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 120

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 120

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air-pressure hot and cold water system, pro- viding for. the family every convenience to be found in the finest homes of a city. Large barns and outbuildings provide ample shelter for grain and stock and the housing of farm machinery. Mr. Seevers possesses unusual mechanical skill, and any work requiring a plumber or blacksmith he is able to attend to himself. .

For a companion and helpmeet Mr. Seevers chose Miss Rosa Butler, who was born in Hancock county, Illinois, a daughter of Marion and Milliann ( Huffman) Butler, who came to Custer county in 1882 and were among the early settlers of Ortello valley, where both passed away. Eleven children have come to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Seevers: Franklin, Lewis, Bly, Guy, Ina. Na, Tava, Ada, Cecil, Robert M. Jr., and Kenneth. The mother of this family is a member of the United Brethren church

Mr. Seevers is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, at Merna, and in poli- tics is a Republican. He has always taken an active part in all lines of progress in his com- munity, helped organize the school district, has held various township offices, and he can al- ways be depended upon to give his support to any worthy cause. Coming to the county when the work of development had just begun, he not only witnessed the vast changes that have taken place but has also been a factor in help- ing to make Custer county what it is to-day. The success that has attended his efforts is well deserved, and the family are held in un- equivocal esteem by all who know them.

LLOYD HINES. - When you note the age of this young man and understand the few years that he has been farming, it is not hard to believe the statement that has been made concerning him, that he has succeeded because he was equipped with a "self-starter." Cer- tainly his energy has had its effect, and lie has to-day the foundations of what will be be a modest Custer county fortune.

Lloyd Hines was born January 12, 1893, in Randolph county, Missouri. His parents, H. Mitchell Hines and Susan ( Adams) Hines, both natives of the Bluegrass state, and both fine people, transmitted to their progeny the fundamental characteristics of thrift and energy. In the father's family were six chil- dren - Homer H., Aubrey C., Lloyd. Reta Waterfield, Ralph H., and Arnold. The father was a carpenter and contractor by occupation, although he owned a farm about one mile from Darkville, Missouri. This farm served as the

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family home and there young Lloyd began his career. There he lived until he was six- teen years of age, when he came into Dawson county, Nebraska, with his brother Homer. They arrived at Gothenberg, and here young Lloyd worked for two years. He then went to Washington, one of the great and attrac- tive regions of the west at that time, and there he worked in a logging camp for two years. He then returned to Nebraska and worked on the Callaway branch of the Union Pacific Railroad, from Callaway to Stapleton.

December 22, 1915, at Broken Bow, Ne- braska, Mr. Hines wedded Miss Mabel Gor- don, who was reared in the district west of Callaway, Custer county, and who is a daugh- ter of Robert and Mattie L. (Stapelman) Gordon. Mr. Gordon, a splendid gentleman of Scotch descent, came from Ohio to Custer county with Edward Smith, in an early day, and he located a homestead five miles west of Callaway. At the time of his death he owned about 1,040 acres, which descended to his three children - Mrs. Mabel C. Hines, Mrs. Sadie L. Fosno, and Archie R. Gordon. Mr. Hines was fortunate enough to buy the interest of one of the heirs, Mrs. Sadie Fosno, and as a consequence of his transaction he and his wife own two-thirds of the fine property. At the present time Mr. Hines is farming 280 acres, raises hogs and cattle, is counted on the of the "live wires" in the community, and is bound to make his mark in the county as a farmer and stock-raiser. He is a Democrat in politics and is one of the counselors of the public in his local community.

JAMES W. MAXSON. - One of the well known names of Arnold is that of James W. Maxson, who was born August 28, 1856, in Lewis county, West Virginia. He was the seventh son of Herman and Druzilla ( Brown) Maxson, both natives of West Virginia. In this family were nine children besides the sub- ject of this sketch. the others being John E., Mrs. Elizabeth E. McClain, Thomas ( deceas- ed ). Timothy, Martha J. (deceased ). Alexan- der, Mrs. Mary M. Ward, and Benjamin W. The father followed farming and blacksmith- ing as an occupation, but was also a shoemak- er, at which trade he worked on different occa- sions. James W. recalls that the first pair of shoes he ever wore were made by his father. As the father was not in good health, James W. had to help on the farm and do all he could toward making a living for the family. When he was nine years of age his parents moved to Clark county, Missouri, where

they made their home for four years.

