USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 42
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 42
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In 1865 occurred the marriage of Mr. Haseloh and Miss Sarah Carriker, a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of Daniel and Sophia (Sides) Carriker. Iler parents removed to Illinois in 1848 and there the father engaged in farming,
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achieving a substantial amount of success. Seven children have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Haseloh, six of whom are living: Charles, who is residing on the homestead in Clay county ; Albert, farming near Harvard; Gus and Robert, farmers; Lillian, now the wife of George Erickson, a farmer of Clay county ; and Jennie, who married O. M. Swanson of Lincoln county, a prominent rancher of that community.
. Mr. Haseloh gives his political allegiance to the republican party, in the interests of which he takes an active part. For some time he was a member of the city council. Both Mr. and Mrs. Haseloh are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Haseloh is indeed a self-made man. His record may justly serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, for it indicates clearly that the way is open to ambitious, energetic young men and that the rewards of labor are sure when directed by sound judgment.
JOHN W. ILIFF
John W. Iliff, who has been closely identified with the developinent and improve- ment of Clay county for many years, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits . throughout his active business career with great success, is now living practically retired at Harvard. He was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, March 30, 1852, a son of Alpheus and Mary E. (Philhower) Iliff. The father was born in New Jersey on the 15th of August, 1828, and made his home in that state until his death in 1909. He was a blacksmith by trade and also engaged in farming. He was married to Mary E. Philhower when but twenty-three years of age. In July, 1862, Alpheus Iliff enlisted in the Union army as a member of Company E, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Gettysburg, the Wil- derness, Bull Run and numerous skirmishes. He was captured at the battle of Bull Run and was confined in Andersonville prison for seven months. He received his honorable discharge in August, 1863. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Iliff seven children were born, three of whom are living: John W., the subject of this review ; Horace, who lives in California, retired ; and Mary J., who is the wife of Martin Hoffman, a retired business man of Lebanon, New Jersey. Mr. Iliff who passed away in 1900, was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his political allegiance was given to the republican party. For a number of years Mr. Iliff was a delegate to both county and state conventions.
John W. Iliff received his education in the schools of his native state and at the age of eighteen years commenced farming on his own account. In 1877 he went to Bureau county, Illinois, and for about seven years worked out on farms. He subsequently removed to Nebraska and located in Clay county, where he moved on land which he had purchased in 1882.
In 1885 occurred the marriage of Mr. Iliff and Miss Barbara Osborn, a daugh- ter of Wesley and Sarah ( Barnett) Osborn, natives of Pennsylvania. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Iliff: F. H., who is residing on his father's farm
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in Hamilton county ; Clarence E., who works for a furniture company in Harvard; and Mary A., who is attending a business college at Lincoln.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Iliff the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party and was the first supervisor of the new county organization in 1888, serving one term. He was a member of the school board as long as he lived in Eldorado township. In 1916, deciding to retire from active life, Mr. Iliff moved into Harvard, where he built a fine home and with the excep- tion of tending to a truck patch in the summer he is enjoying a life of ease and comfort. He has many friends throughout the community and is readily conceded a representative citizen.
JAMES H. WILKINS
James H. Wilkins, although formerly actively engaged in farming, is now living retired in Aurora. He was born in Mortonsville, Kentucky, January 25, 1843, his parents being George and Fannie (Wilson) Wilkins. The father was probably born in Virginia while the mother's birth occurred in Kentucky and their marriage was celebrated in the latter state, where the father passed away in 1844 and the mother died in Illinois in 1863. Mr. Wilkins was a shoemaker and farmer and was the owner of slaves in Kenutcky, being numbered among the well-to-do men of his day. His political endorsement was given to the democratic party. To him and his wife were born seven children.
