USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 16
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 16
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By that time Mr. Daley had saved a small sum of money and, in 1868, he went west and
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pre-empted 160 acres of land in Saunders county, Nebraska. This land included the southeast corner of section 4, in Center pre- cinct. Immediately after his land was staked out Mr. Daley went to Fremont and bought boards, which he took across the Platte River in a boat. He then had them drawn to his land and built a small house for his family. Return- ing to Fremont, he worked at anything he could obtain. He carried the hod, cut wood and did various other jobs to support his family. Hav- ing no team, he was obliged to hire a team to "break" a part of his land. He paid $5 per acre and had five acres broken.
In July, 1869, he walked to Lincoln, Ne- braska, borrowed $500, and walked back again. This enabled him to prove up on his claim, and the land was then his. For two years afterward he worked on the Union Pacific Railroad as a section hand. At the close of that time he was appointed section foreman. Leaving his land as it was, he worked hard to save money to im- prove it with. In 1884 he returned to his farm and built a large house, barns, corn-cribs, etc., and began farming in real earnest. Soon after- ward Mr. Daley purchased 80 acres in section 9. This latter tract was settled by Alexander Johnston and directly adjoined the farm of Mr. Daley.
In 1891 Mr. Daley built a large barn, 32 by 26 by 14 feet. Two years later he enlarged the house and built two granaries. He has large groves of shade trees and fine fruit orchards, and raises a large amount of stock, both cattle and hogs. He has been one of the most success- ful men in his section with hogs.
The subject of this sketch married Joanna Lynch, daughter of Daniel Lynch, both natives of Ireland. Nine children were born to them, namely : Mary Ann (deceased), Maggie, Dan- iel, Nellie, Jerry, Kate, Josie, Thomas (de- ceased), and Timothy. Maggie married Dan- iel Hayes. They have three children-Frank, Daniel and Jerome. Nellie married Pat Done- hue, station agent at Abie, Nebraska. They are the parents of four children-Harry, Eugene, Lillian, and Mary A. Jerry married Nellie Ryan. They also have four children-Eddie, Thomas, and twins, whom they call Ruby and Ruth.
Mr. Daley and his family are Catholics. He is a firm believer in the Jeffersonian principles of Democracy.
ENAS B. SMITH, one of the early settlers and most progressive farmers of Marietta precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, was born in Wyoming county, Penn- sylvania, in 1825, and comes from good old Pennsylvania stock. He is a son of Joseplı and Lucy (Sturdevant ) Smith.
Mr. Smith grew to manhood in his native state, and followed farming as an occupation. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in the Union army, in Company A, 207th Regiment, Penn- sylvania Vol. Inf. He was wounded in the left leg in the battle of Petersburg. After re- maining five months in the hospital he was able to be about again, but never fully recovered from the injury.
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In 1871 Mr. Smith purchased 80 acres of land from Jolin Cemer, who had previously pre- empted the west half of the northwest quarter of section 10, in Marietta precinct, where the subject hereof now lives. The same year Mr. Smith also bought a quarter of section 9-the northeast quarter-but sold the west 80 acres of it to O. Olson. This latter tract is now owned by W. Johnson.
Mr. Smith enlarged the house and built a barn. In 1875 he set out cottonwood trees along both the north and south roads. These trees are a grand sight today, many of them being over two feet in diameter; some have been cut for lumber. In 1880 Mr. Smith set out a row of black walnuts, which are now beautiful and bearing trees. He also planted two acres in orchards of apple, plum, cherry, and peach trees. Mr. Smith raises all kinds of grain and also devotes much time to raising cattle, hogs, etc. He has one of the best wells in the vicinity-the purest of water being ob- tained at a depth of 81 feet. His broth- er, A. M. Smith, was among the early settlers of Saunders county, but now has a home in Florida.
In 1898 Mr. Smith built a handsome modern residence and a commodious barn, the latter being 32 by 40 feet in dimensions. The sub- ject hereof has been twice married. He was first united with Phoebe Finney, a daughter of Ebenezer Finney. She was born in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, and in 1880 her death occurred. She had four children, all daughters. They are: Lucy Josephine (de- ceased), Marian Angelina, Estella M., and
Grace G. Marian Angelina married James G. Crinklaw, of Antelope, Nebraska, and they had five children whose names are Ida, Howard, Nellie (deceased), Walter, and Burton. Es- tella M. married Walter F. Crinklaw. They have no children. Grace G. is the wife of D. Leslie Depew, of Marietta precinct.
