USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 34
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 34
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His widow is now living at the old home at Harvard. Mr. and Mrs. Rupiper were also members of the Catholic church. To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were born two sons and a daughter: Fidelia M., the wife of Anthony Dieringer and the mother of two children-Joseph T. and Fidelia M .; Edward J., a Chicago credit manager for the Packard Automobile Company ; and George, who is a telegraph operator for the Northwestern Railroad Company at Wahoo, Nebraska. The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Bennett served as a member of the city council in 1887 and was always deeply interested in the welfare and progress of the community in which he made his home.
In connection with the family history more extended mention should be made of Edward J. Bennett who was born on the 28th of July, 1887, and who in April, 1917, enlisted for service in the World war at Omaha, Nebraska. He was on duty there for three months with the Fifth Regiment at Fort Crook and was then rejected on account of physical disability but later was taken in the draft on the 18th of October, 1917. He subsequently went across, remaining overseas for a year and eight months and was with the Army of Occupation at Coblenz, Germany, acting as army field clerk. He joined the American forces as sergeant in the Eighty-ninth Division and was discharged on the 18th of June, 1919.
CHARLES CASE
Charles Case during life was highly respected by his friends and associates and for many years was identified with the development of his adopted state, in which he resided at the time of his death, which occurred in Sutton, May 25, 1911. He was born in Burlington, Iowa, June 15, 1867, a son of Samuel and Mary (Horton) Case, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Ohio. They came to Fillmore county, Nebraska, in a covered wagon in 1871, homesteaded and also took up a tree claim near Sutton.
Charles Case received his education in the country schools of the county and in the Sutton schools. He was reared on a farm and it was only natural that he should choose that line of occupation for his life work. He owned a quarter section of fine land in Fillmore county, four miles east of Sutton and there engaged in general farming, becoming well known throughout the county as an agriculturist of ability and enterprise.
On the 20th of February, 1894, occurred the marriage of Mr. Case and Miss Jessie Kendall, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Stephen and Elvira (Stevens) Kendall. Her father was born in the state of New York and came to Illinois at the age of two. When ten years of age he removed with his parents to Wisconsin and subsequently came to Sutton, where his death occurred in 1907. The mother of Mrs. Case was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1845. Her parents came from Chicago in a covered wagon, locating in Wisconsin. Mrs. Case is of English ancestry and three of her ancestors came over in the Mayflower. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Case: Lewis, whose birth occurred March 26, 1896, and who died at Camp Funston, after being in camp but six weeks; Helen, born August 27, 1897, who is the wife of Henry Everts, a farmer residing east of
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Sutton; Frank, whose birth occurred on the 16th of May, 1899, and who is now farming the home place; Maude, whose natal day was February 28, 1901, and who is now teaching school; Stephen, born on the 2d of July, 1905, and who is now in school; Mabel, whose birth occurred January 6, 1907, and who is now in school ; Della, born on the 24th of February, 1909; and Lucy, born October 26, 1910.
Throughout his life Mr. Case was a stanch supporter of the republican party and his religious faith was that of the Congregational church, in the activities of which organization his widow still takes a prominent part. Fraternally he was identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. By the passing of Mr. Case on the 25th of May, 1919, Sutton lost a valuable citizen, for he was ever active in the interests of that town and the county in which he had made his home for so many years. Mrs. Case remained on the old farm, following her husband's death, until 1920, when she removed to Sutton in order to give her children greater educational advantages and she has bought a nice home there. Mrs. Case's mother makes her home with them.
S. H. RICHARDSON
A prosperous and highly respected citizen of Clay county is S. H. Richard- son, who has long devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits. He is now, however, living in Harvard, retired, enjoying the rewards derived from years of intelligently directed labor. He was born in Bureau county, Illinois, on the 17th of August, 1840, a son of Stephen and Erepta (Wilder) Richardson, both natives of Vermont. About 1832 they removed to Illinois, where the father engaged in farming until his death. His wife also passed away there. Seven children were born to that union, of whom our subject was the fourth in order of birth and he and a brother are the only children living. Throughout his life Stephen Richardson was a stanch supporter of the republican party and both he and his wife were consistent members of the United Brethren church.
