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 93

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 93

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Mr. Clark's brother, Philip, enlisted in the Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry for the civil war. He was taken sick in Missouri, from there returning to his home where he died shortly after.

A short time after coming to Nebraska the entire locality in which the Clark family resided was thoroughly aroused by a charivari party, who were taken for Indians, word being sent out that the latter were on the warpath. Most of the neighbors went to nearby towns for protection- one woman who was ill being taken to Plainview, but Mr. Clark and his family remained on their farm, not being alarmed by the report.

During the early years when times were es- pecially hard, Mr. Clark tanght school in Ne- hraska. He had taught successfully in Iowa, so the vocation was not new to him. Several of his children have followed in his footsteps. Blanch and Philip were in school at the time of the de- structive blizzard of January 12, 1888, and both

were compelled to remain in the building all night. Mr. Clark was out in much of the storm getting his cattle safely housed. There being timber along the creeks, Mr. Clark usually had an abundance of fuel, but at times burned a little corn.

Mr. Clark was living at Davenport, Iowa, at the time of the New Ulm massacre and saw the Santee prisoners when brought to Davenport and kept in a prison camp through the winter, during which time some of the ringleaders were exc- cuted. Years later he settled on the edge of the reservation of this same tribe, but they have been transformed into peaceable citizens.

Mr. Clark is a democrat in politics, and with his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has served as supervisor of Central township for seven years. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Clark appear on another page.

BENJAMIN T. SNYDER.

One of the leading business men of Loup City, as well as one of the best known among the old settlers in the state, is Benjamin T. Snyder. For many years he has been closely connected with the commercial and agricultural life of this re- gion and much of its present state of advance- ment is due to his influence.

Mr. Snyder was born on January 12, 1834, in Trumbull county, Ohio, and was the fourth of eight children born to Thomas and Rebecca (Tilus) Snyder. Ont of this large family, there is now left only Mr. Snyder and his sister, Se- repta, living in Kearney, Nebraska. The father, who was of German descent, was born in West Virginia, and died in Ohio in 1860. The mother, who was of English extraction, was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio in 1884.

When only seventeen years of age, Mr. Snyder started out in life for himself, working in Wau- kegan, later in Mercer county, and Rock Island. Five years later, on March 17, 1856, in Davenport, Iowa, he married Miss Maria Frazier, a native of Ohio, who had been for some years a teacher in the public schools of Illinois.

In 1858, they went to Johnson county, Kansas, where Mr. Snyder purchased two hundred and forty acres of land near Olathe, and engaged in farming for about four years.

On July 28, 1861, Mr. Snyder enlisted as sec- ond lieutenant of Cavalry in Company A, of the First Kansas Regiment. Three months later. owing to illness which incapacitated him for fur- ther service, he received an honorable discharge. The family then returned to Mercer county. Illi- nois, farming until July of 1879, when with his wife and three children, Mr. Suyder came to Sherman county, Nebraska. He at once took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, four miles south of Loup City, with an adjoining tim- ber elaim of an equal amount.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

Since that time, Mr. Snyder has bought and sold many different farms in Sherman county, living on them for various periods of time. In 1899, in company with his youngest daughter, he purchased two hundred acres of land in section thirty-two, township fourteen, range fifteen, which has been converted into a very valuable grain and stock farm. In 1911 he purchased his daughter's interest, which he immediately sold, but still retains his interest in the remaining one hundred acres. The year before that purchase, Mr. Snyder left the farm, bought a good comfort- able home in Loup City, and moved to that place. He also bought a livery barn about the same time, which he is still conducting.

Mr. Snyder has always taken a commendable interest in all public affairs, especially those per- taining to education, and for some years was di- rector in his school district number four. He comes of a patriotic family, his brother, Phineas Snyder, having given his life for his country during the war. Another brother, Joshua Snyder, also served through the war and was captain in the Eighty-third Illinois Infantry.

Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have had five children, three of whom are living. Birdie and John died in infancy ; Gertrude, now Mrs. George Bentley, lives in Colorado; Daisy, now Mrs. John Cowper, lives in Deadwood, South Dakota; Mattie, now Mrs. Morgan Hall, is a resident of Grand June- tion, Colorado. The entire family is well and favorably known.