They then moved to Grundy county, where the parents bought farm that was only partially cleared, and James W. had to assist in clearing the remainder of the farm. This gave a very valuable experience in deal- ing with stumps and stumpy ground - an ex- perience that enabled him to meet and uproot the various kinds of stumps encountered in ac- tive life. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Maxson were considered prominent people of their commu- nity and were staunch supporters of the Bap- tist church.

James W. Maxson lived at home until he was twenty-two years of age; thereafter he farmed the home place on shares. December 30, 1880, in Grundy county, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Martha A. G. Marrs. Mrs. Maxson is a daughter of Wesley P. and Saletha A. (Tabor) Marrs, and in the imme- diate family were the following named chil- dren : Mrs. Elvina Ratliff (deceased), Ryley, Mrs. Sarah Maxson, Mrs. Martha A. G. Max- son, David C., Mrs. Della Crogan, Mrs. Alice Price, John W., Bartley, and Mrs. Fanny M. Collins.

Mr. and Mrs. Maxson established a home of their own which in many respects has been ideal, and in every way comfortable and con- venient. They have five living children : Gertie is the wife of Emery D. Parson, who owns a harness shop in Arnold. They have three children, all girls, and the family is con- nected with the Methodist church. Caddie E. married Mollie Koch and lives on a farm near Arnold. They have two sons and both he and his wife are Methodists. Nellie M. Wimple is the widow of Dudley Wimple and she has four sons and one daughter. Elsie E. is the wife of Ernest Cunningham, a farmer near Arnold, and they have two sons and two daughters. Bertha A. lives at home with her father, in Arnold. Mrs. Maxson died De- cember 19. 1894.

Mr. Maxson arrived in Custer county Sep- tember 21, 1885. and located a homestead seven miles northwest of Arnold. On this place he lived until after the death of MIrs. Maxson, and he then moved closer to school and took care of his children until they were grown and large enough to go out into the world for themselves. In 1908 he moved into the village of Arnold, where he now lives, but he still owns the old homestead and has added to it until he now owns 480 acres. His has been an unusual career. More than the usual share of early-day hardships seemed to fall to his lot. Left with five children, it was a hard struggle to keep them together and

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

maintain a home with unbroken family re- lations, but he met his difficulties and to-day has the satisfaction of knowing that he fur- nished his children a good home after the death of their mother, the while he finds him- self in possession of enough of this world's goods so that the years of his retirement from active life may be free from care and worry.

JAMES JOHNSON, who is one of Custer county's most valued citizens, is a man of sub- stance and stability. For thirty-three years he has lived on his valuable homestead and has been very successful in his agricultural in- dustries. From every point of view, after all these years, he declares he is well satisfied that chance and good judgment led him to make his permanent home in Custer county.

James Johnson was born in Moen, Den- mark, June 3, 1855. His parents were Jens and Anna E. (Hanson) Paulson Johnson, and they and their parents were all born in Den- mark and were members of the Lutheran church. James Johnson was the youngest born of his parents' five sons, the others being : Hans, Nels, Christian, and Peter. He was reared in a farming district and well remem- bers, among other incidents, the day on which he earned his first money. A neighboring hus- bandman of his father's engaged him to ride a horse over the field of wheat stubble, while the daughter of his employer managed the old wooden horse-rake to gather up the loose wheat heads. Little did he think in those days of the wonderful farm machinery he would some day own and operate on his own land in a far-distant country. Although he did not know the English language when he came to the United States, in 1871, Mr. Johnson did not feel like an entire stranger on these shores. because three of his brothers had already come to America. He traveled by rail across the country and by steamboat then reached Oma- ha, Nebraska. During his first summer in the state he worked on the farm of one of his brothers, and he then went to school during the winter, in order to learn the English lan- guage more quickly. Strong. willing, and companionable, Mr. Johnson found no difficul- ty in securing employment, and for a time he worked at coal-mining in Carbon, Wyoming. Later he was a cowboy, and he was variously engaged until 1883, when he came to Custer county, which has been his chosen home ever since. In 1884 he secured the fine homestead on which he yet lives, in the neighborhood of Oconto, and in the course of years he has quietly added to his original homestead until

now he owns 640 acres. Of this large body he cultivates 240 acres, and he has a well adjusted farm, with an abundance of grazing land for his stock. He has everything exceedingly comfortable around him and his success here merely illustrates what intelligent industry, courage and resourcefulness can accomplish.

