USA > Nebraska > Sarpy County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 27
USA > Nebraska > Saunders County > Biographical record : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Saunders and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska > Part 27
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Mr. Gillespie was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Margaret Clancy, a daughter of John Clancy. She was born in Massachu- setts, reared in Nebraska City, and died in 1881, aged thirty-eight years. This union was the source of the following children : Mary, wife of J. Dillon, by whom she has the following children-Margaret, Mary, Nellie, Patrick H., William J. Bryan, and James ; Elizabeth, who married George Heffley, and has five children-Roy, Sarah, Gertrude, Irene and Maggie; Bridget, who married Arch-
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ibald Morrison, and has two sons-Charles R. and Archibald H .; Ellen, who is the wife of Edward Heffley, and has one son, Charles G .; Thomas Francis, who conducts the home farm; Catherine; Alice; Margaret, deceased; and Anna, deceased. Mr. Gillespie was one of the organizers of the school board, and, beginning in 1871, served fourteen years as director. He also served as road supervisior for fourteen years.
B ERNARD MONAHON, one of the earliest settlers of Forest City pre- cinct, Sarpy county, Nebraska, first located there in 1858, but is now living in prac- tical retirement.
Mr. Monahon was born in County Ferman- agh, Ireland, in 1832, and is a son of Bernard and Mary (McGuire) Monahon, his mother having been born in County Tyrone, Ireland. He was reared in Ireland, and at the age of sixteen years came to this country and located at Newtown Square, Delaware, twelve miles from Philadelphia. He served a regular ap- prenticeship to the trade of a tanner, and then followed that trade for two years. He then went to Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and engaged in railroad contracting until the com- pletion of the Pennsylvania Railroad, in the fall of 1853. He then followed railroad work in Alabama for a short time, after which he returned to the Pennsylvania Central, in In- diana county, Pennsylvania. He next became interested in mining at Johnstown. He had a friend who crossed the plains to California and
who wrote to him of the fine country through which he had passed. He decided to investi- gate and set out for the West. As his wife had a brother who was a surveyor in Nebraska, he went there and stopped in Sarpy county. This was in the year 1858, and but few had yet located in that county. He took up 160 acres in Forest City precinct, section 35, and later added 46 acres to his former purchase. He built a log house of natural wood on the farm, and this has long since given way to the pres- ent fine residence. He built excellent barns and corn cribs, and other needed outbuildings, and has placed the land under a high state of cultivation. He subsequently bought 160 acres in section 35 and built a set of buildings upon the tract, afterward purchasing 160 acres in section 1. He also erected the nec- essary building's on this property, and planted a large orchard of all kinds of fruit, including apples of many varieties. When he first located in this section the streams were well filled with water during the entire year, but are now dry. Some of his land became so moist in the spring it could scarcely be plowed, but it is now always dry. Good water may be had at a depth of 80 feet. In 1893 Mr. Monahon pur- chased the M. Langdon farm, adjoining Gretna, which is a fine farm in a highly im- proved condition. It is possessed of a fine grove, and on it he erected a new house, barns, cribs, etc. He was formerly a large stock raiser, and made a specialty of Hereford cat- tle, but in more recent years he has been living in virtual retirement.
Mr. Monahon was united in marriage with
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Margaret Howe, a daughter of Richard Howe, who was born in Ireland, and their children are as follows: Mary, widow of Charles Wa- terman, by whom she had one daughter, Kate, who lives with her grandfather; Maggie, who died in infancy ; Henry, a farmer, who married Theoedate Nelson, and has four children- John, Mattie, Laura, and Florence; Maggie, wife of Leif Nelson; Kate, wife of Gus Rosen- steilil, by whom she has one child, Margaret; Annie, wife of Burt Wilbur; and William, who conducts the home farm. Mr. Monahon has been deeply interested in educational matters, and has taken an active hand in establishing and keeping up the schools. For the past twenty-seven years he has been treasurer of school district 10. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat.
Y. RISHEL, one of the leading agriculturists of Sarpy county, Ne- braska, has been located on his present farm since the year 1868. He is a man of high standing in his community, and enjoys the esteem and respect of a host of acquaint- ances.
Mr. Rishel was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, in 1841, and is a son of Adam and Sarah (Miller) Rishel. His father died in Pennsylvania, and his mother in Sarpy county.
