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 77

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 77

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At Milford, Massachusetts. Mr. Teahon married Miss Mary Ellen Teahon, a native of that place, and following is a brief record concerning their children : Mary E. and Lizzie were given special advantages in busi-

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

ness education, the former taking first prize in a contest given by the Remington Type- writer Company, and she now has a position at Grand Island, while her sister holds a similar position in Montana ; Ella. John, Jr., William, Michael, and Maurice are all at home. The family are members of the Catholic church. When asked his political views, Mr. Teahon replied, "Put it in your book just as I tell it," and, pointing to a knoll where he slept under a wagon the first night after he came here, he said, "I have never missed an election and never voted a straight ticket."

Mr. Teahon has rendered valuable aid in promoting those measures that have had to do with the upbuilding of his part of the county. He is a friend of the public school and has always advocated the employment of efficient instructors, realizing that the boys and girls of to-day are to be the men and women of the future. He gave his time and influence to help establish rural free delivery in his community, sacrificed his own convenience to benefit the majority, and did all in his power to make possible the present system of parcel post service.

Mr. Teahon is possessed of an unusual amount of real Irish wit, is genial and opti- mistic, is well posted on current events, and is a fluent conversationalist. He is the owner of 240 acres of land, and what he has achieved is the result of his own and his fam- ily's hard work and good judgment.

Patrick and Elizabeth (O'Donohne) Tea- hon, parents of the subject of this sketch, were sent for by their son, and they spent their last days with their children in Custer county.

EDWIN A. BUTLER, a veteran business man of Ansley, who has constantly been con- nected with the mercantile interests of this place for thirty-two years, is accounted one of his community's progressive citizens and a prominent factor in the automobile industry as represented in Custer county. He entered his present business, as proprietor of a garage, after a quarter of a century's connec- tion with the implement trade, and in his present field of endeavor he has equaled and added to the reputation which he gained in his former line.

Edwin Adams Butler was born on a farm in Knox county, Illinois, August 31, 1859. a son of Matthew and Louisa ( Drake) Butler. His father, a native of Gardner, Maine, went as a young man to Ohio, where he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Drake, who

was born in the city of Cincinnati, and shortly after their union they moved to Illinois. There Mr. Butler was able to purchase good government land for one dollar and twenty- five cents an acre, and on the home farm in Illinois Mrs. Butler passed away in 1862. Her husband continued to follow farming there with success until 1878, when he came to Seward, Nebraska, and bought land at seven dollars an acre. He became the owner of valuable farming land and muich town property, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1898, he was accounted one of his county's well-to-do citizens. He was a Re- publican in his political affiliation and wielded some influence in party circles, and his re- ligious connection was with the Congrega- tional church. He and Mrs. Butler were rep- resentative of the best element in community life. They were parents of six children : Samuel, who is a well known realty operator of Lincoln, Nebraska : Allen, who is engaged in the jewelry business at Ansley, Custer county : Edwin A., whose name introduces this sketch : and three who are deceased.

Edwin A. Butler received his early educa- tion in the public and district schools of Illi- nois, and when he was nineteen years of age he accompanied his father to Seward. Ne- braska, where he gained his first knowledge of the implement business. For four or five years he was engaged in that business on his own account, at Seward, but in 1886 he re- moved to Ansley, where he established the business that he conducted for twenty-five years, with constantly increasing success. Mr. Butler displayed excellent ability in the handling of his affairs, which placed him among the town's leading business citizens, and in addition to this he traveled for six years for the International Harvester Com- pany, in selling its widely known products. În 1913, recognizing an opportunity. he opened a modern garage at Ansley, and began doing a large business, not only with the automobilists of Ansley and the surrounding towns and countryside, but also with those traveling through this region from distant points. From the start he has handled Ford cars and various accessories, in addition to which he has done a large business in general repairing. By 1917 his business had grown to such proportions that he was obliged to secure larger quarters and better accommoda- tions, and accordingly he built his present establishment, a building, modern in every way, and fifty by forty feet in dimensions. Mr. Butler is a man of the highest and strictest integrity - one whose reputation for solidity and sterling character has been built

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. NEBRASKA

JOHN STAAB AND FAMILY

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

up through years of straightforward business transactions. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen, is a Republican in politics, and has served efficiently and conscientiously as a member of the town board.

