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 164

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 164

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mrs. McGinnis died on August 23, 1904, and was survived by her husband and four children, the latter being named as follows: Bert B., who is married and has two children, lives in Madi- son county, Nebraska ; Frank J., married and liv- ing in Norfolk, has two children; William H., who is married and has one son and lives on the original homestead; and Winnie, who is now Mrs. Jesse Stange, and resides in Omaha, Ne- braska.

Mr. MeGinnis served as precinct assessor about eight years to 1908, and as district eensus enumerator in 1890. He was instrumental in or- ganizing the sehool in his distriet, which is num- ber twenty-five, and for over twenty years served as treasurer and director. Mr. McGinnis served as postmaster at Warnerville, Nebraska.

In March, 1904, Mr. MeGinnis retired from the farm. after having been on the homestead thirty-four years, and moved to Norfolk, pur- chasing a good home where they now reside.

On September 20, 1906, Mr. MeGinnis was joined in holy wedlock to Miss Hattie E. Kidder, a native of Ohio, whose father, J. W. Kidder, was one of Nebraska's pioneer ministers.

Our subject, as before stated, is among the earliest pioneers of Madison county, Nebraska. and has passed through all the experiences and hardships ineidental to frontier life, and is widely and favorably known. He is a member of Mathewson Post, Grand Army of the Republic, post number one hundred and nine, department of Nebraska. and also is affiliated with the Masonic order, and is a republican.

JOHN J. JORN.

John J. Jorn has held continuous residence on his present farm in Custer county since April. 1884, and throughout the years has done his share to assist in promoting the welfare and progress of his part of the county. Ile is a native of Ger- many, born July 20, 1852, second of the six chil-

dren of Joseph and Dora Jorn, and the only mem- ber of his father's family to come to America. His parents had three sons and three daughters and are now deceased, leaving several children in Germany.

Mr. Jorn received a common school education in his native country and in October, 1874, came to the United States, his first oceupation being work on a Michigan farm. He had followed this line of work in Germany and has continued it sinee leaving there. In November, 1880, seeking the larger opportunities offered the young man of small eapital in the west, he came to Fillmore county, Nebraska, and for five years worked at farming by the month. In April, 1884, he took a homestead comprising the southwest quarter of section twenty-five, township eighteen, range eighteen, which he has improved and developed into a small grain and stoek farm, equipping it suitably for this purpose. He has been very suc- cessful as a stock farmer and has always done his share to promote the general progress and welfare.

Mr. Jorn was married (first) November 12, 1885, to Sarah Anderson, returning to Fillmore county for the purpose. They were married at Geneva. Nebraska, and went to live on the home- stead, where three daughters were born to them : Dora, who married Harvey Thombly, of Custer county, has four children; Mary Cynthelia and I aura Viola, at home. Mrs. Jorn died December 12, 1898. Mr. Jorn married (second) April 12, 1904, Christina Elizabeth Schneider, who had two sons by her former marriage, Roy and George Stinhoff, both on the home place. Mrs. Jorn has one brother, Heinrich Schneider, who lives north of Comstoek. and one sister, Anne Margarita, wife of Peter Miller, of Custer county.

For the past eighteen years Mr. Jorn has served as treasurer of school district number two hundred and forty-two. He is well known in the community as an upright, industrious man and a public-spirited, useful eitizen, who has at heart the best interests of his county and state.

GEORGE W. GOFF.

George W. Goff, one of the well chosen pub- lic officials of Pierce, Nebraska, is at the head of the street and water system of that thriving and beautiful city, also serving as chief of police, and by his faithful and efficient service in that eapaeity has gained the confidence of his fel- lowmen.

Our subject is a native of Virginia, son of Samuel Goff, of Washington county, that state, who passed away at the residence of a son at Osmond, Pieree county, Nebraska, in 1907, Mr. Goff having revisited his native state in 1905, and brought his father back with him. The mother died in Virginia in 1902.

Mr. Goff eame to Nebraska in the spring of 1883 with a colony of seven families from Vir- ginia, ineluding the McDonalds, Burges, Gilles-

756

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

pies, and others. Their first settlement was made at Pilger, but they shortly afterwards came to Pierce county, where for some time Mr. Goff en- gaged in farming and sheep raising on a ranch south of Pierce, and carried it on until obliged by an accident to his right knee to give up farm work. He then moved into Pierce, where for six years he had charge of the "town herd" of cattle, which were herded on the vast prairies west of Pierce, which at that time had hardly a white settler for hundreds of miles.

