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 115

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 115

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His death occurred on the anniversary of his marriage - just thirty-two years from the day he stood at the marriage altar. He was a member of the Evangelical church, was widely known and highly regarded, and was a very devoted husband and father. His wife and two sons live on the home place and con- duct the farming operations so long directed by the husband and father.

BERT F. KIMBALL. - Of the younger generation of agriculturists carrying on oper- ations in Custer county, mention is due Bert Frank Kimball, whose progressiveness and in- dustry are rapidly bringing him into a favor- able position. He comes of an old, well known, and honored family of this county, and was born here December 23, 1884, a son of William and Myra ( Bourne) Kimball. A more de- tailed account of the family will be found in the sketch of Harry C. Kimball, elsewhere in this work.

The district schools of Custer county fur- nished the means for the education of Bert F. Kimball, and his early home training was all along agricultural lines, with his influences of the best, tending toward implanting in him the qualities of honesty and industry. When he entered upon his career he did so independent- ly, becoming a renter, which status he still holds. During the last six years he has rented his present property, a half-section of section 10, township 39, from E. H. Burrows. In Janu- ary, 1918, he became a landed proprietor. when he bought a farm of 120 acres, lying southeast of Berwyn, but his activities thus far have been confined to the cultivation of his rented acreage. Mr. Kimball is an energetic, en- thusiastic, pushing man who believes firmly in progress and in the community where his home is made and where his operations are centered. He has found from experience the value of modern methods and machinery, and while he does not discard the practically proven theories, he always welcomes innova-

tions and is ready to give them a trial. This is the kind of labor that has resulted in the accomplishment of advancing results.

In February, 1907. Mr. Kimball was united in marriage with Miss Mabel House, also a member of an old and honored Custer county family. She was born here and is a daughter of Ernest and Ida (Sharp) House. Mr. House, who was a pioneer of this county, passed the greater part of his life in farming here, but is now a well-to-do resident of Okla- homa. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball are the parents of four children: Claude, born May 21, 1908; Arthur, born August 7, 1910; Genevieve, born June 16, 1914; and Dorothea May, born Biay 1, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball are members of the Christian church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled several of the chairs, and is affiliated also with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Highlanders. In all of these organizations he has numerous friends. He is independent as to politics, and has been too busy with his agricultural labors to take other than a good citizen's interest in public matters.

GEORGE A. RUSSOM. - Living in the vicinity of Broken Bow, on a farm belonging to his father, the subject of this sketch is con- ducting operations which entitle him to be classed both as a farmer and dairyman, and especially is he entitled to all the honors to be bestowed in these days upon food pro- ducers.

George A. Russom is a native of Custer county and was born April 17, 1886. He is a son of George R. and Mary J. ( Pope) Rus- som, sterling citizens who are well known in the community. The father was born in North Carolina and the mother in Indiana. For fur- ther data concerning the family, reference may be made to the biography of George R. Rus- som on other pages of this volume.

George A. Russom ran much the same course as did other Custer county lads, re- ceived the same educational advantages, and grew to manhood under the same conditions that are so many times detailed in these col- umns. Here too he began his operations as a farmer and stockman, which lines of enter- prise to-day do him splendid service.

September 30, 1908, at Hillsdale, Michigan, Mr. Russom wedded Virginia Lamoreanix, who was born in the state of New York, a daughter of Pater R. and Edith H. (Cole) Lamoreaux, both New York people.

The home place of George A. Russom is

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one of the farms belonging to his father, and into the family circle have come two children - Raymond, seven years of age ( 1918), and Richard, four years of age. The farm con- sists of 250 acres and it is devoted to general farming. Aside from raising grain and alfalfa Mr. Russom milks an average of eight cows the year round, and from this source he re- ceives an average of forty dollare a month. He also tries to produce from 100 to 125 hogs each year. Fifty-five acres have been seeded to fall wheat and thirty acres to rye, in order that there may be breadstuffs produced for the country and the world during these strenuous times.

Mr. Russom was in the draft for service in the great world war, which came to a close before he was called to arms. He is a Demo- crat in politics and the family belong to the Baptist church.

