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 85

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 85

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ing this time he was also engaged in the merchant tailoring business in Butler, a short distance from his home, and built up a good patronage.

In the spring of 1879 Mr. Hoes went with his family to Lassen county, California, and after three years in that vicinity, came into Howard county, Nebraska. In the spring of 1883 he pur- chased four hundred and twenty acres of section thirty-four, township thirteen, range nine, and here he has built up a fine farm, supplied with every modern convenience in the way of buildings, machinery, etc., for the operating of a model stock and grain farm. During the early times here the family saw many hardships, but met every situa- tion with bravery and cheerfulness, and unlike many, have had very few failures of crops, etc.

Mr. Hoes was married on November 19, 1867, in Butler, Illinois, to Miss Melvina Masters, of that city. Mrs. Hoes was a native of Kentucky, and possessed all the charm and graciousness of the women of that state. She died on the home place April 22, 1898. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoes, named as follows: Irene E., now Mrs. A. A. Dudy, they residing in Grand Island; Catherine, deceased; Anna L., living at home, an infant son and daughter and Archie and Arthur, (twins), are all deceased; Winnie F. Bessie M. and George, at home, James W., who is married and works the home place, and Bertha, wife of Theodore Cordes, living in St. Libory. All highly esteemed by their fellow citizens in their respective neighborhood.

The Hoes farm is one of the finest stock and grain tracts in the region. Mr. Hoes is a great lover of flowers, having a commodious green- house where he grows plants and shrubs in great variety. He also has a large fount in which are many gold fish, and it is his chief pleasure to care for his pets. In the summer season the ex- tensive grounds about his residence present the appearance of a beautiful city park, laid out in floral designs, arbors, summerhouses, etc. This he keeps in a fine green state by having a com- plete water system so that he can spray when necessary.

In addition to the beautiful grounds surround- ing his home, Mr. Hoes has a large fruit orchard containing bearing trees of all kinds, and often raises over one hundred bushels of cherries, many apples and small fruits, for which he finds ready sale in the nearby markets.

The Hoes family are among the foremost in their county in social affairs. For a number of years Mr. Hoes has been treasurer of school dis- triet number forty-nine. Potraits of Mr. and Mrs. Hoes will be found on another page.

ISAAC C. BARNES.

Isaac C. Barnes, a public spirited citizen and well known resident of Pierce county, has a nice farm under first-elass improvement, in section

MR. AND MRS. JOHN H. HOES.

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twenty-one, township twenty-six, and range four, making for him a most creditable and desirable home. He is considered one of the old-timers in this region, and has taken an active part in the de- velopment of the community in which he chose his home some twenty-eight years ago.

Mr. Barnes was born March 4, 1842, in Kala- mazoo, Michigan, and is a son of Lucius A. Barnes who was born in 1809, and Kizziah (Dexter) Barnes, born in 1818, both natives of New York state.

Mr. Barnes is a representative man, having served his country in the civil war from 1863 to 1865, just two years, two months, and nineteen days. He enlisted in company E, tenth Michigan cavalry, being on detached duty in Tennessee most of the time. He has also served his present home county, having held the office of precinct assessor for eighteen years, beginning soon after settling in Pierce county.

Our subject was married in Middleville, Bar- ry county, Michigan, to Miss Mary Hutchins, September 7, 1867. Eight children were born to them, named as follows: Fred, who died in 1884, Lucy, married William H. Smith of Niobrara; Edwin, who died in 1879; Melzar; Sarah, married I. B. Lintt, living near Stanton; Kissiah, married John Calhune and lives in Colorado; Joe, and Mary, who married Lewis Walton and lives in Pierce county.

In the fall of 1882, Mr. Barnes drove through from Michigan to Nebraska, and filed on a tree claim of eighty acres in section twenty-nine, township twenty-six, range four, and also a pre- emption claim of equal amount in section twenty- nine, to which he added forty acres by purchase. His first house was built of sod and cotton-wood słabs, and seven years later he built a frame house. Mr. Barnes has experienced all the hard- ships of the early settlers' lot, having lost his crops in 1873, 1874 and 1875 through the memor- able grasshopper raids of that period, and suf- fered from the blizzards of 1870 and 1871, the latter occurring near the middle of April and lasting three days. He says the winter of 1871- 1872 was the worst winter of his recollection. Cornstalks were used for fuel for several winters after coming to Nebraska.

