USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 36
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 36
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Francis M. Hilligas was one of the gallant young men who represented Indiana in the Union ranks' in the Civil war. He enlisted in Company H, Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served under General Sheridan in the historic Shenandoah campaign in Virginia, his service covering a period of eighteen months and continuing until the close of the war, when he received his honorable discharge. In later years he was actively affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Hilligas continued his alliance with farm enterprise in Indiana until 1873, when he came with his wife and three children to Nebraska and numbered himself among the pioneer settlers of Hamilton county. The overland journey, made with wagon and mule team, required twenty-two days, a ferry-boat transferring the family and its equipment across the Mississippi river at Keokuk, Iowa, and also aeross the Missouri river, at Nebraska City. Mr. Hilligas took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in the present precinct of Otis and in the little sod house which he there constructed he established his family and their small supply of household effects. He had brought with him to the county ten bushels of wheat and from this he planted his first crop and provided flour for the family larder. He was able to give to his primitive dwelling a shingled roof and a board floor, provisions lacking in many similar habitations of the locality and period. Mr. Hilligas vigor- ously carried forward the reclaiming and improving of his land, but in the second year of his residence here, 1874, grasshoppers destroyed his crops and brought a measure of hardship into the little prairie home. He planted a fine orchard and other trees on his farm and eventually made the place one of the best in the town- ship at the time. Finally he left the farm and removed to Hampton, this county, where he conducted a hotel, and later owned and operated a grist mill at Marquette.
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He returned to his farm in Otis township, but eventually established his home near Marquette and later erected a house in that village, which continued to be his place of abode until his death in 1915, at the age of sixty-eight years, his wife having passed away in the preceding year. Their prosperity in the later years fully compensated for the trials and labors which were theirs in the pioneer days. Mr. Hilligas took vital interest in the general welfare and advancement of the community and in politics gave his support to the democratic party. Of the four children the eldest is John, who is living retired, in the village of Hampton ; Mary is the wife of John Bray, a farmer near Edinburg, Texas; Ellen is the wife of Louis Gion of Polk county, Nebraska ; and the subject of this sketch is the youngest of the family.
Edward Hilligas is indebted to the public schools of Hamilton county for his early education and at the age of twenty-six years he initiated his independent career as a farmer. He purchased forty acres of land in Otis precinct and con- tinued to make his farm the stage of vigorous and profitable agricultural and live stock enterprises until the spring of 1917, when he removed to Marquette, where he has since lived practically, retired, he being a stockholder of the Hamilton County Elevator Company of this village and also of the Farmers Telephone Company. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he is a loyal and popular citizen of his native county.
On August 5, 1900, Mr. Hilligas was united in marriage to Miss Lena Satory, who was born in the state of Missouri, a daughter of Joseph and Julia (Adam) Satory, who came from that state and settled in York county, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Hilligas have two children-Lottie and Ruby.
J. A. DOREMUS
J. A. Doremus, principal of the city schools of Aurora, and recognized as one of the able educators in connection with the public school system of the state, was born in Rantoul, Illinois, August, 1870, a son of Andrew and Mary Jane (Heward) Doremus, both of whom were natives of New Jersey, in which state they were reared and married. In 1869 they removed to Illinois, where they still make their home. The father has devoted his life to the ministry of the Presbyterian church and his labors have been a potent influence for moral progress in the various com- munities in which he has lived. He has now reached the notable age of eighty- five years, while his wife is seventy-six years of age and since 1906 Mr. Doremus has entertained superannuated relations to the church, having up to that time continued active in the ministry, covering a period of fifty-six years. His political endorsement was given to the republican party. To him and his wife were born three children of whom two are living, the younger being Robert Doremus, who is a minister of the Unitarian church. He was graduated from Beloit College of Wisconsin and afterward taught school at .Rochester, New York. He became acquainted with Dr. Ganette, who was a leader among Unitarian people of the country. It was subsequent to this time that Robert Doremus entered Harvard Vol. II-23
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and was graduated in the theological course. He quit the preparatory course to enter the ministry and has since devoted his life to the work of the church.
