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 191

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 191

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Four children have been born to Mr. Sherbeck and wife, namely : Albert I., married and living on the old home farm, has three children; Bertha J., at home : Lola F., deceased, and Edith M., at home. The family are prominent socially and have many friends.

JAMES W. KIDDER. (Deceased.)

James W. Kidder, deceased, has left a good record as a prominent old settler of Madison coun- ty, Nebraska, where he settled in April, 1870. Through all the pioneer struggles he did his part in the uplifting and upbuilding of his county, and won the respect and confidence of his community.

Mr. Kidder was born in Enosburg, Vermont, October 14, 1823, and was a graduate from the theological seminary in Bangor, Maine, in 1855, entering the ministry at Perry, Maine.

On December 4, 1855, Mr. Kidder was joined in holy matrimony to Miss Mary Stevens, of Machias Port, Maine, who for four years had been a teacher in the public schools of her home state.

In April, 1870, Mr. and Mrs. Kidder came to Norfolk, Nebraska, where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty- one, township twenty-four, range six, west, and organized the first English speaking church in Norfolk, of the Congregational denomination, in 1870, holding services in private houses until such time as they could afford to build, and each mem- ber carrying his own chair to services with him.

Reverend Kidder was prosperous and success- ful, and later purchased eighty acres of school land. He was pastor of Norfolk church nine years, and was then transferred to missionary work in Madison and Antelope counties. In 1882 he re- tired from the ministry and lived on the home- stead until July, 1908, when they sold the home- stead and moved to Norfolk, and purchased a good home.

Reverend Kidder died October 13. 1908, and is survived by his widow and four children, the chil- dren being named as follows: Hattie, who is mar- married to Andrew McGinnis, and who has one daughter by a former marriage; Henry M., mar- ried and lives in Scribner, Nebraska, has two chil- dren; Mary L., who was married to P. C. Ste- wart and has one son, is a widow, her husband hav- ing died in March, 1907; and Laura A., a teacher in the Fremont, Nebraska, city schools.

Mrs. Kidder is living in the Norfolk home sur. rounded by a large circle of friends. She is one of Madison county's pioneers and is widely and favorably known. She was the first school teacher in Norfolk, where she taught for three years, hav- ing mostly German pupils, who came to learn to speak English.

During the three years of the grasshopper siege, when assistance came from the east, Mrs. Kidder acted as distributor.

In closing the personal history of this worthy couple, we feel a sense of great admiration and re- spect for the two brave, honest-hearted people who have been so instrumental in the progression of their community.

WILLIAM H. COMSTOCK.

William H. Comstock, a prominent and well known citizen of Custer county, has been local agent of the Lincoln Land company there ever since the town of Comstock was located, and in early years placed many of the original home- steaders on their land in that part of the county. He has been actively identified with the growth and upbuilding of the region and has experienced the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. He was born in Gorham, Ontario county, New York, February 29, 1836, seventh of the nine children of Jonathan and Phoebe (Christian) Com- stock, who were parents of six sons and three daughters. The parents were born in New York, as were all their children. Five of the sons served in the civil war, and one, Truman, was killed in the battle of Gettysburg, his body never being re- covered. The father was a veteran of the war of 1812.

Mr. Comstock lived on the New York farm until reaching maturity, then removed to Wisconsin, where several of his brothers had located, having previously spent some time in Michigan. On Oc- tober 16, 1859, in Columbia county, Wisconsin, he was united in marriage with Sarahett West, daughter of John H. and Melissa (Barrett) West, who was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, sec- ond of ten children. The West family located in Wisconsin in 1839, the parents being natives .of New York. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Com- stock began their married life on a farm in Wis- consin and lived there until the war.

In November, 1861, Mr. Comstock enlisted in Company E, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, under Col. C. C. Washburn, and was discharged in Feb- ruary, 1863, on account of disability. In March, 1865, he re-enlisted, serving to the close of the war as a member of Company G, First Minnesota Vol- untėer Infantry. After his first discharge he moved with his family from Wisconsin to Minne- sota, and at the close of the war returned to his home in Faribault county, in the latter state. Ile is known far and wide by the title of "Captain" Comstock.