Our subject votes the republican ticket, and as before stated, held the office of precinct asses- sor for eighteen years, between 1881 and 1901. During his early administration of the office, his precinct comprised two and one-half congres- sional townships, but later was reduced by one township.

GEORGE WALL. (Deceased.)

George Wall was well known to nearly all the pioneers of eastern Nebraska as a leading citizen, and for many years prior to his death was a resident of section one, township fourteen,

range eleven, in Howard county, Nebraska.

Mr. Wall was born in Devonshire, England, in July, 1827. He removed to Canada at the age of twenty-two years, and was married there De- cember 27, 1854, to Miss Ann Manning, daugh- ter of Lawrence and Charity (Lee) Manning, who survived him until October 31, 1906. Mrs. Wall was born September 1, 1832, in Exeter, Cornwall, England.

Twelve children were born of this union, seven sons and five daughters. In company with his son, John, Mr. Wall removed to Howard county, Nebraska, in the fall of 1877, his family joining him five months later. Six sons and one daugh- ter remain of the family: William H., who lives in California; Thomas, residing in Howard county ; Charity, who is now Mrs. S. J. Peterson and resides in Valley county ; John, George R., Charles W., and Lawrence A., all of whom re- side in Howard county, Nebraska.

Mr. and Mrs. Wall were pioneers of Howard county, having resided here since 1877. They were widely known, highly respected, and helped make Howard one of the best of Nebraska counties. At their death they were mourned by a large number of friends all over the county, and their loss will ever be felt for their good qualities and fine character. They were ever faithful and true to the best interests of their family, county and state.

FRANK L. GREENE.

Frank L. Greene who resides in section ten, township seventeen, range thirteen, Valley county, Nebraska, was born near Peoria, Illinois, November 30, 1868, a son of Joseph A. and Louisa (Louis) Greene. He has one brother, Wardner, residing in Valley county; a sister, Mrs. Sylvia Branan, also living in Valley county ; and a twin brother living in New York. The father lives in North Loup and the mother died about 1895, in Bennington, Vermont.

During his early childhood, Mr. Greene lived from time to time in Illinois, near Emporia, Kan- sas, and near Berlin in Reussalier county, New York, coming to Nebraska in the spring of 1875 with his parents; here he received his education in the local schools and later engaged in farming.

On March 18, 1891, Mr. Greene was married to Miss Lela Potter, who was born near Farina, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Greene have been blessed with six children, namely: Leslie J., Matilda H., Melvin P., Hettie E., Glen, and an infant de- ceased.

In the late nineties Mr. Greene purchased forty acres of land in section two, township seventeen, range thirteen, where he lived eleven years; he then sold and purchased three hundred and twenty acres, the west half of section ten, town- ship seventeen, range thirteen, a fine stock and grain farm, which is still the home place, where

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he makes a specialty of black Galloway cattle and Percheron horses.

Mr. Greene is one of the younger men among the pioneers; he is a successful man of affairs, interested in all pertaining to the upbuilding of his home state and county, and is well and favor- ahly known.

Mrs. Greene's mother who was Antonette Maxon, lives in Boulder, Colorado; the father, Luther G. Potter, died in 1888, having been kil- led in a run-a-way in Valley county, Nebraska.

Mr. and Mrs. Greene and family are highly esteemed in their community, and have added much in many ways to the standing and upbuild- ing of the county in which they live. In political views Mr. Greene is a democrat. He has en- dured all the hardships of pioneer life among other misfortunes suffered one year's devastation by grasshoppers, and one year a loss by hail. For many years they lived in a dugout or sod house at a time when deer and antelope were plentiful. Prairie fires were frequent and one season Mr. Greene saw a threshing outfit des- troyed by a fire that swept over the hills too swiftly for the machine to be moved to a place of safety. He well remembers the three days bliz- zard of October, 1880, but fortunately escaped being out in it.

FRED KLUG.

A history of northeastern Nebraska would be incomplete without including a sketch of the life of Fred Klug, who is one of the most prominent of the early settlers of this part of the state.

Mr. Klug is a native of Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin, where his birth occurred January 29, 1859, and he is a son of William and Mene (Uecker) Klug, both of whom were natives of Germany. In 1856, Mr. Klug, our subject's father, with his family, left his native land and came to the new world, embarking at Hamburg, Germany, on a sailboat, the voyage consuming twelve weeks. After landing on American soil, the family immediately started from New York for the west, coming to Wisconsin, where they re- mained ten years.

