USA > Nebraska > Buffalo County > Buffalo County, Nebraska, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 17
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EDGAR LAFAYETTE TEMPLIN.
Edgar Lafayette Templin, part owner of the Shelton Clipper, was born at Jonesboro, Washington county, Tennessee, on the 19th of November, 1879, and for two years there lived with his parents, Elbert and Malinda (May) Templin, who were natives of the same state, where they resided until 1881, when they came to Nebraska, settling in Nemaha county. Two years later they removed to Jefferson county, taking up their abode near Reynolds, where they resided until 1909, when they removed to O'Neill, where the mother's death occurred on the 13th of September, 1910. The father is still living there. In the family were fourteen children, nine sons and five daughters, all of whom have reached years of maturity and still survive-a notable family record.
Edgar L. Templin was reared and educated in Jefferson county, where he attended the common schools, supplemented by a course in a commercial college at Omaha, Nebraska. After leaving school he took up telegraphy, at which he worked for about twelve years. He was employed by the Western Union Tele- graph Company at Omaha during the last six years of that period and during the last two years was traffic chief in the main office at Omaha. In the year 1911 he came to Shelton, where he engaged in the newspaper business in partnership with C. C. Reed. This connection is still maintained in the ownership and conduct of the Shelton Clipper, one of the leading country newspapers of the state.
On the 10th of March, 1909, Mr. Templin was united in marriage to Miss Hazel A. Reed, who was born in Buffalo county, a daughter of F. D. and Hattie Reed, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Templin attend the Presbyterian church and he is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias lodge at Shelton. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is now a member of the city council. He takes a deep and helpful interest in affairs pertaining to the general good and his influence and support are given in behalf of all those measures which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.
JOHN REDDY.
John Reddy was one of the most progressive and valued farmers and citizens of Buffalo county until death called him, and his memory is yet cherished by those who were his associates. He was born in County Sligo, Ireland, on the 25th of May, 1846, and at the age of sixteen years entered upon an apprentice- ship to the dry goods business, serving for five years in that connection in the city of Sligo, after which he came to the United States and for a short time lived
JOHN REDDY
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MRS. JOHN REDDY
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in New York city. He afterward removed to Vermont and subsequently became a resident of Dunlap, Harrison county, Iowa.
While there he was married in June, 1871, to Miss Mary Lehan, a native of County Cork, Ireland, who came to the United States with an older brother when she was a maiden of but nine years. She was then placed in a convent at Salem, Massachusetts, where she was educated.
In 1872 Mr. and Mrs. Reddy came to Gibbon, Nebraska, and for some time he was in railroad service, continuing in that line of work for eight or ten years after coming to the new world. He then purchased a farm adjoining Gibbon and gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 28th of May, 1902, his farm comprising four hundred acres of rich and valuable land, which is still in the possession of the family and is one of the desirable properties of Buffalo county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Reddy were born six children, of whom five are living: Nellie, the wife of K. C. Baker, of Atoka, Oklahoma ; Bernard E., who is engaged in the music business in Kearney; Roy, acting as station agent at David City, Nebraska; Maud, the wife of Dr. S. D. Nixon, of Chicago, Illinois; and Belle, the wife of E. G. Tunks, of Gibbon, Nebraska.
In politics Mr. Reddy was a democrat and, while he did not seek political office, he served for many years as a member of the school board and did much to further the interests of education. He was a member of Granite Lodge, No. 189, A. F. & A. M., and was buried with Masonic honors when death terminated his career. He had been a faithful exemplar of the craft and in every relation of life was found true and honorable, faithfully discharging the duties that devolved upon him and holding at all times to high principles. Mrs. Reddy still survives her husband and occupies a beautiful home in Gibbon.
CLARENCE S. ROBINSON.