JOHN PAPENHAUSEN.

John Papenhausen, who carries on extensive farming operations in Cedar county, Nebraska, has been closely connected with the development of the agricultural resources of the county for many years. He has built up a good home for himself in section thirty-five, township twenty- nine, and has gained the highest respect of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. Ile is a gentleman of intelligence and strict integrity and his success is the result of his persistent efforts and honest dealings.

Mr. Papenhausen is a native of Hanover, Ger- many, where he first saw the light of day in 1867. With his parents. Herman and Mary Papenhan- sen, he came to America at a very tender age, the family coming by way of Bremen and Baltimore.

In 1886, Mr. Papenhausen came to Cedar county, Nebraska, where he bought the farm which has been his home ever since. He has made many improvements since buying the place, which have greatly enhanced its value. He now has an estate of four hundred acres in Nebraska, and three hundred and twenty acres in the state of Texas.

Of late years, the subscriber has paid con- siderable attention to stock raising, and has met with a great measure of success in that line.

Mr. Papenhausen was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Uken. Five children have been born to them, named respectively: Tena, now Mrs. A. C. Bruce; William, Anna, Cora, who died at the age of eight years, and May.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Papenhausen are well known throughout the community and are re- spected by all with whom they have come in con- tact.

JAMES W. LAUB.

One of the leading old settlers of Merrick county, Nebraska, is the gentleman whose name heads this review. His labors in this section have aided materially the development of the region and his name will occupy a prominent place iil local history as one of those intimately identified with its growth and progress.

James W. Laub, son of John Philip and Anna Maria (Groff) Laub, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, June 18, 1854, and was eleventh in a fam- ily of thirteen children, of whom two borthers reside in Nebraska; one sister in Omaha; another sister in Kansas; the others are deceased. The father died in 1880 in Illinois, and the mother in 1882 in Nebraska. Mr. Laub, our subject, was educated in his home schools and later engaged in farming. On August 9, 1879, Mr. Laub was married to Miss Clara H. Hunt of Illinois.

In September of 1879, our subject came to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded and hundred and sixty acres in section twelve, township thirteen, range seven, west, where he resided two years and then moved to Chapman, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near town and continued farming. In 1906 he came to Clarks, Nebraska, engaging in general mercantile business. Mr. Laub is a suc- cessful man of affairs, and besides his Nebraska interests owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Idaho.

Mr. and Mrs. Laub have had four children : ('land L., who died in infancy; Percy W., mar- ried, has one child and lives in Clarks ; Jessie H., resides at home; and Mildred E., who also lives under the parental roof.

Mr. and Mrs. Laub are among the earlier settlers of the county, and have passed through much of Merrick county's history, and are widely and favorably known. Mr. Laub has just re- cently sold his mercantile interests, and contem- plates going to Montana.

A. J. KELLEY.

Mr. A. J. Kelley of Creighton is one of the thrifty sons of New England, who have come into the open west and won for himself a competency. He first set foot in Nebraska in Angust, 1877, settling two and a half miles north of Creighton. where he homesteaded a quarter section of land

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

and secured eighty acres through a timber claim. IIe came to Nebraska by way of Yankton, South Dakota, then the nearest railroad terminus. Here he bought a horse and rode to Creighton, passing but a few houses on the way, and those were of sod, there being no frame ones at that time.

The mill at Bazile Mills, was just completed, but the machinery was not yet installed. Mr. Kelley secured his claims and returned to Con- necticut for his family, with whom he again reached Nebraska in October. They lived in a dugout that was on the homestead for two or three months until a frame house could be com- pleted, the lumber having to he brought from Yankton, South Dakota, fifty miles away. Hay and corn were frequently used for fuel, coal be- ing too far distant, and most of the timber along the creeks having been felled and hauled away. Mr. Kelley had worked at the butcher's trade in Connecticut and found work at that vocation in Nebraska when not busy on the ranch.

During the early days Bazile Mills was an outfitting place for freighting to the Black Hills. There was a pork packing establishment here of which Mr. Kelley was superintendent. Later when the railroad came through and this estab- lishment was abandoned, he was offered the su- perintendency of a similar industry at Ulrich, South Dakota, but did not think best to be away from his ranch so much of the time.

