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 199

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 199

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).

For many years Mr. Klump served as a mem- ber of the school hoard in his school district, which he was instrumental in organizing. He served as

916

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

justiee of the peace in Illinois and also in Nebras- ka and for the past two years has been county sup- ervisor in Custer county. He was married (second) on October 5, 1907, in Kearney, Nebraska, to Mrs. Mary Koch, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, who came to America in 1881. Her maiden name was Deininger and her first husband, John Koch, was burned to death on April 17, 1899, while fight- ing prairie fire on West Table, Custer county. Thomas Morrison and another man, who were working with him, were also burned to death.

Mr. Klump lived on his homestead farm until April, 1910, when he came to Broken Bow and pur- ehased a nice residence, which has since been his home. He is one of the best known men in the county and is highly regarded as an enterprising, publie-spirited citizen. Protraits of Mr. and Mrs. Klump are presented on another page of this volume.

GEORGE VINSON.

Located very pleasantly in section twenty-nine, township twenty-six, range three, is to be found the somewhat notable gentleman whose name intro- duces this biographieal writing. He has been identified with the history of Pierce county, Ne- braska, from a very early date, and his contribu- tions to the making of northeastern Nebraska, while they have largely consisted of those unobtrusive ways and habits of which little mention is ordi narily made, have been such industrious habits, such persistent and invariable honesty of purpose and force of character, and such an earnest desire to live the best American life, that he is widely known as one of the leading and influential early settlers of the county.

George Vinson was born in 1842, in the village of Mervinstaw, County Cornwall, England, and was one of the youngest of a family of eight chil- dren. When he was eight years of age his father died, and the mother then brought her eight chil- dren to America. They started from Plymouth, go- ing by sailboat to Quebec, being on the water six weeks. After landing, they proceeded to Montreal, from there to Winnebago county, Illinois, and a few years later to Freeport, Illinois, the mother having in the meanwhile married J. C. Burge. While residing here, our subjeet enlisted Decem- ber 5 1861, in Company B, one of the five compan- ies from Freeport in the Forty-sixth Illinois Volun- teers. During active service in the battle of Jack- son, Mississippi, Mr: Vinson was seriously wounded and sent to a hospital. He participated in the bat- tles at Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, Shiloh, where he sustained a bayonet wound in the arm, siege of Corinthi, and down the Mississippi river. While at Holly Springs, the army was cut off from supplies, and the soldiers relished "hard tack" and "mule's corn," as maize was called, as we would a piece of cake; our subjeet also engaged in battles at Mem- phis, Tennessee, and from thenee to La Grange,

then Vieksburg, and Jackson, Mississippi; at the latter place he was shot in the jaw, of which wound he still carries the scar. His regiment then went to New Orleans to Fort Blackley. Mr. Vinson's two brothers, John and Thomas, also served in the civil war. John was killed by Morgan's band of raiders, and Thomas, who was in Company A, in the same regiment with our subject, now lives in Knoxville, Iowa.

After the war our subject returned to Illinois, then in 1866 moved to Iowa, where he followed farming in Berton and Marion counties. He moved to Madison county, Nebraska, where he lived two years, then in 1886, came to Pierce county, where he homesteaded land in section twenty-one, town- ship twenty-six, range four. He owns three hundred and twenty acres in section twenty-eight, and one hundred and sixty-six acres in section twenty-nine.

Mr. Vinson was married in 1865 to Miss Sarah Simmons of Maryland and to this union nine chil- dren have been born: Maggie, married Chris La France, of Burt county, and has two children; Charles, married Miss Basser, and has one child; Anna, married Lute Jenkins; Eliza, married Thomas Daniels; Emma, married Ed Jones; John, married Maude Crawford, and has one child: George, married Emma Reimers, and has two chil- dren; Cora, married William Andrew Buckley ; and Maude married James Clark.

Mr. and Mrs. Vinson and family enjoy the high- est respeet and esteem of the people of their com- munity. Mr. Vinson owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, five acres being put to trees. He is a member of the Grand Army.

WILLIAM M. WAGGONER.

Wm. M. Waggoner, whose fine 'farm of four hundred aeres in Howard county is a credit to his locality, is a man of broad mind and one of the prosperous agriculturists of Fairdale preeinet. He has always personally superintended the manage- ment of his estate, and to his earlier career of in- dnstry and thrift is due the possession of his pres- ent fine property. At one time he owned consider- ably more land than at present.

