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 55

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 55

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Kenneth W. McDonald, our subject, was born in Smyth county, Virginia, January 18, 1874, of a third generation born in the same house. He is a son of James V. and Emeline A. (Gannaway) McDonald. The mother is a daugh- ter of John and Kizzialı (Barringer) Gannaway, the latter a daughter of Adam and Eliza- beth (Strafer) Gannaway. The paternal grand- parents were William and Elizabeth (Wright) Gannaway, all of whom were 'natives of Vir- ginia. Mrs. McDonald is a cousin of William Gannaway Brownlee, famous during the civil war under the name of "Parson Brownlee," as the "fighting parson," and later Governor of Tennessee, and for years was editor of the "Knoxville Whig." Orphaned at an early age, he was reared in the family with Mrs. McDon- ald.

Kenneth W. McDonald attended school three years in his native state and graduated in the Pierce schools in 1892; read law in the office of his present partner, Fred H. Free, and was ad- mitted to the bar of the state of Nebraska in No- vember, 1906.

The McDonalds are all staunch democrats, and several members of the family have held of- fice in the county by the favor of that oldest political organization.

JOHN S. SCHOW.

John S. Schow, a farmer of ability and pro- gressiveness, resides in Fairdale precinct, and is one of the respected citizens of Howard county. He has succeeded through many difficulties in building up a good farm and home, and may be classed among the selfmade men of that locality, being now well-to-do and enjoying a comfortable home and pleasant surroundings.

Mr. Schow was born in Denmark, June 11, 1848, and was the fifth in a family of six children born to his parents, Seren and Catherine Schow. When he was nine years old the family came to America, their first location being Iowa City, Iowa. After a short stay in that vicinity they packed their belongings in wagons and started to make the trip overland to Salt Lake City, Utah, leaving Iowa City about June 1st, and landing

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in Utah August 15, 1857. In the party going to Utah were about six hundred people, the wagon train being composed of sixty-six wagons and sixty-three vehicles which were called "hand- cars," and were propelled by hand power. After an eventful journey, tedious and discouraging experiences, they arrived at their destination, the Schow family loeating at Spanish Forks, Utah, where they spent four years, engaged in farm- ing. From there they went to Camp Floyd, which was the first soldiers' fort in Utah, and they made that their home for two years, following both farming and freighting, also herding stock on the plains, etc. These were really the pio- neer days in Utah, and it is an interesting tale to listen to Mr. Schow's recital of the adventures they met with in those times. While living there, they were practically forced to remain cut off from all outside communication, as there were no regular trains or mode of travel excepting by wagon, etc.

In 1864 Seren Sehow and his family, consist ing of himself, wife, our subject, and another son, started for Nebraska. making this trip also by wagon drawn by one horse, and an ox team. They were accompanied by three other families and their wagon teams, and during this trip they came upon a number of wagon parties who had been left stranded on the plains by Indians who had taken their horses and other stock which they were driving to new locations. Our subject and his family arrived in Fremont on July 4th, and settled on a farm five miles north of that place which they occupied for nineteen years. The mother died there in 1873, and the father six years later, the sons remaining on the original homestead for several years.

Our subject was married there to Mary Han- sen, February 22, 1879, and she died in Novem- ber of the same year. Mr. Schow soon afterwards moved into Nance county, remaining there for nineteen years, then came into Howard county, arriving here on March 13, 1902. He at once purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on seetions seventeen and eighteen, township six- teen and range eleven, and here he has sue- ceeded in building up a good home and farm. he- ing classed among the well-to-do and progres- sive farmers of his locality. He now owns six hundred and forty acres, all in the sections men- tioned above except one quarter section in sec- tion nine, township fifteen, range ten.

Mr. Schow was married the second time, in Nanee eounty, to Mary Nielsen, the event occur- ing on April 6, 1883. Mrs. Schow was born in Denmark, and came to America in 1881, settling in Nance county, Nebraska, with her brother. where she met the man whom she later married. Mr. and Mrs. Sehow have had ten children. nine of whom were born in Nance county, and the other ip Howard county. They are named as fol- lows: Mary, now deceased, Anna T .. wife of Leonard I arson. John .J., Andrew, Carrie L ..

Marie, Dora B., Laura, Ernest M., and a son who died in infancy. They are a fine family and have many friends in the community in which they live.

