History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 129

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

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On May 5, 1884, Mr. Lyhane married Miss Mary C. Kerr, at Aurora, Nebraska. Her parents, James and Mary (O'Hare) Kerr, had the following children: Mrs. Margaret Sav- age, James D., Mrs. Mary C. Lyhane, Mrs. Delight L. Caveny, and Mary T. Mr. and Mrs. Lyhane had three children born of their own: John G., an engineer, resides in Chey- enne, Wwoming, married Lillie McElharen; Mary E., the wife of Thomas Mullen, a mechanic in the railroad shops in Grand Is- land, has one daughter; and Maro D., who resides at home, is a graduate of the Wood River high school.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lyhane bought land near Aurora, Nebraska, on which they resided for nine years. In 1893 they came to the present home farm, Mr. Lyhane purchasing eighty acres at that time and through industry adding to it until now the family owns two hundred and forty acres. valued at $200 an acre. Maro D. Lyhane is successfully carrying on farming and stock- raising. Mrs. Lyhane has a beautiful country home here, built at a cost of $6,000. The Lyhanes are members of the Roman Catholic church.

NORMAN J. ELDRIDGE, an enterpris- ing business man and progressive agricultur- ist of Hall County, is a representative of a pioneer family that came here to settle in the wilderness sixty years ago. Industry, enter- prise and frugality have always marked this family, prosperity resulting from these quali- ties, and the old homestead secured in 1859 still belongs to the Eldridges.

Norman J. Eldridge was born in Wood River township, Hall County, Nebraska, a son

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of William G. and Sarah S. (Shenton) Eld- ridge, the former of whom was born in In- diana and the latter in England. They were married at Wood River, November 11, 1860, by Fred Hedde, and the following children were born to them: Mrs. Anna S. Winslow, Norman J., Mrs. Mary E. Calnor, Jasper J., and Mrs. Fannie R. Williams. William C. Eldridge came to Hall County from Attica, Indiana, in 1859, being accompanied by his brother, Jesse F., and their father, Jasper J. Eldridge. He pre-empted the northeast quar- ter of section fourteen, range eleven, Wood River township, was married in the following year and this land continued to be the family home. The father of Norman J. died here December 13, 1908, and the mother on Novem- ber 27, 1916. Mrs. Eldridge was an estimable woman in every relation of life and was not only precious to her own family but was uni- versally beloved.

Norman J and his brother Jasper J. Eld- ridge have always lived on the old homestead, where in a general way, they have always been associated together in business. On February 13, 1899, they entered into a regular partner- ship. They own the old home place, which is worth $200 an acre, and also own an irrigated tract of one hundred and sixty acres, near Douglas, Wyoming. They carry on general farming and have pro- fited greatly in their stock business and at the time of writing have just completed plans to engage in raising registered Hampshire Down sheep on an extensive scale. In building up their fortunes, they have gained a reputation for business integrity that is entirely deserved. Mr. Eldridge remembers when Indians were still in this neighborhood and when it was not an unusual thing to see a herd of buffalo.

At Grand Island, on April 10, 1910, Jasper J. Eldridge married Miss Annie E. Rickard, the only child, of T. L. and Catherine A. (Mc- Dermot) Rickard. Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge have two sons: Jasper W., six years old and Jesse L, two years younger. The latter had the distinction of being the youngest purchaser of Liberty Bonds in Hall County, when he in- vested at the age of two and a half years. While the Eldridges are not active politically, they are fine, upstanding citizens and depend- able in every way when the welfare of Hall County is under consideration.

WILLIAM M. REED. - With our country just emerging from its participation in the World War, it is only natural that more than ordinary attention be paid to the record of

those who have been the gallant defenders of the nation in time of peril, and the subject of this record is deserving honorable mention.

William M. Reed was born in McDonough County, Illinois, March 7, 1896, a son of George W. and Maria (Stoneking) Reed, both of whom were born in Illinois, the father, May 31, 1834, and the mother March 4, 1862: They were married in the fall of 1887, and in 1899 became residents of Hall County, Nebraska. George W. Reed was a soldier during the Civil War, serving in an Illinois regiment during the last three years of that terrible conflict. He took part in twenty-two hard fought bat- tles, and was one of those who escaped being wounded. He maintained pleasant relations with his old army comrades by membership in the G. A. R. He was successfully engaged in farming for many years, but is now making his home at Purcell, Colorado. His wife suc- cumbed to typhoid fever March 2, 1890. They reared a family of six children, as follows : Isaac M., Francis B. Henderson, Emma L. Helty, Joseph S., William M. and Elnor L. Pence.

