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 163

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 163

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Mr. Hering was united in marriage Decem- ber 23, 1874, to Miss Ida Fields, who was born in Green Bay. Wisconsin; her parents were natives of England and they were also early set- tlers in Nebraska. Her mother still lives, and is now eighty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Hering have had eight children born to them: Angusta, Francis, Bertha, wife of H. S. Lyttle; Hattie, Roy, Stella. George and Edward.

In the early days Mr. Hering went through a great many hardships. He fought prairie fires to save his home and property, and experienced many other drawbacks. In those times deer and antelope were plentiful.

In 1908 Mr. Hering retired from his business and his son Roy J. is now running the mill.

In the fall of 1885, Mr. Hering had a narrow escape from prairie fire, having to run for his life. He with several others were fighting a fire which came from the northwest toward Verdigree Bluffs. This party were on the east side of bluffs and another party on west side. They lost control of the fire which they were fighting and it run southeast. In getting away they had to ent across the country, the smoke was so dense they could not . see, so several times they were forced to slide down the side of the hills and keep in the valley. At the critical time the fire changed its course and started southwest, so his mill was saved.

WILLIAM COLLIER.

William Collier, second of the six children of John and Janet (Todd) Collier, was born in Scotland, February 1, 1864. His parents were early settlers of Nebraska and pioneers of Custer eounty, and for further details regarding the

OLD SODDY AND DUGOUT BARN

RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL P. CONNER.

"ASH HILL STOCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF CRESTEN JENSEN.

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family the reader is referred to the sketch of John Collier, junior, which also appears in this work. William Collier was reared and educated in his native land, where his father was inter- ested in a woolen mill He accompanied the other members of the family to the United States in 1879, sailing from Glasgow to New York in the "Nevada." With his parents he located near Lincoln, Nebraska, in May of that year. In 1883 he came to Custer county, where the father and oldest son had already loeated, and made a filing on a homestead two years later. This land, con- sisting of one hundred and sixty acres, is still in his possession, and is located on seetion twenty, township seventeen, range seventeen, but he now lives on a grain and stock farm on the northeast quarter of section thirty, township seventeen, range seventeen, and owns altogether four hundred aeres of land in Custer county.

Mr. Collier lived on his father's farm until the time of his marriage, October 22. 1898, to Myrtle Richmyre, daughter of Marcus Richmyre, head of an old Nebraska family. Mrs. Collier died in Seward county, Nebraska, September 19, 1902, leaving no children. Mr. Collier is well known throughout Custer county as a public- spirited and useful citizen and is representative of the best interests of his community. He is upright and honest in his business dealings and has become a successful farmer through industry and perseverance.

In polities he is republican, and is a member of the Modern Woomen of America.

SAMUEL P. CONNER.

Samnel P. Conner, who has passed through much of Valley county's history, is well and favorably known in his part of the county as an honorable, upright eitizen, and a successful farmer. He was born in Chester county, Penn- sylvania, October 3, 1844, a son of IIenry and Ann (Packham) Conner, and second of their twelve children. He has a brother and two sisters in Pennsylvania, two brothers in Delaware, a sister in Rhode Island, and others of the children are deceased. His father and mother, both also natives of Pennsylvania, died in that state, he in 1874 and she about 1875. Samuel P. Conner's grand- father, Samuel Paekham, was eaptain of a rifle company in the war of 1812, and his great-uncle. Henry Conner, served in the war of the revolu- tion.

After being educated in the public schools of his native state, Samuel P. Conner learned the trade of carpenter. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, of the One Hundred Seventy-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, receiving his final discharge in Philadelphia in July, 1863. In 1863 Mr. Conner enlisted in the construction department of the United States service, and served about three months.

Returning from service, Mr. Conner remained

in Pennsylvania several years, and in the spring of 1871 there married Johanna M. Ducie, a native of Ireland, and she died July 10, 1879, in Phila- delphia, being survived by her husband and two children : Joseph A., married and has two chil- dren, and Ellen, wife of Ned Powers, lives in Valley county. Mrs. Powers has three children by her former marriage, which was with Samuel Berridge.

