USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 17
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 17
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The district schools of his native state gave to Benjamin F. Mapes his youthful education and in the meantime he aided in the work of the home farm. He worked as a farm employe in Illinois for a number of years and it was his determined ambi- tion to win for himself independence and definite prosperity that he decided to cast in his lot with the sturdy pioneers of Hamilton county, Nebraska, where he has not been denied a due reward and where he has prospered with the general advance- ment of this now favored section of the state.
In 1878, with team and wagon, Mr. Mapes left his native state of Illinois and set out on the 15th of September for Hamilton county, Nebraska. At Burlington, Iowa, he ferried across the Mississippi river and a ferry-boat at Nebraska City transferred him and his equipment across the Missouri river. He arrived in Hamilton county on the 30th of October and here leased eighty
Vol. II-11
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acres of school land, on which he and his brother erected a small frame house as their pioneer habitation. The lumber for this building was hauled from Grand Island, as were also all provisions required in the new home, as there were no roads at that time and wild game being plentiful the somewhat irregular trips across the prairies were not without their attractive and interesting features. In the early days the brother assumed charge of development work on the land, while the subject of this sketch worked out as a farm hand in order to provide funds for continuing operations. With the passing years his success as a farmer increased and he was enabled to buy land from time to time until he became the owner of a well improved farm property of two hundred acres, which he still re- tains in his possession and which is one of the valuable landed estates of Phillips township. In addition to erecting good buildings on his homestead and bringing the place to a high standard along agricultural and live stock lines, Mr. Mapes further manifested his good judgment by planting and developing a large orchard, besides setting out other trees on the farm. He did not escape the hardships and reverses that marked the pioneer days and even as late as 1894 crops in this section failed. In 1910 the house on his farm was destroyed by fire, but it was soon replaced with the present modern dwelling that adorns the place. He remained on the farm in active supervision of its operations until March, 1920, when he re- moved to Phillips, where he and his wife have an attractive home and are enjoying the gracious rewards of former years of earnest toil and endeavor.
In 1885, in Hamilton county, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Mapes to Miss Louise Reinhard, who was born in the state of Wisconsin and she proved to him a true helpmeet in his progressive career as a farmer. Of their children the eldest is Annabelle, who is the wife of Charles Dettamore George of Phillips ; Frank has the active management of his father's farm; Irvin is an expressman in the city of Omaha; Cora is the wife of August Katchkan, who conducts an automobile garage at Phillips; Mary, who became the wife of Otto Sharnow, is deceased ; Clara is the wife of Frederick Shonenberg, a farmer in Hamilton county ; Edward is a prosperous farmer near Grant, Perkins county, this state; Ethel is the wife of Dewey Channey of Hamilton county ; and Lester is at home with his parents.
Mr. Mapes is aligned in the ranks of the democratic party, is affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees and he and his wife are active members of the Presbyterian church in their home village.
JAMES CAMERON
The character of the late James Cameron was the positive expression of a strong and noble nature and he played well his part in all relations of life. Thus special interest attaches to his constructive career as one of the sterling pioneers of Hamil- ton county, Nebraska, where he lived and labored to goodly ends and where he died on the 5th of July, 1901, aged fifty-nine years, one month and twenty-eight days.
Mr. Cameron was born in Perthshire, Scotland, and there received his youthful education. He was seventeen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their
MR. AND MRS. JAMES CAMERON
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immigration to the United States and his father, James Cameron, established the family home in Wisconsin, where he became the owner of a farm of eighty acres and proved successful as an agriculturist, though his vocation in Scotland had been that of cabinet-maker. He continued to reside in the Badger state until his death. His wife died in Scotland.
In Wisconsin James Cameron, of this review, early found employment at farm work and after his marriage in 1864 he engaged in independent operations on his father's old home farm. The maiden name of his wife was Ann Adie Cumming and she also was born in Scotland. She was but fourteen months old when her parents set sail for the United States, and nine weeks passed ere the old-time sailing vessel completed the voyage across the Atlantic, about the same period of time having been consumed by the Cameron family in making a similar voyage. The parents of Mrs. Cameron established their home on a pioneer farm in Wisconsin, where they passed the remainder of their lives.
