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 160

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 160

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).

1070

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

10 use corn-stalks for fuel. All the im- provements on the home place were put up by Mr. Lash. He planted apple seeds and later grafted the quality of fruit he desired. By this method he developed a fine orchard. The first residence of Mr. and Mrs. Lash in the carly days was a sod structure, fourteen by sixteen feet in dimensions, and in this they managed to live five years. Then they added another room, and they lived in the two rooms for three years longer. Then they built an- other sod house this being fourteen by thirty feet, and this constituted their place of abode . until 1899, when they built the home which is now standing on the old homestead and in which Mrs. Lash makes her home. Mrs. Lash is a woman of unusual character, plucky, and determined, and all this will be realized when it is stated that in the early days she often walked to Kearney, a distance of sixty miles, and covered the distance in one day.

Mrs. Lash is one of a family of eleven chil- dren, and those now living are: Belle Brooks, who resides in Oregon : William, who is liv- ing in Colorado : Ezra, who resides in Milton, Nebraska ; John, who is a resident of Oakland, California : and Mrs. George Lash, of whom we are writing. completes the list of surviving children. The Wright family were pioneers in central Nebraska, having come here in 1870. Mrs. Lash remembers the time when Crete was the nearest railroad station. Her father and brothers in those early days worked for the Union Pacific Railroad Company, in Fillmore county.

The tragic death of Mr. Lash occurred on the 25th day of May, 1915, at which time he was killed by a train on the Burlington Rail- road, near Broken Bow. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. and the entire fam- ily is connected with the Baptist church.

W. R. CLINE. - Among the men who have contributed progressiveness of spirit, dignity of labor, and soundness of business manage- ment to the development of the agricultural interests of Custer county, one whose career has been worthy of note is W. R. Cline, who is operating a splendid farm in the Broken Bow community. in co-operation with his brother, E. J. Kline. The brothers are the owners of 388 acres of good land, in addition to which they have a share in the family estate of 320 acres.

W. R. Cline was born at Saybrook, Illinois, November 4, 1874. a son of W. H. and Etta (Brown) Cline. The paternal grandfather, George D. Cline, was born in Virginia, and

was a pioneer into the Western Reserve of Ohio, riding his only possession, a horse. Afterwards, he moved to Illinois, and there his death occurred. W. H. Cline was born in Ohio, where he was reared, and as a youth was taken by his parents to Illinois, where he was living at the outbreak of the Civil war. He early answered the call of his country, en- listing in Company D, Twenty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he fought in a number of leading engagements, including those connected with Sherman's great march to the sea. Enlisting as a cor- poral, during his four years of service he won steady promotion through his bravery and faithful service. and when he received his hon- orable discharge, it was with the rank of lieutenant. Following the war Mr. Cline re- turned to Illinois and was engaged in farming until October 11, 1888. when he came to Cus- ter county, Nebraska, and took a relinquish- ment claim of 160 acres, on which he resided until his death. He was an industrious man and a capable farmer and won success in his operations. In politics he was a Republican. and his religious faith was that of the United Brethren church, in which he died in 1909. Mrs. Cline, who survives him and belongs to the same church, resides with a daughter at Tyrone, Oklahoma. They were the parents of six children, as follows: W. R .; E. T., who is farming with his brother ; Olin O., the owner of a farm in Kansas, but a resident of Tyrone, Oklahoma; Junie, the wife of Fred Speakman, a banker of Tyrone; Warren H., a traveling salesman who delivers engines for the Avery Traction Company, of Peoria, Illi- nois ; and Paul B., who enlisted in the United States Army Aviation Corps, and was in training at the flying field at San Antonio, Texas, at the time this sketch was being pre- pared.

W. R. Cline was educated in the public schools of Illinois and Nebraska, following which he took a business course in a com- mercial college at York, this state, and then settled down to farming, a vocation which he has since continued to follow with much suc- cess. In connection with his brother, as be- fore noted, he is operating 388 acres which they own, carrying ou a general business in farming and dealing in live stock, and in both directions he has made a success of his efforts, proper conservation and practical methods having been happily combined in his case with marked progressiveness and some amount of experimenting with new ideas and processes. Mr. Cline is a Republican, and has taken a keen interest in political matters and public affairs, being the incumbent at this time of the

1071

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

office of town clerk. He was married Decem- ber 20, 1903, to Miss Lillie Mast, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of Levi and Eliza- beth Mast, natives of Indiana who became early residents of Nebraska. Four children have been born to this union, as follows : Junie, in 1905; Lois, in 1909; Phyllis, in 1912; and Donald, in 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Cline and their children belong to the United Breth- ren church.