Mr. Johnson was married November 5, 1885, at Lexington, Nebraska, to Miss Anna K. Kjar, who was born in North Jutland, Den- mark, the youngest of the five children of Nels and Cecelia M. (Anderson) Kjar, natives of Denmark. Mrs. Johnson is one of a family of six children and the others who are now living are Christian, Kronburg .C., Andrea Sorrenson, and Johanna M. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson - Theodore C., Ralph, Arthur K., Marie E., and James P. Theodore C. Johnson, who is located on the Dawson county line, in section 33, town- ship 13, range 22, owns a valuable farm and raises grain and stock. Ralph Johnson, who is a farmer and stock-raiser, owns a farm on section 27. Arthur K. Johnson is his father's partner on the home farm, on Buffalo creek. Marie E. Johnson, the only daughter, was graduated from Broken Bow College in 1913, and further pursued her studies, during 1915, 1916, and 1917. in the Fremont Normal School. She now resides at the parental home, al- though she has taught school about four years. James P. Johnson, the youngest son, is a grad- uate of educational institutions at Broken Bow and Fremont and for three years was so acceptable as a teacher that he was appointed principal of the Randall high school. This honor he declined in order to enter the service of his country. He enlisted in the United States service in July, 1917. and at the time of this writing he is at the officers' training camp at Louisville, Kentucky. His older brothers are equally loyal and all made preparations to answer the call of the government for service in the cause of world-wide freedom. None of the young men is married, and all are held in the most unqualified esteem in Custer county.

BARTHOL .DITTMAR, a prosperous farmer and the owner of many acres of valu- able land in Custer county, came here with the pioneers of the middle '80s. While none per- haps, expected a life of ease, they were soon called upon to endure hardships and privations that disheartened many but only aroused great- er courage in others, and to the latter the country at large is greatly indebted, for which reason the historical annals of the state should carefully preserve their names. Barthol Ditt-

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

mar was born in Germany, November 4. 1858. His parents were Michael and Dora ( Snyder ) Dittmar, and his father was a small farmer near Kissingen. There were four children in the family. Barthol being the second in order of birth. with an older brother. John G .. and two sisters younger, Margaret and Dorothea.

Barthol Dittmar attended the schools of his class in his native land and as long as he re- mained there he was engaged in farm pur- suits. When fourteen years of age he received for farm work but seventy-five cents a week. He remained in Germany and fulfilled all the laws of the land as to military service, but in 1881, when twenty-three years old, he came to the United States. He sought an agricultural section of the country, and found ready em- ployment and good wages in Jo Daviess county. Illinois. He remained in that section. working on farms, for the following five years. In the meanwhile Mr. Dittmar had made up his mind to remain in the United States. and he began to seek a suitable location in which to establish a permanent home. In looking over different sections for the advantages and opportunities that would come within his means and desires, he chose Custer county, Nebraska, and he came here in 1885. He lo- cated in section 20. township 13, range 22. on Buffalo creek, and here he has lived ever since. Since then. through his persistent in- dustry, he has accumulated much more land. and at the present time he owns all of section 20 and three-fourths of another section. He has his farms equipped with stock and ma- chinery for the most effective live-stock and crop production. and up to 1918 he had never permitted himself to slacken for a day in the prosecution of his work; therefore it was a matter of family rejoicing when he consented to take a vacation of three weeks.

Mr. Dittmar was married February 1. 1887. at Mount Carroll, Illinois, to Miss Dora Ditt- mar, who was born in Germany, as were her parents, Lawrence and Dorothy ( Schmitt ) Dittmar. Mrs. Dittmar accompanied her hus- band back to Custer county, and in recalling early times here she intimates that people who actually survived conditions through 1893-4 can speak with authority of real pioneer hardships. Mr. and Mrs. Dittmar have five children : Albert L., who lives on one-half sec- tion of land and is farming independently, was ready to respond to the call of the government for military duty : Charles C., who is farming on the home place, was likewise awaiting mili- tary call: Herman W., the third son, also was eligible for military service : Lulu M., twin sis- ter of Herman W., is the wife of C. Ilcine, a

farmer one mile south of Oconto, and they have one daughter ; and Fred H. is a school- boy of twelve years, with very sensible, prac- tical ideas. Mr. Dittmar and his family belong to the Lutheran church.

