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 130

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 130

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

tegrity in all of the relations of life, and as 2 sterling pioneer of the county, he is accounted one of the best and most honored citizens of Ansley. He gives his allegiance to the Demo · cratic party, is affiliated with the local camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, and both he and his wife are earnest members of the Presbyterian church.

In 1875 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Chrisman to Miss Bettie Brooks, who was born at Fayette, Howard county, Mis- souri, and of their five children three are liv- ing: Joseph conducts a well equipped bar- ber shop at Mason City, this county ; Irene is the wife of Floyd Waite, a prosperous farmer of this county ; and Charles L., who is successfully conducting operations on his father's old homestead, is well upholding the industrial and civic prestige of the family name.

WILLIAM M. WAGNER is one of the substantial farmers of Custer county and also one of its earliest settlers.

Mr. Wagner was born in Auglaize county, Ohio, December 20, 1856. His parents were natives respectively of Ohio and New Jersey. It was in 1873 that they started for Nebraska, spending the winter at Loup City and arriv- ing in Custer county in the spring of 1874. Samuel Wagner secured a homestead in sec- tions 9 and 10 and here he spent the remain- der of his life. In the early days he and his son supplied the early settlers with fresh meat, as deer and antelope were plentiful. Mr. Wagner remembers when he and father were out hunting, the son had shot a deer and broken its horn. While holding the deer and waiting for the father to cut its throat the deer made a struggle to get away and the broken end of the horn caught the father's leg. tearing the flesh from the knee to the hip. Had it not been a broken horn the in- jury would have been much worse.

William Wagner was reared amid the pio- neer conditions that existed at the time and upon reaching manhood he became a farmer. From 1894 till 1912 Mr. Wagner resided in Cherry county, but he now maintains his home on a farm which he owns near Comstock.

March 20, 1886, Mr. Wagner was united in marriage to Miss Clara Miller, who was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, a daughter of Tobias and Melissa (Cook) Miller. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wagner has been made happy by the coming of seven children : Tobias Miller, deceased, married Ella De Wolt; Roy H. is serving in the United States Navy ; Samuel L. is a member of the national

army, "somewhere in France" at the time of this writing; Charles A. is in military training at Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa ; Miss Grace P. is a teacher in the Custer county schools ; and Frank and Harland are at home.

Mr. Wagner has a vivid recollection of pioneer conditions and recalls many interest- ing happenings of the early days. Once when corn was scarce and hogs were plenti- ful he traded a load of corn to a Mr. Carr for a very fine brood sow and ten pigs. The trade was very beneficial to Mr. Wagner, as it gave him a start in the hog business with an almost pure-bred stock - a strain which was noticeable in his herd for many years. He remembers a very severe hail storm which occurred on the 4th of July, 1878 or 1879. A picnic party had been arranged, and while on the way they saw the storm approaching. They unhitched the horses and sought shelter under the wagon. The hail-stones were so large and came down with such force that in the ground were made holes as large as a man's double fist. On their way home, in crossing a draw which had been filled with hail-stones, they had to unhitch the team. In trying to extricate the wagon one of the party, Charles Baker, froze his feet quite badly. A Mrs. Safford contracted a cold and died from- the effects.

Forty-four years have passed since the Wagner family settled in Custer county and during all these years its representatives have been influential factors in the develop- ment and upbuilding of the country.

STUART B. McKENTY. - Since Decem- ber, 1914, the real-estate and insurance inter- ests of Ansley have had an able and progres- sive representative in the person of Stuart B. McKenty, who, prior to entering this field, had been one of the successful farmers of Custer county. Mr. McKenty was born in the Prov- ince of Quebec, Canada, August 18, 1862, and is a son of Nicholas S. and Elizabeth (Bayes) McKenty.

Nicholas S. McKenty was born in Vermont and was a tailor by trade, his work as a jour- neyman taking him to Quebec, where he met and married Elizabeth Bayes, who was born in Canada, a daughter of Dr. George Bayes, a veterinary surgeon of Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin. Some time after the birth of his only son and child. Nicholas S. McKenty returned to the United States, and the remainder of his life was passed in following his vocation in New England, his death occurring at Gor- ham, New Hampshire. He was an indus-

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

trious man, intelligent, hard-working and capable, and through good management made a success of his affairs, while he won trust and friendship through his display of qualities of honesty and integrity. Mrs. McKenty was a member of thé Presbyterian church.

