USA > Nebraska > Buffalo County > Buffalo County, Nebraska, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 15
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
MR. AND MRS. DALLAS HENDERSON
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farm into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and is today the owner of an excellent and desirable property. He makes a specialty of breeding and raising Duroc-Jersey hogs and Plymouth Rock chickens and is quite successful in that work, keeping some of the best stock to be found in the county.
In 1904 Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Miss Mamie Williams, who was born in Buffalo county, Nebraska, a daughter of Owen and Margaret J. (Owens) Williams, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Hen- derson have become the parents of three children, Laura Marie, Margaret E. and Eugene C.
The parents attend the Presbyterian church and Mr. Henderson gives his political allegiance to the progressive party. He is now serving as clerk of his township and was school treasurer, and he is interested in all of the plans and projects for the improvement of the community and the advancement of its material, intellectual and moral progress. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and he has also been initiated into the Masonic fraternity. He exemplifies in his life the beneficent spirit of these organizations and is well known as a man whose many sterling traits of character entitle him to warm regard.
RAY R. COOK.
Ray R. Cook, who is operating the old home farm of five hundred and twenty acres on sections 34 and 35. Gibbon township, is recognized as a successful and progressive agriculturist and as a factor in the development of the county along material lines. He was born in Wisconsin on the 7th of April, 1868, a son of Henry and Mary W. (Warner) Cook.
The father's birth occurred on the 4th of March, 1824, in Rutland, Vermont, and his parents were Samuel and Chloe (Warner) Cook, both natives of the state of New York. When their son Henry was twelve years of age they removed to Buffalo, New York, and not long after taking up their residence in that city both died of cholera. Henry Cook was then taken by his mother's people, who cared for him until he reached manhood. He was one of the California forty-niners and after his return from the coast he located in Chicago, where, in 1853, he was married to Miss Mary W. Warner, a native of Erie county, New York, and a daughter of Hyman Warner, a native of Vermont. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cook located on a farm near Marengo, Illinois, but after living there for two or three years removed to Clinton, Wis- consin, where the father was prominently identified with mercantile interests for about eighteen years. In 1875 they came to Gibbon, Buffalo county, Nebraska, and for several years followed mercantile pursuits here, but later turned his attention to operating his farm in Gibbon township, where he resided for some time. Subsequently he returned to Gibbon and engaged in the grain business there until his demise, which occurred on the 20th of February, 1892. He was widely known throughout the county and his death was deeply regretted by his many friends. His widow owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land in Gibbon township but resides in the town of Gibbon. She was reared in Vol. II-S
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the Congregational faith and throughout her life has manifested great considera- tion for others. By her marriage she became the mother of nine children, of whom five are still living, namely: Hattie, at home; Frank H., who is a mer- chant living at Buda, Nebraska; Ray R .; Atto B., who is superintendent of schools at Hugo, Colorado; and May E., at home.
Ray R. Cook accompanied his parents to this county in 1875 when about seven years of age and here grew to manhood. During his boyhood and youth he divided his time between attending the common and high schools and assisting his father. Since attaining his majority he has operated the home farm, which comprises five hundred and twenty acres of productive land on sections 34 and 35 Gibbon township. He specializes in breeding and feeding stock and as he fully appreciates the importance of proper housing and scientific feeding his stock are kept in fine condition and seldom fail to bring a good price on the market.
Mr. Cook supports the republican party at the polls and for years has been a member of the school board, proving very efficient in that capacity. He belongs to Excalibar Lodge, No. 138, K. P., and Gibbon Lodge, No. 37, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the chairs, and the teachings of those organizations con- cerning human brotherhood find expression in his daily life. His energy and ability have gained him gratifying success in his chosen occupation, and his integrity has won him the sincere respect of all who have come in contact with him.
GUSTAVE F. PRASCHER.