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Mr. Comstock and wife continued to live in Minnesota until March, 1874, when he came with his family, including an adopted daughter, to Kountz county, Nebraska, driving through with a team and wagon and stopping through the winter in Iowa. The region where they settled is now a part of Custer county and Mr. Comstock took up a homestead on the northwest quarter of section nine, township eighteen, range seventeen, having very few white neighbors at that time. The little inland town of Wescott was established near them on section sixteen of the same township, in 1887. A postoffice was established at Douglas Grove in the spring of 1874 and that and New Helena were the first offices established in the county. Mr. Com- stock was the first postmaster. In 1887 he moved to his present home site on the southeast corner of section nine, township eighteen, range seven- teen, quite a town having sprung up by this time. He engaged in the hardware and implement busi- ness there and was also postmaster of Wescott un- til 1890, serving twenty-five years. The name was changed to Wescott some time after 1887. In 1899 the town of Comstock was laid out and Captain Comstock purchased the first lot. The town of Wescott then gradually went out of existence, the merchants there either going out of business or moving to Comstock, the last one making his change in December, 1900. The postoffice in the former town was discontinued and Mr. Comstock moved his store building to the town of Comstock. Ile is widely known in central Nebraska and in past years served as justice of the peace and as- sisted in the organization of school district num- ber one, serving as director until 1911. In 1876. at the time of the Indian scare, Fort Garber was erected in the valley and volunteers were called for. Mr. Comstock assumed command and al- though no Indians appeared to fight, he has since retained the title by virtue of his activity and ser- vice at that time.

Mr. and Mrs. Comstock still reside on the old home on section nine, having spent fifty-two years of wedded life, and they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on this place. Mrs. Comstock is revered and esteemed as a pioneer who has shown many acts of kindness and helpfulness to her neighbors and associates. She is, dearly loved by her friends and always ready to give good cheer and comfort to all who come to the Comstock home the latch-string of which is always out. She has nursed the sick, fed the hungry and helped the poor and friendless in times past and has always done her share to advance the general good.

FRANK TICHY.

The gentleman whose name heads this personal history is one of the foremost citizens of township thirty-one, range six, where on section ten, he has developed a fine farm and enjoys a comfortable and pleasant home, surrounded by many warm

friends and congenial neighbors. He has been a resident of Knox county for the past forty years, and although he has had a struggle to get along at times, has always stuck to his original plan of carving out for himself a name and fortune for his later years, and has succeeded in this determina- tion in spite of many discouragements and failures.

Mr. Tichy was born in Bohemia, November 30, 1856, and is a son of Frank and Mary (Noveak) Tichy. In 1867, he left his native land for the new world, sailing from Bremen, Germany, to Quebec on a sailboat, being nine weeks on the sea. After landing on this side of the water, he pro- ceeded to Chicago, Illinois, which was the mecca for so many of his countrymen at that time, remaining there four years, when he came west to Nebraska, locating in Knox county. He came by way of Sioux City and was on the road two weeks, the trip costing three hundred dollars. After ar- riving in Knox county Mr. Tichy took up the homestead where he now lives and also a tree claim, and built a log house. His father, who had come with his son to America, came west also when he did, and took up a homestead one mile distant from his son's, and also built a log house. Life on the western frontier in those first days of settle- ment was full of experiences and hardships almost beyond belief, were they not vouched for by those who had actually experienced them, the most se- vere hardships coming through the elements of wind and hail. In strong contrast to the latter, the prairie fires did the greatest havoc, Mr. Tichy's stock, clothes and other possessions being con- sumed : and saddest of all to relate is the fact that his wife lost her brother and mother in one of the raging prairie fires, they having lost their lives in the fiery flames that could not be quenched in time to stay its terrible work of destruction. The grasshoppers did their share toward discouraging the earlier settlers of that region, having for three consecutive years utterly destroyed every spear of vegetation and in the blizzard of 1888, Mr. Tichy lost all of his stock. In those days the nearest market places were at Norfolk, Nebraska, and Yankton, South Dakota, and the mode of travel was by means of ox teams, which made long jour- neys very tedious and slow; oxen were also used for work teams, horses being an almost unknown possession of the farmer of pioneer days. Indians inhabited this western prairie when the first set- tlers made their entry into the region and did not take the intrusion of the white man into their as yet unmolested territory in a very friendly spirit; therefore, they were almost constantly a source of uneasiness and trouble from the beginning of the white man's settlement in this part of the country. Antelope and deer were plentiful during the first years, but the pioneer settler did not possess means with whieh to buy guns and ammunition to bag the game.

