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 216

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 216

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cause which he considers for the best interests of the people. In politics he is republican.

Eight children have blessed the union of Mr. Gordan and wife, namely: Lonis W., Clifford H., married Kate Echer of Schuyler; Esther, married Victor Malm, Lloyd, Theodore, Myrtle, Charles, and Alven. Mr. Gordan passed through many try- ing experiences in his early years in the state and since he began farming on his own account has met with various reverses and discouragements. In the year 1892 he lost'all his erops by hail and during the next four years his crops were a failure by reason of drouth, or hail which destroyed or in- jured 'five successive crops. Four years the grass- hoppers totally or partially devoured his grain and growing corn, one year being numerous enough to stop the trains by making slippery tracks where ground beneath the wheels. When the family came to the state, antelope were to be seen by the thou- sands; Mr. Gordan, senior, killed many of them, as well as deer and buffalo to supply the family in meat. He, together with an elder son and son-in- law, had just returned from hunting west of Grand Island when the three days' blizzard of April 12 to 14, 1873, broke over the country. Mr. Gordan of this sketch just missed being out in the well- known blizzard of January 12, 1888. He used a clothesline to find his way to the barn and return in feeding his stock. For thirty-five years, since the age of ten, Mr. Gordan followed threshing; in that time he owned several horsepowers, ten new engines, fourteen separators, and seventeen corn shellers. His policy was to sell while still in good condition and buy new, thus avoiding breakage and expensive repairs. In 1911 he retired from the business having spent enough years in the trying vocation.

DAVID E. STRONG.

David E. Strong occupies a foremost place among the energetic and prosperous farmers and ranchmen of Valley county, Nebraska, where he owns a good farm in section twenty-two, township nineteen, range thirteen. He has developed this farm by energetic labors, supplemented by honest dealings, and is one of the highly esteemed men of his community. Mir. Strong has passed through all the early Nebraska times, and is widely known throughout the eastern part of the state as having done mueh toward the upbuilding of the agricul- tural and commercial interests of the region.

Mr. Strong was born in Winnebago county, Illi- nois, August 28, 1858, and was fifth of eight chil- dren in the family of Ephriam P. and Marion D. (Diltz) Strong, who had five sons and three daugh- ters.' The Strong family were residents of several counties in Illinois, but at the time David E. came to Nebraska, the family were making their home it Winnchago county. The father made two trips across the plains to California, and about 1865 he started on his third overland trip, and from that time was never heard from; the mother died in

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July of 1884, in Illinois; three sons and one daugh- ter are living: David E., lives in Valley county : Joseph in Hamilton county; Frank went to south- ern Illinois and nothing has been heard from him since; Charles lives in Rockford, Illinois; and Martha, who married Seger Rouse, resides in Rock- ford, Illinois.

David E. went out for himself at an early age. coming to Hamilton county, Nebraska, in 1878, and to Valley county in 1879. As soon as he became of age he took up a homestead in Valley county, on section two, township nineteen, range thirteen, and also timber-claimed, proving up on same.

Mr. Strong is one of the younger old settlers of Valley county, and has had much to do with the building up of same. He now lives on a forty-acre tract in section twenty-two, township nineteen, range thirteen, where he has a fine, well-improved farm, including one hundred and sixty acres near- by in section twenty-one, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is a carpenter by trade, and followed that vocation from 1895 until 1910, the sons being large enough to run the farm. Mr. Strong built most of the large barns and fine dwellings in this part of the valley during the years he was a builder. He is a self-made man, having supported himself since his twelfth year, with the usual varied western experience.

On April 16, 1884, Mr. Strong was married to Miss Florence D. Drake, in Ord, Nebraska, Miss Drake, a daughter of James T. and Susanna (Sargent) Drake, is a native of New York state, and comes of an old Valley county family. Mr. and Mrs. Strong have three children : Marion, Guy M., and Hazel Blanche. They are a family having the respect and esteem of many friends and acquain- tances.

During his first years in Nebraska Mr. Strong rented land in Hamilton county, where he raised corn and broke his own land and seeded to wheat, hauling his grain to Grand Island, over sixty miles distant. Part of the time he freighted between Grand Island and Central City into the Loup coun- try. There were a few deer in Valley county at that time, and a few elk in Hamilton. At one time, while living on his homestead, a drove of over three thousand Texas cattle trailing across the country to the Sioux reservation, were herded near him in the valley of Noble township.