Mr. Smith contracted a second matrimonial alliance, wedding Mrs. Caroline Burgess, a sis- ter of his first wife and a most estimable lady. Mr. Smith is a good Christian, and is charita- bly inclined. He is a member of the Baptist church and donated the land upon which the church was built, and also ground for the cem- etery. He stands well in his community, and has served five years as supervisor, and about seven years as school director.
AY FLETCHER ADAMS, a represent- ative farmer of Marietta precinct, Saun- ders county, Nebraska, is a son of Theo- dore L. and Susan S. (Bieseccker) Adams, and a grandson of David and Deborah (Delivan) Adams.
Theodore L. Adams was born in Susque- hanna county, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1835. While still a young man he went west, and settled in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, where he met Susan S. Bieseccker, who afterward became his wife. This happy event was sol- emnized March 3. 1860. After their marriage Mr. Adamıs settled upon a farm and followed agricultural pursuits until 1866. He then went west to Nebraska, and settled on the banks of
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the Elkhorn River. In September, 1869, he went to Saunders county, and purchased rail- road land in section 22, Marietta precinct. This first purchase included 160 acres, which has been added to until he now owns 525 acres, and has one of the most productive farms in eastern Nebraska. Mr. Adams' success as a farmer and his opinion of Nebraska may be obtained from the following letter written by him, in which he gives his exact ideas on the subject :
"MEAD, SAUNDERS COUNTY, NEBRASKA .- I came to Nebraska in 1866, and brought with me about $1,500 worth of property, consisting of horses, cattle, money, etc. I have now 525 acres of land in this vicinity, all well improved and under a high state of cultivation. Two years ago my wheat turned out 37 bushels to the acre, and I had 75 acres of it. My corn aver- ages over 50 bushels this year. I have raised a good sized family, made a good living, started my children out in good shape, and have $3,500 worth of property to live on, all made from farming Saunders county land.
"Out of 29 crops raised, all have been good with the exception of four, which have been partial failures. I have never seen a country anywhere so sure of a crop as eastern Nebraska, and I have been around a good deal.
"T. L. ADAMS."
Mr. Adams' opinions on this subject are pre- cisely the same as expressed by all the resi- dents of Saunders county. On his home farm he planted a large grove of shade trees and fine orchards, which can be seen from miles away. A small house at first accommodated his family, but a large residence, barns, corn-cribs, and
numerous other buildings have since been added. Mr. Adams was looked upon as one of the exemplary and progressive farmers of his day. He is now living a retired life in a fine residence, which he built in Mead. Seven chil- dren were born to him and his wife-namely : Mary E., wife of George Hoagland; Debbie C., wife of John Cheney, of Ira ; Mattie ; Jay F., the subject hereof ; Hattie M. ; Samuel ; and Ar- thur. The two last named are still at home. Mattie married William Otto. They have a family of five children, as follows: Effie, Clar- ence, Alma, Guy, and Susan. Hattie M. mar- ried Edward Robinson. They have one child -Melvie. Theodore L. Adams was one of a family of eight children-viz .: Ada, Henry, Theodore L., Elizabeth, Harriet, Charles D., Daniel A. (deceased), and James (deceased). Jay Fletcher Adams' mother is a native of Stod- dardsville, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of Reuben and Caroline (Cald- well) Bieseccker.
Jay Fletcher Adams was born in Dodge county, Nebraska, June 5, 1869. He was also reared and schooled in his native state. Ever since he attained the age of twenty years he has conducted the homestead farm, where he still resides. In addition to this, he rents and culti- vates other lands. His farm produces large quantities of corn, oats, wheat and hay. He also devotes much attention to stock raising, and at the present time has a splendid lot of fine cattle, hogs and draft horses.
The subject of this sketch was united in mar- riage with Iva Elnora Otto, a daughter of George B. Otto, an esteemed resident of Mari-
J
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etta precinct. Four children bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Adams. Their names are: Lot- tie Lucinda, Etta Varena, Ernest Alton, and Orpha Jane. Mr. Adams has always been de- voted to the best interests of his community, where he is highly respected and stands among the foremost men of Marietta precinct.
Ppreci ORMAN E. BLAKESLEE, of Center precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, is an ideal western farmer. He is a native of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred in 1846. He is a son of Luke and Anna Holmes (Rogers) Blakes- lee. His father was kicked by a horse in 1853 and died from the injuries received in 1856. His mother survived her husband until 1877, when she died also.
