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 91

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 91

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ther F. ; Guy E. : Carrie M. Kaiser ; and Violet M. Kaiser.

The early educational advantages of Daniel H. Fisher were those afforded in the rural schools, and as a boy and youth he gained full fellowship with the work of a pioneer Ne- braska farm. He has stated that as a boy he dreamed of gaining fame as a "Little Buck- shot" or a "Buffalo Bill" of the wild and wooly west, but as time passed, he conformed his views to the circumstances by which he was governed and made his ambition one of pro- ductive achievement. In 1896, by his thrift and industry, he had accumulated sufficient money to come to Custer county and initiate independent operations as a farmer. Here he rented land for three years, and thereafter he purchased 320 acres in Rose valley, east of Broken Bow. He made this the stage of his activities and marked his possession of the property by effective and progressive manage- ment. Eventually he sold this land in Rose valley, and he now owns a valuable tract of 465 acres of fine land, in what is known as Dutchman valley, four miles east of Broken Bow. Here he and his good wife are enjoy- ing the comfort and prosperity which are justly their due - a fitting reward for former years of earnest toil and endeavor. Mrs. Fisher has done her share in the developing and upbuilding of this beautiful farm home. She has efficiently marketed the surplus pro- duce from the garden, as well as butter and eggs in excess of the amount demanded in the home, and thus has defrayed a large part of the cost of groceries and other current ex- penses, the while her husband has given his attention to raising corn to fatten cattle and hogs and to producing crops that aided him in paying for his land. Mr. Fisher to-day is rated among the substantial farmers of the county and is always found ready to lend his co-operation and support to any public enter- prise advanced for the betterment of the com- munity in which he lives.

On the 8th of January, 1899, at Broken Bow, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Fisher to Miss Mary A. Adams, who was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, and who is a daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Burke) Adams, both natives of Ireland. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Adams and his future wife came, with their respective parents, on the same ship to the United States, and their acquaintanceship culminated in their subse- quent marriage. They became the parents of six children - William H. (deceased) : Mrs. Mary A. Fisher, James J., Mrs. Nellie Wood-

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ward. John B., and Thomas, the last named having been in service as a member of the United States Army in connection with the great world war and having been at Camp Funston at the time this sketch was prepared.

Thomas Adams came with his family to Custer county in 1885, and he located on a pioneer farm northeast of Broken Bow, where he and his family gained a plethora of pioneer experience, in which they endured the trials and hardships incidental to the settling and development of a new country. The experi- ence of Mr. and Mrs. Adams was similar to that of hundreds of others pioneer settlers in Custer county, and under these conditions were forged enduring bonds of sympathy and friendship that bound the old-time residents together in gracious ties of mutual interest and friendliness that do not seem to exist in these latter days, with their urge of varied activities and their insistent demands.

Mr. and Mrs. Fisher may count themselves favored in that they have four sturdy and vital young sons who are destined well to up- hold the prestige and honors of the family name. The eldest son, Marion T., is at the time of this writing a student in the eleventh grade in the Broken Bow high school, and his next younger brother, William J., is likewise attending the same high school; Royal D. is a student in the eighth grade of the public schools: and Master Glenn A., five years of age, completes the fine quartet of sons.

CHARLES J. SLOGGETT, who carries on general farming in Custer county, Nebraska, is interested in a valuable tract of 302 acres, which is situated four and one-half miles southwest of Anselmo. Mr. Sloggett was born at Poło, Illinois. April 10. 1886, and his parents are Alfred C. and Emma ( Miller) Słoggett. Alfred C. Sloggett, who is a re- tired farmer, was born in Granby village. in Canada, a son of William and Bethena ( Ho- mer ) Sloggett, born in the city of London, England. He married Emma Miller, who was born near Polo, Illinois, a daughter of Emanuel and Elizabeth (Hulinger) Miller, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Eight children were born to Alfred C. Sloggett and his wife, as follows: Perry F., Mrs. Bessie Lloyd, George A., Charles J., Mrs. Edith M. Roessler. Mrs. Hattie V. Bates, Harvey M .. and Everett M. Harvey M. of the above fam- ily is a soldier in the national army, and is in France at the time of this writing, in the au- tumn of 1918.