Mr. Waggoner was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, on November 8, 1842, being the eld- est in a family of eight-five boys ond three girls. His parents John and, Sarah ( MicCracken) Wag- goner, are both dead, although they lived to a ripe old age. William made his native state his home up to his twenty-third year, at that time going to Iowa, where he located in Jasper county with his bride of a few weeks, and begun farming. He re- mained there for about six years, then came to Ne- braska settling on a homestead in Howard county, on section two, township fifteen, range eleven, on May 29, 1872. He went through all the early pio- neer experiences during the settlement of the sec- tion, being among the first to establish a home here. and by dint of economy and perseverance suc-

917

COMPENDIUM OF IIISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

ceeded in developing a good farm. His home place is situated on the North Loup river, and is one of the best equipped and most productive tracts in the section. He has carried on diversified farming and stock raising, meeting with decided success in both lines.

On March 8, 1866, Mr. Waggoner was united in marriage to Margaret J. Wakefield, who is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Center county, al- though her girlhood was spent in our subject's home vicinity. She is a woman of very lovable char- acter, patient and uncomplaining, although for many years she has been an invalid. Mr. and Mrs. Waggoner have five living children, namely : John A., married and living in New Orleans, Louisiana, father of one child; Ella, wife of Wmn. Hinkley, having two children, and residing in Howard coun- ty, this state; George W., married and living in Louisiana; Frank W., of Elba, and IIenderson G., who was married to Annie C. Hutshell, in 1902, and is engaged in farming near his father's homestead.

Mr. Waggoner has always been prominent in neighborhood and county affairs, and for a number of years has been actively identified with educa- tional mattert in his district. Ile and Mrs. Wag- goner have been for years members of the United Brethren church at Elba. In politics Mr. Waggon- er is a republican.

At the present time (1911), Mr. Waggoner is one of two of the settlers who came to this section of Howard county during, or before, 1872.

ADAM SMITH.

Of the prominent and leading old settlers of eastern Nebraska, none are held in higher esteem by their fellow citizens than Adam Smith, retired farmer, who resides in Ord. Mr. Smith has been closely identified with the best interests of his home county and state since 1883.

Adam Smith, son of George and Catherine Smith, was born in Newport, Kentucky, Novem- ber 28, 1835, and was ninth in a family of ten chil- dren. He has a sister, Mary, now Mrs. George Phillippe, residing in Bicknell, Indiana, the others being deceased, as are also the parents, the father passing away in February of 1866, and the mother in February of 1867, surviving her husband just one year, their deaths occurring in Indiana.

When but two years of age Mr. Smith went with his parents to Vincennes, Indiana, where he received his education and grew to manhood. Oni September 23, 1858, he was married to Miss Cath- erine Blancit of Edwardsport, Indiana. Miss Blancit was a native of Alabama. Of this union two children were born, namely: Rosa B., wife of Perry Pierson, has two children, and lives in Val- ley county, Nebraska ; and George E., who is mar- ried, has two children, and lives in Howard county, Nebraska. Mrs. Smith died on the home farm, Feb- rnary 19, 1893, survived by her husband and chil- dren, and deeply mourned by all.

On July 31, 1861, Mr. Smith enlisted in Com- pany B, Twenty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving all through the war, and received his hon- orable discharge January 26, 1866, at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The decisive battles engaged in were the siege of Vicksburg, siege of Mobile, and Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and many minor engagements and skirmishes. Mr. Smith, in 1862, was promoted to regimental commissary sergeant. He was com- missioned lieutenant in August, 1865, but as hos- tilities had ceased, he was never mustered in as an officer.

After the war, he returned to Indiana, engaging extensively in the stock business, owning one of the finest stock farms in the state. In April of 1883 Mr. Smith came with his wife and two children to Valley county, Nebraska, homesteading one hun- dred and sixty acres of land twelve miles west of Ord; he also timber claimed one hundred and sixty ty acres and purchased another one hundred and sixty acres of Burlington and Missouri railroad land. After living for two years on the homestead. he moved on the timber claim, where he remained until 1896.

In September of 1894, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Rachel Polk of Indiana. In 1896 they moved to Ord, where Mr. Smith purchased a good home, where he still lives. Mrs. Smith died April 9, 1905, at her home in Ord.

