History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time, Part 100

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Nebraska > Custer County > History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time > Part 100

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At Lincoln, Nebraska, August 4, 1884, Mr. Gustafson married Miss Matilda Bowman. who was ten years old when she came with her parents from Sweden to the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Gustafson have one daughter, Minnie, who is the wife of Herbert Hall, of Broken Bow. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have two sons : Arvid Victor, and Vernon Richard. In politics Mr. Gustafson is a Democrat and fraternally he belongs to the Woodmen and the Odd Fellows. He is a member of the United Brethren church.

FRANCIS X. MOHATT. - As a follower of one of the oldest occupations known to the human race, Francis X. Mohatt has achieved that success which comes to a man who finds his work congenial and who invests it with determination, enthusiasm and natural abil- ity. The agriculturist has ever before him the chance of making himself an enormously useful factor in a community, and a realiza- tion of this fact has come to Mr. Mohatt in Custer county, where he has maintained his home since his fourteenth year.

Mr. Mohatt was born on a farm in Douglas county, Nebraska, November 29, 1870, a son of Peter and Anna ( Nason) Mohatt. natives of New York state. As young people. the parents of Mr. Mohatt went to Iowa, where their acquaintanceship was formed and they were married at Council Bluffs, that state, after which they located on land owned by the young husband. Peter Mohatt served for a short time as a soldier in the Civil war, in 1865, and at its close he returned to Iowa, but subsequently he came to Nebraska and lo- cated on a farm in Douglas county. In later years he made a short stay in lowa, but in 1884 he came again to Nebraska - this time to make a permanent home. He homesteaded a tract in Custer county, in addition to which he purchased other land. He was successful in his operations and at the time of his death, in 1895, was the owner of an entire section. upon which had been made numeorus improve- ments of a valuable character. He was a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife were earnest communicants of the Catholic church. Mrs. Mohatt was a woman of superior intel- lectual attainments, was widely read, had been a teacher prior to her marriage, and at her death. in 1912, she left many friends to mourn her loss. There were six children in the fam- ily, and of the number five are living: John B. and James P., of Council Bluffs, Iowa :

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

Francis X .; J. R., a Canadian farmer ; and A. P., of Council Bluffs.

Francis X. Mohatt was educated in the pub- lic schools of Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and came to Custer county, Nebraska, when he was fourteen years of age. He was reared as a farmer, and when he reached man's estate he adopted as his vocation the basic industry in which he had been trained and in which he has since met with substantial success. He is now the owner of one-half section of land, of which he farms 200 acres, and he has also suc- ceeded well with his cattle. His property is well improved with good buildings and re- flects the progressive nature and good business ability of its owner.

Mr. Mohatt was married in February, 1899. to Miss Cecelia McLean, daughter of Hugh McLean, a pioneer of Custer county, an Irish- man by birth and a former sailor. To this union there have been born four children : Ella, Esther J., Reta, and Francis. Mr. Mo- hatt is a Democrat but not a politican. He and Mrs. Mohatt are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church at Broken Bow, in the work which they have been very active.

FRED W. BECKLER. - The life record of Fred W. Beckler illustrates what can be accomplished by untiring industry when coupled with good judgment. Mr. Beckler was born in Germany, October 31, 1855. He was reared and educated in his native land and when a young man of twenty years he came to the United States. After living in New York for a time he made his way to Mil- waukee, and he resided in Wisconsin until 1882, when he came to Custer county, Ne- braska, and secured a homestead on section 32, township 18, range 23, becoming one of the first settlers on West Table. His first home was a sod house, and in this he lived until fifteen years ago, when the present house was erected, the same being a very comfort - able building that is made of cement blocks. The place is equipped with good barns and outbuildings and for many years Mr. Beckler successfully carried on general farming. His holdings now embrace a half-section of val- uable land, all in one body and in a high state of cultivation.

In Clay county, Nebraska, Mr. Beckler was united in marriage to Miss Mary Herzog, a native of the same province of Germany as her husband, and they have four children : Ella is the wife of G. L. Luce: Rosa is the wife of Frank Holuska ; William married Emma Schmidt ; and Benjamin B., a bachelor. is still at home. The father of this family is

now living retired, while the sons operate the land.

