USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 41
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 41
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In politics Mr. Purdy is an independent voter, giving his support to the man he thinks best fitted for the office, regardless of party principles. He is fraternally identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, having been clerk of this lodge for years and he and his family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The history of the northwest is largely familiar to Mr. Purdy, as he has been a witness of much of its growth and development and at all times has stood for that which is best and most progressive in the business life of the community and in the advancement of its moral, intellectual and social interests.
JAMES W. TURNER
James W. Turner is numbered among the enterprising business men of Har- vard, where he is engaged in blacksmithing. In this connection he has developed a good business, his enterprise and reliable methods gaining for him a liberal patronage. He was born in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, on the 13th of March, 1857, a son of Henry and Marie (Blanchard) Turner, the former a native of Genesee county, New York, while the latter was also born in that state. Their marriage occurred in Michigan, where both had come as children in 1832, and in that state the father engaged in farming, later carpentering and shoemaking, for a number of years. In 1879 he removed to Nebraska, locating in Hamilton county, where he purchased a half section of land and lived thereon until he moved into Harvard, where both he and his wife passed away. He was in possession of a quarter section of land at the time of his demise, having disposed of the other quarter some time before. Four children were born to that union, James W. being the youngest member of the family and the only one living. Throughout his life Henry Turner was a stanch supporter of the democratic party and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
In the acquirement of an education James W. Turner attended the schools of Vol. II-26
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Kalamazoo, Michigan, and lived with his parents on the home farm. At the age of fifteen years he learned the blacksmith's trade, followed that line of work during the winter months and did carpenter work in the summer. In 1879 he came to Nebraska and bought eighty acres of school land in Hamilton county, which he brought to a high state of cultivation and upon which he resided until 1896, when he removed to Eldorado. He had a blacksmith shop on his farm but decided that a town would be the best place for the conduct of the latter business. He there- fore, upon removing to Eldorado, built a shop, the funds for this venture having been realized from the sale of his farm, and for three years he was one of the most successful blacksmiths in the surrounding country. In 1899, however, he removed to Harvard, worked ont by the day for two years and then bought another blacksmith shop, in the conduct of which he is still active.
In September, 1878, Mr. Turner was united in marriage to Miss Pearly Smith, a daughter of M. E. and Sarah A. (Stone) Smith, both natives of New York state, who came to Michigan about 1873. Her father was a carpenter and joiner and made his home in Michigan until his demise. Five children have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Turner, three of whom are living: Charles, who is residing on a farm in Hamilton county ; Frank E., of whom further mention is made on another page of this work; and Jessie Mabel, who is a registered nurse of Detroit, Michigan.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Turner the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party and the principles for which it stands. For eight years he was a member of the city council. Although the greater part of Mr. Turner's time is devoted to his blacksmith business he is also interested in the agricultural development of the state as the owner of eighty acres in Hamilton county.
EDWIN CUNDALL
Farming interests formerly claimed the attention of Edwin Cundall, but at the present time he is living retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. He now makes his home in Sutton, which is far distant from the place of his birth, for he was born in Lincolnshire, England, July 29, 1850, his parents being Richard and Mary (Sales) Cundall, who were also natives of that country and came to the new world in 1872, settling in Cleveland, Ohio. The father, who followed farming throughout his life, came to Clay county in 1876 and bought up a homesteader's right to eighty acres, his first dwelling being partly a sod house and partly a dugout, but later he built a more modern frame dwelling on his land. He continued to occupy the old homestead until he retired to a place near the village of Sutton, and several years later he passed away. His widow afterward passed away in Sutton. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Cundall always voted with the republican party, believ- ing that the principles of the party contained the best elements of good citizenship. To him and his wife were born ten children, of whom four are living: Joseph, who follows farming in Boulder county, Colorado; Edwin; Charles, who resides in Cleveland, Ohio; and Harry, who is living retired in Denver, Colorado.