S. H. Richardson is indebted to the country schools of Illinois for his educa- tion and he taught school, beginning when nineteen years of age in the home district schools across the road from where he was born, and he lived with his parents on the home farm. He later engaged in farming for himself and until 1891 operated land near Springfield, Illinois. In that year, however, he came to Nebraska and located in Clay county, where he bought four hundred acres of land. There he resided for about ten years, when he removed to Harvard and retired from active business life. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having en- tered the Union army on the 17th of August, 1861, and served over three years. He enlisted in Company C, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, the Army of the Tennessee, and participated in several important battles and skirmishes.
In 1865 Mr. Richardson was united in marriage to Emily Dayton, a native of Bureau county, Illinois, and a daughter of Chauncy L. Dayton. Her father was born in New York and went to Illinois at an early day. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, all of whom are deceased. Mrs. Richardson passed away on the 31st of December, 1910. Mr. Richardson has five living
MR. AND MRS. S. H. RICHARDSON
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grandchildren : Howard Johnson, who is employed by the government at Wash- ington city ; May Johnson, who is residing in Clay Center, where she has charge of an incubator plant; Charles Johnson, who is farming near Eldorado; Everett R. Johnson, who is engaged with his brother Charles in farming; and Agnes Johnson, who is married and is now residing on a farm in North Dakota.
Mr. Richardson has always given his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is identified with the Woodmen, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post. Mrs. Richardson, during her life, was a con- sistent and active member of the Congregational church. Mr. Richardson is the owner of a fine farm in North Dakota and is financially independent. Following for many years agricultural pursuits on a large scale, he labored hard and faith- fully and is well entitled to the rest from hard work which he is now enjoying.
HAMILTON J. WILLIS
Hamilton J. Willis is now living retired in Aurora but for a long period was connected with farming interests in this state. He has now passed the seventy- ninth milestone on life's journey and the rest which has come to him is the fitting crown of a life of industry, enterprise and integrity. He was born in Vinton county, Ohio, February 15, 1842, and comes of Scotch ancestry. His grandfather, Amiel Willis, was born in the land of hills and heather and became the founder of the family in the new world, spending his last days in Virginia. His son, Stephen H. Willis, was born in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, and after arriving at years of maturity wedded Hester Stephens, a native of Ohio, their marriage being celebrated in that state after which they continued to reside within its borders. Mr. Willis was a farmer throughout his entire life and thus provided for his family, which numbered eight children, of whom only two are now living, Hamilton J. and William Alexander, the latter a resident of Cincinnati, where he has retired from business. The parents were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and politically Mr. Willis was a republican. In all of his business affairs he displayed enterprise, keen discernment and thorough reliability and won substantial success.
Hamilton J. Willis was educated in the schools of Ohio and when twenty years of age enlisted in August, 1862, for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company B, Ninetieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostilities with the Army of the Cumberland, participating in all of its battles save that of Perryville, Kentucky. He made a most creditable record by his loyalty, bravery and fidelity, at all times bearing his full part in the work of preserving the Union.
When the war was over Mr. Willis returned to Ohio, where he remained until 1873 and then came to Hamilton county, Nebraska, securing a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres near Marquette, The first time he visited Aurora there were but two houses in the town and a little box store and post office, also a sod blacksmith shop. His own home was a sod house with dirt floor and sod and dirt roof. In this he lived for twelve years while gaining a start in his new Vol. II-22
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home, meeting many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Year after year he carried on the work of tilling the soil and cultivating the crops best adapted to climatic conditions here and as the years passed he gathered good harvests and thus promoted his annual income. As the country became settled and railroads were built he found a good market for his farm products and won a substantial measure of success in the cultivation of his fields. He lived on his old homestead until 1902 when he sold it and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Grant precinct on which he never lived. In 1902 he and his wife removed to Aurora and they now occupy a nice home at 1317 Twelfth street.
