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 138

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 138

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The early educational discipline of Fred and Henry Schultze was secured in the dis- trict schools of Seward county, and they were brought up under the training of their prac- tical father, who instructed them fully in all the departments of agricultural work. When they reached manhood they began farming together, and on coming to Custer county, in 1893, they purchased 320 acres of land. in the

vicinity of Mason City -a property which formerly belonged to their father. Together they have since farmed it successfully and have made their farm one of the fertile and well improved properties of the locality. Their buildings are large, well kept and sub- stantial, their improvements and equipment are modern, and their stock of a good grade. They are men of integrity and high standing, and while they have devoted their entire time to farming, and therefore have not figured prominently in public affairs, their are known as public-spirited citizens. Their political preference is for the Republican party's prin- ciples and candidates, and both are members of the Lutheran church.

On February 3, 1910, Fred Schultze mar- ried Mrs. Mary (Lang) Neben, the widow of August Neben, and to this union there have been born four children : Elsie, Amelia, Minnie, and Arthur. Henry Schultze is a bachelor.

JOHN A. AMSBERRY. - A resident of Custer county for forty years, John A. Ams- berry has the distinction of being the oldest breeder of Aberdeen-Angus cattle in the state of Nebraska, and few cattlemen are more widely or favorably known. His connection with stock-raising has always been of a help- ful and progressive character, and as president of the Angus Breeders Association Institute his broad knowledge and long experience, al- ways at the call of his fellow-breeders, have done much to encourage the industry and to place it upon a high plane.

John A. Amsberry was born September 11, 1850, in West Virginia, and is a son of Francis E. and Lucy C. (Beard) Amsberry. both na- tives of Virginia. They were married in Vir- ginia and came to Custer county in 1884, Mr. Amsberry homesteading on section 35, town- ship 15, range 18, where he continued to carry on agricultural pursuits on his 160 acres until his death. He was a Republican in politics, and he and his wife were members of the old- school Baptist church. There were twelve children in the family, of whom ten arc living : John A. is the subject of this review : Martha, twin of John A., is single and is living with her brother Will : Margaret is the wife of Nick Peterson, and they reside in Custer county; Rosetta is the wife of J. N. Greenlee, a farmer of this county : Laura is the wife of C. C. Fish- er. of this county : J. M. is an Oregon farmer ; Myra is the wife of Charles Amsberrry, a farm- er northwest of Broken Bow; Ella is the wife of Lou Coleman, a blacksmith of South Da-

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kota ; Will D. is farming near Mason City, and a sketch of his career will be found elsewhere in this work; and Frank is operating his fa- ther's old homestead.

John A. Amsberry received an ordinary pub- lic-school education in West Virginia, and ear- ly learned the lessons of industry and money value, as, being the eldest of his father's chil- dren, it was necessary that he start to work as soon as he was old enough and to contribute his share to the family support. Leaving his native state in 1871, he came to the west and passed four years in Iowa, where he found em- ployment at farm work. In 1874 he came to Nebraska, and after entering and perfecting title to a pre-emption claim in Valley county he returned to Iowa, where he remained four years. In 1878 Mr. Amsberry came to Custer county and settled on a homestead, this county having continued to be his home and the stage of his productive activities during the long in- tervening period of forty years. How suc- cessful he has been in his operations may be discerned when recognition is taken of the fact that he is now the owner of 1,000 acres of land, all made through his own efforts and abilities, without outside assistance. For many years he has been one of the leading cattlemen of the county, and, as previously stated, he is to-day the oldest breeder of Aberdeen-Angus cattle in Nebraska. He generally keeps 100 head on hand and his stock is much in de- mand, bringing top prices and taking many prizes at fairs. He is president of the Angus Breeders Association Institute, and has been a life member of the Farmers National Con- gress for the past fifteen years. Alfalfa is his principal crop, and in the raising of this staple he has met with the success that his skill and hard work have merited. The splen- did improvements to be found on Mr. Ams- berry's property have all been put in by him, and the buildings are of his own erection. Mr. Amsberry is a Republican and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and the members of his family belong to the Bap- tist church.