In the fall of 1891, Mr. Goff was elected town marshal, and for fifteen years was the terror of evil doers, who in the earlier days, came to town for the express purpose of "doing the town marshal." His life has often been threatened by them, and "winging" one of them in the spring of 1911, was, in all probability, all that saved his own life. He was next appointed street and water commissioner, and has since filled the posi- tion with efficiency. Mr. Goff was again ap- pointed chief of police in 1910, which, excepting three years, when three other aspirants for the position found it too onerous. He has been at the head of that department since 1893.

Mr. Goff was married in Virginia, December 24, 1879, to Mary E. Carson, also a native of that state. They have had nine children, named as follows: Mattie, wife of Herbert Morey, of Interior, South Dakota; Ella, wife of William C. Ulrich, of Pierce; Jessie, wife of Eugene Zim- mer, farming near town; Kittie, who died in infancy; Roy, who is with his brother-in-law, Mr. Zimmer, on the latter's farm; Lillian, Winnie, Hildred and Eugenia, all of the last mentioned now attending the Pierce schools.

The family have passed through all the pioneer experiences here, living through the blizzard of 1888, and have vivid recollections of that severe event. When they came here there were 110 fences, a furrow being plowed between the dif- ferent farms to mark the line. Deer and antelope were plentiful, while wild ducks, geese and prairie chicken were so numerous as to be pests, settling on the grain stacks so thickly as to com- pletely cover them. However, they persevered through discouragements and privations which they encountered, and are today among the pros- perous and most highly esteemed residents of their county and vicinity.

Mr. Goff has been a republican since the early nineties, and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America lodges of Pierce.

EDWARD T. VANCLEAVE.

Edward T. VanCleave, a prominent old settler of Nance county, Nebraska, resides in Fullerton, where he is engaged in the contracting and building business, and is counted among the prosperous and progressive citizens of that thriving little city.

Mr. VanCleave was born in Washington county, Indiana, on April 22, 1849, and received his education in his home state. He worked with his father on the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-one years, then was apprenticed to a carpenter, learning that trade thoroughly, and following the work continuously. He was mar- ried on June 5, 1876, to Martha Elgin, also a native of Indiana, and their first home was at Livonia, Indiana, where they remained up to 1882. They then emigrated to Nebraska, settling in the village of Fullerton, and have resided here ever since. They are among the earliest pio- neers in the town, and have seen the growth and progress of the section from its early settlement, building up in the meantime for themselves, a competence and gaining the confidence and high esteem of their fellowmen. Mr. VanCleave has worked at his trade constantly, and has helped erect nearly all of the principal buildings in the locality.

During the years 1893-1901, Mr. VanCleave held the office of county supervisor, and in those years the handsome court house of Nance county was erected. He has also been deputy city assessor for two terms, his term extending from 1905 to 1909.

Mr. and Mrs. VanCleave had one child, which died in infancy. Our subject was the fifth in a family of nine children, while his wife was one of seventeen children, and both have several brothers and sisters living in different parts of the country. The parents of both are deceased.

JOHN GRANT.

The west has proved to be the haven of many of the old soldiers who have from time to time drifted into the rolling plains. Of these who have found a comfortable home within the borders of Nebraska, we take pleasure in com- mending the venerable John Grant.

John Grant is a native of Canada, born Feb- ruary 26, 1835. His parents, George and Mary (Maning) Grant, were natives of Grand Isle, Vermont, and Clark county, New York, respect- ively. In the fall of 1836, the father moved with his family to Livingston county, Michigan, and ten years later settled in Kent county, twelve miles northeast of Grand Rapids, where he en- gaged in farming and lumbering. Here John Grant grew to his majority, and answered the country's call for defenders at the outbreak of the war. He enlisted at Plainfield, Kent county, September 10, 1862, in Company F, Sixth Michi- gan Cavalry, and received his baptism of fire at Middletown, Pennslyvania. His regiment was in the hottest of the fearful three days at Gettys- burg, and followed Lee's army through Pennsyl- vania back to Virginia. They participated in the seven days' hard fighting in the wilderness, the campaign around Richmond, that most san- guinary of engagements, Cold Harbor the capture

