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 62

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 62

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HARRY A. SHERMAN.

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This is recognized as one of the soundest financial institutions of central Nebraska, with a capital of forty thousand dollars, surplus of ten thousand dollars, and deposits of over two hundred thous- and dollars. The other officers of the concern are: vice president, O. S. Pulliam ; cashier, A. F. Phil- lips, and assistant cashier, R. O. Griffith. Mr. Sherman is also a member of the real estate firmn of Miller & Sherman, and has helped build up the enterprise. He is a keen business man, and a public-spirited. useful eitizen.

On September 10, 1903, Mr. Sherman was united in marriage with Ora S. Spooner, and they have two children, Paul George and Dean Forbes. Mr. Sherman is a member of the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In polities he is a republican, and stands for prog- ress and development along all lines. A portrait of Mr. Sherman is presented on another page of this volume.

ORRIN MANCHESTER.

Orrin Manchester, son of Iliram and Angeline (Lawton) Manchester, was born in the town of Pittstown, Renselaer county, New York, February 22, 1844. He was ninth in a family of ten chil- dren, one brother residing in Pennsylvania, one in New York on the old home place, a sister in New York, one brother and one sister in Kansas, and another sister, Mrs. Eliza Paddock, living in North Loup, the others being deceased. The fath- er was of English-German extraction, and died in 1871 in New York state. The mother was of New England stock, and she died in New York in the eighties.

Mr. Manchester received his education in the home schools, and grew to manhood on the farm. As a young lad, he went to Aurora, Illinois, and from there, in January of 1864, enlisted in Com- pany I, Second Illinois Light Artillery, serving until close of war. Hlé received his honorable dis- charge at Springfield, Illinois, in June of 1865. After the hundred days' fighting from Chatta- nooga to Atlanta, Mr. Manchester was with Sher- man on his famous march to the sea, then on through the Carolinas, and participated in the battles in that region. He was at Goldsboro when the announcement of Lee's surrender was received, and followed shortly after by the sad news of Lincoln's death. He participated in the grand review at Washington, and proceeded thence to Aurora, where he took up civil life again.

Soon after his return. Mr. Manchester was married, January 12. 1866. to Miss Letitia Fikes. at the home of her parents, George and Margaret (Keek) Fikes, near Aurora, Illinois. Miss Fikes was a native of Illinois. Her parents were of German extraction, but born in New York state. and both are now deceased. Nine ehildren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Manchester, namely : George, died October 26, 1903, survived by his

wife and two children, who live in Valley county; Lizzie, deceased, at eighteen years of age; Jesse, married, has two children, and lives in Sherman county; Ed, also married, and living in Sherman county, has two children; Frank; John A., at home; Ira, married, and liv- ing on the old home place in Sherman county, has one child; Mary, wife of Herman Sperling, has nine children, and resides in Sherman county ; and an unnamed infant, deceased.

In the fall of 1868. Mr. Manchester moved to Grundy county, Illinois, where he resided until March of 1880, when he came, with his wife and six ehildren, to Nebraska, locating in Sherman county. Ilere he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of B. & M. railroad land, on which he lived until 1903, when he retired from the farm, and moved to North Loup, purchasing a good home, where he now lives.

Mr. Manehester is a sueeessful man of affairs, owns a fine stock and grain farm of six hundred and forty acres in seetions eight and nine, town- ship sixteen, range thirteen, in Sherman county, as well as a fine traet of forty aeres adjoining'North Loup, in Valley county. The Manchesters are among the well-known families, enjoying the high- esteem of a large aequaintance. Mr. Manchester served as director of his school districts for some years, as well as in other minor offices of this connty.

Mr. Manchester is republican in politics, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. -

When first settling in Sherman county, Mr. Manchester lived for a number of years in a sod house, and at that time deer and antelope were to be seen in large numbers on the hills. Those years were full of discouragements and hardships. The loss of all erops in 1894 by drought, and by hail in 1896, were but few of the many that beset the early settler.

EBERT OLSON.

Nothing in this world, that is worth while, is gained withont a struggle. and to those early pioneers who hraved the dangers of the western plains several decades ago, is due much praise and eredit for the changes that have been brought about. Among the early settlers of Madison county, Nebraska. who have been closely identi- fied with its progress, and gained for themselves high reputations as good citizens, may be men- tioned the gentleman above.

