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 70

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 70

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).

Florian Jacobs was five years of age when

488

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

brought by his parents to Custer county, and when he was nine years old he attended the first school in the county, in a little log struc- ture which still stands as a landmark of early days. He secured sufficient education to en- able him to get a teacher's license, and for several years he was engaged in the instruc- tion of the young, but eventually he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising. He started in a small way, but through industry and persistent effort succeeded in the accumu- lation of satisfying capital, and in 1903 he moved to a farm seven miles northwest of Broken Bow, where he had 190 acres and car - ried on extensive operations. Mr. Jacobs continued to center his interests in farming until he became one of the founders, in 1917, of the Co-operative Company, which conducts a general merchandise business, with a capital of $50.000. Of this company he is the presi- dent. In his business career he has demon- strated the same ability that he displayed as a farmer and stock-raiser, and his straightfor- wardness and honorable conduct have but served to further advance his reputation and solidify his popularity.

In 1898 Mr. Jacobs married Miss Hettig M. Taylor, daughter of Miner and Lenore (Stearns) Taylor. Miner Taylor was a na- tive of New York, was a Civil war veteran, and was a pioneer of Custer county, where he settled in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs have no children. Mrs. Jacobs is a member of the Christian Science church. and Mr. Jacobs is a Scottish Rite Mason. He is a Republican in politics, and though he prefers business to pub- lic matters, he is at all times a loyal citizen and a supporter of public-spirited movements. Ile is serving at the present time as representative of Custer county in the state legislature

DARIUS M. AMISBERRY, whose election to the office of mayor of Broken Bow occurred in April. 1918. has in this preferment been accorded one of the many evidences of popu- lar confidence and esteem shown him within a period of more than forty years' residence in Nebraska. Mr. Amsberry has wiekled large and beneficial influence in connection with the civic and material development and progress of Custer county. and has been specially prom- inent in connection with educational matters and the newspaper business in this section of the state. Save for his official services he is now living virtually retired, and as one of the foremost citizens of Custer county, he merits a definite tribute in this history. In the fall of 1918 he was elected secretary of

state for Nebraska, the duties of which office he assumed January 1, 1919.

Mr. Amsberry was born near Knoxville. Marion county, Iowa, on the 10th of Septem- ber. 1851. and is a scion of one of the honored pioneer families of that part of the Hawkeye state. He is a son of William F. and Harriet A. (Brown) Amsberry, both of whom were born and reared in West Virginia, where also their marriage was solemnized. The father was born September 9. 1823. and his death occurred in November. 1887. The mother was born in 1833 and she passed to the life eternal in the year 1898.

William F. Amsberry came to the west and settled in Marion county, Iowa, in 1848. There he became a pioneer farmer, and later he en- gaged in the lumber business, with incidental operation of a saw mill. In 1879 he came with his family and settled in Custer county, near Mason City. He took up a homestead and developed a productive farm, both he and his wife having passed the residue of their lives in this state and the names of both being here entitled to pioneer distinction. Mr. Amsberry was originally a Democrat in politics, but eventually he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party. He was influential in com- munity affairs as a pioneer in Iowa and there served as justice of the peace. Both he and his wife held membership in the Baptist church. Of their seven children all are living except one : Beatrice, who resides at Mason City. Custer county, is the widow of Hiram T. Kauffman: Darius M., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Madora H. is the wife of George W. Runyan. a retired farmer residing at Broken Bow ; Boyd F. is a resident of Anacortes. Washington: Marcena L. is a farmer near Ansley. Custer county, Nebras- ka: and Kittie is the wife of Lew M. Whit- taker. a merchant and stockman at Canton. Sioux county.

The paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were William and Polly ( Ever- ett) Amsberry, who were born in the state of New York and who thence removed in an early day to West Virginia. the closing years of their lives having been passed in Iowa. where they were pioneer settlers. It may con- sistently be noted that the family name of the mother of Polly ( Everett ) Amsberry's mother was Franklin and that she was a cousin of Benjamin Franklin.