In 1867 James Cameron and his young wife set forth from Wisconsin with team and covered wagon and made their way to Nebraska, which state was admitted to the Union in that year. They brought with them a cow and while ferrying across the Missouri river, at Nebraska City, this demure animal manifested her independence by jumping off the ferry-boat and swimming to the opposite shore in advance of the boat. The trip from Wisconsin to Nebraska was completed in one month and seven days and upon arrival in Hamilton county Mr. Cameron obtained a homestead of eighty acres, in what is Orville precinct. The wagon cover was the family habitation until it was possible to complete a pioneer dugout and after occupying this primitive dwelling three years Mr. Cameron built on his farm a log house having a dirt roof and dirt floor for the first four years, lumber having then been hanled from Lincoln to supply more fitting equipment in these particulars. In the early days Mr. Cameron obtained his mail from Camden, Seward county, and in view of the free mail delivery service in the rural districts of the same section at the present time, it is significant to recall that Mr. Cameron considered himself fortunate if he could obtain mail about twice a year in the early pioneer era. Camden was the nearest milling point, produce from the farm was hauled by team and wagon to Nebraska City, and Indians frequently traversed Hamilton county on their hunting trips, one visitation of this kind having resulted in the redskins appropriating all of the hosiery of the Camden family. Mr. Cameron killed many buffaloes, as well as deer and other wild game and thus did much to supply the family larder, his good wife drying portions of the meat for future use. After he began to prosper in his farm enterprise Mr. Cameron pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land and eventually became the owner of a fine farm property of four hundred acres, which he retained until his death and which he developed into a high state of productiveness. He planted forest trees around the home, eventually erected a substantial and commodious house and other good buildings and also developed an excellent orchard, the first one which he set out having failed to produce, as the trees died out after a devastating visitation of grasshoppers. In the great blizzard of 1873 the Cameron family was snowbound three days, though the home was considerably sheltered by trees along the river, which trees supplied the greater part of the winter fuel. Mr. Cameron lived to see his efforts rewarded with generous prosperity and he
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remained on the old homestead until his death, his venerable widow being now a resident of the village of Stockham and one of the revered pioneer women of Hamilton county. She is an earnest member of the Presbyterian church, as was also her husband, and they were charter members of the first church of this denomi- nation organized in Hamilton county, the organization having been effected in one of the pioneer dugout houses. Mr. Cameron was a man of superior mentality and strong convictions, was a Master Mason, and in politics was a stanch republican. Of the fourteen children ten survive the honored father: Thomas S., in the employ of the street railway company of Sioux City, Iowa; Jessie M., the wife of George Fralick of Whichita, Kansas; James E. and William H., who reside at Stockham, Hamilton county; George F., who has active charge of the old home farm; Robert A .; Mary E., the wife of David Rowe of Fremont, Nebraska; Annie Laura, the wife of Elmer Chorn of Boise, Idaho; Fred B., who resides at Sutton, Nebraska; and Walter, a farmer in York county, this state. Annie E. and Marian E. died young ; and two children died in infancy.
NATHAN W. TITMAN
In the passing of Nathan W. Titman Aurora and Hamilton county lost a pioneer and representative citizen. A native of New Jersey, he was born in Sussex county in 1852, reared on a farm in that county and received his education in the country schools.