Ehert Olson is a native of Norway, born in Solar on January 12, 1850. His father, Ole Olson. was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that ocenpation until his death, which occurred when our subjeet was a small boy, leaving his widow to care for a family of four children.

When Mr. Olson was twenty-one years of age. he left his native land. and sailed to the new world in search for a home and fortune, which

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he was confident waited for every man who had the determination to seek the same.

He took passage at Christiana on the steam- ship Nebraska, landing in the United States after an eventful voyage, and going to Wisconsin, where he worked in the pine woods for about six years.

In the month of May, 1877, he came to Ne- braska, and filed on a homestead on section four, township twenty-one, range four, built a sod house, and started as a frontiersman to develop his land. He met with the usual discouragements, suffering losses at various times from stornis, also wild animals, which abounded in the region at that time, and at times was almost tempted to give up his claim. However, as time went on, he was able to add improvements little by little, and raise fair crops of grain, also engaged in the stock business to quite an extent. and begun to accum- ulate a little property. About the hardest time he experienced was in 1888, when he lost consid- erable stock in the famous blizzard, which is fa- miliar to all in that territory. In 1894 his entire crops were destroyed by the hot winds, and the following year hailstorms again took his fields of grain.

Mr. Olson was married, November 26, 1885, at his home in a sod house, to Miss Martha Vol- brecht, who is a native of Pommerania, Prussia. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have a family of six inter- esting children, namely: Carl, William, Emma, Edward, Clara and Anna.

The Olsons have one of the valuable estates and comfortable homes in their locality. The farm contains two hundred and eighty acres, all in the best possible shape, and Mr. Olson is classed among the wealthy farmers of the community.

ALVAH F. SPOONER.

Alvah F. Spooner has been a resident of Cus- ter county since 1884, and of Sargent since 1890, and is held in high esteein by his large circle of friends and acquaintances. He is a representa- tive citizen, and has always shown himself ready to advance the best interests of his community. He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, August 6, 1834, elder of the two children of Edwin and Emeline (Rider) Spooner. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, where they were mar- ried November 8, 1831. The mother died June 3, 1840, and the father in Clinton, Illinois, Novem- ber 11, 1870.

In June, 1853, the father moved 'with the fam- ily to Wisconsin, and during the year of his death, came to Illinois. Alvah finished his education in the high school at Northampton, and was nine- teen years of age when the family came to Wis- consin. He was married at Madison, that state, April 13, 1858, to Emily Ruth Seedey, and they made their first home on a farm six miles from the city. He taught school in Wisconsin for five winter terms, carrying on farming during the summer season.

In April, 1863, Mr. Spooner enlisted as car- penter and employe of the government, receiving his discharge in the fall of the same year. He returned to his home in Madison, and his wife died in that city, October 2, 1865. They had two children, Justus S. and Edwin C. In 1866, Mr. Spooner removed to Galesburg, Illinois, and there worked at the trade of pattern maker. In 1867, he moved to Sterling, Illinois, and was there mar- ried, May 13, 1868, to Emma S. Wilber. They remained in Sterling until 1884, and there their five children were born, nemely: Charlotte S., Fannie M., Fay W., Ora Ives and Jennie Alice.

In November, 1884, Mr. Spooner and his eldest son, Justus, came to Custer county, and secured a homestead south of Sargent, being joined by the remainder of the family in April, 1885. The two eldest sons, Justus and Edwin, are living, respec- tively, in Texas and in Custer county. Charlotte, Mrs. Jones, lives in Seattle, Washington; Ora Ives married Harry A. Sherman, and they live in Sargent; Fay W. is a merchant in Sargent. Mrs. Spooner died in Sargent, November 18, 1906, sincerely mourned by her many friends. She and her husband made many friends among the earlier settlers, and were active in many circles.

ROGER T. O'GARA. (Deceased.)