Darius M. Amsberry was reared under the conditions and influences that obtained in the pioneer epoch of lowa history and in his youth he received good educational ad-

489

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

DARIUS M. AMSBERRY

490

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

vantages, including those of Central Univer- sity, at Pella, lowa. He was for four years successfully engaged in teaching in the public schools of his native state, and after coming to Nebraska he taught five years in the vi- cinity of Grand Island. He then came to Custer county and entered a homestead claim near Mason City. He gave his attention to the reclamation and cultivation of this farm for a period of six years, and he then, in 1884, established his home at Broken Bow, the ju- dicial center of the county. In formulating and advancing the work of the public-school system of Custer county Mr. Amsberry played a most prominent part, and for this service alone the county owes him a lasting tribute of honor. He served six years - 1882-88- as county superintendent of schools, and with- in this regime he effected the organization of one hundred and sixty school districts in the county. This was at the period when the county was gaining its maximum tide of im- migration, settlers coming in caravans and by other primitive mediums of transportation and giving to the social and industrial devel- opment of the county a remarkable impetus.

After his retirement from the office of su- perintendent of schools Mr. Amsberry pur- chased the plant and business of the Custer County Republican, and for the ensuing twenty years he continued as its editor and publisher. He made this paper a medium for the advancement of the best interests of the county along all lines, and under his adminis- tration it continued as the leading newspaper of the county during a long period. In 1906. under the administration of President Roose- velt, he was appointed receiver of the United States land office at Broken Bow, and he was reappointed under the regime of President Taft. In this important office he continued his effective service for a period of nine years and nine months, at the expiration of which time he retired. After selling his newspaper business Mr. Amsberry turned his attention to real-estate operations, and in this connec- tion likewise he proved himself the able and progressive exponent of civic and industrial development and advancement.

Since his election to the office of mayor of Broken Bow, in the spring of 1918, Mr. Ams- berry has shown the same loyalty and re- sourcefulness that have marked his activities in all other fields in which he has served within his long period of residence in Custer county. Ilis able and resolute administration in the of- fice of secretary of state is assured.

In politics Mr. AAmsberry is found aligned as a stalwart and able advocate of the prin-

ciples of the Republican party, he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Baptist church.

On the 6th of April, 1875, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Amsberry to Miss Ev- eline Greenlee, who was born near Corydon. Wayne county, Iowa, and who is a dangh- ter of Sylvester and Hettie Greenlee, sterling pioneers of lowa, in which state they con- tinued to reside until their death. In concluis- ion is given a brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Amsberry: Minnie M1. is the wife of James W. Clay, a prosperous farmer near Broken Bow: William S. is a railway employe and resides in the state of Oklahoma: Amy R. is the wife of Carl Foote. a ranchman near Dunning, Blaine county, Ne- braska: Lorin W. is identified with newspaper enterprise at Dunning; and Lillie H. is the wife of Wilbur H. Bangs, a ranch operator near Purdum, Blaine county.

WILLIAM H. LEWIS. - The agricultural interests of Custer county find a worthy rep- resentative in the subject of this record, who owns and operates a well improved farm near Anselmo.

Mr. Lewis was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, August 24, 1860, and is a son of William R. and Elizabeth ( Simons) Lewis, the former born in New York state and the latter a native of Boston, Massachusetts. The parents were married in Wisconsin and in 1870 they became early settlers in Sedgwick county, Kansas, but owing to ague and fevers, which were prevalent in that country in the early days, they moved to Missouri, later set- tling in Iowa. From the Hawkeye state they returned to Kansas and settled in Smith county, where they resided from 1877 to 1900. In 1901 they moved to Colorado, where both passed away at the age of seventy years.

William H. Lewis spent his boyhood days on farms in Wisconsin, Kansas and Iowa and eventually became a farmer on his own ac- count, residing in Smith county, Kansas, for fifteen years. In 1900 he came to Custer county and purchased 160 acres, south of An. selmo. Here he has erected substantial build- ings, and he has enlarged his farm by purchas- ing an additional quarter-section in 1914 and still another quarter-section in 1916. Here he is successfully engaged in diversified agricul- tural pursuits, and he also owns 640 acres of grazing land, north of Anselmo.

