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 168

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 168

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

life did not appeal to him. Following the de- mise of her husband, Mrs. Stupplebeen moved to Callaway, and here she resides in a comfort- able, modern home, and is surrounded by many loyal friends.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stupplebeen : Jennie E. is the wife of Clyde Wall, a farmer of Wallace, Nebraska, and they have two children; Raymond H., who is en- gaged in farming on Cliff Table, twelve miles northeast of Arnold, married Hazel Wardrobe, daughter of William Wardrobe, and they have one son; Elva F. is the wife of James C. Crowder, a farmer of Eight Point, Montana, and they have one daughter and one son ; and Miss Stella M. remains with her mother, at Callaway.

JOHN J. KULHANEK, who is a prosper- ous general farmer residing near Ansley, Cus- ter county, was born in 1864, in Austria. He carries on a general line of farming and also pays attention to stock-raising, keeping a good grade only. His property is well improved and evidences of thrift and good management may be observed on every side.

Mr. Kulhanek has a fine family. He mar- ried Miss Enkellia Matejka, who was born in Saunders county, Nebraska, in 1874. Her parents were John and Anna ( Bartosch) Ma- tejka, both of whom were born in Austria : they came to the United States and spent all their after life on their farm in Saunders county, Nebraska. where both died, the father when aged sixty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Kulhanek have four children, namely: Ru- dolph. who is a farmer on Deer creek ; Adolph, who is also a farmer: Anna, who lives with her parents ; and Alvin, who is a farmer on Deer creek. The family belongs to the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Kulhanek is an Ameri- can citizen and he gives his political support to the Republican party. The family is well known in the county and is held in deserved esteem.

GEORGE W. ANKNEY. a resident of Custer county since 1882. has been variously identified with the interests of this region since the time of his arrival, and, principally as an agriculturist. has accumulated a com- petence that permits him to pass the evening of life in comfortable circumstances, at his pleasant home at Sargent. He is a native of Coshocton, Ohio, and was born September 10. 1850. being a son of Joseph and Abbie ( Brown) AAnkney.

Joseph Ankney was born in Pennsylvania,

but in young manhood pushed toward the west, locating first in Ohio, where he met and married Miss Abbie Brown, a native of that state, and where he was engaged in farming, in Coshocton county, until 1851. In that year he removed to Jones county, Iowa, which was his home for many years, and thence he went to Mitchell county, Kansas, which was his place of residence for five years. In 1888 he came to Nebraska, and from that time until his death, at the age of eighty-two years, he made his home among his children. He was an industrious man, always alive to opportu- nity and able to make the most of his chances. He succeeded as an agriculturist, and as a pub- lic-spirited and useful citizen of the various communities in which he resided, he was al- ways held in high esteem by his associates. He was a staunch and unwavering Democrat in politics, and he and Mrs. Ankney were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of ten children, of whom three survive: Joseph, who married Su- san Vananherg, is a retired farmer of Scotts- bluff, Nebraska; George W. is the subject of this sketch; and Edward, who married Eliza Pierce, is a retired farmer of Grand Island, Nebraska.

The common schools of Jones county, Iowa, furnished George W. Ankney with his educa- tional training, and his boyhood was passed on his father's farm, where, under the elder man's direction, he was taught all the arts and methods pertaining to the vocation of agri- culture. At Taylor, Nebraska, he was united in marriage. July 5, 1886, to Mrs. Harriet (Northey) Cummings, widow of James Cum- mings and daughter of Robert and Ruth (Hall) Northey, natives of Vermont. Mrs. Ankney's parents were farming people who came to Nebraska in 1879 and took up a home- stead at Cummings Park, at a time when there were but five families in the vicinity, the near- est postoffice being at Loup City, about forty- five miles away. There Miss Northey met and married James Cummings, a well-to-do young farmer, and he met his death by a fall into a well, this being the only well for miles around.

