USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 11
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 11
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Y. W. WILLIAMS
In the year 1889 Y. W. Williams became a resident of York county, Nebraska, and through many years devoted his attention actively and successfully to the occupation of farming, but is now living retired in Giltner, although still the owner of a valuable farm property of two hundred and forty acres. He was born near Vera, Fayette county, Illinois, March 10, 1864, and was reared on a farm there. His father went to war when the subject of this review was only a few months old and was with Sherman on the celebrated march from Atlanta to the sea. Con- tracting measles he died while in the army, leaving his widow with four young children. When Y. W. Williams was but ten years of age his mother removed with her family to Vera. But the son ran the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, going from the mother's home in Vera to and from the farm which she owned, and as soon as he was old enough the son took charge of the place. He lived with his mother and cared for her property until 1889, or when twenty-five years of age. At that date he left Illinois and made his way westward to McCool Junction, York county, Nebraska, where he lived for a year. He then took up his abode at Clay Center, where he conducted a restaurant for eighteen months
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and on the expiration of that period located in Giltner, where he conducted a restaurant for two years. He then' resumed agricultural pursuits, going on a farm as a renter and for seven years cultivated leased land, during which period he carefully saved his earnings until industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase eighty acres of land in Scoville precinct. He later owned several farms acquired by trading property and devoted his atten- tion to stock farming near Marquette for three years. In 1902 he located on a tract of one hundred and twenty acres and made that place his home for four years. He then purchased another farm of one hundred and sixty acres, previously having bought eighty acres adjoining and afterwards bought another one hundred and sixty acres. This land he sold in 1919 and later purchased two hundred and forty acres in Scoville township, which he still owns and from which he secures a sub- stantial annual rental. He has put aside the more active work of the farm and is now living retired in Giltner, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned rest.
On the 10th of March, 1891, Mr. Williams was married to Miss Jennie Upton, who was born and reared in the same place as her husband in Illinois, they having been schoolmates in early life. Both Mr. and Mrs. Williams are charter members of the Highlanders and Mrs. Williams is also an active worker in the Christian church. She has likewise been the secretary of the Royal Neighbors, which organi- zation she joined as a charter member. She has been identified with the lodge at Giltner for twenty-five years and has been a delegate to state conventions. Her father was a soldier in the Civil war and her mother acted as a nurse among the soldiers. Both Mr. and Mrs. Williams are widely and favorably known in this part of the state and it has been through the industry and perseverance of Mr. Williams that he has reached a place among the men of affluence in the community. Year after year he labored diligently in the cultivation of his fields and the care of his crops and today is numbered among the substantial retired farmers of Hamilton county.
LEWIS CLARK DAVIS
Lewis Clark Davis was truly a self-made man and one whose life record should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing what can be accomplished by persistent effort intelligently directed. His birth occurred at Waterloo, Illinois, in 1829 and he passed away on April 4, 1914. His father was George Davis, a native of Wales, who came to the United States in early life and settled in Illinois, where his remaining days were passed.
Reared in his native state, Lewis Clark Davis after reaching adult age was married at Waterloo, Illinois, to Mary Catherine Anson, who was there born, a daughter of F. B. Anson, a native of England, who came to the United States at the age of fifteen years, establishing his home in Illinois, where he spent the rest of his life.
Lewis C. Davis devoted his life to the occupation of farming, which he followed successfully in Illinois for a considerable period, winning splendid returns from his labor during the period of his residence at Macon, Illinois. He came to Clay
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Center in 1892 and afterward lived retired here until his death but was the owner of several sections of land in Clay county and also had a section near Sidney, Nebraska, and a section and a half near Alliance, owning several thousand acres of land. His extensive property interests were acquired entirely through his own efforts. He passed through all of the hardships of the pioneer days and had two severe losses by fire. It was necessary to borrow money at twenty per cent in order to gain a start, but with determination and energy he overcame all obstacles and difficulties in his path and step by step advanced toward the goal of prosperity.
