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 137

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 137

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).

The first money that he ever picked up by individual effort was for carrying cedar chips from the canyon. For this service his mother paid him thirty-five cents. Ile invested the entire amount in candy and stuck to the sack until he had eaten the last piece. He claims

to like candy still. but asserts that he does not now buy it for himself in such quantities.

The occupation of herding is one that tends to make a boy an expert horseman and affords him splendid opportunity to practice with rifle or revolver. Accordingly, young Carl became a good rider and a splendid marksman. He lived in the day when broncho-busting was the sport of the "Wild and Wooly West," and on picnic occasions and Fourth of July celebra- tions all the youths of the country were there with their "bad horses." and riding the broncho was the principal program of the day.

Carl narrates that on one occasion when he and John Christy were holding a bunch of cat- tle which Carl's father had purchased of a neighbor, Thomas Christy, that he proposed to ride a two-year-old bull which seemed to be head and boss of the herd the boys were holding. Young Christy agreed to lead the bull, and the operation of lassoing was soon performed. The bull was drawn up close to the saddle-horse and Carl, getting close enough, sprang on to its back. Then young Christy thought it was time for the show to commence. He loosened the rope from the saddle horn and threw it toward the bull, with a whoop that would have done credit to an Apache Indian. That was the signal for the start. Away went the bull, headed for home. paying no attention whatever to speed limits and hitting only the high places in the prairie. Carl's horsemanship and riding ability stood him in good need. He clung on for dear life and succeeded in staying on the animal's back. Young Christy, seeing the terrific speed with which the bull made for home, followed quick- ly on his pony, but was not able to stop the runaway until the animal had reached the home where it had been raised. There it stopped. almost exhausted, and Carl had opportunity to alight in regulation form. For a rough ride. Carl says that the bull has a "Ford" car beaten a country block.

Mr. Bowman made good as a cattle man and trader. as a farmer and stock-raiser. He now resides in Broken Bow and is doing a good real-estate business. He is the junior member of the firm of Bowman & Bowman. He is married to an amiable lady and his family con- sists of himself, wife, and one child. Ile and his wife have a host of friends, and still young in years, their lives are, for the major part. before them. Mr. Bowman is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, including the Eastern Star, and he has passed all of the official chairs in the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, besides holding membership in the

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

889

CARL E. BOWMAN

890

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

adjunct organization, the Daughters of Re- bekah.

THORNTON S. CROSLEY, SR. - With his venerable head touched by the snows of eighty years and his strong face and capable hands bronzed by the sun which has beat upon almost as many harvesting seasons, Thornton S. Crosley is to-day a striking illustration of ,1 life well lived, of activities properly directed, and of a career spent in co-operation and com- munion with the forces of nature. He was a homesteader to Custer county in the year 1883 and has been a successful farmer and raiser of live stock, being at the present time the owner of 400 acres of valuable land.

Mr. Crosley was born in Hampshire county, Virginia (now West Virginia), October 13, 1838, and is a son of Joseph and Mary ( Thras - her) Crosley, the former born in Virginia and the latter in Pennsylvania. The parents were married in Virginia, where the father died after a career passed as a farmer and tanner, while as a voter he had been a 'Whig. After his demise his widow removed with her chil- dren to a farm in Iowa and there passed the remaining years of her life. She was a faith- ful member of the Baptist church. Of the ten children, only Thornton S. survives. Mr. Crosley received his education in the public schools of his native state, and was still a youth when he accompanied his mother and the other children to lowa. There his real career began on a farm, but when he reached manhood he chose mercantile pursuits for his life work and for a time was proprietor of a general store in Iowa, in addition to which he acted in the capacity of postmaster. When hostilities between the north and the south culminated in the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Crosley enlisted in Company I. Twenty- first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served almost three years, participating in some of the hardest fought engagements of the Civil war, including Vicksburg and Mo- bile. He received his honorable discharge after a service marked by a splendid record. and returned to his home, where he once again took up the reins of business. In 1883 Mr. Crosley migrated to Custer county and located his claim, but did not remain at that time. In 1884 he came out again, this time with one son, and built a sod house. and in 1885 he brought his family here. From then to the present he has devoted himself without cessa- tion to farming and stock-raising activities. and in both lines he has been rewarded by con- stantly increasing success. In the meantime he has added to the improvements and build-

