USA > Nebraska > Buffalo County > Buffalo County, Nebraska, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 10
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Arthur R. Nichols is one of twin brothers and upon the home farm he was reared, having the usual experiences of the farm bred boy who assists in the development of the fields through the summer seasons, while in the winter months he devotes his time to the mastery of such branches of learning as are taught in the country schools. His academic training was received in the Fremont Normal College and later he engaged in teaching school for three years, spending one year in a rural school and two years as principal of the Prosser schools. Later he attended the Fremont and Kearney Normal Schools until 1909, when he was graduated from the Fremont Normal. It was during this period, or through the winter season of 1907-8, that he served as principal of the schools at Miller, which was his initial step in connection with the work of teaching in Buffalo county. His capability being manifest to those who made it a point to acquaint themselves with school work, he was elected superintendent of the schools of Elm Creek in 1909, there remaining until the fall of 1912, when he went to Gibbon to become superintendent of the schools of that place. He was then elected county superintendent by the county commissioners in 1915 to fill out the unexpired term of J. S. Elliott, who had resigned in order to accept an appointment on the faculty of the State Normal Board. Professor Nichols is therefore at the head of the educational system of Buffalo county and as such is putting forth effective and earnest effort for the benefit and development of the schools. His plans are progressive, his efforts resultant and under his guid- ance higher standards will be reached.
On the 28th of May, 1913, Mr. Nichols was united in marriage to Miss Laura Cox, of Fairbury, Nebraska, by whom he has a son, Andrew Robert, whose birth
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ARTHUR R. NICHOLS
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occurred June 21, 1914. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, while fraternally he is identified with the Masons and the Elks. His interest centers in all those things which have to do with the development and upbuilding of the county along material, intellectual and moral lines. His friends, and they are many, bear testimony to his sterling personal worth and to the excellent results which he is accomplishing in his chosen field.
CHARLES C. BLACK.
Charles C. Black, deceased, was a prominent pioneer settler of Kearney and with the development and upbuilding of the county was closely associated by reason of his activity along agricultural lines. He settled within the borders of the county when much of the land was still in possession of the government and secured a homestead claim which he converted into productive fields. Mr. Black was born near Mount Pleasant, Iowa, December 17, 1848, his parents being pioneers of that section. He was reared on a farm there and pursued his education in the schools of Mount Pleasant, taking up the profession of teaching school when a young man, for at that time the old homestead had been sold and the money divided among the heirs. Thinking perhaps to make the practice of law his life work, he began reading and devoted a year or two to the profession, but found it uncongenial. He accordingly went to Colorado, spending some time in Pueblo and in Canyon City in the mercantile business. The year 1876 witnessed his arrival in Kearney, after which he secured a homestead relinquish- ment to fifty-seven acres two miles southwest of the city, and also took a timber claim of eighty acres three miles northeast of Kearney, purchasing the relinquish- ment to both. Thinking it time to have a helpmate on life's journey, he was married on the 13th of February, 1877, to Miss Elizabeth Chesley, who was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, September 4, 1854. There she was reared and educated and in 1875 went to the home of a sister in Lincoln, Nebraska. The following year she removed to Kearney, where she engaged in the millinery business, having learned the trade in Wisconsin. She followed that pursuit for only a short time and then sold her store, for early in the following year she was married.
In May, 1877, Mr. Black took up his abode upon the old homestead and bent his energies to the development and improvement of the place, which was largely a tract of wild land when it came into his possession. To the original farm of fifty-seven acres he added from time to time until within its borders were com- prised two hundred and thirty acres. He and his wife each had a little money and they began dealing in live stock, both raising and feeding stock. Success attended the efforts of Mr. Black in this connection and he always made his live stock an important feature of his business, keeping on hand high grades of cattle and hogs, for which he found a ready sale on the market. He remained. a very active figure in agricultural circles up to the time of his death, which occurred June 1, 1889, when he was but forty-one years of age.