Mr. Schow has served in different capacities in his precinct, now being on the school board of district number forty-three. Also, while lving in Nance county, he held the office of school treasurer for thirteen years.

MINGERSON COOMBS.

Mingerson Coombs is one of the leading busi- ness men of Ord an dis also one of the best known pioneers of Valley county. He was born in Knox county, Maine, on the 26th of March, 1845, and was the third of eight children born to Archibald and Harriet Newell Coombs. When he was only fourteen years of age, the family moved to LaPorte county, Indiana, where he worked on his father's farm until he had at- tained his majority.

When Mr. Coombs became of age, he opened a store in New Carlisle, Indiana, and enjoyed a fair success there. In 1869, he moved to Berrien county, Michigan, where he bought a fruit farm. However, in 1873, he had an opportunity to dis- pose of the fruit farm at considerable advan- tage, so he sold it and came directly to Valley county, Nebraska, where he located a home- stead and timber claim. It is a matter of grati- fication to Mr. Coombs that he succeeded in ac- eomplishing here what few others did-taking a claim under the original timber act, which re- quired the actual planting and cultivation of forty acres of timber. Mr. Coombs met with success with his efforts, many of the trees now standing being three feet in diameter and one on the place is over twelve feet in circumference.

Mr. Coombs was engaged in farming for years, and of course, met with all the discourage- ments which caused so many to become "quit- ters." However, he stayed with the county until Nebraska has lived down the bad reputation giv- en it in the early years. He has always had much to do with public affairs and at different times filled the office of county commissioner, county surveyor. county superintendent of schools, and mayor of Ord. This alone shows in what light he is regarded by the people. He is now engaged in mercantile business in Ord, and is one of the most prosperons men of the community.

For nine years after coming to Valley county, Mr. Coombs was known as the "bachelor home- steader." His father and mother. however. came eventually to Valley county, and lived there for the rest of their lives. hoth living to a ripe old age. In 1882. Mr Coombs was married to Miss Nellie Rowell in Creston, Iowa. Two children have been born to them, only one. Archibald K .. now living.

Mr. and Mrs. Coombs have always been closely

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identified with the social life of Valley county, and have rendered great aid in the development of education in the community.

T. G. OSTREM.

In this volume is given the life history of many of the foremost citizens of the state of Ne- braska, and none holds a higher place in the an- nals of the region than the gentleman whose name heads this review. Mr. Ostrem is one of the prominent early settlers of Madison county, has spent in all about twenty-five years in this region, and during that time has accumulated a fine property by dint of thrift, economy and per- severance, and also has done a great deal towards advancing the best interests of that part of the state.

T. G. Ostrem comes from the country that has given to us so many of the brave and sturdy set- tlers, and possesses all the best traits of his Nor- wegian ancestors. He first saw the light on July 2, 1870, and was the ninth in a family of nine children born to Goodman and Caroline Ostrem.

When only seventeen years of age, our sub- ject left his native land and came alone to America, 'where he was told that plenty of cheap land was to be had for those who were willing to work for it. He crossed the sea as an emi- grant, and on landing in New York made ar- rangements to proceed at once to Nebraska, ar- riving in Madison county in the month of April, 1887, working out on different ranches for sev- eral years. In 1892 he purchased some land in Boone county. and spent two years in farming it, then traded the property for the farm which he now occupies, situated on section seventeen, township twenty-one, range four. This he has transformed into a fine place, having a complete set of substantial buildings, including a hand- some residence, and is classed as one of the wealthy men of his locality, his farm comprising three hundred and twenty acres.

Mr. Ostrem was united in marriage to Miss Lettie Simonson, who was born and reared in six children, named as follows: Casper, Amanda, Norway. She died in 1905, leaving a family of Gustave, Berntena, Gerhart and Benjamin.

In 1907 Mr. Ostrem was married to Miss Ingeborg Bargo, to whom one child has been born, but died in infancy.

JOHN G. KELLOGG.

John G. Kellogg. born in Lake county, Illi- nois, January 15, 1846, was the third of six chil- dren born to Asahel and Eunice (Heald) Kellogg. John G., the subject of this sketch, lived here on the Illinois farm until he was then about twenty years of age. He then went east, living in the state of New Jersey for about eighteen months during 1866 and 1867, afterwards returning again to the Illinois home.