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Edwin Cundall was educated in the schools of England and started out to provide for his own support by working on a farm. He has depended entirely upon his own resources for a living from the age of twelve years. In 1873, when a young man of twenty-three years, he arrived in Fillmore county, Nebraska, and there homesteaded, living in a sod house. For a time he kept bachelor's hall, but on the 18th of May, 1879, was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Benedict, who was born in Magnolia, Wisconsin, a daughter of William Case and Delia (Lewis) Benedict. Her father was born in Canada and removed from Wisconsin to Iowa, while in 1872 he settled in Fillmore county, Nebraska, and there obtained a home- stead claim. He worked on a railroad, assisting in the building of the line, and thus provided some ready money with which to aid him in the development of his farm. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom but two are living, Mrs. Cundall and Edith Elmira Cunningham. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mr. Benedict also belonged, and he was a Civil war veteran, enlisting from Wisconsin in defense of the Union.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cundall has been blessed with nine children : Harry, a farmer residing in Elyria, Nebraska; Will, a farmer whose home is at Ord, Nebraska; Cora, at home; Arthur, a resident farmer of Fillmore county, Nebraska; Mary; Clayton, a dentist located at Gothenburg, Nebraska; Maude, the wife of A. C. McDonald, who occupies a farm in Clay county; Myrtle, the wife of Carl Grosshans, a resident farmer of Clay county; and Robert Edwin, at home. Clayton Cundall was in the first draft and was sent to Camp Funston, following America's entrance into the World war. Later he was transferred to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was discharged in 1918. He did dental work while in the army.
Mr. and Mrs. Cundall are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and his political belief is that of the democratic party. He served for several years on the school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart cham- pion and one whose labors have been effective in supporting the best educational interests of the county. In 1911 he removed with his family to Sutton and pur- chased a home, which he remodeled and has made an attractive residence. He is the owner of five hundred and thirty acres of well improved land that he has gained through his own efforts, his life being one of industry and well directed thrift.
GUST JOHNSON
Gust Johnson is a retired farmer living in Sutton, who came alone to the United States when but twelve years of age. He was born in Sweden in June, 1861, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson, having died, however, when he was an infant, so that he knows nothing of them. He was reared by an uncle and aunt, Andrew and Margaret Johnson, and his youthful days were those of the farm bred boy. He was the youngest in a family of seven children, all of whom have passed away with the exception of Mr. Johnson. When a lad of but eleven years he came alone to the new world and settled first in Jamestown, New York, where he lived with his sister and two brothers. He was educated there and remained in that city until-he was eighteen years of age. He then came to Henry county, Illinois, and worked in a
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coal mine, while later he cultivated a tract of rented land. It was in the year 1886 that he arrived in Clay county, Nebraska, where he again rented land for a number of years. From 1888 to 1890 he was in Colorado, where he farmed his own land for two years and preempted and took a timber claimn. Later he purchased eighty aeres in Clay county, of which he became owner in 1906. In addition he also owns five acres in the outskirts of Sutton. Year after year he carefully tilled his fields and gathered his crops and his capable management and unfaltering diligence brought to him the success that now enables him to live retired, for in 1918 he put aside the active work of the farm and removed to Sutton.
On the 1st of Jannary, 1884, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Augusta Cole, who was born in Sweden and came alone to the United States when seventeen years of age, making her way to Illinois where she did housework prior to her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born four children: Roy, a resident farmer of Clay county ; Stella, the wife of Ira Corey, a farmer of Blackfoot, Idaho; Mildred, the wife of John Kessler, residing on her father's farm; and Mabel, the wife of Guy Trudson, who is farming in Clay county. The parents occupy an attractive home in Sutton, situated in the midst of his five acre tract of land and Mr. Johnson is now conducting a dairy business. He has made a success of life, his diligence and enterprise constituting the basie forces of his present prosperity. Politically he is a democrat and religiously a Congregationalist, both he and his wife belonging to the church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest.
