USA > Nebraska > Dixon County > History of Dixon County, Nebraska > Part 13
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The oldest market in town is owned by Lister & Logan who have been together in business since 1887. J. H. Logan came here in 1878 from Dakota county, and has been en- gaged in buying grain much of the time. He was appointed postmaster by President Harrison and gave entire satis- faction during his term of four years. His partner Wm. Lister came from Illinois in May, 1875, and has been in the market business most of the time since 1879. Has been mayor of the city two terms and is a reliable and much esteemed citizen. Speaking of the mayorality we will state
WM. HUSE.
MRS. WM. HUSE.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
that his next door neighbor in business. Mr. Searing. of the firm of Eames & Searing, also was one of Ponca's most popular and efficient mayors, his term ending in May, 1895.
The most prominent dealer in farm machinery is August Bauer who came to Ponca in 1881 and commenced business the same year. He has two large buildings on Third street (115 by 25 feet and 70 by 28 feet.) both of which are occupied by an extensive stock. Has been councilman of the Third ward for two years, and is a good business man.
Wm. Groth, commenced in 1883 in the business of making cigars and has been prosperous and successful. His building is on East street.
Ponca's jeweler is E. W. Gray, who first came here in 1883. was absent from '84 to '91. since when he has had a successful business in his line.
The two barber shops are those of A. M. Coats. com- menced in 1883, and G. P. Kauffman in 1892. Both are good citizens and shave with keen razors. Mr. Coats does business in a large brick building which he built on Third street a few years ago.
Ponca had three banks, the First National. Dixon County and Security. up to 1893 when the First National bank went up the spout to the distress of depositors and the disgrace of its managers. The Bank of Dixon county was started in 1881 and the Security bank in 1890.
One of Ponca's prominent young men is T. A. Berry who came here in 1890 and has since been manager of the Ed- wards and Bradford Lumber Company at this place, and in the large business he transacts has become very popular.
H. C. Howe. who came here in ISSI, and M. 1. Mellon in 1886. the former the cashier of the Dixon county bank and the latter filling a similar position in the Security bank. are among Ponca's progressive young men of business.
G. C. Hamilton. the photographer, located here in 1888 and has since remained. A number of his excellent pictures are seen in this history.
The lumber dealers are Edwards & Bradford and Francis & Son. An advertisement for Edwards & Bradford is on one of the last pages of this book.
The music store is kept by E. H. Dierenfield and was started by him two or three years ago.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
The livery stables are those of H. C. Fields and C. E. Paull, who have been thus engaged several years.
The principal flour and feed store is that of Wm. Sheffel who came here with his father, Emanuel Sheffel, from Ger- many in 1868. His brother, Peter Sheffel, came in 1864. The Sheffels have most of the time since then been in the mill business, and from 1877 to 1882 were the owners with Julius Drager of the mill built by Stough Brothers in 1860.
Ponca has three newspapers. The oldest is the Northern Nebraska Journal which was started January, 1873, by Wm. Huse and has since been continned by him. a part of the time in partnership with his son, W. N. Huse, now of the Norfolk Daily News. The present owners of the Journal are Wm. Huse and his son, E. W. Huse. The Journal was the first paper ever published in the county and for several years was the only one. In 1877 the Ponca Courier was commenced by Smith Brothers and afterwards passed through the hands of various proprietors, until it was re- moved to Wayne soon after that town was born. Since then there have been several papers published in Ponca. some of which have had enconraging success. Those in town now, aside from the Journal, are the Gazette and Leader.
There are many other branches of business carried on in Ponca. aside from those above named. Gustav Franz has a shoe shop. There are also several blacksmith and wagon shops. a tailor shop, and the billiard halls of Trimborn & Higgins and MeManns & Keefe.
H. E. Smith has for several years had a prosperous busi- ness in buying and shipping butter and eggs. M. M. Myres, Daniel Donlin, Michael Donlin, F. Conrad and C. H. Marble do the draying and do it well.
Near the south end of East street is the store of John Green who came a few years ago from the Black Hills where he was extensively engaged in mining. His father was one of Dixon county's pioneers.
On East street also, P. E. Rush has a notion store. Mr. Rush is a very skillful brick-layer as many of Ponca's fine buildings illustrate.
Speaking of brick. the brick yards of the Nelsons and
J. J. MCCARTHY'S RESIDENCE.
DR. J. W. PORTER (See page IS9. )
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
that of Gen. Harrison a short distance north of town, manufacture all that are needed.