E. J. Cline was born in McLean county, Illi- nois, May 16, 1879, a son of W. H. Cline, and received his education in the public schools of Custer county, Nebraska. He took up farming as his vocation in young manhood, and has since been associated with his brother. like whom, he owns a share in 388 acres, and in his father's estate. He is energetic in action and well informed as to his business, and the success that he has gained has come through industry and a direction of energy alone well- defined channels. In 1913 Mr. Cline was mar- ried to Miss Hazel Hammond, born in Iowa. a daughter of Eli Hammond, and two child- dren have been born to them: Vance, four years old ; and Billie, aged one year. Mr. and Mrs. Cline are members of the United Breth- ren church. In his political affiliation Mr. Cline is a Republican.'

JAMES FORAN. - The subject of this sketch is in middle life and full vigor of his manhood and strength. He is a prominent member of a prominent family and has con- tributed his full share to the rank and sta- tion the family has achieved. James was born in 1876, in Joliet, Illinois, where his early years were spent. He came from a well- known and respected family in whose veins coursed the blood of Irish lineage. He was the sixth born to Peter and Mary (Dough- erty) Foran, the former of whom was a na- tive of Ireland and the latter a native of Lockport, Illinois. The father died at the age of fifty-two but the mother reached the ripe age of seventy-six. In 1885 the father lo- cated a homestead in Custer county and domiciled his family in a sod house; it was on this place, while building a sod barn, that he was accidentally killed.

In the parental home were the following children : Dominic, a Custer county man of whom extended mention is made on other pages of this volume; Mary Power, who lives on a Custer county farm ; Susan whose home is in this county ; Ambrose, deceased; Rose Michel and Agnes Hukey, both of whom are living in this county ; Thomas, of whom a life sketch is to be found in this volume. The

family were all devout Catholics and the men for the most part inclined to the Democrat party.

James is one of the substantial farmers and stockmen of the county ; solely by his own ef- forts he has developed the present ranch which he operates and has embellished with due improvements for the successful opera- tions with which he has charged himself. He homesteaded part of the land that now con- stitutes his ranch of one full section; the rest was added by purchase and paid for by hard work and good management.

He married Josephine Snyder, of Hayes City, Kansas. Mrs. Foran has been a valu- able assistant to her husband and has co- operated with him in every detail of their do- mestic life or business operations. In their home are their bright children, whose names are Glen, Raymond, Lyle, and Wilford.

On the home ranch is found an excellent grade of live-stock, and the farm has been operated very successfully and profitably by Mr. Foran. He has paid considerable atten- tion to dairy cows and thinks that they con- stitute a very profitable adjunct to farming. The Forans commenced in a sod house and have worked hard for their present day ac- cumulation ; they have now a good equipment of farm machinery, adequate improvements. and the sod house, having served its purpose, has been replaced with a new modern bunga- low, comfortable and attractive. The Forans are fine people and maintain a hospitable home.

JOE E. ORCHARD. - The subject of this sketch is a lifelong farmer and is one of the heavy producers of the county. He was born June 27. 1883, in the state of Iowa. He is a son of Shipton G. Orchard, whose sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume.

He came to Custer county at an early age and here received his education in the public schools. In 1910 he was married to Mary Dobesh, the daughter of Francis Dobesh, who lives near Ansley. Since that time the years have brought five children into the family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Orchard. They are : Vivian Grace, Arthur Lamon, Donald Wood- row, Rachel Lucile, and Bonnie Elsie - all bright, happy children who bring a flood of sunshine into the farm home and who will be a valuable addition to the coming generation to which they belong.

Mr. Orchard runs 520 acres of land, on which he raises splendid crops. The land be- longs to his father-in-law, Francis Dobesh. In addition to general farming and stock-rais -

1072

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

ing, he specializes on hogs and for a number of years has turned off 100 square, blocky porkers each year. With present prices for pork, this becomes a very profitable operation.

Mr. Orchard has spent all his life on the farm and knows every phase of the calling. By the neighbors he is rated a very success- ful farmer and stockman, which is owing not more to good judgment than to industrious habits.

