USA > Nebraska > Buffalo County > Buffalo County, Nebraska, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 20
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FRED C. SCOTT.
Fred C. Scott, a prosperous hardware and furniture merchant of Kearney whose business methods measure up to modern commercial standards and exemplify the progressive spirit of the age, was born in Decatur county, Iowa, December 5, 1861. His father, Josiah A. Scott, was a native of Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He afterward became a resident of Pleasanton, Decatur county, Iowa, settling there just prior to the Civil war, and he was there engaged in mercantile pursuits. While residing in that city he wedded Mary Bowman, a representative of an old Virginia family, and after two children had been born to them they removed to Indiana, the father engaging in merchandising at Middle- town, that state, for a time. Finally, however, he went to Anamosa, Iowa, with his family and there passed away in the year 1892. His widow survives, yet making her home in that city.
Fred C. Scott inherited many of his father's sterling attributes of character and business ability. In his boyhood he became assistant in his father's hardware
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store and learned from him the old adage that honesty is the best policy and that the road to success is along the line of upright dealing. He learned too that correct valuation must be placed upon opportunity, industry and determination. His literary education was acquired in the schools of Middletown, Indiana, and of Anamosa, Iowa, supplemented by a course in a commercial college in Chicago. In March, 1888, he arrived in Nebraska and for seventeen years was engaged in the hardware business at David City. While there he organized the David City . Telephone Company, of which he was the sole owner, this being one of the earliest in the independent telephone field in this state.
In the year 1905 Mr. Scott removed to Kearney and since that time has made this city his home, his attention being given to the furniture and hardware trade. He has a well appointed store, carrying a large and carefully selected line in both departments, and his earnest efforts to please his patrons, his reasonable prices and his straightforward dealing have been the salient features in his growing success. He is courteous and obliging and his life record proves that prosperity and an honored name may be won simultaneously.
On the 25th of September, 1890, Mr. Scott was united in marriage to Miss Ella Prentice, of Anamosa, Iowa, and to them have been born three children: Ruth Alda, Mary Elizabeth and Cree Prentice. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church, in which the parents and children hold member- ship. Mr. Scott belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his po- litical indorsement is given to the democratic party. Anyone meeting him face to face would know at once that he is an individual embodying all the elements of what, in this country, we term "a square man," one in whom to have confidence, a dependable man in any relation and in any emergency. He has never hesitated to take a forward step when the way is open and, though content with what he has attained as he has gone along, he has always been ready to make an advance. Fortunate in possessing ability and character that inspire confidence in others, the simple weight of his character and ability have carried him into important relations.
LEWIS A. WIGHT.
Lewis A. Wight, of Gibbon, who is proving very efficient as the mail carrier of rural route No. 2, was born in Henry county, Illinois, on the 4th of October, 1860. His parents, William K. and Sophia (Eastman) Wight, were natives respectively of Lake county, Ohio, and of New York state. Their marriage occurred in the Empire state, whence, in 1858, they removed to Henry county, Illinois, where the father engaged in farming until 1886, when he came with his family to this county and located upon a farm in Gibbon township. At length he put aside the work of the fields and removed to Gibbon, where his demise occurred December 9, 1903. To him and his wife were born seven children, of whom six sons survive.
Lewis A. Wight remained at home for a number of years after attaining his majority and devoted his time to assisting his father, but following his marriage in 1891 he assumed charge of the operation of the homestead. He farmed success-
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fully until 1905. He was then made carrier on route No. 3, but subsequently transferred to No. 2 and removed to Gibbon, where he has since lived. Although he gives the greater part of his time to the discharge of his duties as mail carrier, he still owns eighty acres of land in Buffalo county and eighty acres in Sas- katchewan, Canada, from which he derives a gratifying financial return. He also holds title to his comfortable residence in Gibbon.
Mr. Wight was married in 1891 to Miss Minnie Fulmer, a native of New York and a daughter of D. M. and Ellen E. (Longstreet) Fulmer, who were born in that state but in 1880 came to this county. The father purchased land here and devoted the remainder of his life to its cultivation. The mother is still living. Mrs. Wight is one of a family of five children, all of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. Wight have no children of their own but have an adopted son, Clyde F., who is now attending the local high school.
Mr. Wight supports the republican party and has served as a member of the town board. He has also served several years as member of the library board. Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and both he and his wife attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal church. During the many years of their residence in this county they have gained a wide acquaintanceship and have made and retained a host of friends.
CHRISTIAN JACOBSON.
