USA > Nebraska > Dixon County > History of Dixon County, Nebraska > Part 15
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A Davis, another pioneer, came to this county January 3. 1861, and first located at Ponca. In the fall of '65 he was elected county treasurer, and held that office year after year by the almost unanimous consent of the citizens, until Jan- nary. 1876- ten years. Much of the time. Mr. Davis, like Bisbee, carried his office in his hat, yet with sneh extreme carefulness, that every cent received was promptly account- ed for. A few years ago he removed to Ponca township. where, on an excellent farm and with a clear conscience. he passes his honorable days with his family in peace and com- fort.
M. B. Dewitt came here in 1866. took a homestead and now lives on what was the old Beardshear homestead. He and his children have 510 acres well cultivated and good buildings. Has a wife and 4 sons and 3 daughters. He was sheriff five terms, and supervisor six years. His portrait ap- pears with those of the supervisors of 1895. In the preced- ing pages some of his experiences as sheriff appear in con- nection with the Mat Miller trial and the Indians who mur- dered Munson.
Rev. H. Beardshear. the father-in-law of Mr. Dewitt. came in 1865, and located where he now lives.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKAA.
Samuel Biggerstaff. 1864. lived and died in Ponea town- ship. Owned 160 acres. Thomas Stobangh and Joseph Morehouse came with Biggerstaff. Morehouse is dead and Stobaugh in Missouri.
S. H. Coats. 1867. came from lowa, was county surveyor several years and had a farm near Sheriff Dewitt's. He was prominent in county affairs and a useful citizen. He went to the Black Hills about 1875.
Mordecca Smith came in 1870 and has a good farm where he resides.
John Roden is one of the wealthiest men in the county. He has several hundred acres where he lives, and is largely engaged in farming and stock raising. He was one of the early settlers of the county, coming here in 1856.
Jefferson Wilbur has been a resident for over thirty-five years. He has a large farm about a mile west of Ponca and owns property in town.
David Carnell came with Mr. Dewitt, his brother-in-law. and settled near him. He died many years ago, leaving a large family. His widow married Charles Birber.
George Mattison was an early settler and is a prominent farmer and business man. For several years he was in the milling business and is now largely engaged in farming. buying and shipping cattle. etc. He has a large farm. fine house and improvements where he and his family reside. and has the respect and esteem of the county at large. He was elected to the legislature a year ago and served his. constituents with ability and success.
B. H. Beller and his brothers. E. Beller and Phil Beller. came here at an early dy. They first located in the town- ship and B. H. now resides there. The others have removed to Ponca city. B. H. Beller was sheriff of the county in 1874 and 1875. All are respected and worthy citizens.
"Old Man" Shook. as he was called. came here in 1862 from Sioux City and lived in the timber several years. He died about twenty-six years ago.
John Enders came in the fall of '65 and his brother. Jesse Enders. abont '66. Both are farmers and both have valuable farms and improvements. They have families and are in comfortable circumstances.
Julius Shirner came with Nick Wallenstein from Germany
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
in 1873, and owns a valuable farm of 400 acres. Has a large family.
Benjamin Sencenbaugh, the father of Lee Sencenbaugh and Cy Sencenbaugh of Ponca city. located about 1866 in Ponca township on a homestead adjoining and south of the Donlin place, (a mile east of town). Late in the fall of '69, while digging a well, and when at a depth of forty feet the hoisting box filled with dirt came loose and fell that distance upon him, injuring him so severely that he died that night. He was a good and industrious man and much liked in the community.
Daniel Donlin, from Bear Creek, Iowa, settled near where Martinsburg now is, in June. 1856. He lived there till Feb- ruary 13. 1866, and was then frozen to death in a blizzard while returning from a trip to Sioux City. (An account of this is given elsewhere.) He left a wife and ten children. In March, 1866, his wife and a part of her family removed to their farm of 160 acres, about one and one-half miles east of Ponca, and has lived there since. Two of the sons, D. F. Donlin and Mike Donlin, live and are in business in Ponca; Wm. and Thomas Donlin at Martinsburg, and James and John on the farm east of Ponca.
Wm. O'Connor came from Erie. Pa., in 1863. Bought the place where he now lives, in October of that year. Left and went to Iowa after buying the land and was there five years. Married in Iowa in 1865. Came back here in 1868 and bought Adam Smith's farm south of Ponca. Lived there ever since '68. Has six children, all living and all born here but one. Mr. O'Conner knew President Garfield in 1848, when both were drivers on the canal in Ohio. Mr. O'Conner is noted as having an excellent memory and education.
