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 140

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 140

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of business. Mr. Chase was a strong and loyal Mason, having passed the official chairs of his lodge, and his funeral was held under the auspices of that fraternity. A loyal Re- publican, he never sought office, but he wielded

no little influence and exercised it for his party and his friends.

In 1893 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Chase to Miss Martha Riese, who was born May 30, 1875, at Juda, Wisconsin, a daughter of William and Wilhelmina Riese, who are natives of Germany and who came to the United States in 1872, settling in Wiscon- sin. Later they moved to Hampton, Iowa, where Mr. Riese, a blacksmith by trade, took up farming, and it was as an agriculturist that he came, in 1884, to Custer county, where he homesteaded and where he farmed for a number of years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Riese now make their home with their daughter. Mr. Riese knew the father of the present kai- ser of Germany and when occasion offers he expresses himself forcibly in regard to the · misguided and now deposed ruler of that country. Mr. Riese is a most loyal citizen of his adopted country, and has great pride in his grandson, who has joined the colors. Mr. and Mrs. Chase are the parents of two chil- dren - Iva Mabelle, the wife of Dr. P. H. J. Carothers. who is a practicing physician of Mason City, and a sketch of whose career ap- pears elsewhere in this work; and Cecil A.

Cecil A. Chase was graduated in the high school at Broken Bow and then began the study of medicine, entering the medical department of the University of Nebraska, where he was in his third year, and a member of the ex- clusive Sigma Nu fraternity. He enlisted in the United States army December 18, 1917, was called February 6, 1918, and was assigned to the aviation corps, being sent to Berkeley, California, for instruction. His final training was obtained in Texas, where he was prepared to be sent to the battle-fields of France.

FRANK A. GORHAM. - Over in the vi- cinity of Walworth, operating a well improved farm and engaged in a general farming and stock-raising business, is Frank A. Gorham, one of the reliable and substantial citizens of north Custer county. He was born June 14, 1865, and is a son of Nathan and Mary J. (Carr) Gorham. The father was a native of Michigan and the mother a daughter of Illinois. Nathan Gorham was a blacksmith by occupation, which trade he learned and fol- lowed in the state of Illinois. Later he im- migrated to Iowa, in which state he made his home for nearly thirty years. Before his death, however, he returned to Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life. The mother died in Iowa, in 1908. In their family were three children, two of whom are living

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at the present time - Frank A., the subject of this sketch: and Edward N., whose home is in Manchester, Iowa, where he works at lo- comotive firing and sometimes works at his father's trade of blacksmithing.

Frank A. Gorham is a native of Illinois but spent most of his early years in lowa, in which state he received a liberal education. He was married in August, 1894, to Sarah E. DeBusk, a very excellent Custer county lady. Mrs. Gorham is a daughter of Elizabeth DeBusk, a widow who had made her home in Custer county since 1885. Mrs. Gorham, the daugh- ter, filed on a homestead in section 5, town- ship 19, range 19, comprising also lots 5, 6 and 7, and this land is still held by title in her name, although she is deceased.

Mr. Gorham came to Custer county in 1894 and purchased a small farm of 120 acres, . which he still owns and upon which a general farming business is conducted. Into the Gorham home were born two children, Edith 31. and Harold L., both of whom are single and still living at home.

The home was severely bereaved in 1902. when Mrs. Gorham, wife and mother, was called from the scenes of earthly activities into that mysterious realm from which no travelers return. The home circle now con- sists of the father and his two children. They are very excellent people and command the respect of an extensive circle of friends and neighbors.

Politically, Mr. Gorham is independent. claiming affiliations with 110 party. He be- longs to the Methodist church.

WILLIAM B. ATHEY, who was one of the pioneer settlers and good citizens of Cus- ter county, was born in Whitley county, In- diana, January 14, 1854, and died at Broken Bow, Nebraska, in June. 1906. lle was a son of Elijah and Catherine Athey, who were natives of Ohio, and who settled early in In- diana. His mother died in Indiana and his father then went to Colorado, where his death occurred in 1916, when he was more than eighty years of age.