WILLIAM T. BUCKNER, who is a rep- resentative business man of Oconto, Nebraska. is a large owner of realty here and is an ener- getic and progressive citizen who entertains a very high opinion of this section of Nebraska. for he was born here. on the site of this flour- ishing town. April 28, 1882. He bears a fa- mous old Kentucky name and his respected fa- ther. J. B. Buckner, who is a retired resident of Oconto. was born in the Bluegrass state. he having been a farmer throughout his active career. J. B. Buckner married Elizabeth Stairs, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of Ezra T. and Dorcas ( Fitzwater ) Stairs, and they came to Custer county in 1879. Their children are as follows: Fred: William T .: Maud, who is the wife of Peter Overgard : Agnes, who is the wife of James Overgard : Glenn, who became a soldier in the national army and went to Camp Dodge. lowa. for training, in July. 1918: and Anna M., who is the wife of Fred Thurman.

William T. Buckner was reared on the home farm in Custer county - the place on which his parents lived for twenty years. He was educated in the schools of his native county and when old enough to go into busi- ness for himself, he purchased a farm situated one and one-half miles south of Oconto. This he operated for several years, and he then moved to Oconto. He has been one of the active Republicans of the county for many years and during the adminis- tration of President William H. Taft he served as postmaster of Oconto. He thus served from 1912 until he was succeeded by an appointee of President Woodrow Wilson, when political changes came about all over the country. As a loyal citizen Mr. Buckner has been active in many ways, and he is a very popular man in Custer county. He owns a beautiful home in the little city of Oconto. together with a num- ber of profitable renting properties, and a large part of his time is occupied in the management of a hauling and draying line that he has had in operation here for some time.

Mr. Buckner was married January 2. 1905. at Oconto, to Miss Nancy Wiseman, who was born in Custer county, but is of West Virginia ancestry. her parents, John P. and Ella ( Twin- ing) Wiseman, having been born and reared in West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Buckner have

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

three daughters and one son, namely : Maude, Lucy, Edna, and James F. - all exceptionally intelligent young people for whom there is full assurance of educational and social advan- tages. Mr. Buckner has long been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is affiliated also with the Modern Wood- men of America.

GEORGE W. LINCOLN, who owns a large body of land and carries on general farming on an extensive acreage, is one of the sub- stantial men of Custer county, where he is widely known. Mr. Lincoln has spent almost his entire life in this county and has done his part in assisting in its development. He was born in Carroll county, Iowa, December 9, 1881, and is a son of Charles W. and Edna ( Johnson) Lincoln. His father was born in Massachusetts and has been a farmer all his life. He brought his family to Nebraska in 1886 and located in Turner valley, nine miles northwest of Callaway, Custer county, freight- ing across from Plum Creek.

George W. Lincoln was five years old when his parents settled in Custer county. He is the third born in their family of five children, the others being as here noted: Ida, who is the wife of John Foxworthy, and Frank A., Ross W., and Carl, the last named being de- ceased. George W. Lincoln grew up on his father's farm and spent an industrious boy- hood, finding time, however, to attend school during the winter seasons. That is one thing very much to the credit of the pioneers of this county, the founding of schools in every com- munity, and their wise foresight is reflected in the high grade of intelligence that marks Custer county citizenship. Mr. Lincoln not only assisted his father but also, in order to make a little pocket money, sometimes worked for neighboring farmers in corn-planting time. Sometimes, he had to take "trade" for his wages, as real money was very scarce in the neighborhood in those days, and he recalls one occasion when he was paid off with a hen which was decorated with a "top-knot." and which was supposed to be worth several or- dinary fowls. There were those who were a little skeptical, but Mr. Lincoln still believes he got a bargain, and probably poultry-raising has been one of his many farm industries. Ile cultivates over 500 acres of land, some of which he has rented to capable tenant farm- ers, but in the main he superintends the opera- . tions himself. employing modern methods and improved farm machinery. Mr. Lincoln is one of the large land owners of the county, for at

the present time he has 1,280 acres, and every square foot of it is increasing in value annually.