John McKinley and Judge Arnold, both of whom have been in a great measure identified with Ponca township, have brief sketches in the chapter relating to Ponca city.
Wm. Shea was a soldier in the regular army from 1835, for near twenty years. Was stationed at Fort Randall in 1861, and from there went south and came back in 1864. Soon after. he took a homestead of 160 acres in this town- ship, adjoining the Arnold farm, and bought eighty acres more on which he lived. He died in 1882. He had no fam- ily. The farm is now owned by Wm. O'Conner.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
D. P. Sherwood came here from the east with his family in 1876, and bought and located on the farm of Phil Beller. about a mile northwest of Ponca. The same year he com- menced raising an orchard. Since then he has added to the first quarter section until he now has 720 acres. hill and val- ley, well watered and suitably divided into fields by several miles of fence. Since the first also, he has devoted his at- tention largely to orchards and fruit. He has now over 8.000 fruit trees. mainly apple, 5.000 of which are old enough to bear. His trees are divided into four orchards. in the first of which. about 1.000 trees are seventeen years old. In addi- tion to apple trees. he has pear, plum and cherry trees and a. large number of choice grape vines. He has demonstrated that fruit, and good fruit, can be raised here in abundance and with profit. Mr. Sherwood deserves the friendly re- membrance of the citizens of the county for the persistence with which he has. in the face of difficulties, short crops and many discouragements, kept to his determination to have a. great fruit farm. Within a few years, when all his great army of trees are bearing, the result will be thousands of bushels per year. It is to be hoped he will live to see and enjoy the day. Mr. Sherwood is married and has a large family of sons and daughters.
Charles Frederick Blecker came from Prussia in 1862. Stopped in Pennsylvania seven years and then came to this township. Win. Blecker and Angust Blecker came with him. Wm. died after being here a year, and August moved to lowa about sixteen years ago. Charles bought a farm of 160 acres and paid $310 for it. He has now 480 acres well improved and in as fine a location as the county affords. Has three sons, two of whom Robert and Charles A .. are married and have good farms near by, and one daughter. married to Fred Rogosh, who lives on West. C'reek.
Barney McShane. another prosperous proprietor of a large farm came here some fifteen years ago.
H. I. Brown has a large farm, highly improved and cultivated. a fine residence, and groves, fruit trees and grape vines in splendid condition. about two miles north- west of town. Mr. Brown came here a few years ago and has since been prominent in public affairs.
--
A. DAVIS. (See page 207. )
(. F. PUTNAM.
(See page 207. )
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
M. Huddleston owned and ran the ferry across the Mis- souri at Sioux City in 1857 and conveyed across a large num- ber of the people who at that time came to Dixon county. He afterwards went to Niobrara and in 1864 came here and bought of John Stough the farm he afterwards lived on up to about four years ago, when he sold it to the Ponca Driv- ing & Fair Association for fair grounds, race course, etc. Mr. Huddleston was never married. A short time before he came here, his brother, Wm. Huddleston, became a resident of Ponca. and lived there much of the time since then. Both are men who have a multitude of friends and without an en- emy in the world.
B. G. Rahn, a resident for a number of years past, has a well improved farm of 400 acres.
Perry Douthit came from Iowa in 1870. Has 400 acres. Is largely and profitably engaged in dairying.
F. S. Payne, a successful farmer, has resided here 6 or S years.
A. Reynolds, up to his death about two years ago, resided for several years on his farm, a short distance northwest of Ponca. He was county judge in '90, '91, '92 and '93, and performed the duties of the office acceptably. He had also been supervisor of Ponca township in 1886, and some years before was postmaster at Ponca. He left a wife and several children, who still reside on the pleasant farm owned by hin1.
E. W. Shaw came from New York in 1879. Started a harness shop in Ponca and then bought a farm two miles east. He has 333 acres, well improved. and is a successful farmer.
W. F. Robinson and family came here from Meigs county, Ohio, in April, 1890. Wm. Scott and J. D. Kautz (sons-in-law of Mr. Robinson,) and their families came with him. All live in Ponca township. Robinson has 160 acres, and Scott and Mr. Kautz 200 each. Mr. R. has a wife and nine sons and daughters. six of whom are married.
Antone Engle, came to Ponca township about 1872 and is a successful farmer. He was one of the county com- missioners in 1883 and 1884, two years, at the end of which time he resigned.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
0. Waterman came in 1883 from Ida county, Iowa, where he had been auditor and clerk forten years. He first bought 100 acres here, and now owns 400. all fenced and improved. Has a wife and eight sons and daughters. all married except two.