About April, 1869, John Kellogg, with Cor- nelius Benson, and Alza and Edwin Stewart, left Lake county for Columbus, Nebraska. They purchased horses, wagons, household goods, etc., and loaded one car, coming by rail to Council Bluffs. Here they unloaded and were ferried across the river and from Omaha to Columbus, going by the overland route with their teams. Upon reaching the river at Columbus, they dis- covered that there was no wagon bridge at this point. However, they succeeded in running the wagons across the railroad bridge by hand and swam the horses across. This expedient saved them the railroad charge of $20.00 from Colum- bus to Duncan, which meant a great deal to them at this particular time.

Daniel Benson and family, who were from the same locality in Illinois, joined them at Co- lumbus. Mr. Kellogg took a pre-emption claim in Platte county, but in the latter part of August, 1871, he, in company with Alonzo Shepherd, Alza Stewart and S. C. Scott, came to the North Loup river valley, taking homesteads near what are now the towns of North Loup and Scotia. They all located their claims on the east side of the river, in Greeley county, which at that time was not yet organized, Mr. Kellogg taking his land in sections twenty-nine and thirty-two, township eighteen, range twelve, most of it lying along the river.

Mr. Kellogg returned to Platte county, but in the spring of the following year he took up his permanent residence on the North Loup home- stead. This original homestead remained his bachelor home until September, 1878, when his father and sister came to Greeley county, taking up their homestead on section thirty-two, town- ship twelve, range eighteen. His mother had died in Illinois in 1869 but his father lived until 1896 on the Nebraska farm.

After the arrival of Mr. Kellogg's father and sister, he made his home with them until his own marriage on January 30, 1879, to Miss Belle Scott, daughter of Samuel C. and Caroline (Ray- dure) Scott. It will be recalled that Mr. Scott came to Greeley county in 1871 while Mr. Ben- son came in 1869.

Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg took up their residence on the Asahel Kellogg farm, and they still re- side there. This farm is now owned by Mr. Kel- logg and his own homestead adjoins it.

Mr. Kellogg passed successfully through the hardships of the early pioneer history of Ne- braska. The struggle for many years was a se- vere one, requiring a strong determination and much hard work to overcome the adverse cir- cumstances. Mr. Kellogg was one of the very few who stayed on the old homestead through the years of adversity. He now has over seven hundred acres of land, a fine, comfortable home, an usually well-equipped grain and stock farm, and is reckoned one of the most successful and

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prosperous farmers and stockmen in the com- munity.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg, one of them-Gertrude-dying in in- fancy. The five still living are Grace, Asahel, Mary, Florence and Portia.

Mr. Kellogg was the first county superin- tendent of schools in Greeley county, and Mrs. Kellogg was the first teacher. Her pupils were only five little girls, and she herself was then only fourteen years old, but she had passed the examination for teacher.

Mr. Kellogg in past years has served Greeley county as county commissioner and also as su- pervisor for his township on the county board. He and his family have been for years closely identified with the business, social and educa- tional life of this portion of Nebraska.

Elk, deer and antelope were plentiful when Mr. Kellogg first came and he has enjoyed the pioneer privilege of living in a sod house, hav- ing boarded in "soddy" houses during his first years on the plains. He was in Scotia when the blizzard of January 12, 1888, broke on the coun- try. He felt it necessary to be home and made his way through the icy blast. In politics he is independent and fraternally a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

LORENZ CLEMMENSEN.

Schleswig-Holstein has given its share of good citizens to the American states, both before and after its transfer from the Danish Kingdom to the German Empire. Lorenz Clemmensen was born in the village of Rabsted, in that prov- ince, June 20, 1856. He is a son of Nicholas and Christina Clemmensen. The former died when Lorenz was but two and a half years old, and the mother about 1881, both in their native land.

When a youth of seventeen, Mr. Clemmensen emigrated to America, sailing from Hamburg, Germany, to Hull, England, crossing by rail to Liverpool, and embarked in May, 1873, on a New York liner, reaching his destination, Clinton, lowa, on the 7th of June. He found work on farms near Maquoketa for three months, and then came out to Nebraska in the fall of the year, coming to the state by way of Yankton. He worked around St. Helena for a number of years, engaged in various employments; during the last few years there he was engaged in the hotel business two years, and for nine years ran a briek yard. He removed to Hartington in 1889 and for seven years ran the Hartington House in a creditable manner. In 1903 he opened a store for the sale of flour and feed, and the year following he added the shipping of cream to his business; he learned the seientific methods of testing cream, and can in a few minutes estimate the true value of any specimen submitted to him.

