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 187

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 187

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).

In the winter of 1868-9, Mr. Phelps and his

861

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPITY.

wife were on Prairie Island south of Lone Tree sta- tion, for the purpose of getting out wood, when they had a narrow escape from death by the In- dians. At this time only Indians ocenpied this island who had been of a friendly nature. But just prior to their removal to the Pawnee reser- vation at Genoa the Indians had gone out on a lmunting trip, had stolen some stoek, and seven or eight had been killed by the soldiers, and this caused a disturbance amongst the tribe 'on Prairie Island, which fact Mr. and Mrs. Phelps did not. learn of until almost too late.

Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are of the few old set- tlers now residing in Merrick county who still own the original homestead. They came to Ne- braska before its statehood days, having passed through the different phases of early settler life, remembering the Indian days and enduring the hardships of the pioneer, assisting in building up a growing country. They have many friends, and hold the respect and esteem of all who know them.

Mr. and Mrs. Phelps now reside in their pleas- ant home on their one hundred and sixty acre farm one mile east of Central City which was originally homesteaded by Elnathan Phelps, who was killed on his land during the cyclone of 1871, which picked him up and threw him in a cotton- wood tree, where he was found dead. This man was not a relative of our subjeet.

In the fall of 1883 Mr. Phelps' father and step- mother came to visit him and in the spring of 1884, his half-brothers, James and William, came to Merriek county to reside, when the old folks then went to live with their son James, and about 1888 James moved to Seward county, Nebraska. William, of whom a personal sketch appears on an- other page of this volume remained in Merriek county, where lie still resides.

Thus ends the biography of a long and useful life, ripe in years and deeds, and we trust Mr. Phelps' lite be prolonged many years to come.

JACK MOTT.

Of the residents of Spencer, few have lived longer in the town than her well-known eiti- zen, Jack Mott, who has resided here continuously since his arrival in 1892, excepting a few months when he was absent disposing of a stoek of goods he had secured in a trade, followed by a three months' visit in Oklahoma. Other than this short time, his legal residence has been in the city on the hill.

Mr. Mott was born in Waukegan, Illinois, May 8, 1859, a son of Elias E. and Kiziah (Cady) Mott. The parents, at the ages of eighty-six and sixty- seven, reside in Canby. Oregon. They are both natives of the state of New York. They eele- brated their golden wedding in 1908, on May 11, a pleasure that is vouchsafed to few couples.

From Waukegan they moved to Rockford. Iowa, in the spring of 1860, landing there May 1

16; they lived there until the fall of 1864, and then moved to a farm five miles south of town. In 1869 they sold and moved to another farm on Coldwater ereek, nineteen miles from Rockford. where they resided eleven years, when they traded for a farm fifteen miles further away, near Clarks- ville. During this time the father took a trip to California, but finding no place to suit him bet- ter, returned. After eight years on this farm they sold and lived for a year in Butler Center, and then bought a farm near on which they resided for a year before selling and returning to Clarks- ville. Here he bought twenty acres on which he resided but a short time before migrating to Oregon, December 25, 1890, and has made that his abiding place ever since.

From boyhood, Jack Mott was energetic and self-reliant, and while yet in his teens engaged in trapping, earning enough that way one winter to buy a span of colts and several other animals, and the following winter enough to buy forty acres of good land. This he later traded for a fifty-one aere tract adjoining his father's place. By trad- ing in this way, in which he was very shrewd, he had accumulated property valued at four thousand dollars by the time he was married, at the age of twenty-seven. Remaining under the parental roof until his marriage, Mr. Mott then set up a home for himself and farmed for two years, en- gaging in carpentry at times. Through success- ive drouths Mr. Mott lost everything he owned but a team and wagon, a cow and a few pigs. He moved to Clarksville. and although he was the thirteenth to enter the business of draying in the town, he made it profitable from the start and be- gan trading in property. He soon had a good home. and at the end of three and one-half years had again accumulated quite a valuable selection of property in town lots and buildings. A large frame house that stood on ground the owner de- sired to improve with a much larger one, Mr. Mott hought for almost nothing and removed to a whole block he purchased for the purpose. Thus, at a comparatively small outlay he had a very valua- ble piece of property.