An institution that in a county of so much abundance is next to useless, is the county poor farm. The farm is in Ponca township and is situated three miles west of Ponca on the Silvercreek road and contains 160 acres of good land. The house is 24x50 feet, and two stories high, containing 18 rooms. The grounds around the house are artistically arranged and attractively filled with shade trees, vines. etc. The building was completed in the summer of 1894 and on the 1st of November of that year was opened. R. P. Wil- liams, an energetic farmer of Otter Creek, was appointed superintendent and remained a year giving good satisfaction by his excellent management. During the time there were from two to three inmates.
The names of other of the residents of Ponca township are doubtless also deserving of mention. These brief notices in all townships are furnished us by those who are acquainted with the residents, but of course they have been liable to for- get many of them.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
CHAPTER XVII.
SILVER CREEK, DAILY, HOOKER, CLARK AND NEW CASTLE TOWN- SHIPS AND NEW CASTLE VILLAGE.
SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP
Is bounded on the north by New Castle, east by Ponca, south by Galena and west by Daily, and is six miles square, with not an acre of poor land in it. The township is settled by a class of citizens whose farms, dwellings and improve- ments are evidences of prosperity and good taste. There are no villages in the township. There is one postoffice. (Hazel), six schoolhouses and two churches. the West Union (Presbyterian) and the (M. E.) Central.
In 1874 the Silver Ridge seminary was opened by Rev. Walter H. Clark, and was conducted several years and finally discontinned.
In this township are a large number of orchards, prom- inent among which are those on the farms of Mr. Murtin Mr. Blecker (the farm bought by him of F. S. Payne) Miller, Merritt. Miille. Mendenhall, Russell. Weidenfeldt, Schram and Armstrong. With proper attention fruit does well here. as it does in every part of the county.
C. W. Schram is a native of New York state, from whence he came to Belle Plaine, lowa. and from there in 1871 to Omaha, and the following year to Dixon county, locating in Silver Creek township. He now has a farm of 320 acres, all under excellent cultivation. and the best buildings in the township. When he came here he hadn't money enough to buy a pair of boots. He is now worth at least $10,000. He has held township offices for the past twenty years, and is now a member of the board of supervisors. He is married and has nine children. all living. See the page of portraits of supervisors of 1895.
Dan Curry came to Dixon county from Pennsylvania in
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
1868. Is a farmer, and he and his sons own nearly two sec- tions in the township.
Frank and Gottlieb Miille came to this country from Ger- many and located in Silver Creek in 1868. Frank now owns 1.000 acres of well improved land. Has eight sons and daughters, four of whom are married. He pays the most. taxes of any man in Silver Creek. Gottlieb owns about a. section of land, well improved. Has eleven children, two of them married.
P. Dempsey, the first settler of Silver Creek township. was born in County Killdare, Ireland. 75 years ago. He came to New York in 1848, and afterwards removed to Penn- sylvania, and from there to Dixon county, arriving May 7th. 1857. Has lived since 1860 in Silver Creek. where he has 800 acres of fine, improved land. Is worth about $30,000. Has had ten children, all of whom, except two, are living. Mr. Dempsey has been prominent in public affairs, and was supervisor for Silver Creek several years.
Mark Runyan located in Silver Creek in 1870. He is a farmer, has half a section of land, good buildings and im- provements and is out of debt. His wife died abont a year ago. Never had county or town office and would never accept any.
Herman and Henry Wendte, brothers, came in 1875 from Germany and brought considerable money with them. Her- man has three-fourths of a section, and Henry half a section of excellent land. Both married and have large families.
John Mannion came in 1870 from Ireland. He is the largest cattle feeder in Silver Creek. Has over a section of land, well improved, good buildings, etc. Has a wife and six children.
J. L. Murfin came from Illinois in 1882, and has 200 acres in fine condition. One of the best farmers in Silver Creek. Has a wife and eight children, two of them married. Worth about $8,000 and out of debt.
David Armstrong located in Silver Creek in 1885. Has three quarters of a section of land. Is well fixed and is a. good farmer. Has the only brick house in the township. Has ten children living, eight sons and two daughters.
C. G. Wilson lives on the "Rus. Wilbur farm." which he
O. M. CHILDS. (See page 219. )
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
bought in 1880. Was the first supervisor of Silver Creek under township organization.
Thomas MeClary came here in 1870 and bought and now occupies a farm of 200 acres. Has eight sons and daughters, all grown up, and all married but one.