Mr. Tichy was married in 1879 to Miss Mary

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Dvorak and they are the parents of five children : Sophie Eleanor, Leon, Albin, Liddie and Charles Otto. Three of their children are dead-Lonis, Sophie, first, and Charles. , They are a fine family, and live in their pleasant home surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances.

GEORGE R. PATTERSON.

George R. Patterson, one of the original home- steaders of Boone county, Nebraska, is now retired from active labor, and makes his home in Prim- rose surrounded by warm friends. During the many years spent in that part of the state Mr. Pat- terson has gained an extensive acquaintance and is held in the highest esteem on account of his kindheartedness and active helpfulness in all mat- ters pertaining to the good of the masses.

Mr. Patterson is a native of Ireland. He was the fourth child in a family of five boys and four girls born to George and Isabella Patterson, and the entire family with the exception of the two eld- est sons, who came to America earlier, landed in the United States in April, 1872. They came di- rect to Nebraska, locating in Boone county, where the father and two sons, Osborne and George R., homesteaded on section four, township nineteen, range eight, and another son, Adam, later took a timber claim on the same section, thus having an entire section in the family. One son, Robert A. Patterson, homesteaded in Greeley county. Of this large family, but three are now living in Boone county, our subject, Osborne, and Mrs. James Kinner. Mrs. Mary Patterson Roberts resides in Custer county, Mrs. Hannah P. Johnson in Texas. and Robert A. Patterson in Kansas.

Mr. Patterson has made Boone county his home since coming to America, with the exception of a short time in Dodge county, and still owns the orig. inal homestead, although he makes his home in Primrose, with his son, Adam Patterson. He has always been active, and has made a success of life, having spent his entire career as a farmer and stock raiser. He is connected with the Primrose State bank, and is considered one of the wealthy men of his county.

Mr. Patterson was married at Fremont, Nebras- ka, in 1875, to Miss Eliza Jane Nibblack, and to them have been born nine children, seven of whom are living, as follows: Eliza Jane, Isabelle, Adam, Mary A., Rachel, George R. and Ilannah. Mrs. Patterson died on the homestead, September 26. 1905.

ROBERT ANDERSON.

Among those who came to Nebraska in the early days and have built up a good home and farm through thrift and industry, is the gentleman above named. Mr. Anderson resides on sectior thirty, township twenty-six, range seven, Antelope county, and is one of the successful and prosper- 29

ous citizens of his community. Mr. Anderson is one of the few old settlers who have retained the original homestead farm, and has lived in his present location since 1837. Mr. Anderson is a prominent farmer and stock raiser, and is well known throughout Antelope county as a progres- sive and successful agriculturist, highly esteemed by all with whom he has had to do.

Nr. Anderson is a native of County of Tyrone, Ireland, where he was born in 1853. He grew to the age of eighteen years in his native land, then in 1871 he left his home and friends and struck out for the new world, sailing from Londonderry, Irc- land and landing in New York after a voyage of eleven days. On his arrival in America, Mr. An- derson came to La Salle county, Illinois, where he remained for six years, first working out as a farm hand, later renting ground and farmed for himself. He then emigrated to Nebraska in 1877, because there was cheaper land the the chances for a poor main to gain a competence were better. Locating in Antelope county, Nebraska, on a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres he succeeded in devel- oping a good farm, engaged in mixed farming and stock raising; he now owns about three hundred and twenty acres of land on which is growing a fine grove of fifteen acres. Since locating here, Mr. Anderson has had fair success every year, with the exception of 1894 when his crops were all burned out by the hot winds of that year and in 1895 lost all his crops by hail.

Mr. Anderson was married in La Salle county, Illinois, March 17, 1874 to Miss Mary J. MeKay and to this union two children have been born, William and Hugh.