In 1866, Mr. Klug's father and his family started for Madison county, Nebraska, to take up a homestead, the journey being accomplished by ox team, which was the proper mode of traveling in those times. After coming here the father took up a homestead claim in section twenty-three, township twenty-four, range one, which remains the homestead farm to the present time, and where our subject now lives; this homestead is now a part of the town site of Norfolk.

Mr. Klug was united in marriage April 20, 1882, to Miss Mary Heckman, a native of Wiscon- sin, and Mr. and Mrs. Klug became the parents of eight children, whose names are as follows: Robert, Minnie, Otto, and Eltie, living; and Louie, Cordelia, Ralph, and an infant, deceased.

Mrs. Klug died April 12, 1896, survived and deeply mourned by her husband and family, and many friends and relatives.

During the early days of the western frontier times, our subject's father and family, like others of those pioneer days, suffered many hardships and disappointments, and their mode of living at that time was very primitive compared with that of today. The first house erected on the home- stead farm was constructed of logs, as lumber was an almost unknown article in this part of the country. The grasshoppers were about the greatest source of anxiety and hardship, as they came in hordes and destroyed everything in veg- etation and crops to be seen, and kept this up for several succeeding years, until our little family became almost disheartened; but they, like so many of the strong-hearted people of that day, persevered until fortune began smiling upon them, and they began to reap the rich reward they deserved so well.

April 25, 1897, Mr. Klug was again united in marriage, Miss Amelia Klivetter being the bride. Mr. and Mrs. Klug are the parents of four fine children, whose names are as follows: Herman, Herbert, Fred, and Gordie.

Mr. Klug now owns one hundred and seventy acres of good land, and on this has fifteen acres of the finest orchards in the country. He is one of the substantial citizens of his community, and has always worked for the best interests of his home county and state. He is a democrat, and a mem ber of the Lutheran church.

DAVID M. SHAW.

David M. Shaw is well known throughout central Nebraska, having for years been a con- tractor and builder in that region. In this con- nection he has had much to do with its progress and development. He is a pioneer homesteader, farmer and business man and has made his own way in life from an early age. He is a native of Cape May county, New Jersey, born January 21, 1851, second of the three children of Aaron and Esther (Moore) Shaw, who had three sons. The parents were natives of New Jersey and were married about 1846. The mother died in Camden. New Jersey, in the winter of 1878-9 and the father came to Nebraska in 1903, making his home with his son David until his death in April, 1910, in his ninety-first year. His son Jonas lives in Camden.

Mr. Shaw lived in his native state until he was eleven years old, when the family removed to Phoenixville, Pennslyvania, and four years later they located in Cumberland county, New Jersey. He has practically taken care of himself since he was fifteen years of age, at that time beginning to learn the trade of mason, which he followed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and later in Ohio, Illinois and Nebraska, coming to the latter state

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in August, 1878. He became a first-class me- chanic and was thorough in his work. Upon com- ing to Nebraska, he located two miles east of what is now Sargent, taking a homestead in August, 1879. He has since held continuous residence in the county and to a greater or less extent has al- ways followed his trade, although he has large farming and stock interests. He now lives on his farm on section five, township nineteen, range seventeen, and has a cement plant at Sargent. He is one of the most prominent men in his trade in central Nebraska and has a reputation for turning out only high-class work in every particular.

On December 28, 1879, at Loup City, Ne- braska, Mr. Shaw was united in marriage with Miss Maria L. Courtney, daughter of William and Amy Courtney. Of this union four children were born, all on the home place, three of whom now survive: Earl, married and living in Seattle, Washington, has three children ; Arthur, at home ; Jessie, deceased; Ethel, wife of Lee Coolidge, of Central City, has one child. The family are prominent in social and educational circles and have many friends. Mr. Shaw has assisted in building many residences, business blocks and public buildings in central Nebraska and has always been actively interested in the upbuilding of his part of the state.

DANIEL E. NELLOR.

If ups and downs of a checkered career ean make life interesting, Daniel E. Nellor has not suffered from monotony since he began life for himself as a publisher.