Mr. Smith has been prosperous and successful, and at one time owned thirteen hundred acres of land, but sold out in 1903. In November of 1895 he was elected sheriff of his county, serving in that office four years.

On July 3, 1907, Mr. Smith was united in mar- riage to Mrs. Anna R. Purmann, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are living in the old Ord home, enjoying the respect and esteem of their many friends.

Mr. Smith is a progressive man, and has trav- eled widely, and notwithstanding his mature years is still active and interested in all the affairs of the times.

GOTTFRIED WOLSKI.

Gottfried Wolski. long familiar to the people of Madison county, Nebraska, where his fortunes have been east for many years, is a striking repre- sentative of those sterling qualities and manly vir- tues that peculiarly marked the pioneer settlers of Nebraska. His career demonstrates the value of persistent and well directed effort, and the compe- tence which he has acquired stands for hard and faithful work.

Mr. Wolski is a native of Germany, born Oc- tober 9, 1842, in the province of Prussia, and is a son of Gottlieb and Anna Wolski, both natives of Germany. Our subject's father was a herder in the old country, and after growing to manhood, as well as during his school years, the lad helped his father, remaining at home until he was twenty-four years of age.

918

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

In 1872 Mr. Wolski left the fatherland for America, embarking at Bremen on the sailboat "Columbus," and after a voyage of twelve weeks, landed in New York. After reaching the new world, he proceeded directly to Michigan where he lived about six years, coming to Madison county, Nebraska, in 1878.

After reaching Madison county, Mr. Wolski took up a homestead claim of eighty acres in sec- tion eight, township twenty-three, range two, and on this land built a log house and made steady im- provements. Mr. Wolski now owns two hundred and eighty-two acres of fine land and on this has two acres of trees.

In those first days of hardships and dangers on the western frontier, our subject and family en- dured all the vicissitudes and experiences of that period. Many times they fought the raging prairie fires that would sweep down upon them at times without any warning, and quick work had to be done to save their lives and possessions; this was only one of the dangers to be met and overcome in those pioneer days, and Mr. Wolski can relate many incidents of western frontier life.

Mr. Wolski was united in marriage in October, 1866, to Miss Minnie Kissner, a native of Prussia, and a daughter of Louisa Kissner. Alr. and Mrs. Wolski are the parents of fourteen children, five of whom are living: Carl, August, Mary, Bertha, and Eddie. They are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Wolski is a republican.

JOSEPH W. CASSEL.

One of the prominent citizens of Ansley is the gentleman named above who came to Nebraska at a time when the country was new and settlers were few. He is known as a successful man of affairs, a progressive farmer and enterprising business man.

Joseph W.Cassel, the eldest of seven children in the family of Jacob and Jane (Noland) Cassel, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on July 4, 1843. All of the children are still living and all reside in Dunn county, Wisconsin, except Joseph. The fath- er, who was a native of Holland, died in Wiscon- sin, and the mother passed away in Iowa. When nine years of age, the subscriber went with his par- ents to Iowa, where he grew np to manhood on the farm and received his education in the local schools.

On January 4, 1862, in Clayton county, Iowa, Mr. Cassel was married to Miss Mary White, a native of Bangor, Maine. Ten years later, with his wife and four children, Mr. Cassel came to Fill- more county, Nebraska, and pre-empted a quarter- section of land. After three or four years' resi- dence there, he removed to Thayer county, later going to the town of Carlton, where he worked at the carpenter's trade.

In the winter of 1877-78, he went to Buffalo county, Nebraska, and homesteaded a quarter-sec- tion ahout forty miles from Kearney. At the same

time, he also purchased another quarter-section on Deer creek.

In 1883, Mr. Cassel and family went to Cali- fornia, where he bought land and engaged in ranch- ing for two years. At the expiration of this time, he returned to Buffalo county, Nebraska, and a little later, went to Sioux county. From here the family went to Fall River county, South Dakota, after several years, moving again to Flathead coun- ty, Montana, where he remained for eight years.

Mr. Cassel came to Custer county, Nebraska, in 1909. He purchased ten lots in the city of Ansley, and built a comfortable modern home, where the family now lives.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cassel, named as follows : William Walter, Abbie J., now Mrs. John Harse ; George Y., Jacob F., and Mary E., now Mrs. Edward Wool- folk, who resides in Wyoming.