The early education of Stuart B. McKenty was acquired in the public schools of the New England states, and as a youth he adopted the vocation of farming for his life work. The soil of New England did not appeal to him, and in 1882, he came to the west in search of his first fortune, settling first near Lincoln, but coming soon afterward, in I883, to Cus- ter county. Here he homesteaded a tract of land and settled down on his claim, to make his property a valuable and productive one. During almost thirty years he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits, and when he retired from the cultivation of the soil he was the owner of a full section of land, all ac- cumulated through his own efforts. His rise has been steady and continuous and he has had to depend upon no resources other than his own in climbing up the ladder of success. In the neighborhood of his farm. Mr. Mc- Kenty built up a splendid and lasting reputa- tion for fair dealing and honorable transac- tions, and to this he has added since coming to Ansley, in December, 1914. Upon his ar- rival here he established himself in the real- estate and general insurance business, a field for which his talents seem to specially fit him. he having since engineered some of the most important real-estate deals in this section. He is shrewd and far-sighted, has a thorough knowledge of city and town land values and is well posted as to the resources and ad- vantages at the disposal of people contemplat- ing settlement or change of location in Ansley and its vicinity.

March 13, 1898, Mr. McKenty married Miss Minnie R. Guthrie, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of S. S. and Nancy Guthrie. Her parents were born in New York state and be- came early residents of Custer county, where Mr. Guthrie died and where his widow still resides. Mr. and Mrs. McKenty have two children - Gordon S., who is gaining knowl- edge of practical pharmacy by his employ- ment in an Ansley drug store ; and Orrin H .. who is a resident of Antioch, Nebraska. Mrs. McKenty is a member of the Christian church. Fraternally, Mr. MeKenty belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in which lat- ter he has passed the various official chairs. His business and social success has been ma- terially aided by that spirit of kindliness which makes the whole world kin, which appreciates

merit in others, and which recognizes the value of tact and consideration in dealing with all the problems of life.

WILLIAM L. MCCANDLESS. - The cu- tire career of William L. McCandless, cashier of the Berwyn State Bank and treasurer of Custer county, has been passed in activities connected with financial affairs, and as a re- sult he is one of the best known men in bank- ing circles in Custer county. It has been his fortune to have been connected with two in- stitutions which have held the confidence of the people, and his identification with them has been of two-fold benefit - to himself and to the banks.

A native son of Broken Bow, Nebraska, Mr. MeCandless was born November 30. 1885. his parents being Lucian and Amanda E. ( Gandy) McCandless, concerning whom more specific mention is made on other pages, in the individ- ual review of the career of Lucian McCandless. The carly education of William L. McCand- less was acquired at Broken Bow, where he was a member of the high-school graduating class of 1903. following which he entered the Wesleyan University at Lincoln. He attended that well known institution from 1903 to 1906. His studies completed, he secured a position as bookkeeper in the Security State Bank, act- ing in that capacity from June 1. 1906, to De- cember 26, 1906. At the organization of the Berwyn State Bank, on the latter date, he was offered and accepted the cashiership. and this position he has since retained. This institut- tion, which started with a capital of $5.000. now has a $15,000 capital, with surplus and undivided profits of $3.000, the deposits av- eraging $200,000. This is considered a sound, and substantial, safe and conservative insti- tution, and Mr. McCandless has established himself firmly in the confidence of the bank's patrons and that of its stockholders and his fellow officials. He is conceded to be a man of much knowledge of the banking business and his personal characteristics are of a kind to inspire faith and friendship.