Mr. Kelley was born at Willimantic, Con- necticut, April 8, 1835, the son of Henry and Caroline (Sly) Kelley, natives of Connecticut, where the father died at the age of seventy. The mother came to the west and spent her declining years at the home of her son.

Mr. Kelley was married in Connecticut, March 28, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth II. Williams, also a native of Connecticut, who died in Ne- hraska, January 1, 1887. Four children were born to them, of whom Carrie W., survives.

Mr. Kelley became a member of the Masonic order, in 1872, in St. James lodge, number twenty-three, of Connecticut, but he now affiliates with Creighton lodge, number one hundred. With his daughter he is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He is an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, and a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Mr. Kelley joined the argonauts who were bound for California in February. 1852, and did not return to Connectieut until March, 1859, having met with a fair measure of success. On the outbreak of the civil war our subject enlisted in Company A, Eighteenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, August, 2, 1862. and served nearly three years, being stationed most of the time in the Shenandoah valley. Ile participated, among other engagements, in the hattles of Fisher's Hill and Berryville and was honorably discharged July 7, 1865. During his service he was eap- tured, and endured the horrors of Libby prison

and also those of Belle Island in the James river. Here the rations of a few ounces of black beans and mouthfuls of bread a day reduced the boys to skeletons, many of them dying from starvation.

Mr. Kelley also suffered his share of hardships in the early days of Nebraska history. He was out in the blizzard of January 12, 1888, when he, with his son, a lad at school, made his way home in the thickest of it by keeping his eyes close to the ground, following a deeply worn road. After the winter of deep snow, the thaw eaused high water in the spring of 1881. One of his sons went out to drive cattle home and so sudden was the thaw that a stream overflowed between him and the house. In attempting to cross, his horse un- seated him and he had to swim ashore. The ex- tremely high waters of the Missouri river flooded Niobrara, and Mr. Kelley with other neighbors drove to the river and helped rescue the unfortu- nate ones whose honses were partly submerged. These were brought back to the hills and housed as comfortably as possible until their own homes were habitable again. Such were the many ex- periences of pioneer life.

After living twenty-one years on the farm, Mr. Kelley, in December, 1897, removed to Creighton, where he has a comfortable cottage home, and is one of the honored citizens of the town.

SETH H. PENNEY.

Seth H. Penney, now deceased, was during his lifetime one of the most influential and wealthy men of Nance county, Nebraska. His fortune was accumulated by his individual energy and thrift, and his high station as a worthy citizen and representative agriculturalist was well de- served. Mr. Penney held numerous public offices, and was one of the oldest as well as most promi- nent pioneers of the county. His death occurred at Long Beach, California, on January 11, 1908, and his loss was a severe blow to the entire com- munity of Fullerton, where for twenty-five years he had resided with his family.

Mr. Penney was born in Jefferson county, New York, September 27, 1833. He grew up there, re- ceiving his early education in the common schools, and later attended the Adams seminary for three years. His time out of school was employed in helping his parents on the home farm, and at the age of twenty-three years he was married there to Elizabeth C. Wilcox, who was reared and edu- cated in Jefferson county.

In 1859, Mr. Penney settled with his family in LaSalle county, Illinois, there engaging in farming, carrying on this work up to 1864, at which time he removed to Livingston county and opened a general mereantile business. Later he established the Odell Exchange Bank, and sue- cessfully carried on a thriving business for a number of years. He made that vicinity his home

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up to 1883, then brought his family to Nebraska, loeating at Fullerton and establishing himself in the general mercantile business. He was among the pioneer business men of the region, doing both a wholesale and retail business, and through his influence and personal aid did much in ad- vancing the commercial and educational interests, of his county. He served as mayor of Fullerton during 1894 and 1895, and during the well-re- membered drouth in the former year was one of the most liberal distributors in Nance county. For a number of years he served on the school and county boards, and gained a high reputation as a man of sterling character and integrity.

