Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of Nebraska : containing a history of the state of Nebraska also a compendium of reminiscence and biography containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of Nebraska, Part 153

Author: Alden Publishing Company
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Alden Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1402


USA > Nebraska > Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of Nebraska : containing a history of the state of Nebraska also a compendium of reminiscence and biography containing biographical sketches of hundreds of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of Nebraska > Part 153


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JOSEPH M. KEATING.


Joseph M. Keating, who owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of land on section seventeen, township nineteen, range fourteen, Valley county, Nebraska, is one of the substantial farmers and highly esteemed citizens of his com- munity. He is a pioneer of his county, where he has been engaged in farming for the past twenty- eight years.


Joseph M. Keating, son of Joseph R. and Mar- garet (Miller) Keating, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in September, 1852, and was fifth in a family of eight children ; he has three sisters residing in Pennsylvania, the other children be- ing deceased, as are also the parents. The father passed away in the year 1865, and the mother in 1898, the death of each occurring in Pennsyl- vania.


Our subject received his education in local schools of his native state, and later learned the plasterer's trade. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Keating came to Valley county, Nebraska, set- tling in the Mira Valley, living the first year in a dug out.


On June 19, 1887, Mr. Keating was married to Miss Edna C. Cromwell, who was born in Wis- consin but came to Nebraska with her parents in 1880. She is a daughter of Charles and Helen (Avery) Cromwell, natives of New Hampshire and New York. Mr. and Mrs. Keating have had five children, namely : Francis J., E. Lyle, Marens H., John W. and Eleanor G., all of whom reside under the parental roof. Mrs. Keating's parents reside in Ord, while four sisters reside in Valley connty and a brother in Oklahoma.


In 1886 Mr. Keating purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in Lower Mira Valley, living there about one year, and then traded for land further up the valley. In 1893 he moved with his family to Pennsylvania, farming near Pittsburg for about twelve years, renting the farm belonging to Mrs. Keating's father, and, returning to Nebraska in 1906, bought two hun-


"VALLEY VIEW FARM," RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH M. KEATING.


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dred and forty acres in Springdale township. In 1908 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section seventeen, township nine- teen, range fourteen, which is now his home place. In the spring of 1910 he built a fine modern resi- dence of eight rooms, supplied with gas and heated by the hot water system. The dwelling is of imposing architecture and the barn is in keeping with the house. We are pleased to call attention to a view of this fine property else- where in our work.


Mr. Keating is a successful man of affairs, interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his home state and county, and is widely and favor- ably known. He is a republican in politics, and served as treasurer of his school district, number sixty-five, for several years; he is now moderator in the district where he resides.


Mr. Keating just escaped being caught out in the blizzard of 1888, having hitched his team to the wagon to go for hay when the storm struck. It was with difficulty that he got the horses back to their stalls and regained the house.


DENNY TURNER.


The Empire state has contributed many of her sturdy sons to the growing west, and among them were several members of the Turner family.


Denny Turner was born in the village of De- peyster, St. Lawrence county, New York, Novem- ber 11, 1842. He was the seventh in a family of eleven children born to Elisha and Julia (Hy- dorn) Turner, all of whom attained a good old age, there being no break in the family until 1908 when two of the brothers died; the eldest has attained more than four score years.


At the age of eighteen, Denny Turner found employment in the foundry at Depeyster, where he worked until the outbreak of the Civil war. Enlisting in Company G, Sixteenth New York Volunteers, our subject served eighteen months, when he was discharged for disabilities after suf- fering for months in the hospital at Brooklyn. During his active service, he participated in the first battle of Bull Run, at City Point, Malvern Hill, Chiekahominy, and a number of small en- gagements, in one of which he received a wound in the head from a piece of shell as his command was lying down in a clearing the confederates were shelling.


For three years after the war Mr. Turner was unable to work, so severe had been his illness. When he was sufficiently recuperated to work again, he found employment on a dairy farm on which he was engaged until coming west in 1879. Ile reached Norfolk. Nebraska, in September of that year, and soon engaged the Lucas farm. near Pierce, but had to abandon it after a few nights, owing to the immense hordes of sand fleas that infested the place; his children were kept awake all night by the pests, which gave them no rest. Returning to Norfolk, he shortly after rented the


Babcock farm, two miles west of Pierce, and re- mained on the place until he filed on a homestead in March, 1881, four miles east of where Osmond now stands.