The Orchards are very active in social cir- cles. The family belong to the Christian church, in which they are rated as very valu- able communicants. They are also members of the local Grange and in connection with this institution have contributed their part to make Custer county noted throughout the entire state as the home of the Grange. Mr. Orchard also belongs to the Non-partisan League, a somewhat modern organization com- posed mostly of farmers whose object is to secure favorable legislation for farmers and producers generally. In politics the affiliation is with the Democratic party, although a great deal of independence is exercised in the mat- ter of local candidates.

CAPTAIN LYNN J. BUTCHER. - This review is dedicated, with pardonable pride on the part of Custer county people generally, to the life story and military career of Captain Lynn J. Butcher, who was born in Custer county and is therefore a Custer county pro- duct in the fullest sense of the term. If his family are proud of his achievements they are only exercising a family right, for which no apologies are necessary.

The future captain made his debut into Cus- ter county March 28, 1883. His father, Sol- omon D. Butcher, is the well known pioneer citizen, photographer, and historian. The fa- ther's native state is West Virginia. The captain's mother. Lillie M. ( Barber ) Butcher, now deceased, was a Custer county lady of fine culture and rare fibre, and amid the hard- ships and privations of pioncer life she reared her son in the most creditable manner possible.

The Captain's early years were spent upon a Custer county farm in the vicinity of Gates. It was here that he began his career by per- forming his first labor and earning his first money. His first work was gathering potato- bugs off the potato vines which the bugs were bent upon devouring, and he was paid at the rate of one cent per hundred. Just who counted the bugs is not disclosed, and at this late day is not germane to the topic. It should be added. however, that the bugs were plenti-

ful and in a short time the future captain had a small bank account, which he carefully guarded. He was given a common-school ed- ucation and when seventeen years of age took a course in the Broken Bow Business College. Shortly after he had finished his business course his parents moved to Kearney, Ne- braska, where his father engaged in the pho- tographie business and Lynn J. secured a position as clerk in the W. O. King depart- ment store, in which he remained for some time.

Afterward he formed a partnership with his father in the photograph business and made a specialty of publishing postal-card views, under the firm name of Butcher & Son. This firm soon became well known as card publishers throughout western Nebraska. Col- orado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The father was on the road most of the time, making negatives and taking orders from retail dealers, while Lynn J. managed the business at home. em- ploying at all times from four to six young ladies, who worked at finishing and shipping cards. Aside from the regular gallery work, the books show that, during the three years they featured the postal-card work, they pub- lished and shipped to towns in the above men- tioned territory 2.250.000 postal-cards.

Lynn J. Butcher finally took over his fa- ther's interest in the business and continued it for more than five years. He became very proficient as a photographer and would prob- ably have made an unusual financial success if the fortunes of war had not called him from his occupation.

A glance at his military record below will disclose the fact that before leaving his busi- ness he had been actively identified with the National Guard, in which he had won promo- tions. On March 25, 1917, the government requisitioned his services and ordered him to the colors, and his active service in behalf of his county had then its real beginning. The following is his military record up to the present time :

Enlisted in Company A, Second Nebraska In- fantry. July 14, 1904. At the close of his en- listment he was honorably discharged. July 15, 1907. He re-enlisted in Company A, same regiment. June 5. 1911, and was appointed corporal. December Ist of the same year ; he was appointed quartermaster-sergeant, January 22, 1913, and was honorably discharged March 10. 1913. to accept a commission as second lieutenant in Company L. Fourth Nebraska Infantry.

On April 21. 1914, by special order of the

1073

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

CAPTAIN LYNN J. BUTCHER

1074

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

war department. No. 8, he was given a com- mission as first lieutenant in the same com- pany and regiment. This was rapid promo- tion, but the end was not yet. June 22, 1914, he was commissioned captain of his company in the Fourth Regiment of Nebraska Infantry. June 27. 1916, he was ordered into active ser- vice and, with other United States units, his command mobilized at Camp Lincoln, and en- tered upon Mexican border service.

From July 7, 1916, to December 27. 1916, he was with his company on the southern frontier, stationed in the Brownsville district, at Llano Grande, Texas, and later he was mustered out of the expeditionary service of the United States, at Fort Crook, near Omaha, on January 15, 1917.

At Kearney, Nebraska, March 25, 1917, he was ordered back into the service of the coun- try. He left Kearney with his company, which afterward divided, and did guard duty at the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Railroad bridge over the Platte river near Ashland, with one division of the company, while the other per- formed a like service at the Union Pacific Railroad bridge near North Platte. The North Platte division was in charge of Second Lieu- tenant K. Y. Craig.

