USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 52
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 52
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A. H. WARREN
A. H. Warren is prominent in the banking circles of Edgar as president of the State Bank of that place. He was born in Canandaigua, New York, on the 26th of May, 1871, a son of C. H. and Cornelia (Hartsough) Warren, both natives of New York. There they were married and when in 1872 the railroad was put through to Harvard, Nebraska, they came west and the father acquired a home- stead near that place. In 1876 they moved to Edgar and since that time C. H. Warren has engaged in the grain business. Mrs. Warren passed away February 3, 1920. Six children were born to their union, five of whom are living: Emelia, the wife of George A. Shike, who resides near Baldwin City, Kansas, where he is engaged in farming and holds the office of county treasurer; A. H., whose name
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initiates this review ; H. B. of Oakland, California, where he has been in charge of the West Coast Life Insurance Company for a number of years; Lucretia, who is the wife of G. N. R. Brown, credit man for Dutton Company at Hastings; and Sherman B., who resides in Fairbury. Mr. Warren is a consistent member of the Baptist church. The grandfather of A. H. Warren was B. F. Warren, who was a minister of the Baptist church. C. H. Warren has always been a stanch supporter of the republican party and his fraternal affiliation is with the Masons. He has served on the school board and city board and was in active service in the Civil war for three years and nine months. He enlisted in the Eighth New York Cavalry and fought in many of the important battles and skirmishes of the war. For some time he carried mail under General Custer. Mr. Warren started out in life on very little but as the result of determination and intelligently directed labor has won more than a substantial amount of success.
A. H. Warren is indebted to the schools of Edgar for his education and his first position after putting his textbooks aside was in a lumber-yard. For twelve years he was active in that connection but in 1903 entered the banking business, estab- lishing a bank at Republican City. For twelve years he remained in that place and then went to Davenport, Nebraska, where he purchased a bank which he conducted for two years. At the termination of that time he returned to Clay county and Edgar and became president of the State Bank of that place. The bank has a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars, a surplus of three thousand, five hundred and average deposits of three hundred thousand dollars. There is no phase of the banking business with which Mr. Warren is not familiar and his uniform courtesy and obliging manner have been factors in the unusual growth of the business of the bank.
In 1892 Mr. Warren was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Clack, and she is a prominent and popular woman in the community, taking an active part in all social affairs.
Mr. Warren gives his political allegiance to the republican party but has never desired political preferment. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, being a York Rite Mason and a Shriner. He is also interested in agriculture and cattle raising and in partnership with Edward W. Clack owns a fine ranch in Montana.
CHRISTIAN C. LING
While eighteen years have passed away since Christian C. Ling was called to his final rest he is yet remembered by many who knew him while he was still an active factor in the world's work in Hamilton county. He was born in Pennsyl- vania, May 10, 1842, and departed this life on the 24th of April, 1903. His parents were James and Rachel Ling, natives of Illinois, where their people had settled in pioneer times. The father died in that state and the mother passed away at the home of a daughter in Iowa. Their family numbered seven children.
Christian C. Ling was educated in the schools of Illinois and after putting aside his textbooks took up farming in that state. Having arrived at years of maturity he was married in Illinois on the 25th of September, 1870, to Miss Margaret Baker,
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who was born September 19, 1847, a daughter of Nathan and Catherine Baker, who were natives of Pennsylvania and spent their last years in Illinois. The father was a carpenter and served as a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting as a member of Company B, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and thus aiding in defense of the Union. His son Pierson also was a member of the same regiment and both served until the close of hostilities which crowned the victory of the Union arms. In his political views Mr. Baker was a republican, supporting the party that was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. He belonged to the German Lutheran church and throughout his life he followed the occupation of farming. To him and his wife were born nine children, five of whom are living: Pierson, now a resident of Iowa; Ambrose, who is located in Illinois; Mrs. Ling; William, also of Illinois; and Mrs. Phoebe Fiss, a widow residing in Lincoln.