After filing on the land he hauled a small amount of lumber, about six dollars' worth, from Norfolk, and built a shack in which they lived through the first season. The roof leaked and many times the water ran down into their bunks which were built against the side of the room. At one time there were several inches of water on the dirt floor, and hay was carried in and spread thickly on the ground to get their feet above water. A pig that was brought them as a present by Joseph Forsythe got into the oven to keep warm and dry, so bad was the weather.


In making good his contest of a prior claim before he could homestead the tract, Mr. Turner had to go to Niobrara City, and so deep was the snow and so bad the traveling over the open un- broken prairie that it took a week to make the round trip.


He planted a grove and an orchard, and in 1884 built a good substantial dwelling. He added to his farm a tract of eighty acres lying just across the road, and later transferred it to his two eldest sons. Until 1903, Mr. Turner resided on the homestead, and then purchased a residence in Osmond, Nebraska, and retired from hard la- bor, of which he has had his share. On coming to the west, he had for years been in poor health, weighing only eighty-four pounds. The western climate wrought a great change in him, making him a rugged, hardy man.


Mr. Turner was married at Ogdensburg, New York, November 9, 1864, to Miss Cornelia Johnson, whose parents, John and Mary (Sayer) Johnson, were natives of England, emigrating in their youth with their parents to northern New York.


Mr. and Mrs. Turner are the parents of six children, and they are all living, the names of whom are as follows; Hubert, who returned to New York, and has a dairy farm two miles from the village of Depeyster; Alden, has a farm in Knox county, Nebraska; Pleasant, married Wil- liam Chappel; Royal is a well-known auctioneer and real estate man, and has an office in Osmond ; Julia, is the wife of Abraham Chappel ; and John, occupies the old homestead east of Osmond.


When Mr. Turner settled in his homestead, the country was open to the mountains; not a fence to cut off travel in any direction. Deer were to be seen occasionally and antelope were not all gone. At one time when living near Pierce, Mr. Turner saw twenty-eight deer in one drove: they were frequently in the corn there, and at one time Indians killed one in his dooryard.


Mr. and Mrs. Turner revisited the scenes of their old home in New York in 1908 in time to see all the children of the Turner family, two of them passing away shortly after, as stated above.


While here, Mr. Turner recalled an incident of


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his childhood, when he and a boy companion waded into an overflowed meadow and speared fish when the ice was not all off the overflowed tract. Although their families made good nse of their catch on the table, the boys received the usual chastisement for risking their health in the icy water. But sparing the rod was not a custom in those days. Mr. Turner relates having re- ceived a dozen threshings at times in one day when things did not go right, such was the stern New England discipline. But all this is changed; milder methods prevail, much to the comfort of the young.


Mr. Turner was living in Pierce, Nebraska, during the winter of the deep snow and was ont in part of the blizzard of 1888; his children at school found shelter at the house of a neighbor and made their way home next day. Dances were frequent in the early days, and Mr. Turner was one of the merriest at them, and in fact is still a figure on the dancing floor when the music is lively.


Mr. Turner is independent in politics, and was formerly a comrade in the Grand Army of the Republic.


HENRY M. WHITNEY.


Henry M. Whitney, who is owner of a fine farm on section fourteen, township sixteen, range twelve, in Howard county. He was born in Cotesfield precinct, November 2, 1879, is a brother of Zachariah F. Whitney, and son of Chas. A. and Delia M. Whitney, a sketch of whose lives ap- pears below.


Mr. Whitney received his education in the common schools here, assisting his father in carrying on the home farm up to the time he be- came of age, then started out for himself, follow- ing farming and stock raising.


In 1908 he purchased a tract of land on sec- tion fourteen, in Cotesfield precinct, which he now occupies, consisting of two hun- dred and forty acres, and has one of the best equipped places in the vicinity. The farm is supplied with good buildings of all kinds, and its owner is fast becoming widely known as a practical, up-to-date and successful agrienlturist and stockman, and with his family, among the prominent residents of Howard county.


Mr. Whitney was married at St. Paul, Ne- braska, on November 28, 1907, to Miss Pearl E. Crandall, who was born in Iowa and came to Howard county in 1899, with her parents, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Under- wood at the Methodist parsonage. They have one son, Dale Crandall.