Mr. MeCandless was married November 20. 1912. to Miss Charlotte E. Waterbury, who was born at Westerville. Custer county, and who is a daughter of H. S. and Carrie Water- bury. To this union there have been born three children, of whom two are living: Will- iam L., Jr., and Harrison S., the first-born child. Raymond W .. having died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. McCandless are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Mason of high rank, having attained the thirty-sec-

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

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WILLIAM L. MCCANDLESS

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

ond degree of the Scottish Rite, besides which he is a noble of the Mystic Shrine and a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. in which latter he has passed the various offi- cial chairs. A Republican in his political al- legiance, he has been too busy with his bank- ing interests and duties to be a politician, but a desire to be of service to his community persuaded him to allow his name to be used as that of the Republican candidate for the office of county treasurer in the primaries of 1918. In the ensuing election he was victo- rions at the polls and he assumed his official duties in January. 1919.

CHARLES H. F. STEINMEIER. - Of the merchants who have assisted in sustaining the business integrity of Custer county, Charles H. F. Steinmeier, is worthy of special recognition as one of the most progressive and enterprising of the men who have conducted ventures here during recent years. Still a young man, he has been the founder of several establishments, in the drug line, which have reflected his untiring zeal and innate energy, and from a small beginning he has advanced himself to recognized place among the busi- ness citizens of Ansley and the vicinity.

Mr. Steinmeier was born at St. Paul, Minne- sota, November 10. 1883, a son of C. H. and Bertha ( Pankratz) Steinmeier, natives of Germany who came to the United States as young people and were married in Minnesota. His father was a cigarmaker by trade, and later became a manufacturer of several well known brands, having his factory in St. Paul for five years. From that city he moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, became well known in business circles and as a secretary of his dis- trict in the National Cigar Makers' Union. He was beginning to make a decided success of his ventures when his death occurred. He was a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Stein- meier, who survives him and makes her home at Grand Island, is a member of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of two chil- dren : Charles H. F., and William E .. the latter having died in 1916, at the age of thirty- one years.

The early educational advantages of Charles H. F. Steinmeier were confined to his attend- ance in the public schools of Grand Island, and he was still a youth when he secured em- ployment in a drug store there. It would seem as though he were possessed with inher ent ability for the drug business, for he soon mastered the mysteries of pharmacy, made rapid advancement, and within seven years was the owner of an establishment of his own.

In 1905 he left Grand Island and came to Ansley, where he bought a drug store, and he has since been engaged in business with constantly increasing success. Later he bought an establishment at Ravenna, in Buf- falo county, one at Poole, in the same county, and one at Berwyn, in Custer county, but he has since disposed of all of these, and now confines himself to the conducting of his store at Ansley and one at Chappell. Through his own efforts Mr. Steinmeier has forced his way to a place where he is one of the best known men in the retail drug trade of central Ne- braska. He was for some time president of the State Rexall Club, and has numerous friends in and outside of the various drug- gists' organizations. Fraternally he is a blue- lodge, chapter and thirty-second-degree Ma- son and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, and he has passed the official chairs in the blue lodge. He gives his political support to the Demo- cratic party.

In 1911 Mr. Steinmeier was united in mar- riage with Miss Cora E. Harris, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Edward E. Harris. Mr. Harris, a contractor, came to Ansley in 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Steinmeier are the par- ents of one daughter: Imo, who was born July 18, 1912. Mrs. Steinmeier is a consist- ent member of the Christian church and is much interested in its work.

AUGUSTUS C. VAN HORNE is one of the young financiers of Custer county who, within the short period of his connection with monetary affairs, has impressed himself favor- ably upon his associates as one of ability and conservative views. He is assistant cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Ansley. From the time that he left school he has been connected with banking matters, and has also engaged with a degree of success in the insurance busi- ness. Mr. Van Horne was born in Pawnee county, Nebraska, March 5, 1894, and is a son of Hugh C. and Ella ( Peckham) Van Horne.

Hugh C. Van Horne, now a resident of Pawnee City, has been engaged in banking since he was eighteen years of age, and at the present time is cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Pawnee City. He is widely and favorably known in banking circles, and has at various times been connected with institutions in several parts of the state. where his ability, judgment and counsel have been highly valued. He is a Knight Templar Mason, in politics a Democrat, and in religion an Episcopalian, while his wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. They became the parents of nine children, of whom seven

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

are living : Lucy is the wife of George Saw- yer, a clothing merchant at Pawnee City ; Vir- gil, an invalid, lives at Pawnee City ; Edwin is engaged in the banking business at St. Joseph, Missouri ; May is the wife of John Bennett, D. D. S., in the United States ser- vice at Camp Pike, Arkansas, as a dental of- ficer, with the rank of first lieutenant ; Augus- tus C., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth ; Myron is a banker at Pawnee City, Ne- braska ; and Maurice is attending school in that city.