J. A. Doremus had the advantage of liberal educational opportunities, sup- plementing his public school training by study in Gates College at Neligh, Nebraska, and in the University of Wisconsin, from which he was graduated in 1897 with the Master of Arts degree. He then returned to Neligh, where he taught for five years and then went to Madison, Nebraska, where he became superintendent of schools, occupying that position for five years. Later he was located at Auburn, Nebraska, and during his superintendency of the public schools there for a period of eight years, contributed much to the development and improvement of the school systems. In 1917 he came to Aurora and for four years has been school superin- tendent in this city with an enrollment of eight hundred and forty-five pupils and thirty-one teachers housed in four school buildings. His methods are practical and progressive. He regards education as the preparation for life and realizing fully his responsibilities in this connection, is doing everything within his power to maintain the schools of Aurora at the highest possible standard.
In 1898 Mr. Doremus was married to Miss M. Belle Chellis, who was born in Meriden, New Hampshire, and was graduated from the Middlebury College of Middlebury, Vermont, after which she came west to teach school. To Mr. and Mrs. Doremus have been born five children: Harold, a student in the State University of Nebraska, who will graduate in 1921 from the civil engineering de- partment; Francis, who is pursuing the electrical engineering course in the State University ; Mary, a high school pupil; Mabel and Constant, who are pupils in the grades. Mr. Doremus is a member of the Knights of Pythias and gives his political allegiance to the republican party, keeping at all times well informed on the questions and issues of the day. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and they occupy an enviable position in those social circles where intelligence and true worth are accepted as passports to good society.
WILLIAM P. RHODES
Since 1883 William P. Rhodes has made his home near Springranch, in township 5, Range 8, where he is owner of an excellent farm property and is classed with the most enterprising and prosperous farmers of Clay county. He is a native of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Greene county, that state, on the 28th of April, 1853, a son of William J. and Sarah Martha (Cowden) Rhodes, the former a native of Illinois, where he was born in 1825, and the latter a Kentuckian by birth. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes was cele- brated in MeLean county, Illinois, and there they resided throughout life, the father being a well known and successful farmer of that community. W. J. Rhodes passed away in 1914. Eight children were born to that union, four of whom are living: W. P., whose name initiates this review; E. M., farming in McLean county, Illinois; James, a resident of McLean county, Illinois; and Mrs. Becker, a resident of Quincy, Illinois. W. J. Rhodes was a lifelong con- sistent member of the Christian church, as was also his wife, and he was
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WILLIAM P. RHODES AND FAMILY
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likewise a stanch prohibitionist. He was always active in the development and improvement of the community and served his fellowmen as county commis- sioner for some time. Three brothers of W. J. Rhodes, Aaron P., Taylor and John A., were veterans of the Civil war, having served gallantly throughout the conflict. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John H. Rhodes, was born in Maryland and was an early pioneer in both Ohio and Illinois, having reached the latter state in 1823. The maternal grandfather was Reeves Cowden, a Kentuckian by birth, who removed to Illinois at an early day.
W. P. Rhodes is indebted to the schools of Bloomington, Illinois, for his education and in early life engaged in farming. In 1877 he located in Adams county, Nebraska, purchased some land and started farming on his own account. For six years he lived in a sod house on this land and brought it to a highly cultivated state. In 1883 he removed to Clay county and pur- chased a half section of land on which he now resides. The land is highly cultivated and well improved, all of the outbuildings having been erected by Mr. Rhodes.
In 1897 occurred the marriage of Mr. Rhodes to Miss Laura A. Johnson, a native of McLean county, Illinois. They adopted one child, Russell D., who lives at home, and also reared a girl, Velma Burt, who is the wife of Jacob Johnson and resides near Mr. Rhodes.
In politics Mr. Rhodes maintains an independent course. He has never songht nor desired public preferment, but devotes his entire time to his agri- cultural interests. The religious faith of the family is that of the Christian church. At one time Mr. Rhodes specialized in stock raising, but he now does mostly general farming. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, the result of his own determined effort, and is recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of his section of the state.