Our subject's wife died in 1886, leaving a family of five children, who are named as follows : Fred M., banker, lives at Omaha; Frank H., re- tired business man, residing in Lincoln, Nebraska ; Edgar B., of Fullerton; Nina, who died in 1897, and Anna M., wife of Nelson Barber, also of Ful- lerton.

On June 22, 1892, Mr. Penney was married to Mrs. Lou Spurrier, a widow with one son, Ches- ter E., at the home of Mrs. Spurrier's parents in Sandwich, Illinois. Mrs. Penney still occupies the homestead in Fullerton the greater part of her time, although she spends a part of each year, during the winter, in California. Mrs. Penney is one of the leading society and club women of her town, possessing a brilliant and charming personality. For many years she has been corres- pondent for the local press, and is a woman greatly admired by all.

ISAAC M. NEESE.

One of the oldest residents of northeastern Nebraska is found in Isaac Neese, of Butte, now retired from active farming and taking life easy in the quiet of the county seat.

Mr. Neese was born in Hamilton county, Iowa, on February 17, 1858. Before the railroad had been extended to Fort Des Moines, his father was obliged to haul his corn to that point to be ground for use. Isaac was reared in that vicinity, and was married there, following farming up to the time of his migration farther west.

In 1888, loading a few necessary goods in a wagon, and taking his young wife, he started through the country for the west. After camping out on the trip for fourteen days, he unhitched his team at the end of their last day's weary travel, at the ranch of a brother-in-law a few miles north of Stuart, arriving there on the fifth of October, 1888. They were indeed a weary party, as it was necessary for one of them to go on foot all the way to keep their three cows following close to the wagon. Besides Mr. and Mrs. Neese, there was a niece with them, who took her turn in driving the cows and giving the others a chance to ride when they became tired and footsore. During the last day of their journey, Mrs. Neese's shoes

were left in a mudhole in which she had stepped, they being so worn that she could no longer keep them on her feet.

On arriving in Holt county they decided to remain for the winter, and in the spring Mr. Neese settled on a farm ten miles north of Springview, where they resided until coming to Boyd county in 1891. At that time he located on a homestead near Butte, started farming and stock raising, and remained there for the following twelve years. He then removed to the town, taking pos- session of a comfortable cottage, which is sur- rounded by a fine grove of trees, orchard and lawns, making it one of the most beautiful spots in Butte. The orchard contains many fine fruit trees and is not surpassed by any in this part of the state for its size.

Mrs. Neese's maiden name was Miss Sarah Curry, and her marriage to our subject took place in Hamilton county, Iowa, on February 27, 1878. They have one daughter, Hazel, who is a charm- ing young woman, and is being given every ad- vantage as to education and womanly accom- plishments.

Mr. Neese was a democrat until his advent in Nebraska, at that time seeing hope in the populist doctrines, and since then following their prin- ciples. The entire family are regular attendants at the Free Methodist church.

On the arrival of the Neese family in Nebraska they erected a hay-roofed shack and occupied the same until a substantial stone house was built. As soon as possible, Mr. Neese also built a barn, chicken house, and other farm buildings of the same material, and this gave his farm an appear- ance of prosperity far beyond the average set- tler's outfit in those early days, as the usual dwell- ing was of rude architecture in adobe, rough tim- ber or logs. On coming into Boyd county their residence was a frame building much above the average in size and finish at the time. They worked hard and experienced many discomforts, Mrs. Neese doing more than a woman's share in winning their competency in the west, accompany- ing her husband on his trips for timber, and after the wood was cut and loaded, drove one of their two teams to their home, thus saving considerable time, and the wages of an extra man. On their removal from Keya Paha to Boyd county she drove a four-horse team hitched to an immense load of grain, and in every way she has been a true helpmeet to her husband.

In the blizzard of 1888 Mr. Neese was able to reach his barn to feed the stock, by means of a long string of binder twine which he attached to the house, and on reaching the barn, made it fast, thus having a guide to return by. The plains were fairly well supplied with game, including deer and antelope, during the first few years, and Mr. Neese brought down one of the former occa- sionally, but they soon moved farther west when settlers eame in more rapidly, leaving only the smaller game for the hunter.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.

