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 64

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 64

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youth, and it later became his to profit by the lessons gained and under the direction of that wisest of all teachers, experience. Within the reign of Queen Victoria of England he served seven years, in the English militia, and this experience is one to which he often reverts with special satisfaction now that England and France have become allied in fighting for hu- manity in the greatest war in the annals of history, for he feels a natural and inherent loyalty to both England and France.

In 1863, at the age of twenty-three years, Mr. LePoidevin came to the United States. Within a short time after arriving in the port of New York city he made his way to Racine county, Wisconsin, where he found employment at farm work. He continued his residence in the Badger state until 1866, when he came to Nebraska Territory and entered claim to a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, in what is now Midland township, Gage county. He forthwith began with vigor the work of reclaiming and developing his pioneer farm, and the first dwelling which he there erected was a modest house constructed of rough lumber from the native cottonwood timber, the little home being fourteen by six- teen feet and one and one-half stories in height,-a home superior to those of the aver- age pioneers of the county, many of whom used primitive dugouts and sod houses. As prosperity attended his efforts Mr. LePoi- devin made gradual improvements on his farm, to which he added by the purchase of an adjoining tract of eighty acres, and he pro- vided a substantial and commodious house as the home for his family. In his pioneer ex- periences he relates that he cut his first crop of wheat with an old-time cradle, and that in those early days there were but two threshing machines in the entire county. He took a great interest in the movement which brought statehood to Nebraska and gave his help in other enterprises for the general good of the community. With the passing years he de- veloped one of the valuable farms of Gage county, where he still retains ownership of a fine estate of two hundred and forty acres, well improved. He remained on his old home-

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stead until 1903, when he removed to the city of Beatrice, where, still hale and vigorous, he and his devoted wife are enjoying the rewards of former years of earnest toil and endeavor, and where they are known and honored as venerable pioneer citizens of the county. Both are earnest members of the Christian church and he is a Republican in politics. He has never sought public office but while residing on his farm he served for a number of years as school director for his district.

On the 5th of December, 1867, he married Miss Teanna Tanner, who was born in the fair little republic of Switzerland, on January 16, 1847, and who was about eight years old when her parents, John and Babette Tanner, came to America and established their home at Etna, Licking county, Ohio. From that state they came to Nebraska in the year 1867, and the father obtained a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, east of Beatrice, both he and his wife having passed the re- mainder of their lives in this county and their names having a place on the roll of the pion- eers of this section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. LePoidevin became the parents of ten chil- dren, and it is most gratifying to record that death has never yet invaded the family circle. In conclusion is given brief record concerning the children: Adelia is the wife of Lincoln Thornburg, a successful farmer of Midland township; Almeda is the wife of Edward Es- sam, living five miles east of Beatrice ; John is a prosperous farmer in Rockford township; Bertha, who resides at Beatrice, is the widow of Hanford Chase; Mabel is the wife of Merl Hughes, of this county; Ezra is a successful farmer and resides eight miles north of Beatrice; Charles is a representative expon- ent of agricultural industry in Midland town- ship; and Marie, Josephine and Ceba remain at the parental home,-an attractive residence at 522 South Ninth street, Beatrice.

JOHN S. JONES has been a resident of Gage county since his childhood and has here, in his mature years, found ample opportunity for the achieving of success worthy of the name. Here he has been closely identified

with banking enterprise during the entire course of his active business career, and of the same he is now a prominent representative in the county. He holds the position of cashier of the First National Bank of Wymore, which is recognized as one of the leading financial institutions of Gage county, and to the ad- vancement of the interests of which his care- ful and progressive administrative policies have largely contributed. Mr. Jones is essen- tially one of the representative citizens and business men of the thriving little city of Wy- more and is properly accorded consideration in this history, - a publication on whose advisory board he has served during the period of com- pilation.