For a companion and helpmeet Mr. Lewis married Miss Ann Brechbuhle, who was born

491

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

in Switzerland and who accompanied her par- ents, Fred and Anna Brechbuhle, to the United States when she was five years of age, the family home being established in Smith county, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are the parents of eight children : John and Clarence are married and reside in Anselmo ; Ralph is, at the time of this writing, in the service of his country, as a member of the United States army in France; and Frank, Lester, Marie, Jennie, and Doris are at home.

Mr. Lewis is a Democrat in politics and has rendered efficient service as justice of the peace and township clerk. He is one of the substantial men of his community and is well and favorably known.

ALVIN DAILY. - As manager of the Farmers Mercantile Company, Inc., of An- selmo, Mr. Daily is demonstrating his ability as one of the able business men of Custer county, and he also has the distinction of be- ing one of the early settlers of the county.

Mr. Daily is a native of the Empire state, and was born near Hallsville, New York, Janu- ary 1, 1862, a son of William Grant Daily and Phoebe ( Howe) Daily, a record of whom ap- pears on other pages of this volume. Alvin Daily, a record of whom appears on other pages of this volume. Alvin Daily was nine years old when the family moved to Knox county, Illinois, and was with his parents when, two years later, a removal was made to Louisa county, Iowa. He was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools, and when a young man he taught school for a time. At the age of twenty-one years he took up the occupation to which he had been reared, and for a short time he was engaged in farming in Louisa county, Iowa, but in the fall of 1883 he and his brother Leon started for Nebraska with a covered wagon and a team of four horses. They spent one season in Howard county and then came on to Custer county. In section 24, township 20, range 22, Mlr. Daily took a homestead which he improved and upon which he resided until he moved to his present location, the northeast quarter of section 16. township 20, range 21. This prop- erty he has developed into one of the valuable farms of the community. It is equipped with a fine, modern house, good barns and outbuild- ings and is one of the finest homes in Custer county. "The Meadows" is the name given to the place and it embraces 400 acres. all under a good state of cultivation.

May 26, 1882, in Louisa county, Iowa, Mr. Daily was united in marriage to Miss Rose Dell Peters, a daughter of Daniel H. and Mary

( Lake) Peters, who were natives of Delaware county, Ohio, and who settled in Louisa county, Iowa, in 1881, both being now de- ceased. Mrs. Daily joined her husband in Custer county soon after he located the home- stead, and she shared in all the pioneer ex- periences incident to the times. Mr. Daily says he wore out three "soddies" before they built their present residence.

Mr. Daily is now manager of the Farmers Mercantile Company, Inc., of Anselmo and still resides on his farm. He has made a suc- cess of his affairs and is justly accounted one of the substantial men of his adopted county.

THOMAS TORGERSON. - Two genera- tions of toilers have pinned their faith and lent their practical energy to the farming prop- erty now owned and managed by Thomas Torgerson, a tract which lies in the Broken Bow community of Custer county and which has been in the family name since 1886. Its present owner, a man of industry and splendid reputation, was born in Norway, in 1867, and is a son of Lars and Martha Malinda Torger - son.

The parents of Mr. Torgerson were born in Norway and in 1874 immigrated to the United States, the first settlement of the fam- ily being in lowa. There the father secured work in the coal mines, and there the mother's death occurred, following which Lars Torger- son, deciding he was not making sufficient progress, came to Custer county and, in 1886, homesteaded the present property of his son. Thomas. He and his wife were the parents of six children, of whom five are living, but only two are now located in Nebraska : Thomas and Samuel, the latter farming near the Kansas line. Lars Torgerson, who died at the home of his son in Custer county, was a Republican in politics, and his religious faith was that of the Lutheran church.