The first money earned by young George A. Russom was made by pulling a hand drill- plow while planting beans. For this he re- ceived twenty-five cents, the foundation quar- ter-dollar of his present possessions. Mr. Russom is possessed of a practical turn of thought and action, and all of his farming operations are conducted in the common-sense, practical way that assures success. He is thus to be classified as a practical Custer county farmer of the second generation.

CHARLES D. BRAGG, whose business interests at Comstock are of a large and im- portant character, is one of the men whose ca- reers have been started in the realm of agri- culture, but whose success has come through commercial avenues of activity. He has re- sided in Custer county since 1898, and during the twenty years of his residence here has been engaged in general merchandising for eighteen years, in addition to which, as a mem- ber of the firm of Wescott, Gibbons & Bragg, he is interested in an electric theatre and the city electric-lighting plant.

Mr. Bragg was born in Green county, Wis- consin, March 10, 1856. a son of Thomas J. and Emily J. ( Noble) Bragg. His father was born in Fauquier county. Virginia, in 1813, and in 1835 went to Wisconsin and set- tled on a homestead in Green county. There he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits until the time of his retirement, when he moved to Monroe and settled down to a life of quiet and ease. He lived to the re- markable age of ninety-five years, his death occurring in June, 1908. Mrs. Bragg. who was a native of Kentucky. also attained ad-

vanced age, passing away in 1905, when she was eighty-four years old. Mr. Bragg was a man of sterling character, good business ability and marked industry, and he was in- fluential .in the Democratic party councils in his locality. He and Mrs. Bragg were the parents of five children: W. T., a retired resident and merchant of Monroe, Wisconsin, who married Mary Butterfield; Thomas J., who died at Seattle, Washington, about 1910; Alice A., of Monroe, Wisconsin, the widow of the late Archibald Glasscott, a former mer- chant : Emma C., the wife of R. D. Gorham, a druggist and real-estate operator of Monroe ; and Charles D., of this review.

Charles D. Bragg was educated in the com- mon schools of Monroe, Wisconsin, and was variously engaged, principally in farming. in that locality until 1898, when he brought his family to Custer county and purchased a farm, on which he made his home for two years. He then disposed of his interests and located at Comstock, buying an interest in an established general merchandise business and becoming thereby a member of the firm of Wescott, Gib- bon & Bragg. This concern has a modern es- tablishment in every way and carries a full line of general merchandise, catering to a pat- ronage which extends for miles all around this vicinity. An excellent trade has been de- veloped and held through a policy of honest and honorable treatment, careful selection of high-grade stock, and the offering of mod- erate prices, and Mr. Bragg has in many ways proven himself a most capable business man. In addition the firm owns the city electric- lighting plant and an electric theatre, both of which have proven profitable ventures. Mr. Bragg is a Democrat. He belongs to the Ma- sonic lodge at Monroe, Wisconsin.

In June. 1882. Mr. Bragg was united in marriage, at Monroe, Wisconsin, to Eva M. Wescott, daughter of Walter S. and Thankful (Cleveland) Wescott. the former born at Wethersfield, Wyoming county, New York, in 1828, and the latter at Emden. Maine. Mr. Wescott, the youngest of six children, moved at the age of fourteen years to Green county, Wisconsin, the family traveling the entire dis- tance by wagon. He had received a good country-school education, and an especially retentive memory enabled him to acquire a better education than that of the average per- son at that time. He spent much of his time in reading news of the day and this equipped him with the ability to converse fluently upon all topics of importance. His father being a Democrat politically, he had a natural bent and inclination in that direction, and eventu-

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

WALTER S. WESCOTT

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

ally became very prominent politically as a Democrat, but with the advent of the Re- publican party he allied himself with that or- ganization. In 1859 he was elected to the lower house of the Wisconsin legislature, the assembly, and he was re-elected in 1860. In 1863 he was elected to the state senate. and served two years. He was a delegate to the national convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. In 1880 Mr. Wes- cott located on a ranch near Oak Grove, Cus- ter county, Nebraska, bringing 1,000 head of cattle, but that was one of the exceptionally hard winters and he had the misfortune to lose all but sixty-seven head. He at once brought 1,000 head more, and in 1886 he made a per- manent abiding place here, locating near Com- stock. Ile established a bank, a general store, and a village called Wescott, but this latter was abandoned at the time of the advent of the railroad, which came on the east side of the river, while the village was situated on the west side. Mr. Wescott thereupon moved his general merchandise store to the new vil- lage of Comstock, where he retired from active business in 1903, placing the management of his large interests in the hands of his son-in- law. E. C. Gibbons. He was prominent in politics, having . always retained his interest therein, but never held office in Custer county. His death occurred March.31. 1908. and Mrs. Wescott also died in Comstock, where she was summoned to eternal rest on the 18th of April, 1916.