M. Y. Rishel learned the trade of a carpen- ter at an early age, and went to Omaha in 1865, and worked at his trade. He continued
there a few months and in 1866 began farming in Sarpy county, leasing, in 1868, the 80 acres of land where he now lives. He leased this property for two years, and in the fall of 1890 purchased it. At the time of his settlement there his nearest neighbors were H. Schal and J. Weath, many miles distant, and the wild prairie abounded in deer and antelope. He also received daily visits from the Indians. The streams of running water, in which there were many fish, are now dried up. He broke the prairie and improved his farm as best he could, and it is at the present time under a high state of cultivation, yielding as heavily in grain as any farm in his section. He built a small house near the present site, later added to it, and in 1900 took it away and erected a new and modern home. In 1868 he set out cotton- wood trees, which now measure three feet in diameter. He also has an excellent grove of maple and walnut trees, and box elders. He has three acres of fruit trees, and has been partic- ularly successful in raising pears and peaches, in which so many have had failures. His farm is in excellent condition, and is well stocked, having about 20 head of fine cattle and 40 hogs.
Mr. Rishel was united in marriage with Es- ther Booze, a daughter of Peter H. and Cath- erine (Dresser) Booze. Her father was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, May 13. 18II, and in 1878 located in Sarpy county, Nebraska, where he purchased 40 acres of land adjoining Gretna. There he built a home and resided until his death, in February, 1890. His wife, Catherine Dresser, a daughter of John
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Dresser, was born in Snyder county, Pennsyl- vania, February 8, 1817, and now resides on the old homestead in Sarpy county. She was the mother of fourteen children, eleven of whom are now living. Their names are : Wil- liam H., Sarah A., C. Elizabeth, Mary Jane, Esther, Lydia A., Joseph, Jerome, George, Maria, David, Clara, Hannah S., and Alice E. The subject of this sketch and his wife became the parents of the following children : Louise, deceased ; Sarah, wife of William D. Labord; Ida, wife of Daniel Zurbic; Elmer; Edwin; Effie Irene, wife of John Warren; Bert; Lo- raina B .; Walter ; and three others who died in infancy. Mr. Rishel served as road supervisor for two terms, and has always taken a deep interest in the development of the county. In politics, he is a Democrat.
ILLIAM MORRISON, who was one of the very first settlers of Forest City precinct, Sarpy county, Nebraska, lias a very fine estate in that county. He en- dured all the hardships of pioneer life and often had poverty staring him in the face, but with ceaseless energy and willing hands he surmounted all obstacles and worked his way to sticcess.
Mr. Morrison was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1820, and is a son of John and Eliz- abeth (Kelly) Morrison. He came to New York on May 1, 1848, and went to Albany, where he worked at gas fitting and plumbing, for six years. He then located in Buffalo,
New York, and later in Illinois, where he hunted up a brother. Preferring the East, he returned and located at Poughkeepsie, New York, and was foreman of the gas company for three years and five months. He then fol- lowed his trade at New Orleans, Louisiana, for a time, after which he went up the Missis- sippi River. He settled on Walnut Creek, six- teen miles from Leavenworth, Kansas, where he bought and improved a claim. During the Kansas "border ruffian" days he was forced to leave, and as a result lost all he had. On April 18, 1856, he found himself with but $13, but in the same year he took up 160 acres in section 22, and 120 acres in section 27 of For- est City precinct, Sarpy county, Nebraska. He immediately set about breaking the land, and erected a shanty. In 1858 he rented his land and went with the Mormon expedition to Salt Lake, as teamster for Major Russell. He met with many hair-breadth escapes, and on his return home many of the party were frozen to death, but his sturdy constitution, seasoned by the hardships of years gone by, enabled him to hold out. He reached Old Ford Bridge and went to herding, but in 1858 he returned to Fort Laramie and bought a team and provisions enough to last one year and then started for Cherry Creek, Colorado. He reached Denver in January, 1859, and remained there during the summer of that year, when he returned to his property in Sarpy county. He built a log house, which is still standing on the place, and later erected a handsome residence. There was a natural forest at the foot of the bluffs, which lie has preserved, in addition
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to setting out many trees. He has a good two- acre orchard and his land is planted in corn, oats, and wheat, the yield being exceedingly heavy. He has purchased additional property from time to time, and now has an immense estate all lying together, with the exception of 80 acres near South Omaha. When he first settled in Sarpy county his nearest neighbors were miles away, and Indians were every-day visitors. Deer, wolves, and other large and small game were plentiful. He has a choice herd of graded cattle and hogs, and with the assistance of his son conducts most of the farming, but rents several of the farms.