William B. Athey was reared on his father's farm in Indiana and attended the country schools. Until 1882 he engaged in farming in his native state, and he then joined in the great exodus from the east to the west. After reaching Nebraska he homesteaded in Custer county. He proved up on his claim and with his family lived on it until 1897, when he re- moved to Broken Bow. Following this change, Mr. Athey was employed by the Standard Oil Company until his death. Mrs. Athey owns the homestead of 160 acres, which

is well improved. Mr. Athey was a man of sterling character, a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church and a Prohibitionist.

Mr. Athey was married in Indiana, in 1876, to Miss Sarah Miller, who was born in 1852, in Columbiana county, Ohio, a daughter of Peter and Lydia (Dutterer) Miller, the for- mer a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. Of the nine children of Mr. and Mrs. Miller there are five living, three of whom reside at Broken Bow - Mrs. Athey. Mrs. Young, and Mrs. Kester.

Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. AAthey the following brief record is consist- ently entered : Legrand, who is a prosperous ranchman in Cherry county, where Elsmere is his postoffice address, married Miss Rose Daily and they have four sons and five daugh- ters. Howard, the second son of the subject of this memoir, died June 3. 1906, at the age of twenty-six years. Claude M., the third son, is a progressive farmer and dairyman near Giles, Brown county, this state. He married Miss Mabel Leach and they have one son and two daughters. William A., who is identified with railroad service and resides at Oakland, California, wedded Miss Mabel Anderson. Alonzo, who is still a bachelor, has charge of the old home farm of his mother. Paul is engaged in farming in the irrigated district in the vicinity of Eaton, Colo- rado. He married Miss Chilla Mitchell and they have no children. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. Miss Ellen E. Athey, who is now the popular and efficient assistant cashier of the People's State Bank of Anselmo, this county, was graduated in the Broken Bow high school, as well as in the commercial department of the same.

The Athey family is recognized as among the best that settled in the northwestern part of Custer county in the early days, and through thrift and industry substantial pros- perity rewarded the earnest efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Athey. In addition to the old home farm Mrs. Athey owns and occupies an attrac- tive modern home in the city of Broken Bow. where she delights to entertain her children and grandchildren whenever they can visit her, and where her many friends also are as- sured of a cordial welcome. She is a de- voted mother and is an earnest member of and worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, to the faith of which her children also adhere.

ED CUNNINGHAM. - A property in the Broken Bow community which may well serve as an example of good management and prac- tical results in farming, is that owned and

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

MR. AND MRS. ED CUNNINGHAM

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

operated by Ed Cunningham, who has been a progressive agriculturist in Custer county since 1911. Mr. Cunningham was born in Poweshiek county, Iowa, August 8, 1865, and is a son of Ross and Marie (Noble) Cunning- ham.

The Cunningham family is of Scotch origin. and John Cunningham, the grandfather of the subject of this review, was an early settler of Indiana, whence he later moved to Mercer county, Illinois, where he farmed until his death. His son, Ross Cunningham, was born in 1833, in Indiana, and as a lad was taken to Illinois, where he was reared to adult years and where, in Marshall county, he married Marie Noble. She was born in Illinois, in 1839, and was a daughter of Joseph Noble, who was a farmer of Mercer county, and whose father was a native of Ireland. In 1854 Ross Cunningham left Illinois for lowa, with his wife and three children, his worldly pos- sessions aside from a few household goods be- ing two ox-teams and fifty cents in money. Settling in Poweshiek county, he proceed- ed to hew out a splendid success, and at the time of his death he was' the owner of 400 acres of land and was a man of substance and worth in his community. In politics he was a Republican. Mr. Cunningham died in 1898, his widow surviving until May 8, 1910. They were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were the parents of ten children, of whom nine are living, the only two in Nebraska being Ed and Ilarry.