In September, 1880, in Iowa, Mr. Amsberry was united in marriage to Miss Mary Buckley. She was born in West Virginia, a daughter of Frank Buckley, who was an early settler of Iowa and who there met an accidental deatlı in the woods. Mrs. Amsberry died May 2, 1918, leaving three children: Zadee, who is the wife of R. H. Duke, a druggist of Mason City, Nebraska ; Frank, who is associated with his father in his farming and stock-raising operations ; and Nellie, who is the wife of Will Dorsette, a farmer of Custer county.

VERNON E. FLEMING. - One of the farmers of Custer county who is living in the vicinity of Mason City, and operating success- fully a small farm, with every indication of a prosperous future before him, is the young man whose name the title line heralds.

Mr. Fleming was born January 28, 1887, and is a son of John and Rachel (McKee) Fleming. The Hoosier state is the place of his father's nativity, and Illinois is the state in which his mother was born. The parents were married in Illinois and in 1882 they came to Custer county, where they took a homestead. Mrs. Fleming died in 1907, and the father now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Arthur Zahn, near Mason City.

In the parental family circle were three children - Pearl, the wife of Oscar Fletcher, died in March, 1916, at Portland, Oregon ; Vernon E. is the subject of this sketch ; and Minnie is the wife of Arthur Zahn, of Custer county. The father is a member of the Bap- tist church, as was also his wife, and he is a Socialist in politics. He served as justice of the peace a number of years ago.

Vernon E. Fleming received his early edu- cation in the district schools of Custer county, attending in school district No. 71 principally. His early years were devoted to farming, to which occupation he has given his entire life. He lived on his mother's old homestead for twenty-five years and then removed to his present farm of 160 acres, which he pur- chased in 1908. He has made good improve- ments and developed the place into a first- class farm. At the time when he took the farm there were only ten acres broken on the entire place.

October 27, 1909, recorded the marriage of Mr. Fleming to Rosetta A. Hauck, for whose family history see the Fred Hauck sketch in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Flem- ing have two sons - Loyel, born September 23 1910, and Clyde, born October 17, 1911.

Mr. Fleming is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He generally votes the Democratic ticket and has served on the school board for a number of years. He does a general farming and stock-raising business, in which he has been very success- ful. He has full-blooded Duroc-Jersey hogs, and makes a success of breeding fine speci- mens whose lineage entitles them to place in the register of the society that maintains the records of the Duroc hogs. He and his wife are also making a specialty of Rhode Island Red chickens, and their poultry flock at feed- ing time presents one of the attractive fea- tures of farm life as the Flemings are living it. This is a splendid family, and, beyond

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doubt, Mr. and Mrs. Fleming have before them many successful years.

HARRY A. SHERMAN, vice-president of the Sargent State Bank, of which he was for- merly president, is also a leading and prom- inent real-estate and insurance man of Custer county, has been identified with numerous business and financial enterprises here and has established a high reputation for capabil- ity, judgment and general acumen. His in- troduction to Sargent was in the role of school- teacher, but it was not long until he became connected with banking affairs, and since that time his rise has been sure, rapid and con- sistent.

Mr. Sherman was born November 3. 1871, at Streator, Illinois, his parents being George W and Ruth (Courtney) Sherman. A rec- ord of the family will be found in the sketch of Mrs. Ruth Sherman, which appears else- where in this work. The country schools of Custer county furnished Harry A. Sherman with his early education, as he was but a child when brought to this county, and this prelim- inary training was later supplemented by one year's attendance at the University of Ne- braska, at Lincoln, and a course in the Lini- coln Business College. Until he was twenty- five years of age he was engaged in farming, and he then went to Rochester, New York where for a time he was employed by the Rochester Railroad Company. Returning to Sargent. he taught school until 1902, when he secured a clerkship in the Farmers & Mer- chants Bank. In the following year that in- stitution was consolidated with the Custer County Bank, in June, 1903, and Mr. Sher- man was elected cashier of the new banking house, known under the latter name, and be- ing the oldest bank in the county. Later the Custer County Bank was reorganized, and Mr. Sherman was elected president, a posi- tion he retained until 1914. At that time other interests became too pressing for him to do full justice to his duties, and he resigned from the presidency, but accepted a vice- presidency and also became chairman of the board of directors of the Sargent State Bank. positions which he still holds. In these capaci- ties a great deal of the bank's policy is directed by him, and his ability as a banker and finan- cier has served to make this one of the strong- est institutions in this part of the state. In 1914 Mr. Sherman bought out the partnership of Ebenezer Miller, and entered actively into the real-estate and insurance business, with James W. Lundy as partner. He has been in- terested in a financial way, more or less, with