E. L. Heidy came in 1874 from Illinois. His farm has 200 acres, with good improvements. He is out of debt and is worth $5,000. Has a small family.
Fred Stark arrived from Germany in 1869, took a home- stead and added to it until he now has a farm of 480 acres. Good buildings, orchard, grove, etc. Has a wife and thirteen children.
William Stark came from Germany and took a home- stead in 1875. Has a wife and eight children. Is comfort- ably fixed and has located his three sons on farms near him.
Joe Mendenhall came from Indiana in 1875, located on 160 acres of land and occupies it at the present time. A thrifty and substantial farmer. He has a wife, six girls and a boy. Ernst Steffin. from Germany. First located in Daily, then removed to Silver Creek in 1870 and has lived there since. Has a farm of 240 acres.
R. H. Hannant settled in Silver Creek twenty-five or thirty years ago and was a successful farmer. He sold his place about twelve years ago to Geo. Lamprecht. who has since re- sided there.
Dayton Ward was superintendent of schools a few years ago. He has a farm of 160 acres.
E. H. Jones, for several years sheriff of the county, settled in Silver Creek in 1871 with his parents and brothers and en- gaged in farming. He was elected sheriff and served with great success in that office for three terms commencing Jan- uary 1st, 1878. He was highly esteemed as a citizen and justly popular as an officer. He died at Ponca in 1890. His family remain in Silver Creek.
Squire Hewett. now living in Ponca city, formerly lived on a large farm which he had in Silver Creek.
A. Drager was a successful Silver Creek farmer, removing to Ponca several years ago.
O. M. Childs, born in 1834 in Pennsylvania, was married at Erie Dec. 4. '65. to Mrs. Sarah Peabody of Crawford county, that state. Enlisted Aug. S. 62, for 9 months in Co.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
A, 131st Reg't .. Pa. Vol., and was wounded Dec. '62, in the Fredericksburg fight. Was in the government construction corps one year. Re-enlisted in 1864 in Co. I. Sth Reg't. Pa. Cav., for one year. Was wounded in front of Petersburg and discharged on account of it. July 13. '65. Was in nine hard fought battles. Moved to Nebraska in 1870. and located in Silver Creek, where he and family now reside. Has a farm of 160 acres, well improved and fenced. with a good house. grove, etc. He and his wife have two daughters, who reside with them. and one son. J. A. Childs, married, and living a mile west on a 120-acre farm of his own. Mr. Childs has also two daughters in Pennsylvania.
There are many other farmers in Silver Creek of whom no special mention is made for the want of informa- tion concerning them.
The following are the names of some:
George Foulks. K. N. Crandall. L. Coleman, G. Dudley. Roy Dudley. H. S. Cummings. Charles Crofoot. John Wilbur. H. Lowe. J. Kendall. R. Andrews, Chub Hines. C. E. Merritt. Fred Weidenfeldt, Frank Engle, Stephen Gasser. W. S. Russell. etc.
DAILY TOWNSHIP
Has thirty-six square miles of fine farming land. It has Hooker township on the north, Silver Creek on the east. Clark on the south and the county line on the west. Daily has no villages: one postoffice. Daily Branch, six school- houses, and one church. the Tara Hill church (Catholic). built abont twelve years ago.
In this township there were very few settlers until 1870. in which year a large number came, mostly from Galena. Illinois. As is the general rule in Dixon county. the people who have homes in Daily are enterprising and prosperous.
M. Conway came to Daily township in the spring of 1873. from Clayton county, Iowa, with a small amount of money. and took a homestead of 160 acres. He now has half a sec- tion, with good buildings and improvements. By his energy and good management in farming and other business he is now amply able and has no debts or liabilities. Has a wife and nine children, all living at home. Has had town offices frequently and was elected supervisor in 1891, and held that,
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
office until the re-organization of the board in October. 1895. His portrait with those of the other members of the board is seen on another page.
J. H. Addison came in 1870 and took a homestead, which he still occupies. He now has one-half a section, well im- proved, and is in good pecuniary circumstances. He was county superintendent of schools one term, and a member of the board of supervisors four years.
In 1870. C. W. Sherman came from New York, poor. took a homestead. was energetic, and has now a valuable farm of 240 acres, and is in excellent financial condition. He is one of Dixon county's very best men. His wife and one son comprise his family. He was the first supervisor of Daily. after township organization was adopted. and was county commissioner several years previously.
Ben. MeGuirk came in 1871 from Galena. Ill., hard up. and took a homestead, and now has one section all in first- class shape.