Among the residents of Kearney who have been enabled to put aside the onerous duties of business life is Christian Jacobson, who for a considerable period was identified with agricultural pursuits and afterward engaged in the cement contracting business. His indefatigable energy and intelligently directed effort brought him the success which now enables him to rest from further labor. He was born in Denmark on the 19th of March, 1846, and there spent the period of his boyhood and youth, his time being largely devoted to the acquirement of an education. In May, 1866, when a young man of twenty years, he landed at New York after a six weeks' voyage upon the Atlantic. He then made his way to New Jersey, where for three months he was employed in a brickyard and on the expiration of that period he removed to Davenport, Iowa, and later to Illinois, where he was employed as a farm hand for two years. He afterward spent four months in Omaha, Nebraska, and then returned to his old home in Denmark, where he served for two years in the regular army and was also employed for two years. The lure of America, however, was upon him and, returning to Illinois, he secured employment on the farm on which he had previously worked for two years. His second engagement covered seven years and during the last year of that time he acted as foreman. Saving his money, for he was ambitious to engage in business on his own account, he came to Buffalo county in 1879 and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Divide township. This was railroad land for which he paid five dollars per acre. With characteristic energy he began to develop the wild prairie tract, added many modern improvements and brought his fields to a high state of cultivation. He continued to follow farming and stock raising successfully for many years and the sale of his crops, adding to his
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income, enabled him to purchase more land from time to time until he became the owner of eight hundred acres, which he successfully cultivated until 1904, when he turned the farm over to his sons and retired from active agricultural life. Removing to Kearney, he then engaged in the cement contracting business, building sidewalks for about five years, during which time he put in miles and miles of sidewalk and curbing. He was accorded a very liberal patronage in that connection but at length put aside active business cares to enjoy a rest which he had richly earned and fully deserves.
Mr. Jacobson has been married twice. On the 9th of March, 1875, he wedded Miss Charlotta Peterson, who was born in Sweden and came to the United States in 1872. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children, as follows: Johanna, who is the wife of William Culloch and lives in Colorado; Frederick William, who resides on his father's farm; Eliza, who gave her hand in marriage to Ed. S. Shovlain, of Buffalo county, Nebraska; Carl A., who lives on his father's farm; Walter C., a resident of Montana; Martin Elmer, who makes his home in Idaho; and Laura, who is the wife of Charles Robbins, a miller of this county. The wife and mother passed away in July, 1911, and on the 7th of October, 1914, Mr. Jacobson was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Kellam, who was born in Yorkshire, England, and' emigrated to the United States when about sixteen years of age. In 1886 she took up her abode in Kansas and in the year 1889 came to Kearney, Nebraska.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson attend the Episcopal church, Mrs. Jacobson having been the organist there for years, and he exercises his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the democratic party. He has served as school director and was assessor for thirteen years and in all matters of citizenship maintains a public-spirited attitude, supporting those plans and measures which he deems of greatest value to the community. Actuated by a laudable ambition, he has ever worked his way steadily upward and in his business career has used only constructive methods, his path having never been strewn with the wreck of other men's failures. Industry has been his watchword and it has brought him success.
EMORY WYMAN.
Emory Wyman is now living retired at Gibbon but for many years was actively identified with agricultural and with creamery interests. He has now passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred at Jamestown, New York, July 3, 1834. His parents were Ezra and Emeline (Seymour) Wyman, who were also natives of New York. On leaving that state they removed to Michigan, where they lived for eleven years and then became residents of Wisconsin. Subsequently they returned to Jamestown, New York, where they resided until 1861, when they once more went to Wisconsin, where their remaining days were passed. In their family were eleven children, of whom six brothers served in defense of the Union during the Civil war. Two of the number died while at the front defending the stars and stripes and four of them are now on the pension roll of the country.
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EMORY WYMAN IN 1864
EMORY WYMAN
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Emory Wyman started out to earn his own living when but a little lad of seven years. His youthful days were largely spent in Wisconsin and his boy- hood was a period of earnest and unremitting toil in which he had few advantages, educational or otherwise. The need of his country aroused his patriotic spirit in 1861 and he offered his services to the government, enlisting as a member of Company A, Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, with which he remained until 1862, when he joined the Nineteenth Wisconsin Regiment and so served until 1864. Although he participated in a number of the most hotly contested engagements of the war, he was never wounded, nor was he ill in the hospital. In July, 1864, he was overcome by the heat and never saw his regiment after that. When he had partially recovered he was assigned to light duty as an invalid.
After being mustered out in Maryland Mr. Wyman returned to Wisconsin, where he resided until 1880. He then removed to Clinton county, Iowa, where he lived for one year and during that period had charge of four creameries. In 1882 he arrived in Shelton, Nebraska, and settled upon a farm in that locality, devoting eighteen years to general agricultural pursuits. He then returned to the village of Shelton, where he made his home until 1906, when he came to Gibbon, where he has since lived.