To Mr. and Mrs. Davis was born one child, Mrs. George Olive. Her first husband was Elwood N. Williamson, who died in 1884. She later became the wife of J. G. Slick and is now living in Clay Center. She had seven children, of whom six are living : Lewis Williamson, who is looking after his grandfather's interests in Clay Center; Ruby, the wife of W. C. Hobrock, engaged in the clothing business in Seattle, Washington; Joseph D., a newspaper man of Los Angeles, California; John Willard, a photographer at Los Angeles; Pearl, who is attending the Con- servatory of Music in Lincoln ; and Opal, who is a student in the State University. Paul died in 1917. Her eldest child, Lewis Williamson, was a son of her first mar- riage, while the others were born of her second marriage.
Her father, Lewis Clark Davis, was a democrat in his political views and his religious faith was that of the Baptist church. He was loyal to any cause which he espoused and the sterling worth of his character was recognized by all who knew him. His life record proves conclusively what can be accomplished through earnestness and determination and throughout his entire career his integrity and honor measured up to his industry.
REV. KARL A. ISAKSON
Rev. Karl A. Isakson, minister of the Swedish Evangelical Mission at Aurora, was born September 15, 1855, in Sweden, a son of Isaac and Elise (Anderson) Swanson, who were also natives of that country, where they spent their entire lives, the father devoting his attention to farming. He passed away at the age of forty years while the mother long survived, her death occurring in 1908. They were both members of the Lutheran church and in that faith reared their family of five children : John, who is now a lumberman of Sweden; Joseph, likewise of Sweden; Karl A. of this review; and Johanes and Johanna, who are also living in Sweden.
Karl A. Isakson was educated in Sweden pursuing a high school course there and after coming to the new world entered a theological college at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He began preaching before leaving his native country and continued in the work of the ministry there until he came to the new world in 1881. Later he preached in Minneapolis for six years and then went to Buffalo, Minnesota, where he remained as pastor of the church for nineteen years. Moreover, he was the organizer of the church of that place and his influence was a marked element in the moral progress of the community. In 1904 he located at Malmo, Nebraska, where he remained as pastor of the church until 1912 and then came to Aurora to take charge of the Swedish Evangelical Mission at this place.
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In 1884 Mr. Isakson was married to Miss Elise Johnson who was born in Sweden, where her parents spent their entire lives. They have become parents of six children, one of whom has passed away. The others are: Minnie, the wife of C. O. Anderson, an attorney of Omaha, Nebraska; Edith, who is in charge of the office of the Swedish Mission Hospital at Omaha; Frances, the wife of William Houquist, a jeweler of Minneapolis; Manard, cashier of the First National Bank at Marquette, Nebraska; and Arnold, who is employed in the First National Bank at Aurora.
In his political views Mr. Isakson is a republican and keeps well informed on questions and issues of the day but practically his entire time and attention are devoted to the work of the church which has a membership of more than a hundred. He is widely known in this section, enjoying the warm regard of not only his own parishioners but of people of all denominations. Mr. Isakson is also president of the Swedish Evangelical Association of Nebraska.
PHILIP C. HOUSEL
A prominent agriculturist of Stockham, Hamilton county, Nebraska, is Philip C. Housel who since 1913 has been living retired in that place. He was born in Henderson county, New Jersey, May 15, 1841, a son of Thurman and Marguerite (Carpenter) Housel. In 1854 the parents removed to Wisconsin and there the father engaged in farming in the wooded country. There were some bears and deer were plentiful in the vicinity of the home farm where they resided until death claimed them.
