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 90

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 90

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ROBERT C. TALBOT, M. D. - For many years Dr. Talbot has been identified with the

professional and agricultural interests of Cus- ter county and he has established a lasting reputation for medical skill. agricultural abil- ity, business integrity, and personal probity. In the evening of life he is living somewhat in retirement, and during the last seven years the greater part of his time has been spent in California, but no record of Custer county and the accomplishments of its representative men would be complete that did not include a review of his career.

Dr. Talbot was born at Danville, Indiana, March 16, 1847, a son of Willis and Nancy ( McCoun) Talbot, and a grandson of Louis Talbot, a native of Virginia, who spent the greater part of his life as a farmer in Ken- tucky. The maternal grandfather was Robert McCoun, a stock dealer, who died in Indiana. The parents of Dr. Talbot were born near Paris, Kentucky, where they were married, and on horseback they started from their home in the Bluegrass state for Indiana, eventually set- tling in Hendricks county, where they passed the remaining years of their lives as farmers. Mrs. Talbot was a member of the Baptist church, and while her husband was not affili- ated with any denomination he was a believer in religion and a supporter of church move- ments. He was a Republican in political be- lief. Of the ten children of this worthy couple, four are living: Robert C .; Charles W., an attorney and surveyor of Hanford, California ; Scottie, the wife of Charles Sheetz, a farmer of Danville, Indiana ; and Florence, the widow of John English, of Indianapolis, Indiana.

After attending Danville ( Indiana) Acade- my, Robert C. Talbot enrolled as a student at Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was duly graduated with his degree. in 1870, and he at once began the practice of his profession at Sylvania. Indiana, where he remained for five years. Later he spent a like period at Pittsboro, Indiana, but in 1879 he came west to Nebraska, taking up a homestead near Berwyn, a property which he still owns. In 1884 he moved to Broken Bow, having been elected county treasurer, and that city contin- ned to be his home for a number of years. One of the earliest physicians of Custer county, he practiced over a wide territory, winning the confidence, regard, and affection of a large clientele and steadily advancing to a place of prominence in his profession. He was a lead- ing member of the Custer County Medical So- ciety, of which he served as president for sev- eral years, and belonged to the Nebraska State Medical Society, among the members of which he was held in the highest estecm. In 1911 Dr. Talbot retired from the practice of his

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profession and since that time he has passed the greater part of his time in California. Dur- ing the time that he was practicing medicine and surgery with so much success, Dr. Talbot was not neglecting his farming interests, and his faith in the future of Custer county took the form of investment in property. He ac- cumulated large tracts, solely through his own efforts, and until recently owned 840 acres of land, but he has just disposed of 400 acres. Mrs. Talbot also is one of the landowners of the Berwyn locality, where she holds 240 acres.

Dr. Talbot was married December 25, 1869, to Miss Hattie Warrick, who was born at Pittsboro, Indiana, and to this union there were born three children: Willis E., a grad- nate of the Omaha Medical College and now with the medical staff of the American Ex- peditionary Forces in France, with the rank of major; Claris, who is carrying on opera- tions on the homestead farm near Berwyn; and Mrs. H. F. Kennedy, of Broken Bow. Dr. and Mrs. Talbot are consistent members of the Baptist church. He has always been a supporter of the principles of the Republi- can party, and frequently has been called upon by his fellow citizens to represent them in of- fices of public trust. In addition to having served as county treasurer for four years, he was a member of the board of trustees of Broken Bow during the early days, and ren- dered valuable service as a member of the board of school directors, for eight years. The Doctor's military record consists of 100 days' service during the Civil war, when he was a private in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana Volunteer Infan- try.

CHESTER A. KLINKMAN, who is a substantial and prosperous young farmer of Custer county, belongs to Nebraska by birth, rearing, and education, and is a fine specimen of the type of young manhood of which the state is justly prond. Mr. Klinkman was born in Polk county, Nebraska, September 21, 1890. His parents are Frank and Caroline E. (Timm) Klinkman, the former of whom was born in St. Joseph county, Michigan, and the latter in Wisconsin, their children being as fol- lows: Chester A., Edith, Mrs. Mattie Book- er, Lillie. Roy and Ruth (twins), Vida and Vera (twins), Harold, and Ivan.