Mr. and Mrs. Ling began their domestic life in Illinois but after three years removed to Hamilton county in the fall of 1873 and here Mr. Ling homesteaded eighty acres, while later he purchased an additional tract of one hundred and sixty acres. He built a frame house on some railroad land which he had purchased, but the grasshoppers destroyed their crops and they let the land go back to the railroad company, having lost all that they had invested in the property. It was afterward that Mr. Ling took up his homestead and built thereon a sod house, which they occupied for several years. Later he replaced this primitive dwelling with a frame residence, in which he continued to make his home until called to his final rest.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ling were born six children: James N., who follows farming near Loup City, Nebraska; Myron, a real estate dealer and farmer living at Hastings, Nebraska; Catherine, the wife of Myron Smiley, a business man of Bellefourche, South Dakota ; Rachel M., the wife of Charles Smith, residing near Aurora; Charles, an auctioneer residing at Cozad, Nebraska; and Harry, who is on his mother's farm near Aurora.
Mr. Ling was a consistent member of the Evangelical church, to which Mrs. Ling still belongs, and his political belief was that of the democratic party. He lived a busy and useful life and was one of the pioneer settlers who aided in reclaim- ing this region for the purpose of civilization. His sterling worth was recognized by all and he had many friends in the community. In 1910 Mrs. Ling removed to Aurora and purchased a nice home at 1518 P street. She still owns her farm of two hundred and forty acres and the property returns to her a substantial annual income.
JOHN F. SHAW
Since 1911 John F. Shaw has engaged in the garage business at Edgar, Clay county, where he has the Ford agency. Like many other prominent and progres- sive men of Clay county he is a son by adoption, his birth having occurred at La Fayette, Georgia, August 22, 1863, a son of R. F. and Mary F. (Mcwhorter) Shaw, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Georgia. The father engaged in farming throughont his life and won a substantial amount of success in that connection. For three years Mr. Shaw saw active service in the Civil war, being a member of the Confederate army. He was captured and when
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that conflict came to an end was in a Rock Island prison. He served under General Lee and was his pilot at the battle of Chickamauga. Eleven children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Shaw, seven are living and J. F. is the only one residing in Nebraska. Throughout their lives Mr. and Mrs. Shaw were consistent members of the Baptist church and his fraternal allegiance was always given to the democratic party.
In the acquirement of an education John F. Shaw attended the schools of his native state and in due time entered the Sumach College, a small country institu- tion twenty-five miles northeast of La Fayette. After putting his textbooks aside Mr. Shaw engaged in farming and continued in that connection until April 18, 1885, when he located in Otoe county, Nebraska. He learned telegraphy at Ulys- ses and secured a position with the Burlington Railroad, working for them for a period of twenty years. He then returned to the farm for a short time and in 1911 removed to Edgar, where he took charge of the Ford agency, which agency he had accepted in 1909. Under his management the garage business has grown to extensive proportions and larger quarters were acquired by erecting a fine new building.
In May, 1887, occurred the marriage of Mr. Shaw and Miss Catherine Clayton, a native of Brownville, and a daughter of S. H. Clayton a well known citizen of Brownville and pioneer settler of Nebraska. Her father was a native of Kentucky. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Shaw six children have been born, two of whom are . living : Gordon C., in business with his father ; and Willa Marie, in school.
Mr. Shaw generally follows an independent course in politics but he slightly favors the democratic party. His religious faith is that of the Christian church, in which faith his children have all been reared and his fraternal connections are with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Woodmen. He devotes his entire time to the conduct of his garage and although crippled he is a man of unbounded energy, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he under- takes in the upbuilding of his business affairs and in the advancement of civic interests. He is readily conceded to be a representative citizen and is rightly en- titled to the proud American title of self-made man.
