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 74

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 74

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. NEBRASKA

world's Christian Endeavor conventions. Possessed of no mean literary ability and of the power of expression, he has done much writing in the past, and he is the author of the history of the United Evangelical church in Custer county, which appears in this pub- lication. Mr. Shively is an earnest, zealous, and energetic pastor, - one who is not only possessed of ministerial ability, but is also a practical man of affairs, capable of handling business matters in an expeditious and able manner. He is greatly beloved by the mem- bers of his congregation, and has many warm friends among men of all creeds and denom- inations in the various communities where he has carried on his work.

LEE H. MORRISON. - The life story of Lee H. Morrison runs the common routine of ordinary men who combine thrift, energy. and frugality, together with sterling character, in the composition of their lives.

He was born August 2. 1872, in York county, Nebraska. His father, William F. Morrison, was a prominent man of the com- munity and came of sterling Pennsylvania stock. His mother. Virginia L. (Lichten- berger) Morrison, also came from Pennsyl- vania, the region of coal and iron. In this family were ten children: Harry L. (de- ceased ), Edmond W., Charles O .. Samuel A., Joseph E., Frederick W., Alfred E., Lee H .. Dr. George .A., and Annie ( deceased ).

Lee H. Morrison was reared on the farni and made himself generally useful by doing chores and assisting in all kinds of farm work. He had good school opportunities and suc- ceeded in graduating from the Bradshaw high school.

One of the episodes connected with Lee's early life, in which he and his entire family had a thrilling experience on the father's farm. is worth relating. On the 3d day of June. 1890, a funnel-shaped cloud, out from the southwest. was observed to be coming straight toward the village of Bradshaw and in a di- rect line with the Morrison farm, which was located on the edge of the town. It did not take long for the inmates of the home to realize that danger was near. The windows and doors were first torn out, and this gave a decisive intimation that the house was not a safe refuge. Young Lee and his brother Alfred got hold of their mother, and together they made their way through the blinding dust and flying timbers to the cellar. They reached the cellar about the time that the cyclone picked up the house, which was a large frame building, and then dropped it back again on

its foundation. This caprice of the storm was followed by another effort, which this time lifted the house at least twenty feet high and tore it into fragments, scattering the tim- ber and debris to the west and north for a long distance. There were eleven people in the house, and all succeeded in escaping to the cellar. The only one harmed was the hired man, George Forrester, who in some way had his left ear cut off, close to his head. The entire town of Bradshaw was destroyed.

Mr. Morrison's first money, which was not a large amount, was earned while he was still a boy, living near Bradshaw, by herding cattle for the neighbors. After finishing school, which was some time in his eighteenth year, he commenced working for his brother Sam- uel, who was then conducting a farm-imple- ment business in Bradshaw. Later young Lee had some experience in the livery busi- ness, but this was not financially profitable.

Lee H. Morrison came to the important date of his life October 22, 1899, at which time he married Miss Sadie McMullan a teacher in the Bradshaw high school. The bride's father was Patrick McMullan, an Ohioan by birth, and her mother. Rebecca ( Holbrook) McMullan, was an estimable Vir- ginia lady. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison have three children, all at home with their parents. - Harold A., fifteen years of age (1918) : Edith, thirteen years of age : and Mabel. eight years old. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Morrison they farmed for a year near where they formerly resided, and then, in 1901. they cast in their lot in Custer county. They located four miles east of Callaway. where they operated a farm for one year in partnership with Mr. Morrison's brother Frederick. Then, still retaining his interest in the stock and farm. Lee H. Morrison formed another partnership, with his brother Alfred. and engaged in the hardware and fur- niture business at Callaway. This last enter- prise was short-lived, and in eight months the merchandise stock was sold to Mahan Broth- ers.

After this Mr. Morrison returned to farm- ing and stock-raising, and he has made the raising of short-horn, pedigreed cattle a spe- cialty. His place is called the Sunnyside Ranch and adjoins the well known Young Ranch on the north. It is about three miles north of the South Loup river and consti- tutes a fine stock farm. Mr. Morrison is get- ting well started with a fine herd of well built. blocky Durhams, which will soon make for themselves a reputation throughout the coun- try.

Mr Morrison stands high in Masonic cir-

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cles and his wife is a member of the Eastern Star. Both are members of the Christian church.