real-estate and insurance matters during the past fifteen years, and the development and growth of his connections made it necessary that he give more of his time thereto. His reputation in busines and financial circles is of the highest order, and he is frequently depend- upon for advice and leadership in matters of large importance.

Mr. Sherman is a Republican. but has not sought official recognition by his party, al- though his influence therein is marked. As a friend of education, however, he is serving efficiently as a member of the school board. An active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, he has been prominent in its affairs, and belongs at this time to its building com- mittee. Likewise he is prominent in fra- ternal circles, being a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the latter of which he has passed all the official chairs.

Mr. Sherman was married July 10, 1902, to Miss Ora S. Spooner, a daughter of A. F. and Anna (Wilbur) Spooner, early settlers of Custer county. To this union there have come two children - Paul G., born April 26, 1906, and Dean F., born May 31, 1908.

JOSEPH H. CHERRY, SR. - The life record of a good man who has gone to his re- ward is briefly reviewed in the following me- moir to one who lived his life with a high sense of personal stewardship, who served his Master according to his earnest convictions, who reared his children in the Christian faith he had received from his father, and who was fifty-six years of age when he passed forward to "that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns." The life of Jo- seph H. Cherry was one of distinctive honor and usefulness and it is gratifying to enter in this publication a tribute to his memory.

Joseph H. Cherry was born in Richland coun- ty. Wisconsin, on the 1st of June. 1851, and he passed to the life eternal on the 6th of Decem- ber, 1917, secure in the high regard of all who knew him. He was a son of Joseph and Amelia ( Killian) Cherry, of whose nine chil- dren four are living - Thomas, who is a resi- dent of Furnas county, Nebraska; John, who is individually mentioned on other pages of this publication : Mrs. Sarah Williams, who lives in Nuckolls county, Nebraska: and George, who is a resident of Sartoria, Buffalo county, Nebraska.

In his native state Joseph H. Cherry ac- quired his early educational discipline, and at Mifflin, Wisconsin, was solemnized his mar-

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH H. CHERRY, SR.

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASK.I

riage to his first wife, whose maiden name was Mary Williams. U'pon coming to Ne- braska he and his wife first located in Box Butte county, about 1876, when the Indians were still plentiful in that section of the state. In 1893 Alr. and Mrs. Cherry came to Custer county, where they located by renting the farm which he later purchased of Walter George, and upon which he was residing at the time of his death. After coming to the county Mr. Cherry was somewhat discouraged by the con- ditions that here prevailed during the memora- ble period of drouth in 1894-5, and in the latter year he removed to Nuckolls county, where occurred the death of his beloved wife, her remains being laid to rest in the cemetery at Nora, that county. In Nuckolls county Mr. Cherry rented a ranch of 800 acres, and under his direction all but thirty acres of this tract was maintained under effective cultivation. He there continued his successful operations as a grain-grower until 1902, the previous year having recorded his second marriage - to Lydia M. Kinsey, of Custer county. In 1902 he came with his family to Custer county, where he purchased the half-section of land which is now known as the old Cherry homestead. The place had but few improvements when Mr. Cherry became owner of the property, and by him were provided all of the buildings and other fine improvements which embellish and add to the value of the estate at the present time. For several years the family here oc- cupied a sod house of the primitive pioneer type, but with increasing prosperity this gave place to the present attractive and commodious farm residence. Mr. Cherry was a man of in- defatigable industry, of nature judgment, and of progressive policies, so that he achieved a large measure of success in connection with his farm enterprise.

