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 114
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171
743
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Laura, the wife of Frank Chase; Emma, the wife of Charles Conley; and Belle, the wife of Jepsen Clark. In 1886 the parents moved with their family to Custer county, the family locating on a property about twelve miles east of Callaway, on the South Loup river. At that time Frank Liles was still a lad, and his education, started in Illinois, was completed here in the district schools. He was brought up to habits of industry and honesty, and carefully instructed in the art of farming, his first-earned money being secured for keeping his rows straight while dropping corn with a corn-planter. When he became of age he adopted farming as his own vocation, and he followed this for a number of years, being an extensive operator as an agriculturist and stock-raiser. Several years ago he practically retired from active affairs and settled in a beautiful home adjoining Callaway. His at- tractive residence is surrounded by twenty-five acres, all in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Liles had practically given up operations of a large nature, but the country's need of food products found him ready to do his part, and he is at present leasing sixty-five acres, which he is devoting to the growing of corn. Mr. Liles is one of his community's progressive and enterprising men and has loyally sup- ported all movements that have promised to benefit the community or its people. He has improved his land both practically and with a view to appearance, and in other ways has contributed to the upbuilding of the vicinity of Callaway. He has not sought public office, preferring the quiet life of his suburban home to the doubtful honors of the political arena.
Mr. Liles was married June 4, 1896, at Carthage, Missouri, to Miss Lenora Leggett, daughter of Thomas N. and Rachel ( Met- calf) Leggett, members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and well known residents of Carthage, the father having been a native of West Virginia. The surviving brothers and sisters of Mrs. Liles are John W., Sher- man A., Mattie (the wife of Thomas Led- better), Dora (the wife of James Rodgers), Charles B., and Thomas H. Mr. and Mrs. Liles are the parents of four children: Her- bert W., who is clerk in a meat market at Callaway, and who remains at the parental home, celebrated his twenty-first birthday an- niversary in 1918; Walter W. resides at home and assists his father in the work of the home farm; Inez R. is teaching school ; and Harry A. is a student of the eighth grade in the Cal- laway public schools.
VACLAV KLUNA. - The career of Vac- lav Kluna in Custer county was one of con- tinuous agricultural activity from the time of his arrival here in 1900 until his retirement to his home at Comstock, in 1916. He has been a resident of Nebraska since 1884, hav- ing carried on farming on a large tract in Valley county until his arrival in Custer county, and in each community in which he has resided he established a reputation for in- dustry, capability, and integrity.
Mr. Kluna is a Bohemian by nativity, and was born January 25, 1857, a son of Martin and Barbara ( Kara) Kluna. His parents came to the United States with their children in June, 1877, and settled in Arkansas, where the father carried on farming, near Dardanelle. There his death occurred, in the faith of the Catholic church, of which he and his wife were lifelong members. Following his de- mise, his widow, with her son John, went to Omaha, but Vaclav Kluna came to Pawnee county. He had been educated in the schools of his native country, had come to America as a young man of twenty years, and all his train- ing had been along agricultural lines. After two years in Pawnee county he went to Oma- ha, where he was joined by his brother John and a number of friends, thus making up a small party which traveled together to Valley county, which was at that time still un- developed territory. Mr. Kluna located on a homestead, March 17. 1884, and settled down to the pursuits of farming and raising stock, vocations for which he showed great aptitude, and in which he gained success through hard and industrious effort, careful management, and skilled use of modern methods in soil treatment. In 1900 Mr. Kluna disposed of his Valley county land and came to Custer county, where he continued to farm and raise stock until his retirement, in 1916, here dupli- cating the success that he had attained in his former locality. He is still the owner of 480 acres of valuable Custer county land, and in addition has 1,440 acres in Perkins county, the latter now in its developing stages of im- provement. As a citizen Mr. Kluna has fully lived up to his responsibilities and has been a supporting factor in movements which have benefited the locality. In addition to his brother John, who still resides in Valley county, Mr. Kluna has another brother, Jo- seph, who is living in Texas. Two other chil- dren, of his parents are now deceased.
At Omaha, June 22, 1886, Mr. Kluna mar- ried Miss Mary Slaba, and they have had six children, of whom four are living: One child
.