Mr. Wyman has been married twice. In 1865 he wedded Miss Orra Tyler, by whom he had six children, as follows: Albert L., superintendent of the county farm of Buffalo county ; Bernett, who is also a resident of this county ; Della, who is the wife of John Icke, of Madison, Wisconsin; Frankie, who gave her hand in marriage to Dr. J. E. Mettlin, of Bloomfield, Nebraska ; Grace, living in Madison, Wisconsin, who is superintendent of the rural schools of Dane county, that state ; and Cassius, deceased. The wife and mother passed away in 1902 and the following year Mr. Wyman was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Margaret Henry, of Chicago. The latter is a devoted and consistent member of the Christian church.
Mr. Wyman belongs to the Grand Army post at Shelton and thus maintains pleasant relations with his military comrades. In politics he is a republican and for years served as a member of the school board, while in 1889 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature. In former years he took an active interest in politics and gave earnest aid and support to many measures for the public good, but at the present time he is largely leaving all political as well as business activities to others. However he still feels an interest in affairs of the day and notably for one of his years keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress. He is now one of the venerable citizens of the county-a man whose well spent life has made him worthy the goodwill and respect which are accorded him.
RICHARD P. ZIMMERMAN.
Among the progressive and efficient farmers of Shelton township is Richard P. Zimmerman, who owns an excellent farm on section 21. He was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of November, 1861, and is a son of Adam W. and Louise E. (Miller) Zimmerman, natives of Pennsylvania, who
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removed with their family to Buffalo county, Nebraska, in the fall of 1871. The father homesteaded land on section 28, Shelton township, and devoted his time to its cultivation and improvement until his demise on the 5th of September, 1908. The mother survives and still lives on the homestead.
Richard P. Zimmerman was ten years of age at the time of the removal to this state and received the greater part of his education in the district schools of Buffalo county. About 1885 or 1886 he took charge of the home farm and also operated rented land. Several years previously, in 1882, he had purchased eighty acres on section 21, Shelton township, but he continued to live on the home place until 1909, when he removed to his farm on section 21. He has added to his holdings from time to time and now owns two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land. He derives a good income from his agricultural pursuits and is also a stockholder in the Independent Telephone Company of Shelton.
In 1892 Mr. Zimmerman was married to Miss Phillipena Vohland, of Shelton township, a daughter of Lawrence Vohland, a well known farmer. Six children have been born to this union, of whom five survive, namely: Irl R. L., Alva G., Reuel B., Lila G. and Lulu C., all of whom are at home. Blanch is deceased.
Mr. Zimmerman takes the interest of a good citizen in public affairs and in casting his ballet votes according to the dictates of his judgment and not accord- ing to party lines. He and his wife are both members of the United Brethren church and can be depended upon to aid in the furtherance of its work. He has based his success upon industry, the careful planning of his work, and integrity and the prosperity which he has gained is well deserved.
TIMOTHY J. TODD, D. D. S.
Dr. Timothy J. Todd, actively engaged in the practice of dentistry in Kearney and also extending his professional efforts into other fields, is a son of Edwin R. and Mary Ellen (Thomas) Todd. In 1856 his father homesteaded four miles west of Plattsmouth and the farm which he there developed is still owned by the family and is being operated by his youngest son. In the family were seven sons, one of whom, G. W. Todd, is a dentist of Omaha, Nebraska. Another has passed away, while the other four are following farming.
Of this number Dr. Timothy J. Todd was born in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, on the 5th of March, 1879, and there spent the days of his boyhood and youth, attend- ing the public and high schools. Determining upon a professional career, he entered the Omaha Dental College, from which he was graduated in 1903. He then began practice at Wahoo, Nebraska, where he remained until 1912, when he came to Kearney and has here since followed his profession.
On the 25th of May, 1904, Dr. Todd was married to Miss Minta Mauzy, of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, who was born in Virginia but was reared and educated in Plattsmouth. One son has been born of this marriage, Henri Edwin, ten years of age.
Dr. Todd is very prominent in fraternal circles, being identified with a number of organizations which are based upon the principle of mutual brotherliness and
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kindliness. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan, the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights and Ladies of Security and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but he neither seeks nor desires public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He holds membership in the district, state and national dental societies and thus keeps in touch with the advanced thought of the profession. He has the latest improved instruments and appliances to facilitate his work and his mechanical skill and ingenuity are an important factor in his success, while added thereto he has comprehensive knowledge of the science of his profession.
JOHN H. SNYDER.
John H. Snyder is identified with farming interests in Center township, still owning and occupying the old homestead property of eighty acres on section 6. Mr. Snyder has always been a progressive and public-spirited citizen and his loyalty to the country was manifest by his valiant service in the Civil war. He has now passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Germany, October 10, 1835, his parents being Valentine and Anna Snyder, who were natives of the fatherland and there spent their entire lives. They had a family of six children, all born in Germany.