Mr. Ankney had come to Custer county in 1882 and settled at Cummings Park, where he took up a homestead and where he resided until 1893. At that time, because of failing health, he moved to Burwell, which continued to be his home for thirteen years. removal being made to Sargent in 1906. He is ac- counted one of the well-to-do and substantial men of his locality, a reliable, dependable citizen who always supports beneficial movements with

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

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MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. ANKNEY

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. NEBRASKA

MRS. ALBERT Y. SUTTON

ALBERT Y. SUTTON

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

his influence, means, and energies. He has not cared for public life and is not actively con- cerned in politics. While still a resident of Vermont, Mrs. Ankney adopted a child of three years, Idella Cummings, whom she reared to young womanhood. This foster daughter then married and moved to Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Ankney adopted a nephew, James Ank- ney, who was five years old, and reared him until he was sixteen, when he left their home to work for himself: at the time of this writ- ing James Ankney is a member of the national army and is stationed in New Mexico.

CHARLES FORTIK, who is a prominent man in his township in Custer county, carries on general farming and is meeting with the success that his industry and excellent methods deserve. He is a native of Nebraska, born in Buffalo county, in 1886. His parents were Joseph and Anna (Kine) Fortik, both of whom were born in Austria. When they came to America and settled in Nebraska, the father here homesteaded and became the owner of a quarter section. During his lifetime he made many improvements. Both he and wife died on their farm in Custer county. They were members of the Roman Catholic church.

Charles Fortik accompanied his parents when they moved from Buffalo county to Cus- ter county. Farming has been his business all his life and he is now very successfully oper- ating 240 acres. eighty acres being his own property, on which he has placed substantial improvements. He gives some attention to stock-raising. He cultivates his land according to modern methods and owns first-class farm machinery.

In 1916 Mr. Fortik was united in marriage to Miss Lila Holland, who was born in 1898, near Wiessert, Custer county, and is a daugh- ter of John and Kate ( Spencer) Holland, who are farming people living near Ansley, Ne- braska. Mr. Fortik belongs to the order of Modern Woodmen, and that he is a man of foresight and prudence is shown in the fact that he carries an accident-insurance policy. He is a Democrat and takes considerable in- terest in politics. He has served very ac- ceptably in the office of road overseer.

ALBERT Y. SUTTON. - After a long life of industry and usefulness, the worthy citizen of Broken Bow whose name constitutes the caption of this sketch is now spending his declining years in comfortable and contented retirement. Mr. Sutton was born in Peoria county, Illinois, June 17, 1841, and has been

a resident of Custer county for twenty-eight years, during which time he has been success- ful in the accumulation of considerable farm- ing and realty holdings.

William Sutton, the father of Albert Y. Sutton, was born at Parsonsfield, York county, Maine, where he passed his early life in agri- cultural pursuits, removing from there to Pe- oria county, Illinois, where he married and reared his children, later moving to Hooper, Dodge county, Nebraska, where he died and was buried, as was also his wife, Mary J. He was a member of the Republican party and belonged to the Baptist church, as did also Mrs. Sutton, who bore the maiden name of Mary Young and who was the daughter of Levi Young. They were the parents of five children, of whom three are living: Albert Y. is the subject of this sketch; William, who is a mechanic and school-teacher in Arkansas, a Republican and a member of the Baptist church, married Eva Hickok, daughter of Will- iam H. Hickok; and Fannie E. is the wife of Joseph Wrigley, a retired farmer at Peoria, Illinois, a veteran of the Civil war, member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a Republican.

Albert Y. Sutton well remembers the first dollar which he ever earned and the circum- stances of securing it. It was a gold piece and was earned when he took the place of a sick uncle in work on the farm, and its reception gave more pleasure to him than any he has earned since. This gold piece he gave to the foreign mission. He went to the country schools and assisted his father on the farm, and in 1861 commenced a college course at Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, Illinois, which old and honored institution he attended one and one-half years. His career, however, like those of other youths of his day, was inter- rupted by the Civil war, and in October. 1862, he laid aside his books and studies to don his country's uniform, shoulder a rifle, and become a member of Company E, Seventy-seventh Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. With that organization he served until the close of the war, and during his service he participated in some heavy fighting, including Vicksburg, the Red River expedition under General Banks, Mobile, Spanish Fort, and Fort Blake- ley. When peace was declared, he was honor- ably discharged, with a splendid record, and returned to his home, where for about a year he operated a farm.

