aspired to law as his future calling, and the success which has attended his efforts in pursuing this science has not been attained without severe and continued struggling, which clearly shows that pluck and indomitable energy are among his chief character- istics. For some time after leaving school he labored at farming also, and by good management and industry he soon became the owner of a good farm. In the month of May, 1880, he was admit- ted to the bar, and January 4, 1883, was admitted to the supreme court, and has practiced his profes- sion with success ever since. He is now one of the county's most substantial men, and upon the or-

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ganization of the First National Bank, August 24, 1889, he was elected its president and still holds that position. As an attorney, he is one of the most successful, and his practice reaches through- out Central Nebraska. March 21, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss Marguerite L. Wistrom, by whom he is the father of three interesting chil- dren: Gertrude (born December 23, 1881), Agnes Irene (born February 23, 1885) and Thomas H., Jr. (born in February, 1886.) Mr. Matters and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and he belongs to the I. O. O. F., and in his political views is a stanch Republican and an active worker for the cause of temperance. He is one of the trustees of Fairfield College, and is a man whose judgment is sought on other matters than law.

J. Meehan, farmer and stock-raiser, Spring Ranche, Neb. Mr. Meehan is a native of the Bay State, his birth occurring in Boston in 1845, and when about five years of age went with his uncle, Martin McHugh, to West Bend. On account of the death of his father he was obliged to start out in life for himself when abont twelve years of age, and first engaged in driving a team along the lake shore. This he continued for about five years, and in September, 1862, he enlisted in the United States army, Company G, First Wisconsin Cavalry, and during the war was in the battles of Cape Girardeau, Chickamanga, Atlanta, Shelbyville, and numerous other engagements. He was taken prisoner at Cen - treville, Ala., while on the Wilson raid and while carrying dispatches for Maj. Shipman. He was discharged at Madison, Wis., in June, 1865, and at the close of the war settled at Mankato, Minn., where he tilled the soil on land entered from the government. He was married in 1866 to Miss Mary Wilson, the daughter of George and Alvina (Brown) Wilson, of Minnesota. Mr. Meehan came to Ne- braska in the fall of 1870, settled in the neighbor- hood of Spring Ranche with a company of trappers, and found everything wild and unsettled. Indians were numerous and wild animals of all kinds abounded. The place on which his pleasant home now stands was the site of the old Pawnee Ranch, on the St. Joseph branch of the California trail, which was destroyed by the Sioux Indians in 1862.

On this place are eleven graves; one has a head stone bearing the name of Francis Huff and the date of death, 1860. Another part of a stone bears the name of Roper, and some of the graves are supposed to contain the remains of the victims of the Sionx Indians. Mr. Meehan took up the south- west quarter of Section 4, and has since owned and lived on different farms in both Clay and Adams Counties. He moved to his present farm in 1884, and has improved it with good buildings, etc. He has followed railroading a great deal since coming to Nebraska, and has built twenty-five miles of grade on the Kansas City & Omaha Railroad; seven miles on the Rock Island, nine miles of irrigating ditch in New Mexico, two and a half miles of the Queen Copper Company's Railroad at Bisby, Ari- zona, five miles of the Pacos Ditch in Southern New Mexico, and the county bridge building and grading of Clay County for nine years. Mr. Mee- han is quite a stock man, and is raising the English- shire breed of horses and Poland-China hogs. He has an ice field and fish pond on Pawnee Creek, containing about thirty acres of ground, in which he is feeding Lake Michigan trout, black bass and rainbow trout. He has been successful financially since coming to Nebraska, and is well pleased with the State which he intends to make his permanent home. He is a good Republican in politics, is a member of the G. A. R. and of the Farmers' Alli. ance. His parents, Philip and Catherine (McHugh) Meehan, were natives of County Common, Ireland, and came to the United States about 1840. They settled in Boston, and there the father followed the trade of a wood turner. He died in Boston, Mass., in 1849, in full communion with the Catholic Church. In politics he was a Democrat. The mother died at Passadena, Los Angeles County, Cal., March 1, 1890, a Roman Catholic.