Mr. Blakeslee's first manual labor was work- ing on a farm in his native county. After- ward he worked in Wyoming county, Pennsyl- vania, until he reached his majority. About that time he accepted a position as collector for firms in the Western states, which occupied his attention for some time. He liked the West and finally followed farming there, also buying and selling wheat. He bought on speculation from farmers, having them hold the grain till he was ready to deliver it.
In 1882 Mr. Blakeslee purchased 160 acres in section 24, Center precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska. This land was homesteaded by Messrs. Ritchie and Sornborger and was afterward sold to Mr. Humes, from
whom Mr. Blakeslee bought it. It was not much improved, and contained only a small house 12 by 14 feet in dimensions, and a sod barn. Mr. Blakeslee enlarged the house enough to live in, and began farming. He also set out a large number of fruit trees and a mul- titude of shade trees. Today it is a grand sight to view his magnificent shade and fruit trees and know they were all planted by his own hand. His fruit trees number over 200 and include some of the choicest varieties.
In 1879 Mr. Blakeslee built a small barn, and a few years later a larger one. In 1884 he also built a fine, large residence, the same now stand- ing upon his farm. Corn-cribs, sheds, and numerous other buildings were added, and his farm now contains a superior set of buildings. He also has a windmill which, at 40 feet, gets the best of water; the old well was only 25 feet deep. In March, 1874, he purchased 80 acres in section 23. His farm is devoted to both grain and stock raising, and he keeps 50 head of fine cattle, some of which are Herefords, and about 150 head of hogs.
Mr. Blakeslee married Ella Cooper, a daugh- ter of Andrew D. and Rebecca (Ford) Cooper. Mrs. Blakeslee's father was of Scotch ancestry. Her mother was a native of Dubuque, Iowa. Both of her parents died comparatively young, and she was left to the care of relatives. She accompanied an aunt, Mrs. Mary Cemer, to Saunders county, Nebraska, settling in Mari- etta precinct. Mrs. Blakeslee finished her edu- cation in the Wahoo High School, and af- terward taught school until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Blakeslee have three children-Lura
CHARLES MILLER.
THOMAS J. MILLER. MRS. JAMES MILLER. MARTHA MILLER.
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H., Ford M., and Floyd T. The family wor- shiped at the M. E. church. The subject of this sketch is a stanch Republican. He is one of the most esteemed farmers of Center pre- cinct.
HARLES MILLER, an extensive farm- er and grain and stock dealer of Saun- ders county, Nebraska, owns a fine large residence at Ashland, in that county, be- sides much valuable farming land in Green pre- cinct. Mr. Miller was born in Kosciusko coun- ty, Indiana, November 22, 1847. He is the son of James Miller.
James Miller was a native of Lancaster county, and moved to Kosciusko county, In- diana. He followed farming there until early in the "sixties." He then moved to Minnesota, where he was one of the pioneer settlers. Some time later, in 1870, he was induced to locate in Saunders county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead claim adjoining one owned by his son, Charles. The trip was made overland, with a team of oxen. James Miller subse- quently sold his claim, purchasing another one from William Lawson. He built a comfortable residence, and lived there until cut off by death in 1887, at the age of seventy-one years.
Charles Miller's mother was, before mar- riage, Mary Baker, daughter of Jacob Baker, a respected resident of Johnstown, Licking county, Ohio. She still survives her husband and owns the same farm upon which his last days were spent. She is now more than eighty years old, and resides near her son, Charles, in
Ashland. She is the mother of the following ten children : Enos, who died in infancy ; John, a resident of Ashland; Enoch, deceased; Charles, the subject hereof; Elijah, also de- ceased; Jemima, wife of Samuel Merriman; Mary, wife of George Herron; Oliver, de- ceased; Rohama; and Tina, wife of L. T. Farmer. These children were reared in the Baptist faith, the religion of their parents.
Although a native of Indiana, Charles Mil- ler grew to manhood in Minnesota. He started out to seek his own fortune, not knowing just where he would locate. He fell in with a man who had previously visited Saunders county, Nebraska, and was then on his way to take up a claim there. Mr. Miller was induced to ac- company him. Upon seeing the land he at once decided to locate there also, having trav- eled a distance of 450 miles, and being three weeks on the way. In 1870, Charles Miller built a double board-house on the line of two homestead tracts, and induced his parents to occupy one of these claims. He continued to improve and till his land, and in 1881, built a fine, large residence, just east of the old house. He set out fine orchards and beautiful sliade trees, and converted the rolling prairie into cul- tivated fields. His residence was surrounded by spacious lawns, and approached by lovely driveways, shaded by the finest trees obtain- able.
