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 166

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 166

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In 1904, he traded his store and stock for a building in Bloomfield, in which he installed a stock of general merchandise, enlarging the building to seventy feet in length. Selling his store, he opened a jewelry establishment opposite the postoffice, in which he prospered. In the fall of 1909, he erected his present large brick store on Main street, in which he carries a large stock of watches, clocks and jewelry, in addition to a well selected stock of fine china and porcelain, together with a line of Indian curios.

Mr. LeBlane was married in Omaha, Septem- ber 25, 1897, to Mrs. William Tucker, who was in maidenhood Armandine Verdel, giving her maiden name to the new town established when the Ponca reservation was opened to settlement. She was born in Cote de Nord, a village in France, and is a daughter of Leon Verdel, who, after liv- ing for a time in England and Wales, came to America in 1885. Armandine was married in Cardiff, Wales, to William Tucker, who died soon after settling in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. LeBlane have an adopted daughter, Elsa Jose-

phine, a child of unusual brightness of mind, born March 25, 1904.

Mr. LeBlane is an independent republican in political views, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. LeBlanc has always been a great hunter and has a fine collection of fire arms; two Bel- gian quail guns of number forty-four and num- ber twenty-eight bore ; three fine English fowling pieces, two of them number ten bore; a French combination rifle and shot-gun, besides an old time Henry rifle, used in the early days to kill buffalo; he also has two fine specimens of small arms, a Remington and a Smith & Wesson revol- ver. When a boy he kept the family in game, and when in his teens he formed a member of a party freighting to the Black Hills, his only duty was to keep them in deer or buffalo meat and stand his turn as guard at night.

He has been quite a rover, having wandered as far west as eastern Oregon and Washington, into Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and as far south as Texas and Old Mexico. He spent one winter in a logging camp near Duluth. He was a great favorite in camp because of his music, playing the violin for the amusement of the lumber men in their camps at night. Years after, he revis- ited the place with his wife and daughter, find- ing many familiar buildings and scenes.

At the time of the great blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. LeBlanc was at the house of a neighbor, Louis Bourk, whom he helped do his chores about the time the storm broke. They made their way to the house and remained there for a week. The storm destroyed many game Mr. birds that had been plentiful before. LeBlane had killed about twenty prairie chickens the previous evening. After the storm hundreds of grouse and quail were to be found along under- brush and trees. The crows that survived had a feast for months on the dead birds, which by in- stinct they could locate under the snow.

The city of Wahoo, when Mr. LeBlanc first knew it, consisted of a mill, nothing more.

In the early days venison and buffalo meat were on sale in the markets of the small western towns. Grasshoppers devoured their crops three years, though their potato patch and pea vines were saved. For long periods their only food was corn bread and pork, with a little sorghum mo- lasses. Prairie fires were destructive when the country was open, and on one occasion when Mr. LeBlanc was out hunting and a fire came raging across the prairie, he was saved by getting into a lake and lying down in the water. He has seen flames fifty feet high when the wind was brisk and the grass tall and dry. As a boy he under- stood the art of snaring, and many a fine meal of snow birds kept the family from hunger. Rattle- snakes were numerous, some of them attaining a length of five or six feet.

Mr. LeBlane is a collector of Indian relics, having a fine line of specimens of their ancient

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and modern handiwork; his hunting suit of buckskin, made for him by a squaw, is a fine speeimen of aboriginal skill. Mr. LeBlane is an energetic business man who has won his success by honest dealing; he has the full confidenee of his red brothers, as well as his neighbors of the paler skin.

JOSEPH ST. LOUIS. (Deceased.)

For over twenty years this gentleman was closely identified with the development of Boone county, Nebraska. He is a pioneer farmer, and his career as such is well worthy of a conspicu- ous place on these pages devoted to the men whose courage and ability have made the great west possible, and a fact.

Joseph St. Louis was born in Plattsburg, New Jersey, on September 10, 1832, and grew to man- hood in Clinton county. In his twenty-second year he moved to Oswego county, New York, and remained there for four years, then went to Iowa. In the spring of 1880, he came into Nebraska, settling in Laneaster county, and after spending about two years in that vicinity, came into Boone county. He filed on a homestead on section twenty, township twenty-two, range seven, and later added one hundred and sixty acres which he purchased outright. There he went through all the early experiences of the pioneer in Ne- braska, and by constant industry and faithful labor, succeeded in building up a comfortable home and productive farm.