Clarence S. Robinson resides at No. 613 West Twenty-first street in Kearney and is the owner of a valuable farm property on section 10, Divide Township, to the development and supervision of which he gives his time and attention. He was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, on the Ist of February, 1859, and is a son of John and Janette (Leighton) Robinson, the former a native of England and the latter of Scotland. They came to the United States in young manhood and womanhood, and were married in Danville, Illinois, after which they took up their abode upon a farm in Vermilion county, Illinois, near the Iroquois county line. There the father passed away in 1862 and following his demise the mother con- tinued to reside upon the old homestead farm until 1890, when she took up her abode in Hoopeston, Illinois, where she remained up to the time of her death, which occurred on the 13th of February, 1910.
Clarence S. Robinson was reared upon the home farm and acquired his edu- cation in the common schools. As early as his sixteenth year he began farming for himself as a renter in Iroquois county and since that time has depended entirely upon his own resources. In 1884 he made a trip to Buffalo county, Nebraska, and while here purchased the north half of section 9, Divide township. Vol. 11-9
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In 1886 he returned to take up his permanent abode in this county and at once began the development and improvement of his half section of land, remain- ing upon his farm until 1903, when he removed to Kearney to educate his chil- dren, since which time he has made his home in the city. In the meantime he carefully and energetically conducted his farm work and as his financial resources increased he added to his property until he is now the owner of seven hundred and twenty acres of land all in one body in Divide township and comprising some of the best land in the township. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Ele- vator Company of Kearney and also of Riverdale, and is a stockholder in the Kearney Telephone Company.
On June 8, 1887, Mr. Robinson was married to Miss Roxana Charlton, of Rusco township, this county, a daughter of Charles Charlton, who came to Buffalo county from Christianburg, Virginia, in 1885, and took up a homestead in Rusco township. He now resides in Yates Center, Kansas. For many years he served as postmaster of Pleasanton, and he was widely and favorably known in this county because of his close connection with its development and his thorough reliability in business affairs.
To Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have been born six children: Laura, who is now a teacher in the Kearney schools; Grace, the wife of H. D. Wagner, of Oregon, Illinois ; Arthur, who is cultivating his father's farm; Donald, who is employed in Kearney; and Glen and Sidney, who are both in school. In his political views Mr. Robinson is a democrat and has served as township clerk, as township treas- urer and as a member of the school board, discharging the duties of these various positions in a most creditable manner. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and guide their lives according to its teachings. For a long period Mr. Robinson has been known as one of the representative business men and agriculturists of his community. After removing to the city he rented his land for seven or eight years, but for the past four or five years has operated one hundred and sixty acres himself and is now busily engaged in the active work of tilling the fields and in the management of his property interests, his business affairs being well directed, splendid success crowning his efforts.
A. T. REYNOLDS.
As cashier of the National Bank of Amherst, which he organized, A. T. Rey- nolds occupies an important place in the financial circles of Buffalo county. He is a native of Nebraska, his birth having occurred in Madison county in 1877, and he is a son of D. F. and Emma (Twiss) Reynolds, who are now living in Lin- coln. The father farmed for many years but has put aside the cares of active life and is enjoying a period of well earned leisure.
A. T. Reynolds passed his boyhood upon the home farm in Madison county and received his early education in the district schools. Subsequently he was a student in the Fremont Normal School and in the State Normal School at Peru and for three years thereafter engaged in teaching school. Later he entered the insurance field but in 1903 he came to Amherst and organized the Farmers State Bank, which was capitalized at five thousand dollars. The officers were:
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A. U. Dann, president ; R. L. Hart, vice president ; and A. T. Reynolds, cashier. In 1908 the institution was nationalized and since that time has been known as the First National Bank of Amherst. The capital has been increased to twenty-five thousand dollars and there is now a surplus of five thousand dollars. The bank owns its own building, which is a substantial brick structure, and its business is steadily increasing. The officers remain the same and the prosperity of the institution is proof of their efficiency and sound judgment. The policy of the bank has been such as to gain the confidence of the public and at the same time to encourage the legitimate business expansion of the community.