It was on the 1st of March, 1866, that Mr. Willis was married to Miss Lydia J. Hixson, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Griffith and Sarah (Arganbright) Hixson, both of whom were natives of Ohio, where their entire lives were passed. They had a family of five children, four of whom are living, Mrs. Willis being the eldest, while the others are: P. G. Hixson, a retired farmer living in Aurora; David, residing in Marquette; and William Hixson, who makes his home at Imperial, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Willis became parents of eleven children, six of whom are living: Clara, the wife of John L. Beck, a farmer of Scotia, Nebraska ; Stephen H., who follows farming near Mullen, Nebraska ; Lucy, the wife of John Lord, a shoe- maker of Aurora; Belle, the wife of Thomas Johnson, a thresher living in Aurora; P. D., a clothing merchant of Grand Island; and Walter C., who conducts a news stand in Aurora.
Mr. and Mrs. Willis are consistent members of the United Brethren church and his political support is given to the republican party. He also proudly wears the little bronze button that proclaims him a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and in matters of citizenship he has always been as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the nation's starry banner on the battle fields of the south.
C. R. SCOVILL
C. R. Scovill, who is extensively engaged in the produce business in Aurora, was born July 22, 1884, in the city which is still his home, a son of Daniel A. Scovill, mentioned on another page of this work. He obtained his education in the Aurora schools and started out in the business world as an employe in a laundry, working six months in that connection. He then began driving a wagon for an express company and in August, 1901, turned his attention to the produce business as an employe of Baschlin & Schumann. He continued with that firm until the death of Mr. Baschlin, after which he purchased the business in which he has since engaged. He now ships poultry in car-lots to New York and eggs in car-lots to the Chicago market. His business has thus become one of extensive proportions and is today one of the profitable commercial enterprises of Aurora.
On the 14th of May, 1908, Mr. Scovill was married to Miss Irma Richardson, who was born in Kassin, Minnesota, a daughter of Fred W. Richardson who became a resident of Aurora in 1890 and was employed as a railroad conductor. Mr. and Mrs. Scovill have become parents of two children: Claude R. and Lois M., aged, respectively, eleven and seven years. The parents are well known socially and
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the hospitality of the best homes of Aurora is cordially extended them. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Scovill is a stalwart republican in politics. He has served as a member of the city council, is a member of the Rotary Club and is interested in all that has to do with progress and upbuilding in his native county. His works as a man and citizen are widely acknowledged.
W. J. TURNER
W. J. Turner is now living retired in Harvard but has lived a busy, useful and active life, so that the rest which he is now enjoying is well deserved. He was born November 2, 1849, in Ogle county, Illinois, and is a son of Thomas E. and Martha (Pier) Turner, the former a native of Connecticut, while the latter was born in the state of New York. Thomas E. Turner, the grandfather in the paternal line, was also a native of Connecticut and a member of one of the old New England families founded in America in early colonial days and represented in the Continental forces in the Revolutionary war. In the maternal line W. J. Turner is also descended from ancestry who served in the war for independence. His mother's grandfather was Samuel Huntington, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the ancestral line is one of which the present generation has every reason to be proud. The marriage of Thomas E. Turner and Martha Pier was celebrated in Otsego county, New York, and in 1848 they removed to Illinois. He had been educated for the ministry at Andover, Massachusetts, but never took up the active work of preaching and instead turned his attention to the profession of teaching, which he followed for a time in Illinois. He afterward removed to Iowa and there purchased land, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits. Both he and his wife passed away in that state. They had a family of five children, of whom two are living, W. J. and Scott, the latter a resident of Minnesota. The father departed this life January 3, 1861, and was long survived by his widow, who died in 1898 in the faith of the Congregational church, of which she had for many years been a consistent member.