ZACHARIAHI F. WHITNEY.


This gentleman, a prominent member of the younger farming fraternity in Howard county,


Nebraska, was born in the vicinity in which he now resides, on November 12, 1877, and his entire career has been passed here.


Zachariah F. Whitney was educated in the local schools, remaining on the home farm up to his twenty-second year, then attended the United Brethren College at York, Nebraska, for three terms, and on returning home rented the place of his father and started farming on his own ac- count. He ran the farm successfully for a num- ber of years, then purchased one hundred and twenty acres on section nineteen, township six- teen, range eleven, adjoining his present home on section twenty, which comprises one of the finest properties in the locality. It is situated on the North Loup river bottom, and is fully equipped with substantial buildings and improvements of all kinds, and Mr. Whitney is recognized as one of the leading young men of his community.


On December 12, 1904, Mr. Whitney was mar- ried in Red Clond, Nebraska, to Lillian Dell Ra- mey, whose parents are among the prominent old settlers in Nebraska, coming here in 1876, and they have passed through every phase of pioneer life, now well known, and being among the wealthy and successful citizens in their section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney are the parents of two bright and interesting children, Helen Margaret, born November 13, 1907, and Charles Ramey, born November 16, 1908.


Mr. Whitney is active in local and county affairs, at the present time serving as deputy assessor of Howard county, appointed to the office in 1908, and has filled that position for two years.


CHARLES A. WHITNEY. (Obituary.)


On Friday morning, February 14, 1908, word was received by his friends that C. A. Whitney had passed away at an early hour that morning at his home near Cotesfield.


Charles Albert Whitney was the son of John and Sophia Whitney, born at Lunenberg. Massachusetts, on the sixteenth day of February, 1830, thus being seventy-eight years old within two days at the time of his death.


Deceased was twice married, his first wife be- ing Lydia Marinda Lyon. To this union, four children were born, Frank Lincoln, Arthur Burn- side, Mary Isabelle, and Edith Marinda, all of whom survive him.


His second wife, Delia Maria Lyon, to whom he was married in 1874, and six of the seven chil- dren born to this union also survive him. The children are: Grace, Adelaide, Zachariah, Faulk- ner, Freeman, Lyon, Henry Meredith, John Os- borne, George Elijah (deceased) and Sarah El- nora, all of whom are married except the last mentioned.


Mr. Whitney when twenty-six years of age was converted to God and ever after lived a con-


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sistent christian life. He never missed a prayer service when he was able to attend. He loved the house of God and was ever ready to fill any vacancy caused by the absence of others, from leading the prayer service to filling the pulpit it was all the same to him. He was anxious to get well and when asked what he would do should his health be restored he replied, "I would serve the Lord to the best of my ability."


In the death of Mr. Whitney Howard county loses one more of its sturdy pioneers, one of the early settlers of the county who helped make a highly civilized community out of a barren wil- derness. Mr. Whitney and his family came to Ne- braska in 1877, and has lived here ever since. By hard work, economy and business ability, he be- came well to do. He served Howard county as one of its commissioners for a term of three years, from January 1, 1892, to January 1, 1895. Politically he has been a populist ever since the formation of that party, and stood high in its councils. He was respected and honored by all who knew him for his honesty of purpose and purity of character.


Funeral services were held from the church at Cotesfield on Sunday, February 16. Rev. Tooley conducted the services. The many floral tributes, and the very large concourse of people who followed the remains to their last resting place, was a beautiful attest of the esteem in which the departed one was held.


The writer has known deceased and his esti- mable family for many years, and desire to join with the multitude of friends of the family in extending sincere sympathy to them in their bereavement.


WILBUR S. WAITE.


Hon. Wilbur S. Waite, for many years past one of the most prominent merchants of Loup City, Nebraska, and representing Sherman county in the state legislature at the present time, is known as one of the most progressive and public- spirited citizens of central Nebraska. He is a native of Palmyra, Warren county, lowa, born July 22, 1870, he and his twin brother, Willis R., being the youngest of the five sons born to John and Julietta Waite. The father was a native of New York City, and the mother of New Jersey, and they were married at Asbury, in the latter state. They were pioneers in three states, moving to Minnesota in 1865, to lowa in 1867, and to Ne- braska in 1880. John Waite served in Company F, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in June, 1862, and was discharged in 1863, at the close of his term of enlistment. On account of physical disability, he was refused re-enlistment.