To Mr. and Mrs. Black were born seven children. Adah and Beulah were twins, but the latter died at the age of twelve years. The former became the
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wife of T. F. Hamer and died at the age of twenty-nine, leaving three sons : Francis, who died in 1913; Thomas, and Robert. Her children at the time of the mother's death went to live with their grandmother, Mrs. Black, who reared them. Dott is a public stenographer at the Midway Hotel of Kearney. Jessie, born April 23, 1883, is the wife of Charles C. Robinson, of Santa Monica, Cali- fornia. Ruth is the wife of Frank Todd, of Los Angeles. Susan and Donald are twins and the former is now with her mother, while the latter is a prosperous stockman and farmer living fifteen miles from Billings, Montana. The youngest children were less than two years of age when Mrs. Black was left a widow with the care of a family of seven. She managed the farm, reared and educated her children most carefully and manifested a most brave and determined spirit. She had been on the ranch for a year when the house burned in the night and all of its contents were destroyed. She then came to Kearney and rented her land for a part of the time and part of the time managed it and operated it with hired help. She afterward purchased another farm, which she later sold at an advance. She still owns the old home property, together with a nice residence in Kearney. She displays excellent business ability and executive force and has most capably controlled her interests, deserving much credit for what she has accomplished since the death of her husband, whose loss was an irreparable one to her, for he had been an active, enterprising and progressive business man and they were putting forth most earnest and effective effort to develop and improve their business interests and rear their family.
CHARLES BONSACK.
Charles Bonsack, a successful farmer and stock raiser of Sharon township, has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his county and state and is recognized as a public-spirited citizen. He was born in Germany on the 4th of February, 1857, of the marriage of Frank and Louisa Bonsack, also natives of that country, where they passed their entire lives. Eight of their sixteen children are still living.
Charles Bonsack was reared at home and acquired his education in the schools of his native land. In 1881 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and the next three years were spent in the vicinity of Denver, Colorado, where he engaged in ranching. In 1884 he went to Grand Island, Nebraska, whence the year following he removed to Buffalo county and purchased his present farm, which comprises one hundred and sixty acres on section 10, Sharon township. He has erected substantial buildings upon the place and takes pride in keeping everything about the farm in good condition. Although he raises some grain he gives the greater part of his attention to feeding stock and is recognized as one of the leading stock raisers of his locality.
In 1885 occurred the marriage of Mr. Bonsack and Miss Kate Vogel, also a native of Germany, who in 1881 came with her mother to America, the father having passed away in Germany. The mother spent her last days in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Bonsack have become the parents of eight children: Bertha, who married George Jewell, of Kansas; Frank and William, both of whom are
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at home; Rosie, the wife of Lester Quackenbush, now a resident of Minnesota ; Harvey, George and Herbert, all at home; and Mary Ann, deceased.
Mr. Bonsack supports the republican party and for ten years has been on the school board, his retention in this office proving the acceptability of his services. He is a member of the Grange and can be counted upon to further any move- ment that seeks to improve the conditions of farm life. He is determined, self- reliant and possesses sound judgment-qualities which do much toward insuring success in any line of activity.
MILTON H. BEAN.
Milton H. Bean is now living retired, making his home in Kearney. He is, however, numbered among the pioneer stockmen and farmers of Buffalo county, having carried on general agricultural pursuits here from 1879 until 1907, when his well directed industry had brought to him a measure of success sufficient to enable him to live retired. Mr. Bean is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Bucks county, February 2, 1843, a son of Manasseh and Hannah (Harr) Bean, who were also natives of the same county, where they spent their entire lives, the father there following the occupation of tailoring for a number of years, while in later life he gave his attention to farming.