Chester A. Klinkman grew up on the home farm and obtained his education in the public schools. His early and practical training on the home farm has been of great benefit and

he is considered one of the most capable and enterprising young agriculturists of Custer county. He came here with the family when his father located, in 1905, in the northeastern part of Wayne township, and went right to work improving the homestead and taking a deep interest in developing this section. He now owns 320 acres of fine land, devoting it to grain and stock, and has made an admirable showing of what intelligent industry along agricultural lines can accomplish. His activi- ties now provide him with a large income, but he remembers when the money he received as a boy, for shocking corn and cutting sunflow- ers, was very acceptable and very carefully expended.

Mr. Klinkman has never been very active politically and has never desired public office. Nevertheless he has taken note of all that is occurring in his own and in other countries and stands ready to do his patriotic part when duty calls. He was reared in a Christian family and from principle lends his influence in favor of temperance, education, and religion - proved agencies working for the general wel- fare. Mr. Klinkman is still arrayed in the ranks of eligible young bachelors in Custer county.

ADOLPH PETERSON. - Few of the set- tlers who came to Custer county in the early '80s have done so well as Adolph Peterson, who now lives retired from active work, and whose present beautiful and comfortable home is in Gothenburg, Dawson county. Many others came to the county in 1884, but not all of them were as industrious as Mr. Peterson, nor did all possess the same foresight and good judgment in making investments. Mr. Peter- son is one of the county's heaviest land-own- ers, and his agricultural operations were al- ways carried on with the extreme care and frugal methods that he learned in his native country. Mr. Peterson was born in Sweden, August 27, 1853. His parents were Peter Erickson and Stina (Grita) Peterson, who had three children. John and Adolph surviving.

Adolph Peterson was only six months old when his father died. He was three years old when his mother married again, and he worked for his stepfather and later for himself. re- ceiving wages of fifty cents a day for farm work, exclusive of board, the ploughing being then done with oxen. Labor conditions were not satisfactory to a young man with ambition, and this led Mr. Peterson to think of immi- grating to the United States. In the year fol- lowing his marriage he and wife crossed the

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

ocean and came as far west as Chicago. In that city he worked at different occupations, but, as he was anxious to secure land and en- gage in agricultural pursuits, he found that if he were to realize his ambition he must go farther west. In 1884 he came to Custer coun- ty, Nebraska, and located two miles west of Etna postoffice, on the Odencrantz Table. He was able to secure this homestead for a rea- sonable price and he still owns the property, although tempting offers have frequently been made for it. He continued to live on that place until 1909, when he retired, on account of failing health, and at that time he removed to Gothenburg. Mr. Peterson is fortunate enough to have well trained farmer sons, and they have ever since capably managed 555 acres. He owns 1,920 acres and a school sec- tion. When he bought this land he paid from three to ten dollars an acre, and in 1917 he was offered fifty dollars an acre for the land that had no improvements whatever except fencing.

Adolph Peterson was married October 4. 1879, to Miss Ida Johnson, who was the third in order of birth of the four children born to John and Louise (Carlson) Johnson, the other children being : P. A .. Wolfrey, and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have six children : Mrs. Nannie Erickson is a widow : William G., who lives on his own farm situated east of Etna, is still a bachelor ; Elmer, who operates land for his father situated two miles west of Etna, is likewise a bachelor; Arthur, who is a farmer four miles southwest of Etna, married Anna Weathers; Harry is operating his father's land in association with his brother Arthur : and Louise has been a school teacher for the last four years. Mr. Peterson and his family are members of the Swedish Mission church, and they are people who command the highest respect and esteem. Though they have never been very active in political matters, the father and sons in their voting have always supported sturdy and honest candidates for office.

JOHN P. ANDERSON. - A resident of Custer county for thirty years, John P. An- derson now belongs to the retired colony at Gothenburg. Dawson county, after a career characterized by industrious cultivation of the soil, active participation in the developing movements of this part of Nebraska, and good and public-spirited citizenship in the matters that have been factors in the community's civic, educational, and moral growth. Mr. Anderson is a native of Sweden, born at West- ervik, Gothland. February 3, 1855, a son of Andrew A. and Elizabeth M. (Nelson) Ander-

son, natives of the same country. There were four children in the family: Alfred N., Mrs. Sopha Jacobson, John P .. and Charles W.