In 1878 Mr. Titman removed from New Jersey to Iowa where he obtained em- ployment on farms and his wife assisted him in every way. She did the cooking and took care of the home of a neighbor farmer who was a bachelor. In the fall his wife helped him husk eighty acres of corn and from their labor Mr. Titman realized enough to purchase a team of colts, a wagon and a harness. In February, 1879, Mr. Titman with his wife and three children started overland in a covered wagon for Nebraska. The journey proved to be long and tedious, the weather was very cold and the muddy roads made the traveling very slow. Water was scarce, for that was one of the drought years and most of the wells were dry. They finally, however, reached Hamilton county and Mr. Titman rented a farm in Orville precinct that year. In the same summer he went further west and took up a homestead and timber claim in Red Willow county and went to work to dig wells. He lost two horses that year, one from a rattlesnake bite and the other from colic, and with but forty dollars to his name Mr. Titman purchased a wild pony and returned to his home in Orville precinct. Subsequently he traded the pony for an ox team and hauled his grain to Harvard, where he found a ready market. He rented land for some years and had a hard time. His wife proved to be a helpmeet in every sense of the word and it was with her cooperation that they were able to purchase eighty acres of railroad land at six dollars an acre. They put up a sod house on this land and were so successful in farming that they soon added an additional one hundred and sixty acres, making a total of two hundred and forty acres of land which he brought to a high state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Titman resided on the farm until 1905 when they removed to Aurora,
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where he purchased five acres of ground and erected a fine home. His death oc- curred there on the 27th of July, 1907, and came as a severe shock to his many friends in the community. Mrs. Titman is still living and makes her home in Aurora, where she is a respected and prominent citizen.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Titman six children were born: Charles H., at home; Emma, who is the wife of Fred Eckerson; Sanford, whose death oc- curred at the age of thirty-three years; Mary, who was the wife of Thomas Milliken and passed away in 1919: George, who is residing in Garden county; and Orville W., living in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Throughout his entire life Mr. Titman was a democrat, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government. Mrs. Titman is also a stanch supporter of that party. Mr. Titman attended the United Brethren church and his widow is a member of that church. His fraternal affiliations were with the Woodmen. He was a member of the school board for years and was always active in any movement for the development and improvement of the community. The life of Mr. Titman was spent in diligence and industry. He was a self-made man in every sense of the word, for his success was due to his own efforts and to the cooperation of his wife. In his passing Aurora lost a prominent and representa- tive citizen and he has left a void in the community that will be hard to fill.
A. C. EPPERSON
A. C. Epperson, engaged in law practice at Clay Center, where his ability ranks him with the leading attorneys, was born in McDonough county, Illinois, November 18, 1870, his parents being John L. and Sarah (Rine) Epperson, the former a native of Tippecanoe county, Indiana, while the latter was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. In early life the father became a resident of Illinois and devoted his early manhood to teaching school. He afterward became a station agent and telegraph operator and devoted his time and energy to work of that character from 1870 until 1880. In the latter year he removed to Clay county, Nebraska, settling on a farm, but took up the practice of law when well advanced' in years. He practiced at Fairfield and at Clay Center, and in 1888 was elected to the office of county attorney, filling that position for two years. At a subsequent period he was again elected and for a second term. Both he and his wife passed away in Clay county, where they were regarded as representative and valued citizens. They had a family of three children: Martha, the wife of George Gaumer, a retired farmer living in Scotts Bluff; Charles H., a prominent member of the bar at Fairfield; and A. C., of this review. Both parents were faithful members of the Christian church and Mr. Epperson also belonged to the Masonic fraternity, loyally following the teachings of the craft. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. At the time of the Civil war he joined Company L of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, of which his brother, S. A. Epperson, was serving as captain and later was promoted to the rank of major. Mr. Epperson was with the army for more than a year and participated in the battle of Shiloh.
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It is always interesting to know something of the ancestral record of an indi- vidual, for much is indicated concerning the qualities that are displayed in later generations. The paternal grandfather of A. C. Epperson was James H. Epper- son, a native of Kentucky, who, removing to the west, resided in Clay county for a number of years and here passed away at the venerable age of eighty-seven, his death occurring on the 30th of September, 1898. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Epperson was Isaac Rine, a native of Pennsylvania, who went to Nebraska and finally took up his abode in Nuckolls county, where he departed this life. Pre- viously, however, he had made his way westward and in the early '80s became a resident of Saline county.