Gustave F. Prascher passed away May 31, 1904, and in his death Buffalo county lost a worthy and representative citizen. He was born in Prussia, Ger- many, December 16, 1846, and his father, Frederick Prascher, was also a native of that country. He pursued his education in the public schools and afterward as a sailor went to sea, spending some time on sailing vessels of the early days. He came to America in 1867, when twenty-one years of age, landing at New York, whence he removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked in the lum- ber camps, shipping lumber and doing other such work. He at length joined the regular army, enlisting at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in the Ninth United States Infantry, with which he served for five years, being engaged in active duty on the frontier. He participated in some of the severe Indian campaigns in the Black Hills of Dakota and was many times called upon to protect the Indian agents from attack. He was promoted to the rank of corporal and was honorably discharged in 1873 at Fort Laramie, Wyoming. He was afterward appointed government teamster at Fort Laramie, which position he held for three years.
Having become imbued with the spirit of the west and recognizing the excellent opportunities offered in the country's wide western domain, Mr. Prascher determined to remain and purchased a relinquishment to one hundred and sixty acres on section 4, Riverdale township, Buffalo county, Nebraska, which tract had originally been the Miller claim. A few improvements had been made upon it when it came into his possession and he continued the work of further
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improvement and development, fenced the fields and brought his land to a high state of cultivation. This property is still in the possession of the family and is now being farmed by his eldest son, George Arthur. It was upon this place that Mr. Prascher passed away, having given many years of his life to active agri- cultural pursuits.
It was on the 27th of October, 1874, at Cheyenne, Wyoming, that Mr. Prascher wedded Miss Amanda Johanna Swenson, a daughter of Swen Guneson. She was born at Pasturp, Sweden, April 12, 1844, and came with some neighbors to America in 1867, landing at New York, whence they made their way to Swede Bend, Boonesboro, Iowa, remaining there for a year. She afterward became a resident of Denison, Iowa, remaining with the families of Rev. Denison and Judge Bassett for about two years. She then went to Omaha and afterward to Evanston, Wyoming, but remained in the latter place for only a brief period. She then made her way to Sidney, Nebraska, where she lived with the family of an army officer and it was in this way that she formed the acquaintance of Mr. Prascher, who was at that time a soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Prascher became the parents of seven children, of whom Hilda, Harry, Emil Sanfred and Edward Frederick, all died in infancy. George Arthur, now living on the old homestead, wedded Miss Pearl Ball, and they have a son, Leonard Arthur. Lillie Alfreda is the wife of Emil J. Neilson, a merchant of Riverdale, and they have a daughter, Mildred. Ralph Leroy is connected with the grain elevator at Riverdale.
Mr. and Mrs. Prascher joined the Christian church in 1894 and the latter still has connection therewith. Mr. Prascher also held membership in the Loyal Mystic League at Kearney and for a number of years was a member of the school board of Riverdale township. He filled the office of justice of the peace of Riverdale for several terms and his record as a man and citizen is most commendable. Those who knew him esteemed him for his sterling worth, for in every relation of life he was upright and honorable. He ever led a busy and useful life. After his dis- charge from the army he was a teamster in the early days, driving a government mule train between Fort D. A. Russell and Camp Carling, and also from Camp Carling to Fort Laramie, Wyoming, in this way keeping soldiers at the outposts supplied with provisions, clothing and other necessities. While thus engaged he had to brave the elements of the weather, at times encountering severe storms and he also had to guard his train from the attack of hostile Indians, for bands of Sioux were roaming the plains, attacking the white settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Prascher were living at Fort Laramie when the Custer massacre occurred in 1876 and he equipped the pack train of mules which carried the supplies of General Crook's relief expedition, which went to the relief of General Custer. Colonel W. F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill, acted as guide for General Crook's army from Fort Laramie to the Custer battlefield.