In 1882 Mr. Butler married Miss Clara Anderson, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Lewis Anderson, who settled, at a very early date, in Seward county. Ne- braska, where he was a very successful farmer, and at his death left a handsome estate. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Butler, namely: Alice, who is the wife of Charles Chandler, engaged in the drug business at Ansley ; Grace, who is the wife of Fred Maulick, engaged in the meat-market business at this place ; Della, who is the wife of Ray Lockhart, of Broken Bow, who en- tered the United States army in June, 1918: Harry, who is engaged in the automobile business with his father, and is a thirty- second degree Mason ; and Edwin, who resides with his parents and attends school. Mrs. Butler is a consistent member of the Method- ist Episcopal church.

JOHN STAAB. - The financial stability and personal influence of John Staab, one of the foremost farmers and large landholders of Custer county, are the result of patient ap- plication to merchandising and farming, pru- dent investments, and industry and persever- ence in whatever undertakings have occupied his attention. Mr. Staab was born in Dane county, Wisconsin. June 11, 1859, and is a son of Liborius and Louisa Pauline ( Marold) Staab, both natives of Germany.

The parents of Mr. Staab were both young people when they immigrated to the United States, and they met and were married in Dane county, Wisconsin. In his native land the father had been a cabinetmaker, and in Wisconsin he followed carpentry and baking as occupations, but in 1870 he came to Platte county, Nebraska, where he secured a home- stead and engaged in farming, a vocation which he followed during the rest of his life. He was a successful, self-made man and had the esteem and regard of his associates and neighbors in each of the communities in which he lived. He was reared as a Catholic, but later adopted the faith of the Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Staab were the parents of nine children. of whom seven are living: Charles, who is living retired in the state of Washing- ton: John, who is the subject of this sketch ; Adam, who is a ranchman of Cherry county,

Nebraska ; Louis, who conducts a meat market at Chicago, Illinois : Will, who is a dairyman in the state of Washington: Theodore, who is a turner by trade and at present employed at Chicago ; and Otto, who drew a section of land in Arthur county, Nebraska, and has since pur- chased a like acreage.

The educational advantages of Jolin Staab were limited in his youth to attendance at dis- trict schools of Dane county, Wisconsin, and Platte county, Nebraska, during three monthis of the year, and in the latter state he was forced to travel twelve miles to attend school. However, he has done much to educate him- self, having been a close observer and a great reader, and he is now well informed in regard to a wide range of important subjects. As a youth he secured a position clerking in a gen- eral store at Columbus, Nebraska, and sub- sequently he ran a herd of cattle and hauled freight for a distance of twenty-six miles, his various activities combining to give his a start in life. His first property was secured in Platte county, when he traded a pair of ponies for a tract of eighty acres of land, and later he engaged in the general-store business at Lee. Nebraska, where he made a success of his un- dertaking, by reason of his ability and good management. In 1895 he secured another Platte county farm, on which he installed his family, and in 1898 he disposed of his store business at Lee, increasing his Platte county holdings to 200 acres and living on his farm there for about five years more. In 1903 Mr. Staab came to Custer county and bought 1,480 acres of land, and he gave his supervision to this property for another year before he re- turned to Platte county, where he sold his property, after which he brought his family back to Custer county. Here he has since re- sided and here he later added eighty acres to his holdings. There were no improvements on the Custer county property at the time of his arrival, but he at once began building op- erations, and he now has six complete sets of buildings, including residences, barns. and other structures. His sons now own their own places - land their father bought when he came here - and are doing well. Mr. Staab has always carried on general farming and has engaged in stock-raising, and his operations have been uniformly successful. A man of varied interests and keen and active mind, he has been more or less prominent in public af- fairs. In early life he was a Democrat, leav- ing that party to join the Populist movement and subsequently returning to the Democratic organization. At this time he is greatly inter- ested in the work of the Non-Partisan League.