In February, 1892. Mr. Mott sold his Clarks- ville place and came to Boyd eounty, settling in Spencer when there were only a few here ahead of him. Here he has resided since, excepting ahont eight months in 1906, when he spent five months at Union disposing of a stock for which he had traded : after which he spent three months visiting in Oklahoma.

When Mr. Mott first came to Speneer he had but six hundred dollars with which he bought a restaurant and built a house. The restaurant de- veloped into a hotel which Mr. Mott later traded for a farm of one hundred and twenty acres near town. After the, dronth, when the outlook for farming was very gloomy in this part of Ne- hraska. Mr. Mott after living on the land thirteen months, mortgaged his farm for one thousand

862

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

and two hundred dollars, sold his equity for six hundred dollars, and sought other investment. He secured one hundred and seven lots in town at a very low figure, which he held until they could be sold for five times their cost price, thus realiz- ing a heavy increase in his capital. Among other property, he secured in a trade forty acres near Springfield, Missouri, which is valued at thirty- five dollars per acre, and although oportunity to sell is offered, he prefers to hold. Besides carpen- try, Mr. Mott understands plastering and paper- hanging, at both of which trades he finds employ- ment the greater part of the year. Contracts take him into a far field, sometimes as far as Gregory, South Dakota.

Mr. Mott was married at Greene, Iowa, May 29, 1886, to Miss Effie Davis, a native of Iowa, a daughter of Mcses and Nancy J. (Hall) Davis. Three children constitute their family. They are: Letty, wife of Alfred Allen, of Spencer; William, who is employed with his father; and Amy. Wil- liam, who graduated from high school in the class of 1910, is the first to complete the entire course in the Spencer schools. So high was his grade that he is accredited to any state institution with a hundred credits to his account, besides frec tuition.

Mr. Mott is generally democratic in politics, though he has at times vote 1 the prohibition ticket. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows since 1889.

Mr. Mott has encountered many severe bliz- zards without flinching, and has fought prairie fires in Iowa as well as in Nebraska. He has been an extensive traveler, his migrations extending as far as Oklahoma and Texas to the south and to Oregon on the west. Many of his trips have been made on his bicycle, and in this way he has been enabled to see the country more intimately than he could have done had he gone by rail.

Mr. Mott is an entertaining talker, remember- ing the detail of the many incidents he interest- ingly relates, and has a good memory for dates and circumstances. He stands well in his community, deserving the highly commendatory reputation his neighbors and colleagues accord him.

PAUL SCHULTZE.

It would be impossible to give a sketch of the early history of the northeastern part of Nebraska, without including considerable of the Schultze family, one of whom, Fritze, is the subject of a sketch appearing elsewhere in this volume. His brother Paul, the subject of this article, is equally prominent and well known here, and has contrib- uted in an equal measure to the prosperity now enjoyed by the people of this community.

Like his brother, Mr. Paul Schultze was born in Germany, in 1862. When the family emigrated to America, in 1869, he was old enough to remem-

ber a few incidents of the trip over, while Fritz was a mere infant at the time.

As has been related in a preceding sketch, the family came at once to Stanton county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead on section nine- teen. Their first dwelling was a dug-out, which served as a home for the family for about fifteen years. Our subscriber can tell many interesting stories of those pioneer days, which now seem to be so far back of us. Hardships innumerable have been contended with, and there were many of the early settlers who gave up and went back to their comfortable homes in the east. Those of the val- iant heart and courage, those who possessed in. domitable perseverance, have long since receive l their reward.

In 1890, Mr. Schultze was united in marriage to Miss Martha Newman, of which union three children have been born. They are named as fol- lows: Minnie, Sarah, and William.

The name of Schultze has, since the maturing of the state of Nebraska, been coupled with the progressive affairs in the communities in which they have lived.

JOHN HAMILTON.

To those men of perseverance and strong de- termination who came to Nebraska when it was ull developed as an agricultural and commercial re- gion, the present prosperity is due. Prominent among the early settlers of Antelope county who have been closely identified with its progress and who has gained an enviable reputation as a citi- zen, may be mentioned John Hamilton, a prosper- ous and successful farmer of Royal township.

Mr. Hamilton is a native of Seneca county. Ohio, where he was born in September, 1856, and is the son of Thomas and Sarah ( Williams) IIamil- ton. Mr. Hamilton's father served in the Civil war, enlisting in Company -, Forty-seventh In- diana Infantry, and participated in the battle of Lookout mountain, and marched through Ala- bama, Tennessee, New Orleans, North Carolina, and South Carolina; and also participated in the battle of Gettysburg, Richmond, and Antietam.