Mr. Miller subsequently purchased his fath- er's claim and also bought some land from the railroad company. His farm now contains 360 acres, and is considered one of the finest in Green precinct. His eldest son now has charge
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of this farm, but the father still retains the management of it. In 1893, Mr. Miller pur- chased of Shaler Wells the estate formerly owned by Professor King, of Ashland. This estate comprises one block of land, a beautiful large residence, convenient barn and buildings, and is a most desirable home. Thither Mr. Miller removed to further the education of his children. In June, 1900, Mr. Miller entered into partnership with E. J. Rose, under the firm name of Miller & Rose, for the purpose of buying grain, with office and elevator near the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad de- pot, where they are meeting with success.
Charles Miller married Hattie Colbert, a daughter of John F. and Juliet E. (Iliff) Col- bert. John F. Colbert is a son of John Colbert, and is a native of Fayette county, Pennsylva- nia. He accompanied his parents to Morgan county, Ohio, and later to Perry county, in the same state. He was practically reared in the state of Ohio. In the fall of 1869, with his team, he started for Green precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska. Upon reaching his desti- nation, he took up a homestead claim. He set out orchards and otherwise improved his land. He continued to reside there until 1900, when he returned to Ashland, and made his home with Charles Miller. He has voted the Re- publican ticket ever since the organization of that party, and has been a faithful member of the M. E. church, for the past forty-five years. He and his wife were blessed with the follow- ing children: Hattie, wife of Charles Miller; a son who died in infancy; Saloma, who mar- ried William C. Mott, and is now deceased;
Jane, wife of Nelson Mays, who has a daughter, Edith; a daughter who died young; Thomas, who married Clara Bentz, and has three chil- dren, Chester, Emmett and Alfa; Lizzie, who married J. G. Ulstrom, and has three children, Herley, Mabel and Frank; and Edna, wife of Charles Ulstrom, who has two children, Floyd and Lula.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller have four children, namely: Thomas J .; Elizabeth M .; Wesley I .; and Charles F. The eldest son has charge of the homestead farm in Green precinct. He married Clara Bryan, and has one child, Martha. Mr. Miller and family worship at the M. E. church. Fraternally, he affiliates with lodge No. 110, F. & A. M., and also with the Royal Mystic Legion. The subject of this sketch is well known all over the county. He is a man of progressive ideas, and has done much to develop the natural resources of this part of Nebraska.
On a preceding page, in connection with this sketch, is presented a group picture, whose members represent four generations of the Mil- ler family, namely : Mrs. James Miller (Mary Baker) ; Charles Miller, her son; Thomas J. Miller, her grandson; and Martha Miller, her great-granddaughter.
R. F. WEBSTER, a successful furniture dealer and undertaker of Weston, Saunders county, Nebraska, is a gen- tleman widely known in that section of the county, of which he is one of the earliest set- tlers. When he arrived in Nebraska, many
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years ago, he was possessed of very little prop- erty and only one dollar in money, but by close application to his work and skillful man- agement he has obtained a handsome compe- tency.