A. C. Epperson was educated in the public schools and the law department of the State University and his life has been that of a busy and successful lawyer. For years he has now practiced law, devoting the greater part of his time to his pro- fessional duties, but has also become a director of the Citizens' Bank of Fairfield and is interested with Sydney W. Smith of Omaha in a large apple orchard in the state of Washington,
In February, 1891, Mr. Epperson was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Haylett, a native of Adams county, Iowa, and a daughter of Jacob and Mattie (Ruble) Haylett, natives of England and of Iowa, respectively. The father was a blacksmith and farmer and served in the navy during the Civil war. To Mr. and Mrs. Epperson have been born three children: Charles H., who is a graduate of the State University and now a law partner of his father; Mildred, the wife of Doctor Gartrell, a practicing osteopath of Clay Center, Nebraska; and Kathryn, the wife of Evan Jenkins, a merchant of White City, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Epper- son belong to the Christian church and he has taken the degrees of the Masonic lodge and the fourteenth degree of the Scottish Rite. He served as master of his lodge in Clay Center and was grand master of the state in 1918-19. He likewise belongs to the Knights of Pythias. His political endorsement has always been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and for eight years he served as county attorney of Clay county, and he was also a member of the supreme court commission of the state from 1906 until 1909. His has been a very active and useful life, one that is far-reaching and beneficial, for the results achieved are such as uphold the legal status of the community and further all that tends to higher standards in citizenship.
JASPER F. COLE, D. D. S.
Dr. Jasper F. Cole, successfully engaged in dental practice in Aurora, was born in Hamilton county, near this city, December 31, 1883, a son of Harvey and Nellie Jane (Mallory) Cole, both of whom were natives of Stephenson county, Illinois. In the acquirement of his education he passed through consecutive grades to the Aurora high school, from which he was graduated in 1903. He afterward attended the Doane College at Crete, Nebraska, for a year and then determining to make the practice of dentistry his life work, he spent two years in the denta! college of the University of Iowa and was graduated from the University of Nebraska as a dental
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surgeon in 1909. In the same year he opened an office in Aurora where he has since continued in practice. His office is supplied with the latest dental equip- ment and appliances and he displays marked skill and ingenuity in performing the multitudinous delicate duties of dental practice.
In 1906 Dr. Cole was married to Miss Ruth Erie Johnson, who was born at Crete, Nebraska, a daughter of Frank Johnson, a native of Iowa, who came to Crete and was a miller there for a number of years. To this marriage have been born three children: Maurice, thirteen years of age; Norman, aged nine; and Frank, five. Dr. Cole and his wife attend the Congregational church and he be- longs to the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degrees of the Scottish Rite and the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Rotary Club and of the latter is now secretary. In politics he is a republican and in 1920 was an elector from the fourth congressional district. He is much interested in politics and recognizes the obligations and responsibilities as well as the opportunities and privileges of citzenship. He manifests a spirit of progress in all that he does and year by year is making advance in professional circles, while throughout the period of his connection with Aurora he has been accorded a liberal patronage.
EDWIN CUTTS
The present efficient and popular postmaster of the village of Giltner, Hamilton county, Edwin Cutts, has been a resident of this county since he was a lad of twelve . years and is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this now favored sections of Nebraska. He was born at Castle Rock, Grant county, Wisconsin, on the 5th of March, 1864, and is a son of George and Mary E. (Campbell) Cutts. He acquired his rudimentary education in the schools of the Badger state and was twelve years old when his parents settled in Hamilton county, Nebraska, in the autumn of 1876. His father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 34, Hamilton township, forty acres of the tract having been broken and a dngout house having been constructed on the place. It was on this pioneer farm, of which he is now the owner, that the postmaster of Giltner was reared to man- hood and in the meanwhile he profited fully by the advantages afforded in the rural schools of the locality. As a young man he assumed active management of the old home farm and after the death of his father purchased the property. which is now one of the admirably improved farms of the county, and his land holdings com- prise three hundred and twenty acres. Aside from his official duties he finds much satisfaction in giving a general supervision to his farm interests and in doing his part in maintaining the high agricultural and live stock standards of his home county. His father was one of the honored pioneer citizens of the county at the time of his death, when about eight-four years of age and the mother passed away at the age of eighty-one years. Of the children one half brother and a half sister are living.