James H. Wilkins, the youngest of the family and the only one now living, obtained his education in the common schools of Illinois, in which state he was reared to manhood. He was only a year old at the time of his father's death and was but ten years of age when his mother departed this life. In the spring of 1861, when a youth of eighteen he had responded to the country's call to aid in the preservation of the Union and had joined Company K of the Fourteenth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, serving with the western army. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, the Siege of Vicksburg and a number of other engagements and was honorably discharged June 1, 1864.
After being mustered out Mr. Wilkins returned to Illinois, where he took up the occupation of farming on his own account by renting land. In the fall of the same year-1864-he married Martha New, who was born in Scott county, Illinois, a daughter of William F. and Harriett (Gates) New, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Ohio. From the age of nine years until his death Mr. New resided on one farm in Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. New were born seven children but only two are living: Mrs. Mary Campbell of College View, Nebraska, and Mrs. Wilkins. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and loyally followed its teachings.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins were born ten children, nine of whom are living: Lillie, the wife of F. O. Hannawold, a retired farmer of Merna, Nebraska : William N., a farmer of Kansas; Frank, who carries on agricultural pursuits in this coun- . ty : David H., a rice farmer of Arkansas; Hattie, at home; Whitfeld, a twin of Hattie, living on the home farm in Hamilton county; Dollie, who is at home:
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Stella, the wife of Len T. Cole, who is engaged in merchandising in Montana; and Walter, who is a clerk in a drug store in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Mrs. Wilkins is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Wilkins maintains largely an independent course, though inclined to the republican party. He served as a member of the school board and has been much interested in all that pertains to public progress and improvement.
It was in 1873 that Mr. Wilkins came to Hamilton county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Beaver precinet, which he still owns. The farm was destitute of improvement and with characteristic energy he began the development of the place. He and his wife, with their four children, lived in a little two-room sod hotise, but about 1880 he built a frame dwelling, hauling the lumber from Aurora. Gradually he gained a start and from time to time extended the boundaries of his farm by the purchase of additional land until he is now the owner of five hundred and sixty aeres of good land in this county. Year by year he carefully tilled the soil and gathered golden harvests and has become one of the suecessful agriculturists of this section of the state. In 1904 he removed to Aurora and rents his farm property from which he obtains a good annual income. At one time he was the owner of a drug store in Aurora. Whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion and obstacles and difficulties in his path seem but to serve as an impetus for renewed effort on his part. It is fitting that a life of such intense and intelligently directed activities should be crowned with leisure and with success and at the present time he is enjoying well earned rest amid all of the comforts and luxuries that his former labor has provided for him.
ZIBA M. FOX
Ziba M. Fox dates his residence in Aurora from 1914 but first took up his abode in Hamilton county in 1880. Through the intervening period of forty-one years he has witnessed a remarkable change here as the work of development and progress has been carried steadily forward. For a long period he was identified with farming interests in the west but is now living retired. Ohio claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Lawrence county, that state, on the 24th of February, 1859, his parents being Josh B. and Elizabeth (Worthington) Fox, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, but in early life removed to Ohio, where the father followed the occupation of farming. His father had taken up land there from the government when Ohio was a frontier distriet. After living for many years in the Buckeye state J. B. Fox came to Hamilton county in the fall of 1880 and purchased eighty aeres of railroad land. His first home in the west was a sod house and the family experienced all of the hardships and privations incident to frontier life, but as the years passed success crowned his efforts and it became more and more easy for him to secure the comforts and some of the luxuries of life for his family. Ilis political endorsement was given to the democratic party and both he and his wife were members of the Christian church. Their family numbered eight children seven of whom are living: J. L., who is living retired at Stockville, Nebraska; Ziba M .; Margaret, the wife of Ranson Folden, also of
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Stockville, where he is living retired from farming; James T., a farmer of Frontier county, Nebraska ; Calvin, a carpenter, residing at Twin Falls, Idaho; George, who carries on farming in Hamilton county ; and Amos B., a resident of Cocoran, California.