Mr. Strong has in past years been closely iden- tified with the growth and development of Valley -

county, and has served the people creditably as township assessor. He is a member of the Metho- dist church, and affiliates with the Odd Fellows and the United Workmen. He is independent in politics.

We show a sketch of Mr. Strong's original sod house on his homestead in contrast with his present commodious home and farm buildings, all of which are of his own construction.

EUGENE A. KINKAID.

Eugene A. Kinkaid, one of the best known pion- eers of Pierce county, Nebraska, is a prosperous agriculturist of the southwest quarter of section fourteen, township twenty-six, range four, where he has spent the past thirty-eight years of his life. He has followed farming nearly all his life, and despite many discouragements during his early residence in this section, has acquired a thoroughly improved farm of four hundred and eighty acres and become one of the well-to-do men of this lo- cality.

Mr. Kinkaid was born July 12, 1860, in Scott county, Iowa, and is a son of Skiles W. and Mary (Mooney) Kinkaid, both natives of Pennsylvania, who were married in Davenport, Iowa, in 1857. Our subject's father came to Iowa in the early forties, and enlisted in Company A, Fourteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, serv- ing in the army of the west.

In 1868, Mr. Kinkaid with his parents moved from Scott county, Iowa, to Freeborn county, Min- nesota, where they lived about four years near Albert Lea, and in 1872 came by ox team to Pierce county, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded land in section twenty-two, township twenty-six, range four. Here the family experienced their full share of hardships and inconveniences common to those early days, the nearest railroad market place being at Wisner, the end of the railroad, sixty miles away.

They lost their entire crops in the grasshopper raids of 1873, 1874 and 1875, and at the time of the blizzard of April 12, 13 and 14, 1873, they were building a house, which was partly completed at the time; the frame was up but the roof was not on, and their only shelter was canvas nailed on the studding. The storm was so bad they could not get out from under the canvas for three days, and they were almost frozen. A storm in the fall drove their cattle to the Elkhorn river, where nearly all per- ished. When searching for them the father found a vacant house, which he rented for the winter, and during that time cut trees and made lumber to fin- ish the house they had started. The family had come back to their claim but a few weeks before this severe storm, and were illy prepared to withstand it. They had a serious time fighting prairie fires in the early days, a constant menace to their build- ings and crops. For several years hay was their only fuel. Elk, deer and antelope were plentiful then, and also a few buffalo were to be seen from time to time.

On October 4, 1888, Mr. Kinkaid was united in matrimony to Miss Blanche Wetherby, a native of Whiteside county, Illinois, daughter of Lafayette and Elizabeth (Hatheway) Wetherby. To Mr. and Mrs. Kinkaid four children have been born: Alice, Ethel, Carroll and Mattie.

In the spring of 1888, Mr. Kinkaid homesteaded land in the southwest quarter of section fourteen, township twenty-six, range four, and has one hun-

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dred and sixty acres in section twenty-two, and another quarter section in section fifteen, making four hundred and eighty acres in all.

Mr. Kinkaid is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and votes the repub- lican ticket.

NIELS J. STEFFENSEN.

In the gentleman above mentioned we have one of the worthy citizens of Howard county, Nebras- ka, who for many years past has been active in all affairs of local benefit, aiding in the establishment and building up of the schools, furthering the com- mercial and farming interests of his section, etc. He is well known as a successful farmer and stock- man. He resides on section twenty-eight, of War- saw precinct, which is his original homestead taken in the pioneer days, and this he has improved in such shape that he has one of the best equipped estates in the region.

Niels J. Steffensen is a native of Denmark, born on August 20, 1847, and is the second child in the family of Steffen and Mary Nielson, who were the parents of four. The father died in Denmark, and the mother is still living there at the age of eighty-nine years, and is still in good health.

Niels came to America in the spring of 1873, locating in Howard county, where he settled on a tract of land and begun to develop a farm. He met with many discouragements during the first few years, going through all the hardships incident to pioneer life on the frontier, but gradually suc- ceeded in raising good crops and adding improve- ments to his place. He engaged to quite an extent in the stock raising business, getting together quite a herd of cattle, and during later years has ac- quired considerable land in Howard county, be- sides some in Sherman county. Ile is progressive and up-to-date in his methods of farming, and every part of his estate bespeaks thrift and good management.