Edwin Cutts remained on his farm until 1913, when he removed to the village of Giltner and here has held since 1913 the office of postmaster, in which his ad-
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ministration has been effective and popular, and he is known as one of the most liberal and progressive citizens of this thriving little town. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Giltner and is an active and valued member of the local Farmers Union. While residing on his farm Mr. Cutts served twenty years as a member of the school board of the district and at the present time is president of the board of education at Giltner. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Modern Woodmen of America.
In 1886 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Cutts to Miss Maria B. Krabiel, a representative of another of the sterling pioneer families of Hamilton county, and their children are: Nettie, the wife of Oscar F. McDaniel, a prosperous farmer of Hamilton county ; Elsie, the wife of William E. Rawlings, who has active charge of the old Cutts homestead farm ; Minnie, the wife of Chris. R. Erb of this county ; Georgia, who died in 1899; and Edwin, who remains at home.
MRS. LOUISA FENSTER
Since 1871, Mrs. Lonisa Fenster, widow of Frank Fenster, has made her home in York county, where she is residing, a beloved and respected citizen. A native of Missouri, she was born in St. Louis on the 28th of August, 1850.
In 1869, while residing in Wisconsin, Mrs. Fenster, then Miss Louise Van Housen, became the wife of Frank Fenster, a native of Germany. His birth occurred in that country on the 25th of September, 1843, and in 1860, when about eighteen years of age, he came to the United States. He settled near Madison, Wisconsin, and there met and married his wife. In 1861, Mr. Fenster enlisted in the Union army, participated in the siege of Vicksburg, was with Sherman on his march to the sea and in 1865 received his honorable discharge. Returning to Wisconsin, he was married in 1869, and, in 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Fenster set out for York county, Nebraska. On arriving there, Mr. Fenster homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres. The trip to the west had been made overland in a covered wagon and the usual pioneer hardships were passed through. A period of eighteen days was required for the journey. The first abode of the Fensters on their homestead was of sod, they living with neighbors until it could be built. Mr. Fenster had but one team, with the aid of which he set about to put his land into cultivation, breaking it himself. During their early life in the county they suffered many privations and white bread was almost a luxury, corn bread being its substitute ; their fuel was mostly corn stalks and twisted grass and their first callers were Indians, who would stop at the farm while on their fall and spring hunting trips and proved to be very friendly. The first trading was done at Lincoln, that town, Central City and Sutton then being the main trading posts. Two days were required in making the trip. Prairie fires were a great menace to the pioneers, and Mr. and Mrs. Fenster experienced several disasters, at one time losing everything but their sod home. The winters were very severe and the Easter storm of 1873 caused them considerable suffering. For three days they were completely snowed under and were compelled to burn the logs which formed a part of their sod dwelling. They had to use snow. water to drink and for
FRANK FENSTER
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making coffee. Although their path was strewn with many obstacles Mr. and Mrs. Fenster never lost heart, but each misfortune seemed only to spur them on to greater effort. Their land reached a high state of cultivation and some time before his death, Mr. Fenster was in possession of seven hundred and forty acres of fine farm land. He was known throughout the community as a success- ful and progressive farmer and as a man quick to grasp every opportunity within his reach. On the 15th of October, 1902, Mr. Fenster met with an acci- dent and as a result of internal injuries passed away on the 19th, just four days later. News of his death caused a feeling of widespread bereavement, for in his passing the community lost a valuable and representative citizen. For a quarter of a century he was a steward in the Lutheran church and was a generous con- tributor to all charitable affairs.
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