Mr. Morrison was first married to Elizabeth McDowell, a daughter of John McDowell. She was born in Ireland, and died in 1854, leaving one child, Alexander, who has been employed in the book binding department of the government for sixteen years, and is now at the Paris Exposition. He formed a sec- ond matrimonial alliance by wedding Emily Peterson, a daughter of Bent Peterson, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work, and they are parents of the following children : John K., a graduate of the high school; Wil- liam, Daniel, Benjamin, James, and Erin. For sixteen years Mr. Morrison served as treasurer of the school board. In politics he is a Re- publican.
ILLIAM H. SMITH, after a life of arduous labor in the vocation of an agriculturist, has been living for the past fifteen years in quiet retirement in Bellevue
precinct, Sarpy county, Nebraska. He was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1824, and is a son of Edward Smith.
Mr. Smith received his early schooling in his native town and then took up the trade of a machinist, which he mastered in the course of a few years' training. He then engaged with a firm that made machinery for the man- ufacture of cloth. In 1853 he and his brother Charles came to Nebraska, where they intended buying cattle to drive to Denver, Colorado, but when they arrived at Council Bluffs, Iowa, they found the market quite unfavorable for such an undertaking. The subject of this writing remained in the West about three months, when he returned to the East. In 1855 he went on with his family to Sarpy county, and soon pre-empted 160 acres. The two erected a log house on the property now owned by his brother Charles, and in 1859 William H. Smith built a house on his present farm in section 14, range 13, and at once began to make other improvements upon the farm. At that early date deer were very plentiful. The forests that fringed the water courses were filled with game, and the neighbors were mostly Indians, who were very peaceable and friendly. Mr. Smith continued to make improvements upon his farm, which he soon had in a fine state of cultivation. General farming and stock raising continued to be his chief pursuit for many years. He sold 30 acres of his ground to the Omaha Hydraulic Pressed Brick Com- pany, which now has a large plant there, and gives employment to many men.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Em-
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meline F. Brown, of Rhode Island, and they had a family of six children, namely : A son that died in infancy; Horace B., deceased ; George H .; Mary, wife of C. Johnson ; Hattie, wife of W. H. Richardson; and Fred, de- ceased. The subject of this sketch has always taken an active part in promoting the welfare of his adopted community, but has never sought political positions. For thirty years he has served as a director of schools, and of- ficiated one year as assessor. Religiously. : is a Baptist. Mr. Smith has a multitude of friends throughout Sarpy county, who know him as a good, honest and straightforward cit- izen and business man.
ALEB H. ROSE, deceased, was one of the early merchants of Ashland, Ne- braska, but later in life was a stock dealer and extensively engaged in raising stock. He was a large land owner in Saunders and Lancaster counties, and was one of the most enterprising citizens of Ashland, where he was held in the highest esteem and enjoyed the confidence and friendship of every one.
Mr. Rose came of a prominent family in Ohio, and was a native of that state, having been born on what has for many years been known as the Rose farm, in Morgan county. His grandfather was Robert Rose, who was born in Virginia, but in 1809 settled in Morgan county, Ohio, on the Perry county line, being one of its earliest settlers. He became the owner of large landed interests, and was a very
prominent man in that section. His son, Jacob, the father of Caleb H., was born on the old homestead and lived there all his days. He served in the Civil War in the 62nd Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., and bore an honorable record. The Rose family, as far back as a record can be obtained, has been composed of men of good calibre, men who have accomplished their aims in life, leaving this world truly better for their having lived in it, and the present gener- ation of the family can justly point with pride to its ancestry.