The district school system of Ohio provided Ziba M. Fox his early educational privileges. He had the opportunity of attending school for a few months during the winter season, while in the summer he worked on the home farm. He was a young man of twenty-one years when the family removed to Hamilton county and soon afterward purchased an eighty acre tract of land from the railroad, making yearly payment thereon until he had acquired ownership to that amount. Industry and perseverance have ever characterized his business career and while he started out empty-handed he is today numbered among the men of affluence in Aurora. He continued further to develop and improve his farm for a number of years and in 1912 removed to Missouri, where he purchased some farm land, making his home in that state for a year and a half. He then traded his property for town property in Aurora and has been a resident of the county seat since 1914, leading a retired life through the intervening period. He sold his farm in Hamilton county in 1918, but now owns a pleasant home at No. 811 Tenth street in Aurora.
In 1889 Mr. Fox was married to Miss Saripta Myers, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Marion and Rachael (Looman) Myers, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, but early became residents of the Buckeye state. There her father died while the mother afterward removed to Nebraska and is now living with her danghter, Mrs. Fox, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Fox became the parents of two children but both have passed away. The son, Elmer Fox, born in 1891, entered the service in the World war in December, 1917, and went to Denver, Colorado, where he remained for a week, after which he was sent to San Antonio, Texas, dying there in camp from pneumonia; Charles died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Fox belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics he is a democrat but with independent tendencies and at one time supported the populist party. He has never been an aspirant for office, always preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon the business affairs which claimed his attention while he was still active. He has never been neglectful of the duties of citizenship, but has always supported those interests and projects which are a matter of genuine publie worth, contributing to the civic development and advancement of community, commonwealth and country.
FREDERICK J. WERNER
Frederick J. Werner, who for many years has been identified with the agri- cultural development of Nuekolls and Clay counties, is now living retired in Edgar, enjoying the success which is the result of his own determined and indi- vidual effort. A native of Germany, Mr. Werner was born in Baden on the 31st of May, 1845, a son of Christopher and Mary (Menick) Werner, also natives of that country. His parents came to the United States in 1850 and settled in
HOME AND FAMILY OF FREDERICK J. WERNER
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Cleveland, Ohio, where the father worked as a cooper. He followed his trade there with great success and his demise occurred near that city. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Werner removed with her family to Stark county, Ohio, and in 1872 came to Nebraska, locating in Nuckolls county. There she acquired a homestead and resided thereon until her death. In the family were two chil- dren : Frederick J., whose name initiates this review; and Margaret Roth, now deceased. Three sons of the latter served in the World war. Mr. and Mrs. Werner were consistent members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Werner gave his political allegiance to the democratic party. Both maternal and paternal grandparents of Frederick J. Werner were born and died in Germany with the exception of his grandmother, Margaret Menick, who came to the United States, where her demise occurred.
In the acquirement of an education Frederick J. Werner attended the public schools of Ohio and upon the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting August 12, 1862. He fought under Generals Scofield and Sherman and was with the latter until he reached Atlanta. He was then sent to Nashville, Tennessee, and participated in the battles at Franklin and Nashville. On the 2d of June, 1865, Mr. Werner received his discharge and returned to Ohio, where he farmed and worked in a stoneware factory until 1869. In that year he went to Washington county, Iowa, where he was employed on a farm for some time, and in 1870 came west to Nebraska, locating in Nuckolls county. There he acquired a homestead, which he still owns. In the fall of 1870 he returned to Iowa, where he remained throughout the winter, coming back to the homestead in 1871. He has since made Nebraska his home, and in July, 1907, he removed to Edgar, where he is now living retired. Upon arriving in Nuckolls county Mr. Werner was finan- cially crippled, and he spent his last five dollar bill for a calf, which purchase later proved to be a good investment. It was the beginning of fourteen head of cattle valued at over one thousand dollars which were raised in less than seven years' time.