Roger T. O'Gara, who at the time of his demise was one of the most respected and highly esteemed citizens of his community, was born near Lake Gara, county Sligo, Ireland, in 1838. His father, Bartholomew O'Gara, was a gentleman born in the old country, and was kept in college by his father until the age of twenty-two. His grandfather, who was one of the landed gentry, took part in the ill-fated rebellion of 1798, and on the collapse of that uprising was stripped of his possessions, and for a time had a price set on his head. Bar- tholomew O'Gara emigrated in 1850 to the United States, and settled in Providence, Rhode Island. where his sons found work in the print mills of Governor Spriggs, while he secured a clerical po- sition in the office. In 1854 he pressed on to the west, where there were greater opportunities, and settled in Juneau county, Wisconsin. He came on to Nebraska in 1872, several years after his son had settled in Cedar county.

In Wisconsin, Roger passed from youthi to manhood, working on the farm in summer and in the pineries during the winter season. In 1868, he turned his footsteps westward, and became a resi- dent of Cedar county, Nebraska, September 23. settling on a tract of land three miles north of where Coleridge now stands, filing on a homestead there. He later purchased other lands on Lawn Ridge, and his wife was the first white woman to inhabit that part of the county. His first act was to plant trees, and the groves he set ont

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are the largest and finest on that notably beauti- ful ridge, in a fine farming country.

Mr. O'Gara was a highly educated man, and most of his learning was self taught. When a youth in the mills he kept a book at hand, and while others were idling or doing worse, he was storing his mind with useful knowledge. In the pineries of Wisconsin, while others were drinking and carousing, he was adding to his mental store. The superintendent over the lumber gangs helped him over many mathematical difficulties, and en- abled him to acquire a much higher education than young men on the frontier usually enjoy. Refinement and the thirst for knowledge were in his blood. He realized he had a long line of high- minded ancestors for an example, and a character to sustain. On coming to Nebraska, he taught school for several years, and was then appointed to fill out the term of the first county superinten- dent of schools, and for fifteen years efficiently filled that position to the satisfaction of his con- stituents, and the delight of W. W. Jones, the state superintendent, who paid him the tribute of saying that at the end of his incumbency, De- cember 31, 1887, the schools of Cedar county were the best organized of any in the state.

Mr. O'Gara sustained a severe injury a short time after settling in the county. He was descend- ing into a well, one hundred and thirty feet deep, when the rope, which was spliced near the middle, parted and let him drop sixty-five feet, injuring his spine and fracturing several hones. That he recovered is almost a miracle, and that he could endure the long drives necessary in visiting every district in the county, evidence a fortitude be- yond that vonchsafed the average man. A run- away during his years of office added further to his injuries and suffering, which he bore with christian fortitude and patience.

After filing on his homestead in 1868, Mr. O'Gara broke part of the raw prairie and returned to Wisconsin for a helpmeet in his frontier home. He was married in Wisconsin in 1870, to Miss Bridget Hayes, a native of Ireland. Her father, Michael Hayes, came with his family to America in 1843, and settled first in New York, coming later to Juneau county, Wisconsin. His ances- tors were also implicated in the Irish rebellion in 1798, and lost all their possesions by confisca- tion ; he died at the age of eighty in Wisconsin.

Mr. O'Gara died on his farm west of Laurel. July 19, 1906; the wife and mother passed away August 11, 1900, after suffering as an invalid for twenty years. Seven of their children grew to maturity : Patrick, who is in the government ser- vice as plant physiologist and pathologist, is sta- tioned now on the Pacific coast after a number of years in the department at the national capitol : he is also a civil, mechanical and electrical engi- neer, in fact a mathematical and scientific genins. He is a lingnist of note, speaking fluently German, French, Spanish, and Italian, as well as his own

mother tongue. He has spent much time abroad studying his specialty in foreign countries, and was especially benefited by studies in the Royal Italian departments. Anne, is the . wife of Her- man Rolfes of Ncola, Iowa; Peter Francis, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work; Margaret Frances is a trained nurse of Sioux City ; in 1908 she filed on a homestead near her brothers claims in Fall River county, South Dakota, and resides there for the time being ; William H., has a homestead ranch near Smithwiek, in Fall River county, South Dakota, and Gilbert also has a homestead ranch in South Dakota, in Custer county, not far from Buffalo Gap.

DAVID Y. CLARK.

The gentleman whose name heads this per- sonal history is one of the solid and influential citi- zens of Central City, Nebraska. Mr. Clark is a prominent business man here, being engaged in the manufacturing of cement blocks and build- ings of cement, sidewalks, etc.