In June, 1867, Mr. Hamilton moved to Illinois. where he remained twelve years, then going to Cass county, Nebraska, driving the entire dis- tance, where he rented a farm for four years. IIe then came to Antelope county, Nebraska, taking up a pre-emption claim in section eighteen, town- ship twenty-four, range seven, where he resided seven years, then taking up a. homestead of eighty acres in section twenty-one, township twenty- seven, range seven, where he still resides and has a well-improved farm called the "Happy Holler."

November 26, 1884, Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Sarah Stockton, and eight children blessed this union : Charles, Stella, Daniel, Elsie, Murvin, Stacey, William, and Willis, the last two being twins. In 1892 Mrs. Hamilton died, survived by her husband and children.

MRS. LUCIAN MCCANDLESS.

LUCIAN MCCANDLESS.

SOD HOUSE OF LUCIAN MCCANDLESS, BUILT ON THE HOMESTEAD IN CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA, IN 1882.

863

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, RE MINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

Mr. Hamilton has experienced all the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life. At times everything seemed to go against him. At one time the hot winds destroyed his crops and at other times the drouth caused heavy losses. In 1889, while Mr. Hamilton was attending a funeral, a prairie fire broke out, doing immense damage. Fortunately for Mr. Hamilton, however, he es- caped without loss. March 19, 1896, Mr. Hamil- ton again married, this time to Almyra Ashford, this marriage taking place in Missouri, where Miss Ashford and her parents resided and were old settlers in that state. They later sold out and moved to Oklahoma, but returned to Missouri after one year.

Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton live in their pleasant home and enjoy the respect and friendship of a great many friends. Politically, Mr. Hamilton is independent. He is a member of the United Brethren church, Ancient Order of United Work- men, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JACOB WALTER.

Jacob Walter, a substantial and representative citizen of Custer county, who has lived on his homestead there since 1883, is a native of Harrison county, Indiana, born July 31, 1860, the eleventh child of John and Catherine Walter, and the youngest of their six sons. He has two sisters, now living in Custer county, Mrs. George McRae, and Mrs. Walter Bence, whose husbands belong to pioneer families of the region, but of the others his brothers and sisters are scattered in various states, Kentucky, Iowa, California, and Indiana. The parents are deceased. Mr. Walter was reared on a farm in Indiana and received the usual edu- cational advantages of a farmer's son. About his twenty-second year he went to Kentucky and spent a year there and in May, 1883, he came to Custer county, with his brother-in-law, George McRae, and family.

Upon coming to Custer county took a home- stead comprising the southeast quarter of section fifteen, township seventeen, range nineteen, which has been his home continuously since that time. He now has two hundred and forty acres of land in this section, besides one hundred and sixty acres in another section. He has a well-equipped and improved grain and stock farm and is one of the original homesteaders of his part of the county. He has served in various local offices, such as a member of the township board, school board, and in other capacities. He is a man of sterling worth, much interested in the welfare and development of his county and state, and is popular among his many friends.

On April 14, 1904, Mr. Walter married Min- nie Cudmore, daughter of William and Sarah Cud- more, their union being celebrated at Broken Bow. Three children have blessed their union: Ada Bernice, John Clarice, and Cecil Gertrude. Mrs. Walter was born in 1873 and has one sister living

in Custer county, Mrs. Peter Pederson, whose hus- band is one of the pioneers of the region. Her parents came to the county in an early day and were prominent among the pioneers.

LUCIAN MCCANDLESS.

Lucian McCandless, a prosperous and business man of Broken Bow, Nebraska, is one of the ear- liest settlers in his part of the state. He was born in MeDonough county, Illinois, June 25, 1854, next to the youngest of the four children of Sam- nel H. and Delia (Reed) McCandless, the father a native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch extraction, and the mother a native of New York. He died in Illinois in January, 1861, and she died in York, Nebraska, in 1900. One son, William R., now lives in York, Nebraska, and two daughters are deceased.