Captain Butcher left Ashland August 25th of the same year, with his assembled company of 141 members, and joined the rest of his regiment at Omalia, from which city they en- trained for Camp Cody, at Deming, New Mex- ico, where the mobilization camp for the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Da- kota National Guard troops was located.

Following is the personnel of Company L of the "Fighting Fourth" line-up for "Uncle Sam":

Captain, Lynn J. Butcher : first lieutenant, Frank G. Tracy; second lieutenant. Kenneth Y. Craig.

Sergeants - Pitke, Edward F., first : Geist, William. mess; Foster, Clarence L., sup- ply: Allhands, Lee; Dunn, Lawrence C .; Fisher, Roy A .; Sadler, Walter B .; Sandberg, Ned J .; Schneringer, Raymond ; Stoetzel. Henry W. Corporals - Ayers, Wayne: Beyer, Dewey E. ; Bruck, Edward E .; Hanover. Arthur C .; James, Charles R. ; Lari- mer. Clifford : Mattson, Paul C. ; Shively, John P .: Smith, Earl; Stround, Charles W. Me- chanics - Lewis, Thomas : Simon. Simon A. Buglers - Bennett, Delmar A. : Hein. Walter. Cooks - Larson, Leo F. ; Plummer. Floyd W. Privates - Adams, Arthur H .; Albers. Otto; Albin, Nelson O .; Anderson. Andrew ; Ander- son, Robert ; Aston, Raymond : Bargar, Henry ; Barry, James N .; Blauvelt, Ercel M. ; Blood-

good, Grant ; Bragg, William T .. ; Briggs, Ben- jamin F .: Briggs, Vernon F .: Brown, Robert G .: Chadd, Ira C .; Chadd. Oral: Comstock, Bryan; Cone, George; Cooney, Ray H .; Cooney, Theron B .: Cornish. James L .: Cor- lew. August ; Danner, John A .; Davidson, Harrison ; Dexter, Frank D. ; Drum, Erwin G .; Drum, Herbert L .: Eddy, Eugene L .; Ely, Arthur ; Erickson, Clifford ; Frederick, Ray F .; Graham, William; Gray, Calvin G .; Groeger, Francis A .; Gustus. Vanner A .; Hagstrom, Arvid: Harmon, Harvey J. : Haynes. Byron H .: Irish, Lyman; James, Alfred; Johnson, Floyd; Johnson, Fred; Johnson, Guy; John- son, Herbert ; Jones, Charles E. ; Kelley. Harry E .: Kelly, John J .; Keyser, George A .; Kolbo, Clarence : Lacey. Edward L. : LaFleur, George H .: Lansing, Claude I .; Lewis, Herbert H .; Littell, Jasper: Mansir, Charles R .: Mattson, Herman G .: Mayfield, Oviel; MeCammon, Benjamin : McCartney, George: McComb.

Carrol G .; McConnell, Ira O .; McFate, James W .: Mckenzie, Charles J .; Murdock. Lloyd ; Nichols, Ralph E .: Norris, George W .; Ogle- vie, John B .; Oglevie. Richard; Overhiser, Harry C .: Patterson, Floyd B .; Perdue, King R. : Pierce, Otis; Pressey, Joseph W .: Raw- son. Rufus R .: Reddick, Lester : Reynolds, Foster M .; Reynolds: Paul; Richter. Carl; Root, Dave ; Root, Leo J. ; Rosenthal, Charles R .: Sadler, Fred T .: Sanborn. Wallace O .; Schneringer, Earl E .; Sellars, Wilbur ; Shaf- fer, Charles W .; Shue, Ray; Sivill, John E .; Slattery, Don T .: Solomon, George F. : Stiles, Gerald H .; Streeton, Guy V .; Swinyer, Earl ; Tilgner, Philip E .; Tongish, Herman F. ; Tow- ery. James E .; Tripp. Harvey : Troth. George ; Vath. Adam; Wagner, Andy V .; Wakefield, Richard M. ; Walker, Clarence J. : Walsh, Pat- rick E .: Walton, Charles A .; Ward. Merritt ; Ward, Ray M. ; Warner, Rolland R .; Watkin, Thomas R. ; Weaver. Walter L .: Webber. Jo- seph : Wells. Elmer; Whitehead, Dillow S .; Williams, Bert A .; Yaegle, Harold P .: Zim- merman, Fred.