JAMES WRIGHT
One of the well-to-do and respected citizens of Hamilton county who has well performed his part in developing this great state is James Wright, who is now making his home on fine improved land in that county. A native of Grant county, Wisconsin, he was born there July 6, 1853, a son of Adglin and Sarah (Bollen- baugh) Wright.
James Wright received his education in the country schools of Wisconsin and assisted his father in farming the home place. In 1872 he came to Hamilton county with his parents, driving through with three teams of oxen, leaving Wis- consin early in the spring and arriving in Hamilton county the first of July. They also drove forty head of cattle through. James Wright bought a homestead right and timber claim of eighty acres, this original purchase being a part of the tract on which he is now residing. He has added more land from time to time, however, until he now owns two hundred and forty acres, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation solely through his own efforts. His first home on this land was of sod and he built a stable of straw. Ilis provisions he hauled from Grand Island and he took his wheat to a mill on Blue river, this trip requiring one day each way. Deer and antelopes were numerous throughout the community and he has killed many of these animals. He also remembers having seen many buffalo stragglers. After putting this place into good shape he removed to Grant county .. Nebraska, and there lived for twenty-eight years, engaging in stock raising and achieving a great amount of success. James Wright, in connection with his
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JAMES WRIGHT
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brother and sons, is in possession of almost one entire township in Grant county. They use that land for running their cattle. In 1917, however, Mr. Wright returned to his original home place in Hamilton county and is there residing, an active and leading agriculturist of his section of the country.
Mr. Wright has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Lydia Sorrels, who is now deceased. She was the mother of four children: Benjamin, who is residing on the Grant county ranch; Charles, also residing on the Grant county ranch ; and Aaron and Ajolon, who were twins. Aaron is assisting his brothers in farming the Grant county ranch and Ajolon is deceased. By Mr. Wright's second marriage, his wife being formerly Miss Anna Donabrook, he has two children: Margaret and Minnie, both living at home.
Fraternally Mr. Wright is identified with the Masons, which order he is serving as master. He has always been active in any movement he deemed of value to the improvement and development of the county and state and he served his fellow citizens as road supervisor for many years. Mr. Wright has reached his present position of prosperity and prominence in the community solely through his own efforts. By grim determination and energy he overcame all of the early pioneer hardships and is now recognized among the successful and leading agriculturists of the county and state.
M. J. MCDERMOTT
While M. J. McDermott devoted many years to farming and by reason of his careful management and capability won success, he has now put aside the more active work of the fields and is living retired in Sutton. He came to Nebraska from Illinois, his birth having occurred in Peoria county, that state, December 21, 1857, his parents being Bernard and Ann (Cosgrove) McDermott, who were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, where they were reared and married. They came to the United States in 1853 and for about two years resided in New York, after which they removed westward to Peoria county, Illinois. The father there rented a farm, which he cultivated for a number of years and in 1885 he came to Sutton, Nebraska, with his family. The mother passed away in Sutton in 1904, at the age of seventy years. The father moved to Omaha in 1904 and died March 9, 1921, at the age of eighty-nine years. He was a Catholic in religious faith and a democrat in his political views. To him and his wife were born thirteen children, of whom six are living : Anna, unmarried, a resident of Omaha; Matilda, the wife of Ed Quinn, a con- tractor of St. Joseph, Missouri; Louisa, unmarried, who is a teacher in the schools of San Francisco, California ; Mary, the wife of Clayton Lerch, who is engaged in the automobile business in Oakland, California; and Josephine, who for twenty years has been a stenographer with C. B. Liver & Company of Omaha.
M. J. McDermott pursued his education in the schools of his native state and when his textbooks were put aside started out to engage in farming. He is today the owner of a large amount of land in Clay county, which he acquired through his own efforts. In former years he engaged extensively in raising and feeding stock, making this an important branch of his work while on the farm. Year by year he
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diligently cultivated his fields and his industry and careful management brought a most gratifying return. In 1891 he removed to Sutton, but continued to engage in the live stock business until 1903, when he retired and has since spent his days in the enjoyment of well earned rest.