William M. was reared on the farm and completed the course of study prescribed for common schools in 1912. When just past his eighteenth birthday, he enlisted in the United States Regular Army, March 11, 1912, at Fort Logan, Colorado. While at Fort Bliss he had the misfortune to have a leg broken by the kick of a horse. No sooner had he re- covered from this when the other leg suffered the same fate by having a horse fall on him. He was at Douglas, Arizona, when Villa and Caranza had their three days fight starting on Thanksgiving morning. He and five com- rades were sitting on the school house steps when the outlaw, Villa, crossed the line and fired on the First Artillery at Aqua Prieta. When the Mexicans spied our subject and his comrades they became somewhat reckless in the use of fire arms, which caused the soldiers of Uncle Sam to come down from their seats and as Mr. Reed does not relate what took place after that it is left for the reader to sur- mise. As a member of the machine gun com- pany of the Twentieth Infantry, with the Third Battalion and the Twelfth Infantry of Regulars, he participated in the skirmish with the Mexicans when they crossed the line at Nogales, Arizona. This seems to have been a red letter day for the Jones', all of the ten wounded men were of that name.

While stationed at New Orleans he met and fell in love with Miss Anna M. Oldenwalder, whom he married on the 12th of June, 1918. She remained in her parent's home until her

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husband was released from the army and put on the reserve list, when he returned to that city and brought his young bride home with him and they are now making their home on the farm in Wood River township. A port- rait of the subject of this record will be found on other pages of this volume, and it is need- less to say that in the years to come he will be found as loyal as when following the Stars and Stripes as a member of the United States army.

GEORGE B. FRAZELL, one of Hall County's substantial men and representative American citizens, has been well and favor- ably known here for many years. He is a man who built up his fortune through personal effort and in doing so has always commanded the respect of those with whom he has been associated.

George B. Frazell was born at Oquawka, Henderson County, Illinois, February 19, 1857, the fifth in a family of seven children born to George B. and Jane (Strickland) Frazell. The other children were: Warren, a soldier in the Civil War; Mrs. Amelia Martin, deceased; Ray, a veteran of the Civil War; Mrs. Philena Romans, who survives; Mrs. Leona Gregg, who is deceased, and Jennie, also deceased. The paternal grand- parents were Warren and Jane (Van Galder) Frazell. From a chronological history of the Frazell family that George B. Frazell has in his possession and justly prizes highly, he can prove that his ancestors came from France between 1620 and 1625 and landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. The early Frazell family was prolific and the vigorous descendants spread over many states and the name is held in respect in many sections of the country in addition to Hall County.

When George B. Frazell was five years old, his father, a cooper by trade, passed out of life and the child was made an orphan as his mother had died a year earlier. A family by the name of Martin sheltered him but were not kind and when less than seven years old the little boy ran away, going to an uncle named Moses Frazell, with whom he remained until he was twenty years old. He worked on his uncle's farm in the summer seasons but went to school in the winter time and thus acquired a fair amount of general book knowl- edge. He has not forgotten his days on the old farm, however, when he hoed corn through the long hot summer days and felt the joy of a capitalist when his wage of a dime was placed in his hand.

In the fall of 1884, Mr. Frazell traveled by

prairie schooner from Warren County, Illi- nois, to Shelton, Nebraska. He bought eighty acres of land situated on section 5, Jackson township, Hall County, contracting to pay $10 per acre, but forced to go into debt for the greater part of it. He worked this land for two years and then accepted an offer of $20 per acre and after selling it went to the west- ern part of the state prospecting for cheaper land. Finally, however, he returned to Hall County and bought eighty acres in the same section as before, settled on it and has re- mained ever since. He now owns two hunded acres that have a market value of $200 per acre, and in addition owns an attractive modern residence at Shelton. His farm is considered one of the best alfalfa farms in Nebraska.