744
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
died in infancy; Vaclav, Jr., born August 10, 1888. died December 26, 1912: Joseph, born September 6, 1889, married Emma \ o- dehnal and they reside five miles northeast of Comstock; Marie, born March 21, 1892. is the wife of Joseph Klapal. a farmer living five miles east of Sargent; Annie, born No- vember 5, 1893, is single and resides on the home farm with her brother; and Anton, who was born May 4, 1895, is single and is oper- ating the farm property of his father.
FRANK M. CURRIE was born April 29, 1859, on a farm in Fowler township, Trumbull county, Ohio. His parents were both born in Scotland, and immigrated to that part of Ohio before their marriage, about 1847. His fa- ther's name was Robert Currie, and his mother's maiden name was Janette Murdoch. They were married in 1853, and settled on the fifty-acre farm where they reared a family of four children - John H. Currie and Mar- garet M. Currie, now residing at Bradshaw. Nebraska ; Frank M. Curric ; and Mrs. Agnes Campbell, residing at Cortland, Ohio.
Frank M. Curric received his early educa- tion in the public schools. At the age of nine- teen he became a teacher, in this way earning sufficient money to pay his expenses for one year at Grand River Institute, Austinburg, Ohio, where he prepared for college. In the fall of 1880 he entered Alleghany College, from which institution he was graduated, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in June. 1884. In the autumn of 1884 he left the old home in Ohio and came to Syracuse, Nebraska, cross- ing the Missouri river at Nebraska City, on a ferry boat.
He earned his first money in the state by pitching hay for Eph Hartman. He received for this work a dollar a day, and boarded him- self. Later on he secured a position as prin- cipal of the school at Dunbar, Nebraska; at that time the school had but one teacher be- sides himself.
August 20th, 1885, Mr. Currie returned to his old home in Ohio and married Etha L. Logan. They came immediately to Papillion, Nebraska, where Mr. Currie was principal of the public schools for a period of four years. During their residence in Papillion, two chil- dren were born - Claude A. Currie, at present residing on a ranch in Cherry county. Ne- braska : and Keo, at present doing Red Cross search work, hunting for missing soldiers in France. In 1890 an epidemic of typhoid fever visited Sargent. Nebraska. and among the vic- tims of that dread diseases was Etha 1. Curric.
the wife of F. M. Currie. In 1892 he was married to Keokee Logan, at Burghill, Ohio. They have one child, Lilas Currie, who is at present living at home with her parents.
In 1889 the family removed to Sargent, Ne- braska, where Mr. Currie became the editor of the Sargent Times. This was one of the many ventures established in the new part of Nebraska for the purpose of the revenues de- rived from the publication of final proof no- tices, and for the further purpose of boosting the new country. However, the venture was not entirely voluntary on Mr. Currie's part. for the reason that the paper came into his hands as the result of a loan to a friend who happened to be in the newspaper business. A series of crop failures and a number of years of depression greatly reduced the income from the newspaper, and in order to make a living. Mr. Currie applied for and was elected to the position of superintendent of the city schools of Broken Bow, in the fall of 1894 -that ter- rible year when nothing was raised in Custer county, and when thousands of the early set- tlers abandoned their homesteads in utter dis- couragement.
He held the position of superintendent until the spring of 1897. His ancestors as far back as any knowledge of them is obtainable had been farmers and stock-raisers, and he had al- ways had a desire to enter into the cattle busi- ness. In the spring of 1897 he formed what was known as the Jewel Cattle Company, a corporation composed largely of his old friends in Ohio. It had a capital stock of $20,000, and began operations in the Douglas Grove pre- cinct of Custer county, having a ranch on the Calamus river in Loup county.
This corporation was of short-lived exist- ence - Mr. Currie purchasing the interests of the other stockholders and paying $1.25 a share for the stock after the company had been in operation one year. He continued in the cattle business on his own account until 1903, when he formed the Kinsman Cattle Company, with a capital stock of $50.000. This company pur- chased 4,000 acres of land. eighteen miles northeast of Broken Bow, and had its head- quarters in Sargent.
About a year later he organized the Buck- eye Cattle Company, and purchased 5.600 acres of land. eighteen miles southeast of Broken Bow. He was manager of these two com- panies for a period of three years. The Buck- cve Cattle Company sold its interests at a handsome profit. and he severed his connec- tions with the Kinsman Cattle Company.