757

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

of Lee's w agon train, and were near headquarters when Lec surrendered, and where the news of the president's assassination reached them. After hostilities closed in the east, the Sixth Michigan was sent back to City Point and thence by way of Washington and St. Louis, where they were loaded into transports and sent up the river to Fort Leavenworth. Here they were divided, small dietaehments being sent to various points, that off Mr. Grant marching up to the Platte bridge and as far as Julesburg. He was mustered out : at Fort Leavenworth, and discharged at Jackson, Michigan, November 24, 1865. At the battle of Gainsville, «'nere Lee's wagon train was cap- tured, Mr. Grant was wounded in the right hip by a mimmie ball and has suffered from the wound, at times, ever since.

After the war Mr. Grant continued farming, Numbering and rafting in Michigan until coming west in 1882. He filed on a homestead in Knox «county, near Sparta, where his brother-in-law, Neal Walters, had a claim, and after proving up :and securing title to his land he made his home in the Walters household. Neal Walters was born in Canada and settled in Michigan in Kent connty. Here he enlisted in Company H, Sixth Michigan Cavalry, serving through the war, a comrade of Mr. Grant, participating in the same lbattles and the campaign on the plains. He was married to Catherine Grant in Michigan, July 1, 1866, and came to Nebraska in 1879, settling con a homestead at Sparta, as before stated. After removing to Boyd county, in 1895, he kept hotel at Lyneh for a number of years. He died in Lyneh, February 12, 1910, after a long and useful life.

Mr. Grant is a republican, and with his sisters is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and one of the familiar figures about the town. He is genial, courteous, and cor- dial, one of the kind it does one's soul good to meet.

DAVID THOMAS.

David Thomas is one of the oldest settlers of Platte county, Nebraska, and has witnessed the country's growth from a wild, bleak, wind-swept prairie to a land of beautiful homes, occupied by an intelligent, contented and prosperous people. He has coped successfully with the varying for- tunes of pioneer life, and has surrounded himself with the satisfying evidence of work well done.

David Thomas, retired farmer, son of Thomas and Mary (Walters) Thomas, was born in Bankyffelin, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, England, September 1, 1852. He was educated in the schools of his home country, and when nine- teen years of age came with three Welch farmers to America, looking for a suitable location on which to form a Weleh colony; land on Shell creek, twenty-five miles northwest of Columbus,

Platte county, Nebraska, being chosen. Mr. Thomas soon secured work with an extensive stock dealer, Guy C. Barnum, where he remained in charge of the Barnum stock for something over two years. He then began acquiring land. A man named John N. Lewis had pre-empted where the Thomas home farm is, and had proved up on his pre-emption and he had taken eighty aeres adjoining this as a homestead, and Mr. Thomas bought his rights and took possession of the land. He has since added to his landed in- terests until he is now one of the largest land owners of Nebraska land in Platte county.

On October 10, 1877, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Mister, also a native of Wales, coming to America in the fall of 1874 with her parents. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas: William Henry, re- sides on the homestead farm; Amy, wife of Arthur Wolf, has one child and lives in Hum- phrey, Nebraska; Thomas D., who resides at home ; John R., deceased November 30, 1884; and Edward J., Mamie and David A., who reside under the parental roof.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas lived on the homestead farm over thirty years, the farm being finely equipped and highly developed, containing seven hundred and twenty acres, four hundred acres of which is under cultivation, fifty-five acres in hay land, and the rest is devoted to stock raising. Fine buildings and two artesian wells add to the value and beauty of the farm. Mr. Thomas in the early days was instrumental in organizing his school district, that of number thirty-one, and served as director of same for twenty-five years.

In 1885 Mr. Thomas donated two acres of his home farm for church property and in 1886 helped to build a Calvinistic Welch Methodist church. In 1904 our subject retired from the farm and moved to Columbus, where he pur- ehased a good home where they now reside.

In 1886 Mr. Thomas and family made a trip to his native country, spending six months in various parts of Europe. Mr. Thomas has made two subsequent trips to England. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are among the earlier settlers of Platte county and have been successful and prosperous. Mr. Thomas eame to Nebraska with one hundred dollars as his sole possession, but through his untiring energy, enjoys much prosperity, and besides various business interests, owns two thousand seven hundred and twenty acres of Nebraska land. They have passed through all the experiences incidental to pioneer hunting life, and well remember numerous trips of the early Nebraska days, when elk, deer and antelope and other game were plentiful. These trips were full of adventure with the Indians and were fraught with mueh danger.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are widely and favor- ably known, enjoying the highest esteem of all who know them.