With his wife and three sons, Elmer E., Wil- lis R. and Wilbur S., Mr. Waite located in Valley county, Nebraska, October 24, 1880, taking up a homestead in Yale township, five miles east of Arcadia. He died on this farm, and his widow


now resides with her son, Wilbur, at Loup City. Of the five sons, four are now living, namely : William H., Achotal, of Vera Cruz, Mexico; El- mer E., of Vancouver, Washington ; Willis R., of Valley county, and Wilbur S. One son, Charles E., who was born in New Jersey, July 16, 1854, was the first of the Waite family to leave Iowa for Nebraska, making the journey in April, 1879. In the fall of 1882, he was elected sheriff of Sher- man county, holding the office until his death, February 2, 1883.


Wilbur S. Waite received his primary educa- tion in lowa, and was about ten years of age when he accompanied his parents to Nebraska. After his father's death, in 1891, he practically assumed all the responsibility of operating the farm, remaining home two years longer. In the fall of 1893, he came to Loup City, and entered mercantile life, being possessed of considerable business ability, and seeing an opportunity for building up a profitable enterprise. In May, 1905, he accepted the position of general manager of the Sherman County Telephone Company, to whose interests he devoted his entire time and attention, and this enterprise has met with abun- dant success, as have other ventures which he has helped to start.


Mr. Waite is an ardent and enthusiastic re- publican and active in party interests. He served a number of years as a member of the school board at Loup City and has always espoused the cause of education. In the fall of 1910 he was elected to the state legislature as representative from his county. He has always had the welfare of the people close to his mind and heart and is ever mindful of their interests. He is a total abstainer himself and during the re- cent campaign advocated the cause of the "drys." He is an intense admirer of the life and acts of Abraham Lincoln and considers his the ideal character of American life in past his- tory.


February 1, 1899, Mr. Waite was married at Loup City, to Miss Bertha Sutton, a native of Menard county, Illinois, who came with her parents, Alonzo and Martha (Dick) Sutton, to Nebraska, in October, 1882. The paternal grand- parents of Mrs. Martha (Dick) Sutton, after their marriage in Kentucky, made their wedding journey on horseback to Illinois, and became pioneers in that state. Mr. Sutton is the present incumbent of the office of sheriff of Valley county. Mr. Waite and wife have four children, namely: Antoinette Evangeline, born March 1, 1900, while Mr. Waite and wife were sojourning in Mexico; Geraldine Aylife, born in Loup City. July 25, 1902; Wilbur William, born in Loup City, February 4, 1909; and Dorothy.


Mr. Waite is a republican, and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.


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JOHN HORROCKS.


Located very pleasantly in section two, town- ship twenty-two, range four, Madison county, Nebraska, is to be found the estimable gentleman whose name heads this biographical writing. Mr. Horrocks is one of the early settlers in the northeastern part of the state, where he is widely known as a successful agriculturalist and promi- nent citizen. Mr. Horrocks is a man of energetic will and industrious habits, and richly deserves the success which he has attained here, and com- mands the respect and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.


Mr. Horrocks is a native of Canada, born November 24, 1842, a son of John and Isabella (Taylor) Horrocks, natives of England and Scot- land, respectively, the father being born in York- shire, England, and the mother in Perthshire, Scotland.


Our subject's parents came to Canada in the early days, embarking on a sailboat, and being on the sea for six weeks. The family remained in Canada many years, where the father followed the occupation of miller, which trade he had learned in his native land.


In 1879, Mr. Horrocks, the subject of this re- view, left his native country, coming to Madison county, Nebraska, where he could get land cheap. He came as far as Columbus by rail, and there bought a team and drove to his homestead, which land still remains the homestead farm. On this land he built a frame house sixteen by twenty feet, hauling the lumber for its construction from Columbus.


