USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 63
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 63
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He worked in the printing office for a time and later it was removed to Hamil- ton, where he continued until 1875, when the county seat was established in Aurora. About that time Mr. Whitesides returned to Illinois and remained through the winter, but in February, 1876, took up his abode in Aurora, establishing the Ham- ilton County News and conducted the paper until August, 1877. He then entered into partnership with G. W. Bailey, with whom he was thus associated until 1878, when he sold his interest in the business and removed to a rented farm. He had previously purchased some railroad land but could not meet the payments on his property because of the grasshopper scourge, which utterly destroyed all crops. He continued on the rented farm for a year and then returned to Aurora, entering into partnership with L. W. Hastings in the publication of the Republican for two years. He then sold his interest in the business and again took up farming, devoting three years to the cultivation of the fields. Once more he became a resident of Aurora and published the News from 1883 until 1886. In 1885, however, he accepted the position of deputy in the county clerk's office and began to make abstracts. He afterward turned his attention to the abstract business, in which he engaged for many years, and in 1906 brought out Whitesides' Textbook for Abstracts, Exam- iners, Surveyors and Conveyancers. This book was extensively used in Nebraska by railroad and abstract men. In 1914 Mr. Whitesides was appointed to the position of deputy county treasurer and occupied that office until 1918, when he was appointed county engineer and by reappointment has continued in the office to the present time.
In 1878 Mr. Whitesides was united in marriage to Miss Laura Van Wonner, who was born in Dickinson county, Iowa, a daughter of Amos Van Wonner, who became one of the pioneer settlers of Hamilton county. They became parents of five chil- dren, of whom three are living: Cora C., the wife of J. D. Lau, general manager for the H. P. Lau Company, wholesale grocers; Daisy E., the wife of Guy R. Peverley, who is a salesman with the large wholesale dry goods concern known as the Ely & Walker Company of St. Louis, Missouri ; and Amos V., who is a switch- man on the Rock Island Railroad and resides at Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1909 Mr. Whitesides was again married, his second union being with Nancy Gibbons, the widow of Homer Jackett. She was born in Hamilton county, a daughter of Israel Gibbons, who was a pioneer of the county. One child has been born of this marriage, Ruth, who is now in school.
Mr. and Mrs. Whitesides are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias. He devotes practically all of his time and attention, however, to the duties of his office. He has two hundred and thirty- four miles of road to look after, keeps all of the accounts that have to do with
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bridge and road work in the county and is also engaged in building roads. He has six men on patrol on state roads and he graded twenty-two miles of state roads in the year 1920. He is making a most capable official as county engineer and his efficiency and fidelity led to his reappointment to the office.
J. B. SCOTT
J. B. Scott has the distinction of being the only attorney in Sutton, Clay county. He has been actively engaged in the practice of law there since 1900 and is also serving as mayor, to which office he was elected in April, 1920. Mr. Scott was born near Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 23, 1860, a son of George and Charlotte (Stephens) Scott, the former a native of Cambridgeshire, England, while the latter was born in Canada. The father came to the United States when quite young and was but fourteen years of age when he located in Ohio, from which place he drifted to Canada. There he married and engaged in the railroad business. Before the Civil war he removed to Michigan and followed railroad work at Grand Rapids for some time. In 1884, however, he removed his family to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he retired and lived until his death. Mrs. Scott passed away at the home of her son, J. B., in Sutton. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scott were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and very active in church affairs. Fraternally he was a Mason and an Odd Fellow and politically he was a stanch supporter of the republican party.
J. B. Scott was educated in the schools of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and studied law in Toronto, Canada, obtaining his LL. B. degree in 1884. He was in that same year admitted to the Toronto bar. In the latter part of 1884 he decided to come west, located in Nebraska and for seven years traveled on the road for a business concern. At the end of that time he determined to take up the practice of law and was admitted to the bar at Kearney county, Nebraska, in 1891. He first located for practice at Mindon and there remained until 1900, when he removed to Sutton. He has since practiced in Sutton, Clay county and adjoining counties and has built up an extensive and lucrative practice. For fifteen years he held the office of city attorney and in this time more than demonstrated his ability as a lawyer. In April, 1920, he was elected to the mayoralty of Sutton and is now serving in that office to the complete satisfaction of all his fellowmen.