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

While residing at Lee, he was for a number of years a trustee of that town and was town- ship clerk of Sherman township in Platte county. Since coming to Custer county he has been chairman of the township board of Ber- wyn town several years and a member of the school board during a long period. His offi- cial record is one which has been characterized by conscientious attention to duty and the same kind of energy and intelligent direction of affairs that have been noted in the handling of his personal enterprises.

In 1882 Mr. Staab married Miss Elizabeth Mayer, who was born in Schuylkill county. Pennsylvania, a daughter of Enoch and Rachel ( Yoder) Mayer, the former born in 1831, in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and the latter in 1838, in Schuylkill county, that state. The marriage of the parents was sol- emnized in the Keystone state, and in 1868 they removed to Jowa, where Mr. Mayer purchased a homestead. Ife continued operations thereon until 1908, when he removed to Tipton, Iowa, and since then he has lived in retirement and in the devoted companionship of his wife. He is a son of John Mayer, a native of Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Mayer is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the German Reformed church. Their eight children are all living. but Mrs. Staab is the only one residing in Ne- braska.

Mr. and Mrs. Staab are the parents of twelve children: John E .. of Ansley ; Aaron Clark, farming near his father's home; Anna, the wife of Harry J. Newman, a farmer at Guelph, North Dakota : George Enoch, farm- ing near his father's home; Ida. the wife of Wesley Harris, operating one of Mr. Staab's farms: Arthur L., farming near his father's property ; Madia A., the wife of Ray Hawk, a farmer near Ansley : Walter, his father's as- sistant on the home farm ; and Reuben, Irena. Carlisle, and Zelma, all at home. The family belongs to the Baptist church.

ARCHIE L. LOWRY. - One of the new- comers who constitutes a valuable asset and has made Custer county the benefactor by his advance is Archie L. Lowry, who is a native of Hall county, Nebraska, in which county he was born September 4, 1884. He is a son of Clarence N. and Maggie (Dufford) Lowry. The father was born in Indiana, but the mother comes from the rugged hills of Penn- sylvania. The father came to Nebraska when but seven years of age, with his widowed mother, and they made a home near Peru, Nemaha county. In 1871 they moved to Hall

county and settled near Doniphan, where the mother still resides.

Archie L. Lowry is a member of a fam- ily of seven children, and has two brothers and four sisters. Robert and Roland are sub- stantial Hall county farmers. Della is the wife of M. J. Meserall, of Doniphan. Of the other children it may be recorded that Nettie is the wife of Thomas Herr, of Doniphan ; Gertrude is the wife of Vern Crawford.

Archie L. Lowry was united in marriage, April 9, 1905, to Eva Gray, a fine young woman of Hall county, she being a daughter of Eugene and Ella ( Hudson) Gray. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry have two children. Malcolm and Eva Jean, bright youngsters who con- tribute to the joy and satisfaction of the home.

Mr. and Mrs. Lowry came to Custer county in 1914 and bought land in section 25. town- ship 20, range 21, north, and they are now the owners of 400 good acres, on which are fair buildings, a good farm home and everything to indicate without announcement that the owner is one of the prosperous farmers and ranehmen of the county.

In politics Mr. Lowry is a Republican, and fraternally he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. Custer county has room for and can afford to pay a premium for more families like the Lowrys.

ENNIS SCOTT. - Custer county has had few citizens of finer fiber or more sterling worth than the late Ennis Scott, whose field of operation was the community northeast of Anselmo, where are located the farm he de- veloped and the fine country home which he erected for himself and his family, and in which he expected to spend the years of his retirement.

Mr. Scott was born June 28. 1855, in Whiteside county, Illinois. His father was Edwin Scott and his mother Mary ( Scott) Scott, both natives of the Buckeye state. All incident in the family history of Mrs. Scott is so remarkable that it is worthy of record in this column. Her parents moved from Ohio to Illinois in an early day, and to make the trip the father built a house-boat, loaded into it all his worldly goods and a family of thirteen children, and floated leisurely down the Ohio river to the Mississippi river, then up the Mississippi to Rock river, thence up the Rock river to Como, Illinois, which is near Sterling, that state. This was long be- fore railroads were built, and the house-boat constituted an easy and economical mode of travel.