Mr. St. Louis died on the homestead, Decem- ber 3, 1905, survived by his wife and four chil- dren. He was married November 5, 1857, in Oswego county, New York, to Miss Aurelia Marshall, and to them six children were born, four of whom are now living, named as follows: Emma Jane, wife of David White, they living in New York state, and parents of three children; Ann Eliza, wife of William Ebright, parents of three children, residing in Omaha; Henry H., who is a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal ehureh at Bloomfield, Nebraska, father of six children ; and Joseph M., who with his wife and two children are living on the old Van Camp farm. Mrs. St. Louis resides with the latter, and the entire family are held in high esteem by all in the community.

E. W. WEBB.

Among the prosperous citizens of Antelope county, Nebraska, who have spent many years in this locality is E. W. Webb. In fact, it is some twenty-six years since Mr. Webb cast his lot in this part of the state.

Mr. Webb is a native of Canada, being born in what is known as Stanstead Plains, Canada, April 5, 1846, and here he lived until six months of age, when his parents moved to Milwaukee, Wiscon-

sin. His father, John G. Webb, was an officer in the English army, and held the rank of lieutenant. He descended from a family of soldiers, his people having served in the British army as far back as our subject has knowledge of. Our subject's mother was a native of Scotland. Mr. Webb's family moved from Wisconsin in 1851 to Illinois. On August I, 1862, he enlisted in the civil war, and after receiving his discharge on July 13, 1865, he went back to Ogle county, Illinois, and from there to Minnesota, and then to Nebraska and then to Iowa, where he remained nine years. During the war Mr. Webb enlisted in Company B, Ninety-second Illinois Regular Mounted In- fantry, and was down through the south with General Sherman, in Tennessee, Georgia, Ala- bama, Louisiana, and North and South Carolina. He marched to the sea in General Atkinson's brigade under General Sherman.

April 1, 1884, Mr. Webb came to Nebraska, taking up a pre-emption claim in section ten, township twenty-three, range eight, and on this land built a sod honse, as was the usual style of dwelling in those days. He sold this place and bought land in section fourteen, township twenty- three, range eight, which he has highly improved, and now owns six hundred and forty acres of fine land, stockraising being his principal occu- pation. He has a fine orchard and grove of twenty-five acres, and the farm is known as Pleasant Home Raneh. He is interested in several head of very fine Duroc Jersey hogs; also in a very fine herd of high grade Pole Angus eattle.

In 1874, Mr. Webb was united in marriage to Miss Alice Cooling, and five children were born to this union, named as follows: Maggie, wife of E. E. Hall; John, who is also mar- ried; Effie, who is the wife of Gus Hall, has two boys, they live in Colorado; Albert, married Maud Jeffries; and Matie, who is the wife of Doctor Bartlett, of Spaulding, Greeley county, Nebraska, has one boy. In 1887, Mrs. Webb died, deeply mourned by her husband, family, relatives and many kind friends. In 1907 Mr. Webb again married, the bride being Mrs. Marie Murretts, who came to Nebraska in 1870, and is one of the oldest settlers in this sec- tion of Antelope county.

DAVID COLLIER.

David Collier is a sueeessful farmer of Custer eounty and member of a family that has been prominent in eentral Nebraska for nearly thirty years. He is the fourth of the six living chil- dren of John and Janet (Todd) Collier and was boin in Seotland August 1, 1869. The parents are given extensive mention in connection with the sketch of John Collier, junior, which may be found in this work. David Collier was about ten years of age when his parents came to America, sailing from Glasgow to New York in

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the "Nevada," the voyage lasting eleven days. They located near Lincoln, Nebraska, and there David completed his edneation. He came to Cus- ter county in the spring of 1883, remaining with his father until his marriage, December 22, 1897, to Miss Nellie May Slingsby, the affair being a double wedding and taking place on the old Collier homestead, Mr. Collier's sister, Elizabeth, becoming the wife of John Garness at the same time. The Slingsby family were among the pio- meers of Custer county and prominent in all affairs of interest to the community.