Charles J. Sloggett remained with his par-

ents until he was thirty-one years old, in the meanwhile attending school and farming. From choice he has always devoted himself to farm pursuits and thereby has acquired inde- pendence. He began early and earned his first money by gathering potatoes for a neigh- bor. When he started out for himself he went to Oefrichs. South Dakota, and took up a homestead in the Fall River county, -a property of which he still owns. Mr. Slog- gett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Democrat and fra- ternally is an Odd Fellow. His father be- longs to the Woodmen order. He was mar- ried September 14, 1918, to Ella Laughlin. daughter of George and Amanda Laughlin, of Custer county.

MILES D. CALLEN, a well and favorably known citizen of Custer county, has resided for the past twenty years on his valuable farm of 200 acres, which is situated four and one- half miles northeast of Broken Bow. Mr. Callen was born on a farm near Lacon, Mar- shall county, Iffinois. His parents were Will- iam and Catherine (Grife) Callen, the former of whom was born at Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania, and the latter in Germany. The pa- ternal grandfather of Mr. Callen was David Callen, whose father, a native of Ireland, fought in the American Revolution. His ma- ternal grandfather was Daniel Grife. In 1848 William Callen located in Marshall county, Illinois, and from that state he enlisted for service in the Civil war, after which he was identified with the Grand Army of the Repub- lic until his death, which occurred May 8, 1900, at Grand Island, Nebraska. His voca- tion was farming, in politics he was a Re- publican, and both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had eight children, namely: Elliott N .. Mrs. Cyn- thia Kerns (deceased) : Mrs. Mary Belding, Frank M. (deceased), Charles W., Miles D., Mrs. Anna Perkins, and Mrs. Emma Edgell.

Miles D. Callen was reared on his father's pioneer farm in Marshall county, Illinois, and a sport of his boyhood was setting traps for the gophers, which were very destructive at that time on new land, with the result that a certain price was paid him for all he captured. This, probably, was his first business transac- tion. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, his birth hav- ing taken place May 23, 1859, and then started out for himself as a farmer. In 1895 he came to Custer county and located on Spring creek, eight miles north of Callaway, where he re-

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

sided until he came to his present fine farm, near Broken Bow. He has carefully devel- oped this place, until its value at present is equal to that of any in this section, and he not only has a paying property but also a com- fortable and attractive home. He has taken a great deal of interest in agricultural develop- ment in the county and has encouraged such movements as the Grange, of which he is a member, besides which he belongs to the Mod- ern Brotherhood of America. In politics he is a Republican and he is a great friend of the public schools, in which he received his own education back in Marshall county, Illinois.

Mr. Callen was married March 2, 1895, at Denver, Colorado, to Miss Cora Patterson, who comes of American ancestry. Her par- ents are Hiram B. and Abigail ( Harkness) Patterson, and her maternal grandparents were James P. and Maria ( Waters) Harkness. Mrs. Callen has two sisters and one brother, as follows: Minnie is the wife of John Maurer, who is a soldier in the National army, having enlisted in 1918, from St. Louis, Missouri ; Frank L., who is employed in the city water- works of Los Angeles, California, resides there with his wife and four children; and Grace is the wife of Roy Sage, who is an au- tomobile machinist at Los Angeles, and they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. Callen have an adopted daughter and son, Maud and Frank E.

CHARLES C. KOOZER. - That farming in connection with stock-raising can be made a very profitable business is the idea of Charles C. Koozer, who is a practical farmer and who has purchased 480 acres of land situated four miles northeast of Broken Bow, where he in- tends to make his future home.

Mr. Koozer was born at Geneva, Fillmore county, Nebraska. His parents, now residents of Custer county, are John L. and Katherine ( Brust) Koozer, both of whom were born near Springfield, Illinois. The maternal grandfa- ther. Conrad Brust, moved from Ohio to Illi- nois. John L. Koozer is a farmer living five and one-half miles northeast of Broken Bow, and there he is a man of social standing. He and his wife have three children - Mrs. Ber- tha M. Hall, of Merna, this county ; Lela M .. at home with her parents ; and Charles C., of this review.

Charles C. Koozer attended the public schools and subsequently completed a com- mercial course in the Broken Bow Business College. Thus he was prepared for other than agricultural life, but preferred farming to a

business life. He is still a young man, but has witnessed many changes in price fluctua- tions since he worked for M. D. Callen for fifty cents a day, when a load of hay would bring about two dollars and a fifty-pound sack of flour could be bought for eighty-five cents.