The honeymoon of Mr. and Mrs. Prascher was spent on a government mule train. They left Camp Carling the day after their marriage, going to Fort Laramie, whence they started for the Spotted Tail Indian agency, but hostile Indians roaming the plains prevented the train from reaching its destination. They were also delayed by a terrific storm when within a mile and a half of Fort Laramie. The food supply became exhausted and all the men of the party went to Fort Laramie for provisions and other necessities, leaving Mrs. Prascher behind in a tent on the prairie all alone. During their absence the wind increased until it
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reached the force of a tornado, tearing the tent to ribbons. She then wrapped herself in buffalo robes, took her husband's pistol for protection against the Indians and hid in the tall sage bushes until the return of the men from the fort. They then continued their journey to the Red Cloud agency, where they arrived on the same day the Indians went on the warpath. Red Cloud was the central office of the agency where the main United States guard was located. The upris- ing of the Sioux lasted three weeks. The six hundred soldiers stationed at the agency could not handle the uprising and General Sherman came to their relief and restored order and again raised the United States flag on the flag pole, the Indians having torn it down as soon as the soldiers would put it up. The wedding trip of Mr. and Mrs. Prascher was thus delayed three weeks during the uprising, after which they continued to Spotted Tail agency. They were familiar with every phase of frontier life in that Indian infested country, knew the habits, cus- toms and treachery of the red men and experienced all the hardships, trials and privations incident to pioneer existence. But they lived to witness remarkable changes and to enjoy the benefits of a later civilization. Mr. Prascher was one of those who aided in planting the seeds of improvement and progress in the west and his name deserves prominent mention among the valued citizens of Buffalo county, and no less than the men, the women of the pioneer epoch deserve the praise and gratitude of those who have come after them and have shared the benefits of their early toil.
WILLIAM O. KING.
William O. King is one of Kearney's substantial citizens, a quiet and careful man of business, who has given close attention to his commercial interests during the past seventeen years of his connection with mercantile circles. Thoroughness, diligence and enterprise have characterized his course at all times and won for him the respect, confidence and goodwill of those with whom he has been brought in contact. He was born in Morgan county, Ohio, December 22, 1863, and is a son of William and Ruth (Ball) King, who were also natives of Ohio. The father was a farmer and followed that occupation throughout his entire active life. In 1882 he removed with his family to Washington county, Kansas, where he passed away in 1902, his widow surviving him unttil 1911. They were the parents of eleven children but only three are now living.
William O. King was reared to early manhood in his native state and assisted in the work of the home farm. He also attended the district schools and when nineteen years of age went to Kansas with his parents and there carried on gen- eral agricultural pursuits until he reached the age of twenty-eight. Putting aside the work of the fields, he turned his attention to merchandising and for six years operated a "racket" store at Harrington, Kansas. In 1898 he came to Kearney and embarked in the retail dry goods business, his stock also including men's furnishings, boots and shoes. He began here in a small way but with the passing of the years his business has gradually increased until he now has one of the leading mercantile establishments of the city, carrying a large and carefully selected line of goods. He has ever endeavored to please his customers and his
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thoroughly reliable business methods have been one of the strong elements of his growing prosperity. In other ways, too, he has been identified with the material development and progress of Kearney and now in addition to his commercial interests is vice president of the Farmers Bank.
In 1890 Mr. King was united in marriage to Miss Libbie A. Osterhout, of Morrowville, Kansas, and they have three daughters, Maud, Ruth and Margaret. Mrs. King is a member of the Congregational church and Mr. King belongs to the Kearney Commercial Club, to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is in no sense a politician and his ballot is cast with regard to the capability of - the candidate or the value of a political measure rather than according to party dictation. He has never sought nor desired public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which have been carefully and wisely directed and which have brought to him substantial and well merited success. All who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, speak of him in terms of high regard. He is entirely free from ostentation and display but is rich in those qualities which in every land and clime awaken goodwill, confidence and high esteem.
JOSEPH OWEN, SR.
Joseph Owen, Sr., has been very successful as a farmer and has also found time to take an active interest in public affairs. He lives on section 2, Shelton township, and is widely known not only in that township but throughout the county. A native of Manchester, England, he was born on the 16th of February, 1849, of the marriage of David and Elizabeth (Lloyd) Owen, both of whom were born in Wales. In 1863 they came to the United States and made their way to Buffalo county, Nebraska. The father died the following year and the mother afterward made her home with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Oliver, who came to this county in 1860.