August 26, 1866, in Peoria county, Illinois, Mr. Sutton married Miss Abbie Donnell, a daughter of Captain Thomas and Ruth (Curtis) Donnell, natives of Plymouth county,

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

Massachusetts, her father having been a sea captain, and both he and his wife having been members of the Episcopal church. Miss Don- nell came from Massachusetts to Illinois to teach school, and she taught about two years before her marriage to Mr. Sutton, the young soldier. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sutton settled down for a short time to agri- cultural pursuits, but in 1867 they came to Dodge county, Nebraska, where he followed farming and the real-estate business until 1890. Then he came to Broken Bow, where he has since been splendidly successful in accumulat- ing holdings in farming property and other real estate. He is accounted one of the well- to-do men of his community, and is living in quiet retirement, surrounded by all the com- forts of life.

Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sutton there are two living: Jennie E. and Herbert O. Jennie E. married Hon. J. R. Dean, on the of the foremost lawyers of the state and now a judge of the Nebraska supreme court. with residence at Lincoln. Judge and Mrs. Dean are members of the Presbyterian church, he is a Democrat in politics and fra- ternally he is affiliated with the Masons. Odd Fellows, and Workmen. A biography of Judge Dean will be found elsewhere in this work. He and Mrs. Dean have two children: Paul H. and Dorothy S. Herbert O. Sutton is a graduate of the Nebraska State University and has always been in educational work, hav- ing charge at present of the physical-science department at the State Normal School at Kearney. He is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife hold membership in the Pres- byterian church. Mr. Sutton wedded Miss Harriet Tripp and they have an adopted child, Evan M.

REINHART WANKE. - The modest op- erations of Reinhart Wanke are so common to Custer county that they attract small atten- tion from those who do not know him inti- mately. The neighbors, however, appreciate the work of this frugal. industrious pioneer who has lived quietly, who has reared his chil- dren to manhood and womanhood, and who well deserves a place in the Custer roll of honor on which are inscribed the names of the successful farmers and responsible citizens.

Reinhart Wanke was born in Germany, in 1847. and comes of a strong German family noted for frugality and thrift. The father's name was Reinhart and the family name of the mother was Ludmille. Years ago the parents moved to the United States and settled in

Platte county, Nebraska, where they spent the remainder of their lives.

Reinhart Wanke, Jr., came to Nebraska in 1878. and is accordingly a pioneer of forty years standing. The first eight years of his life in Nebraska were spent in Butler county. Thirty-two years ago last March (1918) he moved to Custer county and selected a home- stead, and since that time he has been identi- fied with agricultural pursuits and the general development of the country.

Mrs. Wanke was formerly Miss Mary Turck, a native of Austria, where her parents lived and died. Mr. and Mrs. Reinhart be- came the parents of six children: Reinhart lives in California : Mary lives in Nevada ; Englebert lives in Idaho: Ernest lives in Ne- vada : Robert died in 1887 : Ernestice died two years ago, she having been the wife of Will- iam Binder.

The Wanke farm residence, which contains the well deserved home comforts, is located on a splendid quarter-section of land, well im- proved. and rendered unusually profitable by good cultivation. All to be seen on the prem- ises, which represents the life accumulations of Mr. Wanke, is the result of his own toil and industry. Mr. and Mrs. Wanke are well respected and locally prominent. They are faithful members of the Catholic church and in their advanced years are provided with home comforts, while they are happy in the realization that their children are representa- tive men and women of whom they have reason to be proud.

JOSEPH C. HEMPSTEAD is one of the venerable and honored citizens of Broken Bow, has been a resident of Custer county since 1902, and during the greater part of the inter- vening years he has here lived virtually re- tired from active business affairs. He is a scion of a prominent and influential family that was founded in Missouri in the very early period of the history of that commonwealth, and the name which he bears has been identi- fied with American annals since the colonial cra.

Joseph Conway Hempstead was born in St. Louis county, Missouri. on the 14th of March, 1848, and is a son of John and Lucinda (Con- way) Hempstead, the former of whom was born in the vicinity of Hartford. Connecticut, and the latter of whom was born in St Louis county, Missouri, where her parents were pioneer settlers - at a time when that section of the Union was on the very frontier of civi- lization. John Hempstead was reared and educated in New England and in his youth he