The public schools of Pawnee City fur- nished Augustus C. Van Horne with his early educational training, and after his gradua- tion in the high school, in 1914, he entered a bank at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he gained his first insight into the intricacies of the vo- cation which he had chosen for his life work. His experience in several positions there pre- pared him for the office of assistant cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Ansley, the duties of which position he assumed in 1915, and which he still performs. Mr. Van Horne, a young man of pleasing personality, has made numerous friends at Ansley and has retained them, particularly among the patrons of the bank. While the greater part of his atten- tion is given to his duties at the institution which he represents, he has found the oppor- tunity to engage also in the insurance busi- ness, a difficult field in which he has been suc- cessful, representing some of the leading com- panies. While he has not thought of politi- cal office, he is nevertheless well informed as to matters of local governmental import, and is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. Fraternally he is iden- tified with the Knights of Columbus, and he and his wife are members of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic church.

In May, 1917, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Van Horne to Miss Mabel Harris, who was born at Linn Creek, Camden county, Mis- souri. She is a daughter of Sam and Agnes (Ryan) Harris, who came to Custer county . at an early day, Mr. Harris now being a mail carrier out of Ansley. Mr. and Mrs. Van Horne have one child, Lavelle.

DR. JOHN H. MORROW is one of the leading physicians of Custer county and en- joys an enviable reputation both as a physi- cian and as a citizen. Dr. Morrow was born in La Salle county, Illinois, August 13, 1872, and is a son of Augustus and Esther (Robin- son) Morrow, who became pioneer settlers of Custer county and of whom further men- tion is made on other pages of this volume.

Dr. Morrow was a boy of eleven years when the home was established in Custer county, and he is quite familiar with events and condi- tions that existed in that pioneer period. He was reared on a farm and attended the pub- lic schools in the acquirement of his early education. Later he became a student in the University of Nebraska and he also attended Cotner University, where he graduated in the medical department. He located at Arnold, where he formed a partnership with Dr. Rob- inson, and he continued in practice there until August, 1902, when he came to Merna. Here he has proven his ability and has won his way into the hearts and homes of the community to such an extent as only a physician can real- ize.

In 1903 Dr. Morrow was united in marriage to Miss Marie Walsh, who was born in Lee county, Iowa, a daughter of William and Ann (Nolan) Walsh, pioneer settlers in the Merna neighborhood. More specific mention is made of the Walsh family on other pages of this volume. Dr. and Mrs. Morrow are the par- ents of eight children : Charles A., William G., Esther E., Arthur J., Harry W., Mary Wilson, Martha A., and Kathleen.

Dr. Morrow is a Republican in politics and served two terms as county coroner. His name is found on the list of membership in the lodges of the Masonic fraternity, the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Highlanders, and the Woodmen of the World.

Dr. and Mrs. Morrow take an active inter- est in all affairs pertaining to the welfare of the community and are highly esteemed by all who know them.

PERRY M. DADY, whose residence in Custer county covers a period of more than thirty-six years, is now classed among the well-to-do men of the Mason City community. This fact shows him to be another one of Custer county's agriculturists who in their careers have exemplified with force the true western spirit of self-made manhood, .for when he came to this state, in 1882, his world- ly possessions amounted to next to nothing and throughout his career he has been called upon to depend wholly upon his own abilities and energies.

Mr. Dady was born on a farm in Mason county, Illinois, March 9, 1859, and is a son of Spencer and Adelaide (Wible) Dady. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1835, and as a young man went to Mason county, Illinois, where he started life with- out assets save those represented by his in- herent qualities, and where he gained some.