On August 30, 1880, Mr. Conner married (second) Anna I. Grubbe, who was born in the British East Indies, daughter of William H. Grubbe, a native of England who served as captain in the British army, who died in Canada. Her mother, whose maiden name was Eliza Con- well, was born at Paterson, New Jersey, and died in India in 1845. In 1883 Mr. Conner brought his family to Lineoln, Nebraska, where he en- gaged in work at his trade, but in November he located in Valley county and secured a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section thirty-four, township seventeen, range fifteen, where he developed and improved an ex- cellent farm. He has served some years as treasurer and director of the school board of dis- trict number thirty-seven and is interested in the cause of education. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, six miles east of Arcadia, which has been well improved and equipped and is now a very good stock farm. In the early days the family lived in a sod house for fourteen years and here endured the privations and hard- ships of the frontier until better times came and prosperity smiled upon those who had the forti- tude to endure.

Mr. Conner is a representative of the highest elass of citizens, and in furthering their own interests, advance the progress of the place where they have located. He has many warm friends and stands well with his neighbors and associates.

Mr. Conner is a populist in political views and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic : formerly he affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order Red Men.

A view of Mr. Conner's farm home with its setting in his fine grove is to be found on one of our illustrative pages.

CRESTEN JENSEN.

Cresten Jensen is one of the substantial farmers and stock raisers of Custer county, Nebraska, being a successful man of affairs and one of the best known men of his part of the county. He is a native of Denmark, born in the village of Endropskoe, province of North Schleswig, Jan- mary 6, 1853, fourth of the six children of Andrew and Mary (Riis) Jensen. The parents died in Denmark, where the remainder of the family live exeept Cresten. Mr. Jensen grew to manhood in his native land, there receiving the educational advantages offered by the public schools, and after leaving school he learned the

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trade of blacksmith. In the spring of 1874 he came to America, sailing from Hamburg to New York ou a White Star liner, and located in Chris- tian county, Illinois, where he worked on a farm for Thomas C. Ponting for seven years. He came to Custer county in 1881, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, also secured a timber elaim of the same size adjoining on section twelve, township sixteen, range eighteen, where he developed a fine farm and erected suitable buildings.

On December 3, 1884, Mr. Jensen was united in marriage with Miss Joanna Hickenbottom, a native of Iowa, who came to Custer county in 1884, and before her marriage pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land near Callaway. Her father, Stephen Hickenbottom, was born in Kentucky and died in Iowa in March, 1890. As an infant he and another child were carried by the mother on horseback from Kentucky to Illi- nois, the father leading the horse, which in addi- tion to his human freight carried all their worldly possessions. The grandfather later moved on westward to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he purchased one thousand acres of wild land-a large estate in those days. The mother, whose maiden name was Mary C. Taylor, was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia, and died in Broken Bow, Nebraska, January 30, 1911. Mrs. Jensen has a sister, Mrs R. J. Eastman, and a sister, Mrs. Sadie Moore, in Custer county ; three brothers, William T., Rolla E., and James W., in Custer county; two sisters in Jefferson county, Iowa, one sister in Oregon, and her twin sister lives in the state of Washington. Four children have been born to Mr. Jensen and wife: - Elmer H., a druggist at Berwyn, Nebraska; Steven A., William G. and Cresten R., at home.

In 1892, Mr. Jensen erected a good house on his timber claim. where he now lives, and he owns a well improved and equipped stock farm of five hundred and sixty acres. He was one of the early settlers of his part of the state, and, in his early days there, passed through the usual experiences and hardships of the pioneer. He is a self-made man and is one of the most successful farmers in the county ; he sold but one load of corn from the farm, receiving only enough to buy the material for two shirts, a few pounds of coffee, and a piece of tobacco. Since that time he has fed all his grain and bought much more, marketing the product of his fields in the higher-priced commodities-beef and pork. Mr. Jensen has always stood for the best interests of his com- munity, and is ready to support any measure for the general welfare.

Mr. Jensen was reared in the Lutheran faith; in politics he is a republican.