Philip C. Honsel received some of his education in his native state but in 1854 removed with his parents to Wisconsin, where he completed his education. He attended primitive schools constructed of logs and containing wooden benches and when he could spare time from his school and farm duties he often went hunting with the other boys in the neighborhood, deer and bears being plentiful in that section of the country. After putting his textbooks aside he worked out on farms, being in one man's employ for three years. During this time he learned every phase of farming and then started farming on his own account, operating rented land for one year. In 1870 he determined to come west and started from Wis- consin that year. He took with him one team, two colts, one yearling colt, a half dozen chickens and two fox hounds. This journey took twenty-one days and he arrived in Nebraska on the 16th of June. He preempted one hundred and sixty acres of land in Orville precinct and built a house, part log and with a sod roof and a dugout barn. He broke the greater part of this land himself and hauled his first provisions from Lincoln. His fuel was obtained along the creek and river banks and his grist had to be taken to Milford, a distance of fifty miles. Twice he experienced loss in the grasshopper storms, in one of them losing every ear of corn. During the severe Easter blizzard of 1873 Mr. Housel was snowed in for three days and three nights. He and his brother, Gardner, weathered a part of this storm in their endeavor to save their cattle and as a result lost but one cow and a calf. Buffalo hunting was then both a pleasure and a necessity
MR. AND MRS. PHILIP C. HOUSEL
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and on one of those hunts in company with eleven men, they returned home with all the meat their horses could pull. Indians came through Mr. Housel's land twice a year on hunting trips. He brought his land up to a highly cultivated state, adding more to his original tract until he had two hundred and twenty acres. He is still in possession of this land and is widely known throughout the country as a leader in general farming and stock raising circles. In 1913 Mr. Housel retired from active farm life and removed to Stockham where he is now residing.
On the 19th of March, 1872, occurred the marriage of Mr. Housel and Miss Sarah Land, a native of Green county, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Jackson Land. The marriage took place in Hamilton county where Jackson Land had acquired a homestead. The father was an old soldier and one of the prominent and successful men of the county in which he made his home. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Housel nine children have been born: Furman of Lewiston, Montana, where he is engaged in farming; Maggie, deceased; Sidney, who carries raidroad mail for Stockham; Bertha, the wife of Elmer Cole of near Ansley, Nebraska ; William, who is residing on a homestead in Montana; Gardner, farming on the old place; Lucy, who is the wife of Elmer Mintun, a homesteader of Kim- berly, Idaho; Osia, the wife of Robert Johnson, a farmer of Custer county; and Susie Jane, who is the wife of Lloyd Kissel, farming in Hamilton county.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Housel the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party, being a firm believer in the principles of that party as factors in good government. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church and Mr. and Mrs. Housel are very active in the charitable affairs of the church. Fraternally Mr. Housel is a Master Mason, belong- ing to the lodge at Sutton. He has always taken a very active interest in the affairs of the community and has served his fellow citizens as county com- missioner for a period of four years and as a member of the town board for four years. For thirty-five years he has been treasurer of the school board and he has in every way endeavored to promote educational advantages in his community. He is recognized as a man of keen business ability and has acted as administrator of two estates in the county in past years. The success which Mr. Housel now enjoys is the result of his own labor, energy and grim determination. He allowed no obstacle to long remain in his path and as a result has achieved the goal which was his aim.
OSCAR GUNNARSON
Oscar Gunnarson, a prominent figure in real estate circles in Aurora, was born in Sweden, September 17, 1861, his parents being Andrew and Christina (Ander- son) Gunnarson, who were also natives of Sweden and came to the United States in 1867, first settling in Bureau county, Illinois. There they resided for two years and in 1869 went to Kansas, while in 1873 they removed to Lincoln, Nebraska. Six years later they established their home in Polk county, Nebraska, and in 1883 they came to Hamilton county. Mr. Gunnarson's father homesteaded in Polk county and
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occupied the farm for twenty years, first living in a sod house while later he erected a frame residence. After many years devoted to successful farming he retired from business and removed to Aurora, where he died in 1901, having for several years survived his wife who passed away in 1895. They were members of the Swedish Mission church and Mr. Gunnarson gave his political support to the republican party. He deserved much credit for what he accomplished in the world, being a self-made man and his progress and prosperity were due entirely to his industry and capability. To him and his wife were born nine children, of whom seven are living: Joe, who resided in the United States for a number of years, but is now a retired business man of Stockholm, Sweden; Alfred, a retired farmer, living at Aurora; Oscar, of this review; Mrs. Anna Meyer, a widow living at Lincoln, Nebraska; Ida, who has been postmistress at Station A in Lincoln for twenty-six years; Emma, the wife of Oliver Westberg, a retired farmer of Osceola, Nebraska ; and Charles, who is assistant manager of a large wholesale and retail store in Los Angeles, California.