In 1902 Mr. MeDermott was married to Miss Ruby Anderson, who was born in Wayne county, Iowa, in 1875, a daughter of Sylvester S. and Hannah (Clark) Anderson, natives of Ripley county, Indiana. They first went to Illinois and thence to Iowa, where the mother passed away, while the father afterward became a resident of Friend, Nebraska, where his death occurred on January 12, 1916. In the family of that worthy couple were eight children, of whom six are living: Ida, the wife of George Winders, a retired farmer living at Friend, Nebraska; Mary, the wife of D. MeKinzie, a farmer of Park City, Montana ; Kate, the wife of W. Kleespie, a farmer of Park City, Montana; Richard, who is engaged in farm- ing at Albany, Illinois; Mrs. McDermott of Sutton; and Sylvester, who follows farming at Park City, Montana. Her parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. McDermott had sixteen relatives who gave their lives to the country in the Civil war. Her mother lost two brothers and the father had four brothers in the Civil war and lost one brother in Andersonville prison. Mrs. McDermott is a graduate of the Sutton high school and for five years taught school in Clay and Fillmore counties. She also attended the Fremont Normal and is a lady of liberal education and wide culture.
Mr. and Mrs. McDermott have become parents of two daughters: Genevieve, who died in 1920, at the age of fourteen years; and Mary Josephine, in school. Both Mr. and Mrs. McDermott are members of the Degree of Honor and Mrs. McDermott is a member of the P. E. O. Sisterhood. He formerly gave his political allegiance to the republican party, but since 1896 has voted with the democratic party. He was a member of the county board of supervisors for three terms and served as its chairman for one term. He likewise filled the office of mayor of Sutton for five terms, his many reelections being indisputable proof of his capability. fidelity and the confidence reposed in him. He was elected first in the spring of 1903 and was then again and again called to the office. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, while his wife is a consistent member of the Congrega- tional church. His life has indeed been a busy and useful one and his course indicates what can be accomplished when energy and enterprise lead the way. In the early days he rented land until he was able to buy a half section on time and thus he made his start toward the goal of prosperity, which he has long since reached.
DAVID KLINE
David Kline, who for twenty-three years has been a railroad employe and throughout this period has made his home in Aurora, was born in Independence, Missouri, December 24, 1859, a son of William and Mary (O'Neil) Kline, the former a native of Ohio, while the latter was born in Wisconsin, in which state their marriage occurred. Removing westward to Missouri they lived for a short time in that state and then returned to Wisconsin, where both passed away, the
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father owning and cultivating a farm in that state. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while both were consistent Christian people, his membership being in the Christian church while his wife belonged to the United Brethren church. In politics he was a democrat but without ambition to hold office. In their family were four children, two of whom are living: Luella, the wife of Clint Allen, of Freeport, Illinois; and David.
The latter obtained his education in the public schools of Green county, Wis- consin, where he was reared to the occupation of farming and from early manhood his attention was given to the task of tilling the soil. In 1882 he became a resident of Hamilton county and purchased forty acres of land, thus making his start amid new surroundings. In 1885 he carried the mail between Aurora and Sutton for one year. When he arrived here he had but two dollars in money, a horse and two cows. He borrowed the money necessary to make the first payment on his land and for some time the family occupied a little frame dwelling to which Mr. Kline added modern improvements and equipments as the years passed and his financial resources increased. For fourteen years his attention was successfully given to general farming and in 1896 he removed to Aurora, where he became con- nected with railroad service and for twenty-three years he has been with the Bur- lington Railroad Company. On the 19th of September, 1919, however, he sustained an injury for which he is now taking treatment.