When he first settled on his claim, Mr. Jensen "batched it" in a sod front dugout; this had not been completed when the three-day snow storm of October 15 to 17, 1883, came on, inaug- urating the winter of the deep snow, so he

boarded in the family of another settler. At the time of the storm, Mr. Jensen and a neighbor were seeking land suitable for a cattle ranch out on the Dismal river. The first two days of the storm they camped under the brush and trees of a deep canyon off the river, hovering around their camp fire. The third day they started back, camping at Wild Horst Flat. Here, while Mr. Jensen slept, his companion, Mr. Baker, kept the fire going. On attempting to arouse Mr. Jensen when it came his turn to keep watch, he could not be awakened. As a last resort, Baker turned the Jensen horses loose, and shouted the fact in the sleeping man's ears, at the same time shaking him vigorously. This had the desired effect, and after chasing them three miles before the horses were rounded up, Mr. Jensen's blood was circu- lating and he was wide awake again. Had he not been aroused he would probably have slept the sleep of death. That night they reached Jim Oxner's sod house on Lillian creek, and enjoyed a warm meal and a night's lodging under roof.

At the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mrs. Jensen and her sister, Mrs. Moore, were at the sale helping the lady of the house serve lunch to the attendants of the vendue. Many were unable to get out to go, and the men slept on the floor, completely covering it, all having to turn at the same time when growing tired of sleeping on either side. The ladies served breakfast to the hungry crowd when dawn finally broke clear in the east. Among the early hardships is recalled the leaky roofs of the early "soddies," when umbrellas were sometimes necessary. At one time, when one of their children was sick, he had to be taken to a neighbor's, whose roof turned water better than at his own home. Their first market was Grand Island, eighty miles distant.

We are pleased to call attention to a view of "Ash Hill," the residence of the Jensen family. The orchards are an especially interesting fea- ture of the place, comprising three hundred and ten cherry trees, three hundred apple trees, forty plum trees and a grove of wild plum trees, besides an acre of grapes, and small fruit in abundance.

COLNEL ELLSWORTH MANZER.

Colnel Ellsworth Manzer, one of the old set- tlers of Pierce county, Nebraska, occupies a good home and valuable property in section nineteen, township twenty-seven, range one. He has done his share in the upbuilding of his locality and is well and favorably known throughout this part of the state.

Mr. Manzer is a native of Mercer county, Illi- nois, born June 23, 1862, and was reared in Han- cock county, whither the family moved soon after his birth. His father, Harvey Manzer, was born in the state of New York in 1837, and was killed by the falling of a derrick, which struck him on the head, July 26, 1871. The grandfather was a native of Germany, and came to America and set- tled first in New England. Our subject's mother,

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Louise Hinds, was a native of New York, born in 1843, and died in 1901 ; she was a writer of poetry of no little renown, and was a distant relative of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the well-known poet. She was a daughter of Silas and Sophie (Emerson) Hinds. The maternal grandfather was born in New England, of English ancestry.

Our subject was reared in Hancock county, and at the age of nine years, when his father was killed, he began shifting for himself, living in one family three years, and in another four years, working for his board. In 1877 the family came to Adams county, Nebraska, where the mother took up a elaim of one hundred and sixty aeres and built a sod house, where they resided many years. In 1880, Mr. Manzer went to Ben- ton county, Iowa, where he was employed at farm labor for three years, until his marriage.

Mr. Manzer was married in 1883, to Miss Martha Tatge, and in 1884, with his wife and family, came to Pierce county, Nebraska, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from B. S. Williams, in the northwest quarter of see- tion nineteen, township twenty-seven, range one, improving the farm, and putting out four acres of forest and orchard trees. In 1909 he bought one hundred and sixty acres in the southeast quarter of section thirty-three, township twenty- seven, range two, which he later sold, and invested part of the proceeds in eighty acres in section seventeen, northeast of his home farm, and on which a son-in-law resides. Mr. Manzer erected the first silo in the county. He keeps fifteen to twenty milk cows, and through the year raises somne seventy-five head of steers and a hundred hogs.