On the 22d of August, 1878, Mr. Werner was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Stanley, a daughter of Solomon Stanley, a native of Indiana, who came to Nebraska and settled in Nuckolls county at an early day. To this mar- riage, one son, C. J., was born and he is now engaged in the plumbing and tinning business at Wymore. Another child, Wilton, died in infancy. The death of Mrs. Werner occurred on the 30th of October, 1880, and on the 31st of December, 1882, Mr. Werner was again married, choosing Sarah A. Gunsalus for his wife. She was born in Pennsylvania and was a daughter of James C. and Deborah (Mulhallan) Gunsalus, both natives of that state. Her great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary war and her grandfather in the War of 1812. A brother, Alfred C. Gunsalus, was in the Civil war, and a nephew in the World war. Previous to her marriage Mrs. Werner taught school in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska for a period of eighteen years. Two children have been born to the latter marriage: Alice D., who was born on the 12th of December, 1883, and died October 11, 1884; and Ella, who was born January 5, 1887, and received her education in the district schools, the schools of Beatrice and the State Normal school at Kearney and is now teaching at Mount Clare, Nebraska.
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The political allegiance of Mr. Werner is given to the republican party, in the interests of which he takes an active part, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, belonging to the church at Edgar. Mrs. Werner is a member of the Bible Spiritualist. As a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Mr. Werner has served post No. 16 as quartermaster for some years. When he removed to Edgar in 1907 he rented his farm of two hundred and forty acres in Nuckolls county. At an early age Mr. Werner was thrown upon his own resources and is truly a self-made man, deserving much credit for what he has accomplished, his advancement being due to his individual effort and perseverance.
A. D. TRAVIS
When A. D. Travis started out in the business life in Nebraska his financial resources comprised only two hundred and twenty dollars. He was, however, the possessor of a stout heart and willing hand and his courage and determination constituted the foundation upon which he has builded success, so that at the present time he is enabled to live retired in Aurora, while the comforts and many of the luxuries are his by reason of his former toil. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, February 21, 1850, and is a son of Daniel and Eleanor (Wolf) Travis, both of whom were natives of New York, whence they removed to Pennsylvania, in 1835, and in 1840 became residents of Ohio, remaining in that state until 1856, when they went to Indiana. Their marriage was celebrated in Albany, New York, and they spent their last days in Indiana, where the father for many years conducted farming on an extensive scale. Both he and his wife were loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church, taking deep interest in its work and his political belief was that of the republican party. They became the parents of six children of whom only two are living: Mrs. Mary Jacoby, a widow now residing in Aurora; and A. D., who is the youngest of the family. One son, Charles Travis, died while serving with the Union army in the Civil war. In both the paternal and maternal lines A. D. Travis comes of ancestry from the state of New York. His grand- father, Randolph Travis, was born in the Empire state and removed to Ohio, where he spent his remaining days, reaching the notable age of ninety-six years. The maternal grandfather, John Wolf, was also born in New York and continued a resident there until the time of his demise.
A. D. Travis was educated in the public schools of Indiana, in an academy at Plymouth, Indiana, and in the Normal School at Valparaiso, that state. He early took up the profession of teaching which he followed for nineteen terms in Indiana, becoming a teacher before reaching the age of sixteen years. In 1878 he arrived in Aurora and here established a grocery store in which business he continued for five years, after which he turned his attention to the grain trade and was active as a grain buyer for a decade. Through all these years he enjoyed a constantly growing success and at length retired from business. Forty-two years ago he built his home in Aurora and has lived on the one corner of the city-Eleventh and N streets-throughout the intervening period. He has witnessed the remarkable
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change in the city which was little more than a village at the time of his arrival. He has lived to witness its development according to modern ideas of city building and rejoices in what has been accomplished as the work of enterprise and develop- ment has been carried forward.