John H. Snyder came to America when but twelve years of age with an uncle, who located at Wheeling, West Virginia. After two years Mr. Snyder removed to Ohio, where he continued until 1861, when, in response to the coun- try's call for aid to crush out the rebellion in the south, he offered his services to the government, enlisting as a member of Company A, Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three and a half years. He participated in the battle of Stone River, the battle of Chickamaugua and a number of other hotly contested engagements, never faltering in the performance of his duty, whether on the firing line or stationed on the lonely picket line. On one occasion he was wounded in the left leg and at the close of the war he was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio.
Mr. Snyder continued to reside at Columbus until 1877, when he returned to Germany, where he spent about four months. He then came again to the new world and for a brief period resided in Ohio, after which he removed to Iowa. Two years later he removed to Buffalo county, Nebraska, where he has since lived, and for a considerable period he was actively identified with general agricultural pursuits. He and his wife still own the old homestead property of eighty acres which is situated on section 6, Center township. His labors brought good results in the cultivation of his fields and he gathered good harvests which returned to him a substantial annual income.
In 1882 Mr. Snyder was united in marriage to Mrs. Elenor (Rught) Hen- derson, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Peter and Catherine (Brad- ley) Rught, who were likewise born in the Keystone state, whence they removed
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to Indiana, where their remaining days were passed. Their daughter Elenor became the wife of Abram Henderson and to them were born eleven children: Ida, the wife of Edwin Frederick; John, now living in Canada; Maggie, the wife of John Wolf; Charles, whose home is in Idaho; Elizabeth, the wife of E. R. Webb; Dallas; and Effa, the wife of W. C. Beens; and four who are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have become the parents of three children: Rosa, the wife of Charles Anderson; Albert; and Anna, at home.
Mrs. Snyder is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Snyder gives his political allegiance to the republican party but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He has worked persistently and energetically in the development of his farm and as the years passed by his labors wrought good results and he obtained the competence which supplies him with the comforts of life in the evening of his days.
DAVID ANDREWS.
In the history of the pioneer development of Buffalo county it is imperative that mention be made of David Andrews, who was one of its earliest settlers and whose contribution to the work of development and improvement was of marked value. New England claimed him as a native son, for his birth occurred at Cabot, Vermont, August 1, 1821. He was reared upon the farm and always followed agricultural pursuits. In early manhood he wedded Elizabeth House, a daughter of Halsey House, and about the time of the close of the Civil war they removed westward to Colorado but lived there for only one season. They then returned east as far as Grinnell, Iowa, where they made their home until 1873. In that year the women of the family came to Buffalo county by rail, while the men of the family made the trip across the country by wagon. After reaching his destination David Andrews first purchased railway land and afterward secured a homestead claim which had been entered by another. This was located on Wood river in Center township. There Mr. Andrews spent the remainder of his life, concentrating his energies upon general agricultural pursuits, his labors resulting in the development of a fine farm. He was a man of but ordinary education, but worked most diligently and persistently, and was considered an excellent neighbor and friend. He lived a quiet, unostentatious life and by reason of the sterling worth of his character commanded and enjoyed the respect of all who knew him. He passed away September 1, 1900, when in the eightieth year of his age, and his widow survived him until July 7, 1913, when she too passed away. She was a member of the Presbyterian church and like her husband, enjoyed the goodwill of all with whom she came in contact. They were the parents of three children: Flora E., now the wife of Lloyd D. Forehand, of Kearney; Edgar H .; and Albert, who died when ten years of age.
Edgar H. Andrews, the surviving son, was born in Williamstown, Vermont, January 3, 1855, and remained with his parents in his native state until the removal of the family to the west. He came with them to Buffalo county the year following the county's organization and his educational opportunities were
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those afforded by the district schools, supplemented by a two years' course in the Gibbon high school. He took the examination and was granted a teacher's cer- tificate, although he never actively followed the profession. He was reared to manhood much after the manner of most boys of his time, dividing his attention between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. For forty-three years he has been a resident of Buffalo county and has witnessed the greater part of its growth and development. The land which was originally purchased by his father at five dollars or less per acre has increased in value until it is today worth more than one hundred dollars per acre. In those days farm work was accomplished by actual manual labor but now modern inventions have largely revolutionized the methods of farm work, relieving the agriculturist of much of the drudgery which formerly devolved upon him.
On the 14th of September, 1880, Edgar H. Andrews was married to Miss Carrie Longstreet, who was born December II, 1858, at Syracuse, New York, a daughter of Cornelius and Esther Longstreet. In 1900 Mr. Andrews was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 4th of March of that year. They had become parents of two daughters, of whom the younger, Bessie, survives the mother, while the elder, Abbie, died when but eighteen months old. For his second wife Mr. Andrews chose Anna Deets, a daughter of L. S. Deets, of Kearney, and three children have been born of this marriage, Blanche, Ila Fay and Elizabeth.
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