Ed Cunningham received his education in the public schools of his native state, and was reared as a farmer. When he reached his ma- jority he engaged in operations on his own account, and he remained in Iowa until 1911. when he came to Custer county and purchased a farm of 320 acres, on which he has since made numerous improvements, including a* substantial and commodious residence and good barns and outbulidings. His property evidences due appreciation of the inventions which do away with much of the old-time drudgery of farming. When he came to Cus- ter county Mr. Cunningham began raising registered Short-horn and Durham cattle, hav- ing a herd of thirteen head, and he still con- tinues to raise a good breed of cattle, as well as horses, in connection with his general farm- ing operations. His attention is entirely de- voted to his farm operations, so that' he has but little time for other matters, but he is ac- counted a loyal and public-spirited citizen and one who does not allow his residence in the country to interfere with his keeping up with the times or informing himself upon the sub-

jects which engage the attention of the dwell- ers in the busier marts of trade. Hle and the members of his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, and his fraternal connection is with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. His support has always been given to the Republican party.

Mr. Cunningham was married June 10. 1903, to Miss Myrtle Winslow, who was born in lowa. She is a daughter of Ezra Winslow, who, in 1876, moved to Wood River, Ne- braska, and who still lives in that community where he is a successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are the parents of three children : Jennie Elizabeth, Ross, and Floyd. Jennie E. is attending school and is making good prog- ress in her studies.

LEWIS C. COLE, who is a representative citizen of Custer county, has lived here for almost forty years. He accompanied his par- ents to this section in childhood, was educa- ted and married here and about all his inter- ests have been centered here from those early days to the present. He has not been an unworthy adopted son, for he has always iden- tified himself with those enterprises and move- ments that have been of practical benefit to Custer county, in a publie way, and per- sonally has won the confidence and respect of his neighbors, because of his sterling honesty and his recognition, at all times, of their rights.

Lewis C. Cole was born August 28, 1875, at Weathersfield, New York, one of a family of five children born to his parents, L. W. F. and Maria E. (Joiner) Cole, the latter of whom was born in the state of New York. The father of Mr. Cole was born in Germany and after immigrating to the United States he en- gaged in farming and was also a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served charges both in New York and Illi- nois before coming to Nebraska, in the fall of 1879. He homesteaded in Custer county and also secured a timber claim, in section 33, township 20, and the development of this property engaged his energies afterward. His death occurred on his farm, in July, 1901. The mother of Lewis C. Cole survives and lives at Sargent, Nebraska. Of the five chil- dren the following is a brief record: Flora is the wife of W. T. Cropper, who is post- master at Sargent: Lewis C. is the subject of this sketch; Etta is the wife of Charles Mc- Gregor, a railroad man, of Sterling, Colorado : Mame is the wife of Arthur Betts, of Chap- pell, Deuel county, Nebraska ; and Mina is the

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

wife of M. L. Tobias, their place of residence being at Chappell, Nebraska.

Lewis C. Cole lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, in the mean- while attending school as opportunity offered, although school facilities in Custer county in those days were limited, as compared to the advantages now offered in this progressive section. Farming has been his main occupa- tion all his life, and through his industry and wise management he has made the business profitable in combination with stock-raising. Reared on Nebraska soil, he understands its possibilities far better than a later comer, and through experience has learned the scientific facts to which he adapts his methods.

Lewis C. Cole was married December 25, 1900, to Miss Clara M. Sweet, who is a daugh- ter of C. E. Sweet, residing six miles north- east of Sargent, and they have two sons and one daughter, namely: Lloyd, who was born February 8, 1904; Fred, who was born March 27, 1907 ; and Marion, who was born August 24, 1909.

Mr. Cole and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been very active in the matter of public edu- cation and has served his school district faith- fully as a director for the past five years. In addition to his farm and stock interests he is known favorably in the financial field to some extent, having been on the directing board of the Farmers State Bank of Sargent for the past seven years.