FRED C. HOFFMAN
One of the successful and progressive agriculturists and business men of Harvard is Fred C. Hoffman, who is now connected with the Farmers' Elevator at that place. A native of Germany he was born in that country on the 25th of September, 1866, a son of Christian and Louise (Tietz) Hoffman, who were also natives of Germany. On the 26th of April, 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman and their family came to the United States and settled in Clay county. As the father had practically nothing upon his arrival in the county he obtained employment working out on farms and soon saved up enough to purchase some land in Clay county. He was successful in his farming ventures and is now residing retired in Norfolk, enjoying the fruits of a life of diligence and industry. Mrs. Hoffman passed away some years ago. Eight children were born to their union, of whom Fred C., our subject, was the second in order of birth. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran church, but is now identified with the Methodist Episcopal church and is a democrat in politics.
Fred C. Hoffman received his education in the public schools of his native land and came to this country with his parents when fourteen years of age. He worked
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out on farms in Clay county until he became of age and for seven years was in the employment of one man. In 1912, however, he removed to the Harvard city limits, where he purchased some land and thereon resided until 1920, when he disposed of the land and moved into Harvard. There he built a fine home and subsequently became connected with the Farmers' Elevator there, which line of work he in now following. Mr. Hoffman while residing in the country was a member of the National Guard, in 1890 and 1891, and participated in some of the Sioux Indian campaigns.
In 1894 Mr. Hoffman was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Bish, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Nick Bish, who was a well known farmer in that state, where his death occurred. They have become the parents of two children: Walter and Edna. Walter, who is now twenty-four years of age, is assistant teacher in the University of Minnesota. He graduated from the Harvard schools and receiving a scholarship entered Wesleyan from which he was graduated and received his A. B. degree and won his Bachelor's degree in the spring of 1921; Edna received her education in the Harvard schools, after which she taught for three years there and is now teaching in Tobias.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Hoffman the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government. Fraternally he is an Ancient Free and Accepted Mason. In the civic affairs of the county Mr. Hoffman has always taken a prominent part, having served as road overseer for some time and as school director in the country schools for a period of fourteen years. He was also for six years secretary of the board of school directors of Harvard and for seven years served his fellowmen in the office of township assessor and was elected on the city council in the spring of 1921. Mr. Hoffman in addition to his property in Harvard owns two hundred and twenty acres of improved land in Clay county. In both business and social circles Mr. Hoffman holds to high standards and enjoys in large measure the confidence and trust of those with whom he is brought into contact in every relation of life.
EMIL LINDGREN
Emil Lindgren who is farming in section 9, Lewis township, was born in Sweden on the 1st of July, 1871, a son of Frank and Caroline Lindgren. In 1879 the parents removed to the United States and located in Indiana, where they remained for but one year when they removed to Clay county, arriving there in February of that year. There the father secured a homestead and for five years lived in a dugout. He was a successful farmer, later built a frame house on the place which he otherwise improved, and at the time of his death, January 9, 1895, he was among the influential farmers of his portion of the county. Mrs. Lindgren is still living and makes her home with Emil on the old farm. They were the parents of four children: Emil, whose name initiates this review ; Albion, whose death occurred at the age of thirty-four years; Victor, who passed away at the age of six years; and Theodore, a veterinary surgeon of Edgar.
Emil Lindgren received part of his education in the country schools of Clay
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county. He had had some experience in working out on farms in Indiana, and obtained like work in Nebraska and soon saved up enough money to purchase eighty acres of good land. He was successful in his farming venture from the start and later bought an additional eighty acre tract adjoining the original one. He also owned some well improved land in Adams county at one time. Emil is now, however, residing with his mother on the old home place. He never married.
The life of Mr. Lindgren has been one of diligence and industry and he has won success solely through his own efforts. He has always taken an active part in the development and improvement of the community and is numbered among the representative citizens of Clay county.