Ponca's postmaster is R. R. MacMullen, who was ap- pointed by President Cleveland about a year ago. Major MacMullen is an old army officer with an honorable record and is an excellent postmaster. Among the postmasters in the past have been N. S. Porter, E. D. Higgins, A Reynolds, Harry Dorsey. W. T. Chapman, I. Conner, J. H. Logan and after him the present incumbent. The office has in the past twenty years increased largely in business and is now a presidential office.
This being a county seat, it is the natural home of attorneys. Among the first were Barnes Brothers and W. E. Gantt, who did a leading business for several years. The present attorneys are J. J. McCarthy. A. E. Barnes, J. M. Hench, A. G. Kingsbury, C. A. Kingsbury, J. V. Pearson and T. J. Welty.
Concerning J. J. McCarthy a more extended notice is given elsewhere. A. E. Barnes came here in 1877 from Ohio; studied law in the office of his brother Judge Barnes and was afterwards one of the firm. He is now one of the most prominent and successful lawyers in this part of the state. J. M. Hench, a well-read and able lawyer, came to Allen from the east in 1893 and from there to Ponca in 1894. since when he has been in the office with Mr. Barnes and has had a first-class practice. A. G. Kingsbury has been in practice since 1877 except one year while at Ann Arbor law school. where he graduated in 1895. C. A. Kingsbury studied law with A. G. Kingsbury and was admitted a few years ago. T. J. Welty, also became an attorney several years ago, and has recently opened an office. John V. Pearson, who graduated at the Ann Arbor law school a year ago, was in the office of J. J. McCarthy until August, 1895. when he became one of the teachers of the Ponca high school.
The most prominent of those in the insurance business in Ponca are C. J. Story. R. R. MacMullen and W. W. Cooper.
Here are the names of a few of the old settlers. most of whom are not elsewhere mentioned. Nearly all were identi- fied with Ponca village, though a few resided in Ponca town- ship:
Joseph Walters, elected by accident to legislature in '76.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
C. W. Todd, machinist and builder, '58 to '90. Helen M. Todd, sister, of some literary ability and teacher in music, now in Vermont: C. W. is in Wyoming. James Rucker, father-in-law to John Enders, came here in '67. now in Washington. C. M. Drake, '70 to '74, had a collegiate course and given much to music, natural philosophy and evolution, is now in California and is devoting his time to study. Dr. J. K. Addis, '69 to death in '74. John Lawrence, '69, now in Wayne county. Oliver Baltzley, member of legislature '68, carpenter and builder, now in southern part of Nebraska. Kreiger, druggist. Avery Barber and family. '67. died in '92. LaFollette. M. Wigton. W. B. Donthit. Mr. Fero, first harness shop, '70, returned to New York in '74: his son John now here. C. W. Smith, '69, resides here
now. W. C. Smith. former county judge. Wesley Mattison, came in '65, died in '93, wagon maker and mechanic. J. W. Jones, real estate agent, '79, now in Missouri. Frederic Hig- gins and family. '70, died in 'SS. Geo. Russel, from Inde- pendence. Iowa, '70. died in '94. J. McQuaid, '70, died in '91. William McDonald. '70, died in '77. B. O. Smith, '68. died in '87. James Smith. his son, now resides in Dakota county. Geo. Conrad, '67, died in '93; his wife still living. Charles B. Conrad. '67. moved to Iowa in '94. Wm. Henchbarger, '64 to '89. A. G. Wheeler, '68, went to Australia in '95. Joseph Porter, '67. died February, '68; wife. Martha, died in '70. W. Freeburn. '69, moved to Washington Territory in '77. Rev. Walter Clark, '71. J. Peters, '71 to '92. Lorenzo Smith. '67 to present time. James Hammell. mason and bricklayer, '60. J. Perrigone and J. Brewer, philosophers and explorers. Dr. Hughes and family. '75 to '77. Ed. Healy, lawyer. A. A. Porter, furniture store and builder, '68 to '95.
In addition to the above, some of those doing business here during a part or all the time since 1870, but now dead. moved away or gone into other, business, were: J. P. Hingtgen, merchant; F. M. Hewett, bricklayer: F. Pletsch and J. Volkmar, boots and shoes; Mr. Gallagher, tailor: J. U. LaFollette, wagon maker: C. W. Bates, G. D. Russell, F. N. Johnson and W. Hunter, blacksmiths; J. Krause and Chas. Metz, harness makers: Dean Palen. John Lawrence, A. A. Thompson and Mr. Green, livery: H. Ernst and A. and F. A.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Porter, furniture; S. Gamble, Fred Gould. C. S. Ford and J. A. Mikesell. merchants; T. C. West. Rose & Potter and Dr. Wyckoff, druggists; A. H. Gould, hardware; E. and E. Harding. B. W. Powers, E. D. Higgins, O. M. Childs, Miss West. groceries and restaurants; Stough Bros. & Welty. bankers: O. P. Sullenberger, Central House: J. F. Myers, Valley House: Jones & Moore. W. P. Heydon. J. Leach, D. Hurley and J. W. Radford, farm machinery; C. L. Parke. musical instruments; Mrs. Addis and Miss Feauto, millinery: Leach & Drew, wheat buyers; the Herley Bros., lime burn- ers: Guy R. Wilbur and W. E. Butler, lawyers; Dr. Rowe, physician; etc .. etc.