Mr. Reynolds is a republican in politics. He is identified with the Masonic blue lodge at Miller and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Amherst and is popular both within and without those organizations. His business interests demand the greater part of his time and yet he is always willing to cooperate with various agencies in securing the material and civic advancement of Amherst. Neither his ability nor integrity has ever been questioned and he is justly held in high esteem wherever known.
RICHARD HIBBERD.
Richard Hibberd is a contractor and brick manufacturer of Kearney who has won place among the substantial business men of the city. His activities are of a character that contribute to public prosperity as well as to individual success and his life record is an illustration of what may be accomplished when determination, enterprise and laudable ambition point out the way. Mr. Hibberd is a native of England, his birth having occurred in Staffordshire on the 12th of April, 1845, his parents being John and Lucy (Baxter) Hibberd. The father was a hardwood lumber dealer, but the mother's people were for many generations connected with the business of brick manufacturing.
Richard Hibberd acquired a common school education and afterward learned the rudiments of the brick industry with his maternal relatives. When a young man of eighteen he came to America and after looking to some extent for a loca- tion in the east he determined to seek the opportunities for a livelihood offered in the interior. Accordingly he purchased an immigrant ticket to Chicago and thence another ticket to Galena, Illinois. In passing through Sterling, en route to Galena, the appearance of that place impressed him favorably, so he left the train, at which time he had but five cents in his pocket. He found employment as a farm hand at twenty dollars per month and after working for one month he entered the service of General J. B. Steadman in the secret service of the Federal army. He was not enlisted at that time owing to the fact that, being a foreigner and resident of this country for but a short time, it was deemed unwise for him to have any legal connection with the Union forces in case it happened that he should be captured by the enemy. For a year and nine months he served in the capacity of secret service man and in January, 1865, was mustered in as a mem- ber of Company B, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Prior to this, however, he had done service in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, his work often being of a most important and hazardous character. After his
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enlistment he went to the front at Dalton, Georgia, and was employed at picket work along the route that General Sherman's army traversed the preceding year. He ended his military career when mustered out at Savannah, Georgia, January 30, 1866, being paid off at Springfield, Illinois, on the 9th of February. He had rendered valiant and valuable aid to his adopted land and there has never been any citizen more loyal to American interests than has Richard Hibberd, who came to America with the full intention of becoming a citizen of this country and not giving to it a half-hearted allegiance.
The war over, Mr. Hibberd embarked in partnership with his brother, J. E. Hibberd, in the business of manufacturing brick at Spring Hill, Whiteside county, Illinois, and there remained for a year, after which he engaged in brickmaking at various places. In 1868 he and his brother purchased a farm in Henry county, Illinois, and in connection with the cultivation of their land continued brickmaking for two years.
At the end of that time Richard Hibberd sold out and went to England on a visit. While there, on the 28th of February, 1870, he married Miss Emma M. Gould and in May of that year returned to America with his wife. For a time he engaged in brickmaking in Geneseo, Illinois, and on the 17th of April, 1871, he arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he remained for six years, doing con- tract work and also manufacturing brick. He afterward lived at Seward and at David City, engaged in the same line of business, but in the meantime home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres in York county. In July, 1880, he came to Kearney, having taken the contract to complete the building of the State Reform (now the Industrial) School, since which time he has made his home in this city. For thirty-six years he has had more to do with the erection of public buildings and business blocks throughout middle Nebraska than any other one man. The school buildings of Kearney, the Methodist Episcopal, the Episcopal, the Presbyterian and United Brethren churches of Kearney, the Odd Fellows Hall, the Masonic Temple, Kearney Hall and many other structures in Kearney, the Masonic Hall at Grand Island, the opera house at Hastings, the main building of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Omaha and numerous others all stand as monuments to the skill, enterprise and ability of Mr. Hibberd, who by reason of the efficiency to which he has attained in his chosen field of labor has long ranked as the foremost contractor of this part of the state.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hibberd have been born six children, as follows: John C., a bricklayer of Kearney; Charles F., who is a bricklayer residing at North Platte ; Elma B., principal of the Hawthorn school in Kearney; Lucy C., who is the wife of L. B. Clark, of Lincoln, Nebraska; William E., a bricklayer of Kear- ney ; and Adelbert L., who is a practicing physician of Miller, Buffalo county, and is also a bricklayer by trade.