Mr. Scott was married to Miss Caroline Bell, a native of Canada and a daughter of Joseph Bell, also of that country. Her father came to Friend, Nebraska, at an early date and there engaged in farming, retiring a few years before his death and making his home in Sutton, where he made many friends.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Scott the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party, in the interests of which he has taken an active part. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, of which lodge he has been chancellor commander for the past ten years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scott are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they take a prominent part. Mr. Scott has proved himself to be a clear and concise speaker when pre- senting his cases and he devotes his entire time to the interest of his clients. His
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sterling characteristics have won the confidence of the community and he is readily acknowledged a leading and influential citizen and a successful member of the legal profession.
GEORGE KRELL
Since 1915 George Krell has been residing in Hastings, where he is a promi- inent and representative citizen. A native of Ohio, he was born in Franklin county, November 2, 1840, a son of George and Lena Krell. His parents were born in Alsace-Lorraine near Strassburg and their marriage occurred in Germany. Shortly after that event they came to the United States and located in Ohio and the father engaged in carpentering and undertaking at Columbus. Mrs. Krell and two children passed away in 1849 and two children are living: George, whose name initiates this review; and William, who lives near Fulton, Missouri, where he is engaged in farming. After his first wife's death George Krell married again and by the second union had one child, Charles, who is living in Baltimore. Through- out their lives Mr. and Mrs. Krell were consistent members of the Lutheran church and the father was a stanch supporter of the democratic party, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government.
In the acquirement of an education George Krell attended the schools of Ohio. In 1862 he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company F, First Batta- lion, United States Infantry and the first real engagement in which he participated was the battle of Shiloh. He then engaged in several small skirmishes and the next battle of importance was Stone River. He was captured at the battle of Chickamauga, was sent to Belle Island for two weeks and then to Richmond, where he remained for three months. He was later imprisoned at Danville, Virginia, and Andersonville, South Carolina, being in the latter prison seven months, and was finally sent to Millen, Georgia. In all he was a prisoner fourteen months and two days. He was taken prisoner in September, 1863, and was paroled on the 21st of November, 1864, and went to the parole camp at Annapolis. He secured a fur- lough and went to Camp Chase, Columbus, was then sent to Cincinnati, New York city and then to Hilton Head, South Carolina, remaining there for about a month, when he returned to New York and from there went to Chattanooga, Tennessee. On the 12th of April, 1865, Mr. Krell received his discharge and returned to Iowa, where he had located in 1856 and from which state he had enlisted. For some time he hired out for farm work at wages of thirteen dollars per month and lived in Iowa until 1871, when he came to Nebraska and located in Clay county. He took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on the 6th of September of that year, the land being located in Springranche township. He erected a small slab house on the place and set about to improve the land, soon getting it into a highly cultivated state. He stayed on the farm until 1907, in which year he settled in Fairfield and retired from active life. In 1915 he located in Hastings and is one of the most prominent men of that community.
In 1867, in Iowa, occurred the marriage of Mr. Krell and Miss Laura A. Stephenson, a daughter of W. M. Stephenson, further mention of whom is made on another page of this work. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Krell seven children
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were born, five of whom are living: Lena, who is the wife of S. J. McCue, a farmer near Edgar; Fred, who is farming his father's old homestead; Letha, the wife of P. C. O'Brien, a farmer of Clay county ; Maude, who is a nurse and resides at home; and Verna, the wife of John E. Nixon, a farmer of Otis, California.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Krell the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party, in the principles of which he has firm belief. He was supervisor and assessor for a number of years. As a veteran of the Civil war he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is active in the affairs of the local post. Mr. Krell passed through all the pioneer hardships and his trip from Iowa to Nebraska was made in a covered wagon, bringing with him eight or ten head of cattle and one team. Mr. Krell started life in Nebraska with nothing but a grim determination to succeed and he reached his goal of success solely through his own efforts.
