History of Gage County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religious, and civic development from the early days to the present time, Part 112

Author: Dobbs, Hugh Jackson, 1849-
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Publishing and Engraving Company
Number of Pages: 1120

USA > Nebraska > Gage County > History of Gage County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religious, and civic development from the early days to the present time > Part 112

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The boyhood days of Stephen A. Smith were spent on the Illinois farm and his early educa- tion was gained in the public schools of the neighborhood, this discipline being supple- mented by his attending a college at Burling- ton, lowa. When a young man of twenty-one years he began his independent career, - working on a farm by the month, and in those days one dollar a day was considered large wages for the service which he thus rendered.

In 1870 Mr. Smith came to Nebraska in true pioneer style. He drove overland with team and covered wagon and crossed the Mis- souri river at Nebraska City. After reaching the Nebraska side he started west, and the wind was blowing such a gale that he saw plows and harrows left in the fields and nearly covered with sand. This could not have proved a very encouraging sight, but he pressed on and arrived at Beatrice, Gage county on the 19th of April. He found lodg- ing at Blythe's bakery and hotel and the next morning started for Sicily township, intend- ing to follow the ridge south from Beatrice. It was snowing and blowing so badly that he could hardly see, and after many hours he came to a road. This he followed, and to- ward evening he could see ahead of him, signs of a settlement. As he drew near he found he had returned to Beatrice, from the west, as he had traveled in a circle during the storm. Again he stayed all night in the same place as the night before. The next day, under more favorable circumstances, he reached his des-

tination in Sicily township, where he and his brothers had bought three hundred and twenty acres of wild, unbroken prairie. Mr. Smith set resolutely to work to make a home. After ten years he sold his one hundred and sixty acres there and moved to Blue Springs town- ship, where his wife had inherited a tract of land. For many years Mr. Smith conducted a nursery on his farm, and thus he aided and encouraged in no small degree the planting of trees, both fruit and ornamental. His landed possessions in Gage county were three hundred and twenty acres, in Blue Springs township, and he also owns land in Kansas and Canada. .

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have for several years past made visits to Canada during the succes- sive summers and have there spent several weeks in recreation and looking after their in- vestments.

On November 11, 1874, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Smith to Miss Henrietta Tobyne, who was born in Ogle county, Illi- nois, July 19, 1855. She is a daughter of James N. and Caroline (Zeitz) Tobyne, the former born in Canada, the latter in Ger- many. Mrs. Smith's parents became resi- dents of Gage county, May 19, 1868: they set- tled in Blue Springs township, where the father became an extensive land owner, and in this township they both passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Tobyne died at the age of sixty-one years, and his wife was sixty-two years of age at the time of her death.

Three children came to make the home happy for Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Leslie Allen died at the age of twenty-two years; Lenley Elton married Miss Lizzie McMichaels and he is a farmer in Blue Springs township; and Miss Estelle A. remains with her parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist church, in which they have been active workers for many years. In politics Mr. Smith was a Democrat for many years, but he is now inclined to vote for men and measures, regardless of party. In recent years he has given his support to the prohibition movement, the cause of temperance finding in him a stalwart champion. He served as

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treasurer of his school district while residing in Sicily township, as did he also after remov- ing to Blue Springs township and while here living on his farm. When the Farmers' Grain Company of Blue Springs was organized, six- teen years ago, Mr. Smith was one of its founders, and he has served as its president since that time.

Mr. Smith and his wife and daughter oc- cupy a beautiful home in Blue Springs, sur- rounded with all the necessities and many of the luxuries of life, and though retired from the active labors of former years Mr. Smith still keeps in touch with affairs connected with the Grain Company and otherwise gives his supervision to his investments. He is one of Gage county's most respected citizens, and the success and honor that have come to him are justly deserved.

FRED N. CRANGLE, an active and repre- sentative business man at Blue Springs, was born in Henry county, Illinois, January 2, 1874. He is a son of William F. Crangle, of Beatrice, (a sketch of whom appears on other pages of this history.)

