History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 101

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 1011

USA > Nebraska > Hall County > History of Hall County, Nebraska > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

WILLIAM E. PRESTON. - Wonderful changes have been' brought about in Hall County since William E. Preston, one of Cairo's most respected retired citizens, came here as a home seeker in 1872. Although he had been a soldier during the closing year of the Civil War, he probably encountered as much danger and more hardships during his early days of pioneering than had been his portion while in the army. He has been a continuous resident of Nebraska for forty- seven years and has done his full part in de- veloping Hall County.

William E. Preston was born in Wyoming County, New York, December 1, 1843. His parents were Eli and Belinda (Coleman) Preston, natives of New York. Eli Preston was a man of consequence, prominent in the Democratic party, a farmer and a lawyer at Johnsonburg and for a number of years was

county judge. Of his family of six children the following are living: Ellen, Lovila, James, Ida, and William E.

Although his early years were spent on a farm, William E. Preston had school advan- tages in two states, New York and Illinois. In 1865 he enlisted for service in the Civil War and took part in a few battles, frequentlyy being in great danger but fortunately escap- ing injury. In 1872 he came to Hall County, Nebraska, and homesteaded, then bought eighty acres of railroad land north of where Abbott now stands, but later disposed of this land on account of failing health. Mr. Preston has vivid recollections of the great storm that was so destructive in the spring of 1873 in this section. It was of such unusual severity and so far reaching in its effects, that it oc- cupies a definite place in every history of this section. Indians were numerous when Mr. Preston came here and frequently were guests in his home. He treated them well and never had any trouble with them. Farming was a hard proposition during those early years and the settlers had to work in many other ways in order to make a living. For a time Mr. Preston worked at the carpenter trade in Grand Island and afterward found hauling a more or less profitable industry. He hauled cedar posts and a load of piling from the Niobrara river, a distance of 110 miles, and sold them to the railroad, his first load bring- ing him $78. It required a week to make the round trip, but Mr. Preston continued, re- ceiving $120 for his last load. He made a corral on his land with- some fine cedar posts and disposed of others to a neighbor, ex- changing a post for a bushel of corn. When Mr. Preston came here wolves, coyotes, prairie dogs and rattlesnakes were numerous, he sometimes killed as many as seven snakes in one day.

Mr. Preston married in December, 1873, Miss Emma Dean, who died December 24, 1917, in Grand Island. Her father, William C. Dean, was a pioneer in Hall County from Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Preston had two children : James, who lives at Metzler, Wyom- ing, married Florence Smith, and Susan, the widow of William Robinson. Since the death of Mrs. Preston, Mr. Preston has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Robinson in Cairo. In politics Mr. Preston has always been identified with the Democratic party and at times has served in local offices, for seven- teen years being overseer of the poor. He is highly regarded by his old army comrades and was commander of the post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Grand Island for one and for one Digitized by

718

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

year, when failing health caused him to re- sign the office.

MARY A. OLDFIELD, widely known and very highly esteemed in Hall County, is the widow of the late William C. Oldfield. They came to Hall County among the pioneers of 1872 and Mrs. Oldfield has resided here ever since. A woman of courage and resource, in early days she faced and overcame manifold hardships, and to her helpful energy and cheer- ing encouragement may be attributed much of the success that finally brought to the house- hold domestic comfort and financial independ- ence.

Mary A. Oldfield was born near Cambridge, England, one of a family of seven children born to her parents, James and Susan Pedley. They came to the United States in 1845, the mother dying one month after landing. Mrs. Oldfield is the only member of the family liv- ing in Nebraska. One sister, Mrs. Sarah Balker, died in Hall County in 1896. The father of Mrs. Oldfield had been a farmer in England and after coming to this country bought land in the state of New York where he continued to reside on it until his death in 1867. Mrs. Oldfield was eight years old when her parents brought her to the United States receiving her education at an excellent school near her father's farm. On August 7, 1865, she was united in marriage with William C. Oldfield, at Baldwinsville, New York. He was a farmer just returned from service in the Civil War, and they lived on his farm in Onondago County until 1872. Although he had not been wounded while in the army, his health evidently had been under-mined to some extent by military exposure, and it was in the hope of regaining it that Mr. and Mrs. Oldfield determined to seek a more bracing climate and came to Nebraska, reaching Hall County in the above year. He homesteaded 160 acres, his land adjoining the present city limits of Cairo.