David Y. Clark was born in Schoharie county, New York, June 13, 1841, and was the third of four children in the family of John and Electa (Decker) Clark, both of whom were born in Scho- harie county, New York. John Clark was born October 19, 1805, and Electa Decker, March 22, 1806; both are deceased, the former died in New York state in 1868, and the mother in 1879, in the same state. The Clark family settled in Schoharie county, New York, in the early years, and were of Scotch-Irish descent. In 1851 they moved into Broome county, New York, and engaged in farm- ing. The father of John Clark married a Spauld- ing, whose family dates back to the Mayflower, and the Decker family dates back to Mr. Clark's great-great-grandfather, and was of German descent.

David Y. Clark grew up on the farm, and in his nineteenth year went into Michigan where he remained one year, returning to Broome county, New York, in the spring of 1861, and remained on the old home place for a year.

On April 10, 1862, Mr. Clark married Miss Lu- cy A. Perkins, a native of New York state, at the home of the bride's uncle, Elijah Smith, in Broome county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Clark moved to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1863, Mr. Clark engaging in the wagon and blacksmith's trade. They moved from there to Story county same state, in the fall of 1866, and the next fall of 1867 returned to the old home place in New York state, where they re- mained until the spring of 1872. At this time Mr. and Mrs. Clark had three children.

On March 16, 1872, Mr. Clark, wife and three children moved to Merrick county, Nebraska, were our subject took up a homestead five miles southwest of Lone Tree station, which is at the present time still in the possession of Mr. Clark, and has been added to until there are now two hundred acres, which are being farmed by his son, Frank J. Clark.

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In the fall of 1889 Mr. Clark and family moved from the old homestead farm to Central City, where they now reside in their pleasant town home, and where, as before stated, he is in busi- ness. Mr. Clark in past years has served on the county board.

Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had six children born to them: Charles C., a railroad engineer, is mar- ried and living in Fort Worth, Texas, and has two children ; Grace M., born in the state of Iowa, resides at home; Kate, born in New York state is married to John Desch and lives in Central City, Nebraska ; Guy W., physician and surgeon, born in Nebraska, is married, has three children, and lives in Ellwood, Nebraska; Frank J., born in Nebraska, is married, has four children, and lives on the home farm in Merrick county ; and George A., physician and surgeon, was born in Nebraska. and resides in Ellwood, Nebraska, where he en- joys a good practice.

Mr. and Mrs. Clark and children are of the pioneer families of Merrick county, Nebraska, and have a wide acquaintance and hosts of sub- stantial friends. Mr. Clark is a successful man and is known for his integrity and general worth. He has in past years been active along politieal lines, and always up and doing for the better- ment of his home town and state.

AUGUST HANEFELDT.

August Hanefeldt, a prominent farmer of see- tion twenty-four, township thirty, range five, Knox county, Nebraska, where his genial coun- tenanee and friendly spirit have made him hosts of well-wishers, which his manly character and genuine worth have long retained, was born in the province of Prussia, Germany, in 1858. He was a son of Gottlieb and Henrietta (Schulz) Ilanefeldt.

The boyhood days of our subject were spent in his native land, and he received his education there. When he grew to manhood's estate he served his country in the army two and a half years. When he had reached the age of thirty- years he decided to seek his fortune in the new world, and sailed from Hamburg to New York on the steamship "Veland," and landed in New York City in 1888. He then started for the west and reached Knox county, Nebraska, in the fall of 1888, and bought the homestead of William Kyriss, in 1889, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres.

In 1883, Mr. Hanefeldt was united in marriage to Miss Adelia Witt, and Mr. and Mrs. Hanefeldt are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Annie, Emil, Willy. Emma, Alfred. deceased, and Max.

Mr. Hanefeldt is regarded as one of the lead- ing citizens of his locality, and has always been interested in the growth and upbuilding of his county and state. Mr. Hanefeldt and family enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know

them. and are surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances.

GEORGE L. YOUNG.

George L. Young, who occupies a handsome residence in the city of Fullerton, is one of the prominent citizens of that community. He is an old-time farmer and has been prosperous and successful in all his various undertakings, and himself and family are widely and favorably known throughont Nance county, where they have been active workers socially for a great many years, our subject serving as superintend- ent of the Sabbath school for over fifteen years, while Mrs. Young has done her full share in the affairs of her neighborhood.