THOMAS TOWNSLEY
The honored Nebraska pioneer to whom this review is dedicated lived up to the full tension of pioneer hardships in Hamilton county, played well and effectively his part in the development of the resources of this section of the state and stood exemplar of enlightened and progressive citizenship at a time when his leadership meant much in connection with community sentiment and action. Now venerable in years, he is living retired in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Mr. Townsley was born in England, on the 19th of February, 1845, and was but four years of age when his parents made the voyage across the Atlantic to the United States, by means of an old-time sailing vessel, the voyage having been of seven weeks' duration. The family home was established in the state of Pennsyl- vania, where he was reared to manhood and received the advantages of the common schools of the period, and where his parents passed the remainder of their lives, the father having been a farmer by vocation. Mr. Townsley was too young for enlistment at the beginning of the Civil war, but in 1864 he enlisted in Knapps Independent, Battery E, Pennsylvania light Artillery, with which he saw active service in the Atlanta campaign and accompanied General Sherman's forces on the historic march from Atlanta to the sea. He took part in numerous skirmishes on this memorable march and remained with his regiment until the close of the war, when he received his honorable discharge.
After the war Mr. Townsley continued to be associated with farm industry in Pennsylvania until 1872, when he came with his family to Nebraska and took prominent place among the pioneer settlers of Hamilton county. In the present Union township he entered claim to a homestead and on the land he erected a small frame house, the first constructed on the open prairie between Harvard and grand Island, and the lumber was hauled overland from Harvard. Later he built a sod addition to the house and his first stable was of pole and straw type. He purchased a team of oxen, and with them initiated the breaking of his land and made it available for cultivation. His enterprise and good judgment were shown in his early planting of a grove of trees and an orchard, the latter having eventually died
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out, with the exception of a few trees. Mr. Townsley drove to Farmers Valley for the milling of his grists and Harvard was his principal trading point. He buffeted with droughts and grasshoppers, as did the other pioneers, but never lost faith in the future of the state of his adoption, and his courage and tenacity of purpose were in accord with this faith and confidence. The isolated family home was snow- bound during three days in the historic blizzard of 1873, and as at that time he had no barn on his claim he tied his oxen near a stack of hay. Realizing that this shelter was inadequate, he went out into the storm and cut the oxen loose, with the result that they drifted on with the storm and after it abated one of the animals was found at a point fully three and one-half miles distant from the home place. In 1875 the family larder became greatly depleted and to supply it Mr. Townsley, with his first team of horses, went on a hunting trip in the western part of the state. While he was absent his wife and children subsisted mainly on bread and flour gravy and it may well be understood that there was rejoicing in the little prairie home when the hunter returned with a goodly supply of elk and deer meat. Mr. Townsley's success in the passing years justified his abiding faith in the country and he gradually added to the area of his original homestead until he became the owner of a well improved farm property of fully one hundred and sixty acres. He remained on the farm until 1889, when he removed to Aurora, the county seat, but in 1891 he returned to the farm, which continued his place of residence until 1915, when he remarried and moved to Giltner. From this village he later went to Lincoln, in which city he has since maintained his residence. He is a stalwart supporter of the principles of the republican party, his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a charter member of Giltner Post, No. 71, Grand Army of the Republic.