Ennis Scott availed himself of public-school

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

advantages, by which he qualified himself for useful citizenship and such public service as he was called upon to render. His life occu- pation by his own choosing was farming, in which he made a striking success. In 1884 he yielded to the call of the west and arrived in Antelope county, Nebraska, where he re- mained ouly a short time. In the fall of the same year he settled in Custer county, where he homesteaded 160 acres in section 26, town- ship 20, range 22. His wife remained in Antelope county and continued teaching school, in order to supply the sinews of war by which the western claim could be im- proved and the primitive home established.

December 30, 1877, the same year in which Custer county was organized, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Scott to Miss Charity D. White. a daughter of Humphrey K. and Mary (Bumgardner) White. Her father, descend- ed from an old English line, was born in 1798. in Virginia, and he died in Ohio, in 1883. The mother was born in Maine, in 1818, and she passed away in the same state and in the same year as her husband.

Mr. and Mrs. Ennis Scott established an almost ideal home, into which were born, in the course of years, four children, two of whom died in infancy, the other two are sons : Stanley B., who was born July 27, 1886, is now farming in Custer county ; and Leon E., who was born June 11, 1894, is with his mother on the home place, but was in the draft for military service in the world war. It was arranged that when Leon was called to the service Stanley would take charge of the old home farm and conduct the extensive farming operations that his father maintained all through his active years.

In coming from Antelope county into Cus- ter, Mr. and Mrs. Scott hauled their goods in a covered wagon, which was drawn by an ox team. They experienced many hardships, but their indomitable will conquered all obstacles.

Mr. Scott died July 9, 1916, having just completed a fine country home and having added to the farm equipment all necessary outbuildings, barns, and sheds. He and his good wife expected to pass their declining years in ease and comfort. They had passed the years of toil, they had reached the hilltop from which the prospect was pleasing and the road much easier, but the end of life had come to Mr. Scott.

Mr. Scott was one of the most enterprising men in Custer county. He believed in public improvements for the community and comfort for his family, and both of these he did all in his power to provide. A generous spirit, Custer county is the richer for the years of

his residence within its confines. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in politics was a stalwart and leading Republican. Mrs. Scott continues to reside in the beautiful home, surrounded by all the blessings and comforts of life except the companionship of the worthy husband whose life fortunes she shared so many years.

GEORGE E. RICHTMYER. - The com- munity of Ansley records upon its roll of de- parted and honored citizens none who left be- hind more substantial and valued evidences of association with its affairs than the late George E. Richtmyer. As a banker, farmer, and stock-raiser, politician, and public-spirited citizen, he came and went among the people of the vicinity of Ansley from the time of his arrival in Custer county, in 1883, until the close of his life, October I, 1917, and in con- nection with memories of him there remains an impression of practical usefulness and genuine, dependable character, traceable to his untiring zeal, persevering industry and ready recognition of opportunity.

Mr. Richtmyer was a native of the state of New York, where he was born in 1850, a son of William and Mary (Francher) Richtmyer. The family originated in Holland, and was early founded in New York state, where, at Gilboa, Schoharie county, William Richt- myer was born. He was a machinist and wagonmaker, trades which he followed for a number of years, but eventually he turned his attention to farming and completed his career as a tiller of the soil in his native state.

George E. Richtmyer was educated in the public schools, completing his studies in the high school at Windham, following which he entered upon his career as a school-teacher. However, he did not find the desired financial success in this field, and finally he concluded to try his fortune in the west -in the new country opening up in central Nebraska. Ac- cordingly, he became a pioneer of Custer county, where, in 1883, he located on a home- stead. He proved up on his claim, adding to his income by teaching in the pioneer country schools during the short winter terms. When he had established ownership of his land, he returned to New York, and in March, 1889, he there married Miss Sophia Decker, who was born in Schoharie county, New York, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Vande- vort) Decker, who spent their lives in New York, the former being a native a Conesville and the latter of Gilboa. There were six children in the Decker family, of whom three

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

survive: Elida D., the widow of William ' Berner, a farmer of Jefferson, New York ; Sophia, now Mrs. Richtmyer ; and Louie, the wife of John E. Martin, a farmer of Jefferson, New York.