In 1875 Mr. Travis was married to Florence Leggett, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Amos and Elizabeth Leggett, who were also from the Hoosier state. Six children, four sons and two daughters, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Travis: Albert, who conducts a five and ten cent store in Ioup City, Nebraska; Willard, who is engaged in the stock business at Mullen, Nebraska; Carl, who operates a taxicab service in Aurora; Mabel, at home; Stella, the wife of Edward T. Ko- pettz, of Hastings, Nebraska; and Fred, who is a veteran of the World war. He enlisted in 1917, was trained at Camp Funston and went to France in the spring of 1918, participating in some of the most hotly contested battles and drives on the western front. On one occasion he was struck in the head by a piece of shell, but was only slightly injured. He now makes his home in Loup City, Nebraska.
Mrs. Travis and her daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Travis is well known as an exemplary representative of Masonry, belonging to the lodge and chapter of the York Rite, and also to the Scottish Rite bodies. He is a past master of the lodge and past high priest in his chapter, having served for three years in each office. He gives all of the verbal instruction in Masonry for his lodge. His political views are in accord with the republican principles and he is a firm believer in the party. Mr. Travis retired from business in 1920 but is still the owner of valuable land in Hamilton county and eight hundred acres in Kansas. He had but three hundred and forty dollars when he left Indiana and when he reached Harvard had to pay freight to the extent of one hundred and twenty dollars, so that his remaining capital was but two hundred and twenty dollars. With this to start him in his new home he soon gained a financial footing and has built up a competence that places him with the men of affluence in Aurora and this section of the state. He has never been afraid of work and his diligence and unfaltering perseverance have been salient features in the attainment of his present-day success.
ABRAHAM C. FISHER
From 1899 until his death on November 19, 1915, Abraham C. Fisher resided retired in Harvard, a respected and representative citizen. He was a native of Ohio, having been born at Smyrna, Harrison county, on the 29th of June, 1845. His parents were Joseph and Mary Fisher, the demise of the latter occurring in Ohio. His father then removed to Iowa and engaged in farming until his death. Five children were born to that union, two growing to manhood and womanhood, but only one now living, namely: Lavina Catherine, who is the widow of Layer Free and resides in South Dakota. Joseph Fisher was throughout his life a stanch republican and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
In the acquirement of an education Abraham C. Fisher attended the common schools of Iowa and after putting his texthooks aside engaged in farming with his
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father. He entered the Union army from Iowa in 1863, enlisting in Company K, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, with which he served for a period of two years and nine months. After the war he returned to Iowa and engaged 'in farming on his own account, remaining there until 1873, when he removed with his family to Clay county, arriving there the day before the blizzard of April 13th. He made the trip overland from Iowa and brought with him all his household goods. He secured a homestead, made his home in a primitive sod house and there resided until 1884, when he sold the farm and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land located nine miles northwest of Harvard. His widow is still in possession of this land, from which she derives a substantial income. In 1899, however, Mr. Fisher decided to retire from active life and moved into Harvard, where he resided until his death. Upon the news of his death on the 19th of November, 1915, a feeling of great bereavement swept the community, for in his passing Harvard aud Clay county lost a pioneer and a representative citizen.
In 1868 occurred the marriage of Mr. Fisher to Miss America Elizabeth Eller, a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of John C. and Jane Rebecca (Mont- gomery) Eller, also natives of North Carolina. The father went to Iowa in 1853, where he took up farming and resided until 1873, when he came to Clay county and purchased land near Sutton. He later homesteaded near Trumbull and died on that farm. The death of Mrs. Eller occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fisher. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Eller, five of whom are living : James A., who is farming near Ottumwa, Iowa; Mrs. Fisher ; Mrs. S. C. Col- ward, widow, who is residing with Mrs. Fisher; Jesse F., who is farming in Cali- fornia; and Joseph J., a farmer of Irvin, Washington. Throughout his life Mr. Eller was a stanch republican and a Mason and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Baptist church. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher five children were born: John E., a farmer of South Dakota; Effie J. McDowell, who is residing on a farm iu Gosper county; George J. works on a section in Harvard; Charles S., employed at Harvard; and Jessie M. Fiscus, who is residing on a farm in Adams county.
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