Oscar Gunnarson was educated in the schools of Lincoln and his first occupa- tion was that of farming and stock feeding. In early manhood he also traveled for the firm of Clay Robinson & Company of Chicago and later turned his attention to the real estate business in which he has now been engaged in Aurora for twenty- three years. He is thoroughly familiar with the property on the market, is a most accurate valuator of real estate and has negotiated many important property trans- fers. In all of his business affairs he is thoroughly progressive and reliable and his enterprise has brought him a gratifying measure of success. An important feature of his business has been immigration work. For eight years he was with the Burlington Railroad, selling land in Montana, Nebraska, Colorado, and Canada. He has improved his opportunities for judicious investment and owns considerable land and a nice home.
In 1884 Mr. Gunnarson was married to Miss Emma Berg, who was born in Sweden and came to the United States with her parents. Her father, Peter Berg, settled in Iowa and their home was near Dayton. Both he and his wife are deceased. A. J. Bernquest, governor of Minnesota, is an own cousin of Mrs. Gunnarson.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gunnarson have been born two children: Max, a prominent wheat raiser of Canada, who for four years was in the Aurora State Bank, who served as tax collector in Texas, and was a soldier in the World war. He was graduated from the high school, from the Nebraska State University and in 1917 entered the service, participating in some of the leading battles and drives that oc- curred on the western front. He served as second sergeant in the quartermaster's department; Mae, the second of the family, was graduated from the high school and from the State University and is also connected with wheat raising in Canada, living with her brother.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Swedish Mission church, in the work of which Mr. Gunnarson and his wife take an active and helpful interest. For fourteen years he has served as a member of the school board and is still acting in that capacity because education finds in him a stalwart champion. He has also been an earnest worker in the Young Men's Christian Association. He assisted in establishing the Swedish Mission Hospital at Omaha and was a member of its board of directors for some time and also served on the home finding board
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at Omaha for twelve years. He has been instrumental in erecting four new school buildings during the period of his service on the school board and there is no plan nor progress for the benefit and upbuilding of the county that does not re- ceive his endorsement and cooperation. For thirty-six years he has been a stalwart advocate of the democratic party and is ever most loyal in support of any cause which he espouses. His life, honorable and upright in every particular, has been a force for good in the community in which he lives and the sterling worth of his character is attested by all who know him.
CHRISTIAN A. WILSON
The year 1881 was the time of the immigration of Christian A. Wilson to the United States, and the same year recorded his arrival in Nebraska, which has been his home during the major part of the intervening period. He has been actively concerned with mercantile enterprise for many years and is now one of the leading merchants at Marquette, Hamilton county, where he has a well equipped general store and controls a large and representative trade.
Mr. Wilson was born in that part of the German province of Schleswig-Holstein which formerly constituted a grand duchy of Denmark, and the date of his nativity was February 28, 1863. He is a son of J. F. N. and Bothilla (Anderson ) Wilson, who passed their entire lives in that section of Germany, the father having been a man of high intellectual attainments who gave the major part of his active career to effective service as a teacher in the schools of his native land. Of the surviving children four sons are residents of the United States: Andrew, who learned the trade of baker in Germany, is now engaged in the work of his trade at Aurora, Illinois; Julius is a tailor in the city of Chicago; John is one of the main stock- holders in the Chicago Artificial Ice Company in that city ; and C. A. is the subject of this sketch. Four of the children remain in Europe, namely: John P., who is a teacher by vocation; Mary, who is the wife of Peter Christenson, a farmer; Arnold, who is a miller and farmer in Denmark; and Catherine, who is the wife of Sonich Sorenson of Schleswig.