John P. Anderson received a common-school education in his native land, where he began to work for his father on the home farm, at the age of twenty-one years, and he continued as a wage-earner for several years after his marriage. In May, 1888. Mr. Anderson, who in his native land had not made all the pro- gress that he desired, immigrated to the Unit- ed States and at once came to Custer county, where he had been preceded by a number of his countrymen. He had some small capital, which, with his native thrift, he had been able to save from his earnings - enough at least, to make a substantial payment on 160 acres of railroad land, situated five miles south of Etna. There he continued to be engaged in farming for many years, cultivating his land with care and skill, adding improvements from time to time and erecting new buildings, and eventual- ly converting what had been useless and value- less property into one of the finest cultivated farming estates in the southwestern part of Custer county. Mr. Anderson, continuing as a general farmer and stock-raiser, managed his business affairs with such success that he was able to add to his holdings from time to time, and he now has 800 acres, in addition to various other investments. While he is prac- tically retired from active pursuits, he is still ready and capable of giving excellent service, and holds himself in readiness to assist his boys whenever assistance is necessary. Among the citizens of Custer county Mr. Anderson is known as an industrious man of high princi- ples, excellent business ability, and utmost per- sonal probity. He has their respect for what he has accomplished and the manner in which he has achieved it. Public life has never been attractive enough, nor political rewards strong enough, to take his attention from the cultiva- tion of the soil, and he has been contented to carry his career straight through as a represen- tative of the agricultural interests of his com- munity.

Mr. Anderson was married, in Sweden, June 7. 1879, to Miss Augusta Nelson, who was born in that country, daughter of Nels and Mary (Moseberg) Nelson, natives of that country. To this union there were born four children : Mrs. Anna O. Anderson is de- ceased : Fred J. is a stock-raiser and farmer, who is renting a part of his father's land, and he is an energetic and progressive agricultur- ist : Charles E., a successful and skillful farm- er and stock-raiser, one and one-half miles southeast of Etna, married Hattie E. Peterson,

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a daughter of Henry Peterson, and they have one daughter; and Ezekiel F. is more fully mentioned in the concluding paragraph of this review. The parents hold membership in the Lutheran church.

Ezekiel F. Anderson was born in Custer county, January 6. 1893, and passed his boy- hood on his father's farm, dividing his time between attending the district school and as- sisting his father and brothers in the cultiva- tion and development of the soil. After his graduation from Boyle's Business College, at Omaha, he was for several months bookkeeper in the Gothenburg Bank, but eventually he returned to farming, and he now owns and operates 320 acres of land, of which he is giving ninety acres to wheat, the crop which proved so essential in winning the great war. Mr. Anderson was in the selective draft and was ready to do his part as a soldier of the nation, but the world conflict came to a close before he was called to the colors.

CHARLEY LONGFELLOW. - The sub- ject of this record was born on the old home- stead in Custer county, November 10, 1885. He was reared on the farm and attended the public schools, assisting his father in the oper- ation of the old place until four years ago, when he rented land and engaged in farming independently. He is a Republican and a member of the Broken Bow camp of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He was past thirty-one when the draft was made June 5, 1917, but under the draft of September 12. 1918, he was registered and stood ready to offer his services whenever his country needed him. He is a son of John R. Longfellow, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume.

OLAF G. ANDERSON represents the sturdy, progressive type of citizens which has been furnished Custer county by Sweden. When he first came to this community he had little experience in agricultural industry and was forced to work out his own problems, but he possessed willingness and the inherent ability, and so well did he direct and manage his affairs that in 1911 he was able to retire, when still in the prime of life, with a satisfy- ing competence. He is now accounted one of the substantial citizens of Gothenburg, in the adjacent county of Dawson, where he is the owner of a beautiful home.