Fred N. Crangle came to Nebraska with his parents when a child, and received his early education in the country schools of Gage county, after which he took a course in the Northwestern Business College of Beatrice. He followed farming in Gage county for a number of years. In 1910 Mr. Crangle moved to Butler county, Kansas, where he bought a ranch of nine hundred and sixty acres, which he still owns, besides being the owner of land in Sedgwick county, that state. For four years Mr. Crangle was traveling salesman for the International Harvester Company, and at one time he was assistant state manager in Kansas for that company. In 1915 he re- turned to Beatrice, but soon afterward he moved to Blue Springs and began work for Black Brothers' Mill Company, in charge of their grain elevator. By this company he is still employed.

On June 8, 1898, Mr. Crangle was united in marriage to Miss Nettie A. Cavett, daughter of Reuben and Calista Cavett. Mrs. Crangle

was born in Illinois and came to Gage county with her parents in 1882. Mr. Cavett now makes his home with the Crangle family in Blue Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Crangle are the parents of four children : Paul, Beulah, Bes- sie, and Abbie.

In politics Mr. Crangle is a Republican. He is a member of the Royal Highlanders at Bea- trice, and he and his family are members of the Methodist church.

Mr. Crangle has been a very successful man and now owns several hundred acres of land in Kansas, besides a nice home in the town of Blue Springs.

THEODORE BOHNSTEDT maintains representative status as one of the prominent and influential exponents of farm industry in Hanover township, where his attractive home- stead place is situated in Section 10, and as a substantial and honored citizen of the county he merits specific recognition in this publica- tion.

Mr. Bohnstedt was born in Richland county, Illinois, August 10, 1862, and is a son of Charles and Mary E. (Capel) Bohnstedt, the former a native of Germany and the latter of the state of Pennsylvania. The marriage of the parents was solemnized in Zanesville, Ohio, and within a short time thereafter they removed to Richland county, Illinois, where Charles Bohnstedt purchased a farm of eighty acres. He became one of the successful farm- ers and representative citizens of Richland county and there continued his residence until his death, which occurred June 9, 1915, his widow being still a resident of the county in which they established their home many years ago. Mr. Bohnstedt was a Democrat prior to the Civil war and thereafter transferred his allegiance to the Republican party. His re- ligious faith was that of the Evangelical church, his widow now being a member of the United Brethren church. He finally traded his farm for property in the village of Olney, Illinois, where he passed the residue of his life. He was a son of Charles Bohnstedt, who established the family home in Pennsyl- vania upon coming to America, but who later

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

removed to Ohio and finally to Illinois, in which state his death occurred. David Capel, maternal grandfather of the subject of this review, was a native of France and after com- ing to the United States he established his home in Pennsylvania, whence he later re- moved to Ohio, where he passed the rest of his life.

Theodore Bohnstedt was reared and edu- cated in Illinois and was twenty-three years of age when, in 1885, he came to Nebraska and established his home in Gage county. For two years he was here employed by William Townsend, one of whose daughters he event- ually wedded, and after thus taking to him- self a wife he resided one year in the city of Beatrice. He then turned his attention to farm industry, and since 1909 he has rented and conducted progressive farm enterprise on the half section of land which he rents of Robert Littlejohn. He follows a vigorous course in his operations as an agriculturist and stock-grower and makes his business en- terprise one of definitely successful order.

In May, 1887, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bohnstedt to Miss Mary Townsend, a daughter of the late William Townsend, to whom a memoir is dedicated on other pages of this volume. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bohnstedt eight are living: Harry L. is a skilled mechanic and is employed in an electric-light plant at Oak, Nebraska ; and the other children remain at the parental home, -- Hazel, Velma, Duane, Maude, Mabel, Mar- jorie and Preston.

In politics Mr. Bohnstedt is found aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party and though he has had no ambition for official preferment of any kind he has shown his civic loyalty by effective service as road supervisor and as a member of the school board of his district.

GEORGE N. PENCE was twenty-four years of age when he came from the old Buck- eye state to Gage county, in 1885; and his activities since that time have shown signifi- cantly that a generous measure of prosperity has been here possible of achievement on the

part of the man of industry and integrity who will apply himself diligently along the line of agricultural and live-stock enterprise. He owns and has made excellent improvements upon his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Section 18, Logan township, where he is now living practically retired, the farm being rented to a good tenant.