We have been able to obtain brief histories of a few of the pioneers who first settled in Ponca and vicinity and also of some of the later generation.
Among them was Wm. Bigley Jr., who lived in Ponca and vicinity twenty-one years and died here, March 27. 1878. He was born in County Westmeath, Ireland, and came to Philadelphia, Pa., when he was nine years old and remained there until he came to this county. He and his brother, James Bigley. (an account of whose murder at Sioux City has been given in a preceding chapter) were men of activity and push, and greatly helped the growth of the town and county. At his death Wm. Bigley left a wife and three children, and James Bigley a wife.
Another early settler was Edward Serry. He came from lowa in 1856 and first located on a claim (near John Roden's place) five miles from Ponca. He was the first clerk of the Squatters Club and court, which ruled this part of the country for several years. One of his duties under squatter rule was to allot half a section of land to every new settler. This held good only until the land was sur- veyed and brought into market in 1857. Mr. Serry was county clerk several terms and in that office became very popular. He died about twenty-five years ago leaving a wife and several children, the oldest of whom, John Serry. now lives in Vermillion, S. D.
H. A. Fuller and Frank West have been briefly men- tioned in a previous chapter. Fuller went away in '61.
The Stough Brothers, viz: John Stough. Dr. S. B.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Stough and Jacob Stough came here, the first two in '56 and the latter in '57.
John Stough was born in Westmorland county. Penn .. September 12. 1828. He was raised on a farm, and in 1852 moved to Ohio. In '54 and '55 he taught school in Tusca- roras county, that state. In 1856 came to Ponca where he has nearly all the time since been one of the most promin- ent of the business men in farming. merchandise, milling, building and various other useful enterprises, among which. during a few years past he has had a large interest in an ex- tensive cold storage establishment in Sioux City. As a mat- ter of course, good management has given success and he is now considered one of the wealthiest citizens of the county. Mr. Stough was married in 1862 to Elisabeth Ernst. Have had seven children, three of whom are now living. In county and city affairs, Mr. Stough has been safe and reliable in the matters intrusted to his care. He was one of the county commissioners for five years. (1865 to and including [869), and was mayor of Ponca for two years.
S. B. Stough. born September 13, 1826, and like his brothers, was raised on a farm. He came to Nebraska in 1856. a few months before his brother John. Like him he has been engaged in various pursuits and with profitable results. Across the Missouri in Dakota he had for several years a large mill which did an extensive business. He was also connected with a bank at Elk Point and until a year ago was president of the Security bank at Ponca. In com- pany with John and Jacob Stough, he has been in the mercantile and milling business in Ponca. All these with farming, building, and his duties as surveyor for the county most of the time. have given him active life. Dr. Stough was married in 1861 to Helena Ernst. They have had five children, four of whom are living. They live in a fine house on Third street, a picture of which is given herein.
Jacob Stough. born in 1832. came here in 1857 and has been indentified with his brothers in business most of the time since. Like them he is wealthy and is one of the heavy stockholders of the Security bank. He was married to Anna Sheffel, and has two children.
J. D. Stough and Wm. Stough. the sons of John Stough, ably manage the large store of Stough Brothers. J. D.
JOHN STOUGH.
( See page 160. )
MRS. JOHN STOUGH.
( See page 160.)
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Stough has a fine business education and is very popular in the county. For two years he has been chairman of the board of supervisors, and was this fall. 1895, elected county treasurer.
Judge Edward Arnold was born near Cork. Ireland, May 1, 1822. Came to New York in 1845. and soon after moved to Massachusetts, where for several years he was engaged in cotton manufacturing. Came to Ponca in spring of 1857. At the time he came. Ponca was a part of Dakota county. and he was elected in the fall of '57, superintendent of public instruction for that county. Was first clerk of Dixon county after its organization in 1858. In '62, enlisted in Company 1. First Nebraska Cavalry, and served twelve months. In '76 and '77, was the first judge under the new constitution. Was a man of fine education and ability, and was prominent in county and town affairs. Had a large farm where he resided many years and up to the time of his death, about a mile west of Ponca. He died in 1893. greatly respected and regretted by the citizens of the county. He left a wife and two sons.