ing on his farm, which now consists of 400 acres, and in 1903 he erected a comfortable house, which has all modern conveniences. Mr. Crosley is greatly respected in his com- munity, where he has always been found a man of the highest integrity and strictest probity. He has taken an active part in civic affairs, and has assisted in the administration of gov- ernmental matters in the capacities of justice of the peace and town clerk, in both of which offices he has established a record for con- scientious, efficient and expeditious service. His political faith is that of the Democratic party and his religious faith that of the United Brethren church, which he attends at Broken Bow. Mr. Crosley has never for- gotten his old army friends, and is a valued comrade of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic.

While a resident of Iowa, in 1857, Mr. Cros- ley was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Holcomb, who died in March, 1864, leaving one son, Joseph Siegel Crosley. In 1866 Mr. Crosley was again married, being united with Miss Margaret A. Hunter, who was born in Christian county, Illinois, a daughter of James Hunter, a farmer who died in the Prairie state. Eight children were born to this union, of whom four are living: H. L., a merchant of Mason City ; Thornton S., Jr., engaged in farming in Custer county ; Jennie T., the wife of Perry Smith, a farmer of Upton, Wyoming : and Richard N., residing on the farm with his parents.

JOHN E. CAVENEE. - The name which initiates this paragraph is one that guarantees both the character and standing of the man to whom it belongs - at least this is assured in the estimate of the old settlers of Custer county.

John E. Cavence claims the Buckeye state as the place of his nativity. He was born within twenty miles of Zanesville. and not far from Lexington, Ohio, and the date of his birth was July 29, 1851. He is a son of Patrick and Mary ( Montgomery ) Cavenee, excellent folk who ever commanded unqualified popular esteem. Patrick Cavenee was born in Bedford county. Pennsylvania. on the same day that Abraham Lincoln came into the world. and thus he continued in a special sense the con- temporary of the martyred president until the latter came to his tragic death.

John E. Cavenee has given virtually his en- tire active life to the great basic industries of agriculture and stock-raising, through the medium of which he has achieved worthy suc- cess and provided a competency for the pro- verbial "rainy day." In his native state he

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

891

JOHN E. CAVENEE

892

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

was reared to the age of five years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, the family becoming pioneer settlers in Henry county, that state. The subject of this review was thus reared under the conditions and influences that marked the pioneer era in the history of the Hawkeye state, and there he gained his youthful education in the common schools of the period. His training in school and in connection with the pioneer farm proved specially prolific in the development of that experience and those sterling qualities that have been of inestimable value to him in his independent activities and business affairs in later years.

Mr. Cavenee came to Custer county in the spring of 1878, and here he became one of the early settlers of the South Loup region. Hle recognized the opportunities here offered, and thus he was led to secure homestead, pre-emp- tion, and tree claims and become the owner of land that is to-day very valuable. The early days brought their hardships and trials -ex- periences that will never be forgotten by those to whom they came. The first home of Mr. Cavenee was the regulation sod house - very appropriate for the time and place in which it was built. From the first Mr. Cavenee gave particular attention to cattle, and he was thor- onghly imbued with the belief that it was es- sentially profitable to raise the best possible grades of all kinds of live stock produced on the farm. Accordingly his breeding stock was always marked by purple blood of fine selec- tion. Thus he early gained reputation as a progressive and successful cattle and general live-stock man. Ilis primitive hoklings of the early days were augmented until the farm home and stock farm grew to 1.040 acres, and this valuable landed estate he held intact until a short time ago, when he sokl 400 acres.

In the early spring of 1890 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Cavence to Mrs. Alice M. Wright, who has proved a devoted companion and helpmeet and shared with him in the bless- ings and sorrows that the intervening years have brought in their train. Of the two chil- dren one is deceased, and the survivor, Paul E .. is a representative young farmer who is made the subject of individual mention on other pages of this volume.