Milton H. Bean spent his boyhood upon the home farm and when twenty- three years of age left the Keystone state for Illinois, making his way to Mar- shall county, where for four years he cultivated rented land. Thinking to have better opportunities to acquire a farm in the west, he came to Buffalo county in 1879 and purchased eighty acres at three dollars per acre. It was a wild tract on which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. He at once began the task of breaking the sod and developing the fields and later he pur- chased an eighty-acre tract adjoining. He built thereon a little house and kept bachelor's hall and as he found opportunity he added to his land, purchasing another eighty acres soon after his arrival, while a few years later he bought one hundred and sixty acres, for which he paid twelve and a half dollars per acre. His wife also had a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres near by and he operated these various tracts of land, carefully cultivating his crops and also engaging in stock raising. His business affairs were wisely conducted and energy and determination at length brought to him the success which is now his and which enables him to rest from further labor. He lived upon his farm until 1907, after which he sold the home place of two hundred and forty acres and rented the remainder. He then came to Kearney, where he erected his present residence and has since måde his home.
On the 13th of March, 1884, Mr. Bean was united in marriage to Miss Kate Trott, who was born in Ohio, April 2, 1851, and in her girlhood days went to Missouri and thence to Nebraska. Here she took up a homestead in Rusco township, Buffalo county, proved up the property and also engaged in teaching school. Mr. and Mrs. Bean became the parents of a daughter, Margaret Trott, who is at home with her father. The wife and mother passed away January 28, 1900, in the faith of the Methodist church, of which she was a devoted member.
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Mr. Bean was reared in the German Reformed church. In business life he has been very successful, his advancement being made through earnest effort, close application and indefatigable energy. He never neglected a duty in the care of his fields, planted his crops in timely season, cultivated them according to mod- ern methods and in the course of years gained a substantial measure of prosperity.
CHARLES B. FINCH.
No history of Kearney would be complete without extended reference to Charles B. Finch, who for thirty-six years was engaged in mercantile pursuits in this city. Honored and respected by all, no man occupies a more enviable position in commercial circles, not alone by reason of the success which he has achieved but also owing to the straightforward policy which he has ever followed. Moreover, he has taken an active and helpful interest in public affairs and his influence in municipal matters has been far-reaching and beneficial.
A native of Illinois, he was born on Christmas day of 1848 at Dallas City, Hancock county. His father, John M. Finch, was a native of Pennsylvania and removed to Illinois prior to the era of railroad building in that state. For a time he lived at Rock Island and about the year 1840 removed to Nauvoo, which was then owned almost wholly by the Mormons. He there engaged in mercantile pur- suits and during his residence at Nauvoo often had discussions with Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet and leader. At the time of the uprising which resulted in the lynching of Smith, he and others were compelled to seek homes else- where. Accordingly he located at what is now Dallas City, Illinois, on the Mississippi river, and there resumed his interrupted mercantile career. He also embarked in pork packing on a small scale, making shipments to the south. He continued his residence at Dallas City until about 1884, when he came to Kearney, Nebraska, where he died in 1888. His wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Bostwick and was a daughter of Dr. Bostwick, one of the old time physicians of Fort Madison, Iowa, who lost his life while attempting to cross the Mississippi river on the ice in answer to a professional call. Mrs. Finch passed away in Kearney in 1893. In the family were five children who reached adult age.
Charles B. Finch was reared to manhood in Illinois, where he acquired such education as the common schools afforded. When but fourteen years of age he began clerking in his father's store and was thus employed for some time, after which he was admitted to a partnership in the business and still later became his father's successor, continuing active at Dallas City until 1879, when he shipped his stock to Kearney, Nebraska, and here opened a general mercantile store. In a short time he confined his attention exclusively to dry goods and developed one of the largest and best equipped establishments of that kind in the city. For thirty-six years he was actively identified with the mercantile history of the place and his business largely set the standard for similar enterprises in the town. In 1879 his brother, Ed B. Finch, removed to Kearney and joined him in business, becoming a partner a number of years later. Together they conducted their dry goods interests until February, 1915, when they sold out and thus passed out of
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existence as the property of the firm of Finch Brothers one of the oldest and most reliable mercantile establishments of Buffalo county. Charles B. Finch is now practically living retired but is still interested in the Finch-Patterson Motor Company, in which he holds considerable stock.