Mr. Steffensen was married in Denmark in 1871, to Katrina Petersen, who came to America with him and passed through the same experiences as her husband, and to her faithful help is due in a great measure his success. They have a family of eight children, namely: Jens P., Mary, Soren, Emma, Annie, Stenie, Elsie, and Sarah, all mar- ried and settled in comfortable homes with the ex ception of Soren, who lives with his parents on the homestead. The family is greatly respected throughout their vicinity, and have a wide ac- quaintance.

DAVID P. SCOTT.

David P. Scott is a member of a family that has long been prominent in Custer county, and he has been closely identified with the best interests of Ansley, of wich city he has been serving as marshal since 1905. He is also city water commis-

ioner and is one of the best known men in the com- munity. He has a comfortable home in Ansley and enjoys the respect of 'a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Scott was born in Scotland, January 2, 1859, second of the five children of George and Margaret (Purvis) Scott, also natives of that country. The family is given more extensine men- tion in connection with the sketch of John Scott, which may be found in this work. The father came to America in 1867 and David Scott grew to man- hood in Wisconsin, where he then engaged in farming on his own account. In 1868 he went to Colorado and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land near Holyoke, remaining there three years, following which he worked some years for the Denver Union Water Works Company.

On June 5, 1895, Mr. Scott was married at the Garniss home in Custer county, to Miss Harriet Garniss, a native of Canada, who came to Ne- braska with her parents in an early day. They came first to Howard county and later to Custer county. The family is mentioned at considerable length in connection with the sketch of'John Gar- niss. to be found in this work. In 1898 Mr. Scott and Ifis wife, with their two children, came to Cus- ter county and spent three years on a farm there, then lived three years in Troy, Idaho, where Mr. Scott did teaming. In 1904 they came back to Nebraska and since that time they have lived in Ansley. Five children have been born to them, viz. : Gladys E., Hazel J., Henry P., George T., and Belva H., all at home. Mr. Scott is favorably regarded as a useful, enterprising citizen, and he and his wife are well-known in Custer county, where both have spent much of their lives. Mr. Scott is affiliated with Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Royal Neighbors of America.

E. T. McGEHEE.

E. T. McGehee, of Madison county, Nebraska, has, by dint of general industry, reliable character and straightforward business methods, built up for himself a name and standing second to none in this part of Nebraska. He is still in the maturity of his powers, and commands a host of friends wherever he is known. Mr. McGehee is one of the very oldest settlers in this region, having come here to reside some forty-nine years ago; he now lives in section six, township twenty-one, range one, where he and his family are loved and respected by all.

Mr. MeGehee is a native of Iowa county, Wis- consin, born April 8, 1850, and is a son of Hender- son and Sarah McGehee, both natives of Ten- nessee.

In 1871 our subjects left his home and came to Madison county, Nebraska, coming by ox team, being four weeks on the way. He took up a home- stead in Platte county, Nebraska, nine miles south

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of Madison City, and after locating on the home- stead, built a dug-out and lived in this five years; he then built a frame house, hauling the lumber for this house from Columbus, many miles distant. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those days, and occasionally a few elk were to be seen; in 1873, 1874, and 1875, the grasshoppers destroyed all the crops, which made it very hard sailing for the carly settler.

In 1893 Mr. MeGehee bought the Adair and Martin homestead, his present farm, which he im- proved, and where he now has a beautiful home. While living on this farm, in 1894, he lost all his erops by the hot winds that prevailed during that season. Mr. MeGehee now owns about thirteen hundred and seven acres of fine land, all of which is well improved.

In 1876 Mr. MeGehee was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Leach, and Mr. and Mrs. McGchee are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows: Ralph, Edna, Florence, Ruth, Arla, Mary, and Elberta. They are a prominent family, and, as before stated, are highly respected and es- teemed by all who know them, and their friends are many.

JUDGE JOHN S. BENJAMIN.