GILBERT H. HUGHES. - Another citi- zen of whom Arnold may well be proud be- cause of his activities in the community and his contribution to the stock wealth and agri- cultural products of the county is Gilbert H. Hughes, who landed on the earthly planet March 7, 1868, in Grundy county, Missouri. Ile is a son of Louis O. and Malinda A. (Craig) Hughes, both of whom were native Virginians. He is a member of a family of eight children. six of whom reached maturity - James F. of Gilford, Missouri ; Gilbert H .. of this review ; Owen H., of Coffey, Missouri : Mrs. Etta M. Woody, of Gallatin, Missouri; Mrs. Adeline Dennis, of Trenton, Missouri ; and Oscar. deceased. In religious matters the father belonged to the Christian church while the mother was a faithful, devoted supporter of the Baptist church.

Gilbert H. Hughes spent his early years under the parental roof. At the age of twelve, however, he went to work for him- self. His first wages, which he earned by

working for his uncle, amounted to twenty- five cents a day. The first job that he tackled was that of bunching wheat with a wooden rake, this work being done behind a cradler who cut the grain in the old-fashioned way. A little later he secured a job at eight dollars a month and still later his wages were in- creased to twelve dollars and then to fifteen dollars a month. He gave considerable atten- tion to well digging, which paid him better than working by the month. With his face towar.1 the west. he pulled up his Missouri stakes and in 1892 he found himself in Arnold, Custer county, Nebraska. One year later he led one of the fair daughters of Custer county to the marriage altar. The bride was Miss Minnie Robinson, daughter of William and Ellen Robinson, a splendid couple, of Irish nativity. William Robinson was one of the sterling pio- neers of Custer county, upon whose soil he first made his appearance in 1883, in which vear he walked a distance of seventy-five miles. from Lexington to the place where he located his first claim. Here he preceded his family by about two and one-half months, and as the mails from and to this pioneer county were not very regular at that time his wife became very anxious about him, fearing that he had been slain by Indians. Finally, with slight realization of the privations and other hard- ships that were in store for the family in the pioneer community, Mrs. Robinson joined her husband in Custer county. She and her chil- dren arrived at Cozad about two days before her husband arrived at that village, to which he came for supplies and lumber, as well as to meet his family. He had not shaved for more than two months and his children failed to recognize the "hairy man" as their father. With his wife and children Mr. Robinson set forth for the little box house he had erected on his claim, as a prerequisite in retaining the land, and as a recent prairie fire had swept the country Mrs. Robinson could not but feel that she could scarcely imagine a more desolate and discouraging landscape. The family party finally arrived at Arnold, which now thriving town was then represented only by a dugout on the bank of the South Loup river. This dugout was occupied by R. E. Allen, who utilized the same as a store and postoffice. cracker boxes being used as the receptacles for mail. After obtaining their mail at this fron- tier postoffice Mr. Robinson and his family started onward for his claim and the modest home he had there provided. The children began to look about for the so-called town of Arnold. and they could hardly believe their father when he told them that about one and

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

one-half miles back they had passed through the "town." Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were the parents of two sons and five daughters - Mrs. Gilbert H. Hughes, Mrs. Eliza Mclsaac, Mrs. Mattie Wayland (deceased), Mrs. Hattie Wayland, Henry, Mrs. Fannie McDonald, and John.