In the year 1907. the Maine and Nebraska Mining Company was formed by B. F. Young,
745
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
FRANK M. CURRIE
746
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
of Callaway, Nebraska, and parties residing in Maine. The contract was given to Mr. Currie to develop the mining property of this com- pany, which was situated in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. This contract called for the development of the mining property, the building of two or three miles of railroad, and the installation of mining machinery. This work was by far the most strenuous and the largest undertaking ever engaged in by the subject of this sketch. It called for the invest- ment of a quarter of a million dollars, and was undertaken and carried to a successful completion - only to be lost by the unfortu- nate political conditions of Mexico.
In 1902 Mr. Currie, together with Frank H. Young, now deceased, H. Lomax, H. B. An- drews, also deceased, and Alpha Morgan, or- ganized the Custer National Bank, in which Mr. Currie was director for a number of years. This institution has changed its name to the Custer State Bank, and is one of the substan- tial banking houses of the county.
In the year 1900 the same parties purchased the Farmers & Merchants Bank and the Custer County Bank, located at Sargent, Nebraska. These two banks were consolidated, retaining the name and charter of the Custer County Bank, which was later changed to the First National Bank of Sargent, later becoming the Sargent State Bank, and is still one of the substantial financial institutions of Custer county.
After his return from Mexico Mr. Currie again engaged in the stock business. and in this connection he was a resident of Blaine county for three or four years. In the fall of 1917, in company with his son, Claude A .. James Lo- max. Clifford Lomax, and Carl Jeffords, of Broken Bow, he purchased what was known as the Cross L Ranch, in Cherry county. This ranch is one of the largest and best equipped ranches in the state, producing annually about 5,000 tons of hay ; consisting of 13.000 acres of deeded land, 7,000 acres of leased land, and a permit for the pasturage of 50,000 acres on the Niobrara forest reserve.
In the year 1918 this ranch produced and shipped to market 1.600,000 pound of beef, 25,- 000 pounds of pork, and seventy-five tons of potatoes. Carl Jeffords and Clifford Lomax were called to the colors, and the active man- agement and control rested on Mr. Curric. On the return of these young men from service Mr. Currie resigned his active management of the ranch, and has accepted the presidency of the Missouri Valley Cattle Loan Company. a corporation formed in Omaha, with a capital
stock of two million dollars, for the purpose of handling loans on cattle in Nebraska, Wyo- ming, Colorado, and Montana, which position he now holds.
In politics Mr. Currie has always been a Republican, and has taken an active citizen's interest in public affairs, although he has never sought a public office. In 1898 he was nomi- nated as a Republican candidate for the office of state senator, to represent the Twenty-third senatorial district, composed of Custer, Valley, Loup, and Blaine counties. For a number of years this district had been overwhelmingly Populist and Democratic, and had regularly elected their candidate by fusion of these two parties. It seemed hopeless to undertake a campaign, but owing to a change in public sentiment, and partly due to Mr. Currie's large and extensive acquaintance in the dis- trict and personal popularity, he was elected by a considerable majority.
Again, in the autumn of 1900, he was ten- dered the nomination, at a convention held in Sargent. By this time the trend of public sentiment had drifted back to the Republican party and practically the entire Republican ticket was elected. On his return to the sen- ate he found that eight out of the thirty-three members who had sat with him two years be- fore had been returned. Seven of these came to him and volunteered their support to him for the United States senate. This substantial mark of respect and confidence was accepted in the spirit in which it was offered, and Mr. Currie became a candidate for the United States senate.
At this time Nebraska was efecting two United States senators -one of them to fill the unexpired term of Senator Hayward, who had been elected at the previous session, but who was removed by death before he under- took the duties of his office. The other was to succeed John M. Thurston, whose term had expired. A long and serious deadlock occurred in the election. The candidates in this memorable fight were Edward Rosewater and George D. Meiklejohn, Lorenzo Crounse and F. M. Currie for the long termn, or as it was commonly expressed at that time, for the North Platte country; and D. E. Thompson and various other minor candidates for the short term. or South Platte country.
During all of this memorable struggle Mr. Currie was one of the leading candidates. Af- ter a long and weary deadlock, when it seemed that the legislature must adjourn without an election, the deadlock was broken, and Charles H. Dietrich, of Hastings, was elected for the
747
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
short term, or South Platte country, and Joseph H. Millard for the long term, or North Platte.