Mr. Anderson was born in Sweden, No- vember 14, 1858, a son of John Anderson,

and was one of a family of four children, of whom three sons survive. He received a com- mon-school education and resided with his parents on the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-one years, at which time he immigrated to the United States and lo- cated in Rock Island county, Illinois, where for one year he worked on a farm. For six years thereafter he was engaged in coal-min- ing, and in 1884 he came to Custer county, Nebraska, and purchased one-half section of land, in section 21, about two miles north- west of Etna, a village whose site at that early date was about six miles east of the present town. Later, in May, 1888, he brought his family here and located on a homestead ad- joining the property named. There he lived five years, during which time he experienced all the hardships incident to a life on the fron- tier, the hauling of the greater part of his water a distance of nine miles being only one of the many things which made existence hard during those days. After five years, when he had perfected title to his homestead, Mr. An- derson moved to the purchased land, on which he erected a beautiful and commodious resi- dence and also other substantial farm build- ings, besides making other improvements. He continued to be engaged in the raising of live- stock and in general farming until 1911, in which year he and his wife retired from active pursuits and moved to Gothenburg, where they now reside, surrounded by every comfort and by a wide circle of friends and well-wishers. They had passed through the days when the merest conveniences were not to be thought of, and it was necessary that the children drive three miles to school, but Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were determined that the children should have good educational advantages be- yond those implied in the rudimentary branch- es. Thus the children were so well prepared that they all became school teachers, and all were also given musical education. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, in addition to their property at Gothenburg, are the owners of 960 acres of valuable Custer county land.

Mr. Anderson was married May 27, 1887. at Rock Island, Illinois, to Miss Hilda E. J. Rosell, daughter of John F. and Eva G. ( Bergstrom) Rosell, who were members of the Lutheran church, and who came from Sweden to the United States in 1867, settling at Berlin (now Swedona), Illinois, where Mr. Rosell followed the occupation of bridge-build- er. There were nine children in the Rosell family, of whom eight are living: Alfred, Mrs. Hilda E. J. Anderson, Mrs. Cecelia E. Bursche, Mrs. Emma S. Burke, Mrs. Sadie

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. NEBRASKA

A. Anderson, Arthur, Mrs. Minnie M. Eng- strom, and Lawrence E. Mr. and Mrs. An- derson became the parents of five children : Mrs. Maud E. Peterson died August 5, 1912, at Gothenburg; Minnie M. is the wife of Michael H. Rosentrater. a farmer near Etna postoffice. and they have a son and a daugh- ter : Emma C. Anderson is the wife of Albert Anderson, a farmer two miles northwest of Etna, and they have two daughters and one son : Miss Sadie E., who has been a teacher in the public schools for five years, resides with her parents at Gothenburg; and Robert G. is deceased.

Mr. Anderson has not sought public office. but is a man who has been indifferent to no call for support of worthy public movements, and his status in his community is that of a reliable, constructive, and public-spirited citi- zen.

WILLIAM C. HUFFMAN, who has lived in Nebraska since 1875, is one of the intelli- gent, enterprising farmers and well educated men of this state and owns and operates the old Charles Shell homestead, which is situated six miles northeast of Broken Bow. He comes of sturdy old Pennsylvania-Dutch stock and was born near Muncy, in Lycoming county. Pennsylvania, August 15, 1870, the eldest of the four children of Martin F. and Amanda (Shell ) Huffman. The mother of Mr. Huff- man was born near Turbotsville, Pennsylvania. a daughter of Jonas Shell, and she died in Ne- braska, in February. 1917. Martin F. Huff- man was born near Muncy, Pennsylvania, a son of Daniel C. and Mary ( Frymire) Huff- man. Ile has always been a farmer and when he came to Nebraska, in 1875, he settled with his family on railroad land, near Aurora, where he still lives. He is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was also his wife. They became the parents of four children - William C., Ella L., Guy E., and Maizie.

William C. Huffman was four and one-half years old when his parents brought him to Ne- braska and he grew up in Hamilton county. In boyhood he attended the common schools and later he spent one year in the Wesleyan University, for one year was a student in the normal school at Lincoln, and also took a business course. Mr. Huffman has found his education very helpful in solving agricultural problems and has built up a substantial repu- tation as a progressive and judicious farmer.