GEORGE F. LEWIS
George F. Lewis, a resident farmer of Clay Center, was born in Scott county, Illinois, April 12, 1857, his parents being Samuel and Mary (Edwards) Lewis, the former born in West Virginia, while the latter was born in Scott county, Illinois. They were married in the latter state, the father having gone to Illinois in young manhood. There he started to provide for his own support by working as a farmer and later removed to Iowa, where he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits. The year 1882 witnessed his arrival in Clay county, Nebraska, where he rented land and again engaged in farming. Both he and his wife passed away in Clay county. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Lewis was a republican in his political views. His father was Samuel Lewis, a native of West Virginia, who went to Illinois at an early day and there continued
Vol. II-33
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to reside until called to the home beyond. The maternal grandfather's name was Edwards, a native of Maine.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lewis were eleven children, nine of whom are living: Ollie, the wife of Rush Kirkpatrick. a carpenter of Kansas; George F .; Edward, a farmer of Colorado; Grant, deceased; May, the wife of Oscar Grooner a minister of the Evangelical church now located in Kansas; Della, the widow of George Ekstein and a resident of Wyoming; J. Kelbert, who for years has been a motorman in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; Elmer, a farmer, living near Broken Bow, Nebraska ; Orville, a salesman of Brooklyn, New York ; Minnic, who died in infancy ; and Albert, a farmer of Clay county.
In his youthful days George F. Lewis became a pupil in the public schools of Iowa and afterward took up the occupation of farming as a life work. He was first employed as a farm hand by the month and later rented land in Clay county, thus gaining his start. He made his first purchase of land in 1899, when he ac- quired eighty acres. He bought this largely on time and finally made the last payment upon it. He also acquired ten acres of land in Clay Center, on which he erected a large residence and now gives his attention to the development and improvement of this ten acre tract, but still owns his eighty acres, from which he derives a good annual income.
In 1889 Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Anna Nall, a daughter of B. F. Nall, mentioned elsewhere in this work. They have become parents of two children : Wilmer O., a graduate of the Wesleyan University and now a student in the State Medical College at Omaha, from which he will graduate in June, 1921, while at the present time he is serving as an interne in the hospital there; and Lela B., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics he is a republican. He has served on the school board but bas always preferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs rather than public office and all that he has possessed and enjoyed has come to him through his own labors.
ALEXANDER M. BABCOCK
In the passing of Alexander M. Babcock in June, 1904, Fairfield and Clay county lost an honored and representative citizen. He was born in Knox county, Ohio, on the 17th of November, 1841, and in the acquirement of his education attended the public schools of that county. Later he entered a college at Indianapolis, Indiana, where he prepared himself for teaching, and followed that profession for a number of terms in Indianapolis. He then removed to Missouri, where he taught four terms, and subsequently removed to Illinois, where he also taught school and engaged in farming. There his marriage oc- curred, he having met his wife while working on her father's farm. In 1884 they came to Nebraska and located in Fillmore county, where Mr. Babcock pur- chased a three hundred and twenty acre tract of fine land. He later disposed of this property, buying another tract, which is still in possession of his widow and a daughter. In 1891 Mr. Babcock located in Clay county, where he farmed
ALEXANDER M. BABCOCK AND FAMILY
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for a number of years, then sold and purchased a farm in Loup county, being in possession of that place at the time of his death. He started in life as a young man with nothing back of him but a grim determination to succeed. He was not afraid to work, paid his own way through school and in later life achieved a success which was well merited.
In 1868 occurred the marriage of Mr. Babcock and Miss Mary J. Moore, a native of Henry county, Ohio, and a daughter of William and Rachel ( Williams) Moore, who were also born in that state. Her father was a farmer and in 1865 removed to Illinois, where he purchased a farm. There Mrs. Moore passed away and Mr. Moore's demise occurred in Oregon in 1914. They were the par- ents of five children, three of whom are now living: Mrs. Babcock; Bettie Gum- ble, of Daykin, Nebraska; and Lillie Parker, of La Grande, Oregon. Mr. Moore was a stanch republican. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Babcock four children were born: Elmer, a farmer of Atkinson, Holt county, Nebraska; Hattie, the wife of E. N. Gish, a farmer of Twin Falls, Idaho; Carrie, the widow of Al Westering and a resident of Portland; and Edward, a farmer near Atkinson, Nebraska.