For the first two years after coming to Ne- braska, Mr. Oldfield's health seemed to im- prove but the hard work entailed by the neces- sity of using ox-teams to break up his land and the long distances he had to travel to se- cure any of the comforts of life to which he had been accustomed in his eastern home, to- gether with an unusually inclement winter caused him to break down again and to be- come so discouraged that he wanted to re- turn with some other disheartened settlers, to New York. It was then that Mrs. Oldfield practically took charge of the farm and about

that time they received financial aid, being paid the proceeds from a tobacco crop they had left for sale when they gave up their New York farm. They acquired cattle and soon were in better circumstances than the average settler although they, too, at first lived in a dugout. Mrs. Oldfield relates that the way neighbors could know of each other's where- abouts, was to look over the level prairies and note where smoke was rising from chimneys. Although Mr. Oldfield never became a robust man, his health improved and he lived until 1896, in the meanwhile carrying on his farm industries successfully and taking his place among the useful public men of his township. He was a sound Republican and for several years was road overseer. He was a great- uncle of Barney Oldfield, the American auto- mobile racer.

The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Oldfield: Frank, who is deceased; William, who lives in Grand Island, married Lola Pierce; Mamie, who is deceased; Lottie, the wife of Albert Seymour, of Grand Island; Emma, the wife of Warren Baker, of Dunning, Blaine County, Nebraska; Lucy, the wife of William Taylor, of Dunning; Ida, the wife of William Sensenay, of Wood River; Anna, the wife of Martin Lorenson, of Cairo; Charles, who is deceased; Maude, the wife of Harry Waters, of Cambridge, Nebraska, and Belle, the wife of John Solon, of Grand Island. Mrs. Oldfield is a member, as was her hus- band, of the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM ADELBERT. THOMPSON. one of Cairo's most prominent citizens, has been a resident of Hall County for almost forty years. He came here in early manhood. and with other pioneer settlers of that period cheerfully assumed tasks and shouldered responsibilities that subsequently led to pro- gress and development. For some years Mr. Thompson has lived retired from active par- ticipation in business, although his extensive farm and city property interests still require his general supervision.

Mr. Thompson, familiarly known as "Dell," is a native of Iowa, born in Jasper County. December 27, 1858. His parents were Wilson and Susan (Hart) (Ferrall) Thompson, the former of whom was born near Muncie. Indiana, and the latter near Cleveland, Ohio. They had seven children and two of these are living : William Adelbert, resides at Cairo, Nebraska, and Robert, resides at Newton, Iowa. There are two children of a former marriage living: Samuel C. Thompson, a res-

Digitized by Google

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

719

DELL THOMPSON AND WIFE

Digitized by

Google

720

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

. ident of San Diego, California, and Alta Sangfelter, a resident of Seattle, Washington. Wilson Thompson enlisted for military service during the Mexican War but by the time he reached Chicago the war was over. He was a conscientious supporter of the principles of the Republican party but never accepted' a political office. For many years he was a substantial farmer in Jasper County, Iowa, and a heavy shipper of horses, cattle and hogs. When he retired, several years before his death, he visited Oregon, Washington and Ne- braska, returning then to Iowa and buying city property in Newton. He died there in 1905. His widow survived until 1912. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

William A. Thompson had educational ad- vantages in Newton, attending both the public schools and Hazel Dell, the local academy. He assisted his father on the home farm until the spring of 1881 when he came to Hall County. He bought 160 acres of railroad land, situated two miles east of the present site of Cairo. This land was originally owned by George Bussell, who lived, in early days, in a sod house just north of Mr. Thompson's present handsome residence which is made of cement blocks, planned and erected under Mr. Thompson's personal supervision. He can remember cutting grass on the land now oc- cupied by the busy little city of Cairo. His railroad land was situated at a point then known as Easton, where he resided for six years, inaugurating many improvements, and during this time succeeded in having. the hamlet made a post office station, serving as postmaster until the office was removed to Cairo, when the latter place was established. Mr. Thompson then traded his land for a hardware store in the new town and con- tinued in the hardware line in Cairo for the next thirteen years before establishing a gen- eral mercantile business which he conducter for eight years. Since 1909 he has been practically retired, although a man who owns a large amount of city property and 1700 acres of fine farming land is still regarded as an important factor in business life. He has 420 acres in Hall County and 1286 acres in Morrill County, Nebraska.