George Newton Pence was born in Adams county, Ohio, on the 13th of August, 1861, and is a son of Louis and Harriet (Mowry) Pence, who passed their entire lives in that fine old commonwealth. Mr. Pence was reared and educated in Ohio and there con- tinued his association with agricultural pur- suits until 1885, when he came to Gage county and found employment at farm work, at a compesation of eighteen dollars a month. He carefully conserved his earnings during the eight years he was thus engaged and then turned his attention to independent activities on a rented farm. Finally he purchased his present homestead, in 1902, and he has de- veloped the same into one of the excellent farms of Logan township, all of the buildings on the place having been erected by him and unequivocal success having attended his ef- forts during his active career as a progressive and substantial exponent of farm enterprise in Gage county. He is aligned in the ranks of the Democratic party, has been liberal in support of measures and enterprises projected for the general good of the community but has had no ambition for political activity or of- ficial preferement.

In 1889 Mr. Pence married Miss Clara B. Mumford, who was born and reared in this county and who is a daughter of the late John B. Mumford, an early settler and honored pioneer of the county. Mrs. Pence passed to the life eternal in 1901 and is survived by one son, Albert, who is a successful farmer in Logan township.

WALTER V. LANCASTER, who is now living retired in the city of Beatrice, his pleas- ant home being at 625 North Eighth street, held for a quarter of a century a place of prominence as one of the representative farm-

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

ers of this county, and he is still the owner of a valuable farm property of two hundred and forty acres, in Holt township.

Walter Vivian Lancaster was born in Ma- coupin county, Illinois, August 15, 1863, and is a son of William Lancaster, whose father, Frank Lancaster, was a pioneer settler in the state of Illinois, adequate record concerning the family history being given on other pages of this publication, in the sketch dedicated to Raymond Lancaster, a brother of him whose name introduces this article. Walter V. Lancaster was reared and educated in his na- tive county, where he attended the district schools and later the village schools of Girard. He assisted his father in farm operations and upon attaining to his legal majority he came to Gage county, Nebraska, and purchased his present landed estate of two hundred and forty acres, in Holt township, the farm having been reclaimed and measureably improved. He made this one of the model farms of the township and there developed a most pros- perous enterprise along the lines of diversi- fied agriculture, stockgrowing and dairying, special success having attended his activities as a feeder and shipper of cattle, in which field of enterprise his operations were conducted on a somewhat extensive scale. · After remaining on his farm for twenty-five years he removed to Beatrice and his younger son now has the active management of the farm.

Mr. Lancaster has shown lively interest in the things that touch the communal welfare, is a staunch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and in addition to having served three years as clerk of Holt township he served many years as school director of his district while still residing on his farm.

In Illinois, in 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lancaster to Miss Alice Barnes, who was born in Mason county, that state, a daughter of George and Clarissa (Hovey) Barnes, natives respectively of Ver- mont and Massachusetts and both young at the time of the removal of the respective fam- ilies to Macoupin county, Illinois. In that county was recorded the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes and eventually they removed

to Mason county, that state, where he en- gaged in farming. In that county Mrs. Barnes remained until her death and her hus- band passed the closing years of his life with his daughter, in Gage county, Nebraska. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Lancaster was Nathaniel Barnes and her maternal grand- father, Daniel Gilbert Hovey, was a minute- man who gave patriotic service as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster are zealous members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and they have a wide circle of friends in their home city and county. They have two children: Clark is a skilled mechanic and he and his wife, whose maiden name was May Evans, reside with his parents, their children being Mabel and Eunice; Oscar W., who has charge of his father's farm, mar- ried Miss Maude Ford and they have three children, - Eliza, Beatrice and William Wal- ter.

ROBERT C. HEMPHILL. - The late Robert C. Hemphill was one of the gallant patriots who fought to save our country from dissolution when its integrity was menaced by armed rebellion, and who fought equally well in the great nature-conflict necessary to re- deem the prairies and make them blossom as the rose. Mr. Hemphill served in the Civil war for three years, in the Army of the Po- tomac, as a member of Company F, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He served his country faithfully. There were no brilliant attacks or high-handed captures to his credit, but he knew all of the hardships and privations the soldier had to undergo to be at hand when his country needed him. But with all of the hard- ships came the glory at the end, when his coun- try was united in body and spirit. He was honorably discharged May 2, 1865.