In politics Mr. Hibberd is independent, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He served on the city council for one term but otherwise has never sought or held public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which have been wisely directed and have brought to him nota- ble and deserved success. His labors have constituted an important element in the adornment of various cities, for he always holds to the highest architectural standards and combines beauty with stability, utility and convenience. Starting upon his business career in the new world with but a single nickel in his pocket
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and today ranking with the most substantial citizens of central Nebraska, his record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accom- plished when there is the will to dare and to do. Moreover, his life record is an indication of the fact that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously.
JOHN GORDON.
John Gordon is engaged in business in Kearney as a coal dealer and was for- merly for a long period station agent in this city, being a most popular and effi- cient representative of the road. His friends-and they are many-speak of him as a most obliging, kindly, helpful and courteous man and entertain for him the warmest regard. He was born in Toronto, Canada, January 18, 1859, and there spent the period of his boyhood and youth. When eighteen years of age he learned telegraphy and while thus engaged he provided for his own support by piling wood and in doing other work. When he had mastered the business he became an operator and ticket agent at Park Hill, Canada, a town on the Grand Trunk Railway, and there remained until 1884, when he crossed the border into the United States, where competition is keener but where advancement is more quickly secured. He made his way to McCook, Nebraska, but soon after- ward accepted a position at Hagler, Nebraska, seven miles from the Colorado line on the Burlington road. He spent twelve years in station service for that road, remaining for three years at Denver and afterward becoming agent at Alliance, Nebraska, but his health failed and he then gave up his position, going to Detroit, where he was a traveling salesman, representing a wholesale glove and mitten house. Three years were passed in that connection, after which he removed to Friend, Nebraska, where he returned as station agent for four or five years for the Burlington railroad. On the expiration of that period he came to Kearney and was agent at this place for ten years, when again his health failed. He was then made traveling freight and passenger agent out of Denver but after a time he resigned and turned his attention to the coal trade. When he gave up his position as station agent at Kearney the business men of the city presented him with a diamond ring in which his name is engraved. He stood very high with the railroad company, being one of its trusted employes, ever carefully safeguarding the interests of the road and at the same time giving most courteous treatment to its patrons, doing all in his power to further the interests and con- venience of travelers.
On the 24th of June, 1885, in London, Canada, Mr. Gordon was united in marriage to Miss Tillie Maddocks, who is a native of Plymouth, England, but was brought to Canada when seven years of age. Since her marriage she has lived in Nebraska and she is the mother of two children: Norma, who is a teacher in the Gibbon schools ; and Paul, who is associated with his father in the coal business.
Politically Mr. Gordon is a republican and keeps well informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day but has never consented to accept office. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and he also has membership in the
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Presbyterian church. His life has been guided by sound principles and actuated by high ideals, and all who know him attest his genuine worth and speak of the high regard in which he is held.
FRANK E. BEEMAN.