Mr. Thompson married, March 29, 1883, Miss Harriet F. Nebergall, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Vanbiber) Nebergall, who were natives of West Virginia. They came west at an early day, locating in Iowa. Subsequently they became pioneer residents of Hebron, Nebraska, where they resided many yars. The father died in the state of

Washington, the mother passing away at Gilead, Nebraska. There were six children in the Nebergall family: William and Philip, re- side at Peudleton, Oregon; David, lives at Baker City, Oregon; Jennie E., the wife of Samuel Wheeler, of Carlton, Nebraska; Vic- toria, the wife of Robert McGee, of Prov- idence, Rhode Island, and Mrs. Thompson, who met and married her future husband in Hall County. She was leading saleswoman in his mercantile establishment, assisted in con- ducting the store and materially contributed to accumulating their present comfortable fortune. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have four children : Loren W., married Belle Grossert; Robert R., married Marian Ingalls ; Millard F., a sergeant in the United States army, now stationed at Camp Mills, Long Island, New York, and one child deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Republican in his political views but has never been a seeker for public office. He has become one of the capitalists of this section mainly through per- sistent industry, careful habits and the pos- session of the good judgment that led to wise investments.

WILLIAM B. WAITE. - To the settle- ment of Nebraska many pioneers came from homes in the eastern states, where comfort and even luxury generally prevailed, and the story of early struggle and unexpected hardships here, with the subsequent coming of affluence and ease, possesses much that is interesting and that is illustrative of American energy. In this history of Hall County no better example of the above reflection can be found than is afforded by William B. Waite, whose landed possessions include 1,180 acres of rich Ne- braska soil, and whose herds of cattle graze over many miles.

William B. Waite was born September 12, 1856, in Etna, Licking County, Ohio. His parents were Hiram and Sarah (Hartsell) Waite, the former of whom was born in Ver- mont and the latter in Pennsylvania. They were the parents of seven children of whom the following are living: Arthur H., Frank E., William B., Charles E., and Hiram H. The father of the above family died in Nemaha County, Nebraska, in 1868, but the mother yet survives, a venerable lady of ninety-two years, making her home in Beatrice. After she was left a widow, she built a house on one of the farms of her husband's estate, six miles west of Brownsville, Nebraska, where she lived until 1876 when she moved into Browns-

Digitized by ogie

721

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

ville and two years later to Auburn and then to Beatrice, where she still takes part in the affairs of the Presbyterian church and enjoys social life. The father of Mr. Waite was a carpenter and wagonmaker, carrying on these trades in Ohio until 1862, when he came to Nemaha County, Nebraska, and bought three quarter sections of land near Brownsville. In the previous year he had made a prospecting trip to that section and on his return gave such favorable reports that about fifty other families joined him in 1863. They all came by wagon to settle on the beautiful Nebraska prairie. He did not live long enough after- ward to reap much benefit from his invest- ment as his death occurred as above stated, in 1868. He was a member of the Presby- terian church. In the light of recent public events Mr. Waite relates that three times his father was drafted for service in the Civil War and three times he provided a substitute. No one of the three lived to return.

William B. Waite had but meager educa- tional advantages after coming to Nebraska. He assisted his father and later worked on his mother's farms one year after his own marriage, which was celebrated December 17, 1882, to Miss Cora McIninch. Her parents were Benjamin F. and Eliza (Kennery) Mc- Ininch, natives of Ohio and Missouri respec- tively, who came early to Nemaha County and acquired a farm, on which the mother of Mrs. Waite still lives. The father of Mrs. Waite died December 6, 1911, at that time being a guard at Fort Kearney. Mr. and Mrs. Waite have two duaghters: Opal, the wife of Dr. Marcus Piersol, in Cairo, and Viva, who teaches school.