As a young man Mr. Townsley was united in marriage, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Rebecca Ramaley, who was born and reared in that state, and who was his devoted companion and helpmeet during the pioneer days in Nebraska, where she died on the 2d of December, 1908, at the age of sixty-six years. Of this union were born eight children : William has active management of the old home farm ; George C. resides at Arvada, Colorado, and holds the office of township clerk; Alice R. is the wife of V. W. Herman; Bessie is the deceased wife of Frank Hobbs, her death having occurred in 1914; Blanche is the wife of W. I. Worthington, a farmer in Hamilton county ; and Clara, Melancthan and Emma are deceased. The wife and mother was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and her memory is revered by all who came within the sphere of her gentle influence. In 1915 Mr. Townsley was remarried to Miss Elizabeth Grey of Indiana.
William Townsley, eldest of the children, was born in Pennsylvania and was three years of age at the time of the family removal to Nebraska, where he was reared under the conditions and influences of the pioneer farm and where his early education was acquired in a sod schoolhouse. He remained at the parental home until his marriage in 1897 to Miss Stella M. Fish, and he then began independent operations as a farmer. He bought forty acres, on which he made good improve- ments, and in addition to this place, in 'Union township, he has also the active control and supervision of his father's old home farm. He is known as a progres- sive agriculturist and stock raiser and in former years he won many premiums on his fine Duroc Jersey hogs, the raising of which was finally made inexpedient
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on account of the ravages of hog cholera. He is a stanch republican and takes lively interest in all things touching the welfare of the county that has represented his home since childhood. His wife is an active member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Townsley became the parents of eight children: Glenn, Wayne, Mervin, Violet, Raymond, Bessie, Denver, and May. Mervin, Violet and May are deceased and all of the other children remain at the parental home, which is known for its hospitality and good cheer.
J. M. HILL
J. M. Hill, deceased, was for many years prominent in the agricultural circles of Clay county. He was born in Ottawa, Ohio, on the 21st of November, 1843, and passed away on the 24th of February, 1915. His parents were Thomas and Nancy Hill, natives of Virginia, and both lived in that state the greater part of their lives and died there. Four children were born to them, of whom J. M., whose name initiates this review, was the third in order of birth. None of them is living.
J. M. Hill received his education in the schools of northern Ohio and was reared on a farm. At the age of eighteen years he enlisted for service in the Civil war, bcoming a member of Company J, Twenty-first Ohio Regiment. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, being shot through the knee, and was soon after honorably discharged. He then returned to Ohio and because of his injury was not able to engage in active farming, but bought and sold grain. Later he removed to Iowa, where he became a land agent and engaged in the livery business at Jefferson. Subsequently he returned to Ohio and there his marriage occurred. In 1872 Mr. Hill removed with his family to Clay county and bought a timber claini and homesteaded. From that time until 1901 they resided on that land and then moved into Fairfield, where he retired from active business life. His death, which occurred on the 24th of February, 1915, came as a severe shock to his many friends in the community and in his passing Fairfield lost an honored and representative resident.
On the 15th of March, 1870, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Lucy A. Boucher, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Bower) Boucher, both natives of Pennsylvania, who came from that state to Ohio at an early day. The father engaged in farming throughout his life and passed away in Ohio. Mrs. Boucher's demise occurred at the home of a son in Michigan. Ten children were born to that union, eight of whom are living. Mrs. Hill was the seventh in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Boucher were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he was a stanch supporter of the republican party. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hill three children were born, two of whom are living : Mabel, who is the wife of Walter Athey, a barber of Fairfield ; and Fred L., one of the prominent and prosperous farmers in the vicinity of Fairfield. Another son, Earl, the oldest of the family, passed away at the age of twenty-four years.
Throughout his entire life Mr. Hill was a republican, having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good government. His fraternal affiliations
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were with the Modern Woodmen and he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Hill is still making her home in Fairfield, where she has a nice home and is financially independent. She is active in all church affairs, being a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was her husband, is a teacher in the Sunday school and was on the church board for a number of years. She is also a prominent member of the Ladies Club. Mrs. Hill retains the old homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. She was a fitting helpmate to an hon- ored husband and helped him achieve the success which he lived to enjoy in later years. He was a self-made man and his children are following in his footsteps. The demise of Mr. Hill caused a feeling of deep bereavement to sweep the community and left a void which will not easily be filled.