L. G. KEMPSTER
Since 1888 L. G. Kempster has been agent for the Northwestern Railroad at Harvard and is one of the three men west of the Missouri river who retains the office in which the Northwestern placed him when the station was established. He was born in Baldwinsville, New York, on the 16th of August, 1863, a son of Thomas L. and Emma (Buston) Kempster, both of whom were born in London, England. Mr. and Mrs. Kempster came to the United States about 1849 and their marriage was celebrated in New York state. He traveled considerably, being a government contractor and he did extensive business along that line in Canada. He finally removed to Washington state and his death occurred in Seattle. Mrs. Kempster passed away in Oswego, New York, in 1866. Mr. Kempster was twice married and L. G., whose name initiates this review, was the only child born to the first union. Four children were born to the second marriage, two of whom are living: Mrs. Elkins, whose husband is a banker in Seattle, Washington; and Arthur, who is an electrician and is also residing in Seattle. He was general man- ager of the Seattle Traction Company when it sold out to the city. Thomas L. Kempster was a stanch supporter of the republican party and a consistent member of the Episcopal church.
L. G. Kempster received the greater part of his education in Chicago, where his father was engaged in the contracting and building business for some time. At. the age of sixteen years L. G. Kempster put his school books aside and began to study telegraphy. For one year he was employed as telegraph operator for the St. Paul Railroad, but in 1888 came to Harvard and took charge of the station there for the Northwestern Railroad. He is one of the three men west of the Missouri river to open an office for the Northwestern who still retains it.
In 1885 Mr. Kempster was married to Miss Margaret MeGrane, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, and to them seven children were born: George, whose death occurred at the age of two years; Edward L., who is manager of the Omaha Robe and Tanning Company; Charlotte M., now the wife of Arthur Dixon, who is a painter and decorator of Harvard; Harold G., who is with the National Fur and Tanning Company of Omaha; Leo R., who died at the age of twenty-three years; Lawrence, at home; and Keitha M., who is the wife of Lester W. Moon, a business man of Loveland, Colorado.
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The political allegiance of Mr. Kempster is given to the republican party, in the interests of which he takes an active part. His fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Columbus and his religions faith is that of the Catholic church. He has served on the town board of Harvard and was a member of that organization when the water works was built. Mr. Kempster owns a quarter section of land in Clay county and has a nice home in Harvard. He is a most estimable citizen and his long residence in the community with which he has been so prominently identified has served to make him widely known, while his upright character, busi- ness ability and genial temperament have gained for him the high esteem of the entire community.
CHARLES E. DE MARANVILLE
Charles E. De Maranville, a retired farmer of Aurora, was born in the state of New York in 1849, his parents being James and Sophia (Brown) De Maranville who were also natives of the Empire state where they were reared and married. About the year 1856 they removed westward and the father cultivated a rented farm in Illinois. His first wife died in that state and he afterward married Mrs. Walker. He continued to reside in Illinois until 1905 and then came to Nebraska, spending his remaining days in the homes of his children. He was a member of the Freewill Baptist church in early life and later united with the Methodist church, living at all times as a consistent Christian, doing everything in his power to promote moral progress. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his political support was given to the republican party. He deserved much credit for what he accomplished in a business way for he started out in life empty handed and cultivated rented land, but through industry and diligence acquired sufficient capital to purchase a farm and in due course of time became one of the prosperous farmers of his community. His family numbered seven children, of whom four are living: Mrs. Josephine Buchanan, a resident of Bellingham, Washington ; Charles E. of this review; Mrs. Jennie Stone, a widow living at Leavenworth, Kansas; and James, living at Ravenna, Nebraska.
In the schools of Mineral, Illinois, Charles E. De Maranville pursued his education and then took up the occupation of farming by renting land in that state. In 1878 he arrived in Hamilton county where he purchased eighty acres of railroad land and thereon built a sod house in which he lived for four years. On the expiration of that period he replaced this primitive pioneer dwelling by a frame building and continued the work of developing and improving his farm for many years. In 1879 he brought his family to Nebraska and through the intervening period has continued a resident of this state. He still owns the farm and also has two pieces of city property. In 1904 he removed to Aurora and worked at various things from time to time but is largely retired, having now passed the seventy-second milestone on life's journey.