During their residence in Keya Paha county, the "rustlers" carried on their raids, stealing · horses and cattle in considerable numbers. There was little protection to be had from the courts, as Deadwood was the nearest point where cases could be adjudicated, so the settlers were forced to resort to the vigilance committees to aid them in ridding the country of these lawless characters and protect their property.

At the time of the Indian scare after the bat- tle of Wounded Knee, Mr. Neese happened to be at Long Pine with a load of grist, and on hearing an account of the trouble, made haste to reach his home in order to protect his family from any attack.

To one seeing the peace, quiet and plenty of Nebraska in these prosperous days, he can hardly realize that but a score of years back, the conn- try was a wilderness filled with wild beasts, and (in some cases) still wilder men; that there were no obstructing fences from the Missouri river to the mountains, and where fields of golden grain and meadows wave as far as the eye can see, that then there was nothing but barren plain, or wild grass, with hardly a tree to break the monotony of the dead level.

SYLVESTER Z. WILLIAMSON.

Among the old settlers of eastern Nebraska whose names will figure prominently in the history of this section of the country, the above named gentleman holds a foremost place.

Sylvester Z. Williamson, farmer, son of Thomas and Selina Parthena (Sawyer) Williamson, was born in Delaware county, Iowa, November 20, 1850, and was first in a family of seven children. He has one sister and a brother residing in Al- bion-a sketch of the brother appears on another page of this volume; one sister resides in Kan- sas, and the rest of the children are deceased. The mother is still living in Albion at eighty- two years of age, while the father died February 11, 1910, aged eighty-four years and twenty-five days.

On October 12, 1869, our subject was married to Miss Hattie Browder, a native of Iowa, and one son was born of this union. William A., who lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa, who is married and has had two sons, and one daughter-one of the sons being deceased.

Mr. Williamson has for the last twenty-five years been prominently connected with Boone county agricultural association, and was also one of the organizers, and chairman of the board of management, of the old settlers association of Boone county, being president in 1911. He was one of the originators, and the first president of the Albion Elevator and Lumber Company of Albion-a farmer's organization.

On March 12, 1884, Mr. Williamson was mar- ried to Miss Mary L. Mansfield of MeHenry

county. Illinois, of which union two children have been born, Edna L., and Roy M., both of whom reside under the parental roof.

During the years of 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905 Mr. Williamson filled the office of road overseer, which he did very creditably and honestly. He is one of the earliest pioneers, having located before the county was fully organized, and bas passed through all its history.

Mr. Williamson is widely and favorably known. He came to Boone county in May, 1871, and homesteaded the farm on which he has lived ever since. The homestead consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, and that is the amount of land he owns at the present time, although only eighty acres of his farm is of the original tract. He drove through from Delaware county, Iowa, when he first came, being four weeks on the trip. He made the round trip by wagon from Al- bion to Delaware county, the same year of his ar- rival here. He is now handling pure-bred English Shire horses-owns an imported stallion and filly, and does general farming. He also owns high-grade Shorthorn cattle.

D. R. THOMAS.

Among the more successful farmers and stock- men of Wayne county, Nebraska, may be mention- ed D. R. Thomas, who, though not one of the early pioneers of the region, is well and favor- ably known throughout a wide territory. His pleasant home is well situated on section thirty, township twenty-seven, range two, and he has been very actively identified with the best in- terests of the county and state since locating there.

He was born at Coal Valley, Rock Island county, Illinois, February 20, 1866, and is a son of Morgan and Catherine Thomas, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother a native of Wales. They were parents of five children.

D. R. Thomas spent his boyhood in his native state and there received a good common school education. As a young man, he spent eleven years in Iowa, where he worked at farming from 1882 until 1893, and at this time gained the ag- ricultural experience that has been of so much value to him since. In 1891, he purchased his present farm, to which he moved two years later, and set about improving it and bringing it to a higher state of productiveness and value. He is an energetic and practical farmer, carries on his work in an intelligent manner that in- sures the best results, and has been highly sue- cessful. He has won a good standing among his neighbors and is much respected in his com- munity. He takes deep interest in all public matters and lends his support to every measure he considers will be of benefit to the majority of the people in the county and state. He is considered a substantial and reliable citizen, and

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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 93

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