His equipment is modern and complete and there is no delay after the delivery of the product be- fore the producer is paid the full value of his cream. It is by fair dealing and promptness that he has built up a lucrative trade.

Mr. Clemmensen was married at St. Helena. December 18, 1881, to Miss Annie Christisen, also a native of Schleswig-Holstein, and daughter of Hans N. and Rika Christisen. Mrs. Chris- tisen came to America in 1879, her parents following some twelve years later. Mr. and Mrs. Christisen have one daughter, Stina, now the wife of John Sullivan, a resident of Hartington; they have two children: James Floyd and Viola. Mr. Sullivan is a son of James Sullivan, a retired resident of Hartington, of whom an extended mention is made elsewhere.

Mr. Clemmensen was living in St. Helena at the time of the flood and witnessed all its devas- tations, some of the refugees from the lowlands occupied his house through the summer until a new home could be provided for them. Mr. Clemmensen well remembers the three days' blizzard of October, 1880, that began the winter of the deep snow. The blizzard of January 12, 1880, Mr. Clemmensen was near the house when the storm hroke, so was not out in it for any length of time. He has fought prairie fires, as all western men have done, at a time when there had been few furrows turned in Cedar county, and a fire once started, swept for miles before burning itself out. Mr. Clemmensen has tasted life in a dugout, having occupied a log dugout when felling timber during the first few winters in the west.

Mr. Clemmensen is held in high esteem by his neighbors and business colleagues; he has won the confidence of his patrons by his courteous manner and sterling honesty in all his dealings with them. He is a republican in politics, a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and of the Odd Fellows.

WILLIAM B. SHOEMAKER.

The gentleman above named is a representa- tive Nebraskan and one of the progressive farin- ers and stockmen of Merrick county. He is the owner of a fine estate of seven hundred fifty-six acres. four hundred seventy-six acres of which is the homestead place in section twenty-six, town- ship twelve, range eight. He well merits the success he has attained as an agriculturalist and stockman and worthy citizen.

William B. Shoemaker, son of Jacob and Sarah (Brunt) Shoemaker, was born in Keokuk county, Iowa. August 11, 1850, and was eldest of twelve ehildren. He received his education in the schools of his home state, and in the fall of 1871 came overland to Merrick county, Nebraska. where he homesteaded eighty acres and timber

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elaimed one hundred twenty acres of land. He has been prosperous and successful and now owns, as before stated, seven hundred and fifty- six acres of land. His homestead consists of four hundred seventy-six aeres, well improved, and a finely equipped stock farm. He has served fif- teen years as director of his sehool district num- ber two.

In 1872, Mr. Shoemaker prospected for six months in the Black Hills and then returned to Nebraska. In 1880 he did government survey work in California one year, then again returning to his Nebraska homestead which has since re- mained his home place.

On September 2, 1884, Mr. Shoemaker was married to Miss Mary Neth of Ohio, and later of Illinois. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker: Evelyn, teacher in Chapman city school; Beatrice, wife of Frank Ritter, lives in Chapman, Nebraska; Inez, a teacher in Nebraska schools; William N., who resides at home ; an infant, deceased ; and George and Sarah, who reside under the parental roof.

Mrs. Shoemaker's parents, George and Saloma (Stonebarger) Neth, live in Oklahoma; she has one sister residing in Chapman, Nebras- ka, and a brother in Oklahoma.

Mr. Shoemaker is one of the earliest settlers of his loeality, and has passed through all the ups and downs of frontier life. He is well and favorably known.

FRED KYRISS.

Fred Kyriss, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Knox county. Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality for some thirty- nine years, residing in section fourteen, town- ship thirty, range five. He is prominently known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen in Ne- braska; and after many years of hard labor in building up his farm, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and com- fort surrounded by a host of good friends.

Mr. Kyriss is a native of Germany, being born in the province of Wurtemburg on the Rhine, in the year 1840, and he is the son of Con- rad and Susanna Kyriss, the mother having died when our subject was thirteen years old. Our subject grew to his young manhood in his native country and came to America in 1864 to make a fortune. He'first landed in Philadelphia, where he remained four and one-half years, and then worked on a farm in Pennsylvania for two years.