Throughout his entire life Mr. Babcock was a stanch republican and fra- ternally he was identified with the Masons, Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Degree of Honor. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church, while Mrs. Babcock is a consistent member of the Christian church. For the past thirty years she has made her home in Fairfield. She is well known throughout the community, being prominent in church and club circles, and she is a member of the Degree of Honor.
WILLIAM P. LANTZER
While in former years William P. Lantzer concentrated his energies and atten- tion upon the development and improvement of a farm he is now living retired, for his former labors brought to him a comfortable competence and he is now able to enjoy a well earned rest. He was born December 17, 1854, in Stephenson county, Illinois, his parents being Samuel and Lucy (Weaver) Lantzer, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, where they were reared, educated and married. It was about 1848 that they took up their abode in Illinois and Mr. Lantzer purchased sixty acres of land from the government at the usual price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. In 1872 he came to Hamilton county, after having resided in Illinois for almost a quarter of a century. Again he became identified with the pioneer life of the west, taking up a homestead of eighty acres and continuing to reside thereon until his death. He first built a small frame house, fourteen by twenty-two feet, and then enlarged it by putting up a sod addition. He was a poor man in early life, but as the years passed success rewarded his persistent and earnest labor and he came into possession of a comfortable competence. He gave his political endorsement to the republican party and both he and his wife con- sistently followed the teachings of the United Brethren church, in which they held membership. They had a family of seven children, six of whom are living: Daniel, residing on a farm in Hamilton county ; Mary, who is the widow of William Mickey
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and lives in Aurora; Sophia, the wife of Fred Wolff, a retired farmer of Aurora; Samuel, who was a homesteader in Hamilton county and now lives in Idaho; Wil- liam P .; and Emma, the wife of R. II. Miller, a newspaper man of Anselmo, Nebraska.
At the usual age William P. Lantzer became a pupil in the public schools of Illinois and there acquired his education, while in the school of experience he has also learned many valuable lessons. He came to Hamilton county with his parents and in 1876 made his first investment in land, thereby becoming the owner of a farm of eighty acres. With characteristic energy he began to cultivate and im- prove this place and at a later period bought a forty-acre tract and afterward still another eighty acres. He yet owns the entire place, comprising two hundred acres of rich and arable land. To his farm he added many modern improvements and all the equipments necessary to carry on farm work and year by year his labors were crowned with substantial success.
On the 1st of January, 1880, Mr. Lantzer was married to Miss Lizzie Miller, who was born in Switzerland, January 4, 1859, a daughter of Casper and Anna Marie (Hunsinger) Miller, both of whom were natives of Switzerland. In 1871 they became residents of Alabama and afterward lived in Illinois, while still later they came to Nebraska. The mother died in Alabama, but the father spent his last days in Hamilton county. To him and his wife were born four children, three of whom are living: R. H., who is located in Anselmo, Nebraska; Mrs. Lantzer ; and Caroline, the wife of G. R. Budy, a retired farmer of Alva, Oklahoma.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lantzer have been born three children: Susie, now the wife of William Marler of Aurora; Harvey, who is living on his father's farm; and Claude, also occupying the farm.
Mr. Lantzer retired when he came to Aurora in the fall of 1912 and purchased a nice home at 1219 Fifteenth street. He and his wife are members of the Evangelieal church and his political endorsement is given to the republican party. He went through many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life and has seen remarkable changes since he came to this state. The wild lands have been reclaimed and converted into productive fields, towns and villages have sprung up and the work of civilization has been carried steadily forward. Mr. Lantzer has borne his part in connection with the agricultural development of the county and through his labor and persisteney of purpose has gained a satisfactory financial reward.
FRED WOLFF
Fred Wolff, who is now living retired in Aurora, was born in Germany, March 13, 1843, and has therefore reached the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey. His parents, George and Mary (Mernitz) Wolff, were likewise natives of Germany and in that country the father, who followed the occupation of farming as a life work, passed away. He was quite successful in his business affairs and thus was able to provide a good living for his family, which numbered three sons and two daughters, of whom Fred is the youngest and the only one residing in the new world. Both parents were members of the Lutheran church.