In Warren County, Illinois, on November 2, 1882, Mr. Frazell married Miss Anna Snell, who was born in Henderson County, Illinois, the only survivor of ten children born to Lev- ingston and Esther (Freeman) Snell. The mother was a native of Kennebec, Maine, and the father of Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Fra- zell the following children were born: Jessie M. Harvey, Eugene, Erma F., Bernice B., and Lura I. Of these Harvey and Bernice B. are deceased. Jessie M. is the wife of Clyde Burkerd, in the insurance business at Shelton, and they have two children. They belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Burk- erd is a graduate of the Shelton high school. Eugene Frazell operates his own land near his father's. He married Inez Dubbs and they have three children. They attend the United Brethren church. Erma F. is the wife of Milo Faser, a farmer near Kearney, and they have one son and one daughter and are mem- bers of the United Brethren church. Mrs. Faser is a graduate of the Shelton high school, also attended the Normal school at Kearney and taught school for one year prior to her marriage. Lura I., the youngest of the family, resides with her parents. A graduate of the Shelton high school and a teacher for two years, she is also accomplished in music and teaches the same. She is prominent in social circles and with other members of her family, has been exceedingly active in Red Cross and other patriotic movements. Mr. and Mrs. Frazell belong to the United Brethren church. For eighteen years he has been a member of the township school board and foremost in all laudable enterprises for the welfare of the county.

NATHANIEL P. DICKINSON, one of Hall County's most highly esteemed citizens,

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has spent forty-seven useful years here. After valiant service as a soldier in the Civil War, Mr. Dickinson, in the spring of 1872 came to Hall County and took a soldier's homestead in section 4, Jackson township, where he re- sides. He was born July 25, 1842, at West Northfield, Massachusetts, the only survivor of a family of four sons and four daughters born to Porter and Ardelia T. (Williams) Dickinson.

Nathaniel P. Dickinson remained at home to give his father assistance on the farm until he was nineteen years of age, in the meanwhile having attended the common school and en- joyed four terms in the West Northfield high school. He had been reared to love his country and believe in the principles on which the mighty union of states had been founded, hence, the precipitation of the Civil War found him ready to fight for its preservation. He enlisted in the Union army, at Burlington, Vermont, November 19, 1861, entering Com- pany F, First Vermont Cavalry, and served three years and two months before receiving his honorable discharge at the place of enlist- ment. In Mr. Dickinson's military record of forty-two battles and skirmishes in which he participated, may be found the following sug- gestive list : Banks' retreat, May 24, 1862; Occupation of Culpepper Court House, Vir- ginia, July 12, 1862; Barnet's Ford, July 18, 1862; Orange Court House, August 2, 1862; Kelley's Ford, Virginia, August 21, 1862: Waterloo Bridge, August 24, 1862; Thorough- fare Gap, August 28, 1862; second battle of Bull Run, August 30, 1862; Chantilly, Vir- ginia, September 1, 1862; Ashby's Gap, Sep- tember 26, 1862; Manassa Junction, October 20, 1862; Warrington, November 25, 1862. The record of this one year was repeated in those that followed. When his whole duty was done, Mr. Dickinson gladly returned from the awful carnage of the battlefield to his former peaceful life on the farm and remained in Massachusetts until March, 1872, when he entered upon a new career by becoming a pio- neer settler in Hall County.

Before two months had passed by Mr. Dick- inson had a comfortable log cabin nearing completion on his claim, which became a home indeed when his marriage was completed, at Gibbon, Nebraska, on May 17, 1872, to Miss Harriet E. Gleason. This was the first re- corded marriage in Buffalo County. Miss Gleason was also born in Franklin County, New York, and there awaited Mr. Dickinson's preparations in Hall County for their future joint home before joining him at Wood River for their marriage. The little cabin proved

acceptable in every way and after taking pos- session, Mr. Dickinson immediately set about. planting sod corn and starting a garden and in all his work found an indefatigable and cheerful helper in his young wife. In com- menting on those early days, Mr. Dickinson mentions that their nearest neighbor was Seth Lee, located two miles north, who had arrived on the same train with him at Grand Island and they entered their claims on the same day. Mr. Dickinson brought with him $500, but after purchasing a team, wagon and nec- essary farm equipment, a cow and a hog, his money was about gone. There was never any lack of meat for the larder as game was plenti- ful at that time in this section. Hard work was the rule of the day for a long time but Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson had expected that feature of pioneering and with faith and cour- age faced and overcame hardships, as later they have together borne some family bereave- ments. They now own two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land, their farm being im- proved with two sets of substantial buildings.