Mr. Huffman was married February 10. 1915, at Columbus, Nebraska, to Miss Mary

E. Pendell, who is a daughter of William L. Pendell, the family name of her mother hav- ing been Slonecker. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman have no children. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, like his father, Mr. Huffman is an independent thinker and voter, and he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JOHN R. LONGFELLOW. a well known and highly respected retired farmer living at Broken Bow, was for many years active in agricultural industries in Custer county and still retains the ownership of his original homestead farm. He is a native of Illinois, born in De Witt county, July 11. 1855. His parents were Moses R. and Malinda ( Bryte) Longfellow, his father being a native of Ohio and his mother of Indiana. All his life his father was a farmer and both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had five children - John R .. J. Edward, Mrs. Mary Thomas, Mrs. Ella Bryan, and Moses N.

John R. Longfellow lived in De Witt and Logan counties, Illinois, in his boyhood. His advantages were meager in every way. as his father was an invalid for many years and thus heavy responsibilities fell on the oldest son. He attended school whenever he could be spared from home duties, and made the best of his opportunities. It was in 1882 that his attention was called particularly to Custer county. Nebraska, and in the spring of that year he came here and settled on the fine place which he still owns and which is sit- uated six miles west of Broken Bow. There he lived continuously for thirty-three years. During this time he has not only improved and developed his own property but has also taken a good citizen's interest in county af- fairs generally. He votes the Republican ticket.

Mr. Longfellow was married June 12. 1884, at Aurora. Nebraska. to Miss Catherine Philip- sen, who is a daughter of John J. and Mary ( Stone) Philipsen, the paternal grandparents having been Abraham and Renettie ( Seick) Philipsen. Mrs. Longfellow's father was born in Germany, but her mother was born in Wabash county. Illinois, a daughter of Iler- man and Catherine ( Besley) Stone. Mrs. Longfellow was the firstborn of fourteen chil- dren, nine of whom grew to maturity. as fol- lows: Catherine is the wife of the subject of this review : Augusta is the wife of George Harget, a laborer living at Seward, Nebraska, and they have three sons and one daughter,

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the eldest son, John, being, at the time of this writing, a soldier in the national army : Ed- mund F., who is farming in Custer county, four miles northwest of Broken Bow, mar- ried Phoebe Freels and they have six daugh- ters and three sons; Elizabeth, who died in July, 1915, was the wife of Joseph Dagan, a saw-mill worker at Portland, Oregon, and they had one son, Cornelius : John is married and is a farmer near Scottsbluff, Nebraska : Rosettie Hannah is the wife of Roy Hannah, a ranchman, and they have three children, their eldest son being in the United States navy at the time this article is written; }rene is the wife of John Hannah, a farmer, and they have five children: William, who carries the mail between Dunning and Brewster, mar- ried Ethel Wymore and they have one son ; and Anna is the wife of Albert Brown, a farm- er, and they have three children. Mr. and Mrs. Longfellow have seven children: Mrs. Daisy Kindness, Charley, John R., Jr., Mrs. Lillie Brong, and Alice, Florence, and Esther. The last two are at home. Charley is indi- vidually mentioned on another page of this work, and Alice is employed in the war de- partment office in Washington, D. C. Mr. Longfellow and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In the fraternal order of the Modern Brotherhood of America Mr. Longfellow is a valued member.

DANIEL H. FISHER. - Some persons maintain there is nothing in a name, but Dan- iel H. Fisher's father seems to have believed otherwise, and as young Daniel grew up he proved by his push and energy that his father had named him well. While he was never cast in a lions' den, he overcame many diffi- culties that would have discouraged a less self- reliant and determined spirit.

For the purpose of beginning the new year right, Daniel F. Fisher was born on the 1st of January, 1873, the place of his nativity hav- ing been in Saline county, Nebraska, where his father had located upon coming to Ne- braska, from Washington, Kansas, at the time of the Civil war. Ile whose name initiates this review is a son of Frederick J. and Mary A. (Triplett) Fisher, the former having been born in Vermont and the latter in Indiana. This sterling Nebraska pioneer couple became the parents of ten children - Mrs. Mary J. Holcomb ; William F. and Ar- mina Foster (twins), the latter being de- ceased ; Willard J. ; Linnie B. Wheeler ; Daniel H., the immediate subject of this sketch : Gay-

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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 90

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