After marriage Mr. Collier brought his wife to their home on the northwest quarter of sec- tion twenty-nine, township seventeen, range sev- enteen, where they began housekeeping in a soddy the following summer, and lived in this for eleven years, when a neat, modern cottage home was erected. They now have four hundred acres of well improved land and have a well equipped stock and grain farm. Mr. Collier is a wide-awake, hustling farmer, progressive in his ideas and methods, and making the most of his chances for success. He is actively interested in any public movement that is calculated to ad- vance the common good of the community or county, and is highly respected as a good and useful citizen. He and his wife have three chil- dren, namely: Mary Janet, Alfred David and Alvin Field.

Mr. Collier and his two brothers are neighbors, and all are extensive feeders and shippers of live stock. They are self-made men, and considered as among the more substantial men of the county, who perform their duties in a quiet way, and keep constantly in mind the general welfare of the state, where most of their lives have been spent, and for which all have a patriotic senti- ment. Mr. Collier was reared in the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a republican, but votes independently of party lines if he prefers another candidate. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen.

An early experience of Mr. Collier, when he was a boy, is well worthy of mention. He herded cattle for eight years, and one day, while with the herd, he came suddenly upon two mountain lions, riding to within fifty feet of them. When he realized what the strange animals were, he haeked his horse away from them a distance, and then gave them wide berth, having no firearms with him. His story was doubted by many until others saw the beasts in the vicinity, and cou- firmed his story of their presence near.

DIMIC H. RATHBUN.

Dimie II. Rathbun, one of the prosperous agriculturists of Valley county, Nebraska, owns a good farm of three hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-two, township nineteen, range thirteen, Valley county, Nebraska, and is a pro-

gressive and industrious member of the commun- ity.

Mr. Rathbun was born in Steuben county, New York, August 29, 1852, and was second of eight children in the family of Hiram and Louise (Sherer) Rathbun, who had five sons and three daughters. He was the eldest son, and was raised on a farm. Mr. Rathbun is practically a self-made and self-educated man, going out for himself in his twenty-first year. He had bought a farm in Steuben county, and farming and stock- raising was his occupation.

In March, 1877, Mr. Rathbun gave his farm in Steuben eounty to his parents, and came by train to Grand Island, Nebraska, having but one dollar left on his arrival. From there he footed it up to the Loup river valley country, taking up a homestead in the southwest quarter of section twenty-two, township nineteen, range thirteen, and he has made this his home until this date, being the only original homesteader in Springdale township to remain on his first tract of land. There are probably only two others that reside on the old homestead farm north of the river so far as the Valley county line extends north and east. Mr. Rathbun landed in Valley county with- out means, being obliged to freight from Grand Island to secure funds for living expenses, and broke prairie for others even before he turned a sod on his own land. He now has one of the best farms in the county, there being, as stated before, three hundred and sixty acres in his resi- denee farm. He also has other valuable farms in Valley county, he and his sons owning upwards of seven hundred acres. He is a successful and prosperous man, and has had much to do with the development of the county. When a new bridge, road or other improvement is desired, Mr. Rath- bun is usually on the committee, and seldom fails to secure what is desired. He has always given of his time and means toward the betterment of all conditions along progressive lines.

Mr. Rathbun was married to Miss Cornelia E. Drake, January 19, 1879, in Ord, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun had known each other in Steuben county, New York. and Mr. Rathbun held down his homestead for nearly two years as a bachelor, and when he had succeeded in improving it, the homestead awaited the coming of the bride. Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun have seven children: Claude D., Mott A., who is married and living on an adjoining farm; Chan L., Myrtle, wife of Guy Waterbury, has one child, and resides in Benson, Nebraska; Ora, wife of Orin Kelson, lives in Mira Valley, in south Ord; Melvin, is farming in Mira Valley, and Cash. They are a fine family, and stand high in social and educational circles. They are widely known as pionon" settlers. and have the respeet and esteem of a large eirele of friends. They wor- chin in the Methodist Episcopal church. and Mr. Rathbun i- independent in polities and fraternizes with the American Nobles and the Ancient Order

DUG-OUT AND SODDY" FIRST RESIDENCES ON PARM

"RATHBUN HOMESTEAD," RESIDENCE OF D. H. RATHBUN.