Mr. Young is a son of Lyman H. and Emeline Young, and was born in Warren county, Illinois, on October 6, 1855. He received his education in his native state, together with his six brothers, all growing to manhood on the home farm. He followed farming there until he reached the age of twenty-six years, when together with his brother, Levi E. Young. and a cousin, G. F. Cole, came to Nebraska, locating in Nance county. Here he purchased a quarter section of land on section ten, township seventeen, range six. This traet of land was unimproved, and he went to work to build it up, which he did in a short time, making it a valuable property, and also was instrumental in a large measure in developing that part of the country. He has been very active in all affairs pertaining to the advancement of the section from the time of settling here, assisting in build- ing up the schools, etc. For a number of years he held the office of director of district number thirty-one, and has served as clerk of Cedar pre- cinct for several years.

Mr. Young was married on January 21, 1885, to Maggie A. Moore, of Boone county, Nebraska. Mrs. Moore is a lady of charming personality, and had been a popular teacher in the Nebraska pub- lic schools for some time prior to her marriage. To them have been born ten children, eight of whom are living, as follows: John M., living in Nanee county: Emeline H., who married E. O. Stark, residing in Montana and the'parents of one son and one daughter; Harry E., Alta B., Iva G., Lawrence and Lyman, (twins), and Mabel A., all living at home, except Emeline H. and Harry E., who reside in Montana. One son, Charles E., and a daughter, Sadie A., are deceased. Mr. Young has four brothers liv- ing. Stephen N .. of Missouri; Clark M., Levi E., and Doctor A. Young, making their home in Illinois. Their father died on July 12, 1894, while the mother is still living at the ripe old age of eighty-six years.

In March, 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Young gave up farming and moved to their present home, which is a beautifully kept place, and here they plan to spend the declining years in the enjoyment of every comfort after their many years of toil.

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ROBERT SHUNN.

While Mr. Robert Shunn is not a native born citizen of the United States, there is no more loyal supporter of its government and traditions within its borders today than he. He was born in Toronto, Canada, November 22, 1862, which re- mained his home for about eight years, when his parents immigrated to lowa. After a short time in that state they came on to Nebraska, locating near Sutton, in Clay county, on an eighty-acre farm. There he grew up, and in 1881 the family went to Kansas, returning to Nebraska in 1891. The parents settled in Spencer and made that their home for about six years, then going to Minnesota and remaining for seven or eight years. When Gregory county, South Dakota, was opened for settlement, our subject's father moved there and has farmed in the locality since that time.

Robert Shunn started out for himself when but sixteen years of age, obtaining farm work to do near his parents' home. After a time, he drift- ed to Hot Springs. South Dakota, and there was employed in various lines during some months. In 1882 he was employed by Nick Elmore, a eon- tractor on the construction work of the Burling- ton railroad through Colorado and Wyoming, re- maining with the outfit for two. years. He came to Boyd county in 1890 and squatted on a quarter section situated three miles east of Spencer, and filed on the tract as soon as the land was thrown open for settlement. He at once started farming and stock raising, and was very successful in hoth lines of work up to the time of his removal to Spencer, in 1903. Mr. Shunn developed a fine farm, having it well stocked with good horses. cattle and other stock, and retired with a compe- tence, now occupying a comfortable residence in the thriving little city of Spencer.

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Mr. Shunn was married in Holt county, No- vember 8, 1891, to Miss Della Verley, a native of LaFayette county, Wisconsin, who came to Nebraska in 1881. Three children have been born to this worthy couple: Cecelia, William and Victor, all of whom are still under the parental roof.

Politically Mr. Shunn is a republican, but has never seen the advisability of becoming a member of any secret organization, preferring to spend liis entire time in the pursuit of his business in- terests and with his family ; although Mrs. Shunn is a member of the Royal Neighbors and a thor- ough christian woman, aiding all with whom she comes in contact by her kindness and helpful- ness.

HENRY CLARK.

This gentleman is another of the many who, through industry and perseverance, have ac- quired a competence and are now enabled to live in comfort and enjoy the fruits of their early years of labor. He was for many years well

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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 62

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