In a fraternal way Mr. Cherry was affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men for a few years, but on account of hard times he dropped his active affiliation, but his greatest satisfaction was gained through the prosecu- tion of active Christian work and service. For a number of years he and his wife were con- nected with the Methodist church, but finally he and his entire family became members of the Presbyterian church, in which he held the office of elder for a period of nine years. For twenty-one years he was an active Christian and church member, and he took specially deep interest in the neighborhood Sunday school. This was a matter of much solicitude to him and in the period culminating in his death he earnestly urged his family and his neighbors and other friends to keep the Sunday school

in continuous service. "Don't let it go down," he begged, over and again. His deep concern was for the school and its work, but as his life neared its end he was not dismaved or afraid for himself, for, as he stated, he knew "that his Savior would take care of him and that he would be saved." He selected the Scripture lesson and also the text of the sermon for his funeral service, the same being found in the twenty-fourth chapter of the gospel of Joshua, beginning at the fourteenth verse, and closing with the twenty-fourth verse, the text being a part of verse 15: "Choose you this day whom you will serve." He also made arrangements for his own sons and sons-in-law to act as pallbearers.

At the death of Mr. Cherry his wife was left well provided for, according to plans pre-ar- ranged by him, and she has continued to be devoted to the work in which he had proved so faithful. His brother John is administrator of the family estate. Within the period of his first residence in Custer county Mr. Cherry assisted in the erection of the neighborhood schoolhouse in which the Presbyterian church services are now held. He gave freely of his influence and co-operation in the furtherance of public improvements and community needs, and for two years he was road overseer of Loup precinct. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party. He lived and labored to righteous ends, and, now that he has passed away, his influence remains as a bene- diction upon all who came within its gracious sphere.

On the 17th of July, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Cherrry to Lydia, a daugh- ter of John A. Jennings, in whose personal sketch, on other pages of this work, is given adequate record concerning the family. Mrs. Cherry proved to her husband a devoted com- panion and helpmeet and since his death she is sustained and comforted by the hallowed men- ories of their gracious association in the years that have passed. Mr. Cherry and his first wife became the parents of eleven children, of whom the wife and six children passed over to await his arrival in glory and five children survive the honored father, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth Jane ( Cherry) Watts, Joseph H. Cherry, Jr., Hester Ann Cherry, Mrs. Mary Alice (Cherry) Morgan, John Williams Cher- ry, Jr.

JOHN H. HANNA is a citizen whom mis- fortune has visited as the result of an acci- dent with which he met in 1906, since which time he has been virtually incapacitated, though

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he is a man in the very prime of life. In the autumn of the year mentioned above, Mr. Hanna was severely injured by a fall from a windmill tower on his fine farm, and he has never recovered from the effects of this deplorable accident. He is thus unable to give his personal and direct attention to business affairs or the active management of his farm, but he is favored in having a wife whose capacity for business is marked and who, with the assistance of their children, is effectively continuing the direction of the farm activities, the while Mr. Hanna is as- sured of the sympathy and good will of the community in which he was winning prece- dence as a farmer at the time when lie en- countered his deplorable accident. It is pleas- ing to accord him recognition in this history and also to pay a merited tribute to Mrs. Hanna.

Mr. Hanna was born in the state of Iowa, on the 6th of October, 1874, and is a son of Septimus E. and Julia (Thomas) Hanna, the former of whom was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of whom was born on an island in beautiful Lake Cham- plain. The parents of Mr. Hanna became residents of Custer county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1882, and thus they gained pioneer honors in this county, where they still re- side. Their children are eight in number - Mrs. B. G. Evans, Mrs. Grant Turnbull, John Henry, Leroy, Mrs. Robert Beauchamp, Os- car, Howard, and Stanley.

John Henry Hanna acquired his rudimen- tary education in the schools of his native state, but he was about eight years of age when the family home was established in Custer county. Here he attended the pioneer schools and here also he gained full fellow- ship with the practical work of the home farm. Thus he was amply fortified in exper- ience when he instituted his independent acti- vities as a farmer. After their marriage he and his wife established a home of their own, and by assiduous application and good man- agement they succeeded in making a splendid farm of 380 acres the stage of their effective operations. This fine farm, to the work and management of which Mr. Hanna gave his personal supervision until incapacitated, as noted in a preceding paragraph, is situated on West Table, twelve miles west of Broken Bow. Of the tract 150 acres are under ef - fective cultivation and the place is devoted to diversified agriculture and stock-growing.