Mr. Cavenee has been a true apostle of civic and industrial development and progress in the county that has long been his home and in which he is held in unequivocal popular es- teem. Hle has been influential in community affairs and was for eight years a member of the county board of supervisors, while his was the distinction of having been a member of the

first grand jury empaneled in the county. He is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and has been prominent and influ- ential in its local lodge. He and his wife are affiliated with the Presbyterian church.

JOHN CHERRY, SR., who is one of the substantial exponents of farm enterprise in the southern part of Custer county, with mail ser- vice on one of the rural routes out of Sumner. is consistently entitled to pioneer honors in Nebraska, in which state he has maintained his residence since 1884, the while he has main- tained his home in Custer county for somewhat more than thirty years.

Mr. Cherry was born in Iowa county, Wis- consin, on the 16th of December, 1856, and is a son of Joseph and Amelia ( Killian) Cherry. who were sterling pioneers of the Badger state. This worthy couple became the parents of nine children and four of the number are living in Nebraska - Thomas, who is a resident of Furnas county ; Mrs. Sarah Williams, who re- sides in Nuckolls county; John, who is the immediate subject of this sketch ; and George, who is a resident of Sartoria, Buffalo county. Another of the family was the late Joseph Cherry, who died in Custer county and to whom a memoir is dedicated on other pages of this work.

John Cherry was reared and educated in Wisconsin, and there he gained youthful ex- perience in connection with farm industry. Ile continued his residence in Wisconsin until 1882, and spent two years in Woodbury coun- ty, Iowa, before coming to Nebraska, where he first located in Box Butte county. There, in the year 1891, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Alice Watts, a daughter of the late John Watts, and soon after their life destinies were thus joined. the young couple set forth for Custer county, fortified with the courage, self-reliance, and ambition that enabled them to face the trials and responsibilities of pioneer life. Upon their arrival their material posses- sions were mainly represented in the pair of broncho mules which had afforded them trans- portation to the new home. Notwithstanding their financial handicap, they girded themselves earnestly for the work of developing and im- proving the land which they obtained in this county, and the passing years have awarded them with a goodly measure of success and prosperity. Their attractive farm home, in section 27, township 13, range 19, bears evi- dence of the success which has been theirs, for the place has excellent buiklings, including a pleasant and commodious residence, and has

893

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

its due complement of horses, cattle, and hogs - all combining to give evidence of what may be achieved through well directed energy and determined effort. Mr. Cherry now owns a well improved landed estate of 440 acres, and the property is splendidly adapted to progress- ive agricultural and stock-raising enterprise.

Loyal and public-spirited as a citizen, Mr. Cherry has had no desire for political activity or public office, but he is found aligned as a supporter of the cause of the Democratic party. He and his family hold the faith of the Pres- byterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Cherry have five children - Anna, John William, Teddy, Carl, and Marcus -and all possess the ster- ling characteristics which have brought success and good repute to the parents, who command unqualified popular esteen.

FRANK DOBESH. - Living in well de- served retirement, in a comfortable home in Ansley, will be found Frank Dobesh and his family, who have been residents of Custer county since 1881, and he has been one of those successful farmers of the county who have been splendid contributors to the present - day wealth and resources of the common- wealth.

Frank Dobesh is the third in order of birth of the thirteen children born to Thomas and Josephine (Jobe) Dobesh. The parents were born, reared and married in Moravia, Aus- tria, and came to this country, with their six children, in 1871. On other pages the sketch of Anton Dobesh gives further data concerning the family history.

Frank Dobesh was born in the province of Moravia, October 19, 1862, and was nine years old when brought by his parents to Saunders county, Nebraska. The family sailed on the "Columbia" from Breemen to Baltimore, and spent fourteen days on the sea. Mr. Dobesh came to Custer county in 1881, his eldest brother having already taken up a homestead, and here he secured a homestead for himself, - the northwest quarter of section 12, town- ship 14, range 19. Since that time he has made this place his home. For thirty years he has owned the place, and has improved it and added to it until now he is the owner of vast acres of land, and has large cattle inter- ests. The first dwelling of the family was a sod house, but in after years, when prosperity had come to them, the sod house was vacated and a splendid farm home of eight rooms erected to take its place.