In his native land C. A. Wilson received excellent educational advantages, in- cluding those of the gymnasium, which is similar to the high school of the United States. Upon leaving school he was employed in mercantile establishments in his native land until 1881, when he severed home ties and came to America. Before the close of that year he was employed on a farm in Hamilton county, Nebraska, near the York county line, but his service in this capacity continued only two months and eight days, at the princely salary of fifteen dollars a month! After his brief farm experience he was employed eighteen months as a clerk in the general store of W. J. Williamson of Hampton, Hamilton county, and the next two years found him similarly engaged with the firm of Stubbs & White of Bradshaw, York county. Later he was a partner of his former employer, Mr. Williamson, in the general merchandise business at Hampton for one and one-half years, at the expiration of which time he sold his interest and removed to Akron, Colorado, where he was engaged in the meat market, real estate and locating business about eighteen months.
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He then returned to Hampton, again in the employ of Mr. Williamson, and upon leaving that position was similarly employed for four years in a store at St. Paul, Howard county. He then made a trip to Wyoming after which he visited his old home in Germany, where he remained six months. Upon his return to' Nebraska he again became associated with the Williamson mercantile establishment at Hamp- ton, but in April, 1895, he formed a partnership with Peter A. Jacobson and opened a general store at Marquette. The firm developed a prosperous enterprise and the original alliance continued until 1900, when Mr. Jacobson sold his interest in the business, which was conducted under the firm name of Wilson & Ostblom until 1909, when Mr. Wilson purchased his partner's interest and assumed full control. He has since continued the business in an individual way and his reputa- tion as a progressive and reliable business man is in harmony with his standing as a loyal and public-spirited citizen.
Mr. Wilson takes lively interest in community affairs of a public order, is a stanch republican, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Highlanders and the Danish Brotherhood and he and his wife are communicants of the Lutheran church.
In 1893 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wilson to Miss Jennie Bendstrup, who was born in Denmark, and they have four children: John C., who is assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Marquette, was in the nation's service in the late World war, his training having been received at Camp Funston, Kansas, and he saw twenty-two months' service with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, as a member of the headquarters medical department of the Eighty- ninth Division ; Blanche is a popular teacher in the public schools of Alliance, Box Butte county, being principal of the school at the time of this writing, in the spring of 1921 ; Alvin is an effective assistant in his father's store; and Esther is employed as a stenographer in the offices of the Griswold Seed Company at Lincoln.
ELLIOT D. SNIDER
In section 1 of Scoville township is found the well improved and attractive homestead farm which marks Mr. Snider as one of the prosperous and progressive representatives of agricultural and live stock industry in Hamilton county and his is a goodly measure of pioneer honors in connection with the civic and industrial development of this county. His ability is attested by the marked success he has achieved within the years of his residence in Nebraska and his high standing in popular esteem vouches for his admirable personal characteristics.
Mr. Snider was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, on the 8th of August, 1858, and is a scion of sterling pioneer stock in the Badger state, his parents, David D. and Jane E. (Casler) Snider, having been natives, respectively, of Maryland and New York and their marriage having been solemnized in Wisconsin, where the Snider and Casler families were founded in the pioneer days. David D. Snider, a son of John Jacob Snider, was a youth at the time of the family removal to Wisconsin, where he early gained full experience in connection with the work of the pioneer farm, the family habitation having been a log house, and this type
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of domicile having been the birthplace of Elliot D. Snider. The father was a resident of Hamilton county, Nebraska, at the time of his death, in 1915, aged eighty years. The mother is living in Giltner, Nebraska, aged eighty years. They so ordered their course as to merit the high regard in which they were uniformly held.
The public schools of his native state afforded Elliot D. Snider his early education, which included a high school course. That he made good use of these advantages is evident when it is stated that as a young man he became a successful and popular teacher in the schools of Hamilton county, Nebraska.
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