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Fred Wolff obtained his education in Germany and worked on a farm in that country. According to the laws of the land he also served in the German army for three years, participating in the war of 1866. It was in 1870 that he crossed the Atlantic, making his way into the interior of the country. He settled first at Freeport, Illinois, and was there employed at farm labor by the month for about two years. In 1872 he arrived in Nebraska and entered a claim five miles north of Aurora. This was then largely an undeveloped region into which civilization had scarcely penetrated. There were great tracts of land still unclaimed and un- cultivated and many of the now thriving towns and villages had not yet sprung into existence. Mr. Wolff obtained eighty acres of land, on which he built a small frame building and sod house,"and with characteristic energy began the development of his property. As he prospered in his undertakings he bought more land from time to time and he now owns two hundred and forty acres. This land has never had a mortgage on it and although in the early days he faced the hardships and privations of pioneer life, he persevered and as the years went by developed a highly improved farm, bringing his fields under a most attractive state of cultivation.
It was in Freeport, Illinois, in 1872, that Mr. Wolff was married to Miss Sophia Lantzer, sister of William P. Lantzer, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Six children were born of this marriage: Mary, the wife of Irwin Sprague, a retired farmer now residing in California ; Leslie, who is living on the home place; and Charles, who is a farmer and cattle raiser making his home near Alliance, Nebraska; Vern O. Wolff was born in 1893 and enlisted for service in the American army in 1917. He was trained at Camp Cody and was sent overseas in July, 1918, and on the 29th of August was wounded, his death resulting the following day. Thus he made the supreme sacrifice for the cause of world democracy. Two other children are deceased. The oldest son, William, died when six years of age; Annie, who married Henry Henderson, died at the age of thirty years.
While Mr. and Mrs. Wolff were numbered among the highly respected and valued farming people of Hamilton county for many years they have since 1905 made their home in Aurora and reside at No. 1505 M street, which property they own. They are members of the Evangelical church and Mr. Wolff has always voted with the republican party since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He is interested in all that pertains to the general welfare and has ever supported those plans and measures which have contributed to the public good and to general progress throughout this section of the state.
EDWARD D. KESSLER
Edward D. Kessler is now living retired in Clay Center, although in former years he was closely associated with farming and other business interests, being for a number of years one of the leading general merchants of the city in which he now makes his home. He was born in Lee county, Illinois, May 20, 1851, a son of Andrew and Cunigunda (Stahn) Kessler, both of whom were born, reared and married in Coburg, Germany. They came to the United States on one of the old- time sailing vessels about 1847 and it required seven weeks to complete the voyage.
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They settled on a farm in Illinois and the father, who had been a butcher in Germany, was absolutely without capital when he arrived in the new world, but he utilized every opportunity to win advancement and success. He bought land from the government at a dollar and a quarter per acre and with characteristic energy began to develop and improve his fields. Both he and his wife passed away in Illinois. They belonged to the Evangelical church and were very active in church work, doing all in their power to promote the growth and extend the in- fluence of the religious organization with which they were identified. Mr. Kessler gave his political support to the republican party. To him and his wife were born eight children, of whom five are living: Casper, who was engaged in the grain business at Wheaton, Illinois, is a veteran of the Civil war. After he and his wife were seventy years of age they homesteaded in Sheridan county, Nebraska, where they lived on a farm for two and a half years and are now retired; The second of the family is Edward D .; Phillip is living retired in Chicago and has won substantial success, so that he is now well-to-do; John is a traveling man residing in Cleveland, Ohio; Sarah is the wife of E. J. Reeder, a farmer of Walnut, Illinois.
Edward D. Kessler obtained his education in the public schools of Illinois and afterward learned the trade of painting and decorating, which he followed in that state for a number of years. In 1876 he arrived in Sheridan county, Nebraska, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, known as the Kessler section, for his two brothers acquired the other three quarters on that section. Edward D. Kessler still retains his land there, although he removed to Clay Center in 1885 and established a general store which he conducted successfully for a number of years but disposed of the business in 1895. His wife died that summer and he took his two children back to Illinois, where he engaged in the real estate business and there his daughters were educated.
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