JOHN REINHARD is a broad-minded Custer county farmer of retiring disposition - one who shrinks from undue publicity but whose story, nevertheless, should be recorded for the benefit of his children and also to demonstrate the advantages America has over most European countries.

John Reinhard was born May 9, 1858, near the great Krupp gun works, at Essen, Ger- many. His father's name was Frank Rein- hard and his mother's maiden name was Ger- trude Schluch. Both parents were hard- working people. In their family there were six children, John (the immediate subject of this sketch), Mary Schroeder, Agnes Buttler (deceased), Gertrude Penman, Peter, and Freda (deceased). The father was a coal- miner by occupation, and by practicing strict economy he managed to support the family.

The first money John Reinhard remembers earning was that made by working in the Krupp gun works. The laws of Germany compelled the schooling of children, so young John had the advantage of a fundamental edu- cation. He was compelled to remain in school until fourteen years of age, then he began his work in the now celebrated munition factory. This was in 1872, shortly after the Franco- Prussian war. At that time business was booming, and the lad of fourteen made more money than he was thereafter able to make when he had reached the age of eighteen or nineteen years. The particular work to which he was assigned was making molds for large casting, which weighed from five to fifty thousand pounds, from fifty to one hundred men being needed to fill these molds of the largest size. The metal used was Bessemer stcel. In this establishment they used steel hammers weighing from two to seven thou- sand pounds. Mr. Reinhard worked in this establishment a full year, and he then went into the coal mines and worked with his father until he was twenty-three years of age. when his parents immigated to America. The Reinhards began their career in America in the year 1881. their first location being the Hocking Valley coal fields of Ohio, where they worked at coal-mining about eighteen months.

During the time he was thus employed in Ohio coal mines. young lohn Reinhard learned to speak English fairly well, and he made up his mind that he wanted to see something of America. And so, during the next six years.

he developed into somewhat of a traveler, working from place to place and covering a good deal of territory. Being used to coal- mining, he first supposed that mining was the only work that he could do. In 1885 he found himself in Nevada, working in a quartz mine, and in 1886 he and an English friend, Fred Hutchinson, entered into partnership and went to Alaska, where they prospected along the Yukon river. They did fairly well, and re- mained in the territory three summers and two winters. Then, in 1888, they came back to the states, and in 1889, Mr. Reinhard went back to Germany and consummated a ro- mance of early years by marrying Mary Gehr- man, a daughter of Frank Gehrman. The young people came to America the same year. and came almost directly to Custer county. Nebraska, where they located in Custer can- yon, eight miles northeast of Callaway, in sec- tion 35, township 16, range 22. This is still their home place. Their landed possessions now are 560 acres, all of which is splendidly improved, and on which is a beautiful farm home. All the land and improvements have been earned on and from the farm, and Mr. Reinhard votes this a good country.

Mr. and Mrs. Reinhard have reared a splen- did family of children, who have developed or are fast developing into representative men and women. They are as follows: Gertrude is the wife of Lester Kirkpatrick, a farmer and ranchman living five miles northeast of Etna postoffice, Custer county, and they have two sons and one daughter. Miss Anna Rein- hard, a school-teacher who has qualified her- self for her work by a normal course, has taught five terms in Custer county, and she still makes her home at the old homestead place. Frank Reinhard, a bachelor of 22 years, was in Class 1, Division B, of the last selective military draft. He has 800 acres of rented land, near Round Valley, and is farm- ing on his own account. Sophia is the wife of Clarence J. Garrison, a mechanic living in Kearney, Nebraska, where he is employed in a garage. Frederick, a popular young bachelor. is working with his brother Frank on a farm near Round Valley, this county. John, Jr., and Hilda are at the parental home, where they make themselves useful and at the same time are attending school and qualifying themselves for useful American citizenship.

Mr. Reinhard is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in political matters he is independent and votes for the man rather than the party. He often talks about this country and compares its advan- tages with those of Germany, his native land. In speaking of the mammoth steam hammers,

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of 7000 pounds' weight, used in the Essen Krupp gun works, Mr. Reinhard says those hammers were called Fritz and could strike such a blow on the large anvils that it would jar the earth for blocks around. The mechan- ism was also so perfect that the blow could be struck so gently that it would hardly break an egg, but he declares the blow struck by ener- getic, ambitious boys here in America will count for more than the blows of those heavy steel hammers.