Mr. and Mrs. Manzer are the parents of eleven children : Ida, wife of Edward Leach, has one child, named Margaret; Belle, wife of Peter Lackas, has two children, Opal and Alda; Roy, who is married to Ella Whitney, has two chil- dren, Mable and Kenneth; William, Alice, mar- ried Edward Auwater, who farms on section sev- enteen ; Bessie, Christopher, Emily, James Elmer and Ruth. Ida, Belle, Roy, Alice and Bessie at- tended school in Wayne, Nebraska. Mrs. Man- - zer's parents, Christian and Sophie (Coleman) Tatge, are among the oldest settlers in this sec- tion of the country, of whom an extended account is to be found elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Manzer has had his share of disappoint- ments and hardships incidental to the life of a farmer, having his erops destroyed by hail in 1890 and again in 1905. In 1894 he lost everything by the hot winds. In the blizzard of 1888, he was exposed to the storm for hours getting his cattle to shelter.

Mr. Manzer has always been alive to the best interests of his community, and served as county commissioner six years, from 1899 to 1905. Ile and his family are members of the United Evan- gelical church, and he affiliates with the Odd Fel- lows and the Modern Woodmen. 25

THOMAS J. PARKER.

Thomas J. Parker, a prominent and much respected resident of Howard county, was born in Ringgold county, Iowa, on the sixth day of July, 1862, and lived there with his parents until he was ten years of age, at which time he came into Howard county with them, his education being received in the common schools here.

John M. Parker, father of our subject, was born in New York state, on October 4, 1829. He was married to Elizabeth Merritt, and to them were born seven children, six of whom are living, as follows: William M., Thomas J., Edmund D., Lemuel A. and Irene P., all married and living in Howard county, while another daughter, Annah, lives in Wyoming, the wife of Warren R. Holmes.

When a boy of about eight years, John M. Parker settled in Illinois with his mother, one brother and a sister, and remained in that state up to 1850, at that time going to California with others who had the "gold fever," crossing the western plains in wagon trains, etc. He spent four years in California, then returned to Illi- nois and was engaged in the general merchandise business at Shelbyville in partnership with his brother, carrying on the same up to 1854. After two years he went to Iowa, following farming there for several years. He enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry in March, 1862, serving to the end of the war, and received an honorable discharge, having taken part in various engagements and seen all sides of the horrors of war.

After leaving the army he returned to Iowa, again took up farming and remained there until 1872, coming at that time into Howard county, where he filed on a homestead on section thirty- five, township sixteen, range eleven, his family joining him in the fall of that year. He went through all the sufferings and privations of the earliest settlers of the region, experiencing all sorts of discouragements in getting started on his farm, but stnek to it and gradually succeeded in building up a good farm and home, finally locating on seetion twenty-four, township six- teen. range twelve, as a timber elaim, which he occupied up to the time of his death, which occurred December 9, 1895.

Mrs. Elizabeth Parker was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on June 7, 1853, and moved to Iowa with her parents when a child, and there grew to womanhood. She was a woman of charming personality, and most noble character, and with her husband was beloved by all who knew them. Her death occurred in Cotesfield, November 30, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Parker were active members of the Methodist church of that city.

Thomas J. Parker, the second son of John M. Parker, began his career as a business man in 1882. starting as a farmer on land which he purchased from the railroad, and went through a regular pioneer existence during the carly

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years. For a number of years he owned and operated a tbreshing outfit through his vicinity, and in this way managed to make a pretty fair income. He lived on the original farm up to 1899, and then moved to section thirteen, township sixteen, range twelve, where he has one hundred and twenty acres of good land, improved with good buildings, etc., and is engaged in stock and grain raising.

On April 11, 1889, Mr. Parker married Dora Hansen, the ceremony taking place in Cotesfield, at the home of her parents. Mrs. Parker was born in Denmark, and settled in Howard county in 1882, coming here with her parents, who are well known pioneers in the region. To them have been born the following children: Elizabeth M., Ida I., Ethel L., Cora Myrtle, Alvin J., Sylvia E., Ira L., Eldon, and a baby boy, all living at home and forming a most interesting family group.

Mr. Parker is now serving as pastor of the Summit church. He was licensed to preach in the United Brethren church in 1897, and was ordained as a Free Will Baptist in 1900, serving in · the same charge as Father Whitney. He has always done all in his power to advance the best interests of his locality, and is known far and near as a man of sterling character and broad mind, also having the honor of being one of Howard county's prominent early pioneers.