Judge John S. Benjamin is one of the oldest settlers of Custer county and one of the best known citizens in his part of Nebraska, where his name stands for progress. He is honored and respected as a veteran of the civil war, and has a wide cirele of personal friends. He was born in Ithaca, New York, March 15, 1839, being fourth in a family of six children and a son of Selah T. and Mary (Townley) Benjamin, natives of New York, where both died, he in 1876 and she in 1853. Several of their children are deceased and besides Judge Ben- jamin, the only other one'now surviving is Harri- son II., of Ithaca.

Judge Benjamin grew to manhood in his native state and there received his education, later learn- ing the trade of cigar-maker. On September 10, 1861, he enlisted from Ithaea in Company E, Sixty- fourth New York volunteer infantry, serving until the close of the war. He was discharged at Elmira in May, 1865, having participated in the following important engagements: Gettysburg, Antietam, Spottsylvania Court House, Fredericksburg, Wild- erness, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Malvern ITill, White Oak Swamp, Chancellorsville, second Bull Run and Petersburg. Virginia. He was wounded at Fredericksburg, and at Petersburg was taken pris- oner and held in Andersonville prison ten months. He held the rank of second lieutenant, and later that of first lieutenant, and finally that of captain of his company. IIe won a good record for faith- ful service and after the close of the war returned to New York, and there engaged in the cigar busi- ness on his own account, which he continued until 1868. In that year he removed to Marshall, Michi-

gan, and there on March 12, 1874, he was united in marriage with Delia Murphy, a native of Michigan, and daughter of Michael and Ann (Calhoun) Murphy, her father born in Cork, Ireland, and her mother in St. John's, New Brunswick. Both par- ents died in Marshall, Michigan, the father in 1869, and the mother in 1862. One daughter lives in Battle Creek, Michigan, and a son in Indian- apolis, Indiana.

In December, 1881, Mr. Benjamin brought his wife and two children to Grand Island, Nebraska, and in the following March they came to a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-nine, township seventeen, range twenty, adjoining the city limits of Broken Bow. This has since then been the home place, and for many years the family occupied a sod house that was characteristic of the time and locality. In 1883 he was appointed county judge and served about a year and a half, after which he was elected to the office and held it a number of years. He was for some time Commander of Washburn Post, G. A. R., of Broken Bow. He and his wife have witnessed the steady growth of Broken Bow from the time it consisted of one house and the postoffice and have done their share towards forwarding its development and welfare.

Judge and Mrs. Benjamin have two children, Eva, wife of Harry Townley, of Ravenna, Ne- braska, and John S., Jr., who is now in the the- atrical profession. The latter enlisted in 1898 as musician in Company M, First Nebraska volunteer infantry, for service in the Spanish-American war, and soon afterward entered active service, partici- pating in the capture of Manila. He received his discharge at San Francisco. udge Benjamin is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

DANIEL McMANIGAL.

It would be impossible to tell the history of northeastern Nebraska without mentioning the name of Daniel MeManigal, so closely has his life been interwoven with the life of that section. For many years he has been a resident of Wayne county, and before that time, had been prominent among the first settlers of this part of the state. His deep interest in public affairs was evinced when he served his country during the Civil war. He was a brave and loyal soldier, and has proven himself a true, public-spirited citizen. He is one of the most successful farmers of the locality, and is the proprietor of five hundred and sixty acres of fine land.

Mr. McManigal was born in Ohio, November 14, 1832, his father and mother, James and Lo- vina (Wilds) McManigal, both having come from the old country some years previous. The father was born in Ireland, and the mother in Scotland. The childhood and youth of our subscriber was spent in Ohio, where he obtained his education.

When the call for volunteers was sent forth in 1861, our subscriber was among the first to enlist

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

in Company C, Fifty-third Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. After about two years and three months, he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment. He served during the whole four years, the latter part of which he was under General Sherman. He also participated in the grand review at Washing- ton, following the elose of the war. Engagements in which Mr. MeManigal took part were: Fort HIenry, Shiloh, Gettysburg, Corinth, Holly Springs, Kingston, Resaeca, and Dallas. Ile was wounded eleven times.

After the war. Mr. MeManigal returned to Ohio and worked at the Junior Furnace Iron Works until coming to the west. In 1873, he came to Washington county, Nebraska, where he bought eighty acres of land. He remained here until 1881, when he came to Wayne county, and bought the farm of four hundred acres, which has been his home since that date. His original purchase has been improved and added to, until now he has one of the finest estates in the county.