PHILIP J. STEIGER is a very successful farmer in the Ryno precinct. He was born November 21, 1870, near Augusta, Illinois, and is a son of Jacob and Sophia A. ( Snyder ) Steiger, both natives of Germany. In the father's family were five children, and Philip J. is the eldest of the four who are still living, the others being John H., Dora B., and Rosa A. All are connected with the United Brethren church. The father and the chil- dren are for the most part associated with farm industry.

When he was a very young man Jacob Steiger came to the United States with his older brother, and, like most men from the "Old Country," he was quick to improve the opportunities of the New World.

From his sturdy and worthy parents Philip J. Steiger inherited the characteristics that have made him a successful Custer county farmer and valued citizen. Mr. Steiger re- members that the first money he received was earned by trapping quails, at Huntsville, Illi- nois. The amount was not large, but in those days, and to a boy of his age, it amounted to almost fabulous wealth. The experience of young Philip were those which commonly fall to the lot of a farmer's son in this country. He attended country school, made the most of his opportunities, and developed a self-re- liance that has been one of the assets of his mature years. When Philip Steiger was but twelve years of age, his father came to Hall county, Nebraska, and located three and one- half miles northwest of Wood River. There Philip grew to manhood and there he married Miss Lillian Afferbaugh, who was born in that county, and who is a daughter of Nathan- iel and Leah (Erb) Afflerbaugh. The par- ents were prominent people in Hall county, and both were natives of Pennsylvania. Their children were eight in number - Mrs. Emma 1. Smith, Alva J., Mrs. Ida S. Leach, David G., Mrs. Nora E. Graham, Mrs. I,il- lian M. Steiger, Ira R., and Jason R.

Mr. and Mrs. Steiger maintain a happy and comfortable home, in which they are blessed

with one son, Harold R., a bright lad of ten years ( 1918).

In 1901, Mr. Steiger moved into the Spring creek region, and purchased a quarter-section of good land, and since that time he has added to his possessions until he has 480 acres of productive and valuable Custer county soil, on which he has a beautiful home and a splen- did farm equipment. All this is the product of his own toil and good management. Farm- ing has paid him well. In connection with agricultural enterprise he has indulged ex- tensively in breeding and feeding live stock until the combination of farming and stock- raising has rewarded him with his present possessions.

In social circles Mr. Steiger belongs to the Masonic fraternity and Modern Woodmen of America. His wife is an active member of the Eastern Star, and both are connected with the Evangelical church. Mr. Steiger's politi- cal preference is for the Republican party.

LEVI S. EMPFIELD. - The vigorous and progressive population of Custer county is made up largely of successful exponents of the agricultural and live-stock industries. In every part of the county, farmers seem to thrive, and as an able and honored represen- tative of farm enterprise, as well as being one entitled to pioneer honors, Mr. Empfield is specially entitled to consideration in this his- torv.

Levi S. Empfield was born in Beaver Val- ley. Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Jackson B. and Jane ( Pittman) Emp- field, both of whom likewise were natives of the old Keystone state, their children having been ten in number - Elmer E .. Mrs. Salina E. Campbell. McKee P. (deceased), Chalmers G., Levi S., Benjamin F., Laura C. McClure, Burton C., Mrs. Grace D. Owen, and Mrs. Nellie Headley. All of these children were reared to maturity in Custer county, Ne- braska, and all became prominent and influen- tial in those things that conserve and repre- sent industry, thrift, and community develop- ment.

In the early days large families did not en- joy the advantages and luxuries that mark the present era, and consequently, in order to relieve parental burdens, Levi S. Empfield. when a lad of eleven years, went to live with an old gentleman, with whom he contracted to remain until he was eighteen years of age, his compensation for work on the farm in the meanwhile being his board and clothes, be- sides which. at the termination of his contract, he was to receive a horse, saddle, and bridle.