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sinall success. He there married Adelaide Wible, who was born in Illinois, in 1840, and several years later they moved to Iowa, where Mr. Dady became the owner of a farm. He continued to reside in the Hawkeye state until 1884, when he followed his eldest son to Custer county and took up a homestead. Here he continued to be engaged in farming and stock-raising operations until his death, in 1890, at which . time he was considered a fairly successful man. He was industrious and honest and had the respect of his neigh- bors, and as to community affairs he was pub- lic-spirited. Originally a Republican, with the birth of the Populist party he transferred his allegiance to the new organization. Mrs. Dady survived him until 1904 and died in the faith of the Baptist church. Three of their four sons survive : Perry M., who is the sub- ject of this review ; Quintus J., who is en- gaged in farming not far from Mason City : and L. L., who follows farming in Ringgold county. Iowa. The other son, N. C., died September 19, 1917, at Mason City, where he had for some years been engaged in the im- plement business.

Perry M. Dady received his education in the public schools of Illinois and lowa, and was reared to farming, a vocation which he adopted for his life work. He was twenty- three years old when he came to Custer county, in 1882, and pre-empted a homestead. which forms a part of his present farm. At that time the property was destitute of im- provements of any kind, and Mr. Dady lived at first in a dug-out and later in a "soddy," experiencing at the same time all the other inconveniences and hardships which the early settlers were called upon to face. As the years passed, however, and he began to secure results from his hard labor, he added to his equipment and gradually began to erect build- ings, of which he now has a full set, modern, well constructed, attractive and in perfect re- pair. In every way his property shows the presence of industry and good management. Mr. Dady carries on general farming and raises thoroughbred Red Polled cattle and Poland-China hogs. He has been successful in both departments of his farm enterprise. He has accumulated 440 acres of valuable land and in so doing has at all times main- tained his reputation as a man of sterling in- tegrity and business straightforwardness.

In 1882 Mr. Dady was united in marriage to Miss Ellen J. Beard, who was born in Mar- ion county, Iowa, a daughter of Adam Beard. who died while serving as a Union soldier dur- ing the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Dady are the parents of eight children: Pearl S., who

has a claim in the sand hills of Cherry county, Nebraska; Jennie, who is the wife of Oscar Ruyan, a clerk in Mason City, Nebraska ; Otis 11., who assists his father in operating part of the home farm : Guy W., who is in the national army and in service in France at the time of this writing ; and Monna R., Harry L., Myrtle G., and Lorene J., who are all residing with their parents. The family belongs to the Bap- tist church, which they attend at Mason City. Mr. Dady maintains an independent stand as to political questions and has not been an ac- tive politician, although on several occasions he has served efficiently in the capacity of town clerk.

FREDERICK A. REED. - If consecu- tively following the same line of endeavor tends to make one efficient and if there is any truth in the old saying that "practice makes perfect," to have been a salesman in the same line for thirty-nine years surely has made an expert of the man. To have been in the em- ploy of the same firm all those years is con- clusive evidence that satisfactory service has been rendered; and when the article sold is one so necessary in a home, namely, a sewing machine, at once proves that thousands of housewives are ready to sound the praises of that man, not alone because he has supplie 1 them with something indispensable but also because he has taught them how to operate and care for the most useful article in the home. The gentleman whose name introduces this biography entered the employ of the Singer Manufacturing Company in 1881, and for thirty-nine years he has been continually in that company's employ - for thirty-one years in Nebraska.

For five years previously to taking up the line of work at which he has devoted con- siderably more than half of a lifetime Mr. Reed had the honor of serving as a soldier in the United States regular army, having en- listed in 1876, at Albany, New York, and hav- ing become a member of Company G, Eighth United States Infantry, which command was assigned to duty at Camp Lowell, at Tucson, Arizona, during the Indian disturbances. Mr. Reed was a brave and fearless soldier, always found at his post of duty, and was present at the fight with the Indians at Pine Spring, in 1877. He received an honorable discharge at Fort Halleck, Nevada, in 1881, and from there he went to Ogden, Utah, where he found employment with the Singer Manufacturing Company, whose products he sold in Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado for eight years. He then established himself at O'Neill, Holt

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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 130

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