Interesting and varied are the incidents of pioneer life that Mr. Anderson can relate. In the early days deer and antelope roamed the country cver and could be found within a few rods from the door, herding with cattle in many cases. Oc- casionally big grey wolves were to be seen along the streams. Many were the hardships the early settlers were compelled to undergo. At that time prairie fires were a source of constant danger, and this continued until the country was settled up and a large part of the area under plow.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Anderson is one of the substantial citizens of Nebraska; he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men. In politics he is independent.

HONORABLE JAMES D. REAM.

Honorable James D. Ream was the first settler in the locality in which he now lives, four and one- half miles northwest of Broken Bow, Nebraska, and lie has lived in the state from the days of the sod shanty until the present time, when he has a com- fortable, modern home and a large and well equip- ped grain and stock farm. He is identified with the socialist party in local politics and has held

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many offices of honor and trust. Mr. Ream was born near New Castle, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1852, next to the youngest of the four children of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Simpson) Ream, who had two sons and two daughters. The mother died when James D. was but three years of age and the father afterward married again. The grandfather John Ream, with his four sons and sons-in-law and their families, and an unmarried daughter, re- moved from Pennsylvania to Mahaska county, lowa, in the spring of 1855, and in the fall of that year the son Benjamin and his four children fol- lowed the other members of the family to Iowa.

Benjamin Ream married as his second wife, Charlotte Strang, in Mahaska county, Iowa, their union taking place about 1857, and of this union two children were born. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Iowa Infantry, and became second lieutenant of his company. He was mortally wounded in the battle at Belmont, Missouri, (Gen. Grant's first battle), and died at Cairo, Illinois, seven days later. One son, John T., and a daughter, Mrs. A. E. Foster, own brother and sister of James D., and a half brother and a half-sister, Samuel and. Louisa, reside in Oska- loosa, Iowa.

James D. Ream resided at his father's home in Mahaska county until the spring of 1873, receiving a common school education and being reared to farm work. Their farm was located near a little town named Rochester. In 1873 he spent several months traveling through the western states, and, in 1878, he came from Iowa to Ne- braska, making the trip with a team and wagon and settling first at Stromsburg. Polk county, and in January, 1880, he removed thence to Custer county, making this trip on horseback. He made a homestead location on the southeast quarter of section twelve,township seventeen, range twenty-one, and up to the present time this home- stead has been his continuous residence. At the time of his coming he was accompanied by Charles H. Jeffords, now living in Broken Bow, who also became a homesteader and a pioneer settler, and in the spring of 1880 they erected the first brick kiln in the region and burned the first brick made in Custer county.

During the early part of 1883 Mr. Ream made a trip back to Iowa and was there married, in Feb- ruary of that year, to Miss Anna E. Scevers, daughter of Benjamin F., and Elizabeth (Forney) Seevers, their union taking place at the Seevers home in Mahaska county. She was the third born of six children, and was a native of lowa. The young couple began housekeeping in Custer county and for nearly thirty years have been associated with the progress and development of their com- munity, along social, educational and other bene- ficial lines. Their house is surrounded by beauti- ful shade and ornamental trees and a fine lawn, being one of the best kept homes in the county, and they have an orchard that would be a credit

to any eastern state. Mr. Ream and wife have two sons, Fred H. and Glen C., and one daughter, Loy G. The sons, who are married and engaged in mercantile business in Broken Bow, are regarded as among the most enterprising and progressive business men of their county, where they were born and reared.

Having always engaged in agricultural pur- suits, Mr. Ream has always been much interested in the study of the newest theories and methods regarding this branch of industry, and has fav- ored popular education along these lines in the publie schools. He belongs to several societies for the advancement of agricultural and horticultural interests, was an organizer of the Custer county Agricultural Society, of which he served one year as vice-president and eight years as president, and for several years was a member of the state board of agriculture. In 1889 he helped organize the first farmers' institute held in Broken Bow, which was the first meeting of its kind held in central Ne- braska, and for the past twenty years has been president of the local institute' organization. A successful institute has been held at Broken Bow each year since 1889. Although never active in par- tisan politics, Mr. Ream was elected in 1900, by the populist party, a member of the lower house of the Nebraska legislature, representing Custer and Logan counties in that body, and during this session was instrumental in promoting the inter- ests of the school of agriculture at the state farmn. In his early days in the county Mr. Ream served as justice of the peace and also as a member of the county board. He is one of the best known and most popular men in his county and has a multi- tude of friends. Mr. Ream is a member of the Masonie fraternity. He was an earnest worker in the reorganization of the Grange in Nebraska and in 1911 was elected Master of the state organi- zation.