In 1865, Mr. MeManigal was united in mar- riage to Miss Jane Beleher, of Ohio. Five chil- dren have been born to them: Luey, wife of S. K. West, who live in Tripp county, South Dakota ; Eddie P .. on a farm nine miles from Bonesteel. South Dakota; S. F., who died in 1899, leaving a widow and two children who live in Tripp county. South Dakota; Ellis, who died in 1897, leaving : widow and an unborn child, who now live in Cum- ing county, Nebraska, and M. B., a resident of Happy, Texas.

Mr. MeManigal is a republican, casting his first vote for John C. Fremont.

ALBERT SCUDDER.

Albert Scudder, deceased, who during his life time made an enviable record as a farmer and stockman, the result of his own toil and economy. was born in Ontario county, New York state, March 31, 1844, and was the only son of James and Betsie (Perkins) Seudder, who were married in Ontario county, New York, about 1820. The father died in 1848. On March 31, 1856, our subject's mother married Melvin J. Keith at the home of her mother in Michigan, and of this union four chil- dren were born, three sons and one daughter. Mrs. Keith died at her home in Dover, Bureau county. Illinois, September 27, 1908, being close to eighty- six years of age. Mr. Scudder had gone to Michi- gan with his mother, and after her marriage to Mr. Keith, went with them to Illinois in 1856.

Mr. Seudder was a farmer boy. In his seven - teenth year, in 1861, enlisted in Company C, Seventh Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, being Orderly for General John Palmer for three years, serving in all three years, nine months, and ten days, par- ticipating in a number of the principal battles and engagements of the war. Ile was captured and confined in prisons of Atlanta, Georgia, Charles- ton, South Carolina, and at Andersonville and was continuously in prison for fourteen months. This

so impaired his health that he came out of the war mueh broken in health, and he'suffered the effects of his army prison experience the remainder of his life. Ile had an honorable war record. It is a matter of history that he was one of a small detaeh- ment of men on reconnoitering duty along the Con- federate lines at time of the capture of himself and comrades, and our subject was the only one of the seven who emerged from the prison alive. Mr. Seudder received his honorable discharge at the close of war, on May 11, 1865, returning then to Illinois.

On April 1, 1868, Mr. Seudder was united in marriage to Miss Melissa Smith, in Bureau county, Illinois, where they resided until 1872, when they came to Merrick county, Nebraska, locating in Mead Township, where they resided on their farm raneh until moving into Central City in 1897. Mr. Seudder was largely interested in ranching and stock ; he was a pioneer settler of Merriek county, passing through the hardships of early ,days. IFe was a quiet, forceful man, always giving of his time and energy for the best interests of home, church, educational, and political issues.

After coming to Central City from the ranch, Mr. Seudder became an active business man, en- gaging in the grocery trade, and continued in same until time of his death, January 7, 1905. He was survived by his wife and five children : Frank- lin Lee Seudder; Melvin G., Mrs. Ada (Seudder) Wilson ; Mrs. Blanche (Scudder) Oshorn; and Charles Sendder.

Mrs. Sendder resides in Central City sur- rounded by her children and grandehildren, also many loving friends. The children were all born in Merriek eounty except the eldest ; and all mar- ried except Charles. and all reside in that county.

V. J. PROKOP.

One of the leading old settlers of Knox county, Nebraska, is the gentleman whose name heads this review. His labors in this section have aided ma- terially the development of the region, and his name will occupy a prominent place in history as one of those intimately identified with its growth and progress. He has gained an enviable reputa- tion through his honesty and integrity, and, is highly respected and esteemed by all. He resides on section thirty-four, township thirty-one, range seven, where he has a pleasant home.

Mr. Prokop is a native of Bohemia, his birth oeeurring in 1865, and he is the son of Joseph and Mary (Marcan) Prokop, who were also natives of Bohemia. In 1883 Mr. Prokop, with his parents, came to America, and after reaching the United States, the father took up a homestead elaim two miles west of Verdigris, and on this land they built a good frame house; later they also took a tree claim. The family experieneed the usual hard- ships and privations incident to those'early times. In 1888. during the memorable blizzard of that year, they lost many cattle in the storm; in 1894

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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 216

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