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

named Childs, a family that was distinguished in military life. Mr. Newman's great-grand- father Childs fought as a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war; his grandfather, Charles Childs, took part in the War of 1812, while three uncles of his mother, Samuel, Nelson, and Seth Childs, were Union soldiers during the Civil war. The mother of Mr. Newman was born in New York, July 16, 1826, and died February 14, 1890. Mr. Newman had one full sister, Clarissa, who died at the age of nine years. His father, Darius Newman, was born near Geneva, New York, and was reared on a farm. After marriage he came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1848, and settled in Brown county in 1849, buying a half-section of land from the Fox Improvement Company. In May, 1855, he left his family to go on a prospecting tour to Minnesota. The country was practically a wilderness at that time and the fate of Mr. Newman can only be conjec- tured, as he was never afterward heard from. He had been a man of some importance and was very active in the Whig party. Through the mother's second marriage, Mr. Newman had one half-sister and two half-brothers, namely: Bessie, who died at Menasha, Wis- consin ; Charles Gear, who is a farmer on the old homestead in Brown county ; and William, who operates a milk route at Menasha. The mother was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church.

In March, 1879, Henry C. Newman came to Nebraska and filed on a claim on Elk creek, South Loup township, Custer county, and also proved up on a tree claim. From 1880 until 1884 he had charge of F. C. Dodge's cattle in- terests on Elk creek, then carried on farming on his own claim until 1888, when he sold his land and moved to within six miles of Mason City, where he bought a half-section, subse- quently expended much money in improving it and still owns the property. After retiring from the active work of the farm he moved into Mason City and for two years afterward managed the Farmers Co-operative store there.

Mr. Newman was united in marriage to Barbara Illingworth, who was born in 1856. near Liverpool, England. Her parents werc Rhodes and Ann (Minikin) Illingworth, the former of whom was born in England in 1826 and died in Kansas, in July, 1884. The latter was born in England. February 4. 1830, and died in May, 1903. The father of Mrs. New- inan was a carpenter by trade. In 1870 he came to the United States with his family, and after working at his trade for a time in the city of Chicago, he went to Wisconsin and from there to Kansas. Both he and wife

were members of the Episcopal church. Mrs. Newman was the third born of their children, the others being as follows: Polly, who is the wife of Stephen Evans, a gardner at Los Angeles, California; Benjamin, who lives at Chicago, follows his father's trade; and Ada, who is the wife of Herman Riese, a Canadian farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Newman have had children as follows: Rhodes Ollie, who was born in 1888, is a farmer in Custer county ; John Darius, who was born September 14, 1889, entered military service in in the United States May 29, 1918, had training at Camp Dodge and Fort Snelling, then detailed to duty at Cicero, Illinois, contracted the influ- enza and died October 21, 1918, a brave sold- ier, just the same as if on the field of battle ; Hugh Charles, who was born June 6, 1891, is farming the home place; Ada Ann, who was born August 4, 1892, spent three years in the Wesleyan University at Lincoln, taught school four years and is now a trained nurse in the Ford Hospital at Ohaha ; and Sybil Catherine, who was born February 10, 1893, died Decem- ber 8, 1894. In 1891 Mr. and Mrs. Newman united with the Evangelical church but trans- ferred to the Methodist Episcopal church, as more in accord with their religious belief and practice, when they moved to Mason City, and are active in its many avenues of Chris- tian benevolence. Politically Mr. Newman is a Republican, with independent tendencies. He takes no very active part in political af- fairs at present, but during his many years on the farm was foremost in public move- ments and served in numerous official capaci- ties. From 1887 until 1888 he was a member of the county board of supervisors ; from 1885 to 1886 was township supervisor; for thir- teen years was school director of School Dis- trict 19, and of District 146 for nine consecu- tive years. He is a member of the fraternal order of Modern Woodmen. Perhaps in no section of Custer county is his name unknown and it is always mentioned wth respect.

JOB P. WARD, who came to Custer county in 1882 and has since been successfully advanc- ing his interests and position as a farmer and grower of live stock, is a Pennsylvanian by birth, but to all intents and purposes is a son of the sturdy west. While the state of his nativity could offer him nothing that promised success, he has found in Nebraska the oppor- tunity to work out a satisfying career of achievement, and to-day he is accounted a leading and substantial citizen, thoroughly rep- resentative of the community of his adoption. Mr. Ward was born in Pennsylvania, March

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

...