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The old gentleman had distinct miserly pro- clivities, was never animated by any measure of generosity, and was very exacting in, his relations with his young assistant. After three years young Levi Empfield decided that he had fulfilled as much of his contract as it was possible for him to do, and he accordingly abandoned his work and walked to his father's home, thirty-five miles distant. He made this journey, through a mountainous country, in the month of February, when the trip was made the more difficult by the pres- ence of mud and snow. During the next year, 1886, Mr. Empfield worked on a farm, for six dollars a month, and he carefully saved his earnings. In 1887, in company with his father and his youngest brother, he came to Nebraska, and the other members of the fam- ily came later. In Custer county the father homesteaded the land where the old Ryno postoffice was located by him and where he served as postmaster for a period of fifteen years. During a part of this time Elmer E. Empfield, the eldest son, was mail contractor, and Levi S., subject of this sketch, carried the mail from Custer to Redfern postoffice, on the Redfern Table, via Lodi. He made the trips back and forth on horseback, and incidentally forded the South Loup river, both summer and winter. He continued his service on this mail route for two years. In 1894 he left Custer county and went to the state of Wash- ington, where he remained about eighteen months and where he worked for fifty cents a day - and was glad to get even that amount. Thereafter he passed a year in California, and by working from five o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock at night, he finally accumu- lated a modest sum of money. From Cali- fornia he went to Utah, and there he was employed in the mines and ore mills for two and one-half years, at the expiration of which he returned to Custer county.

In the spring of 1901 Mr. Empfield pur- * chased 320 acres of land and also homesteaded an adjoining tract of eighty acres, on Spring creek, seven miles northeast of Callaway. Here he has since maintained his home. Mr. Empfield began his independent farm opera- tions on a tract of 160 acres. and he is to-day the owner of a well improved landed estate of 560 acres, on which he has a most attrac- tive home and through his association , with which, as a vigorous and progressive farmer and stock-grower, he has achieved substantial success. He is liberal and public-spirited as a citizen, is a Republican in politics, and he and his family command the unqualified es- teem of the community in which they live.

August 12, 1901, recorded the marriage of

Mr. Empfield to Miss Eva Waddington, who was born in Illinois and who is a daughter of Samuel and Margaret ( Oliver) Waddington, her father being now a well known stockman in Custer county. Mr. and Mrs. Empfield have a fine family of five children - Ralph E., Lloyd R., Alice B., Rae W., and Ruby H.

OLIVER D. JAMES was born September 21, 1856, in Park county, Indiana. His father, Samuel R. James, was likewise a na- tive of the Hoosier state, and his mother was Lucinda (Jacks) James, who was a daughter of Pailman Jacks.

In the family of Samuel R. James were five children - Oliver D. James, Stella ( James) Barney (deceased), Oscar M. James, Lydia (James) Mobley, and Alva James. Both Mr. and Mrs. James belonged to the Methodist church. Samuel R. James served three years as a soldier in the Civil war. He became a member of the Seventy- first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which later was made the Sixth Cavalry.

Oliver D. James says that he made his first money when eight years of age by picking blackberries. He invested the money in a pig, but this did not prove a very profitable in- vestment, as the pig died. He worked at home, and went to school in the winter time until he was seventeen years of age, when his father died, and, as he was the oldest of the children, the main burden of supporting his mother and the other children fell to him. In 1882 his mother moved to Putnam county, Missouri, where she resided for two years. Then, with three of her children - Oliver D., Stella, and Alva - she came to Custer county. Oliver and his mother took pre-emptious and a homestead five miles southwest of Callaway, in the spring of 1884. Mr. James claims to have driven the second nail in the first build- ing built in Callaway. The valley in which they settled derived its name from the James family and is still known as the James val- ley. Mr. James continued to care for his mother until the time of her death, which oc- curred at his home, December 4, 1916. The loved and devoted mother attained to the ripe old age of eighty-two years, and they were never separated longer than a month or so from the time of his birth until her death.

February 10, 1891, at Trenton, Missouri, was recorded the marriage of Oliver D. James to Hattie E. Campsey, who was born in the state of Iowa, and is a daughter of John Campsey, who was a Pennsylvanian. Her mother, whose maiden name was Pris- cilla Nelson, was a native of the Buckeye

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state. Mr. and Mrs. John Campsey had eight children - Mrs. Mary Jane Penn ( deceased), Mrs. Margaret Gregg, John C. Campsey. David S. Campsey, Joseph D. Campsey (de- ceased), Mrs. Martha Rison, Mrs. Hattie E. James, and Mrs. Catharine Newton. The re- ligious faith of this family has long been that of the Methodist church, which has received from the family a loyal and generous support.