W. J. Turner pursued his education in the typical little red schoolhouse of Iowa and after reaching man's estate he homesteaded near Harvard, Nebraska, in 1871. He then lived upon his property until he met the requirements of the law whereby he secured title to the land, after which he removed to Harvard and was employed in various ways. In 1876 he turned his attention to the grain trade and continued his dealings along that line until he retired from business in 1886. He also con- ducted a farm for a number of years and in addition to cultivating the crops best adapted to soil and climate he likewise engaged in stock raising. As his financial resources increased he made investment in property and is today the owner of considerable land. Not all days in his business career have been equally bright. In fact he has seen the storm clouds gathering that threatened disaster, but in the course of years his persistency and energy overcame all difficulties. His capital was quite limited when he removed to Nebraska and he sold his home in order to get money to engage in the grain business. He began operating in a warehouse in 1880 and built an elevator which was destroyed by fire in 1881, thus causing the
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loss of the greater part of his capital. Notwithstanding, however, he summoned courage and energy to the front and made a new start, and as the years have passed his persistency of purpose and capable management have won him a place among the substantial residents of Clay county.
It was in 1896 that Mr. Turner was united in marriage to Miss Eva Hjelm, a native of Sweden, and to them has been born a daughter, Eva, who is now a student in Doane College at Crete, Nebraska. Mrs. Turner is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Turner is an exemplary representative of the Masonic order and is a past master of his lodge. In politics he is a republican and was elected the first mayor of Harvard, while previous to this time he served on the village board. He is today one of the honored pioneer residents of this section of the state. He was living in Harvard during the memorable Easter storm of April, 1873, and his first home in Clay county was a sod house, which was situated on government land that he secured when he came to the present site of Harvard. He is today the oldest inhabitant of the town and has therefore witnessed its entire growth and development, while at all times he has lent his aid and cooperation to all measures for the general good. There have been few spectacular phases in his career, but his persistency of purpose, intelligently directed, his unfaltering industry and his thorough reliability have brought him to a creditable place in business circles and enabled him to acquire the competence that now permits him to rest from further labor and enjoy the fruits of his former toil.
ANDREW J. PETERSON
Andrew J. Peterson has the distinction of being the first white boy born in Lewis precinct, Clay county, his birth having occurred on his father's homestead on the 15th of September, 1871. His father was A. D. Peterson and his mother Johanna Pearson, both natives of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1869 and first settled in Red Oak, Iowa. There the father engaged in railroad work until the road was put through to Lincoln, Nebraska, when he followed the road and took up a homestead in Clay county in the early seventies. He secured eighty acres and hired a man with an ox team to bring out his goods from Lincoln. For several years A. D. Peterson made his home in a dugout but later erected a frame house. He was a very successful farmer and at the time of his death in 1899 owned five hundred and sixty acres of land. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Peter- son five children were born: Charles of Omaha; Andrew J., whose name initiates this review ; Albert of Lincoln; Oscar, who is farming the old home place; and Ellen Edlar, who is residing in California.
Andrew J. Peterson received his education in his native county and after putting his textbooks aside engaged in farming. He is now cultivating a quarter section of land in Clay county, a continental roadside farm, and follows general farming.
In 1898 Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Alma Anderson, also a native of Clay county and they have become parents of six children: Ruth, Carl, Ethel, Dorothy, Eva, and Harold, all at home.
Mr. Peterson, like his father, has become well known in the agricultural circles
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of the county as a progressive and successful farmer and his farin is modern in every respect. He is indeed a representative citizen of the county and one of whom any community would be proud.
MYRON J. PETERSON
One of the pioneer residents of Hamilton county, Nebraska, is Myron J. Peter- son who is now making his home in Aurora. There are few of the old pioneers who have been more successful than he and he is now enjoying a retired life after the many experiences and hardships of his early years.