JOB P. WARD AND FAMILY

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

6, 1854, a son of George Samuel Ward and Hannah (Spendlove) Ward, natives of Eng- land. Hannah Spendlove Ward and the late President William McKinley were first cousins. George Samuel Ward, who was a maker of tortoise-shell combs in England, came to the United States in the '40s and here he settled on a farm, agricultural pursuits being his vo- cation up to the time of his death, in 1878. Mrs. Ward survived him until 1903, and both died in the faith of the Wesleyan Methodist church. He was a Republican in politics and was accounted one of the well-to-do men of his locality. Of the eleven children in the family, Job P. is the only survivor.

AAfter attending the common schools of his native state, Job P. Ward learned the trade of blacksmith, a vocation which he followed for several years, also doing some farming. At the time of his father's death. in 1878, he came to Nebraska, first settling in Polk county, where he resided one year. In 1879 he re- moved to Buffalo county, where he resided in a sod house while trying his hand at farming. but in 1882 he disposed of his interests there and came to Custer county, where he secured a homestead and a tree claim. He still owns his homestead, and is now residing on the tree claim, to which he has added by purchase until he is the owner of a section of land. Dur- ing the early days Mr. Ward experienced all the hardships of the pioneer settler. and at times found it hard to make both ends meet. He was frequently compelled to turn his hand to other employments in order that he and his family might secure the bare necessities of life, and during early times often hauled wood to Kearney, where he accepted whatever small amounts he could secure for it. In his wife he had a faithful companion during these hard times and sod-house days, their marriage having been solemnized in 1878. Mrs. Ward, whose maiden name was Sarah Jones, was like- wise born in Pennsylvania. They became the parents of eight children : Loretta is the wife of Mahlon Kelley and they reside at Bel- lingham, Washington : Ida, a graduate of the State Normal School, is now teacher of Eng- lish in the school at David City. Nebraska ; James, at home, is his father's assistant in the management and operation of the farm; Harry, who rents land near the home estate. is engaged in farming: Emma is the wife of Bruce Williams, of McPherson, Kansas, a preacher of the Dunkard faith ; Mary Rosella is the wife of John Mitchell, also a Dunkard preacher, and they are living in Indiana ; and Galen and Philip are at the parental home. Mr. and Mrs. Ward and their children are

members of the Dunkard church. In politics Mr. Ward is a Republican. He is a public- spirited citizen, and for a quarter of a century served as a member of the school board.

Mr. Ward does general farming, and from a start of absolutely nothing has risen to be one of the successful men of the county. He also does a large business in growing stock, and in the summer of 1918 he disposed of seven thousand dollars' worth of live stock, including cattle, horses, mules, and hogs, the hogs being of the full-blooded Duroc breed. In April, 1918, he sold two old sows and nine young pigs that averaged 365 pounds. In business circles his reputation is an excellent one, his associates having every reason to have con- fidence in his integrity and fidelity.

WILLIAM STRUEMPLER, who is well and favorably known in Custer county, owns a large body of land here and has one of the most highly cultivated farms in this whole section. He is a man of great industry, and his good judgment has been shown in his adop- tion of the best of farm methods, with the re- sult that he has accomplished more in eleven years than have many men who have been in the county twice as long.

William Struempler was born in Germany, June 3, 1866. a son of Christian Struempler. He attended school through his boyhood and was variously engaged in his own country until 1885, when he accompanied his brother, Her- man Struempler, to the United States.

William Struempler was married at St. Paul, Nebraska, January 18, 1894, to Miss Johanna Tiede, a daughter of Carl Tiede, and they have twelve children, namely: Carl C .. William F., Lydia L., Henry H., Emil E., Theodore J., Magdalena J., Alma M1., Frederick G., Albert M., Martin A., and Dorothy C.

In the spring of 1907 Mr. Struempler sett'ed on Buffalo creek, in Custer county, and he re- sides in section 33, township 13, range 22. He owns 480 acres of excellent land and has 200 acres under a high state of cultivation. All of his land is fenced and cross-fenced. He has accomplished wonders here, for when he set- tled, this was raw prairie land.and within eleven years he has so developed and improved it that he could easily sell it for $25,000. In addition to general farming he raises cattle and other live stock, and his wife, not to be outdone in thrift, manages a large flock of poultry and looks after the making of butter. All of these industries are carried on with the practical methods that make a well regulated farm a profitable investment. The children of the

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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 168

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