Mrs. Dickinson's parents were Sherman C. and Rhoda (Goodrich) Gleason, both of whom were born in towns bearing the name of Benson, the mother in Vermont, and the father in New York. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Of their seven children, Mrs. Dickinson and one brother, Sherman L. Glea- son, who resides with Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson, alone remain .. To Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson the following children were born: Ardelia, who died February 3, 1898, was a highly educated lady, a graduate of York College and for seven years a popular teacher ; Alma Filia, who died January 28, 1896, at that time was a mem- ber of the class graduated with honors in the previous year from the Wood River high school; Ada J., the wife of Frank A. Dority, a farmer near Shelton, Nebraska, and they have two sons, Verle and Wayne, and Ellen F., who died May 5, 1916, was the wife of Burt Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson are members of the United Brethren church. They are known far and near for their sterl- ing worth and neighborly kindness.

RICHARD MOORE .- A story as inter- esting as any romance might be made of the life of the late Richard Moore, who was one of Hall County's earliest settlers and during a long and busy life, a man of sterling worth. Although some years have elapsed since he passed away, there are many men still living in the neighborhood of Wood River, who well remember his neighborly kindness, his honest

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business methods, and the good judgment and sound common sense that, with his personal courage, made him a tower of strength for others.

Richard Moore was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1835. His parents were Patrick and Anna S. (Collins) Moore, who had four children born to them; Michael, Patrick, Rich- ard and Mary. The father was not what was considered a poor man, when he left Ireland, but of all his money, chest and boxes shipped on a sailing vessel when the family started for the United States in 1847, no trace was found after the surviving members of the family landed. The voyage consumed seven weeks and during the passage ship fever broke out and the father of Richard Moore died and was buried at sea. While detained in quar- antine on Ellis Island, the mother of Mr. Moore and little sister Mary, both died, and Michael died soon afterward. Of the family only two remained, Patrick and Richard, who found shelter in the home of a cousin, in the city of New York.

In 1859 the two Moore brothers made their way to Hall County. They squatted on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land located two miles west of Wood River, and as soon as the land was surveyed, Patrick pre-empted this land and Richard pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres adjoining on the west, moving onto it about the time of his marriage. For those days he was in good circumstances, in comparison to many others, and his good for- tune was increased when he secured as his wife the admirable woman who so cheerfully bore early hardships by his side and through her good management and frugality helped to build up his fortune.

On February 18, 1862, Mr. Moore married Miss Honora Noonen, at Iowa City, Iowa. She also was born in County Cork, Ireland, being fourteen years old when she came with her parents and two brothers to Iowa. The names of her parents were Maurice and Cath- erine (Fitzgerald) Noonen, both born in Ire- land. They had eight children: Margaret, Mary Anne, Catherine, Elizabeth, Honora, Daniel, Patrick and John. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore nine children were born: John, a farmer near Wood River, married Tillie Gil- lespie, and they have three children ; Richard, a railroad man and lives at Salt Lake City, Utah, married Carrie Richmond, and they have one daughter; Elizabeth, the wife of Michael Carey, a retired farmer of Salt Lake City, has three children; Mary N., who died June 2, 1898, was the wife of Austin Ryan, a painter by trade, living in Hastings, Nebraska,

left two sons and one daughter; Margaret and Catherine, twins, of whom the latter is de- ceased, the former .being the wife of Patrick Mahoney, a farmer near Wood River; Francis, a railroad man with home at Salida, Chaffee County, Colorado, married Rose Ross and they have one daughter; Nora, the wife of Michael J. Carey, a farmer near Wood River, has four sons, and Anastatia, who is deceased.

Mrs. Moore still resides on the old home- stead which is endeared to her by many memo- ries. She tells of her early married life here, when savage Indians might be expected to raid the little settlement at any time and when Mr. Moore never went to his fields to work without strapping on his revolver. On ac- count of the solidity of their house and their generous hospitality, it was a haven of refuge on many occasions and Mrs. Moore at one time entertained a house full of frightened neighbors for a space of two weeks. The neighbors settled within a radius of five miles of Mr. Moore in 1859, were the following: Anthony Moore, James Jackson, John Mahar, Edwin O'Brien and Mrs. M. Keefe. With all these and many, many others, Mrs. Moore became well acquainted and perhaps no one in this section is more highly esteemed than she because of her unvarying kindness. The homes of her children are open to her, but she prefers her own home and the manage- ment of her own affairs. She is a faithful member of the Roman Catholic church. The death of Mr. Moore occurred March 22, 1910.