In the following spring, at a convention held at Crawford, Nebraska, Mr. Currie was one of the leading candidates for congress. In this contest, at which 186 ballots were cast, the candidates were Judge H. M. Grimes, of North Platte ; Hon. M. P. Kinkaid, of O'Neill ; F. M. Currie, of Broken Bow; and A. E. Cady, of St. Paul, Nebraska. At one time Mr. Currie lacked only six votes of receiving the nomination, but in the end the successful candi- date was M. P. Kinkaid, who was nominated and triumphantly elected at the next election, and who has held the office ever since.
In the presidential campaign of 1912 Mr. Currie was chairman of the Republican state convention, and in 1916 he was elected as a delegate-at-large to the Republican national convention, in Chicago, where he was a sup- porter of Charles E. Hughes, who was nomi- nated for the presidency.
In 1906 Mr. Currie purchased the Inde- pendent Telephone system of Custer county and adjacent counties, from J. E. Adamson. This system was greatly improved by the con- struction of substantial long distance tele- phone lines, by the complete rebuilding and · reconstruction of the system of Broken Bow; and the building of what is one of the finest telephone buildings in the state of Nebraska. After the whole system had been made mod- ern, and rebuilt at an expense of about $50,- 000. Mr. Currie sold his interest to the Bell Telephone Company.
In 1911 Broken Bow found itself without an electric-light system. It had grown to be a city of 2,500 people, and was much in need of this improvement. Mr. Currie organized a company with ample funds, and in connec- tion with C. S. Martin, of Broken Bow, built the electric-light system which Broken Bow now has. From the beginning and up to the present time Mr. Currie has been president of this company.
Mr. Currie is a thirty-second degree Mason and is affiliated also with the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is recognized as one of the finished scholars of the state. He has a state reputation as an orator and in addition to his fine command of the English language he speaks both German and Spanish, the while he is known as a writer of exceptional ability.
JOHN H. JOHNSON-MALM, who is one of the well satisfied farmers of Custer county, came to the United States when twenty-seven year of age, and through his industry and ex- ercise of good judgment, has acquired a fine property, has gained respect and consideration from his neighbors, and has comfortably reared a family of sons who, in their several ways, are reflecting credit upon the state of their nativity and upon their parents and friends.
John Henry Johnson-Malm was born in Filipstad, Wärmland, Sweden, March 6, 1859, one of a family of three sons and two daugh- ters born to John Eric and Louise Johnson.
During his boyhood Mr. Johnson-Malm as- sisted his father and went to school. When twenty years old he went to Norway, where he worked four years in an apatite mine, the crystals being a calcium phosphate fluoride, a source of phosphorus compounds, largely made use of in the fertilization of land. The work was hard, and danger attended it. Mr. Johnson-Malm returned then to Sweden, where he worked in the iron mines in West- manland for about four years, in the mean- while making plans to immigrate to the United States, where agricultural conditions were bet- ter and where it was possible to secure home- steads in some of the western states, with a reasonable expenditure.
By 1886 Mr. Johnson-Malm was able to come to America and was accompanied by his young wife to whom he was married two weeks before sailing. They reached Custer county, Nebraska, safely, in December, and for the following time Mr. Johnson-Malm worked in North Platte and in the Union Paci- fic roundhouse. He prudently saved his money. and kept adding to his capital until, in 1889, he came to Custer county and rented land. Here he secured his homestead in 1890 - land situated in section 28, township 13, range 25 - on which he has lived continuously ever since. He has made many improvements and now has one of the finest farms in this section of the country and has just cause to take pride in it. He carries on gencral farming and raises stock, and he has trained his sons in the business of farming.
In November, 1886. Mr. Johnson-Malm was united in marriage to Miss Johanna M. An- derson, who was born in Grangärde, Dalarna, Sweden, a daughter of Peter and Maria C. (Olson) Anderson, both of Grangärde, Sweden. Seven sons have been born to Mr.