It was in 1872 that Mr. De Maranville was united in marriage to Miss Clara Kinkead, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, and they became parents of five children : Fred, who is on the home farm in Hamilton county; Jessie, the wife of
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Corwin Squiers who is employed by the Manhattan Oil Company in Aurora ; Grace, the wife of Clarence Mclaughlin, a farmer of Loop City, Nebraska; Carl, who works for the Consolidated. Flour Company of Ravenna, Nebraska; and Minnie, the wife of Clarence Stokesbury, who resides on a farm near Aurora. The wife and mother passed away August 13, 1920. She had five children and twelve grandchildren and was the first of the family to be called to her final rest. She was a consistent member of the Christian church and the sterling worth of her character endeared her to all who knew her. Mr. De Maranville is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, also of the Highlanders and his political views are in accord with the teachings and principles of the republican party. He has for more than four decades been a resident of Nebraska and throughout the entire period has been an interested witness of the growth of Hamilton county, while along the line of agricultural progress he has done his full share.
ALEXANDER MCDOUGALL
The typical Scotch determination and thrift have been potent in enabling Alexander McDougall to win a goodly measure of material prosperity and within a period of nearly forty years' residence in Hamilton county, Nebraska, he has advanced from the status of an obscure pioneer farmer of most modest resources to that of one of the substantial citizens and representative agriculturists and stock raisers of the county, his well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, being situated in section 26, Monroe township.
Of the stanchest of Scottish lineage on both the paternal and maternal sides, Alexander McDougall was born in the state of Pennsylvania, on the 13th of September, 1855, and is a son of Matthew and Isabel (Douglas) MeDougall, who became the parents of seven children, the father having died when but thirty-six years of age in Illinois. The mother survived him many years and was a resident of Hamilton county at the time of her death. Matthew McDougall was born in Scotland and was a youth when he came to the United States. From Pennsylvania he removed to Illinois in the year 1857, the major part of his active career in this country having been one of association with farm enterprise.
Alexander McDougall is indebted to the public schools of Illinois for his early education, which was limited in scope and when he was a lad of twelve years he began to depend largely upon his own resources. He. gave most of his time to farm work and his initial venture as an independent farmer was made in Illinois. There was solemnized his marriage to Miss Isabel McAllister and he continued his alliance with farm industry in Illinois until 1885, when he came with his family to Hamilton county, Nebraska, and prepared to undertake the labors and responsibilities of developing and improving a farm. He brought with him a goodly supply of household effects, a few farm implements, a team of mules and a cow, so that he was not without due provisions for establishing a comfortable home. He first purchased a tract of eighty acres, but this he later sold. He then rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Monroe township, which he worked for eighteen years before purchasing it in 1904. His well ordered enterprise and
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careful methods have resulted in the devlopment of this place into one of the valuable farm properties of the county. The little frame house that was the original habitation of the family has been supplanted by a commodious and modern dwell- ing and the other buildings on the farm are of excellent type, properly arranged for the practical uses to which they are applied in connection with the diversified operations of the well kept farm. The first wife of Mr. McDougall was about twenty-eight years of age at the time of her death in 1883, her children having been three in number, namely: Matthew J., who died at the age of thirty-seven years; Nora, who died at the age of nineteen years, in 1900; and Julia, who is the wife of Merle Coon, of Aurora, Hamilton county. The second wife of Mr. McDougall bore the maiden name of Jennie May Firth and she was born and reared in Illinois. She proved a true helpmeet to her husband in connection with his progressive career as a farmer in Hamilton county and on the old home farm her death occurred in the year 1909. Of this union were born seven children : Pearl is the wife of Fred Fowler of Aurora, this county; Ira became a member of the United States army, his enlistment having occurred in New Mexico in 1910 and his service having continued during the period in which the nation was involved in the great World war; Edna is the wife of Charles Cunningham, a farmer in Hamilton county; Minnie is the wife of Chester Cunningham of Aurora, this county ; Iva is the wife of Wiley Garrison and they reside in the state of Illinois; Arvilla is the wife of James Morrell of Hamilton county and lives on a farm ; and Beckford remains at the paternal home.
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