Joseph F. Megrue, farmer and stock-raiser, Harvard, Neb. From the biography of every man there may be gleaned some lesson of genuine worth, for here we discover the secret of his suc- cess or failure. In the history of Mr. Megrue, one of Clay County's active and progressive citi- zens, is found much to commend. He was born in Ohio County, Ind., in 1844, and was the young-

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est of four children, the result of the union of Joseph F. and Keziah (Shipman) Megrne. Joseph F. Megrue was a native of Ohio, born in 1818, and was a tailor by trade, having followed that calling in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was married in that city in 1833, and reared four children: Mary E. (born in 1837, is now Mrs. Baker, residing in Ohio County, Ind., and has five sons and one daughter), Rachel A. (born in 1840, is now Mrs. Allen, living in Harvard, Clay County, and has three children), Charles (born in 1853, is married, resides in Clay County, and has two children) and Joseph F. The father of these children moved from Ohio to Ohio County, Ind., where he worked at his trade, and later engaged in farming. In 1852 he was taken with the gold fever, went to California, was there four years and was successful. On bis return, in 1855, he pur- chased a farm and tilled the soil in Ohio County, Ind., up to the first year of the war, when he and his brother took a trip to California, to seek gold, and were again successful. They remained absent until 1866 (for four years), and then returned to Ohio County, Ind., where he lived a retired life. He came west to Illinois in 1876, settled in Bureau County, where he farmed for five years, and then the family came to Nebraska. They settled in Harvard, and there the father now resides, living a retired life. He and wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty-five years. He is a Republican and takes a deep inter- est in political matters. Joseph F. Megrue passed his schoolboy days in Ohio County, Ind., and received a fair education in the common schools. He started out in life for himself by en- listing in the Fifth Ohio Independent Light Artil- lery, and was in some hard-fought battles. He was at Shiloh, Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, and at Jackson, Miss., where he was wounded in the shoulder by a shell April 7, 1863. He was in the hospital for some time, and later was taken to New Orleans, where he was confined in the hospital for two months. After this he was sent home, where he remained until he recovered and was able to return to his battery. He joined the battery again at Little Rock, Ark., in the fall of 1863,

and was in the battles of Little Rock, Helena and Devall's Bluff. He served out his time in the battery and then re-eulisted in Company H, One Hundred and Forty sixth Indiana Infantry, and served until the close of the war, receiving bis dis- charge in 1865. He then returned to Indiana and followed farming. In 1870 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Zeh, a native of Baltimore, Md., born in February, 1851, and the daughter of Andrew and Anna Zeh. To Mr. and Mrs. Megrne were born five sons (four of whom are living): Lawson (died when three years of age), Andrew Z. (born in 1872), Elmer E. (born in 1874), Floyd E. (born in 1876) and Leroy A. (born in 1878.) After his marriage Mr. Megrue emigrated to Illinois and tilled the soil for five years, and in 1876 came to Nebraska, where he bought 160 acres of land. He now has a nicely improved place. · In 1884 he went to Red Willow County, Neb., and engaged in the cattle business for three years, but owing to his range being cut np, sold out and came back to Clay County, where he purchased 160 acres more, on Section 14. He has been successful since com- ing here, and it is all owing to hard work and good judgment. He is a member of the Repub- lican party and a member of Richardson Post No. 60, of the G. A. R., at Harvard. He and wife are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Megrue has been a member of the school board in his district for a number of years, and is a prominent man of the county. In connection with his farming interests he is also engaged in raising stock, Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. He is also raising Norman horses, and has twenty or thirty fine ones. He has a fine place, a good orchard and lots of timber growing. He is interested in churches and schools and all things for the improvement of the country.

Charles A. Morrill is a member of the well- known and highly successful firm of Minnick & Morrill, general merchants of Fairfield, Neb., the business being established in the year 1885. Al- though they have only been in business a compar- atively short time, they have succeeded in estab- lishing a safe and remunerative trade, and their close attention to business, combined with a large