Robert Hemphill was born April 24, 1841, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. On the 13th of February, 1868, he married Margaret J. Brown and to this union were born nine children, eight of whom are living: Robert B. is a resident of Riverside township, Gage county ; Ella O. is the wife of W. P. Car- rithers, of Beatrice; William J. resides at

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

MRS. ROBERT C. HEMPHILL

ROBERT C. HEMPHILL

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

Lincoln, Nebraska ; Bessie died November 30, 1899; Walter C. resides in Lincoln township, this county; Helen M. is the wife of C. H. Lunbeck, living at Blue Springs, Nebraska ; Carrie B. is the wife of Lewis Sears, of Ball- ston Spa, New York; Charles V. lives in Lincoln township, Gage county ; and Agnes O. is the wife of Ralph Clark, of Riverside township.

In 1883 Robert C. Hemphill came with his family to Beatrice, Nebraska, and purchased land southwest of the city, in what is now Elm township. He came in the days when the pioneer front guards had opened the way but when there was need for men of determined spirit and a willingness to make sacrifices for the upbuilding of a great agricultural com- munity. He continued his successful farm enterprise until 1908, when he retired and es- tablished his home in the city of Beatrice, where he remained until his death, January 24, 1918. He was an honored member of Rawlins Post, No. 35, Grand Army of the Republic, at Beatrice, and just before his de- mise he was elected commander of the post. though he officiated at only one meeting after his election.

When Mr. Hemphill and his wife came to this county, in 1883, they allied themselves with the Presbyterian church. In 1888 he was elected ruling elder, and for thirty years he filled this place with true Christian faith- fulness. In its support this church received liberally of his time and money at all times. He was interested also in his township and county, and when they needed a man to be a servant of the people he gave of his time and ability to such service. He was a member of the Gage county board of supervisors and was county assessor for five years. In this latter capacity he became specially well known to many of the residents of the county.

Mr. Hemphill's devoted wife was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1846, and she passed to her reward September 17, 1909. Two sons, Walter C., and Charles V., purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Section 28, Lincoln township,. in 1911. These two brothers are farming these acres

jointly. They were just lads when they ar- rived in Gage county and have spent the greater part of their lives here. Walter C. was born February 20, 1875, and Charles V. was born March 1, 1881, both being natives of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. They re- ceived their education in the district schools and have devoted their time to the tilling of the soil. They are successful farmers, hav- ing improved their farm with not only utility in view but beauty as well. The commodious house and barn well attest to their ability and progressiveness. On their farm they feed a good many cattle for the market each year and this business is done on a somewhat ex- tensive scale.

Charles V. Hemphill married Miss Maude Wells, of Jefferson county, Nebraska, and they have four children, Neva, Ruby, Dorothy. and Clark - all at home with their parents.

Walter C. Hemphill is still a bachelor and shares the home with his brother and family. These two young men are valued members of their community, conduct their farming op- erations in a strictly businesslike manner and they are keeping abreast of the time along agricultural lines. They are Republicans in politics.

ANTON DVORAK. -- The subject of this record is a prosperous farmer residing in Glen- wood township. He was born in Bohemia, Germany, February 1, 1866. His parents, Frank and Frances Dvorak, also natives of Bohemia, came to the United States in 1876 and settled in Richardson county, Nebraska, where the father became a prosperous farmer and extensive land owner. Both passed away in Richardson county, the father at the age of seventy years and the mother at seventy-five. They were the parents of four sons, all of whom are living: Frank, resides in Pawnee county, Nebraska, and Adolph in Missouri ; Anton is the subject of this sketch ; and John lives in Chicago.

Anton Dvorak was ten years old when the home was transferred to the New World, and until the age of twenty-two he remained on his father's farm in Richardson county. He

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

than began his independent career as a farmer on land given him by his father. He had a team of horses, a few tools, and with this equip- ment he went to work. He was the owner of two hundred acres in Pawnee county when, twenty-two years ago, he came to Gage county and purchased his present farm of three hun- dred and twenty acres. He also helped his son buy a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He is engaged in general farming and has one of the well improved properties of the town- ship.