Mr. Koozer was married August 28, 1912, at Broken Bow, to Miss Lula M. Williams, who is a daughter of Hozle and Mary C. ( Karms) Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Koozer have two sons - C. Ray a sturdy little boy of five years, and Robert A., aged ten months at the time of this writing, in the autumn of 1918. Mr. Koozer has never given a great deal of attention to politics, but has always voted the Democratic ticket.

ELGIN L. BEAL. - Among the men of prominence who came to Custer county in 1886, was the late Elgin L. Beal, who became widely known through his newspaper enter- prise, the Custer County Beacon, in the con- trol of which he was associated with his broth- er, C. W. Beal, for many years.

Elgin L. Beal was born in Audrain county. Missouri, December 28, 1858, and passed away at his beautiful home near Broken Bow, Ne- braska, March 10, 1914. He was a son of William H. and Jane ( Stout) Beal, natives of Indiana and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

When Elgin L. Beal came to Custer county he brought his family with him from Missouri, and they settled on a homestead claim near An- sley, subsequently moving to Broken Bow where he engaged in the newspaper business. During the ten years he was connected with the Custer County Beacon the journal was de- voted to the best interests of this section. When he retired he bought the land his family still owns and here he built one of the hand- some residences of the county.

In Audrain county, Missouri, on October 21. 1882, Elgin L. Beal married Miss Mar- garet Poor, a daughter of Levi and Elizabeth ( Ritchie) Poor, who were natives of Will county. Illinois. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Beal: Emory S., John, William, Henry, Esther, Grover C., Ruth, Grace Maud, Prudence J., and Charles C., the last named residing at home with his mother. The eldest of the family, Emory S., is a farm- er living four miles northwest of Broken Bow. He married Edna Russom, a daughter of G. R. Russom, and they have one daughter. John Beal, who is a barber by trade, married Edna Waters and they reside at North Platte, Nc- braska. William Henry, the third son, oper-

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ates his mother's farm of 200 acres, situated five miles west of Broken Bow. Esther is re- siding with her mother while her patriotic hus- band, Charles V. Oxenford. is serving his country in the national army; he is a jeweler by trade and they have one child, Vera Ione, who is three years old. Mr. Oxenford en- listed in Troop E, Twelfth Cavalry. Grover C., the fifth child, died at Broken Bow, August 18, 1915. Ruth is the wife of Guy Street, who is a farmer, located three miles south of Merna. Custer county. The daughters, Grace and Prudence are employed in the office of the Burlington Railroad at Lincoln. Besides his immediate family, Mr. Beal is survived by three brothers, John. Charles W., and Grant Beal.

HON. JOHN REESE. - Custer county numbers among is valued citizens some distin- guished men, and of these none deserves more favorable notice in its history than does Judge John Reese, who, as soldier, lawyer, judge, and public official, has led a busy and honor- able life.

Judge Reese was born in Clark county, Ohio. December 23, 1845. He is the only child of John and Sarah J. ( Stevenson) Reese. His father was of Welch descent and a native of Ohio. He passed from this life when our sub- ject was three years old, and two years later the mother married William Downs, in whose home the boy. John, lived until he was eleven years old, when he hired to work for a neigh- boring farmer, at seven dollars a month. At the age of twelve years he went to London, Ohio, to learn the wool manufacturing trade. and for four years he worked as an apprentice in the Dennis Clark woolen mills - working in the summer and going to school in the winter.

The Civil war broke out in 1861, and in August, 1862, being then only sixteen years of age. John Reese enlisted in his country's service. in Company A. of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Infantry. He served one year, when his health failed and he was hon- orably discharged for disability. He enlisted at London, Ohio, August 22. 1862, and was mustered out of the service July 9, 1863, at Nashville, Tennessee.

After returning home the young soldier at- tended school at West Liberty, Ohio, for two years. and then he again engaged in the wool manufacturing business. On June 27. 1867. he was married to Sarah J. Piper, of West Liberty. Ohio, and to them three daughters. Dora, Eva, and Clara, were born. Because of

his failing health Mr. Reese was obliged to give up the manufacturing business. He moved to Bellefontaine. Ohio, where he read law under the direction of Judge William Lawrence, and he was admitted to the bar in 1882, by the supreme court of Ohio. In the spring of this same year he was elected mayor of Bellefontaine, and in 1884 was re- elected, serving two terms, with much credit to himself and great good for the city.