The name is of ancient English origin; the ancestors held office under the crown with the duty of ringing or knelling the bell in the royal palace. and the name was originally spelled Knel- lor. The grandfather, Charles Nellor, sailed for Australia with his family in 1854 to seek his for- tune in the gold fields in which he prospered, com- ing to America in 1866, with a snug little for- tune. He joined a daughter in Omaha, where his son-in-law held valuable property which is now in the heart of the city, but was sold about that time, he fearing the railroad would cross the river further north and leave Omaha off the line of travel. The grandfather filed on a homestead in Cuming county and resided here until his death at the age of eighty-six years.

John Nellor, the father of our editor, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1854, and crossed the seas with his parents for the Australian continent in 1854. In 1866 he came with his father to Ne- braska, and on attaining his majority in 1872, filed on a homestead in Cuming county near his father's farm. Mr. Nellor lived on the farm un- til 1887. when he moved to Beemer and dealt in live stock for some thirteen years; in 1900 he opened a mercantile establishment there and was

in business for three years, since which time he has been retired from active life.

The mother, Elizabeth C'rellin, was a native of Fort Mary, Isle of Man, off the coast of England in the Irish sea, where the family had lived for upwards of four hundred years. Her parents, Daniel and Margaret (Tarbman) Crellin, emi- grated to America in the spring of 1871; sailing from Liverpool in the "City of Brussels," they landed, after eight days' voyage, in New York, in April. Spending two days in Cleveland en route, they traveled on to Nebraska, reaching their destination, West Point, the 10th of the month. Here the father took up a homestead nine miles northeast of West Point on Cuming Creek, where he lived until his death.

Daniel E. Nellor was born near West Point, March 18, 1877, and graduated from the Beemer high schools in 1894; when but twelve years of age he began learning the printer's trade in the office of the "Beemer Times," condneted by L. E. Hunter, a relative of his step-mother, at Beemer while living two years with an aunt in that city. In 1895 he taught school for one term, and then took a two years' teachers' and scientific course at Fremont college. Coming to Cedar county in 1896 he taught sehool one year, and then started a small paper at Belden which he discontinued at the end of the first year. About this time he mar- ried, and coming to Randolph, secured a place in the office of the "Times;" in the spring of 1900 he purchased the paper, and in September of the same year he sold to H. L. Peck, the present pro- prietor.

He moved to Plainview that fall and with his uncle, D. L. Crellin, purchased the "Republiean ;" in this venture they were doing well when a fire swept away in the space of an hour, all they pos- sessed in the world. Having had no insurance they were left stranded. Mr. Nellor returned to Randolph and finding nothing else at hand, sup- ported his family at common labor for a time until he could get a start again. Securing a school he taught through the winter and then resumed his old place in the printing office in Randolph. In 1903 he moved to Bloomfield and took charge of the paper there; but gave it over after one month, his capital being too small to successfully operate the business. In company with H. C. Tatum, he went into the real estate business, in which he was signally successful, and paid off his indebtedness of one thousand dollars and had money in the bank.

His wife, who had been in frail health, died during that year, leaving him the care of five small children; to do this properly he found it necessary to discontinue the real estate business. which kept him too much from home. He re- turned to Randolph in 1904 and again worked as a day laborer until he could find his bearings again. For a year he again held a case in the of- fice of the "Times." and then ran the "Hoskins Headlight" for fourteen months. In 1907 he

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came back to Randolph, bought the "Reporter," sold it six months later, and within a fortnight established the "Randolph Enterprise," issuing the first number March 19, 1908. Success has at last attended his efforts and the "Enterprise" is proving true to its name. Mr. Nellor has had a struggle to keep his little family together, but having been of a scattered flock when young and knowing how the children of a family will grow away from each other when separated, he has strongly maintained the unity of his little house- hołd.

Mr. Nellor was married at Pierce, in Septem- ber of 1898, to Miss Alice Totten, a daughter of William and Mary (Whitney) Totten, who settled in Cuming county in the spring of 1881. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nellor: Mary, Theodore R. and William Mc K., twins, known as Teddy and Mack ; Bessie, and Floyd.

Mr. Nellor's memory does not extend back to the blizzard of October, 1880, but he has a vivid recollection of that of January 12, 1888. He had remained home with his father that day, but the brothers were at school, where they remained all night. His first recollection of a dwelling was the family's first house, a dugout, in which they lived until 1883. He recalls the fireside talk in the family, of the devastations of the grasshoppers for three years in the seventies before he was born ; these hardships were still fresh in memory when he was a child.