From the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have maintained a home of com- fort and hospitality, and with them remains their only child, Miss Gladys, who is popular in the representative social circles of the com- munity. After their marriage they returned to Grundy county, Missouri, where they visited about four months, and upon coming again to Custer county Mr. Hughes took a home- stead claim one mile west and six miles north of Arnold. This was the family home for twenty years, and there Mr. Hughes conducted all kinds of stock operations and general farm- ing on a prolific scale. He and his wife now own 800 acres of land, and in addition to this landed and farming interest they have a fine property in Arnold, where they make their home and, "just to occupy spare time," Mr. Hughes serves the local public in the capacity of town marshal, constable. and water com- missioner. He has things pretty much his own way. He claims that if any of the citi- zens do not walk to suit him he can arrest them and if them become too obstreperous, he can turn the city water on them. Without lcvity, and in all candor, Mr. Hughes is ren- dering his community a good service and the respect in which he and his good wife are held attests the appreciation of the neighbors.

MADISON M. STOUFFER. - While he is comparatively a newcomer to Custer county. Madison M. Stouffer has already given prom- ise of becoming one of his community's most useful and substantial citizens, and of adding to the reputation which he established in the trade of carpentry and the vocation of farm- ing in other parts of the state. He is now the owner of a good farming property, on which he has been carrying on operations since February. 1918, and the appearance of which indicates that he is a man thoroughly informed as to his business.

Mr. Stouffer was born in Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 1, 1859, and is a son of Samuel and Cath- erine ( Schall) Stouffer. He is one of a fam- ily of ten children, of whom those now living are: James, born in March. 1854. is a widower and is living in retirement at Kittanning. Pennsylvania : Madison M. is the subject of this review ; William, born in 1861, is a resi-

dent of Ford City, Pennsylvania ; Samuel, born in March, 1864, is now residing at Kittanning ; Henry, born in September, 1866, also is a resident of Kittanning; and Isaiah, born in September, 1870, is a resident of McGrann, Pennsylvania.

Madison M. Stouffer received his education in the public schools of Kittanning, Pennsyl- vania, and as a youth learned the trade of carpentry, which he followed as an appren- tice and later as a journeyman for many years before embarking in business on his own ac- count. He was variously engaged and vari- ously located until 1911, when he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, investing his holdings in a property in Sherman county, Nebraska, where he continued operations until February. 1918, when he came to his present home in Custer county. llere he has good buildings and other modern improvements, and many changes have been made even since the time of his arrival. Mr. Stouffer is a Demo- crat, but has never aspired to office of any kind. His religious affiliation is with the Church of God.

On August 4, 1881, Mr. Stouffer was united in marriage to Miss Julia Lemmon, and to this union there have been born eight children, of whom four are living, as follows: Robert A., born June 4, 1882. is a carpenter and farm- er and is his father's associate in his interests; Clarence, who was born June 6, 1884, and who is a farmer of Holbrook, Nebraska, married Nellie Waits; John, who was born February 23, 1887, and who is a farmer near Ulysses, Nebraska, married Zilla Wynegar ; and Will- iam H., who was born October 27, 1892. and who formerly was editor of the Pleasanton Independent, at Pleasanton, Buffalo county, Nebraska, joined General Pershing's command on its expedition into Mexico, received his honorable discharge, and when this country cleclared war with Germany enlisted in Ma- chine Gun Company, Sixteenth United States Infantry, with which command he is "Some- where in France" at the time of this writing.

CHARLES E. TAYLOR, M. D. - Among the honored professional men of Custer county none is more worthy of being represented in its annals than Dr. Charles E. Taylor, a leading physician and surgeon of Sargent. For fourteen years he has lived within the county's borders, during which time he has been a prominent factor in its social, civic, and pro- fessional affairs. fairly earning an honorable reputation for straightforward dealings with his fellow citizens in such a degree as to make

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his name a synonym for professional capacity and correctness of morals. Doctor Taylor was born in Guthrie county, Iowa, April 28, 1872, and is a son of Edgar and Sarah ( Williams ) Taylor.