The family are members of the Christian church and in politics Mr. Beckler is a Repub- lican. He has seen Custer county grow and develop from a wilderness to a country dotted with innumerable farms and thriving towns and villages, and to the work of progress such men as Mr. Beckler were the main contribu- tors.

In recording the lives of the men and women who have made Custer county what it is to-day, the historian would be remiss in his duties if he failed to give a prominent place to Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Beckler.

ROY L. LONGMORE. - The subject of this narrative was born October 12, 1884, in Henry county, Iowa, and is the sixth son of a family of nine children. His father, Will- iam B. Longmore, is a native of the Buck- eye state, and his mother, whose maiden name was Martha Runyan, was born in the state of Iowa. The children in this estimable family are: Mrs. Hallie Shaffer, Ray R., Alva J., Henry B. and Louis C. (twins), Roy L., Mrs. Grace Cudaback, William, and Mrs. Minnie M. Hanes. The father, who was a farmer, came to Custer county in 1884, and located on a claim six miles northwest of Mason City.

When Roy L. Longmore was a small boy he ran away from home and helped Ben Morris load hay, for which service he received eleven cents. This tangible recompense he carried proudly home, and asked his father's counsel as to what could be done with so much money. Mr. Longmore does not state what final dis- position was made of the eleven cents, but it is safe to say that it was properly invested and. for all we know, may have become the corner- stone of Mr. Longmore's present-day posses- sions. He has always been a farmer and, it might be added, a very successful one.

On October 3, 1906, Mr. Longmore married Miss Jennie M. Miller, whose father, William L. Miller, is a resident of Brown valley, this county. In 1899 Mr. Longmore moved to Callaway, where for eight years he was a renter. He proved himself a hard worker and frugal manager, and by virtue of these characteristics he was enabled to buy the Thomas Goodyear farm, one mile west of Callaway.

In the community where Mr. Longmore re- sides he is regarded as, a "live wire"- an active, progressive, enterprising citizen, as well as a successful farmer and stock-raiser. He is still young ; the years of a successful career are still before him. The past makes

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

this statement more of a declaration than of a prophecy. The family is connected with the Evangelical church, to which they are liberal contributors. Politically, Mr. Longmore is affiliated with the Democratic party, but he is neither hide-bound nor partisan, as he care- fully selects the man, and votes according to his convictions.

JAMES DAVIDSON. - Incomplete would be any list of the leading citizens and success- ful farmers of Custer county which did not contain the name of James Davidson, whose splendid farm and place of residence is lo- cated in the vicinity of Berwyn. A resident of this county since 1882, in which year he came here to take up a homestead and blaze the way for those who came after, his suc- cess has been marked, and his position as a prominent figure in the agricultural fraternity here is generally recognized and acknowl- edged.

Mr. Davidson was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, November 14, 1855, a son of Nathaniel and Margaret (Otto) Davidson, natives of Scotland, who emigrated to the United States separately when young people. Nathaniel Davidson was born in 1828 and in his youth learned the trade of stone-mason, which he followed in his native land. On lo- cating in America he settled in Wisconsin. where, in Waukesha county, he met and, in 1854, married Margaret Otto, who was born in Scotland, December 7, 1831. Mr. David- son continued to follow his trade at odd times in Wisconsin but engaged more and more in farming, and in 1882 he came to Custer county, Nebraska, where he secured a home- stead. He thereafter resided on his farm until his death, in 1892. He possessed the sturdy and reliable traits of character peculiar to his race. and was a man of marked industry and thrift -one who worked hard for what he had and who at all times maintained an in- tegrity and probitv that gave him standing and reputation. He was a supporter of the candidates of the Republican party, was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in his religious faith was affiliated with the Pres- byterian church. Mrs. Davidson, who sur- vives him, belongs to this church. and she now resides at the home of a daughter, at Ana- mosa, Iowa. being nearly eighty-seven years of age (1918). Mr. and Mrs. Davidson were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are living : James, of this review ; Jennie, the wife of J. M. Elwood, of Custer county ; Mag- gie. the wife of J. C. Hunnicutt, a stone-

mason of Anamosa, Iowa ; Henry, engaged in farming at Conway, Missouri; Minnie, the wife of A. D. Johnson, a farmer of Merna. Nebraska; Aggie, the wife of J. D. Ander- son, a farmer and banker of High River, Canada : and Charles, employed in a mercan- tile establishment at Broken Bow, Nebraska.