John S. Jones was born on a farm near Wil- liamsburg, Iowa, and the date of his nativity was August 3, 1877. He is a son of John S. and Ann S. (Lloyd) Jones, both natives of Wales and representatives of staunch old families of that portion of the great British empire. John S. Jones, Sr., was born in Wales in September, 1844, a son of Thomas Jones, and in his native land he was reared and educated. As a youth he became asso- ciated with the great coal-mining industry in Wales, and he was twenty-seven years of age when he came to the United States. His prior experience readily gained to him em- ployment in coal mines in Pennsylvania, but after remaining about two years in the old Keystone state he removed to Iowa county, Iowa, and turned his attention to farm enter- prise, in the vicinity of Williamsburg. There he continued operations along this line for a period of four years, and he then, in 1881, came with his family to Gage county, Ne- braska, and established his residence on a farm four miles south of Wymore. There he gave his active supervision to the work and im- provement of his farm until the time of his death, which occurred July 10, 1888. His marriage to Miss Ann S. Lloyd, daughter of John and Elizabeth Lloyd, was solemnized in Wales and his young wife accompanied him on his immigation to America; she is still living and resides with her youngest daughter, at Wymore. John S. and Ann S. (Lloyd) Jones

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became the parents of eight children, all of whom are now married and well established in life, all save the eldest of the number having been born after the family home was estab- lished in the United States. The names of the children are here noted in the respective order of birth: Elizabeth, Sarah Ann, Mag- gie, Jolın S., Jr., Mary Ella, Robert V., Edith, and Luther Ellis.

John S. Jones, Jr., the immediate subject of this review, was about four years old at the time of the family removal to Gage county, and here he has since maintained his home. He was but ten years of age at the time of his father's death and as he was the eldest son large responsibilities thus early fell upon him in connection with the work and management of the home farm. He was associated with his devoted mother in carrying forward the activities of the farm until he had attained to the age of twenty-four years, his educational advantages in the meanwhile having been those of the district schools and of the high school at Wymore, where he was a student two years. Upon leaving the farm Mr. Jones assigned its management to his brother Robert and became bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Wy- more. One year later he was tendered and accepted the position of assistant cashier of the newly organized State Bank of Wymore. of which he was made cashier two years later. In 1907 this well ordered institution received charter as a national bank and was incor- porated with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Jones continued as cashier of the bank until its building was destroyed by fire, in 1910, and in that year its stockholders and directors made a move of distinctive ex- pediency and wisdom, in purchasing the stock and business of the First National Bank. Upon the consolidation of the two institutions the title of First National Bank of Wymore was retained, and Mr. Jones has continued as cash- ier of the vital and substantial institution to the present time. The bank bases its opera- tions on a capital stock of fifty thousand dol- lars, its surplus fund is ten thousand dollars and its deposits are now in excess of six hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars

Mr. Jones is loyal and progressive as a citi- zen and is always ready to given his co-oper- ation in the furtherance of projects advanced for the general good of his home city and county. In politics he is found staunchly aligned in the ranks of the Republican party, and he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Epicopal church of Wymore. Mr. Jones is affiliated with Wymore Lodge, An- cient Free & Accepted Masons, of which he is past master ; with Hiram Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest, and with Mount Herman Commandery, Knights Templars, in the city of Beatrice, besides which he holds membership in Sesotris Tem- ple of the Mystic Shrine, in the city of Lin- coln, and in Violet Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, at Wymore, of which latter he is serving as worthy patron in 1918, his wife being likewise affiliated with this chapter. Mr. Jones takes specially deep interest in edu- cational affairs and is serving at the time of this writing as president of the Wymore board of education.

On the 28th of June, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Jones to Miss Mary Eliz- abeth Roberts, who was born near Iowa City, Iowa, on the 9th of January, 1878, her parents soon afterward coming to Gage county, Ne- braska, where they still maintain their home. The names and respective dates of birth of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Jones are here entered: Gordon John, October 12, 1908; Eleanor May, May 19, 1911 ; and Dwight, July 4, 1914.

In connection with the nation's participation in the great world war Mr. Jones has been very active in Red Cross and Liberty Loan work, with a spirit of loyalty that prompts him to give to the government and its gallant military and naval forces every possible assistance.