JOSEPH F. MEGRUE
Clay county figured as the stage of the pioneer experiences that came to the late Joseph F. Megrue, whose character and achievement caused him to leave indelible evidences of his sterling value as a citizen of the pioneer community and as an apostle of industrial and civic progress. In facing the problems and hardships of the pioneer days he manifested the same self-reliance and loyalty that had marked his course during his long and gallant service as a soldier of the Union in the Civil war and he was one of the prominent and honored pioneer citizens of Clay county at the time of his death, February 14, 1911.
Mr. Megrue was born in Ohio county, Indiana, on the 28th of February, 1846, his parents having been pioneer settlers in that part of the Hoosier state, where he was reared to manhood on the home farm and where he gained his youthful educa- tion in a little log schoolhouse that is still standing and that constitutes one of the interesting landmarks of that section of Indiana. He continued his association with the work of the home farm until his youthful patriotism was aroused by the out- break of the Civil war. Though he was but sixteen years old at the time, he promptly tendered his aid in defense of the Union, by enlisting, in 1861, in the Fifth Indiana Light Artillery, with which gallant command he participated in many important battles and other engagements marking the progress of the great conflict between the north and the south. At Jackson, Mississippi, he had the top of his shoulder shot off and in his participation in the great battle of Gettysburg his horse was shot from under him. He took part also in the battles of Shiloh and Memphis, the siege of Vicksburg and other noteworthy engagements and his record was such as to reflect enduring distinction upon his name, his service having continued during practically the entire period of the war. After receiving his honorable dis- charge Mr. Megrue resumed his association with farm enterprise in Indiana, and after his marriage there continued his residence until 1874, when he came to the new state of Nebraska and initiated his career as a pioneer of Clay county, the long overland journey from Indiana being made with a team and covered wagon. Upon his arrival in Clay county Mr. Megrue purchased a homestead right, the only improvement on the land having been a rude sod house, ten feet square and a sod stable with straw roof. He began the breaking and cultivation of his land, planted
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forest trees and an orchard, and applied himself earnestly to the work in hand, with confidence that the future would justify his faith in the country. Hastings was the principal trading point of the family in the early days and fuel for the little prairie home was mainly buffalo chips and wood from trees along the Blue river. Grasshopper visitations, droughts and severe blizzards brought their share of discomforts and losses to the pioneer community in general and in addition to wild game killed by him in the local vicinity. Mr. Megrue made trips to the wilds of western Nebraska in order to secure game that should supply his home with meat for the winter season. He finally erected a large frame house on his farm and in 1887 this, with its contents, was destroyed by fire. He and his family lived in the barn on the place for a year thereafter, until he could effect the completion of a new house and eventually his success was attested by his ownership of a half-section of the valuable land of Clay county. In 1905 Mr. Megrue retired from his farm and established his home at Harvard, in which village he passed the remainder of his life and in which he was an honored member of Richardson Post, No. 70, Grand Army of the Republic. He was a democrat in political allegiance and served several terms as precinct assessor in Clay county, both he and his wife holding membership in the Congregational church, as did also his first wife.
As a young man Mr. Megrne married Miss Mary Downey, who died in Indiana, and it was prior to leaving that state that he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza- beth Zeh, who shared with him in the trials and vicissitudes of pioneer life in Nebraska and who preceded him to eternal rest, her death having occurred in 1907. All of the children were born of the second marriage, and the firstborn, Lawson, died at the age of three years; Andrew E. is a prosperous farmer in Colorado; Elmer E. is established as a successful farmer near Scotia, Greeley county, Ne- braska; Floyd A. died at the age of twenty-five years; and L. A. is a progressive farmer of Hamilton county, where his farm is some miles distant from the old home of the family in Clay county, his home receiving service on one of the rural mail routes from Harvard, that county.
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