Mr. Nellor is a democrat in politics, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Woodmen of the World and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

BENJAMIN F. COLBORN.

Benjamin F. Colborn, a prominent resident of Merrick county, Nebraska, is an old settler in this state, and through his efforts in his locality has added materially in bringing that region into one of thrift and prosperity.

Mr. Colborn was born in Sauk county, Wis- eonsin, May 3, 1859, and was sixth of eleven chil- dren in the family of Abram and Mary (Comfort) Colborn. Our subject grew up on the farm in Sank county, and in 1880 first came to Merrick county, Nebraska, and in the fall of 1882 returned to Wisconsin ; and in the fall of 1883 was married to Miss Mattie F. Farnum, returning then to his homestead farm in Howard county, Nebraska. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Col- born : Rusk L., Winfred, and Vera M. Mrs. Col- born died in Angust, 1899.

In 1886 Mr. Colborn went to O'Neill, Holt county, Nebraska, and engaged in the milling business and in 1889 moved from O'Neill to Crete, Nebraska, going into the milling business at that place. He returned to his Howard county farm in 1891, and in 1900 purchased a one hundred and sixty acre farm in Merriek

county, on section eight, township fourteen, range eight, in the same neighborhood where his brothers, John and Hiram reside. Here he has a fine grain and stock farm, well equipped.

On March 4, 1906, Mr. Colborn was united in marriage to Mrs. Lily Wolcott Williams, who was a native of Iowa, but came to Merrick county, Ne- braska, with her parents in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Colborn have two children: Marion and Teddy,

Mr. Colborn is an active factor in the upbuild- ing of this portion of Nebraska, and in past years served on his township board. He was appointed postmaster at Palmer in 1903, which office he creditably filled for five and a half years. At present he is assessor of Loup precinct.

In the spring of 1910 the Merrick county Farmers' Co-operative Association was organized at Palmer for the purpose of handling farm pro- duets and goods consumed by farmers. This is a stock company with about eighty members. Mr. Colborn being one of them. He was chosen as manager. During the year 1910, they built an elevator at Palmer which was finished in August, of that year and during the first six months, from Angust, 1910, to February, 1911, the company handled about $100,000 worth of business. They buy all kinds of farm grains and eereals and sell coal, twine, flour and feed. Mr. Colborn's time has been taken up with the supervision of this business since the association was organized.

JOHN AYERS.

John Ayers, retired, of Creighton, is one of the sons of the Empire state who has given the best of his life to the west. He was born at Wheat- land, New York, February 20, 1832, the son of Joseph and Abagail (Willard) Ayers. His par- ents removed to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1840, and a few years later to Shalersville, in Portage county. From there they moved to Racine county, Wiscon- sin, and about a year later to Junean county, where Mr. Ayers, subjeet of this sketch, ran a large lumber mill many years. He was engaged in this business twenty-six years and prospered until 1870, when a fire swept his property away in an hour. The mill was located on an island in a cranberry marsh, and Mr. Ayers bought berries from the Indians in season, and one year had three thousand bushels to dispose of in the cities. These Indians were of the Winnebago, Potawat- tamie, and Menominee tribes, and they were in- dustrious pickers.

During the first years of his life in Wisconsin, Mr. Ayers was employed at rafting on the Wis- consin and Mississippi rivers, making trips with lumber and shingle rafts to points on the river above St. Louis.

For some years after the loss of his mill, Mr. Ayers was variously employed in Wisconsin, but feeling that the west offered more opportunities, he emigrated to Knox county in June, 1876, and early in July secured a homestead and timber claim a few miles from where Verdegris now stands. Ile drove through from Wisconsin, camp-

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ing by the wayside, and for a time lived in a dug- ont that was on one of the tracts of land secured. To his original half-section he has added from time to time until he now has seven hundred acres of as good land as is to be found in Nebraska ; sixty acres of which adjoins the town of Creigh- ton. For twenty years Mr. Ayers resided on his homestead, and in 1896 moved to Creighton where Mrs. Ayers opened a millinery establishment in a building they bought on Main street. Here they lived some ten years and then occupied their pres- ent large residence which they bought, remodeled and enlarged in 1905.

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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 85

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