Frank E. Beeman, practicing at the Kearney bar, is a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, his natal day being September 1, 1861. He is a son of Oliver Keth Beeman, well remembered by many of the residents of Kearney, and is a grandson of Ansel Beeman whose father, Nathaniel Beeman, was a resident of Kent, Litchfield county, Connecticut. The family was established in America by Symon Beeman who removed from Scotland to Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1640. He was the father of Samuel whose son, Samuel, was the father of Thomas, Sr. The last named went from Stonington, Connecticut, to Kent, that state, in 1740. His son Ezekiel was the father of Nathaniel, who married Rachel Keth. They became parents of two children. The younger, Ansel, born in 1787, was left motherless when two years of age and when a youth of seventeen years he drove an ox team through the wilderness to Ohio, becoming a pioneer of the famous Western Reserve. There in 1811 he married Anna Maria Gibson, a daughter of Eleazer and Mary Gibson, the former having been an officer of the Connecticut line during the Revolutionary war and for his service he was granted a pension of eighty dollars per year during his life- time. Seven children were born to Ansel Beeman and his wife, including Oliver Keth Beeman, whose birth occurred in Mahoning county, Ohio, September 3, 1827, and he there grew to manhood. He acquired a good practical education and started out in life as a district school-teacher. Being an exceptionally fine penman he was often called upon to draw up legal documents such as wills, deeds, conveyances, etc., and in time he obtained a practical knowledge of ordinary legal procedure and practiced law in a small way. However, the greater part of his life was devoted to farming and stock raising and he was largely instrumental in introducing graded merino sheep and graded cattle in his part of the country. In this way he accumulated a considerable amount of this world's goods. On the 7th of February, 1856, he married Harriet P. Misner, and in the year 1888 removed to Kearney, Nebraska, where he passed his remaining days, his death occurring January 12, 1915. The male members of the Beeman family as far back as there is record of them were exceptionally large and powerful, being noted for their great physical strength, and Oliver Keth Beeman was no exception to this rule. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he held membership in the Masonic order. He was a liberal contributor to religious work and helpful public enterprises and his chief characteristic was his sturdy, rugged honesty and his unswerving integrity. His widow survives him and yet resides in Kearney.
Frank E. Beeman came to Kearney a briefless lawyer in January, 1888, and he was hard put in his early professional career to make his income keep up with his living expenses. Probably his first case was when he was appointed by the court to defend a man for attempted murder and while his client was justly
FRANK E. BEEMAN
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sentenced to the penitentiary, the trial gave Mr. Beeman a standing at the bar so that his legal career thenceforward was one of creditable success. He had passed his boyhood days in his native state and for a time was a student at the Western Reserve Seminary. In 1879 he taught school and to prepare for his university course attended the high school at Ann Arbor, Michigan, from which he was graduated on the 22d of June, 1883. In the fall of 1884 he matriculated at the State University of Michigan, completing the classical course and receiving the bachelor of arts degree in 1887. In conjunction with his other work he attended the legal department of the university in 1886 and 1887 and in February of the latter year, upon special examination, was admitted to the bar. He spent the remainder of the year in Nebraska seeking a suitable location and at length deciding upon Kearney, has since made this city his home.
Mr. Beeman's wife, who in her maidenhood was Miss Irene Osborn, and to whom he was married in 1884, died February II, 1907, leaving two children, Burke Osborn and Irene. Mr. Beeman is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta, a college fraternity, and two fraternal organizations, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He ranks very high as a lawyer and citizen. In his profession he is sound, clear minded and well trained, felicitous and clear in argument, thoroughly in earnest, full of the vigor of conviction, never abusive of his adversaries, imbued with the highest courtesy and yet a foe worthy of the steel of the most able opponent.
H. J. DUNKIN.
H. J. Dunkin, who is filling the office of postmaster at Gibbon, was born at Rossie, New York, on the 29th of July, 1855, and is a son of John and Ann Eva Dunkin, both natives of England. They emigrated to America in 1852 and settled in the state of New York, where the father passed away in 1855. Subsequently the mother removed with her family to Vermont and in 1871 came to Buffalo county, Nebraska, and took up her residence upon a farm. She died in 1901 in Gibbon.
H. J. Dunkin was one of a family of seven children born to his parents, of whom four are living. He remained at home with his mother until he attained his majority and during his boyhood and youth attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education. In 1879, when about twenty-four years of age, he became a traveling salesman and after devoting twelve years to that work was for eight years engaged in the grocery business at Gibbon. He then sold out and traveled for seventeen more years but in 1915 was appointed postmaster of Gibbon, which office he is now acceptably filling. He is prompt and systematic in the performance of his work and is proving a popular official. He has been successful financially and owns a business property and his residence in Gibbon.
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