James Davidson received his education in the public schools of Iowa, where he was taken as a child, and there he began his career as an independent farmer. In 1879 he there married Miss Mary A. Wobeter, who was born in Bohemia and who was brought to the United States as a child. They became the parents of five children, of whom three are living: Nathan is residing at home and is his father's assistant in the operation of the broad acres ; James, of Berwyn, is working on a farm; and Arthur lives at home and assists his father and brother. Mr. Davidson was gradually making a success of his efforts in Iowa, but in 1882 he decided to come to Nebraska and try his fortunes as an agricul- turist of Custer county. He accordingly se- cured a homestead, not far from Berwyn, and from that time forward his progress was rapid and consistent and he began accumulating land in large tracts. At the present time he has 1,120 acres, the greater part under culti- vation, upon which he has a fine home and many improvements. For the greater part he does mixed farming, but he has also met with success in his efforts as a stock-raiser and has a herd of full-blood Hereford cattle. Mr. Davidson is a Democrat in politics, but has not sought public office.

CHARLES E. BLAKEMAN. - The gen- tleman whose name introduces this paragraph is one of the well known farmers and stock- men of Custer county -one who from a humble beginning has become one of the large land-owners and successful men of this part of the state.

Charles E. Blakeman was born in Lake county, Indiana, November 28, 1856, and is a son of John and Lucinda (Williams) Blake- man, both of whom were natives of the Buck- eye state. They were married in Ohio and became pioneer settlers of Lake county, In- diana, where they purchased land at seven dollars an acre. John Blakeman hauled freight to old Fort Dearborn and saw the city of Chicago grow from a small village. He was the owner of a farm in Lake county, Indiana, devoted his life to agricultural pur- suits, and there passed away at the age of eighty-seven years. He served in the Civil

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

war, with an Indiana regiment. His wife also passed away on the old farm, more than thirty years ago, at the age of fifty years.

Charles E. Blakeman was one of a family of five children and has a sister living in Cus- ter county, Mrs. Charles Hepsley, of Broken Bow. He was reared on a farm, attended the public schools in the acquirement of an edu- cation, and when a young man went to Chi- cago and found employment with a railroad company.

In 1884 he came to Nebraska and found employment in Saunders county. Early in 1885 he married and came to Custer county, where he secured as a homestead the north- west quarter of section 6, township 17, range 22. His first home was a sod house, and all the experiences of those early days are quite familiar to him. Water had to be hauled from a considerable distance, until a well could be provided. His second house was likewise built of sod, and was located on land he pur- chased in section 36, township 18, range 23. Here he later erected the present commodious frame dwelling, and the improvements to-day are among the best to be found in the county. Mr. Blakeman dealt extensively in cattle and has become one of the large land-owners of the county, where he has 2,700 acres at the present time.

February 3, 1885, Mr. Blakeman was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Teeple, a na- tive of the same county in Indiana as her husband. Her parents, Philip and Margaret (Pringle) Teeple, were natives of Canada and both are now deceased.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Blakeman has been blessed with six children: John married Julia Smith and owns a ranch in Custer county ; Howard is assisting in operating the home farm; Homer C. also is engaged in farming : Wallace is married and is operating one of his father's farms; Otto C. is in the national army at the time of this writing ; and Bessie is still at home.

When working at railroad work in Chicago, an old foreman who did not own a home and was probably too old a man ever to expect to own one, advised young Blakeman to go west and get a home of his own. Mr. Blakeman often thinks that the words of the old fore- man were not bad advice. While those early years meant hardships, yet by hard work and good management he is to-day one of the prominent men of the county, and his success is the due reward for patient industry and judicious investment. In politics he is inde- pendent and has never aspired to public office. He remembers the first election of his pre- cinct, when there were but twenty-three

voters. He has taken commendable interest in those movements which promote progress and development and is a member of the board of directors of the Security State Bank of Broken Bow. He has contributed his full share to make his adopted county what it is to-day and he and his family are held in the highest of esteem wherever they are known.