In 1886 Judge Reese came to Nebraska and located at Callaway, Custer county, where he practiced law for one year. In 1887 he was elected county judge of Custer county and moved to Broken Bow, accompanied by his three daughters, who are now Mrs. A. J. Robertson, of Broken Bow; Mrs. W. O. Chapman, of Chicago, Illinois ; and Mrs. Ed- ward McComas, of Broken Bow.

In 1890 the United States land office was established at Broken Bow and opened for business on July 1, 1890, with Judge Reese as register and the Hon. James Whitehead as receiver - appointees of President Harrison. The first homestead entry at this office was made by Charles M. Hammond, of Merna. Nebraska, who located on the e 1/2 s-w 1 1/2 S-e of section 14, township 18, range 21, Custer county. These officers served one term of four years when. the administration having changed. Judge Reese returned to his law practice, forming a partnership with Simon Cameron and practicing until 1903, when Judge Reese again became a federal officer, having been appointed, by President Roose- velt, as receiver in the United States land office at Broken Bow.

In 1906 President Roosevelt re-appointed him register, and in 1910 he was again re-ap- pointed, by President Taft, holding the office until June 24, 1916-two years after the ex- piration of his term - when his successor was appointed, by President Wilson.

As a federal official. Judge Reese had served continuously for more than thirteen years and in all for eighteen years. He had been com- missioned by three Republican presidents, viz : Harrison, Roosevelt, and Taft, and had served over two years under each of two Democratic presidents- Cleveland and Wilson.

For two months at the close of his term he had the unique distinction of serving as regis- ter with his grandson. John P. Robertson, as receiver -the only case on record where a grandfather, a Republican, and a grandson. a Democrat, served together in the United States land department.

At the expiration of his official career Judge Reese went at once to his home, nine miles

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west of Broken Bow, where he had for a num- ber of years been building up a stock farm, known as Custer Canyon Ranch. He has made a specialty of sheep and now owns the largest and finest flock in Custer county.

February 20, 1917, Judge Reese was mar- ried to Miss Etta Brooks, of Beatrice, Ne- braska, a daughter of the late Captain Joseph and Nancy A. (Criss) Brooks. Mrs. Reese was born in Ohio, the native state of her par- ents. She grew up in Nebraska, was educated at the Nebraska State Normal School at Peru and taught for fifteen years. In 1904 she and her father took adjoining homesteads in Blaine county, Nebraska, under the Kinkaid homestead law. While living on her home- stead she taught school and served for two years as county superintendent of public in- struction.

Mrs. Reese is an active member of the Woman's Relief Corps, having served as treas- urer of the Department of Nebraska two terms. She has also been grand recorder of the Degree of Honor.

Judge Reese has been active in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic and served as commander of the Department of Nebras- ka in 1900 and 1901. He has always been identified with the Republican party, and for fifty years has been a Mason.

HENRY A. CRAMER. - One of the men who has demonstrated that farming may be made very profitable in Custer county if car- ried on with vigor and good judgment, is Henry A. Cramer, who owns large tracts of land and who farms on an extensive scale. Mr. Cramer was born at Hennepin, Illinois, September 23, 1882. He was one of a family of six children born to Levier B. and Lucinda (Hartman) Cramer, namely: Lee, John, Henry A., Frank. Roy, and Gilbert.

Henry A. Cramer was two years old when his parents moved to Nebraska and settled at New Helena, Custer county, where his father found work as a mechanic. Henry attended school until he was eight years old and then hired out to John Simms, on Victoria creek, for five dollars a month. his duties being to herd cattle in the winter and help on the farm in the summer. That did not seem to offer any great prospect of affluence, but he was faithful and industrious and made friends. He worked for four years for the J. E. Adamson Telephone Company. and he continued to work around at odd jobs for others up to the spring of 1905, when he became a farmer for G. R. Russom, at that time being practically without

capital, besides being in debt. It has been said by those who know, that Mr. Cramer's history from then on reads like a romance. During the year 1906 he worked for Mr. Russom, and he then rented land and began for himself. In 1913 he bought 540 acres of land in Sheridan county : in 1915 he bought eighty acres of the townsite of Lodi; in 1917 he added 400 ad- joining acres, following this purchase with a half-section of school land and the John Squires ranch of 1,160 acres, located south of Broken Bow. In the spring of 1918 Mr. Cramer bought the old Charley Jeffords ranch, containing 780 acres and situated eight miles west of Broken Bow. This property is valued at $50,000. Nebraska people are not altogeth- er astonished when they learn of the turning tide of fortune in this state, for there have been many examples, although few men have made such a notable record at his age as has Mr. Cramer. It is interesting to learn that his first business transactions, away back in boy- hood, was a trade in jackknives, the difference coming to him.