After marriage Mr. Waite remained to operate his mother's land until 1883. In the fall of that year with his father-in-law he went to Custer County in order to file a claim for a certain tract of land, but when they reached Grand Island on the way they learned that that claim had been taken. With the idea of securing land that would enable him to get into the cattle business, Mr. Waite went on into Hall County and filed on section S. E. one-quarter, Township 12-12 and bought 280 acres of railroad land on section 15, town- ship 12-12. at $4 an acre. At that time he generally made the trip on foot but early in March of the following spring he began to plan to occupy his land. He went to Grand Island and started on a walk he yet remembers. Through eight inches of snow he made the Ernest Ramsel farm where he remained all night and the next day went on to his new place to make arrangements with J. J. Brewer

to break his land, then walked back through the snow as far as the Varney farm and on the next day, through melting snow to Aurora, where he found he had worn out a pair of shoes. In August of that year he constructed his sod house, built a barn, dug a well and had a good first crop. He still owns the home- stead he filed on in March, 1884, which was supposed to be the last homestead remaining in Hall County. In addition to his 1,180 acres, all broke and fenced and the most of the farms improved with buildings, Mr. Waite owns a handsome residence in Cairo. For many years he has been a heavy dealer in cattle, and in this line as in others has done well through hard work and close attention to business.

The winter of 1885-1886 was particularly stormy and on account of being in poor health, Mrs. Waite made a visit to her people in Nemaha County, and when prepared to re- turn Mr. Waite drove five times to Grand Island to meet her only to find that the heavy snow had prevented her reaching there. On the day she did come, with her infant, Mr. Waite drove twenty-two miles in a lumber wagon through twelve inches of snow with the thermomenter 28 degrees below zero. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, which Mr .Waite helped to start and he also assisted the United Brethren congrega- tion when it held its first services in a sod house. In politics he is a Republican and has served in numerous public offices, having been road overseer, school director and county su- pervisor for sevearl years. He has always taken honest interest in the welfare of Hall County and has encouraged many worthy en- terprises here.

ALBERT D. TRUMBULL, whose long continued, faithful and effective service in the ministry of the Baptist church, entitles him to the esteem and affection in which he is held in Cairo and in other sections, came first to Ne- braska in 1872 and settled in Hamilton County. He has been a resident of Cairo since the summer of 1916, a moral force in the com- munity, and is, perhaps, the oldest minister in the state, both in age and years of ministerial service.

Reverend Trumbull was born October 8, 1838, in Ohio. His parents were Drayton E. and Sallie A. (Morey) Trumbull, the former of whom was born in Connecticut and the latter in Massachusetts. They were the par- ents of seven children, of whom Albert D. is the only survivor. They both passed away

722

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

when about seventy years old. The father of Mr. Trumbull was a farmer in Ohio, later in Indiana and still later in Michigan, where he died. In addition to farming he raised fine Devonshire cattle. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, united with the Republican party after its formation, and both parents were members of the Baptist church.

Albert D. Trumbull attended the district schools near his father's farm in Indiana. He was thirteen years old when he was converted and his mind was turned to serious subjects. He never had an opportunity to attend a the- ological seminary but devoted all his spare time to the study of religious books and readily absorbed their teachings and was yet quite a young man when he was licensed to preach, at Athens, in Marshall County, Michigan, and afterward was ordained at Hesparia, in Oceanic County, becoming pastor of the Bap- tist church there. He continued to live on the home farm for some years, his health never having been very robust, but has held many pastorates both in Michigan and Ne- braska.

In August, 1872, Mr. Trumbull came to Ne- braska and took up a homestead in Hamilton County, near what is the present site of Phillips, his being the second family to settle in that neighborhood. He lived there until the fall of 1875 when he was called to the pastor- ate of the Grand Island Baptist church, to which city he then removed, selling his home- stead. In the fall of 1874, recognizing the need that the people of southwestern Hamil- ton County had for religious privileges, he went there and made preparations, succeeded in interesting the people and a church was organized in April, 1875, under the name of the Salem Baptist church, which name continues. He served that congregation as well as the church at Grand Island, for two years and then returned to Michigan for a year When he came back to Nebraska he again became pastor of the Salem church. By that time the B. & M. Railroad had been extended through Hamilton and Clay counties and a new town was started which, by request of the people, was named Trumbull, they demanding this honor for Mr. Trumbull because of his fervent and self-sacrificing efforts in founding the first church in the vicinity. They knew that every time their pastor came to minister to them, he had to walk a distance of twenty- four miles, twelve there and twelve back to Grand Island. He realized how hard the times were for the people and while traveling as above noted and preaching twice a day. on Sun- day, through the week he worked at manual labor to support his own family.