On the 20th of Tune, 1897, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hanna to Miss Irena Mabel Philipsen, who was born near Spring-

field, Illinois, but who has been a resident of Custer county since her early childhood. Mrs Hanna is a daughter of John Jacob Philipsen and Mary Amanda ( Stone) Philipsen, the for- mer of whom was born in Dantzic, Prussia, May 15, 1837, and the latter of whom was born in Wabash county, Illinois. Mr. Philip- sen was a young man when he immigrated to America, and for several years thereafter he was identified with farm enterprise in Illinois. where his marriage occurred. Not many years after the birth of his daughter Irena M. (Mrs. Hanna) he came from Piatt county, Illinois, to Nebraska, and established himself as a pioneer farmer in Custer county. He was one of the prosperous and honored citi- zens of the county and contributed his share to social and industrial progress. The death of Mr. Philipsen occurred May 3, 1911, his wife having passed away February 8, 1893. Of the family of fourteen children, the nine who attained to maturity are here mentioned : Mrs. Ella Longfellow, Mrs. Augusta Hargett, Edmund F., Mrs. Elizabeth Dagan (de- ceased), John J., Mrs. Rosetta .Hanna, Mrs. Irena M. Hanna, William O., and Mrs. Annie L. Brown.

Mrs. Hanna was reared on the old home farm of her parents, and acquired her early education in the public schools of this county, the while her devoted mother did not fail to instruct her well in the domestic arts and duties. She remained at the paternal home until her marriage, and since her husband be- came afflicted she has shown herself well qualified for the added responsibilities that have fallen upon her in connection with the operations of their farm and all incidental business. They are highly esteemed citizens and Mrs. Hanna is a popular factor in the so- cial activities of her home community, with a circle of friends that is limited only by that of her acquaintances Of the six children of Mr. and Mrs. Hanna five are living, and con- cerning them the following brief record is consistently entered in conclusion of this sketch: Guy E., who was born March 3, 1898, and who resides on and assists in the management of the home farm, was in the final draft of young men to be called to mili- tarv service in the world war, which came to a close before he was summoned for preliminary training ; and the younger children likewise remain at the parental home, their names and respective dates of birth being as follows -- Floyd H., January 1, 1900: Septimus E., March 7, 1901 : Ralph H., July 20, 1906; and Iva Mae, October 5, 1909.

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THOMAS CONDON. - Among those who were early settlers of Custer county and who for years contributed to the upbuilding of the community was the sterling pioneer whose name introduces this memoir.

Thomas Condon was born at Shanagolden, County Limerick, Ireland, November 10, 1846. He came to America when a young man, but after remaining here two years he returned to his native land and after two years spent there · he again took a noteworthy voyage, -this time going to New Zealand, where he re- mained seven years. By way of California and across the continent he finally came to Omaha, Nebraska, and in the early '80s he came to Custer county and took a homestead of 160 acres in sections 5 and 8 of township 18, range 22. His first home was a sod house and he had the usual hardships and experiences that fell to the lot of the early-day pioneers of the county. He was successful as a farmer and to his original tract he added 160 acres adjoin- ing. The old sod house was replaced with a frame dwelling and he continued in the cul- tivation of his land until his death, which oc- curred January 2, 1909.

On the 1st of June, 1895, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Condon to Miss Mary Maroney, who was born at Trenton, New Jer- sey, a daughter of Martin and Mary (Daugh- erty ) Maroney. Mr. and Mrs. Condon be- came the parents of two children, Mary Ellen and Thomas, who are at home with their moth- er. The family are communicants of the Cath- olic church. In the death of Thomas Condon the community lost a representative citizen and his immediate family a loving husband and father.

MRS. RUTH SHERMAN, who possesses the unique distinction of having been the first postmistress of the Sargent community of Custer county, although there was no town here by the name at that time, was one of the earliest settlers of this region. coming in 1879, when there were no houses in the valley and but three or four dug-outs to give evi- dence of human habitation. It has been her fortune and privilege to witness and partici- pate in the great changes which have taken place during a period of forty years and to have accomplished her share in the develop- ment of one of the great counties of an im- portant commonwealth.

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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 138

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