CHARLES E. WHITE.

A prominent place among the list of pros- perous and energetic farmers of Valley county is accorded the gentleman just named. For many years he has been engaged in farming and has been a resident of this county since 1890. He came to the state when but a child, in 1871, and so may be counted among the pioneers, those who braved the hardships and privations and became permanent settlers.

Mr. White was born on May 12, 1863, on a farm near Eureka, Winnebago county, Wiscon- sin, the eighth in a family of twelve children born to William F. and Katherine (Clark) White. When he was only eight years old, he came with his parents to Otoe county, Nebraska, and the following year they took up a homestead in the northeast corner of York county on section two. Here the father built a sod house, which was the family residence for seven years. It was here that Mr. White received his education and later engaged in farming.

In 1886, he went to Deuel county, and on April 8 of that year he married Miss Nellie Pindell, in Sidney, Nebraska. She was a native of Wayne county, łowa, but came to Nebraska in 1883 with her parents, Presley and Mary (Fox) Pindell. Two years later. she went to Deuel county, Ne- braska, and took up a homestead of one hun- dred and sixty acres. ten miles north of Jules- burg, Colorado. She was successful in proving

up on her claim and it was here on her own homestead that they came after their marriage.

In 1890, Mr. White came to Valley county and after a short time purchased the west half of a quarter section in section eight, township seven- teen, range thirteen, and later bought the re- maining eighty. He has improved this fine farm in every way, and it is now one of the best in the county. The old sod house which was their first dwelling on the place, was torn down in 1902, and a beautiful modern home, with every con- venience, has taken its place. A substantial barn was built in 1908, making a great improvement on the farm. Mr. White is recognized as one of the substantial farmers of the community.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White. In order of their birth, they are named as follows: George A., Alice, married Merril Van Horn, who rents Mr. White's farm; Ray, died September 20, 1910, at the age of twenty; Earl, deceased in infancy ; Rex P. and Hazel I.

Mr. and Mrs. White have always been closely identified with all movements concerned with the uplifting of their community. Mr. White takes an active and commendable interest in all local and public affairs and enjoys the confidence of his associates. He has been ever at the front when anything was done to further the cause of education. For a number of years he was moder- ator of the school district, number three, and also served the public for a considerable length of time as town clerk.

Mr. White lost his crops by hail one season and by drouth in 1894, raising only a little millet that year. Deer and antelope were to be seen when the family moved to York county and there were antelope in Deuel county while they were living there.

Mr. White is a member of the Seventh Day Baptists and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is independent of party lines.

ANDREW N. MCGINNIS.

Among the early settlers in Madison county, Nebraska, who came here when the country was practically a wilderness and out of its wild state has succeeded in building up good homes and reputations for themselves, is the gentleman above named.

Andrew N. MeGinnis, son of William and Mary (Hartford) McGinnis, was born in Union county; Ohio, June 8, 1842, and was the eldest son of three children ; his sister, who resided in Union county, Ohio, died March 29, 1910, and his only brother is deceased. His father died in 1892, and his mother died on July 4, 1861.

Mr. McGinnis received his education in the home schools, and then engaged in farming. On November 22. 1861, he enlisted in Company H. Eighty-second Ohio Regiment of Infantry, and was discharged December 23, 1863, owing to ill

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health. On August 16, 1864, he re-enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Regiment of Infantry, in which he was appointed second sergeant, and served until the elose of the war, being mustered out in Char- lotte, North Carolina, on June 28, 1865. Mr. MeGinnis participated in the following battles: Second battle of Bull Run, Cedar Mountain, Overass Creek, Cedars and Kingston, and many minor engagements and skirmishes. After the war he returned to Ohio, engaging in farming.

On January 16, 1869, Mr. MeGinnis was mar- ried to Miss Mattie M. Figley, also of Ohio, and a few weeks later moved to Benton county, Iowa, remaining there until October, 1870, when he came with his wife overland to Madison county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-seven, town- ship twenty-three, and also took up a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the homestead.

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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 163

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

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