J. H. MELVILLE, one of Nebraska's well known lumberman, a pioneer of Custer county and president of the J. H. Melville Lumber Company, was born near Morrison, Illinois, in the year 1861, and died at his home in Broken Bow, Nebraska, August 3, 1917. The parents of Mr. Melville were James and Mar- garet ( Mason) Melville, both of whom were from Markinch, in Fifeshire, Scotland. The Mason family settled in Round Grove, Illi- nois, in the year 1850, and were among the early pioneers of that section. In the year 1857, the daughter Margaret became the wife of James Melville : they made their home in Round Grove, and on March 27th of the year 1861 their son James Henry was born. The parents were fine types of the genuine old Scotch Presbyterians, they were highly re- spected for their sterling worth, the father was among the early members of the Masonic fra- ternity in Whiteside county, and their lives were the adornment of the faith that they cherished to the end. The early education of J. H. Melville was obtained in the country

schools. His boyhood home was on a beauti- ful farm owned by his father, where he grew to manhood. He entered the Northern Illi- nois College, at Fulton, Illinois, where he com- pleted his education and where he received an excellent business training.

His first experience in the lumber business came shortly after he left school, when he assisted his uncle, James Mason, who owned a lumber yard in Morrison, Illinois, at that time. It was largely through the influence of this uncle that Mr. Melville decided to make the lumber business his permanent work. In the year 1883 he went to northern Iowa, where he operated a yard for John H. Queal. In May of the year 1886, as one of the yard managers for the Bogue-Sherwood Lumber Company of Kearney, Mr. Melville opened the first lumber yard in Mason City. The railroad had not reached Mason City at that time, and the first stock of lumber was hauled across country from Kearney. In December of the year 1887 Mr. Melville returned to Illinois, and on Jan- uary 5th he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Louise Smaltz, at the family home in Ustick township, Whiteside county. The parents of Mrs. Melville were born in Baden, Germany, of a devout and godly ancestry. In the year 1863 they came to Ustick town- ship, from Ohio, and settled on a farm near Morrison, where they made the beginnings of what became the family homestead and which is still, after a period of over fifty years, in the possession of members of the family that were born and reared there. The parents were consistent, devoted and lifelong members of the Lutheran church, and were among the substantial and highly respected citizens of the community in which they lived. Their chil- dren were given the best educational advan- tages that the time afforded. Mrs. Melville is a graduate of the Zeigfeld Musical College in Chicago.

Mr. and Mrs. Melville spent the first few years of their married life in Mason City, and their two oldest sons, Arthur W., and James A., were born there. Later they moved to Lincoln, and in March, 1898, Mr. Melville purchased the lumber yard owned by the Home Lumber Company at Sterling, Ne- braska, which he operated with a marked de- gree of success, in connection with a number of branch yards, for a period of eighteen years.

During the residence of the family in Ster- ling the children were educated. Arthur W. was graduated from the high school, and was a student at Doane College, at Crete, for two years. He married Miss Edith Catchpole, of Sterling, January 16, 1913. James Alfred

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

was educated in the Sterling schools, attended Doane College one year, then entered the State University, of which he is a graduate. George S. was educated in the Sterling schools,, at- tended the Wentworth Military Academy, at Lexington, Missouri, for one year, and then entered the State University. Shortly after war was declared he enlisted and went into training at the Naval Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. July 10th, while in quarantine there, recovering from an attack of scarlet fever, he received the message, that conveyed to him the sad news, of the death of his father, at Broken Bow, Nebraska, during the night of Angust 3d. In March, 1918, he entered the naval aviation detachment at Great Lakes and

was shortly afterward admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Cambridge. He finished the course prescribed for naval aviators, and was transferred to the naval air station at Miami, Florida, where the preliminary instruction in flying was given, after which he entered the advanced course for naval aviators, located at Pensacola, Florida. He was designated as a naval aviator and was commissioned an ensign in October, 1918. He was ordered to report to Admiral Sims in London, as a seaplane pilot ; he went to Wash- ington, D. C., where he had his orders com- pleted and his passport signed. He was granted a two weeks' furlough before sailing for London, and while on furlough at his home in Broken Bow the armistice was signed. At the end of his furlough he reported in New York City, and, on account of the sign- ing of the armistice his foreign orders were recalled, and he received his release from active duty, subject to call until October 25. 1922. Willard Christie, the fourth son of the family, graduated from the Sterling schools at a very early age. During his school years, by close application and by making careful use of his time, he succeeded in acquiring an ex- cellent musical training, in connection with his school work. During the winter of 1917, while his parents were in California, for the benefit of the health of his father, he took a business course at the Lincoln Business Col- lege, in order to qualify himself for the work of stenographer in the general office at Broken Bow, his father having shortly before acquired the line of vards in Custer county owned by George L. Turner. In October, 1918, he en- listed in the Students' Army Training School at Lincoln. where he was in training until after the close of the war. He expects to en- ter upon a university course at the begining of the coming school year. Margaret Marion, the only daughter of the family, was born at Sterling, and at the age of five years she en-

tered the kindergarten in the Sterling schools. She is at the present time attending school in Broken Bow, a pupil of the sixth grade.