LEVI W. HUFFMAN, a man who con- tributed the best years of his life to this county and who was an industrious, hard- working pioneer, departed this life on August 4, 1907, leaving behind a record of which anyone might well be proud, and a family that does honor to his name.

Mr. Huffman was born June 24, 1856, in Vermilion county, Illinois, and was a son of Jacob and Mary (Rudlidge) Huffman, a splendid couple of native-born Americans. They had six children, all of whom grew to maturity - John C., William, Levi W., Alice Neth, George W., and Charles W.

When Levi W. Huffman was but nine years of age his father died and left the mother with the care of the family. The mother still lives on the same farm in Vermilion county. It was here that she reared her six children, and it is recorded to the credit of Levi that he stayed at home and rendered his mother valuable assistance until he was twenty-one years of age. He did all kinds of work and earned his first money when a mere lad, by riding a horse on the threshing floor where they were tramping out wheat in the old-fash- ioned way.

Early in the spring of 1882 Mr. Huffman found his way into Custer county, where he located a claim in section 9, township 15, range 22. He worked on the Brighton ranch, breaking sod and building fences, at the time when Virgil Allen was the foreman. In this way he made the money which paid for the improvements on his place. He often walked to Broken Bow, a distance of twenty miles, for provisions, and when he was lucky enough to get them he sent them to his home with some ranchman. He helped to haul lumber for some of the buildings in the county seat and in so doing made the trips to Lexington, time and again. Gradually "bachelor's hall" began to lose its attractions. Six years was all that he could stand. When 1888 brought the June time, he claimed a June bride. Miss Emma Dixon became the partner of his life and fortune and during the remainder of his life was a faithful companion and helpmeet. Mrs. Huffman is a daughter of James and Catherine (Cook) Dixon, very excellent

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

people, from whom she inherited enviable characteristics.

The Huffmans made a pleasant home, and, with all the courage and heroism of young people. girded themselves for the enterprise of farm development. The years brought them four children: Jesse A., who married Miss Ollie Sipes, a daughter of Edward Sipes, farms a part of his mother's place, and he and his wife have three children. Leona is the wife of Joseph John, who also is farming part of the mother's farm, on the South Loup. They have two children. Hazel B. is a high school graduate of Callaway, and after teach- ing school three years she accepted a position as cashier in a bank at Tyron, Nebraska, where she now makes her home. Opal M. is at home with her mother and in the eleventh grade of her high-school course.

Levi W. Huffman departed this life August 4, 1907. During his life he had been a kind and loving husband and an affectionate father who counted nothing a sacrifice that was done for the family. After his death Mrs. Huff- man resided on the farm for nine years, and by her native pluck and energy she added to the farm improvements until to-day they have a valuable, well improved ranch of 480 acres. This makes a beautiful home and as she looks back over the years of trials and hardships, endured for the sake of the family, the pioneer days seem like a dream and the experiences often come back in the reveries of the present day.

Mrs. Huffman remarried July 26, 1915, and is now the wife of Joseph Van Emans, a rail- road man of good standing and excellent re- pute. In order to finish the education of her younger children, Mrs. Huffman-VanEmans makes her home in Callaway, where she runs an up-to-date millinery store, but she expects some day to move back on the farm.

NORMAN DWIGHT FORD has been a resident of Custer county since 1907 and has not only gained distinct prestige as one of the representative members of the bar of the county but has also given thorough proof of his professional ability and judicial acumen by his able and timely service as county judge. Ile was first elected to preside on the bench of the county court in the autumn of 1914. and re-elections to this office have since testi- fied to the estimate placed upon him by the citizens of the county. He is retained on the bench of this tribunal at the present time. through re-election in November, 1918. It is needless to say that Judge Ford is a man of

prominence and wide influence in Custer county, and his unequivocal personal popular- ity is based on worthy characteristics and worthy achievement. It has consistently been said that "His list of personal acquaintances will equal that of any man who has resided in the county from the time of its organiza- tion, and that the number of his friends is limited only by that of his acquaintances."