Captain Butcher and his company arrived at Deming on the 27th of August, 1917; on October 21. 1917, the new organization of the National Guards of the United States was effected, and the Fourth Nebraska Infantry lost its identity. In the reorganization the reg- iment became the One Hundred and Twenty- seventh Heavy Field Artillery. As there was a surplus of captains, Captain Butcher, at his own request. was transferred to the Fifty- ninth Depot Brigade, on October 24, 1917. For the next two months he was assigned to special duty in photograph work for General George H. Harries, and also acted as range

1075

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

officer at the rifle range. He was also in command for some time of training Company No. 2, Depot Brigade.

Once more came a transfer, and this time, December 30, 1917. Captain Butcher was as- signed to the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Infantry, which was, under the old organiza- tion, the Fifth Nebraska. Here he was at- tached to Company B until February 11, 1918, when another transfer assigned him to the aviation camp of the signal corps at Waco, Texas. February 15th he was assigned to the command of the Twenty-third Recruit Squad- ron, of 200 men. On April 1st, order No. 27 transferred twelve majors and thirty-eight cap- tains, including Captain Butcher, to Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, South Carolina, at which place all reported. April 5th Captain Butcher was attached to the Fifty-fourth Pio- neer Infantry. On July 7, 1918, the new Six- tieth Pioneer Infantry was organized, and he was assigned to it and given command of Company B. Of this office he continued the incumbent until the signing of the historic ar- mistice brought the war to a close, liis com- mand having thus far not been called to service in France.

At Kearney, Nebraska, in April, 1907, Cap- tain Butcher married Miss Elma Carey, daughter of Edward and Cynthia (Shroy) Carey. Mrs. Butcher is a lady of refinement and culture and is highly respected in the community where she is known. In the Cap- tain's "home squad" is only one soldier, Mas- ter Melvin, a bright lad of eight years, who even now dreams of following in the military footsteps of his father. The Captain and his wife are members of the Christian church. He is an Odd Fellow high in the order, and is devoted to the fraternal interests fostered by this order. Politically he votes the Republican ticket.

FREDERICK G. BEARDSLEY. - Ar- nold gets credit for a large community of in- dependent, substantial farmers; men whose energy and ability have enabled them to do well for themselves and at the same time de- velop the county and make for it a reputation.

Frederick Beardsley is a native of the Em- pire state, where he was born in 1867. He is the son of C. A. and Mary (Miller) Beards - ley, both of whom have been dead many years. The father reached the age of 55 but the mother died at the age of 35. They were very estimable people, the father, a blacksmith by occupation, followed iron work for the most of his life. There were eight children

in the family. James, now deceased was a homesteader near Cozad. T. C. lives in Hastings. William is in New York. Melvin died in infancy. ( Charlotte Morton lives in

Massachusetts. Rebecca Swart lives in Minnesota. Ida and Ella are deceased. Mr. Beardsley came to this county forty-one years ago, worked for his brother on a farm eigh- teen months, which was the first money he remembers making. He homesteaded in 1896 and later homesteaded again, in Logan county. He sold this also and is now operating a rented farm, upon which he is making a fine showing with good grades of live stock. Mr. Beardsley is considered a good farmer and stock-man. He took unto himself a life part- ner and since that time Abbie C. Wilcker, a native of Ohio and a very estimable lady, has been the sharer of his joys and sorrows. She has co-operated with him in all his toil and plans and deserves like credit with himself for the home that they have been able to maintain and the property accumulated. They have raised a large family of children, all of whom do them credit. Ward Olsen, Homer, and Daniel are all Custer county farmers getting a good start and developing into citizens of the first type. Cora Parell lives in David City. Lottie and George are at home. Mildred Parell lives in David City. Florence, Albert, and William are at home. Melvin is deceased. adie Wardrobe lives on a farm in this county. That Mr. Beardsley stands for advancement and progressive in- novations in the community is witnessed by the service that he has rendered as school di- rector and road overseer. He has been a pa- triotic citizen of unquestioned loyalty during the recent war drives and one of the men upon whom the different county committees could depend for school district organization, and it is largely due to his efforts that his school district made a splendid record. The Beards- leys stand high in the local community.

L. O. WELCH, who has passed his entire career as a farmer of Custer county, is now the owner of 440 acres of finely improved land not far from Ansley. A part of this property was the original homestead of his pioneer father, who came to Custer county in 1885, and whose reputation as a constructive and progressive citizen and a skilled agricul- turist the younger man is worthily maintain- ing.

L. O. Welch was born on a farm in Cass county, Iowa, October 30. 1881, a son of O. S. and Leila (Harrington) Welch. His pa- ternal grandfather was Samuel Welch, a na-

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 160

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