Mr. and Mrs. James have one son, Guy C. James, who married Miss Helen Morrison, and is a farmer by occupation, living six miles north of Callaway. Mr. and Mrs. Guy C. James have one son and are prosperous young people.

In 1905 Mlr. James sold his 480-acre farm in James valley and moved to Callaway. where he was engaged in the general merchan- dise business for four years. In 1909 he sold his stock of goods to his brother-in-law. J. D. Campsey, after which he commenced farm- ing operations with his son, on a rented farm. He thus continued about seven years, and then moved back to Callaway, buying sixteen and one-half acres joining the town on the west. He has this small tract in a high state of culti- vation and so arranged that the entire area can be irrigated, which enhances its value many times. Mr. James is a breeder of large- boned Duroc-Jersey hogs, and it is safe to that say no breeder in Custer county produces better specimens of "auburn-haired" swine than does Mr. James.

In the matter of thrill and excitement, one of Mr. James' early experiences equals any of the "stunts" pulled off by Texas Jack, Lit- tle Buckshot or, perhaps, our friend Buffalo Bill. In 1886 he visited his brother in Chey- enne county, forty miles north of Sidney. One day he went with his brother and a neighbor named Dixon, into a big cedar can- yon, on a hunting expedition. . Dixon shot and crippled a deer, which ran up the side of the canyon on to the table land above. Mr. James in those days was an expert horseman and adept with the lariet rope. He mounted his pony and followed the deer across the level plain, gaining on it at every jump, and after a short and exciting race he was near enough to throw the rope. Then the deer suddenly disappeared - as suddenly as if the ground had opened and swallowed it. It drop- ped completely out of sight. The pony stop- ped so abruptly that Mr. James came near to plunging over its head, when he discovered that he was on the brink of another canyon with a precipitous bank of at least 100 feet. The pony stopped so close to the edge of the bank that the dirt under its front feet caved off and fell to the floor of the canyon below.

After recovering from his excitement, Mr. James rode a mile down the bank of the canyon, to a point where he found a trail leading down into the canyon. He then rode back up the floor of the valley and secured the deer.

JAMES D. REAM. - Custer county has no resident more widely known in either pri- vate or public life than the progressive farmer and public-spirited citizen whose name initi- ates this paragraph. Mr. Ream is a native of Newcastle, Pennsylvania, where he was born October 18, 1852. His parents were Benjamin and Elizabeth ( Simpson ) Ream and his pa- ternal grandfather was John Ream - all in- fluential and respected residents of Lawrence county. Pennsylvania.

Benjamin Ream was born in 1824 and in 1855 moved to Mahaska county, lowa. Re- sponding to the call of his country. he enlisted in 1861 for three years' service in the Civil war. He was second lieutenant of Company C. Seventh lowa Volunteer Infantry. At the battle of Belmont, where he had command of his company, he was so severely wounded that he died seven days later. His death occurred at Cairo, Illinois. By trade he was a carpen . ter and cabinetmaker. Politically he was a

Lincoln Republican. Both he and his wife were faithful members of the United Breth- ren church. His children were John T., Mrs. Anna E. Foster. Mrs. Louisa Thompson. Samuel, and James D.

James D. Ream remained at home with his mother until after he had reached his majority. He recalls the early days of his first intro- duction into the science of agriculture. when he was paid twenty-five cents a day for drop- ping corn in a field of long rows which were covered by hoe by a second laborer. No mod- ern machinery made farm labor either light or (lelighful in those days. He attended school ' when opportunity presented itself and worked during all the spare time at farming, chop- ping wood, grubbing out stumps, or quarrying stone, as occasion required. In 1878 he came to Nebraska and bought eighty acres of land near Stromsburg, in Polk county.

In January. 1880. Mr. Ream came to Custer county and selected a homestead and timber claim five miles northwest of where Broken Bow now stands. Neither the town nor the postoffice was vet established when he came. he being the first settler in the little valley where he still resides. It was here that the real career of the man began. lle here found an opportunity for the development of that

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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 74

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