In March, 1916, on account of failing health, Mr. Melville sold his lumber interests in Johnson county and sought rest and re- cuperation by travel. He spent the following season, with his family, on an automobile trip through the northwest, spending the greater portion of the time in Montana. Mr. Mel- ville greatly enjoyed this trip, and with re- turning health came the desire to engage again in business. On December 19, 1918. with his sons Arthur W. and James A., he bought the G. L. Turner line of lumber yards in this county.

While the details of the business were be- ing worked ont by the two sons, Mr. Melville, with his wife and daughter, went to Califor- nia, for the winter, returning in May, when he came to Broken Bow, the family moving there a short time afterward. Mr. Melville's health seemed much improved, but the apparent im- provement proved to be only superficial, and he died suddenly, August 3d, heart trouble be- ing the cause of his death.

Mr. Melville, or Henry, as he was univer- sally known to his host of friends, was widely known among the lumbermen of the state; he was a firm believer in the value of organiza- tion, he was a member of the board of direc- tors of the Lumberman's Association, was an officer in the Lumberman's Mutual Insurance Association, and at his death the Lumber- man's Association lost one of its staunchest friends, the state one of its best known figures in the lumber industry. He was a business man of unusual ability, and commanded the highest respect and confidence of the people among whom he lived. He was known by his business associates as one who carried out only the highest standards of business integ- rity. No one ever sought his counsel in vain ; he was kind, gracious and lovable in his atti- tude toward his fellow man, and was more than esteemed - he was beloved - by all who knew him. He was devotedly attached to his home, solicitous in regard to the education of his sons, and found great pleasure in watch- ing them develop into good business men and useful citizens. Upon his daughter. Mar- garet Marion, he lavished, the affection of his maturer years, and the little grandson, James Willard, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Mel- ville, was the idol and pride of his heart.

While political aspirations never appealed to Mr. Melville - his business interests occu- pying his time - he occupied many positions of honor and trust in the community that was for so long a time his home, and during the

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last year of his life, while he was out of active business, through the earnest solicitations of his friends and loyalty to the political party of his lifelong choice, he accepted the Repub- lican nomination to the Nebraska legislature. Mr. Melville became a member of the Pres- byterian church at the age of seventeen, he was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, was a United Workman of many years standing, was a Modern Woodman, and was a member of the Royal Highlanders.

Mr. Melville's life ended at a time when, according to human understanding, a long period of usefulness should still have been before him, and he desired to live - but there were times when he felt that the time when he must leave home and loved ones might not be far distant, and his thought and care at those times were for those that he would leave behind, and with the spirit so characteristic of him, he felt he could accept the call, with an absolute faith in the message that "Thy will, not mine, be done." During the early morn- ing hours of August 3d, the summons came, and his life's work, so faithfully performed. was finished. Funeral services were held at the home in Broken Bow, on the afternoon of August 4th, the Rev. A. H. Fraser, of the Presbyterian church, officiating. His mortal remains were then taken to Sterling, Ne- braska, where the home of the family had been for many years. Upon arrival at Ster- ling the remains were taken to the Masonic Hall, where they lay in state, and where hun- dreds looked upon the face of one they had loved and admired. Funeral services were held at the Methodist church on Sunday after- noon, August 5th, at three o'clock, Rev. J. W. Lewis, a former pastor and an old friend. of- ficiating. Interment was made in the Ster- ling cemetery, under Masonic auspices, where many friends gathered to pay a last tribute to one who had won for himself the highest pos - sible esteem of all who knew him.

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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 140

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