FIRST FRAME LOULE.

NEW RESIDENCE HUNT

CUSTLA COUNTY, QUILOT 1882

"ASH VALLEY FARM," RESIDENCE OF GARDNER HOUSEL.

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of United Workmen, and is also a member, with his wife, of the Degree of Honor.

Mr. Rathbun and family passed through the adverse years of Valley county, losing all their crops during the drouth of 1894, and two years hail ruined their prospects. However, by energy and thrift they have accumulated considerable of this world's goods. For several years they lived in a log front dugout, with a dirt roof, near which was later built a house covered with boards, tar paper and sod. This was later replaced by their present substantial residence, of which we give a view elsewhere in this work, with its sur- rounding barns and outbuildings. Mr. Rathbun's hog house, recently constructed after his own plans, is something unique in farm buildings. The floor is of elay, held in place by wire fencing, preventing its being torn up by the swine, and at the same time avoiding the chill of granitoid, while the ventilation and movable partitions make it one of the most convenient farm buildings the writer of this sketch ever saw.

Mr. Rathbun has often seen from his cabin door on the homestead, elk and deer come out in the open and play on the bank of the Loup river. He was one of the posse to follow the famous Doc Middleton on one of his raids into the Loup coun- try, but losing the trail they could not again lo- cate the outlaw.

The Rathbun family are extensive shippers of stock, Mr. Rathbun often shipping two hun- dred and fifty head from their little station, Sumpter, while his sons ship twice as many more. He has at all times a goodly number of young stock on the place, raising many and purchasing more.

GARDNER HOUSEL.

Gardner Housel and wife are among the very earliest pioneers of central Nebraska and have been residents of Custer county since 1879, a period of more than thirty years. Mr. Housel was born in New Jersey, September 18, 1847, fifth of the twelve children of Furman and Margaret (Carpenter) Housel. He has a brother, Phillip, in Hamilton county ; a sister, Mrs. Sarah Beet, living in the same county; one brother in Colo- rado, one in Wisconsin and one in Washington city ; others of the children are now deceased. Both parents were born in New Jersey and the mother was of German descent. The father died in Wisconsin in 1892 and the mother in 1895.

In early childhood Mr. Housel accompanied his parents to Dane county, Wisconsin, and there reached manhood, receiving his education in the country schools. He was reared on a farm and when he reached young manhood began farming on his own account. In the spring of 1870, he went to Nebraska in search of land on which he would care to settle, and homesteaded eighty acres between Sutton and Aurora, in Hamilton county. where he lived about nine years.

Mr. Housel was married in Otoe county, Ne- braska, December 2, 1872, to Miss Jennie- Cook, a native of New York City, who came with; lier parents, Lawson and Agnes (Jenkenson) Cook,;to that county in 1857. Both parents were natives of Eggermount, Cumberland county, England, but did not know each other until meeting in New York. The mother was born in 1813 and came to America in 1838, and was running a small hotel. The father came about the same time, and a few years later was boarding at this hotel, and in 1841 married his hostess. Eight children ihave been born to Mr. Housel and wife, namely : Frank B., a farmer of Custer county, has four children ; William A., a dentist of Ansley, also has four children ; Charles Lawson, a physician of Ansley, has three children ; Margaret A., wife of N. B. Sheldon, of Custer county, has two children; three daughters and one son are deceased. seodu

Mr. and Mrs. Housel lived on the home place in Hamilton county until 1879, when theyname to Custer county and purchased three hundred and twenty acres in section twenty-two, township fifteen, range eighteen, which has since been the home place. It is well improved and equipped with everything necessary to carry on successful grain and stock farming.' Mr. Housel has set out nine acres with fruit trees, a source ofs much pleasure to the family. He makes a specialty of polled Angus cattle, which he has raised ex- tensively for the past twenty-five years. He ista prosperous and successful business manager and owns eight hundred acres of land in onet body He is an enterprising and useful citizen, interested in the welfare and progress of the county, and state. In an early day he was instrumental in organizing a school district at his home in Ham- ilton county, and later performed the same Malu- able public service in Custer county, in both int stances serving as a member of the school board.