Francis Freeman, came to Ponca in '57, and lived there to the time of his death. May 5. 1886. Age. 73 years. He was a worthy and honest citizen with many friends. Two of his daughters now live in the residence he built on Front street.
Wm. Long, formerly a soldier, came to Ponca about 1865 and became clerk for Wm. and James Bigley in their hotel and store. He was a good penman and was well acquainted with western business, and was a clear headed and influential helper in building up the place. He moved away in 1870 and now lives in the southern part of the state.
Another of the first settlers of Ponca and Dixon county was E. M. Bisbee. He was born at Westfield, Chantanqua county, New York, and lived there and at Jamestown, N. Y .. until in company with N. S. Porter and C. W. Todd, he came to Ponca, arriving in 1858, where he resided most of the time until his death, March 27. 1893, aged about 61 years. When he first came here he found few white people and towns, and generally an uncultived country. It was the home of Indians and buffaloes and remote from eastern civilization and society. For a number of years he was a farmer and also worked at his trade of millright. He gradually saw the country around
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
him settle up and improve, saw the Indian and buffalo dis- appear. farms opened and cultivated, and houses, churches and towns built. In 1863. he was unanimously elected coun- ty clerk and held the office until 1865, and afterwards from October, 1870, to October, 1871, and from 1876 to 1885. It was not very a lucrative office at first, and the records required no safes or vaults, and in fact needed no other office than his hat: hence, as it was a frontier custom to wear one's hat dur- ing all waking hours, it could be safely said that "Honest Old Ned." as he was called. was always in his office and ready for business. At his death he left a wife and six sons and daughters. of whom five are now living, viz: Mrs. J. N. Hoskinson, Mrs. E. C. Ollerman and Mrs. F. Hebron, and Carl and Clarence Bisbee.
John M. Davey, now and for many years an honorable mer- chant and citizen of Ponca, was born in Washington county, Wisconsin, in 1845 and lived in that state until his twenty- eighth year. He then came to Nebraska, and located on Elk Creek. Dakota county. After two years, he removed to Ponca. (1875.) where he has been in the mercantile business most of the time since. His large store, (25 by 90 feet,) is on East street, and from the first he has had a large patronage and a wide circle of friends. Mr. Davey married thirty-three years ago a lady who died at the end of six years. His present wife, to whom he was married nineteen years ago, was Mary McCormick whose parents resided in Dakota county. He has had ten children, three by his first wife and seven by his second. Mr. Davey has an attractive and homelike residence just outside of Ponca. In financial affairs he has been very successful and is now a large land owner in Da- kota and Dixon counties.
N. S. Porter was born in 1832 in the town of Poland, Chautauqua county, N. Y. Lived in that county until 20 years old, and then with his father went to Pennsylvania to build mills. Stayed there three years and returned to James- town and was foreman in the mill business until 1857. Then with E. M. Bisbee and C. W. Todd came west. They spent the winter of 1857-58 in Wisconsin, and in '5S came to Ponca, and soon after he bought the claim he now lives on. From '58 to '70, worked mainly at mill building. Was married in 1868 to Louisa Tiffany of Jamestown. N. Y. Have had four
JOHN M. DAVEY.
( See page 166. )
1
MRS. J. M. DAVEY. (See page 166 )
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
children. three sons and one daughter, two of whom, Albert and Joseph are now living. His wife died November 16. 1883. In '62 and '63 he enlisted and helped to recruit and organize Company I of the First Nebraska Cavalry. Was mustered out in fall of '63. In '64 was a member of the territorial legislature, and in '66 was elected senator to the state legislature and re-elected in '68. Was in the mercan- tile business with S. Gamble or alone. in '69, '70. '71. Was county commissioner four years and was elected inspector of prisons for two year. From '79 was agent at the Fort Peck Indian Agency, Montana, for four years: was appointed by President Cleveland, in IS86, to allot lands to Indians on Indian territory and re-appointed by President Harrison and served three years. Has since remained at Ponca. Mr. Porter has had a busy and responsible life.