Thomas I. Thomas came in 1870 or 1871 from Galena. Ill. Has at least a section of land, and is considered the richest man in town and worth $25,000 or more. Has a large family. all living at home.
Pat Bennett located in Daily in 1870. His farm of 480 acres has fine improvements and the best house in town, and his circumstances are in every way prosperous. He has a wife and seven children. A year ago, Mr. Bennett moved to New Castle and engaged in the business of buying grain.
Edward MeGrath. another good farmer and stock raiser of Daily. came from Galena, Ill., in 1870. Has a wife and seven sons and daughters, all grown up and living near him.
Peter MeClusky about 1870 took a homestead, and now has 280 acres, together with cattle. horses, etc .. and is out of debt.
John O'Grady about 1870 came from Galena. Ill., and took a homestead of 160 acres. He has now 240 aeres, with build- ings and improvements O. K. Has a large family of sons and daughters, mostly grown up.
Sol Cummings came about three years ago from New Castle and bought a quarter seetion. Is a successful farmer. Has a wife and several children.
Pat MeGuirk, son of Ben MeGuirk, has two good farms in
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Daily and another in Clark, and is successful in business and popular with a host of friends.
John McGrath, son of Edward MeGrath, is another good farmer in Daily.
Ed. Wilkinson located in Daily about 16 years ago. He has a well improved 160-acre farm and is well off.
W. W. Atkinson came at an early day and bought 320 acres. Died about two years ago. His wife was post- mistress at Daily postoffice for eighteen years. No children. Mr. Atkinson was a county commissioner for several terms and an excellent, popular and useful citizen.
Wm. Mallory came in 1873, and took a homestead where he still lives. He and his family are in comfortable circum- stances.
Mike Donahue took a homestead in 1870, and now has a fine farm of 520 acres well improved. Has a wife and eight children living.
Pat Morris and John McManus both came about the same time. 1870. took homesteads and lived there till a year ago when they removed to Ponca. Both are comfortably off.
James Hillen, 1870, farmer. 280 acres. Good improve- ments. Large family.
Michael Dougherty. from Galena, Ill., in 1870. Owns 320 acres and is out of debt.
Wm. Cady located in Daily about twelve years ago. Has 160 acres nicely cultivated and improved.
John H. Powers came from Galena, Ill., in 1870, and has about 500 acres. He was poor when he came, but energy and industry have brought success and good fortune.
Josiah Hoover took a homestead in 1870, and was there until his death in 1891. His family yet live there.
Brian Manley took a homestead in 1870 and yet lives on it. Has a large family, all at home.
Herman Baker, an old settler, has a good farm and a blacksmith shop. and is well off.
Peter Askin came here about fourteen years ago and bought a good farm of 160 acres, well improved, where he and his family now live.
H. H. Grosvenor is an old settler and successful farmer.
James Ward, a worthy citizen of Daily, died several
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
years ago. He had a good farm on which his wife now re- sides.
In addition to the above there are numerous other citizens of Daily concerning whom we are unable to obtain infor- mation as to when they came, their farms, etc.
Among them are: David Monfort. Dan McDonald, Charles Martin, Phil Dougherty Jr., Mike Dougherty, Balt Addison, --- Taylor, etc., most of whom are successful stock growers or farmers.
HOOKER TOWNSHIP
Is situated in the northwest corner of the county. It ad- joins Ionia and New Castle on the east, Daily on the south, Cedar county on the west, and the Missouri river bounds it on the north. It contains about fifty square miles. Hooker has now no village, and though the ancient villages of Concord- Dixon-North-Bend were once prominent on the map of the town, they have not been in existence for nearly thirty-five years. The face of the country in Hooker is somewhat rough, but the soil is excellent and along the river timber is abundant. Stock raising was for many years a leading en- terprise, but as the population increased, the stock business has given place to general farming.
A few of those who have been prominent as citizens or early settlers of Hooker are the following:
A. N. Gran and S. N. Gran and their father Nels H. Gran came from Norway. A. N. Gran in '68, and S. N. Gran and their father in '70, and located on homesteads in Hooker in 1871. A. N. Gran and his brother now occupy the same claims first taken by them; their father lived on his until his death in 1889. Both the brothers are successful and enterpris- ing men and have large farms which are well improved and profitably worked. A. N. has 250 and S. N. 240 acres. The former has a wife and four children living and the latter has a wife but no children. Both are prominent in township affairs, and A. N. Gran has been Hooker's member of the board of supervisors several years, his term ending in Octo- ber, 1895, on the reorganization under the new law. His portrait will be seen with the rest of the board on another page.
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