Mr. McCandless grew to manhood on his fa- ther's 'farm in Illinois and obtained his ele- mentary education in the public schools, later at- tending Macomb academy. He engaged in farm- ing for himself as a young man, and in February, 1874, seeking for larger opportunities for secur- ing a home of his own, located in York county, Nebraska, where he purchased railroad land. On September 12, 1878, Mr. McCandless married Amanda Emma Gandy, at the home of her parents in York county. She was born in Davis county, Iowa, a daughter of Amos W. and Mary E. (Phelps) Gandy, and came to York county in 1870.

In the spring of 1882 Mr. McCandless brought his wife and son to Custer county, taking a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres of land ad- joining the city limits of Broken Bow, which had just been laid out. Mr. McCandless erected the first dwelling house in the town, a little sod build- ing, so characteristic of early Nebraska. After spending a few months in town they moved to the homestead, which has since been their residence. He also pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining and there has a well improved and developed stock and grain farm. Being an early settler there he has passed through the vari- ous stages of the upbuilding and settling of the re- gion, and in connection with improving his own for- tunes has helped materially in the general progress. Except for forty-five acres of land which he has sold in city lots he still owns his original claims. He and his wife are prominent in religious, educa- tional and social circles, and he has taken a credi- table interest in public matters. In 1893-94 he served as county supervisor and he has also served on the Broken Bow school boards and as justice of the peace. He and his wife have had eight children : Harper Leroy at home: Teddy, who died in infancy; William L., living at home, is a banker at Berwyn: Raymond B., is a student in Wesleyan university at Lincoln, Nebraska; Amos died in 1896; Harry P., Mary Bell and Charles

864

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

W., at home. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. McCand- less will be found elsewhere in this work.

JOHN REHDER.

John Rehder, a prominent farmer and stock- man living on section twenty-nine, township twen- ty-seven, range one, is well-known in Pierce county, Nebraska, as a progressive and successful farmer and agriculturist.

Mr. Rehder is a native of Germany, being born in the village of Etlock, Holstein province, De- cember 2, 1853, and after growing to manhood was a farm laborer, doing what his hands found to do. He is the son of Hans and Anna (Diaron) Rehder; his father was born in 1828, attaining the age of ninety years, and his mother was born in 1838, and died in 1883 in the fatherland.

Mr. Rehder emigrated to America in 1884, embarking at Hamburg on the "Harmonia," landing nine days later in New York. He came to Grand Island, Nebraska, where he lived one year, then went to Davenport, Iowa, living there for a period of eighteen months. He farmed at Grand Island for two years, then moved to Rushville, Sheridan county, where he bought the relinquish- ment to a homestead claim, living nart of the time here in a sod house. Later he sold this land, and settled in Pierce county, Nebraska, and bought the southwest quarter of section six, township twenty-six, range two, six miles from Pierce; a tenant now cultivates this farm for him.

Mr. Rehder was first married in 1883, to Miss Anna Teterman, and to this union eight children have been born ; Lena, married William Schendler, and has two children, Willie and Herman; Emma, now Mrs. William Marscha; Anna, Tille, married Ernst Peterson; Peter, Bertha, Minnie, and Herman. Mr. Rehder's first wife died in 1901, and in 1907 he was again married, this time to the widow of Henry Dehlert, whom she married in Minden, Iowa. They came to Nebraska in 1885. purchasing the first eighty acres at seven dollars, the second at twelve dollars, and the second quar- ter section at twenty-five dollars-land now worth nearly a hundred dollars per acre. Mrs. Rehder, Anna Mersen in maidenhood, was born in the vil- lage of Heide, province of Holstein, Germany, and came to America in 1883. Of her first marriage six children were born, five of whom are living: Herman, Elsa, Emma, William and Walter. Of the second marriage one child was born, named Emil.

Mr. Rehder has always taken an active interest in affairs in his locality, and aided every move- ment for the betterment of conditions in his com- munity. In religious faith, he is a member of the German Lutheran church, and has affiliated with the Sons of Herman since 1899.

MILTON HUDSON.

This gentleman is owner of a fine farm in the North Loup Valley, which is fully equipped with good buildings and improvements. He engages in mixed farming and stock raising, and outside of his home farm, is possessed of other lands located in the vicinity, all of which forms a very valuable estate.

Milton Hudson was born in Madison county, Kentucky, July 27, 1853, and is the eldest child of David and Mary Terril Hudson, the family living in that state for many years.