Thomas Torgerson was but seven years of age when brought by his parents to the United States, and as he was sent to the coal mines to work and to assist in the family support when he was but twelve years old, he was not given any great advantages in an educational way. However, he was bright and alert, has always been a close observer of men and things, and thus he has acquired more thorough and practical knowledge than many men who have had infinitely better opportu- nities. When he accompanied his father to Nebraska, he turned his attention to farming, and in this vocation he has made a worthy success. His father, while an upright and in- (lustrious man, had not been prosperous, hav-

492

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

ing met with several business reverses, which necessitated his putting a mortgage on the homestead, and this had not been cleared off when he died. His son Thomas, who took over the farm, has not only succeeded in making the farm clear of indebtedness, but also has added from time to time to its acreage, until he now owns a full section of land, all under cultivation. and improved with a modern home and substantial and commodious barns and other farm buildings. "Tom" Torgerson, as he is familiarly known, bears the reputation of being a man of his word and one of in- flexible integrity. In addition to general farm- ing, he buys and sells horses, and also handles many cattle. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, maintains an independ- ent stand in regard to political questions, and. with Mrs. Torgerson, belongs to the Christian church.

On December 25, 1898, Mr. Torgerson mar- ried Miss Maude Cox, who was born in Mis- souri, and was brought to Custer county in 1885, by her father, Daniel Cox, who home- steaded a property and was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until his death Mr. and Mrs. Torgerson are the parents of four chil- dren : Wardie, Nellie, and Blanche are at- tending the Broken Bow high school, and Martha, at home, is the youngest of the chil- dren.

DAVID CHRISTEN may truly be called a self-made man, as his present prosperity has come to him through his own efforts, and his life record exemplifies what may be accom- plished by industry and perseverence.

Mr. Christen is a native of Bohemia, where he was born August 20, 1862, and he is a son of Pius and Nellie Christen, who spent their entire lives in Bohemia, the father passing away at the age of seventy-eight years and the mother at the age of sixty-eight years. They were farming people, and they had three sons, all of whom came to America and are now residents of Custer county. The names of these sons are Pius, David, and Frank.

David Christen was reared in his native land and at the age of fourteen years he found employment as waiter in an eating-house. When seventeen years of age he began learn- ing the blacksmith trade, and he followed that trade in the old country until 1885, when he came to America. Åt Beaman. Grundy county, Iowa, he worked at his trade and at farm labor until 1892, when he came to Cus- ter county, Nebraska, and purchased 160 acres of land. in township 19, range 21. The place was equipped with a sod house and

stable, and for two years he resided on this farm. He then purchased the old Dryden farm, in the same neighborhood, and there he successfully carried on agricultural pursuits for several years. That he succeeded is at- tested by the fact that to-day he is the owner of 1,200 acres of land, which he and a tenant operate on shares. In 1910 Mr. Christen re- moved to Anselmo, and for one year he here conducted a hardware store. He then built the electric-light plant, which he operated three years. He became vice-president of the Anselmo State Bank and when J. J. Tooley became secretary of the state banking board Mr. Christen succeeded him as cashier. Since that time he has devoted his time to the man- agement of this substantial banking institu- tion.

The Anselmo State Bank was organized July 27, 1903, with a capital of $5,000. Frank Young was president, David Christen vice- president, and J. J. Tooley cashier. Business was conducted in a little frame building on the site of the present quarters. For three years the bank occupied the building where the postoffice is now established, and when the Masonic Temple was erected the bank leased the ground floor, where it is now located. The Anselmo State Bank has had a steady growth and its capital has been increased to $25,000, while it has a surplus of $5,000. The present officers are: Charles G. Sanders, president : J. A. Kellenbarger, vice-president : David Christen, cashier ; and E. J. Foley, assistant cashier.

Mr. Christen was united in marriage to Mrs. Lena M. Streb (nee Smith). a native of Springfield, Ohio, and a daughter of Frank Smith. At the time of her marriage to Mr. Christen she was the widow of Roman Streb. In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Christen are communicants of the Catholic church, and his political views make him a Democrat. Suc- cessful in business, public-spirited in citizen- ship, every worthy cause has the liberal sup- port of Mr. Christen.

WILLIAM G. MILLS. - Custer county has a fine coterie of retired farmers who have worked through the long days of their middle life and are now enjoying a deserved rest, be- ing well provided with the comforts of life. as the result of their toil. William G. Mills is one of these. He was born June 13, 1862, in Madison county, lowa. His parents, William and Lucinda ( Stark) Mills, were staunch, substantial people, and were held in unquali- fied respect and esteem. The father was a native of Illinois and the mother was born in

493

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

the Hawkeye state. The father was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and during the Civil war served as a second lieutenant in Company I, Twenty-first lowa Volunteer In- fantry. Four children compose the family circle of this estimable couple. They are Ira P., William G., Emma L. English, and E. Grant.