Mr. Finch had five children, as follows: Charles and Edith, both of whom are deceased; Elizabeth Blanche, the wife of H. R. Krug, of Asbury Park, New Jersey; Sadie B., a student of National Park Seminary of Washington, D. C .; and John M., now on the Pacific coast.
Fraternally Mr. Finch is connected with Masonry. In this he has taken every degree of the Scottish Rite, including the thirty-third, and the Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Royal Order of Scotland, and every degree and order of the York Rite, and in addition is a member of Tangier Temple of the Mystic Shrine, at Omaha. He has served as worshipful master of the lodge where he was raised in Illinois; commander of Mt. Hebron Commandery at Kearney and grand commander of the state of Nebraska.
There is no phase of Kearney's development with which Mr Finch is not familiar. On his arrival here the city was but an overgrown frontier village, there being but a few brick buildings in the place at that time, while the country homes through the surrounding district were largely sod houses. At that time Kearney could boast of only wooden sidewalks and there was no street lighting, nor had water works been installed. With the work of progress and improvement he has always been actively identified and his labors have been directly bene- ficial along many lines. While a democrat in politics, he was elected as a candi- date of the business men of Kearney for the office of mayor and served in that capacity for three years. It was during his incumbency that the first Board of Trade was organized and he was elected its first president. During his adminis- tration the streets were renamed, the houses were numbered, a sewer system was inaugurated and the electric lighting system was established. Miles of cement sidewalks were built and other substantial improvements were carried forward. Mr. Finch has never believed in hampering public progress by useless retrench- ment nor was there any useless expenditure in his administration. He conducted municipal affairs upon business principles and the same qualities which won for him success as a merchant furthered the interests and welfare of his city.
JOHN CONROY.
John Conroy is identified with agricultural interests as the owner of land in Scotts Bluff county, Nebraska, but gives his time to his duties as postmaster of Shelton, Buffalo county, where he resides. He was born in Ireland on the 25th of September, 1851, of the marriage of Patrick and Elizabeth (Moran) Conroy, both of whom were born in that country. The father died in February, 1861, in Ireland, and in March, 1867, his wife came to America with her seven children. The family lived in Pennsylvania for some time but the death of the mother occurred in Buffalo, New York. There were seven sons in the family, of whom five are still living.
John Conroy remained at home until he was twenty years of age and then
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began learning the tanner's trade, which he followed in Pennsylvania until 1878. In that year he came to Buffalo county, Nebraska, and bought a farm six miles north of Shelton, where he lived for eight years. In 1886 he was appointed postmaster of Shelton by President Cleveland and for four years served in that capacity. During that time he conducted a general store, which was located in the same building as the postoffice, but in 1893 he disposed of that business. For four years he was deputy postmaster and then served as assessor of both the township and city of Shelton until 1914, when he was again made postmaster, receiving his appointment from President Wilson. He understands the duties of the office thoroughly, is systematic and accurate in his work, and his services as postmaster are very satisfactory to his fellow citizens. He owns three hundred and twenty acres in Scotts Bluff county and derives therefrom a gratifying finan- cial return.
In 1874 Mr. Conroy was united in marriage to Miss Anna Edwards, a native of Ireland and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Edwards, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Conroy have become the parents of seven children : William G., deceased; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of H. C. Gumprecht; Ellen, at home; Kathryn J., who is deputy postmaster; Fannie, the wife of T. P. Hoye; John, deceased ; and Stewart P., at home.
Mr. Conroy has given his political allegiance to the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and has always been active in public affairs. He has served on the town board, was for six years a member of the school board and for ten years held the office of assessor. Both he and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic church and aid in the work of that organization. He not only has the respect of all who have been associated with him but has also gained the warm personal regard of many.
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J. W. MILLER, M. D.
Dr. J. W. Miller is an able physician and surgeon who is enjoying a large practice at Gibbon and from the surrounding country. His colleagues and con- temporaries acknowledge his ability and attest his worth as a man and citizen as well as a physician. He was born in Koszta, Iowa, May 10, 1859, and is a son of Dr. Ephraim P. and Margaret (Dey) Miller, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, where they were reared and married. They subsequently removed to Koszta, Iowa, where Dr. Miller engaged in the practice of medicine up to the time of his death, which occurred about 1863. His widow afterward became the wife of Amos Pettyes and removed to Reedsburg, Wisconsin, where Dr. J. W. Miller was reared and educated, passing through consecutive grades in the pub- lic schools until graduated from the Reedsburg high school.