Mr. Webster was born in Henry county, In- diana, September 14, 1829, and is a son of Micaiah Webster. In his youth he learned the trades of carpenter, cabinet maker and under- taker. Early in life he married Rebecca A. Shelley, a daughter of Joseph Shelley. She was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, and was six years of age when her father, a blacksmith by trade, moved to Indiana. She proved a true helpmeet to her husband during his early struggles, and has ever been a faithful com- panion and loving wife. During the years 1847 and 1848 Mr. Webster served with the Fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, in the Mexican War. In 1856 he moved to Iowa county, Iowa, where, with the exception of one year in the army during the Civil War, he lived until 1869. In 1864 he enlisted in the Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. In 1869 Mr. Webster started with his family overland to Nebraska, the family then consisting of his wife and seven children. Ow- ing to the sickness of Mrs. Webster ; they spent the winter of 1869-1870 in Andrew county, Missouri. He had been to Nebraska in the spring of 1869 and staked his claim, and he settled upon it in the spring of 1870. At the time of his arrival his property consisted of two horses and a colt, two yoke of cattle, two milch cows, two twin heifers, four chairs, and a small quantity of other primitive household furni-
ture, together with one dollar in money. He homesteaded 80 acres of land, it being the west half of the northwest quarter of section 8, in Chapman precinct, Saunders county. Four years later, as a soldier, he acquired the other 80 acres in that quarter. He built a dugout, 16 by .24 feet, and in the summer of 1870 ex- tended it 12 feet, covering it with poles, brush, hay and three feet of earth, and making it water tight. It was very hard to get a good start, and the price of all the necessaries of life was very high. Bacon was 25 and 30 cents per- pound, and he paid $15 for his first hog-a small one at that. Mrs. Webster bought two little pigs and paid for them with butter. She has the distinction of having been the first woman to sell butter in Weston, and she also purchased the first calico dress sold there. That section was then very sparsely settled, and the nearest neighbors were three miles distant,- being Peter Campbell and a ranchiman named Jamison. In 1876 Mr. Webster erected a frame building over the dug-out, but as that caused the water to run in he changed the site and erected a one-story and a half frame house, 16 by 24 feet, and later built an addition there- to. He set out five acres of trees, at that time a very large orchard, but it did not prove very successful. He also built a commodious frame barn upon the premises. In 1870 land there was worth from $6 to $8 per acre, and in 1890 Mr. Webster disposed of his property for $4,800 to Mr. Cudna, who has since greatly imyroved it. Mr. Webster had been renting it for some nine years prior to selling it, as he was unable to tend it himself, and so decided to
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sell. In the early 'Sos he embarked in the fur- niture and undertaking business at Weston, but in 1886 closed the store for six months, spend- ing that period in California. He then returned and again engaged in the same business, which he still continues. He is well established, and carries a large and varied stock of furniture, catering to the highest class of trade. Mr. and Mrs. Webster, having lived in the locality so many years, are well known to all, and have a large circle of friends, by whom they are held in the highest esteem.
The subject of this sketch and his wife are the parents of eight children, of whom the fol- lowing is a record : William P., postmaster at Cody, Wyoming, is employed as guide and manager of pleasure parties in the National Park and other resorts. He married Rachel Bird, and they had two children-Elmo and Della. Mrs. Fannie Wheeler lives in Jasper county, Iowa, and has three boys and one girl- Claude, Clell, Leonard, and May. Melissa married Arthur Masterman, of Lincoln, Ne- braska, and they have a son-Clyde. Leonard, of Rock Springs, Nebraska, is a blacksmith, and at present is in the Klondike; he has three chil- dren-Richard, Maggie, and Ruth. Richard married Eliza Ledbeter, and they have three children-Frederick, Rebecca, and Carl. Mrs. Eliza Peterson lives on a farm with her hus- band, one and half miles south of Weston. Joe Delia (Campbell), whose husband is a farmer near Weston, has three children-Ethel, Daniel, and Lethe. Claude, who married Mag- gie Devine, lives at Sierra City, California. On March 10, 1900, Mrs. Webster celebrated her
sixty-ninth birthday with a party, at which six of her children were present. She is hale and hearty, enjoying the best of health, and looks many years younger than she is. Politically the subject of this sketch belongs to the old school of Republicans and votes the Democratic ticket.
ALTER CRINKLAW, a retired citizen of Marietta precinct, Saunders county, Nebraska, is a pioneer of that county, and was a resident of the same precinct from May 1, 1869, until 1895. Upon first locat- ing there he pre-empted 80 acres in section 20 and built a shanty upon it. Six months later he homesteaded 80 acres on the east. His son, John A. Crinklaw, lives upon the place now. In 1886 Mr. Crinklaw built a fine resi- dence upon his land, which is now occupied by his son, George L. Crinklaw.
Walter Crinklaw first found employment upon the Union Pacific Railroad, and thus ob- tained money with which to improve his farm. Afterward he purchased 80 acres additional in the same precinct on the south side of his pre- emption. Still later he also purchased the northeast quarter of section 29.
Mr. Crinklaw was born in 1825 in Roxbury- shire, Scotland, near the home of Sir Walter Scott. He is a son of James and Jennie (Smith) Crinklaw. His parents came to America in 1837, settling upon a farm near Westminster, Canada, where they spent their declining years. His father died in 1864 at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Two
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years later (1866) the beloved mother died, having passed her seventieth mile-stone. Elev- en children were born to them. Their names are: Martha, Agnes, George, Georgiana, James, Walter, David, Joseph, Robert, Chris- tian, and Jeanette. The father of the subject of this sketch had five children by a previous marriage. Their names are: Margaret, Wil- liam, Betsy, John, and Mary.
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