In Richardson county, he was married to Miss Antonia Svarckop. She was born in Bohemia, in August, 1868, a daughter of Hynek and Barbara Svarckop, who came from their native land many years ago and were farming people of Richardson county, where both passed the rest of their lives.

Mr. and Mrs. Dvorak are the parents of six children : Mary, is the wife of Frank Cacek ; Frank, a farmer of Glenwood township; Anna, Charles, Amos and Blanche are still under the parental roof. The family are Presbyterians in religious belief and Mr. Dvorak votes with the Democratic party in national affairs, while at local elections he is independent of partisan lines. He is a good farmer, a first-class citi- zen and has a host of friends.

BRUNE C. MEINTS has been a resident of Nebraska since he was fourteen years of age and due record concerning the family his- tory appears on other pages, in the sketch dedi- cated to his father, Christ J. Meints. He whose name initiates this paragraph acquired his youthful education in the district schools of Nebraska and was reared under the con- ditions and influences of the pioneer days. He was born in Adams county, Illinois, October 21, 1867, and he has been consecutively asso- ciated with farm industry in Nebraska from his youth to the present time. Definite suc- cess has crowned his activities as an agricul- turist and stock-grower and he is now the owner of a well improved farm estate of two hundred and forty acres, in Logan township, where his attractive home is located in Sec- tion 16. On his homestead he has erected ex-

cellent buildings, including a commodious farm residence, and he has long been known as one of the progressive farmers and substantial and public-spirited citizens of Logan township. He is staunchly arrayed as a supporter of the cause of the Republican party and while he has not sought political preferment his insist- ent interest in local affairs has been shown in the effective service he has given as road supervisor, of which position he is the incum- bent at the time of this writing. Both he and his wife are active communicants of the Han- over Lutheran church, as was also his first wife.

In 1891 Mr. Meints wedded Miss Grace Ihnen, who likewise was born in Adams county, Illinois, and who was a daughter of Onke Ihnen, who was a successful merchant in Illinois and who died in Butler county, Ne- braska, where he had become a successful farmer. To this marriage were born eight children : Christ is married and resides on a farm northwest of the village of Pickrell, this county ; Onie is married and is engaged in farm enterprise in Logan township; and Henry, Jennie, Grace, William, John, and Brune remain as.members of the home circle. The mother of these children passed away in 1909. Mr. Meints later married Miss Mary Hattesohl, a native of Wisconsin, and she is the popular head of the domestic affairs of the pleasant home.

JOSEPH CACEK. - Born in Bohemia, in 1832, and reared to manhood in his native land, the late Joseph Cacek married Miss Anna Tepla, who was born in Bohemia in 1840. Mr. Cacek's patriotism is shown by the fact that he served eight years in the military or- ganization of his country, - four years on land and four in the navy. In 1867 he came with his family to America and they resided in the city of Detroit, Michigan until 1874, when he became a pioneer settler of Gage county, Nebraska, locating at Clatonia. Five years later he bought land in Paddock town- ship, and etsablished a home on the northeast quarter of Section 8. Here he built a frame house, and, with the help of his family, began

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the development of a farm. As the years passed he succeeded, and he made additional investments in land, becoming one of the well- to-do men of the county. Mr. Cacek made three trips to the old country and on one of these journeys he passed away, in 1912, his wife having died in 1896. Mr. Cacek's suc- cess was due to his own and his family's ef- forts, as he landed in America with but twenty-five cents. He lived to be seventy years old and had the pleasure of seeing the members of his family all well established in homes of their own.

To this worthy couple was born four chil- dren, as follows: Joseph and John, farmers in Paddock township; Mrs. Rimund Weiner, of Sicily township, and Mrs. Joseph Bures, of Glenwood township. The parents were com- municants of the Catholic church, and in the upbuilding of Gage county they did their full share.

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History of Gage County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religious, and civic development from the early days to the present time, Part 112

Author: Dobbs, Hugh Jackson, 1849- Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Publishing and Engraving Company Number of Pages: 1120

Author: Dobbs, Hugh Jackson, 1849-
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Publishing and Engraving Company
Number of Pages: 1120