In 1880 J. W. Miller took up the study of medicine, pursuing his reading under the preceptorship of Dr. Samuel Hall of Reedsburg until the fall of 1881, when he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, there pursuing the full course, which he completed by graduation in March, 1884. He then returned to Reeds- burg and entered upon active practice in connection with his former preceptor, Dr. Hall, with whom he remained from March until September. At that time
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DR. J. W. MILLER AND FAMILY
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he removed to Mason City, Nebraska, where he was successfully identified with the practice of his profession until 1895. In that year he removed to Gibbon, where he has since been located. He is today the oldest practicing physician of the town and is numbered among the leading physicians and surgeons of Buffalo county. He has had broad practical experience through almost a third of a century and during this period he has kept in touch with the trend of modern thought and scientific investigation by broad reading and study. He is very careful in the diagnosis of his cases and seldom at fault in determining the outcome of disease.
On the 14th of October, 1891, Dr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Walker, of Mason City, Nebraska, and to them have been born four children, of whom three are living: Edith, who is a graduate of the State University of Nebraska of the class of 1915, and is now a teacher in the public schools of Howell, this state; Erwin, who is pursuing a course in mechanical engineering in the State University; and Arthur, a student of the Gibbon high school.
The parents hold membership in the Presbyterian church and, being people of the highest respectability, occupy an enviable position in social circles. Dr. Miller is a member of Granite Lodge, No. 189, A. F. & A. M., and of the Modern Woodmen Camp. Along strictly professional lines he has connection with the Buffalo County Medical Society and with the Nebraska State Medical Society and he thus keeps abreast with the trend of modern thought and investi- gation along professional lines. He holds to high ideals in his chosen life work and his ability is manifest in the excellent results which attend his labors.
C. M. BECK.
C. M. Beck, of Gibbon, is successfully engaged in the real estate and insur- ance business ; is also manager of the Farmers Home Telephone Company and is likewise an extensive landholder. His birth occurred in Ohio on the IIth of November, 1859, and he is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Kramer) Beck, natives of Pennsylvania who removed to Ohio at an early day in the history of that state. The father followed the occupation of carpentering and was recognized as an expert workman. Both he and his wife passed away in the Buckeye state. Seven of their ten children are still living.
C. M. Beck was reared in Ohio and there received his education, but in 1888 he came to Buffalo county, Nebraska, and opened a real estate and insurance office in Gibbon. He has since continued active in those fields and in the years that have since intervened has handled a large amount of business. He is also a heavy stockholder in the Farmers Home Telephone Company, of which he is manager, and owns stock in the Exchange Bank. He has fully recognized the value of real estate as an investment and has acquired title to seven hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, all of which is improved. He has been quick to utilize opportunities, and his enterprise and sound judgment have enabled him to win financial independence
In 1890 Mr. Beck was united in marriage to Miss Susie M. Henderson, a Vol. II-6
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native of Iowa and a daughter of Colonel P. P. and Catherine Henderson. Mr. and Mrs. Beck are the parents of a son, Gerald H., who was born July 5, 1894, and is now taking the medical course at the State University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Mr. Beck is a republican and has served as clerk and town treasurer. He holds membership in Granite Lodge, No. 189, A. F. & A. M., in which he has filled all of the chairs, and he is also identified with the York Rite, having taken the commandery degrees. For twenty-five years he served as clerk of Gibbon Camp, No. 708, M. W. A., his long retention in that office indicating the high esteem in which he is held in that organization. His wife belongs to the Metho- dist Episcopal church. He has resided in this county for more than a quarter of a century and during that time has gained the warm friendship of many and the sincere respect of all with whom he has been associated.
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