Joseph Owen, Sr., was about fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to this county and here he grew to manhood. He attended school in England but after his removal to Nebraska his time was taken up with agri- cultural pursuits. Following his father's death he made his home with his brother-in-law, Edward Oliver, and worked for neighboring farmers. About 1869 he purchased the old Stage Station farm which adjoins his present home place and there began his independent career as an agriculturist. Subsequently he purchased a relinquishment on his present farm from his brother-in-law and entered the place under the homestead law. In due time he proved up on the claim and as the years have passed he has made many improvements upon it. The land is in a high state of cultivation and as he is an excellent farmer he secures a good income from his agricultural operations. He owns two hundred and forty acres located near Shelton and is also financially interested in the Shelton State Bank and in the Farmers Elevator at Shelton.
In 1871 Mr. Owen was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ann Oliver, who. came to Nebraska in 1860 with the Mormon colony. They have become the
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parents of seven children, five of whom are living, namely: Elizabeth J., now Mrs. W. D. Kirkland, of Omaha; Alice, the wife of Thomas G. Tritt, of Shelton; Joseph, who is city marshal; Ida B., who is the widow of Will Hall and resides with her parents; and Anna, at home.
The republican party has a stalwart adherent in Mr. Owen, who has done much work in its behalf. He has been called to public office a number of times and has made an excellent record as a public servant. For two terms he was a member of the county board of supervisors, of which he was chairman for three years ; for three terms was justice of the peace and refused to serve for the fourth term; and he has also been road supervisor and assessor and held the office of deputy sheriff under John Oliver. He fully recognizes the importance of a good school system and for forty-six years has been treasurer of school district No. I, during which time he has done much to promote educational advancement in that district. He is one of the most prominent members of Shelton Lodge, No. 141, I. O. O. F., of which he has been permanent and recording secretary since 1886, and of which he was the first noble grand. For fifteen years he has been financier and master of the exchequer of Shelton Lodge, No. 92, K. P., and he is also con- nected with Anchor Lodge, No. 14, A. O. U. W., and Kearney Lodge, No. 984, B. P. O. E. The foregoing record of his life indicates that he has been active in many lines, and his sterling worth is indicated in the fact that, although his circle of acquaintanceship is very large, it is almost coextensive with the circle of his friends.
HENRY SLAUGHTER BELL, M. D.
Dr. Henry Slaughter Bell, actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Kearney since the age of twenty-two years, was born near Branden- burg, Kentucky, November 19, 1848. His father, George Gray Bell, was one of a family of six children, five sons and one daughter, born of the marriage of Henry and Polly (Slaughter) Bell, both natives of Culpeper county, Virginia, the former born in 1782 and the latter in 1787. In early life, prior to their marriage, they had crossed the Alleghany mountains and settled in Kentucky. The grandfather of our subject died in 1851 and the grandmother in 1846. The Doctor's father, who was a farmer and slaveowner, passed away in 1855, leaving a young wife and three children, of whom Henry S. was the eldest. The others were Fannie, then four years old, and Mary, only one year of age. The mother was the youngest child of Daniel M. Jones, a prominent citizen and politician of Meade county, Kentucky, who was elected to the state legislature for several terms in succession. His wife was a member of the Lewis family. Both families were from Virginia and, to use the negro expression, were regarded as "quality" in Kentucky, this meaning that they were well bred and well-to-do families. When left a widow Mrs. Bell had but little experience in affairs of the world, but through the kindness of her brothers and brothers-in-law she was relieved of much responsibility in the sale of several negroes and personal property-horses, cattle, hogs, etc. At that time a young, healthy, adult negro sold at about one thousand dollars. Mrs. Bell removed with her children to Louisville, Kentucky,
DR. HENRY S. BELL
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her father having previously gone to that city in order to marry a widow who was encumbered with several bad boys, children of her children. The Doctor's mother soon realized that the environment was not such as would improve the morals of her son and she turned him over to his uncle, John M. Bell, who had reared his own family of one son and two daughters but was anxious to try different plans with him. So Dr. Bell is the product of that rare opportunity of "I'd do differently if it were to do over again." The Doctor stood the experi- ence for six years, but when the Civil war broke out, on the pretext of visiting his mother, who in the meantime had married again and located in Rockport, Indiana, the boy was permitted to leave his uncle's and depart for his mother's home. He made the trip on what was then known as one of the palatial Ohio river packets and it was a great event to him. This was in 1863, when fifteen years of age. Instead of stopping at Rockport, Indiana, however, he remained on the boat until it reached the end of its trip. On leaving the steamer the Doctor enlisted on the 16th of December, 1863, in Company F, First Indiana Cavalry. He was on duty at Fredericktown and at Belmont, Missouri, and then went to Rich Mountain, Arkansas. He was with General Steele at Pine Bluff and Helena and participated in the expedition up the Red river under General Banks. His active service at length brought him to the time when he received his honorable discharge at Duval's Bluff, Arkansas, on the 5th of July, 1865, after the close of the war.