Mr. Lincoln was married June 24. 1916, to Mrs. Mary J. Griffith, who was a widow and who is a daughter of Moses and Anna Weaver. By her first marriage Mrs. Lincoln had five children, namely: Lynn. Ivan, Nellie, Clar- ence, and Eva. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln have one son, Oral, who was born in 1917. Mr. Lincoln is a Democrat in politics but has never taken any active part in public matters, though he has always showed a good citizen's inter- est. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Callaway.

BENJAMIN F. COX. - As standing in the front rank of the successful farmers and stock- men of Custer county, mention should be made of the gentleman whose name introduces this record and who from pioneer days has been identified with the upbuilding of this part of the state.

Mr. Cox is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Jackson county, August 16, 1856. His father, Jabez Cox. was a native of Kentucky, served as a soldier in the Mexi- can war and became a farmer in Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his life. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Margaret Hubbard and was a native of Indiana, where her entire life was spent.

Benjamin F. Cox was one of a family of eight children, four of whom are living. He and a brother Henry are the only ones residing in Custer county. Reared on a farm in his native state and educated in the public schools. Mr. Cox was a young man of nineteen when he went to lowa, and he worked as a farm hand in various counties until 1882, when he came to Nebraska. After here spending one year in Hamilton county, he came to Custer county, in the fall of 1883, and took a home- stead of 160 acres in section 7, township 17, range 22, and an adjoining tree claim of equal area. His first home was a sod house, twelve by fourteen feet in dimensions, and he shared in all the trials and hardships of the early days. He set resolutely to work developing the new farm and he has prospered in his un- dertakings, a fact which is manifested in the beautiful country home he has built for his family and in the landed estate of 800 acres" which he has acquired.

February 22, 1891, Mr. Cox was united in marriage to Miss Christina Kaupp. a native of Jo Daviess county. Illinois, and a daughter of Christian Kaupp, an early settler of Custer county who now lives retired in Merna and

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

of whom specific mention is made on other pages of this history. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Cox has been made happy by the arrival of eight children : Lloyd, who was a druggist in Omaha, is a member of the nation.1 army at the time of this writing; Adella is at home: Chester is in the national army and is located at this writing at Camp Dodge. Des Moines, Iowa: Hazel, Ralph, Benjamin F., Jr., Gladys, and Margaret are all under the parental roof.

Mr. Cox has not been remiss in any duty of citizenship. He helped organize the school district and served as a member of its board of directors many years. He has been presi- dent of the Farmers Bank of Merna since its organization. Fraternally he is a thirty-sec- ond-degree Mason and is affiliated with Tan- gier Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Omaha. He is a member also of the Merna organizations of the Modern Woodmen of America and In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. He is one of the progressive and influential men of Cus- ter county and his success is well merited.

ALFRED SCHREYER. - The name that initiates this paragraph belongs to a retired farmer in Arnokl, Nebraska, and the name it- self belongs to the early pioneer period, as it has been well known in the county since long before the county was organized.

Alfred Sehrever was born March 31. 1863, in Hillsboro, Wisconsin. His father. Fred- erick Schreyer, was born January 11, 1826, in Mitwitz, Bavaria, and lived until December 23, 1914. The mother, Anna M. ( Schaller ) Schreyer, was born in April, 1833, in Henbisch, Saxe-Meiningen, Germany. She died October 20, 1882. The parents were married October 31, 1856, and landed in America November 23, 1861. The father was a shoemaker by oc- cupation and the first home in America of the family was in Wisconsin, but in the latter part of 1864 they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. where Mr. Schreyer enlisted in Company E. One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Ohio Vo'unteer Infantry. He was discharged at Huntsville, Alabama, in August, 1865. After the war he settled in Atkinsonville, Indiana, where he was commissioned postmaster in 1868. Here he engaged in the mercantile business, later moving to Brazil, Indiana, when his son Al- fred was seven years old. There Alfred ob- tained a common-school education, getting all his schooling between the ages of seven and twelve years. It was here too that he earned his first money, by plowing corn with a single-

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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 120

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