Returning to Custer county with his bride, Mr. Richtmyer settled down to the business of cultivating and improving his property, and in the passing years became one of the leading and substantial men of his community, his management of his affairs being governed by an inherent ability, and his perseverance and industry being particularly strong points in his character. He became interested in public affairs, first as a Republican, but when the Populist movement suddenly became an important factor in national affairs, he joined that organization. In 1892 he was appointed deputy county clerk. In 1896 he was elected clerk of Custer county, by a large majority. While he traveled out of Omaha for almost two years, his main interests were confined to Custer county, and he had the utmost faith and confidence in this section. In 1903 he turned his attention to financial matters, by becoming the chief organizer of the Farmers State Bank of Ansley, of which he became cashier. Later he was president of this insti- tution, the affairs of which he directed wisely and well, in a conservative though progressive manner, and he was president of this bank at the time of his death. The death of Mr. Richt- myer occurred October 1. 1917, and was of tragic order - he was run over by a wagon when he was returning to Ansley from a visit to the old homestead, and he did not recover from the injuries he received in this deplor- able accident. He left many behind to mourn him - those who had known him best and who recognized his superior qualities of mind and heart. At the time of his death the Ansley Herald said : "He was the soul of honor and his friends and friendships once made were always sacred to him."

Mr. and Mrs. Richtmyer had one son: Louis D., who was born in 1890, and who was educated at Wesleyan University. Lincoln ; the Nebraska State University: and Went- worth Institute. Boston, Massachusetts. In the last named institution he was graduated in 1915. Since the demise of his father. he has been operating the old homestead upon which his revered father first located in 1883. Mrs. Richtmyer, who survives her husband and resides in her pleasant home at Ansley, has in this community a wide circle of friends. and she is a member of the Christian Science church of Boston.

G. THOMAS HARTSON. - In this para- graph is an exhibition of young blood on the farm - blood that is as red and vigorous and floats as much iron as the blood that welled in the veins of the hardy pioneers forty years ago. There is an old and hackneyed phrase that "blood will tell." and it is probably true, but blood finds no better opportunity for tell- ing than on a Custer county farm under present day conditions. Tom Hartson was born May 2, 1889, twenty-nine years ago, by which it is noted that he is on the morning side of thirty. For family history see sketch of James B. Hartson.

December 18, 1912, recorded the marriage of Mr. Hartson to Minnie Butcher, a young lady born and reared in this county, possessed of all the western graces that always impart life and vigor without taking toll of womanly virtues or gracious characteristics. The young people are now engaged in making their start. They have one child, Fern, four years of age-old enough and bright enough to direct the affairs of the household and to keep the fond parents dancing in attendance.

The farm operated by Mr. Hartson is rented from his father and consists of 160 acres of well cultivated land, with good build- ings and general equipment. Tom Hartson owns his own implements and horse power. has a good line of live stock, and chances for success are very largely in his favor. He milks five cows and gives much care and at- tention to the profitable details of the farming game. He has been fifteen years a resident of the county, and within another fifteen years. with like diligence and economy, he and his good wife will have a comfortable home, "fronting on easy street."

Mrs. Hartson belongs to the Christian church. In politics Tom is independent. He votes the ticket as it suits his fancy, and no political boss cracks the lash above his back. A young family like this is part of the assets that insure the future prosperity of the county.

ALMIER E. SPENCER. - One of the sub- stantial men of the present day in Custer county is Almer E. Spencer, who has survived the many hardships the early settlers here had to contend with, and the story of his expe- riences is very interesting. as throwing a light upon the sturdy pioneers of 1880. He was born in Bremer county, Iowa, a son of Jo- siah W. and Margaret (Greenwood) Spencer. the latter of whom resides with her son Almer

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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 77

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