Caleb H. Rose was reared on the farm, and when eighteen years old went to the front as a drummer boy in the 114th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, re-enlisting later in the National Guard. During his service he contracted a stomach trouble, with which he battled the rest of his life, finally succumbing to it April 13, 1898, when fifty- two years of age. After the close of the war he returned home and was shortly_afterward united in marriage with Margaret Adamson, a daughter of Rev. Washington Adamson, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church in Muskingum county, Ohio. They, with H. Nel- son and John Colbert, and their families, decided to go overland by team to Kansas, of which they had received so many favorable re- ports. They started on September 14, 1869, with wagons and teams and all their worldly effects, leaving behind kindred and friends. They wended their way westward, stopping only to rest their teams and cook their meals, sleeping in the wagons and on the ground. The pleasures they anticipated before starting were
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conspicuous by their absence, and instead of en- joyment, they were compelled to endure priva- tions and hardships. They met many families returning from Kansas, and all were in a pitia- ble condition, looking starved and wretched. Thereupon the party experienced a change of mind and decided to go to Nebraska, where they located in Ashland, then called Saline Ford, on October 25, 1869, feeling willing to accept anything for a rest. But a house could not be found, and so they camped along the creek. In getting their meals they used the creek water, which seemed to make their coffee salty, and upon investigation they found they were using water from Salt Creek. In their party were twenty-three people, inclusive of children and the hired men, and it was dif- ficult to secure any kind of accommodations. They finally found a small building, 16 by 20 feet in dimensions, two and a half miles south- east of the Ford, but in order to get it they were obliged to buy the wheat with which it was filled. They managed to get an old stove, but they stayed in the house for some time without any other furniture, not even a table on which to eat. Each head of a family imme- diately set out with different objects in view : one for wood, another for corn, and a third went to a mill. Mrs. Rose, having a sister, who with her husband, W. J. Weller, had previously located in Lancaster county, Ne- braska, took her children to their home, while her husband went to the land office. He pre- empted 160 acres of land in Lancaster county, fourteen miles from Ashland, and built a sod house on it with dimensions of 30 by 10 feet,
having a board cover and being lined on the inside with the covering of the wagon-black oil cloth. There was one door and two windows in the house. The next June, Mr. Rose's father visited him and declared his son's health would not permit him to live thus and advised him to move to Ashland, which he did as soon as he could pay off his pre-emption indebtedness. He bought a small house, where Oscar Hoffman now lives, and in 1870 he built a store 011 Main street, at the east end of Salt Creek bridge, and opened up a general merchandise business. He was also appointed express agent, and while serving as such met with some amusing experiences. During the temperance crusade two lady lectur- ers were in town and one called for express and found in the office two kegs of beer await- ing the owner. She fumed and raged at the idea of having beer come into town through the express office, and Mrs. Rose, who was in charge on account of the illness of her hus- band, could not get rid of her. The temper- ance woman seized an ax and broke in the heads of the kegs of beer and that seemed to satisfy her. Mr. Rose conducted the mercan- tile business until 1883, when his health failed him and he was obliged to give it up, but he invested in real estate and at the time of his death owned his original tract of 160 acres, and 460 acres in Clear Creek precinct, on which stands an old log house built by Martin Swafford in the "sixties." In 1875 Mr. Rose bought land and built the home in which Mrs. Rose now lives, and later rebuilt it into a large and handsome residence. During his last years
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he was engaged in stock raising quite exten- sively.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rose: Annie, an artist of excep- tional talent ; Edgar J., one of the largest stock dealers of Ashland; Lizzie, the wife of Charles Keetle of Cass county, by whom she has two children, Don and Leota ; Corwin H., who mar- ried Lena Gates, and lives on one of the Rose farms; Della Blanche, the wife of Charles Tay- lor, by whom she has three children, Floyd, Ernest and Florence; Lola Belle, and Jennie Grace.
AMUEL B. HALL, the efficient and accommodating postmaster at Ash- land, Saunders county, Nebraska, en- joys the distinction of being one of the pioneer settlers of this state. When he came to Ne- braska the trip was made in a wagon covered with canvas and drawn by three horses. This wagon contained all his belongings and the trip consumed twenty-two days. Their only guide was a trail which they followed as best they could, no roads having been laid out. When night overtook them they camped. One can scarcely realize at the present time that most of the beautiful county of Saunders was a bleak wilderness a little more than half a cen- tury ago.