SIMON B. HARTZELL, a progressive farmer of Rockford township, was born March 21, 1879, and was an infant at the time when his parents established their home in Gage county. He is a son of Eli E. Hartzell, who is now living retired at Holmesville, this county. Eli E. Hartzell was born in Mahon-

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

ing county, Ohio, March 19, 1837, and his par- ents, George and Jane (Smart) Hartzell, who were born and reared in Pennsylvania, re- moved in an early day from the old Keystone state to Ohio. Eli E. Hartzell received in his youth the advantages of the common schools and as a young man he went to Indiana, where he engaged in the lumber business. Later he resided, for intervals of vary- ing duration, in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and in 1881 he · came with his family to Gage county, Nebraska. He settled in Riverside township, and there he continued his successful activities as a farmer for fully twenty years. Several years ago he removed to Arkansas, but after re- maining there a short time he returned to Gage county, where he has since lived virtu- ally retired and where he now maintains his home at Holmesville. His wife, whose maid- en name was Miralda Quigley and who was a resident of Mahoning county, Ohio, at the time of their marriage, was born December 13, 1840, a daughter of Dr. Quigley, her father having been a physician and having been engaged in the practice of his profession in Ohio for more than half a century. Eli E. and Miralda Hartzell became the parents of seven children: Willis is deceased; Rush and Jay are engaged in farm enterprise in Nemaha township, this county; Homer is a resident of Portland, Oregon; Mary, who be- came the wife of Rev. Gustave Briegleb, is deceased ; Simon Bert, of this review, was the next in order of birth; Harry is a physician and surgeon by profession and is engaged in practice at Eldorado, Kansas.

Eli E. Hartzell, who has passed the age of four score years, is one of the venerable and highly honored citizens of Gage county, and is a man of broad mental grasp, a citizen who has been loyal in all of the relations of life. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Simon Bert Hartzell gained his early edu- cation in the schools of Gage county, includ- ing the public schools of the city of Beatrice, and his initial activities as an independent farmer were conducted on land owned by liis

father. Later he was engaged for eleven years in the operation of a farm in Hanover township, under a Scully lease, and three years ago he purchased his present fine farm, in Rockford township, the same comprising two hundred acres. When he purchased the property it was not provided with buildings, as those formerly on the place had been swept away by a cyclone, a few years previously, the disaster being the more malign by reason of the fact that on the farm two persons were killed at the time. Mr. Hartzell erected a good house on the farm and also provided a modern barn and other requisite farm build- ings. He gives his attention to diversified agriculture, raises and feeds cattle for the market and is proving successful in all de- partments of his vigorous farm enterprise.

Mr. Hartzell married Miss Jewell Hick- man, who was born in Macoupin county, Illi- nois, and who is a daughter of the late J. T. and Sarah (Piper) Hickman. Mr. and Mrs Hartzell have four children - Ruth, Blanche, Simon B., Jr., and Raymond.

Mr. Hartzell is a member of the school board of his district and he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist church.

DAVID GRAF has been a resident of Gage county since 1875 and for more than forty years he and his wife have maintained their home on their present farm, in Section 4, Mid- land township. His sons now have the active management of his extensive farm estate and he and his wife are, under most gracious en- vironment and associations, enjoying the gen- erous prosperity and comfort that properly crown their former years of earnest en- deavor - sterling pioneer citizens to whom is accorded the fullest measure of popular es- teem.

David Graf was born on his father's farm in Northville township, LaSalle county, Illi- nois, September 27, 1845, the second in order of birth in a family of six sons and four daughters, and of the number seven are still living. The honored father, Samuel Graf, was born and reared in the fair little republic of Switzerland and was a young man when he.