In February, 1885, Mr. Dobesh married

Mary, daughter of John and Mary (Delbelka) Jelivek, who came from Bohemia to America in 1864. They lived here ten months, and then took up a home in Saunders county. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dobesh five children were born: Mary, is the wife of Joseph Or- chard, and they live on the old homestead of Mr. Dobesh ; and Charlie, Arthur, Grace, and Emil all remain at the parental home.

Mr. and Mrs. Dobesh can well afford the re- tirement and rest upon which they have en- tered, and they have a host of friends who are glad to see them so well and favorably lo- cated, and who, while extending congratula- tions, wish for them many years of comfort and life enjoyment.

CHARLES C. FISHER. - One of the en- ergetic, successful farmers living in the vicinity of Mason City, from which place the rural carriers bring his mail, is Charles E. Fisher. His life story commenced April 22, 1850, at which time he first saw the light of day, in Gallia county, Ohio. He is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Fisher) Fisher, both of whom sprung from old Virginia stock.

Isaac Fisher immigrated to Ohio in 1848, and his future wife was twelve years of age when her parents established their home in the Buckeye state, some time in the '30s. Isaac and Sarah Fisher became the parents of thirteen children, eight of whom are still liv- ing, the subject of this sketch being, however, the only one of the family who lives in Custer county. The parents moved back to that part of Virginia which at that time had become West Virginia, and there they passed the re- mainder of their lives. The father's occupa- tion was that of a carpenter, and he was rated a very fine workman. He was a member of the Free Will Baptist church, and in politics he affiliated with the Democratic party. Isaac Fisher's father was Solomon Fisher, who was a native of Holland. This grandsire immi- grated to the United States and settled in Vir- ginia. The maternal grandfather of Charles C. Fisher was John Fisher, who died in Ohio.

In the old Buckeye state Charles C. Fisher received his early education in the common schools, and there he laid the foundation of that mental structure which has served him so well in a business way in all his farm trans- actions, and by which he has come to be de- servedly rated as one of the intelligent and broad-minded citizens of Custer county.

Mr. Fisher left West Virginia in 1883 and came directly to Custer county, where he

894

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

EDMOND J. AVIS AND FAMILY

895

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

homesteaded a quarter-section of land and built the sod house in which he began his ca- reer in this county.

In 1881 Mr. Fisher wedded Miss Laura J. Amsberry, a daughter of Francis Amsberry, who became a pioneer homesteader of Custer county. To this union were born four chil- dren : Dore Alena is the wife of Henry Kel- ler and they live near Mason City ; Della Al- berta is the wife of William Smith and they reside at Seattle, Washington ; Chester, at the time of this writing, is in France, he having entered the military service of his country in November, 1917: Leander, the youngest of the children, is at home and is assisting on the farm.

On the splendid rural estate of Charles C. Fisher is to be found an elegant farm resi- dence, which was built in 1912, and in which the family is at the present time comfortably and happily domiciled. Mixed farming op- erations are carried on. Fifty head of cattle constitute the average farm herd. The farm- ing and stock-raising operations are conducted under the title of Fisher & Son. Aside fron the grain and stock farming, Mr. Fisher and his son run a small dairy with twelve cows. Mr. Fisher relates that when he reached Cus- ter county and had filed on his land he had a wife and one child and fifty cents in money. The splendid home and farm equipment - the property and everything that represents wealth - have been accumulated since that time.

Mr. Fisher is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is independent in poli- tics, and he and his family enjoy the confidence and respect of the entire community.

EDMOND J. AVIS. - The agricultural in- terests of Custer county find a worthy repre- sentative in the gentleman whose name intro- duces this record and who for twenty-six years has successfully conducted farming operations here.