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and well-selected stock of goods, which they sell at reasonable rates, have contributed largely to their success. Their establishment is located in Hop- per's Building, at the corner of D and Second Streets. Mr. Morrill, the junior member of this firm, was born in North Danville, Caledonia County, Vt., Jaunary 24, 1859, and was there reared and educated. After spending his youth as a farmer's boy, he began teaching school, but did not long follow this occupation. In 1883 he emigrated to Kewanee, Ill., where he clerked and kept books in a mercantile establishment until November, 1885, when he came to Fairfield, Neb., and in company with G. A. Minnick opened the establishment with which he is so intimately connected. He was married August 25, 1885, to Miss Anna M. Ander- son, a native of Svaneke, Bornholm, Denmark, and their union resulted in the birth of one child, Guy L. Mr. Morrill was formerly a Republican in pol- itics, afterward Independent, and votes for whom he considers the worthiest man, irrespective of party. He is a member of the Modern Wood men of America, and with his family attends the Congregational Church. His parents were Charles L. and Letitia (Works) Morrill, who were born in the "Green Mountain State." Gilbert A. Min nick, of the well-known firm mentioned above, was born in Kewanee, Henry County, I'll., Octo- ber 17, 1856, being a son of Peter and Mary (Guyer) Minnick, natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared and educated in his native county, and at the age of eighteen years began life for himself as a clerk in a mercantile establishment, continuing until March, 1885, when he came to Clay County, Neb., and in the month of April be- came associated with A. B. Palmer in business. In the fall of the same year he formed the above partnership, and did a prosperous business until his death. In his political views he was always a Republican, but of strong Prohibition proclivities. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and wife, whom he married May 6, 1885, and whose maiden name was Snsie A. Pat- terson, were members of the Congregational Church. Mrs. Minnick was born in Henry County, Ill., and her union with Mr. Minnick resulted in

the birth of one child, William P. Mr. Minnick's death ocenrred in the latter part of March. 1890.

John L. Misner is accounted a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of Linn Township, Clay County, Neb., and like the majority of native Illi- noisans is progressive in his views, energetic and strictly honest. He was born in Stephenson County in 1849, and is a son of John and Keziah (Good- win) Misner, who were born in York State in 1812 and 1817, respectively. In 1814 they emigrated to the State of Illinois and located in Stephenson County on a farm, where the father still resides, his wife having died in 1858. John L. Misner grew to manhood and received the advantages of the common schools of his native county, but in 1871 left his native heath and sought a home for himself on the fertile prairies of Nebraska, home- steading a farm in Clay County, which has since been his home. He has made a pleasant and com- fortable home for his family and his farm which comprises a quarter section of land is one of the best in the county. He has a young forest of at least 2,000 trees, an excellent young bearing or- chard, and the finest plnm orchard in the county. He does a general farming business and has been one of the successful men of the county, and has aided largely in making Clay County one of the leading ones of the State. Mr. Misner has always voted the Republican ticket, is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and has at all times taken an active interest in the political and educational in- terests of Clay County. In 1873 he was elected to the office of constable of his township, a posi- tion he held one year. He was married in 1874 to Miss Josephine Wilhelm, a native of l'ennsyl- vania, by whom he became the father of four chil- dren: William, Geo., Celia and Mary. The mother of these children died in January, 1889, and in December, 1889, Mr. Misner wedded his present wife formerly Mrs. Belle Tonn, of Illi- nois nativity.

Henry J. Mitchell. A lifetime devoted with perseverance and energy to the pursuits of agri- culture have contributed very materially to the success which has attended the efforts of Mr. Mitchell, a man of substantial and established

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worth. He was born in Germany on March 26, 1849, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Schickadance) Mitchell, also natives of that country. In 1852 they emigrated to America and settled in Jeffer- son County, N. Y., where their son, Henry J., was reared to manhood. He only received meager educational advantages in youth, but educated him- self considerably after becoming of age, and when thirteen years old he began the occupation of cheese- making, which calling continued to receive his at- tention in York State for ten years. At the age of twenty-three years he came west and settled in Ogle County, Ill., and after following the cheese- making business for four years turned his atten- tion to farming, in which occupation he has since been engaged. By careful management and econ- omy he saved enough to enable him to purchase eighty acres of land, and this small farm be man- aged in such an excellent manner that it proved a paying investment. In the fall of 1883 he moved to Clay County, Neb., and took up a tree claim of 160 acres and afterward added to it by purchas- ing an additional 160 acres in Section 23. Al- though he has not been here any great length of time yet he has shown an enterprising disposition and has made so many valuable improvements on his property that his farm is considered one of the best in the county. He has built a handsome one- and-a-half story residence, substantial barns and accompanying sheds for his cattle, and his farm is well stocked. He has a beautiful grove of ten acres west of his residence, composed of young ash and box elder trees, and as the trees are nearly all of one size they form an attractive appearance during the summer and autumn. March 30, 1875, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Royce, a daughter of Charles C. and Margaret (Rathbon) Royce. her birth occurring December 16, 1849, in Illinois, and their union has resulted in the birth of four chil- dren: Elton H., Charles E., Myrtle L. and Alta May. Mr. Mitchell is now a Prohibitionist although for- merly a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Clay Center, he being a trustee and Sunday-school superintendent. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance and is chaplain of Harmony Lodge.