Two years later Mr. Trumbull removed to a location near the present site of Cairo and organized the first church in the village and also organized the first church at Bluff Center, eight miles southwest of Cairo. For several years longer he was active in church work here but his health failed again and he went to California to recuperate, living there for eighteen months. After returning to Ne- braska he preached in Madison, Madison County ; in Crab Orchard, Johnson County, and in Filley in Gage County. Although, for the past twenty-five years the state of his health has prevented his accepting pastorates, it has not debarred him from active ministerial work, and even yet he gladly responds when called to supply or to assist in evangelical movements.

On October 8, 1861, Mr. Trumbull married Miss Nancy Sands, who was born at Kalama- zoo, Michigan, and died at Fremont, Nebraska, in January, 1916. Two children were born to them: Albert W., who lives at Sioux City, and Drayton E., a resident of Omaha. In July, 1916, Mr. Trumbull's second marriage was celebrated when Mrs. Eva (Stanley) Brundage became his wife. She was the widow of R. D. Brundage, to whom she had been married March 15, 1879, and they had come to Hall County shortly afterward, homesteaded and remained here. Mr. Brundage was a well known and highly respected citizen and sub- stantial farmer. Did space permit, it would be interesting to go into details concerning the many Christian enterprises with which Mr. Trumbull has been connected in the exercise of noble virtues for the welfare of his fellowmen.

WILLIAM STOLLEY. - No man ever lived in Hall County whose name was more closely connected with the early history of its settlement, and no man wielded a greater influ- ence in the growth and development of the county than the gentleman whose name in- troduces this biography, who at the time of his death, May 17, 1911, had been a resident of this community for nearly fifty-four years.

William Stolley was born at Warder, Ger- many, April 6, 1831. His father, Frederick Stolley, was a noted teacher in the duchy of Holstein, and his mother, Abel Stuhr Stolley, was descended from a family of considerable wealth. William Stolley reveived his early education in his father's school, which, though only a common school, was considered of high grade in those days. At the age of sixteen he ceased attendance at this institution and took special instruction from his father, at the same time taking regular lessons in the cabinet

Who Stoley.

Digitized by Google

Digitized by

Google

725

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

making business. He acquired sufficient knowledge to construct waterproof boxes for the shipment of specimens of natural history. His brother George was a naturalist and it was the intention of William to study and travel with his brother, who had assurances of aid from the government for his explora- tions. In March, 1848, however, the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein rose in revolt against Danish misrule, and William Stolley in company with his brother, enlisted in the service of his country. Both were enrolled as sharpshooters, though William was not then seventeen years old. He saw service immed- iately after enlistment, and remained in the company until his term of enlistment expired. He did not enlist in the regular army, however, but with his three older brothers made ready to emigrate to the United States. His young- est brother, August, remained at home to care for the aged parents who died a few years later. His brother afterwards gained the very highest position as a teacher, winning a national reputation. On April 9, 1849, Mr. Stolley sailed from the harbor of Hamburg, under the Russian flag for the port of New Orleans. After an exciting voyage, the vessel having been pursued from the outset by Danish war ships, and later beaten back by storms, he landed at the mouth of the Mis- sissippi River eight weeks after the date of his departure. Cholera was raging in New Orleans upon the arrival of the vessel, and the dread scourge attacked the little colony. Before they reached St. Louis thirty-one of the healthy and nearly all of the young pas- sengers had died of the disease. During that voyage the future Mrs. Stolley who was then a child of twelve years, lost her mother, one brother and one sister. The party took steamer from St. Louis to Davenport, Iowa, and they arrived there almost disheartened. Here Mt. Stolley's knowledge of cabinet mak- ing stood him in good stead, and by such work he earned his first dollar in America. His inclination for natural history, however, caused him to take up that work for a time, and in company with his brother George he traveled for three years in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee collecting and preparing specimens for Pro- fessor Agassiz. The collections were sent to museums, in Germany principally, though some were sent to London and Paris. Feeling that he could never make a success at this work, owing to his lack of sufficient education, he returned to Davenport and became a sales- man for a large lumber concern. Later he was employed in a general mercantile store

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 101

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co. Number of Pages: 1011

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 1011