758

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

W. W. GRIFFEN.

Located very pleasantly in section thirty-one, township twenty-five, range seven. is to be found the gentleman whose name introduces this biographical writing. He has been identified with the history of Antelope eounty, Nebraska, for many years, and his contributions to the making of eastern Nebraska have been of such indus- trious habits, persistent and invariable honesty of purpose and foree of character, that he is widely known as one of the leading and influ- ential early settlers of the county.

Mr. Griffen is a native of Washtenaw county, Michigan, born March 10, 1855. His father, Stephen Griffen, was born in 1813, in Duchess eounty, New York state, but was of Welch descent, and died in November, 1867, when our subject was but twelve years of age. Our sub- ject's mother, Emerett (Cutler) Griffen, was a native of New York state also, being of Irish descent, born in 1825. Mr. Griffen received his schooling in his native state, and after his father's death remained on the farm to help his mother. In 1879 Mr. Griffen came to Douglas county, Ne- braska, where he remained about eleven years, then coming with his family to Antelope county, in 1890, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land.

In 1884, Mr. Griffen was united in marriage to Miss Lucia Phelps, who was born in Pontaic, Michigan, October 5, 1855, and Mr. and Mrs. Griffen are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Agnes, Mabel, Myrtle, deceased ; Edna, Wallace and Lizzie.

Mr. Griffen has taken an active interest in public affairs and has filled the office of assessor of his township intermittently for twelve years, and is a member of the Ellsworth camp, number sixteen hundred and forty-six, Modern Woodmen of America lodge, at Clearwater, Nebraska. Ile is well liked, and bears the high esteem of all who know him, as does also his wife and family.

FRANCIS S. BIVENS.

Francis S. Bivens was one of the very early settlers of Nebraska, and now owns a fine grain and stock farm on section thirty-one, township seventeen, range seventeen, Custer county. He is a native of Fulton county, Pennsylvania, born January 13, 1845, fifth of nine children born to John and Mary (Leafti) Bivens, who had five sons and four daughters. The father died in Pennsylvania in Mareh, 1865, and the mother, with four of her children, removed to Illinois, where they lived on the line of Knox and Fulton counties for eleven months. Late in October, 1867, they moved to Seward county, Nebraska, and became true pioneers of that section of the state. She and her son, Franeis. each took a homestead there, and later two of the other sons, on coming of age, did the same.

Francis S. Bivens was born and reared on a farm, and in early life spent a short time at min- ing in Bradford county, Pennsylvania. He was married, March 9, 1865, to Miss Lizzette Fegley, and in the fall of 1867, removed to Illinois. The following year he came with an ox team from Illinois to Seward county, the six weeks' trip being one of hardship and even danger; in some places even water was refused them, either for personal use or for stock. His mother and some of her children came with him, and his wife, in speaking of the trip, tells of walking many miles of it. There was at that time but one cabin at Seward, and but two at Lincoln.

On first coming to Seward county, Nebraska, the family lived in a log house, which was later replaced with a large soddy, and this in time by a good frame dwelling. At that time buffalo still ranged the prairies west of Kearney, and the Indians at times were hostile, committing occa- sional depredations. Mr. Bivens well remembers the three-day blizzard of March, 1869, one of the worst since civilization spread to the west of the Missouri. On the fourth day, when the storm abated, he took a load of charcoal to Lincoln, to market. Those were strenuous days of great hardship, but easily borne, because of the early settlers' great hardihood.

Mr. Bivens and wife have nine children : Thomas, married and living in Sherman county, has five children; George, married and living in Rossville, New Mexico, has one child; Minnie, wife of Henry Oschlo, of Custer county, has six children; Daniel C., married and living in Hitch- cock county, Nebraska, has two children; Harry, married and living six miles north of Sargent, has five children; Mary, wife of William Oschlo, of Greeley county, has four children; Daisy, wife of Otto Conway, living in the state of Washı- ington, has two children; Frank, at home, and Pearl, wife of John Tucker, of Custer county, has one child.