E. J. Moger has made his own way in life, as he was left an orphan without a great deal of means, when in his twelfth year. He was born in the city of New York in 1827, being an only child reared by Jordan and Phoebe N. (Lyon) Moger, both of whom were born in Westchester County, N. Y., the latter a daughter of Jonathan Lyon. After their marriage they removed to the city of New York, where Mr. Moger became a member of the city police force, and there died on September 7, 1829, followed by his wife about ten years later. E. J. Moger's parents left him forty acres of land and he started ont in life for himself in La Grange County, Ind., following the occupation of harness making for a number of years. He was married in this State in 1848 to Miss Emeline A., a daugh- ter of Enoch and Betsey (Pettigrove) Bnck, who were York State people, her father being born in 1800. Mrs. Moger was also born in that State, September 5, 1829, and she and Mr. Moger have had a family of six children born to them: Albert J. (born April 3, 1851), Phoebe E. (born July 31, 1853) Walter E. (born May 14, 1858), William H. (born March 1. 1860, and died in September of the same year), Mary O. (born November 17, 1861), Edward L. (born April 15, 1866). After leaving Indiana Mr. Moger and his family settled in Illi- nois, near Princeton, where he followed farming and also worked at his trade. From there he en- listed in 1862, in Company B, Ninety-third Illinois Infantry, but was taken sick at Camp Douglas, Chicago, and after returning home he remained nntil about December 12, then joined his regiment at Memphis, Tenn. He was first in the quarter- master's department in this city, then in the post- office department as his sickness had unfitted him for active service. He was transferred to the Vet- eran Reserve Corps. He received his discharge on July 5, 1865, at Detroit, Mich., after which he re- turned to his family in Illinois. He then clerked in a general store in Dover until 1871, and in the spring of that year emigrated to Clay County, Neb., and took up a claim of 160 acres in Har- vard Township, where he lives at the present time, his family having joined him in the spring of 1872. During the first few years of his residence here he

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experienced many hardships, but has slowly, tho' surely, improved his place and accumulated means, until he is now a well-to do citizen. His build- ings and other improvements are much above the average, and although he resided in Harvard from 1877 to 1890, engaged in the law office of W. H. Farner and John D. Hayes, he has been content to return to his farm. By a vote of the citizens he was elected to ask the Governor of the State for a proclamation to organize Clay County, which he obtained June, 1871, and as there were not enough local voters at that date to hold the offices, the matter was postponed until October or November of the same year. Mr. Moger is a member of the G. A. R., Richardson Post at Harvard, and he and wife are members of the Congregational Church.

Albert J. Moger, agricultural implement dealer, Harvard, Neb. The inventive genius of this pro- gressive age has found one of its most fertile fields in devising implements designed to lighten the la- bors of the agriculturist, and the progressive farmer of the day is provided with machines which to a great extent relieve him from heavy manual labor. Among houses well known for the circula- tion of these wonderful devices is that of Albert J. Moger, which business was established in Harvard in 1885. Mr. Moger was born in La Grange County, Ind., April 3, 1851, and is the son of Ed- ward J. and Amanda (Buck) Moger, the father a native of New York City, and the mother of New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Moger were married on July 4, 1848, and to them were born six children, of whom five are now living. The parents are re- siding in Harvard Township, Clay County, Neb. Albert J. Moger was but six years of age when his parents removed to Bureau County, Ill., and he was reared partly on the farm and partly in the village of Dover. He attended Academy in Dover a year and a half after leaving district school and at the age of twenty came to Clay County, Neb., where he has resided ever since, with the excep- tion of four months that he spent in Harlan County, Neb. At the age of twenty-one he took up a homestead in Harvard Township, upon which he resided during the greater part of the time from 1872 to 1885. At the last mentioned date

he removed to Harvard, engaged in the implement business, and is now one of the leading dealers of that kind in the county. He was married on De. cember 25, 1879. to Miss Luella Kennedy, a native of Illinois, and the daughter of Andrew and Lanra B. Kennedy, natives of New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Moger have had two children, Emma and Dorr. A., the younger of whom died at the age of three years. Mr. Moger is a member of the I. O. O. F., the M. W. A., and he is a Republican in his political views. He is doing an excellent business and is a prominent citizen.

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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