748
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
and Mrs. Johnson-Mahn, namely: Adolph Eric Malm, who is a member of Company D, Fourth United States Infantry, and who is with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, having left the United States in March, 1918, and having been wounded in the right arm on October 21, 1918; Maurits Bruno Malm, who left the United States in August, 1918, a member of Company B, Three Hundred and Forty-second M. G. B., American Expeditionary Forces ; Julius Albert Malm, who is a farmer in Custer county, and who was subject to draft call, in class 3-A; Oscar Stefan Malm, who is a graduate of the Gothenburg high school and who is farming with his brother Julius Albert, on section 32, township 13, range 25; Carl Herman Malm, who is working his father's land on Oden- crantz Table; John Henry Malm, who helps his brother on the farm; and Arthur Conrad Malm, who is yet in school. All of these boys were born on Cedar Farm, in section 28, township 13, range 25, Custer county.
In a history of this kind, where records must be kept straight for the coming genera- tions of Johnson-Malms, it must be stated that the name "Malm" has been added by the sub- ject of this sketch since coming to America - principally in order that his mail should not be confused with the mail of the numerous family of Johnsons living in Custer county,- and he laughingly says that he has been called "Malm" so much that there are few of his neighbors who know him by any other name. Mr. Johnson-Malm is well and favorably known in the community in which he lives, is a citizen who is loyal to the country of his adoption, and always ready to help any worthy cause that is for the betterment of the community in which he lives. He believes that the more a man knows about his own county and state, the better citizen he will become.
CHARLES MATZ. - One of the sturdy pioneers of the South Loup region who gave a practical demonstration of what thrift and energy can do within the range of a short life-time, was the late Charles Matz, who made a name and monument for himself in the region of his operations.
Mr. Matz was born September 15. 1858. in Ohio, and died in Custer county, January 20, 1916. He was a son of John and Dorothy ( Tikle) Matz, fine people, who were strict ad- herents of the Baptist church. The father was a native of Germany and the mother was French. In their family were seven children,
four of whom are now living - John, Gus- tavus A., Eliza Miller, and Ama Bonzo. The family lived on a farm and young Charles made himself generally useful, the while he attended the country school and acquired a fundamental education. He and his brothers rendered assistance to the family home by working for the neighbors, especially in the fall of the year, when corn husking was in order. They would husk corn for their neigh- bors and sometimes would go as far as forty miles from home in order to obtain the work.
Charles Matz was married January 20, 1884, in Scioto county, Ohio, to Miss Cath- erine Winter, of the same county. Mrs. Matz is a daughter of Frederick and Felicia ( Mag- net) Winter, both of whom were of French descent. In the Winter family were ten chil- dren, six daughters and four sons. One son and one daughter are deceased. The survivors are Mary Nagel, Elizabeth Lenhart, Klotilda Thurman, Margaret E. Matz, Catherine Matz, Charles B., George, and Frank. The family belonged to the United Brethren church.
The home which was made by Mr. and Mrs. Matz on their own initiative, proved an excel- lent one. Unusually well provided with com- mon comforts and home-like arrangements, it has continued a splendid haven for their children and grandchildren. Of their children the following brief record is consistently given : Cora May is the wife of Walter Cox, a farmer living near Callaway, and they have three children, Mr. and Mrs. Cox being mem- bers of the Evangelical church. Walter Fred- eric, who married Elsie Huenefeld, is a young farmer and stockman living northwest of Oconto, where he owns and operates 1.100 acres of land. Being in the selective draft he sold his stock and entered the military service of the government. and at the time of this writing he is with Company C, at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Anna Margaret died March 12, 1913. John Wesley is at home helping his mother on the ranch. He owns 280 acres of good land. He is subject to military duty and is listed in class 3. Charles Wilbur also is at home, assisting on the mother's ranch. The draft exemption board placed him in class 2. Clara Dorothy is a student in the State Nor- mal School at Kearney. Nellie is at home with her mother.
The father of these children. who are now grown to honorable manhood and womanhood, came into Custer county in 1884 and located in section 20. township 14, range 22, four miles south of Lodi. He landed here with three hundred dollars. He built a sod house, made other primitive improvements, obtained
749
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
a few head of stock. and commenced business. Mrs. Matz was his able assistant in his efforts. While he broke the sod and looked after the stock, she raised chickens, milked cows, and sold butter and eggs, by which means she supplied the family larder, while the other re- sources of the farm went into additional live stock and other land. Thus operations were continued during the lifetime of Mr. Matz, and to-day his estate comprises 640 acres of extra fine land, a beautiful home, with every- thing on the farm in fine shape - indicating thrift and prosperity.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.