In 1872 Mr. Kyriss came to Knox county, Ne- braska, having'heard of the golden opportunities offered to the venturesome tiller of the soil who for almost the asking could secure good land in the west ; here he took up a homestead, pre-emp- tion, and tree claim of forty acres. and on this land first built a log house in which he lived

for three years, then building a good log house. In the first years of his residence here, Mr. Kyriss experienced many hardships and losses, through various causes, among which was that of the grasshopper raids which destroyed all his crops for three consecutive years.

Mr. Kyriss was united in marriage to Miss Christina Plieninger in 1864, and Mr. and Mrs. Kyriss are the parents of twelve children, named as follows: Katie, Annie, Emma, Caroline, Min- nie, Charles, Henry, Fred, William, Louis, George and Harry-all living.

Mr. Kyriss, as before stated, is a well known man in his community, and owns a fine estate of five hundred and eighty acres of land; he is a man of sterling qualities, and is one of those sturdy sons of the fatherland who have helped so much to make Nebraska the prosperous state it is today.

ERWIN M. LAGRANGE.

Erwin M. LaGrange, who carries on a lumber and coal business in Fullerton, is one of Nance county's substantial eitizens. He has been in the above business for the past twenty-six years and enjoys the distinction of being the pioneer mer- chant of his town. He owns and occupies a handsome residence, surrounded by beautiful lawns, plentifully supplied with shade trees, which makes it one of the show places of the pretty little city. Mr. LaGrange and his family are among the best known and most popular in the locality.

Mr. LaGrange is a son of Moses and Nancy LaGrange. He was born in Vestal, New York state, September 4, 1848, and received his edu- cation in his home state. completing his studies at Eastman's Business College, in 1870. After leaving school he accepted a traveling position with a prominent steel firm, being in their employ for about seven years. He left New York state in 1883, coming to Nance county, Nebraska, ac- companied by his family, and immediately pur- chased the business he now owns, which he has built up in fine shape, his patronage having more than trebled during this time. He has the largest lumber yard in the county, and it is the only one that is entirely protected by a roof. He is a thorough judge of his business, and his hon- esty and integrity in dealing with his customers have won for him a high reputation. Mr. La- Grange has owned considerable land in this sec- tion, but at the present time has no farm inter- ests.

Our subject was united in marriage while still living in New York, in 1878, to Jeanette Newell, also a native of that state. Mrs. La- Grange has been a faithful helpmeet in every serse of the word, and they have raised a family of three children, Hattie, who is the wife of Wood Smith, they living in Fullerton, parents

P. F. O'GARA.

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of one daughter; Nettie and Frank living at home. Mr. LaGrange was the third member in a family of five children. He has one brother in Redlands, Cal., who owns large land interests in Nanee county, a sister, Mrs. Mary Griffis, also of Redlands, Cal., another sister, Mrs. Ella Davis, who lives in Pennsylvania, and one, Miss Har- riet LaGrange, who for the past thirty-five years has been a missionary in Syria. Their father died in New York state in 1873, while the moth- er's death occurred there in 1905.

In the early days Mr. LaGrange was chairman of the Fullerton city council, and for two years he served as alderman.

F. E. MCKENZIE.

From early childhood, Mr. Frank E. MeKen- zie has been a citizen of Nebraska and has been a witness of the growth of the state from the open, boundless prairies to the thickly settled, highly cultivated commonwealth that it is today. His father, Dr. H. E. Mckenzie, was a native of Ohio, while the grandfather was a " hill man," as the Highlanders of Scotland were familiarly known among themselves. The mother, who be- fore her marriage was Olive Jane Leech, was born in the state of Michigan, of Scotch and Irish descent.

F. E. Mckenzie was born in Clayton county, Iowa, twenty miles north of Dubuque, December 26, 1865. In migrating to Nebraska with his family, Doctor Mckenzie came by rail from Du- buque to Vermillion, South Dakota, and cross- ing the big muddy Missouri near that point settled at the old town of St. James, in Cedar county, in 1872. Here he began the practice of his pro- fession, which he has continued upwards of forty years, and for nearly that length of time has 'oc- cupied the same house.

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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 55

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