Mr. Cramer was married March 1, 1903, at Broken Bow, to Christena Simonson, who is a daughter of James M. and Anna ( Jensen) Simonson, natives of Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer have five children: Clifford L., Em- ery C., Cleo R., Eva P., and Harold A., all at home and well provided for.

WESLEY THOMAS, who is a prosperous farmer and substantial. dependable citizen of Custer county, has resided here since the fall of 1883, coming to this section as an ambitious young man who was determined to succeed. He was born at Marion, Indiana, October 28, 1860, the only son born to the marriage of Milton and Susanna ( Dille) Weesner Thomas. He has one full sister. Susanna, who is the wife of Neleigh H. Ratcliffe, a farmer near Marion, Indiana. Both parents of Mr. Thomas were born in Indiana and spent their lives there and both had been married before their union. To the father's first marriage the fol- lowing children were born: Mrs. Jane Har- vey. Snead, Minerva, John, and Elwood Thom- as. To the mother's first marriage the follow- ing children were born: Micajah, Mrs. Lucy A. Banks, Elihu, Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, and David Weesner. The parents were members of the Society of Friends.

Wesley Thomas grew up on his father's farm and obtained his education in the public schools. . Before coming to Nebraska he worked for different farmers in his native state for four years, and thus had farm knowl-

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edge and experience when he started out for himself in a new section. Like other settlers in Custer county thirty-five years ago, Mr. Thomas met with hardships and discourage- ments, but he never permitted these to turn him back. as he soon realized that these were only temporary and that this section was des- tined to become a great agricultural territory. He has prospered greatly and now, with his wife, owns 560 acres of well improved land, besides having three valuable properties in Broken Bow. In his extensive farming oper- ations he has been a large employer of labor and can remember no occasion when he has paid a youth only twenty-five cents a day for shocking grain, for which amount he himself toiled in order to earn his first money. MIr. Thomas is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Mr. Thomas was married April 29, 1888, to Miss Mary J. Longfellow. on her father's farm, situated eight miles west of Broken Bow. Mrs. Thomas is a daughter of Richard M. and Melinda Longfellow, and has three older brothers and one sister, namely: John. Ed- ward, and Richard M., and Mrs. Ella Bryan. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have two daughters : Ola. who is the wife of Albert Beckman. a substantial farmer residing fifteen miles north- west of Broken Bow. has one child; and Su- sanna. remains with her parents.

OTIS J. WEESNER, who is a general farmer of Custer county and owns well im- proved land situated nine and one-half miles west of Broken Bow, has prospered since com- ing to Nebraska, of which state he has been a continuous resident for twenty-two years. He belongs to a fine old family of Indiana, staid farming people, and Quakers in religious faith. He was born in Grant county, Indiana, July 18. 1872. and is a son of David and Jennie ( Thomas ) Weesner, and a grandson of David and Susanna ( Dillie) Weesner.

Otis J. Weesner remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, going to school in the meanwhile, during the winter seasons, and making himself generally useful during the rest of the year on the home farm and in the glass factory at Marion, Indiana. About that time he became interested in the opportunities offered homeseekers in Nebraska. and, after making proper investigation, he decided to come to this state. Accordingly. in 1896, he located on his present farm in Cus- ter county. Ile has 160 acres, which property he has developed and so improved that he is justly proud of one of the beautiful homes of Custer county. As a good citizen he takes an

interest in public affairs and gives his political support to the Republican party, but he is not a seeker for office.

Mr. Weesner was married, at Broken Bow, Nebraska, January 26, 1907. to Miss Clara A. Wakefield, a daughter of Daniel and Ginevra A. ( Burton) Wakefield. Mrs. Weesner died May 11, 1911, leaving one son, Orville.

PETER M. CASE, who has lived in Custer county for thirty years, has made his home in the neighborhood of the present prosperous town of Weissert, and still owns land here. Mr. Case was born in Lawrence county, In- diana, March 7, 1848, a son of Jacob and Mary ( Cox) Case.

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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 91

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