In political views, Mr. Bivens is democratic on national questions, but votes for the man in local elections. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

After being identified for many years with the upbuilding and progress of the earlier settled portion of Nebraska, Mr. Bivens sold out there in 1890, and moved to the state of Washington, but returned to Nebraska the following year, and purchased the northeast quarter of section thirty- one, township seventeen, range seventeen, Custer county, where he has a fine farm and a comforta- ble home. He and his wife are well known in the community, and are considered desirable addi- tions to the social life of the neighborhood where they live. They are both busy and active in all public matters calculated to advance the general welfare, and have a wide circle of friends.

"DORIS LAKE RESORT," WITH PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS.

DORIS LAKE

718H

759

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

JAMES WILLIAM LUNDY.

James William Lundy, popularly known as "Bill," a business man of Sargent, is a native of lowa, born at Atalissa. in Muscatine county, October 30, 1872, one of the younger men of Custer county, whose energy and business acumen makes him the prime mover in the affairs of his community.

He is the son of Ira J. and Maria G. (Ady) Lundy, both parents deceased, and is the eldest of a family of five children. Following in order after the first born is Benjamin W., married, and the father of five children, who resides on the old homestead; James, who died at the age of six years ; Vinton A., resides in Atalissa, lowa, and Ady M., the wife of George Frederick Collins, who resides at Flushing, New York.

Mr. Lundy, with his parents, who were influ- eneed by the spirit of "Westward Ho!" moved to the then rapidly developing state of Nebraska in the fall of 1872, while he was an infant, and homesteaded a claim of one hundred and sixty acres about eleven miles northwest of the city of Sargent, during its frontier period. The son of a farmer, his boyhood days were spent in the country, and, being endowed with a rugged con- stitution and of an inquisitive turn of mind, he soon developed traits that, as he grew to man- hood, matured with him until today his varied business interests and the success which attends his enterprises makes him the foremost man of affairs in that part of the Middle Loup valley.

When he reached his majority in 1893, he homesteaded on a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section six, township twenty, range eighteen, and remained in farming opera- tions until the year 1904, when he moved to Sar- gent, and there began promoting the business of telephone construction for an exchange known as the Central Telephone Company, of which he was general manager. Disposing of this, he opened a restaurant, and made it a profitable business, which he later disposed of, and again built and successfully operated a farmers' tele- phone line, known as the Independent Telephone Company.

In partnership with A. B. Hartley for two years, the real estate interests of the community received an impetus that brought many home- seekers to the locality. This partnership was known as Hartley & Lundy. He then organized the Lundy Realty Company. As secretary and manager, he is the active head, and is ably assisted by Mr. (. R. Igenfritz. That this company is one of the things to create business, ean be appreciated when it becomes known that in the first three years of its transactions twenty- two thousand six hundred and twenty acres of land have been sold, thus stimulating the cireu- lation of six hundred and seventy-nine thousand eight hundred and thirty-one dollars and fifty cents, the price in money paid to them. In con- neetion with this he is in the furniture and un-

dertaking business, having bought out E. W. Davis, and holds a certificate as licensed embalmer from the secretary of state.

Notably among the recent real estate acquire- ments that have come to Mr. Lundy by pur- chase is the beautiful Doris lake resort, a picture of which is presented on another page. Doris lake is situated on the middle Loup river, in Custer county, and the water is taken from the middle Loup river, which is made from Mineral Springs, Victory Creek, which is made from the famous New Helena Springs, and also the Dismal and other running water that is very fine and soft and noted for its mineral ingredients. The water in this lake runs a one hundred barrel flouring mill, and is constantly moving, and therefore makes a very healthy resort. With a large quantity of shade trees, with bath houses and bathing suits, a modern hotel, and with dancing pavilion, it offers special low rates to visitors, and is surrounded with summer resort novelties ; a half mile circle race track, a merry-go-round run by water power and a shooting gallery, and many other attractions, such as motor boats, one of which carries twenty-five passengers. There are eight hundred and fifty acres in this tract and the valuable water power is to develop elec- trie current, not only for the cities of Sargent and Broken Bow and the various features of the resort itself, with its flour mill, but it is to generate power for an electric road, which, as it is pro- posed, will soon be under construction, connect- ing those cities. Two thousand horse-power is available from the water fall.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 164

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