Mr. Avis was born in Cumberland county, Illinois, February 26, 1865. His father, Col- bert Avis, was a native of Ohio, and became a farmer. of St. Clair county, Illinois, where he resided until 1884. He then became a resident of Saunders county, Nebraska, where he spent the remainder of his davs. The mother of our subject was Margery ( Bryan) Avis. She was a distant relative of William Jennings Bryan, and she passed away in Illinois.

Edmond J. Avis was a young man of nine- teen years when he first came to Nebraska, and he made a trip to Custer county that year, but he returned to Saunders county, where he re-

mained until 1892, when he again came to Cus- ter county, where he bought land. He has re- sided on his present farm for the past fifteen years, this being a valuable tract of 240 acres, in section 24, township 17, range 23. The property was unimproved when it came into his possession, but he has erected substantial buildings, has made other excellent improve- ments, and successfully carries on general farming.

For a wife and helpmeet, Mr. Avis chose Miss Theodosia Calbreath, a native of St. Clair county, Illinois, and they have a family of four children, all of whom are still under the parental roof. Their names are Arthur, Ethel, Clarence, and Maud. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics Mr. Avis is a Democrat. Though he has never aspired to nor held public office, he has rendered efficient service as a member of the school board, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. Pioneer conditions were still in evidence when Mr. Avis made permanent location here. and he has contributed to the upbuilding of the com- munity in which he is held in high esteem by all who know him. In the words of a neighbor who has known him all these twenty- six years, he is "a dandy good fellow, a fine man."

THOMAS DOBESH. - It is not necessary to cross the water to the European countries or to search through any of the eastern states in our own country to find the birthplace of Thomas Dobesh. He belongs to Custer county ; here he was born and bred ; here he was educated, grew to manhood, married, and established his home; and here he is one of the prominent citizens belonging to the genera- tion that is now coming into the full responsi- bilities of active and middle life. On the farm where he now lives, Mr. Dobesh was born August 11, 1888, and he is a son of Anton Dobesh, of whom extended mention is made on other pages. He secured the best possible education from the public schools and very early took up farming for a life occupa- tion.

In January, 1912, Mr. Dobesh married Bertha A. Curtis a very excellent lady who, like her husband, was born in this county. She was a daughter of W. S. Curtis, who lives near Algernon schoolhouse. The happiness of the new home was soon disturbed, for Mrs. Dobesh was called to her long home after a married life of only four years.

Mr. Dobesh is a member of the Catholic

890

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

church, belongs to the Non-partisan League and is a progressive young farmer who is operating one full section of land, which he leases from his father. He is conducting a general farming and stock-raising business. He expects, with ordinary luck, to market one hundred hogs each year. He keeps a good grade of cattle, having about sixty head on his farm throughout the entire year. Just such industrious, hard-working farmers are the present-day hope and basic strength of our country.

FRED AND HENRY SCHULTZE. - There are few existing associations that are productive of better results than those which exist between brothers in the operation of a business or agricultural venture, and this is applicable to the partnership of Fred and Henry Schultze, who are carrying on extensive farming and stock-raising activities in the vi- cinity of Mason City. They have always been farmers, and in the several communities in which they have resided have impressed them- selves upon their fellow citizens as practical, progressive and energetic men, thoroughgoing masters of their vocation, and honorable fac- tors in the civic life of their locality.

Fred Schultze, the elder brother, was born July 13, 1874, in Illinois, and Henry, the younger, was born October 24, 1877, in Sew- ard county, Nebraska. They are sons of Fred and Amelia (Zilke) Schultze, natives of Germany, the former of whom came to the United States at the age of five years, and the latter when nineteen years of age. Married in Illinois, the parents resided there for three more years, and then moved to Seward county, Nebraska, where their home was made for a quarter of a century. Subsequently Mr. Schultze came to Custer county and bought school land, and later he went to Canada, where he lived for some time, but eventually he returned to Seward county, Nebraska, and retired from active pursuits. He is a Repub- lican in his political views and he and Mrs. Schultze are members of the Lutheran church. Of their six sons and four daughters, Fred and Henry are the only ones living in Custer county.

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.

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 137

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