Mr. and Mrs. Housel have passed through many varied phases in the history of Nebraska, and found it necessary to meet pioneer conditions and y trials Their first three years were spent in a dugout; and the frame house which succeeded it was the first of its kind in the county. The lumber was hauled from Kearney, fifty miles distantesthirz teen trips being necessary for it and other sup- plies. Additions were added from time to time, and in 1912 a fine concrete block housed was erected on the place. We are pleased to call at- tention to an engraving of all these on another page of this volume.

Mr. Housel killed many deer and buffalo, hunting in the main herd of them about Christ- mas in 1873. Grasshoppers destroyed his"wheat and rye the following year, but the corn madesa partial crop after the pests left. The blizzard of April 12 to 14, 1873, was disastrous to their stock. They had just bought some cattle from Mrs. Honsel's home folk, and lost all but one cow and calf .Mrs. Housel kept in the kitchen during

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the storm. The winter of the deep snow, 1880 and 1881, was severe on the settlers; the last snow of the season fell May 22, 1881. Mrs. Housel was herding their cattle on the prairies at the time and well remembers the circumstance. In the sudden and severe blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Housel was returning with a load of straw; the wind was of such force that he got home with only the small amount on which he was lying. The two older boys were at school and remained at a neighbor's all night.

Mr. Housel is independent in politics, and with his family, is a member of the Christian church.

W. R. BARNETT.

Among the leading and substantial agricul- turists of Pierce county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this review occupies a promi- nent place. Mr. Barnett was until recently the owner of a valuable estate in township twenty- seven, range three, but has moved from this well improved farm to the city of Lincoln.

Mr. Barnett is a native of Missouri, having been born in Barton county, that state, February 23, 1869, and is the son of James and Jane (Knowles) Barnett. Our subject's father served four and a half years in the civil war on the union side, in Company K, Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the Siege of Vicksburg.

Mr. Barnett, in his childhood, moved with his parents to Appanoose county, Iowa, where he spent most of his boyhood days, securing what education he has in the district school. In 1879, the family moved to Saunders county, Nebraska, south of Fremont.

In 1894, Mr. Barnett was united in marriage to Miss Mary Simpson, to which union three children have been born: Clair C., Harold J. and Anna.

In 1906, Mr. and Mrs. Barnett came to Pierce county, Nebraska, where they purchased three hundred and twenty acres in section eight, town- ship twenty-seven, range three, near the station of Breslau. This he sold in 1910 and moved to Lincoln that his children might enjoy the ad- vantages of the state agricultural schools.

In religious faith, Mr. Barnett adheres to the Presbyterian church, and in politics votes the republican ticket. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen, and is highly respected by all who know him.

WARD W. BARNES.

Ward W. Barnes, who for the past many years has been identified with the farming and business interests of Howard county, has also taken an active part in the political and official life of that region. While pursuing his career he has donc his full share in helping to build up the vicinity

and has become prosperous and successful, now being among the popular men of his county.

Mr. Barnes was born in Allegany county, New York, June 30, 1854. At the age of three years he accompanied his parents west, they lo- cating in northern Illinois, where they lived for about six years. They also lived in Warren county, Illinois, for a number of years, and in 1873 removed to Iowa, settling on a farm in Ringgold county. During the third year of their residence in that state our subject started in life for himself, beginning farming on his own ac- count, also worked out by the month. He was married on the twentieth day of March, 1881, to Miss Mattie Shaffer, of Ringgold county, Iowa, and the following year they came on to Valley county, Nebraska, remaining one year. In the spring of 1883, they moved to Greeley county, settled on a rented farm, spent a short time there, and then took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Custer county, the family taking possession of their new home in the following spring. They remained there but one year then relinquished on the claim and returned to Gree- ley county, living there for one year. Their next move was into Howard county, where Mr. Barnes worked rented land for about ten years, then purchased one hundred and sixty acres situated in sections twenty and twenty-nine, township six- teen, range twelve, which tract was mostly under cultivation, and for which he paid three thousand two hundred dollars. He remained on the farm up to 1906, then sold out for eight thousand dol- lars, showing the phenomenal rise in land values during that time, although, of course, he had added various improvements to the place. In the spring of 1906 he purchased a ten-acre tract just at the edge of Cotesfield, and huilt thereon a comfortable residence, which he still makes his home.

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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 166

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