Norman Dwight Ford was born at Oak Hill, Greene county, New York, on the 21st day of February, 1878, and is a son of Emerson and Addie L. (Carpenter) Ford, both likewise natives of the old Empire state, where the mother stood as a representative of a patrician family long established in that commonwealth. Emerson Ford was a prominent and successful merchant in New York, and was a sterling citizen who commanded unqualified popular confidence and esteem. Both he and his wife are now deceased. Judge Ford is the elder of the two children and the younger. Ernest Emerson Ford, is now a resident of New York.

After having duly availed himself of the advantages of the public schools of his native place. Judge Ford completed a course in the Albany Business College, in the capital city of New York. In this institution he was graduated in 1896, and thereafter he was graduated in Greenville Academy, at Green-

ville, New York. In the meanwhile he had formulated definite plans for his future career and in consonance with these plans he began the work of preparing himself for the legal profession. In 1904 he passed the technical examination of the regents of the state of New York, and was thus enabled to enter the celebrated Albany Law School, which is the law department of Union University. In this institution he was graduated in May, 1906, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, his admission to the bar of his native state having been recorded in the following Septem- ber. Thereafter he served his professional novitiate by opening an office in the city of Albany, where he continued in practice about one year. In February. 1907. Judge Ford came to Nebraska and established himself in practice at Ansley. Custer county, his admis- sion to the Nebraska bar having occurred in March of the year just mentioned. His am- bition and thorough technical preparation gave the future jurist excellent reinforcement for the successful work of his chosen profes- sion, and within a short time he had gained substantial and representative clientage. a That he made a most favorable personal and professional impress needs no further voucher

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

NORMAN DWIGHT FORD

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

than the statement that in November. 1914. he was elected to the bench of the county court. In assuming his judicial functions Judge Ford, as a matter of course, removed to Broken Bow, the county seat, and his ad- ministration on the bench was such that he proved the logical candidate for re-election. He was thus re-elected for a second term. and that without opposition, and in November, 1918. he was again elected. this being an ad- ditiona testimonial to his ability and personal popularity. On the bench his rulings have been marked by the true judicial attitude and by an accurate knowledge of the law, so that few of his decisions have been reversed by courts of higher jurisdiction. The Judge had no opposing candidate when he was re-elected for his third successive term.

Admirably fortified in his political convic- tions, Judge Ford is a strong and loyal ad- vocate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor, but he has not consented to become a candidate for any office save in line with his profession. In the time-honored Masonic fraternity he has received the thirty-second degree of the An- cient Accepted Scottish Rite, the while he is likewise active in the York Rite bodies and the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is past master of his lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. is a valued member of the commandery of Knights Templars at Broken Bow, and is past grand patron of the Nebraska grand chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. In the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he is past noble grand ; he is past grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, is past venerable consul of the Modern Woodmen of America, and past high priest of Horeb chapter. Royal Arch Masons, at Broken Bow. In patriotic service in connection with the great world war. Judge Ford has been specially earnest and zealous and has been in constant demand as, a platform speaker and as committee ad- viser. Under his direction was organized the Custer county legal board to render service to men of the draft age, in connection with the filling out of their questionaires, and this board gave most effective service until the signing of the historic armistice brought a close to the war.

In the suburbs of Broken Bow Judge and Mrs. Ford maintain a beautiful home. and the same is known for its gracious hospitality. with Mrs. Ford as its popular chatelaine. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

At Oak Hill, New York. on the 5th of

September. 1899, was solemnized the marriage of Judge Ford to Miss Millie B. Mackey, who was born and reared in that state and who is a daughter of Omar and Nora ( Bear) Mackey, both likewise natives of the Empire state. Mrs. Ford is the elder of two children, and her bro- ther, Perry Richard Mackey, is a resident of Albany, New York. Judge and Mrs. Ford have two children : Theodore Lionel, who was born on the 13th of May, 1902. is, in 1918. a student in the Broken Bow high school, and the younger child, Kathleen Elizabeth, was born on the 9th of February, 1918.

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History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time, Part 100

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company
Number of Pages: 1180