In the pioneer days on the western frontier, much suffering and many hardships were endured by the early settler; our subject and family suf- fered loss of crops through the various causes that the pioneer settler had to contend with in that time. They were often compelled to burn hay and cornstalks for fuel, as wood and coal were almost an unheard of article in that portion of the country ; as late as 1894, our subject lost all the season's crops through the hot winds that were a result of the severe drouth of that year. Deer and antelope were plentiful and were often seen in large herds grazing in the open. But these early days have passed to history, and Mr. Horrocks is a prosperous man, now owning three hundred and twenty acres of good land, and hay- ing two acres of orchard.


In 1866, Mr. Horrocks was married to Miss Jennie Allen, a native of Scotland, and Mr. and Mrs. Horrocks are blessed with eight children, namely: Robert, Isabella, Elizabeth, John, Sam- uel, Richard, Albert Allen and Pearl. They are a fine family and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them.


He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is an independent voter.


GEORGE O. BENGER.


One of the sound financial institutions of Cus- ter county is Callaway State Bank, which was or- ganized and is owned by local business men. The head of this concern is George O. Benger, a self- made man, who has made his success in the county. He is also associated with his son in breeding Hereford cattle and English black hogs, having the only herd of the latter west of the Missouri river. Mr. Benger was born in England, October 23, 1856, youngest of the eleven children of William and Jane Benger. He left his native land in the fall of 1875, and upon reaching the United States settled in York county, Nebraska, where he engaged in farming and stock raising.


In February, 1880, Mr. Benger came to Custer county and took a homestead on section fifteen, township seventeen, range twenty-three. Later in the year he came to Callaway, which has just come into existence, and engaged in the livery business. In 1890 he sold his business and pur- chased Arthur Bird's hardware stock. He con- tinued in this enterprise until selling out to Higbee & Keyes, some years later. He spent four or five years on the ranch and then returned to Callaway, where he was one of the organizers of the Callaway State Bank, in which he is still a stockholder. This bank was organized March 1, 1902, its first officers being: Frank H. Young, president ; John Moran, vice president; J. H. Decker, cashier; with a capital stock of ten thous- and dollars. On September 1, 1911, the following officers were elected: George O. Benger, presi- dent ; W. T. Keyes, vice president ; F. M. McGrew, cashier. It has a capital of fifteen thousand dol- lars, with surplus of three thousand dollars, and occupies a handsome and well equipped building. The deposits are one hundred thousand dollars, and its stockholders and directors are among the substantial business men and farmers of the lo- cality.


Mr. Benger has always retained land interests in Custer county and is widely known for his activity in the ranch and stock business. He is prominent in financial, social and educational circles, and is closely identified with various busi- ness ventures in central Nebraska.


On June 1, 1884, Mr. Benger was married at Callaway to Miss Clara MeCleary, daughter of John and Nancy MeCleary, and a native of Indiana, but reared in Iowa. Five children have been born of this union, but two of whom now sur- vive: Curtis B., married and living on the Benger stock ranch west of Callaway, has one child, and Gladys E., wife of H. H. Lamb, bookkeeper in the Callaway State Bank.


FLORIAN WIDHALM.


Among the successful and prosperous citizens of Pierce county, Nebraska, Florian Widhalm is


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counted as worthy of a prominent place. He is descended from a sturdy race of German farmers, his father before him owning and operating farms in the old country.


Mr. Widhalm was born April 19, 1850, in the village of Ullerichs, Lower Austria. His parents, Anton and Juliana (Schuh) Widhalm, died in Austria, their native country, at the ages of ninety- five and ninety-nine, respectively.


Mr. Widhalm came to America in 1885, and engaged in farm work near Humphrey, Nebraska, ten months. In February, 1886, he returned to Austria, remaining until May. Embarking a sec- ond time at Hamburg, he came on to Humphrey and here found work for a year before filing on a homestead in Fall River county, South Dakota, where he lived for nine years. After farming for a year near Humphrey again, he came to Norfolk and for five years was employed in the sugar works there. In 1903 he came to Pierce county, renting for four years the land he now owns in section eight, township twenty-five, range two. He at once planted trees, and is enjoying the pro- tection of a fine grove that has made an unusual growth in ten years. He now owns the north half of the section and is constantly reaching out for more.


Mr. Widhalm was married at Humphrey, June 14, 1887, to Miss Mary Zlabinger, who was born in the village of Ganz, Lower Austria. Her parents, Franz and Anna (Schwingenschoegel) Zlabinger, came to America in 1887, and became residents of Humphrey, Nebraska, in 1889.




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