JOHN O'DONNELL.

John O'Donnell who resides in section thirteen, township thirty, range four, Knox county, Nebras- ka, has been identified with the history of Knox county from a very early date.

Mr. O'Donnell was born in Withville county, Virginia, in 1855. His birth place being a farm house, and his associations from the first being with agricultural interests, it is natural, therefore, that he should be a farmer, and that he should find suc- cess in life's endeavors in the tilling of the soil. Mr. O'Donnell's father, Michael, was born in Ireland, and was thirty years of age when he came to Amer- ica. Our subject's mother, Ellen (Hefferand) O'Donnell, was born in Tipparary, Ireland. They were married in the United States.

In 1880 Mir. O'Donnell came to Knox county, Nebraska ,where he took up a homestead in section thirteen, township thirty, range four, and also took a tree claim in section twenty-four, same township and range. He first built a sod house, and lived in this "soddy" for seven years, it proving to be a very comfortable dwelling place. Mr. O'Donnell went through many hardships in the first days of his settlement on the western frontier, but those times have passed to history, and he now enjoys the prosperity and conveniences of modern farın life. Mr. O'Donnell now owns eight hundred acres of fine land, and is a prosperous and substantial citizen in his community, where he is known and respected by a host of friends and business associates.

Mr. O'Donnell was united in marriage in 1875 to Miss Mary Morgan, and Mr. and Mrs. O'Donnell are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows : John M., who is married to Miss Endie Morgan, they having one child; and Mary, Charles, and Joe. Mr. and Mrs. O'Donnell and family live in their comfortable home, where they are surrounded by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

919

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

WILLIAM F. CAMPBELL.

Among the prosperous farmers and early set- tlers of Merrick county, Nebraska, the subject of this review, William F. Campbell, occupies a high position. He resides on section four, township fourteen, range eight, where he has a fine farm and comfortable home, and enjoys the esteem and re- spect of all who know him.

William F. Campbell was born in Porter county, Indiana, February 27, 1837, a son of Sam- uel and Elizabeth (Frame) Campbell, and was fifth in a family of seven children. His parents are now deceased, the father having died January 20, 1884, and the mother, March 18, 1895, both in In- diana. Our subject received his education in the home schools, and later engaged in farming. On January 1, 1862, Mr. Campbell was united in mar- riage to Miss Florissa Curtis, also of Indiana.

In October, 1864, Mr. Campbell enlisted in Com- pany C, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and served until close of war, receiving his discharge in Chicago, Illinois, in June of 1865, the time having been spent in Tennessee on guard duty. After the war, our subject came with his wife and six children to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section four, township fourteen, range eight, which is still the home place. Mr. Campbell has been prosperous and successful, and owns four hundred and seventy-three acres of land, devoted to stock and grain. He was instrumental in or- ganizing his school district number forty-nine, and served as moderator of same for a number of years.

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have had eleven chil- dren born to them : Silas, who is married, has three children and lives in Oregon; Leander, married, has one son, and resides in Merrick county ; Sa- bina, wife of Clarence Newlon, has two children, and they reside on a farm in Howard county, Ne- braska : Mahala, deceased, in 1907, survived by her husband, Sherman Cox; Prior, married, has four children, and lives in Merrick county ; Homer, mar- ried, has two children, and also resides in Merrick county ; Orlando, married, has two children, and lives in Merrick county ; Robert, married, lives in Merrick county, and has three children; Walter also married, residing in Merrick county; Fran- cina, wife of Arthur Nicholas, has two children, and lives in Merrick county; and Ruby, who re- sides at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are among the earliest settlers of the county and passed through all the experiences and hardships incidental to pioneer life.

E. C. PHILLIPS.

Prominent among the leading old settlers of Knox county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this personal history, is entitled to a foremost place. He is a man of active publie spirit, always lending his aid and influence for the bettering of conditions in his home county and state.