Samuel B. Hall was born in Hancock, Hills- boro county, New Hampshire, September 20, 1841. His father, William P. Hall, was a shoemaker, in early manhood, when footwear was all made by hand. Later in life, however,
he became a painter. He married a Miss Rus- sell, who died early in their married life. Will- iam P. Hall still resides in his native state, and is now eighty-eight years old.
When but fourteen years old Samuel B. Hall left home and went west, to El Paso, Illi- nois, in company with Gardner Nay, for whom he worked four years. During the summer seasons he followed farming, and attended school through the winter sessions. Thinking his taskmaster was too strict, young Hall left him and went to Clinton, Dwight county, Illi- nois, where he remained one year.
In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company F, 4Ist Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Civil War for three years and one month. He participated in many hard battles, being detailed as color bearer. He was wounded while carry- ing the colors and was taken prisoner, his flag also being captured. This flag was sent to Washington and is now in Springfield, Illi- nois. Mr. Hall was wounded four times and lost his right thumb in the service.
Having been honorably discharged, our sub- ject returned to Clinton, Illinois, and learned the butcher's trade. In 1869 he came to Ne- braska and took up a homestead claim in Ellenwood precinct, Cass county, where he lived until June 18, 1878. He then sold his farm to Mr. Travis, who still owns it. Mr. Hall removed directly to Ashland, Saunders county, and opened a butcher's shop in com- pany with S. S. Abbott. The following June Mr. Hall purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone for nine years.
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Selling his butcher's shop, he opened a drug store on Silver street, and also engaged to some extent in the real estate business. He built a very handsome residence in 1885, and a short time afterward in company with S. G. Bryan he also built a large brick double store, which they sold later, realizing a neat profit on their investment. At the present time Mr. Hall owns a third interest in the I. O. O. F. block, and his drug store is situated there. May I, 1899, he was appointed postmaster at Ashland, relieving Mrs. Catherine Debois. He sold his drug store, but has a lien on it and still retains the management of the business.
Mr. Hall married Alice Morris, a daughter of S. M. Morris, now of Ashland, but formerly of Ohio. Seven children blessed their union, as follows: Isa M., Mont B., Harry E. M., Nel- lie, Bruce W., Ralph, and Maud, who died at the early age of five years. Isa M. Hall is the wife of E. D. Johnson, a prosperous butcher of Ashland; they have four children. Mont B. Hall is also a butcher by trade. He married May Ennis, and has one child. Harry E. M. Hall is a druggist. Nellie Hall is a deputy postmaster. Ralph Hall is assistant postmaster. Bruce W. Hall follows the butcher's trade.
Mr. Hall is a promient G. A. R. man. He is a member of Bob McCook Post, No. 31. He is also a member and past grand of I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 17, and has served as grand patri- arch of the jurisdiction of Nebraska, being also a member of Rebecca Lodge. He furthermore affiliates with the Modern Woodmen. The subject of this sketch was a member of the city council for two years, during which he served
on various committees. He is well known throughout Saunders county, and is esteemed by all. He is not only well fitted for his duties as postmaster, but is a public spirited citizen as well.
ON. SAMUEL HENRY SORNBOR- GER, judge of the -district court of the Fifth Judicial District of Ne- braska, was born October 1, 1847, in Hudson, Michigan. He is a son of Hamblin and Sa- rah (Hume) Sornborger.
Hamblin Soruborger was killed by an ex- plosion in a saw mill in 1852, being only twen- ty-five years old at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife and two sons, Sam- uel H. and Mills M.
Samuel Henry Sornborger received his pri- mary education in the Hudson schools. In the fall of 1868he went west to Washington county, Nebraska, and in the spring of 1869, he crossed the Platte River into Saunders county and took up a homestead in Marietta precinct. He resided thereon six or seven years, when, in the fall of 1875, he went to Wahoo and com- menced the study of law, with N. H. Bell. In the fall of 1877, he was admitted to the bar of Saunders county. He immediately began the practice of his profession, and has since been one of the leading attorneys of Saunders county. He was county attorney of Saunders county in 1894 and 1895.
In the fall of 1899 Mr. Sornborger was elected to a judgeship for the Fifth Judicial District of Nebraska, for a term of four years.
HON. JAMES HASSET.
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The Judge fought his political battles under the Populist banner. He was one of the prime factors in the organization of that party. He is an active worker and his influence is felt throughout the district.
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