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MRS. DAVID GRAF

DAVID GRAF

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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

came to America and in the state of Pennsyl- vania found employment at his trade, that of tailor. In Somerset county, that state, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Louise Anna Parker, and about the year 1833 they num- bered themselves among the pioneer settlers of La Salle county, Illinois. There Mr. Graf re- claimed and improved one of the excellent farms of Northville township, and upon this homestead he and his wife passed the re- mainder of their lives, he having passed away in 1876, at the age of seventy-five years, and his widow having been one hundred years of age at the time of her death, which occurred in October, 1916. Both were zealous mem- bers of the Presbyterian church.

David Graf was reinforced for his later service through the experience he gained on the old homestead farm in Illinois, where his early educational advantages were those af- forded in the district schools of his native county. There he continued his active asso- ciation with farm enterprise until he had at- tained to the age of twenty-seven years, when he found employment as a farm hand, work- ing by the month. In 1875 he came to Gage county, where his father had purchased for the sons six eighty-acre tracts of land, and on one of these tracts, east of Beatrice, the sub- ject of this sketch initiated his independent activities as a farmer. The following year he purchased his present homestead place of one hundred and sixty acres, in Section 4, Midland township, where he and his gracious wife have continuously maintained their resi- dence during the long intervening years, which have been marked by constantly increasing prosperity, won through earnest and honest endeavor on their part. On the place the original home of the family was a frame shanty that had been erected by the previous owner, Andrew J. Pethoud, who was one of the earliest settlers of the county and did much important surveying work in the early days. This primitive house continued as the Graf abode for fifteen years, and then re- moval was made to the commodious and at- tractive frame house which Mr. and Mrs. Graf now occupy, the buildings which he

has erected on his farm property being among the finest in the township and being kept in the best of repair - a fitting token of thrift and prosperity. Mr. Graf is now the owner of a fine landed estate of two hundred acres and his wife owns farm property of equal area in the same township. Vigorous and pro- gressive policies always marked the activities of Mr. Graf as an agriculturist and stock- grower, and the principles which he thus in- culcated in his sons have caused them to fol- low with equal efficiency the same policies in their management of the fine estate owned by him and his wife.

In LaSalle county, Illinois, March 3, 1875, recorded the marriage of Mr. Graf to Miss Adeline Hazemann, who was there born March 25, 1856, her parents, Jonathan G. and Amelia (Smith) Hazemann, having been natives of France and having become pioneer settlers of LaSalle county, Illinois, where they passed the residue of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Graf have four children : Alpha D. and John G. remain with their parents and have the active management of the home farm; Clarence D., who is a successful farmer in Filley township, married Miss Elizabeth Jen- sen and they have three children ; Fordyce H., the maiden name of whose wife was Hazel Burket, is serving, in 1917-1918, as city clerk of Beatrice, judicial center of the county.

Mr. Graf has been distinctively the sup- porter of civic and industrial progress and de- velopment in Gage county and while he has shown loyal interest in community affairs and given staunch support to the cause of the Democratic party he has never consented to serve in official positions other than those of road supervisor and school director. He and his wife are earnest members of the Reorgan- ized Church of Latter Day Saints, and they are genial and kindly pioneer citizens whose circle of friends in Gage county is limited only by that of their acquaintances.

GEORGE HUNKLE, secretary and man- ager of the Farmers' Elevator Company, at Holmesville, in Rockford township, is one of the leading exponents of the grain business in

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this part of the county and is held in high esteem in the county that has represented his home for more than thirty years. He was born in the state of New York, June 1, 1876, and as he was left an orphan in early child- hood he has no definite information concern- ing the family history. He was placed in an orphans' home in New York city, and when nine years of age he was sent with other boys from that institution to Nebraska, where he became a member of the family circle of Wil- liam Woolsey, a farmer in Lincoln township, Gage county. Here he was reared to man- hood and received the advantages of the local schools. He remained with his foster-parents until he had attained to his legal majority and for some time thereafter he was independent- ly engaged in farm enterprise in Lincoln town- ship. He then went to the village of Ellis, where he learned the trade of telegraphist, and after having been employed as an operator at Jansen and Plymouth, Nebraska, he returned to Ellis, Gage county, and engaged in the grain business. In December, 1901, he was made manager of the firm's business and of this position he continued the incumbent until the business was sold to Black Brothers, with whom he continued in a similar capacity, at Holmesville, until they sold their elevator and business to the Farmers' Elevator Company, in 1913, since which time he has given most efficient service as secretary and manager of this company. Mr. Hunkle is a Republican in politics, and is affiliated with the Ellis Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, as is he also with Beatrice Lodge of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks.