Dr. Bell then returned to his home in Indiana and entered Rockport College, where he completed his more specifically literary education. Having determined upon a professional career, he next entered Bellevue Medical College of New York, from which he was graduated on the 30th of March, 1878, in which year he began practice, locating at Decker Station, Indiana, where he remained for five years. He afterward spent fifteen years in active practice at Paris, Illinois, and in 1890 came to Kearney, where he has since remained, his ability bringing him prominently to the front in the practice of medicine and surgery in this city.
Dr. Bell was married in 1873 to Miss Anna M. Barker, of Evansville, Indiana, who died on the 20th of September, 1887, leaving two sons, Samuel Barker and Robert N. The former is now engaged in farming near Evansville, Indiana, and the latter is conducting a drug store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On the 6th of December, 1888, Dr. Bell was again married, his second union being with Miss Anna M. Smith, of Paris, Illinois, and to them have been born three children: Henry S., who follows farming near Aurora, Illinois; Margery Shaw, now a teacher in the public schools of Montpelier, Idaho; and Martha Elizabeth, sixteen years of age, attending high school.
In politics Dr. Bell is a republican and was appointed physician to the State Industrial School at Kearney by Governor Dietrich in 1898 and afterward by Governor Mickey, serving for six years. He is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Royal Highlanders as well as of Sedgewick Post, No. I, G. A. R., of Nebraska. He belongs to the American Medical Association, the Nebraska State Medical Society and the Buffalo County Medical Society and of the last named has been the president. He is much interested in all that pertains to progress in his profession and also in everything that tends to promote the public welfare, for he manifests the same spirit of loyalty in citizenship that he displayed when as a youth he represented himself to be eighteen years of age in order that
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he might serve his country upon the battlefields of the south. With him it has always been "America first," and his example of loyalty as well as of profes- sional activity and honor might well be followed.
CAPTAIN JOSEPHUS C. HEFFNER.
Captain Josephus C. Heffner, who is living retired in Kearney, is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war. The same spirit of loyalty which prompted his enlistment when the stability of the Union was threatened has ever been man- ifest in his career, making him a most public-spirited citizen. He was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, on the 2d of March, 1847, a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Leightenteler) Heffner, who were also natives of the Keystone state, where they spent their entire lives, the father there following the occupation of farming.
Captain Heffner's boyhood was spent on the old homestead and his education was acquired in the public schools, which he attended until the Ist of April, 1865. He then enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining the army when a youth of but eighteen as a member of Company K, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He had enlisted in 1863, when but sixteen years of age, joining Com- pany C of the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, but his father, feel- ing that he was too young for active military duty, went to Washington and through a personal talk with Abraham Lincoln secured his release. Two years passed and he then again joined the army and while at the front he participated in the battle of Chattanooga, receiving an honorable discharge at Harrisburg, Penn- sylvania, December 16, 1865. In the war record his name was misspelled Heiffner.
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