Mr. and Mrs. Kline occupy a pleasant home at No. 704 Ninth street. It was on the 1st of January, 1882, that Mr. Kline wedded Ada Nichols, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Asa and Rosella (Nyles) Nichols, who were natives of New York and Ohio, respectively. In an early day they removed to Illinois and Mr. Nichols did his trading in Chicago, which at that time was but a comparatively small town. He belonged to the Unitarian church while his wife was a member of the United Brethren church and his political endorsement was given to the democratic party. After living for a number of years in Illinois he removed to Wisconsin, where he owned several large farms. In 1882 he became a resident of Hamilton county, Nebraska, where he had three hundred and twenty acres of good land. He was numbered among the substantial citizens of this part of the state and his success was the direct outcome of his persistency, capability and sound business judgment. To him and his wife were born five children, four of whom are living: Trowbridge Nichols, who is a farmer of St. Marys, Kansas ; Mrs. Kline; Asa, a resident farmer of Oregon; and Kate, who is the wife of Thomas Smith, a barber of Aurora. Mr. and Mrs. Kline have become parents of four children : Claudia, who died at the age of thirteen months ; Edna Maude, the wife of Ellis Lancaster, a farmer of York county by whom she has three children : Gladys Fay, Ada Serena and Eleanor Marline; Lilah living at home and a mem- her of the United Brethren church; and Roy Clifford, who was born July 25, 1891, and was one of the first in Hamilton county drafted for service in the World war. He became a member of Company B, Three Hundred and Fifty-fifth Infantry, Eighty-ninth Division, leaving home on the 2d of April, 1918, and going to C'amp Hempstead on Long Island. He sailed for France on the 5th of June, 1918, and was killed in action on the 6th of November, 1918, in the battle of the Argonne, thus making the supreme sacrifice for his country, while the star of blue on the home service flag turned to a star of gold.
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Mr. Kline and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is identified with the Modern Woodmen. He votes with the democratic party but has never desired political office as a reward for party fealty. His wife in 1918 served as state president and was for seven years chaplain of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. Both are widely known and highly esteemed, enjoying the warm regard of all who know them by reason of their sterling worth and many admirable qualities.
FRED HASELOH
Fred Haseloh has long been identified with the agricultural development of Clay county, where he owns a highly cultivated farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He is now, however, retired from active business life and is living in Har- vard, a highly respected and representative citizen. He was born in Westphalia, Germany, on the 30th of June, 1843, a son of Louis and Wilhelmina (Pohlman) Haseloh, also natives of Germany, where they resided throughout their lives. His father was a successful shoemaker and a prominent man of the community in which he made his home. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Haseloh, two of whom are living, namely: Fred, whose name initiates this review; and Chris- tian, a shoemaker of Brooklyn, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Haseloh were consistent members of the Lutheran church.
Fred Haseloh received his education in the schools of his native country. At the age of fifteen years he came to the United States and settled in St. Louis where he obtained work on a truck farm. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he entered the army from St. Louis, enlisting in Company F, Fifteenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He served with Fremont in Missouri and afterward with the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in many of the important battles of the war, among them being Pea Ridge, Corinth and Stone River, at which latter place he was wounded and confined to the hospital for three months. He then rejoined his company and was with it in the battle of Chickamauga, at which time he was again wounded and invalided for two months. He was then transferred to the invalid corps and received his honorable discharge at the end of three years' active service. Returning to Missouri he entered the brick-laying husiness, in which line of work he was active for three or four years and subsequently went to Illinois, where he worked out on farms for two or three years. In 1873 he came to Nebraska, located in Clay county and proved up on a homestead. His first home on that land was a dugout but he later erected a fine frame home. His farming ventures proved to be very successful and he soon became one of the most prominent and progressive agriculturists in the community. Until 1900 Mr. Haseloh resided on the homestead and then moved into Harvard, where he has since lived retired. He retains his three hundred and twenty acres, the original homestead, which brings him a substantial income.
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