Samuel Gamble, was one of the early settlers of Northern Nebraska. First residing in Dakota county and afterwards and up to the time of his death in Dixon. he was in both for many years a prominent citizen, closely connected with their history, enterprise and business. He was born August S. 1817. in Westmorland county, Penn .. grew to manhood there. and lived in that county more than half his life. Was married April 22, 1842, to Mrs. Eleanor McCauley Adair, with whom, sixteen years afterwards. in 1856, he removed to Da- kota county, this state. At the time of his death. September 2. 18SS, he had been a resident of Nebraska for over thirty-one years, and it may be assumed that like all first settlers of a new country, he and his wife endured for a time, perhaps for years, the privations and hardships incident to frontier life. In 1866 he was afflicted by the death ef his wife, who died on the 20th of April of that year. after a married life of about twenty-four years. During his resi- dence in Dakota county, Mr. Gamble's correct business methods and merits in whatever position he was placed. gained him from the first. the confidence of the citizens. He was for several years a county commissioner. and after- wards was sheriff for six years. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I of the First Nebraska Cavalry, and as quarter- master served thirteen months. During his service his regiment was most of the time on the western frontier assisting to quell the Indian outbreak which was then so
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
desperate, especially in Minnesota and parts of Dakota, and which occasioned the wildest terror and panic in the then sparsely settled counties of North Nebraska. In 1867. Mr. Gamble married Miss Celestie Manard. In that year he removed to Ponca and engaged in the mercantile business which he continued until 1877.
R. H. Pomeroy, was born in Steuben county. N. Y .. September 19, 1844. Landed in Dixon county. September 19. 1868. Located on the southwest quarter of section 21, township 28. range 5. (Springbank township.) The 160 acres he first took he still retains. Was county com- missioner three years. ('81. '82. '83) and has been county treasurer two terms, his present term ending in January, 1896. Mr. Pomeroy has been an influential and useful citizen for the county. Mainly through his efforts, the attempt to re- bond the county to pay the old narrow gauge railroad bonds was defeated, thereby saving the county near $100,000. He was married. March 15, 1868, to Agatha D. Chapel, of Spring- grove. Wis. They have had five children, four of whom are living.
Harriet A. Pomeroy, daughter of R. H. Pomeroy, was appointed deputy treasurer. January 7. 1892, and has held it four years, fulfilling the duties with entire success.
John MeKinley was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1833. He came across the ocean in '51, and for a while was at Williamsburg. N. Y .. where he shoveled dirt and graded streets. From there he went to Connectient, near New Haven, and worked on a farm and in a saw mill. Returned to New York again and quarried stone one winter. Then went to Philadelphia: worked at various things there and out in the country until 1857. when he came to Dixon coun- ty. First took a claim on the Jourdan branch (in the South Creek region, and held it down a year, and then went to St. Louis, Mo., and from there to New Orleans and other places in Louisiana. Returned here and entered 160 acres seven miles from Ponca, up West Creek, and lived there four or five years. Then traded that place for the one he now lives on adjoining Ponca. He has 280 acres. He was a reliable and efficient county commissioner and held that office three years, '77. '78, '79. He was married in 1861 and has one son and three daughters.
R. H. POMEROY.
( See page 172. )
MRS. R. H. POMEROY. ( See page 172.)
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
J. J. MeCarthy was born in Dane county, Wis., 1857, and lived on a farm except when at school. When 19 years old he commenced teaching mathematics in the Albion (Wis.) Academy, where there were fifteen teachers and 300 scholars. Taught two years. When 21 years old he came to David City, Neb., and taught school and studied law. In 1882, came to Emerson and went into the law and real estate business. Built a residence and store, and Emerson's first newspaper office, and was connected with its first paper, the "Emerson Echo." Has been in the mercantile business at Emerson, with Theodore Kuntz for several years past, and president of the German American Bank since it started in 1892. Mar- ried June, 18S4, to Nelly McGowan of Seward county, Neb. Have five children, all living. Elected county attorney in 1890 and has held it ever since, his present term expiring a year hence. Removed to Ponca in ISS9. As county attorney he has been thorough and successful. and has given excellent satisfaction.
John A. Mohr was born in Clayton county. Iowa. and in Clayton and Delaware counties lived twenty-six years, during the last few years of which he was largely engaged in manu- facturing and bridge building. He removed to Ponca in September. 18SI, and has remained here, actively occupied since then. He was engaged in merchandise three and one- half years, and afterwards in 1886. went into the furniture business with James Hobbs. In 1887, he bought out Mr. Hobbs, and has since continued in the same business. During the time. he also built a great number of the excellent bridges which the board of supervisors have wisely supplied the county. Mr. Mohr was mayor of Ponca during one year, from May. '93, to May. '94. and has been on the school board seven years. 'all of the time except one year as director,) and his present term expires two years hence. He was married in February, 1885. to Maggie J. McKinley. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John McKinley of Ponca, and has two children boys. Mr. Mohr has been very popular with the citizens by reason of his efforts in advocating improvements and enter- prises which were beneficial to the city and county. He has done a large and honorable business and his store has an immense stockof goods and a great community of patrons.
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