In 1912 Mr. Hunkle wedded Miss Fannie Lemmel, who was born in Saline county, this state, a daughter of Philip and Eliza Lemmel, the former of whom is deceased and the lat- ter of whom now resides in the city of Beatrice. Mr. and Mrs. Hunkle have a fine little son, Donald G.

CHARLES J. McCOLL has been a resi- dent of Gage county since 1888 and in the city of Beatrice he has long controlled a sub- stantial and representative business as a

skilled painter and paperhanger, his pleasant home being at 225 North LaSelle street. A scion of the staunchest of Scottish ancestry, Mr. McColl was born in Argyleshire, Scot- land, on the 13th of August, 1852, a son of James and Mary (McGinness) McColl, who the next year, 1853, immigrated to America and established their home in York county, Province of Ontario, Canada, where the father became the owner of a small farm and where he and his wife passed the residue of their lives. Of their eleven children the sub- ject of this review is now the only survivor. After the death of James McColl his widow engaged in the dairy business, and by her energy and ability she made the enterprise distinctly successful. Both were members of the Presbyterian church.

Reared to adult age in York county, On- tario, Charles J. McColl received in his youth but limited educational advantages, but in con- nection with the practical affairs of life he has effectively made good this handicap. In the city of Toronto he learned in his youth the trade of painting and graining, and after there following his trade for a number of years he decided to identify himself with the progressive western section of the United States. On the 1st of May, 1888, he arrived in the city of Beatrice, and here he has since continued his residence, the while he has been consecutively engaged in business as a painter and paperhanger, in which field of enterprise he has built up a prosperous business that makes him one of the leading exponents of the same in the judicial center and metropolis of Gage county.

March 6, 1881, recorded the marriage of Mr. McColl to Miss Susan Bates, who was born in Huron county, Ontario, Canada, a daughter of Thomas and Susan (Sterling) Bates, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Scotland. In Canada Mr. Bates fol- lowed the trade of plasterer and there both he and his wife continued to reside until their death. Mr. and Mrs. McColl became the par- ents of three children: Ethel died at the age of twenty-three years ; Eva is a popular teacher in the Central school in the city of Beatrice.

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and Mary is an efficient teacher in the high school at Shickley, Nebraska. Mrs. McColl and her daughters are members of the Pres- byterian church.

Mr. McColl is affiliated with the Knights & Ladies of Security, the Order of Ancient Foresters, and the Ancient Order of Shep- herds, in each of which he has passed all of the official chairs. In politics he has been a staunch Republican during the entire period of his residence as a naturalized citizen in the United States, and he has been influential in political affairs in Gage county. While a resident of St. Thomas, Canada, he served as a member of the city council, and this ex- perience gave him special resourcefulness when he was called upon to give similar ser- vice as a member of the city council of Beatrice. His ability and popularity marked lıim as an eligible candidate for higher offi- cial preferment, and in 1908 he was elected representative of Gage county in the Nebras- ka legislature, in which he served one term. Though the lower house of the legislature was strongly Democratic, Mr. McColl proved a strong minority leader and was assigned to various important committees, including those on public lands and buildings, towns and cities, and labor and insurance.

JACOB ESSAM has been a resident of Gage county since he was a. youth of eighteen years and by his well ordered industry and en- terprise has gained secure vantage-place as one of the representative farmers of Midland township, where he is the owner of a well im- proved farm property of four hundred acres, his attractive homestead place being situated in Section 24, on rural mail route No. 3 from the city of Beatrice, which is about four and one-half miles distant.

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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 64

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