Edgar Taylor was born in New York, where he was residing at the outbreak of the Civil war, and he enlisted in the Third New York Cavalry, with which he served four years, three months, and twelve days. His record was a splendid one, and he rose from private to sergeant, having been twice promoted on the battlefield. for bravery, and having sus- tained two sabre wounds and one gunshot wound. At the conclusion of the war he re- turned to New York, but shortly thereafter he accompanied his parents to Ashtabula, Ohio, where the parents died. He later moved to Guthrie county, Iowa, where he married Sarah Williams, a native of Kentucky, and they located on a farm. Mr. Taylor was a man of industry and ability and became one of the large stock-raisers of his community. but he disposed of some of his interests in Iowa in 1900 and came to Callaway, Custer county, Nebraska, where he continued to be engaged in various operations until his re- tirement. He is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church, which they attend at their present home locality, the town of Oconto. They are the parents of five children: Mrs. J. J. Doug- las, wife of a retired farmer of Callaway ; Mrs. B. U. Harshberger, a widow, of Oconto ; Mrs. J. W. Ballard, who acts as stenographer to her husband, an attorney of Kimball, Ne- braska: Dr. Charles E., of this notice; and Mrs. W. V. Mathews, wife of the president of an Omaha bank.

Charles E. Taylor attended the district schools of Guthrie county, lowa, following which he spent several years in completing the course at the Woodbine ( lowa ) Normal School. lle was engaged in teaching for two years thereafter, but, becoming interested in medicine, he gave up his educational work and began studying his new profession. He com- pleted his preparation in the medical college at Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was graduated with the class of 1905, in which year he began practice at Oconto. After four years spent in that community he changed his field of ac- tivities to Sargent, and this has been his home and the scene of his professional labors and success to the present time. Dr. Taylor has not ceased to be a student, but has taken post- graduate work at Chicago, at Des Moines, and at Rochester, Minnesota. He is a member of the Nebraska Eclectic Medical Society, keeps

fully abreast of the advancements being made in his calling, and has attained a high place in the ranks of his vocation, having the com- plete confidence of a large and representative practice and the esteem and respect of his fel- low practitioners. He is prominent in Mason- ry, having attained Scottish Rite degrees and being also a member of Tangier Temple. Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His political proclivities cause him to support the Repub- lican party.

In 1907 Dr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Flora E. Marrs, who was born in Missouri, and who is a graduate of pharmacy at Fremont, Nebraska. While residing at Oconto, Dr. Taylor conducted a drug store. and prior to their marriage Mrs. Taylor acted as his pharmacist. They have no children. Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is actively interested in its work and movements.

WILLIAM McDONALD. - This brief re- view presents a young farmer who is widely known and who is a Canadian by birth. He was born in the Dominion of Canada in 1878 and came to the United States in 1906, since which time he has ranked himself with the wideawake and aggressive young farmers. He is a son of Ranold and Katherine MeDonald. . both natives of the Dominion of Canada. The father is deceased but the mother is still living. at the age of seventy-five years. She con- tinnes to maintain her home in the land of her nativity. In the parents' family were six chil- dren as follows: Jessie Morris, who lives in Boston; William, who is the subject of this sketch ; Duncan and Mary Ann, who are de- ceased : and Marcella and Martin, who live in Boston. The father was a saw-mill worker and quarryman by occupation.

In the city of Boston the early activities of young William McDonald were staged. It was there that he earned his first money, by driving an ice wagon. Since coming to Custer county, however, he has been enabled to make money somewhat faster. In this he has had the assistance of a good wife, for, in 1901. he led to the marriage altar Miss Fannie Rob- inson, a daughter of William and Ellen ( Reedy) Robinson, estimable Irish people. The father died in 1906 at the age of sixty- one years, and the mother is still living, at the age of seventy-two years. Mrs. McDonald's father was a splendid type of the indomitable pioneer spirits who made good in the west. With practically nothing with which to begin, he came to this county in 1884 and home-

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steaded a quarter-section of good land, upon which he put splendid improvements. Mr. Robinson belonged to the Presbyterian church, was a member of the Mystic Legion, and was a Republican voter. His wife belongs to the Catholic church. In their family were seven children: Minnie Hughes lives in Arnold, where her husband is town marshal; Eliza McIsaac is a nurse, in Arizona ; Mattie Way- land is deceased; Hattie Wayland lives in Boston ; Henry is an electrician, living in Ari- zona ; the sixth child in the family was Mrs. McDonald ; John lives on a farm in Iowa.

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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 115

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