When our subject was eighteen years of age, he started out for himself, going to Clay county, Mis- souri, where he spent a number of years, being married there in 1878, to Lulu Wills, whose par- ents were pioneers in the region.

Mr. Hudson, with his wife and one child, came into Howard county, Nebraska, in October, 1883, and here a daughter was born, Lulu, who is now the wife of Earl W. Barns, they living in Ray- mond, Nebraska. Mrs. Hudson and the elder daughter, Pearl by name, are deceased, the former dying in 1885, and Pearl three years later. In the year of his wife's death, Mr. Hudson purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section thirty-two, township sixteen, range eleven. He worked faithfully, and succeeded in making of it one of the finest farms in the region, still mak- ing it his home place, although he owns one hun- dred and sixty acres in section twenty-six, Fair- dale precinct, Howard county. His place is equipped with substantial buildings of all kinds, and he is considered one of the wealthy and pro- gressive men of his section.

In 1887, Mr. Hudson was married to Miss Lulu Dale, in Macon City, Missouri. Mrs. Hudson is of a prominent old Missouri family, and a lady of much charm. They are the parents of two chil- dren, Oscar and Fay, both living at home.

During his early residence in Howard county, Mr. Hudson was prominently connected with the upbuilding of his locality, helping establish the local schools, etc., and has passed through all the ups and downs of pioneer life in Nebraska.

GEORGE EBERHART.

George Eberhart who is proprietor of a fine estate in section six, township nineteen, range four- teen, is one of the prominent and successful ranch- men of Valley county, Nebraska. He has made this region his home for over fourteen years past, and is well known throughout the locality as a progressive and up-to-date farmer and one of the well-to-do citizens of the community in which he resides.

Mr. Eberhart was born in La Salle county, Illinois. June 18, 1871, and was second of nine chil- dren in the family of Chris and Albertina (Ploutz) Eberhart, who had six sons and three 1

865

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

daughters; our subject was born and raised on a farm in Pottawatomie county, Iowa, where his par- ents had moved about 1887.

Mr. Eberhart came from Pottawaomie county, Jowa, to Valley county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1896, where he first settled in Mira valley, Valley county, and followed farming and stock raising. He is now one of the largest stock men in Valley county, and has a fine lot of cattle.

Mr. Eberhart was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Lee in Mira Valley, Valley county, Nebras- ka, September 10, 1894. She is a daughter of Henry and Martha ( Hornicle) Lee, who migrated from Jowa to Valley county some twenty years ago. Mr. Eberhart came from Iowa to be married in Valley county, Nebraska, and returned to Iowa, after marriage, to his farm, but in 1896 moved from Towa to Mira Valley and bought a quarter- section of land. In 1905 Mr. Eberhart bought the east half of section six, township eighteen, range thirteen, where he has a fine stock farm of three hundred and twenty acres, with a large, commo- dious dwelling, big barn and necessary outbuild- ings ..

Mr. and Mrs. Eberhart have five children, namely : Alice, Nellie, Esther, Bessie and George, junior. Mr. Eberhart is one of the younger and newer settlers in Valley county, but is a progres- sive man along all lines, and closely identified with the interests of Valley county.

Mr. Eberhart's brother Ben joined him about 1904, and now owns and lives on the southwest quarter of section six, township eighteen, range thirteen, and is married and has one child. The other members of the Eberhart family live in Iowa.

SAMUEL KENT.

Samuel Kent, a prominent farmer and stoek man living on section one, township twenty-three, range two, is well known throughout Madison county as a progressive and successful agricultur- ist, highly esteemed by all who know him.

Mr. Kent is a native of county Wexford, Ire- land, born February 2, 1833, and is a son of Richard and Bridget (Kinshella) Kent, both na- tives of Ireland; the mother was born in April of 1810, and lived to be ninety-three years of age.

Mr. Kent when but twenty-one years of age left his native land for the new world, embarking at New Ross, Ireland, on a sailboat and was on the sea five weeks. After crossing the ocean he first landed in Quebec, Canada, remaining in Canada for six years; in 1860 he moved to Michigan, resid- ing there ten years.

In 1870, Mr. Kent, with his family, started for the west, coming by railroad to Des Moines, Iowa. Here our subject left his family and came to Ne- braska to find a location for a home to bring his family to. He came overland from Omaha to Nor- folk on the mail stage, and after reaching Nor- folk he took up a homestead claim, where he now

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 187

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