CARL F. RICKERT, who has spent many years in Hall County, would probably be sur- prised if all the friends he has made here would gather around him to wish him well, reminding him how often in old days he had helped one or another of his neighbors by friendly advice, by cheering word, or, where all were poor, spared of his scant earnings in case of distress. Mr. Rickert now lives retired on his farm in Jackson township, but is known and highly respected all over the county. He was born in Germany, April 19. 1855. His father's name was Jacob T. Rick- ert. His mother died when he was very young, leaving one son and one daughter, the latter's name being Mrs. Marie Moore. For some time the father worked for the German government as a contractor.

Carl F. Rickert grew up in a community where even the little children worked, and after his mother died, he was set at the task of watching geese to keep them from eating

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the field crops and for this service he received three pence a day. A part of his daily duty was to gather the goose eggs and he confesses that sometimes, when his one sandwich of coarse black bread was not satisfying enough for his growing appetite, he would manage a little fire in a secluded place and boil one of the eggs for his own delectation. This was a very risky procedure, however, and would have brought punishment from the owner of the geese if discovered. Later he herded cattle and in the meanwhile attended the schools of his class and secured a good foun- dational German education. He married in 1877 and in 1881 came to the United States. After coming west for two years he farmed in school section No. 16, Harrison township, on land which he leased, and in 1883 when he settled on that place with his family, he had a wife, three children, one cow and twelve chickens. He lived on the same land for fifteen years, making many improvements on the place. At the end of that time, through circumstances over which he had no control, he had to let his property go at a sacrifice. In early days the eigthy acres he now owns changed hands on one occasion when the trade was completed for $20 and a bottle of whiskey. This land is now valued at $150 an acre and the improvements are worth at least $5,000.

In Germany, on August 25, 1877, Mr .. Rick- ert married Margaret Bauman, who was born in Germany and died in Hall County, Ne- braska, November 25, 1918. Her parents were George and Catherine (Rave) Bauman and she was the youngest of their nine chil- dren, and two of her sisters live in the United States: Mrs. Johanna Brenchenbach, of Brooklyn, New York, and Mrs. Emma Stenge, of Grand Island. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rickert: Frederick, Amanda, George, Bertha, Charles and Christina. Fred. erick married a young woman who was a Red Cross nurse in Europe in 1917-18 and re- ceived a gold service medal for her work dur- ing the war; Amanda is the wife of Jolin Kink, a farmer near Shelton. George resides with his father on the home farm and is operating a half section of land for himself. He is one of the most enterprising and pro- gressive young agriculturists of Jackson town- ship, taking a great deal of interest in breed- ing Belgian horses, and having magnificent pedigreed jack at the head of his stud. Bertha is the wife of Otto Schroeder, farming his own land near Alda. They have six children. Charles is a farmer near Wood River, married Nora Leonard, and they have four children. Christina is the wife of Henry Swartz, who

owns and operates a farm near Stoneham, Colorado. They have three children. Mr. Rickert has witnessed many changes since he came first to Hall County and his stories of people and events of early days possess much interest.

JOHN A. EWING, who is one of the rec- ognized capitalists of Hall County, came to Wood River in 1872 with his widowed mother, five brothers and three sisters. He was born in Allegheny County, New York, September 26, 1857, a son of Robert and Mary (Furge- son) Ewing, both of whom were born in Scotland. Of their children the following sur- vive : Mrs. Helen Crawford, Mrs. Mary West, John A., and Edward F. The father died in 1871.

John A. Ewing was fourteen years old when he lost his father, but fortune was kind to him in having a wise and resourceful mother. He attended school as opportunity was afforded and continued to work on the farm, agricul- tural pursuits always engaging his attention from the time in early boyhood when he earned his first money by dropping corn for a wage of ten cents a day. Later Mr. Ewing taught school and is listed with the early educators here. He has always taken an inter- est in the public schools, and for four years was chairman of the county board of com- missioners that not only built the new county courthouse, but did much to place the schools on their present solid foundation. Mr. Ewing is a heavy landowner, his possessions aggre- gating seven hundred and ten acres, all lying in Hall County except three hundred and ten acres in Lincoln County.

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History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 129

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