Nebraska may claim Mr. Peterson only as her adopted son, for he was born in Lee county, Illinois, on the 11th of April, 1844, a son of Jonathan and Precious (Avery) Peterson. His father was born in Truxton, New York, and the mother in Hartford, Connecticut, their marriage having taken place in the former state. About 1837 Jonathan Peterson removed to Lee county, Illinois, where he preempted land from the government upon which both he and his wife resided until their deaths. Jonathan Peterson was a well read and highly intellectual man and his prominence and prosperity made him a forceful man in the community. In politics he was a stanch republican and always active in the interests of that party and was also prominent in church circles, being a consistent member of the Baptist church. For many years he served as supervisor of his township. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson five children were born, two of whom are now living, namely : Myron J., the subject of this review ; and Walter A., who was for many years a prominent livery man of Green Lake, Wisconsin, but who is now retired. The paternal grandfather of Myron J. Peterson, Jonathan Peterson, was born in New York state and the maternal grandfather Avery was a native of England.
Myron J. Peterson received a limited education in Illinois, attending the com- mon schools and later entering the State Normal School at Normal. When but eighteen years of age he put his textbooks aside and entered the Union army, enlist- ing in Company E, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was in active service in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama, and participated in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, in which he was shot through the leg, the wound being of such a nature as to place him in the hospital for six months. At the termination of this time he again joined his regiment and fought in the following battles : Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missouri Ridge, Ringgold, Rocky Face Gap, Tunnel Hill, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, and Nashville. On the 27th of June, 1865, he was discharged from service and returned to Illinois where he engaged in farming until 1873, when he came to Nebraska and settled in Hamilton county. Here he acquired a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres whereon he built a one-room frame . house. He had practically nothing to back him except a horse team and a grim determination to win out. The first year he did not raise a crop and the second year the greater part of his crop was destroyed by grasshoppers. His first years on the homestead were full of discouragement, for he passed through all the varions droughts especially the hot winds and drought of 1894. Hunting was plentiful,
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there being many antelopes, a few deer, and numerous coyotes, and many Indians passed through his place in the fall and spring on their hunting trips. Mr. Peter- son specialized in grain for the most part and as the result of his persistency of purpose and forceful energy soon became known as one of the best farmers in his vicinity. He now owns three hundred and sixty acres of well improved and highly cultivated land. In 1911 he decided to retire from active farm life and removed to Aurora where he purchased a fine home at 1311 Twelfth street.
Mr. Peterson has been twice married. In 1869 he was wedded to Miss Melintha Robinson, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Alex and Sarah (Avery) Robinson. Her parents were among the early pioneers of Illinois and spent the remainder of their days in that state, where they were respected and representative citizens. To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson three children were born, one of whom is living: Arthur J., who resides on his father's farm south of Phillips. He is married and has three children: Herbert Jonathan, Gladys, and Nellie. On the 19th of April, 1917, Mr. Peterson was again wed, Dora Adell Smith of Knoxville, Illinois, becom- ing his wife. She was a daughter of Chauncey B. and Adeline E. (Butler) Smith, the former a native of New York, while the latter was born in Pennsylvania. At an early day they removed to Illinois where they resided until they passed away. Mrs. Peterson had previously been married to Cornelius Wilson, by whom she had two children, only one child living-Lena R., who is the wife of a Mr. Ball and is residing near Wood River, Hall county.
Mr. Peterson has never given his support to any particular political party but has always been a strong prohibitionist. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, while his wife is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has been commander of his post. As a prominent and progressive farmer Mr. Peterson has been an active force in the community and has the distinction of being the first justice of the peace in his section of the county. In church affairs he has always taken a prominent part and was superintendent of the Sunday school for a number of years. Since leading a retired life Mr. Peterson has taken his wife on trips every winter, either to California or Mississippi or other winter resorts of note.
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