JOIIN G. BECHER.

John G. Becher, deceased, was the son of Francis G. and Mary ( Rickley) Becher, and was born in Columbus, Nebraska, February 5, 1863. IIc was the eldest of four chldren, one brother and two sisters, who reside in Omaha. The parents are deceased.

John G. Becher received his education in the Columbus schools, and later became interested in mercantile business. In the fall of 1899, our sub- ject was elected county treasurer and served in that office until January 1905 and prior to this he had served four years as deputy under H. S. Elli- ott. In 1903, Mr. Becher was elected mayor of Columbus, Nebraska. In 1906, Mr. Becher be- came the junior member of the real estate firm of Elliott, Speice & Company, and at the organiza- tion of the Equitable Loan, Building and Savings Association, 'was made treasurer of that concern. Mr. Becher was prominently identified with sev-

JOHN G. BECHER (DECEASED)

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

eral local societies. He was a charter member of the Orpheum society, an honorary member of the Bissel Hose company, of the city fire department, and was also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen, Woodmen of the World, Sons of IJerman, Ancent Order of United Workmer, Mod- ern Brotherhood of America, and the Royal High - landers lodges. Ifis father was the first Union Paci- fie telegraph operator in Columbus. Mr. Becher was prominent in business and political circles of his community, and was widely and favorably known as a man alive to all pertaining to the welfare of his county and state. A protrait of him will be found on another page.

On November 5, 1888, Mr. Becher was married to Miss Susan Wake, who also was born in Col- umbus. Mr. and Mrs. Becher have had ten chil- dren, eight of whom are living, and whose name: are as follows : Frank, who is married and has one child, and who lives in Primrose, Nebraska ; Charles, who lives at home; Marguerite, Estella, Henry, Lester, Katherine · and Lottie who is mar- ried to Orville H. Washburn, they reside in Col- umbus; Paul and Geraldine died in infancy.

Mr. Becher died on November 19, 1909, in Col- umbus, Nebraska, his home town, where he was well known and most highly respected.

Mrs. Becher, widow of John G. Becher, comes from a prominent pioneer family of Platte county, Nebraska, and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wake, who are lving at the advanced ages of eighty-four and seventy-four years, respectively. in Columbus, and have lived in Platte county for over forty years, Mr. Wake serving as sheriff and constable of his county in the early days. Mrs. Becher has one sister, Mrs. C. A. Allenberger, who is a resident of Columbus; one brother, Frank who is postmaster at Genoa, Nance county, Nebraska ; one brother Charles in St. Edward, Nebraska, and another brother Thomas in Seward, Nebraska.

WINFIELD S. WANSER.

Winfield S. Wanser third son of William and Mary Antha (Seeley) Wanser, was born in Peoria, Illinois, June 24, 1861. His early years were spent in Peoria and Livingston counties, Illinois, and in the latter he attended school a few years before coming to the west.

· Reaching West Point, Nebraska, in October, 1871, his parents were residents of that county un- til 1875, when they removed to 'Pierce county which has been the family residence ever since. Settling on a farm two miles northwest of town, Mr. Wanser grew to manhood in the open prairies. In 1905, he took up a homestead claim near Ly- man, South Dakota, and resided there for three years when he returned to Plainview and has since engaged in the real estate business there. In March, 1911, he bought a farm near Guyman. Oklahoma and divides his time between there and the old home. In politics Mr. Wanser is republican.

Mr. Wanser was married in Plainview, January 10, 1884. to Miss Loretta Homan, a daughter of Lemuel and Mary (Burdette) Hoffman. Two chil- dren were born to them : William, now in the drug business at Guyman, Oklahoma; and Edna, wife of Albert Finson, engaged in the grain business at Omaha.

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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 191

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