When William G. Mills was but three years of age his father yielded to the call of the west and located in Lancaster county, Ne- braska Territory, in 1865. Lincoln at that time was not yet on the map. Here the father obtained a homestead farm, and he lived on the place eighteen years. On this pioneer farm the early years of the life of William G. Mills were spent. It was here that he earned his first money and gradually inducted himself into the live-stock business. It was his job to do the family churning, for which his mother paid him one cent an hour. Twenty-five hours of churning thus earned him twenty-five cents, and with this as his part of the investment, he and his brother Ira purchased a pig in part- nership. They raised the pig, sold it and bought two pigs. These were finally sold, and with the proceeds they bought two calves. This launched them into the stock business so ef- fectually that they have never been able to get out. Mr. Mills helped on the farm during the summer time, attended public school dur- ing the winter time, and finally finished his high-school course and attended the state uni- versity, at Lincoln. In 1883 Mr. Mills came with his father and family to Custer county and the father located five miles north of Ar- nold, which locality has since that time been known as Mills valley. At that time William lacked six weeks of being twenty-one years of age, but with an eye to good business, he select- ed a homestead and a tree claim, and the day that he was twenty-one found him bright and early in the North Platte land office, ready to make his filing. Thus was laid the foundation of the competency his Custer activities have since secured for him.

Continued bachelorhood had no attractions for Mr. Mills, so, on December 7, 1884, he led to the marriage altar Miss Millie A. Guy, who was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, a daughter of William and Martha (Hall) Guy, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of the District of Columbia. Both parents were members of the Protestant Methodist church. In the Guy family were three children - Dr. Milton P. Guy, Laura A. ( deceased), and Mil- lie A. Mills.

Mr. and Mrs. William G. Mills have five children : Guy P., who lives on a farm near Arnold, married Daisy Phiper, and they have

two sons. John M., who likewise is a farmer in the Arnold vicinity, married Susie Simms and they have one son and one daughter. Charles S. is farming near Logan. He mar- ried Merle Lester, and they have one son. Clarence E. is somewhere in France. He was one of the first graduates of the Arnold school and on the 5th day of September, 1917. he entrained for Camp Funston. He was later made corporal and then promoted to sergeant of Company A, in connection with headquarters business. He was with the American Expeditionary Forces in France at the time the great war came to a close. Mav is at home with her parents and in the tenth grade of the Arnold schools.

Mr. and Mrs. Mills lived on their land in Mills valley twenty-seven years, during which time he was an extensive producer of hogs, cattle, and horses, but he is inclined to the idea that hogs and horses paid him better than cattle. Before he divided his land among his children he had 1,320 acres, all well improved and in a high state of cultivation. He still owns 500 acres but maintains a splendid home in Arnold, where three acres of ground makes a garden plot or small farm that furnishes him with all the exercise that he cares to take. The family, children and all, belong to the Method- ist church. All are well and favorably known in the southern regions of the county.

HIRAM R. BLACK. - Once numbered with the active, progressive men of his day and generation, the subject of this memoir has been called from the scenes of pioneer life to that eternal home where it is believed worth and merit are rewarded. Mr. Black was born January 14, 1859, in Mahaska county, Iowa. and was a son of Samuel Black, a native of Germany. In his father's family there are but two surviving children - Belle Black and Anna Coakley. When Mr. Black was but seven months old his mother died and he was taken by a family named Steward. When nine years of age he went to work on his own account and prepared to face the world for himself. The adventures and hardships of after years had no effect upon his dauntless spirit. He turned his hand to anything he could find to do. He succeeded in getting a liberal education and worked his way slowly to the front.

On the 19th day of April, 1884. in Omaha. Mr. Black was united in marriage to Ernestine ( Berndt) Vogel, a young lady who was born May 20. 1857. in Flinsberg, Germany, a daugh- ter of Carl and Christina ( Knobloch) Berndt. Both of Mrs. Black's parents were Germans

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 70

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