Mr. Phillips is a native of Iowa, his birth hav- ing occurred July 3, 1868. He is the son of Peter and Elizabeth (IIurley) Phillips. The father, a native of Illinois, was born in the year 1838, and died in California in 1906. The mother is a native of Indiana, and was born May 9, 1838. Our sub- ject's father was a soldier in the Civil war, enlist- ing in Company I, Thirty-eighth Iowa Infantry, and served all through the war. He was in the Thirteenth Army Corps, and the first winter was at New Madrid, Missouri. From there he went to Vicksburg, Mississippi, and was there from the be- gitining to the end of the siege. He then went to Mort Hudson, then New Orleans, Brownsville, Texas, Fort Barancus, Alabama; Pensacola, Ala- bama, and Mobile. From the latter place, he went back to Houston, Texas, where the regiment was discharged, and later mustered out at Davenport, Iowa.

In the fall of 1879, Peter Phillips, with the family, drove from Iowa to Nemaha county, Ne- braska, and remained until the following spring. They then came to Knox county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead on sections thirty-one and twenty-eight, township thirty-one, range eight, and also took a pre-emption claim on section thirty, township thirty-one, range eight. He disposed of his Knox county property, and in 1894 went to California. The following fall he returned to Knox county for a short time, and then went back to California, where he stayed until his death.

E. C. Phillips has made a scientific study of ag- riculture, and in his experiments has found that the rotation of crops brings the best results. He is now engaged in mixed farming, along which line he has the best success. In 1893 E. C. Phillips bought the northeast quarter of section six, town- ship thirty, range eight, where he lived until 1906, when he sold and purchased two hundred acres where he now lives, in section thirty-two, township thirty-one, range eight.

In 1898 Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Rhoda Thayer, and they are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows: Alice, Elsie, Delbert, Mildred, and Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips and family enjoy the friendship and es- teem of a host of friends and acquaintances, and Mr. Phillips is a worthy, substantial citizen, and is so considered in his community.

SOLOMON DAVID DENNEY.

The gentleman whose name heads this article is one of the prosperous and influential pioneer far- mers of Stanton county.

He has been a resident of this county for nearly thirty years, and is known throughout the locality as a man of energetic habits and sterling worth. Ile has a very pleasant home located on section twenty-nine, township twenty-four, and has gath- ered about his the comforts and many of the luxu- ries of life and is reaping the reward of his many years of earnest labor.

920

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

Mr. Denney is a native of West Virginia, and was born in 1861, the son of James and Sussian Denney. His mother, who was of German descent, was born in Ohio; his father of Scotch-Irish de- scent, was a native of Pennsylvania. The subscri- bers' early years were spent in his native state, but in 1873, the family moved to Illinois, and it was here that he spent the years of his youth, residing in Piatt county, near the town of Ivesdale.

In 1883, just a year or two after Mr. Denney attained his majority, he came to Stanton county, Nebraska, and rented land, which he worked for himself. In a short time, he had the opportunity to buy land cheaply and purchased the farm which has been his home since that date. He has made extensive improvements, adding fences, buildings, planting trees, etc., and it is now as thrifty a place as can be seen in a day's journey.

Mr. Denney was united in marriage to Miss Malissa Burtwhistle in 1886. Six children have come to bless their home who bear the following names : James, Alva, Earl, Emory, Mary, and Eunice.

Mr. and Mrs. Denney are well-known through- out the county, and enjoy the respect and esteem of many friends.

In 1894 to 1897, he served as a member of the board of county commissioners, although a repub- lican, he was elected to the place by a splendid plurality, overcoming democratic opposition, which had hitherto carried the elections. He is also a member of the administrative board as trustee of the Pilger Methodist Episcopal church.

JOSEPH ROTTER.

Joseph Rotter, who resides on section twelve, township twenty-three, range five, in Antelope county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old-timers in this section who has always done his full share in the betterment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives.

. Mr. Rotter was born in Austria, September 23, 1843, and after attaining his manhood years was nnited in marriage in Braumseifen, Maehren prov- ince in February, 1868, to Miss Caroline Peshka Baker, also of Austria. In 1878 Mr. Rotter, with his family, left his native land for America, where land could be had cheaper, and where a young man with a family to support could have a better oppor- tunity to get a start in life. After landing in New York in the fall of 1878, Mr. Rotter set his face westward, settling in Butler county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1879, where he remained six months, then came to Antelope county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead, on which he built a sod house, in which he lived for seven years; he later built a frame house, and two days after it was blown down; he then rebuilt, and in July of 1895 this house was destroyed, and Mr. Rotter again built up a fine home. The family experienced many hardships in those early days and suffered priva-

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 199

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