USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 65
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 65
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CARL H. MILLS
Carl H. Mills has made his home in Nebraska since 1872, when he removed to Clay county with his parents. He is now owner of an excellent farm property in section 20, Edgar township, and also a fine farm in Nuckolls county, whereon he resides and he is classed with the most enterprising and prosperous farmers of both communities. He was born in New York state in 1868, a son of Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Mills. The father at the time of his death was a large landowner in Clay and Nuckolls counties, having settled in the former county in 1872. He acquired a homestead in Clay county, one-half mile west of Edgar in that year, whereon he resided for some time. He later removed to Nuckolls county and passed away there in 1918. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted from New York state, and he served gallantly throughout the entire conflict. Carl H., whose name initiates this review, was the only child born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mills.
In the acquirement of an education Carl H. Mills attended the first term of school ever taught in Edgar and then completed his education in the country schools of Clay and Nuckolls counties. Since reaching adult age he has engaged in farming on his own account and owns considerable land in both Clay and Nnckolls counties, making his home on a farm in the latter county. His half section located in Clay county is highly cultivated and brings him a substantial income.
The eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Mills, D. C. Mills, owns and resides upon a farm in Clay county. He was educated in the country schools of Nuckolls county and graduated from the Edgar high school and soon after putting his textbooks aside engaged in farming on his own account. In 1918 he was married to Opha E. Stayner, a native of Clay county and a daughter of Edward Stayner. Her father is one of Clay county's honored pioneers, who now lives on a farm one and one-half miles north of Edgar. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Mills : Mary Margaret and Rita. D. C. gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The
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other members of the family born to Mr. and Mrs. Carl H. Mills are: Rita, a stenographer for the Liberty Fire Insurance Company at Omaha ; Harry II., resid- ing at home; and Lela, who is attending school.
The political allegiance of Mr. Mills has always been given to the republican party and it is well known that he is a stalwart champion of any canse which it espouses. His fraternal affiliation is with the Odd Fellows. Mr. Mills has learned his lessons in the school of experience and his life illustrates that it is under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of necessity that the strongest and best in men is brought out and developed. His has been a useful and active life fraught with good results and his energy has been a potent element in his continned advance- ment.
ELI A. ARMSTRONG
Eli A. Armstrong, who is engaged in general farming on section 10, in the town of Leicester, Clay county, was born in Jackson county, Ohio, February 5, 1859, and is a son of John and Lucy Anna (Garrett) Armstrong. He spent his youth upon a farm in his native state and attended the subscription schools, pursuing his studies in a little frame schoolhouse in Scioto township, where the methods of teaching were primitive and where the pupils sat upon rude benches. School was held about three months in the year and he had to walk a distance of three miles to school. It was in such. an environment that E. A. Armstrong spent his youth- ful days .. His mother died when he was a lad of but thirteen years and he then went out to work as a farm hand. By hoeing corn at twenty-five cents per day he earned the money that bought him the first pair of shoes which he secured for him- self. He afterward worked by the month for some time and at the age of seventeen years made his way to Iowa. There he was employed at farm labor at a salary of thirteen dollars per month. Later he engaged in homesteading in Kansas but gave up his land there and in 1882 removed to Clay county, Nebraska, making the trip across the country to this state in a covered wagon. He had no capital with which to purchase land at the time, so he rented, but afterward bought eighty acres on which was a. sod house. He built a straw barn and began developing and improv- ing the property, overcoming all the difficulties and hardships of pioneer life by his persistency of purpose and undaunted energy. He has put all of the buildings upon his place and built all of the fences and he broke the greater part of his land with a team of horses. He did most of his trading in the early days at Harvard and at Hastings and has hauled carn to Harvard, which he there sold for ten cents per bushel. He, too, experienced the hardships occasioned by the drought of 1894, but with perseverance and energy he has passed through the hard times and is now in very comfortable financial circumstances. In the early days it was necessary to burn cornstalks and corn for fuel, as there was no timber within long distances. Mr. Armstrong carried on general farming and also raised Duroc Jersey hogs for many years but now rents his land, leaving the actual work of further developing the fields to others.
Mr. Armstrong was married to Miss Martha Carson, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Edwin Carson. She passed away November 30, 1919, after they had
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traveled life's journey happily together for many years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Trumbull and her many splendid traits of heart and mind endeared her to a large circle of friends.
Mr. Armstrong also belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Trumbull. He has served on the school board and has filled the office of road supervisor and since age conferred upon him the right of franchise has given his political allegiance at times to the democratic party and at other times has been an independent voter. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He possesses many sterling traits of character and all who know him testify to his worth as a citizen, to his reliability and progressiveness as a business man and to his fidelity in friendship.
CLARENCE PERCY AVERY
For many years Clarence Percy Avery, now deceased, was prominent in the business circles of Edgar. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1870, a son of Orin and Rosalie (Hoffman) Avery. The father was a graduate of West Point and he served with the commission of captain during the Civil war. While stationed at New Orleans during the war he met his future wife. After the close of the conflict he came to Clay county, secured a homestead, and lived there a short time then moved to Edgar, and lived there for thirty years prior to his death. His widow still resides there. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Avery five children were born: Carrie, who is the wife of Henry Jackson, conducting a grocery and dry goods store at Edgar ; Clarence Percy, whose name initiates this review; George A., who is manager of a canning company at Los Angeles, California; Robert, whose death occurred in 1919 and who has for some time been in the lumber busi- ness at Lincoln ; and Willard, who is living on the farm near Edgar.
Clarence Percy Avery received a grammar and high school education and in due time entered the State University of Nebraska and later a business college at Lincoln. He worked for the Griswold Seed Company for twelve years after com- pleting his schooling and subsequently came to Clay county and located in Edgar. There he engaged in the grocery business with his brother George until they sold the store in 1912. He built up a large patronage by reason of his fair prices and dealings and soon became recognized as one of the most successful business men in the community.
In 1901 Mr. Avery was married to Miss Ida Gardner, a native of Ohio and a daughter of James H. and Elizabeth (Ludwick) Gardner. The father was a native of Eaton, Ohio, and the mother of Adams county, that state, and their marriage was celebrated in 1875. Mr. Gardner was a druggist, having received suitable education along that line in Fayette, Indiana, and upon locating in Edgar in 1883 he immediately opened up a drug business. Previous to his coming to Clay county he had been engaged in like business in Illinois. He won more than a sub- stantial amount of success in the conduct of his store, in which connection he continued until his demise. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were the parents of three chil- dren : Mrs. Avery; Estella, who is the wife of George W. Ivins, a real estate
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man of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; and J. Wilson, who is conducting a drug busi- ness in Vancouver, Washington. Mr. Gardner was a veteran of the Civil war. His widow is living and makes her home with Mrs. Avery. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Avery: Harold G., who is attending the State Uni- versity at Lincoln; and Maxine, who is attending the Edgar public schools.
Throughout his life Mr. Avery was a stanch supporter of the republican party in the interests of which he took an active part. His religious faith was that of the Baptist church. Fraternally he was identified with the Masons, being a Knight Templar, Shriner and having attained the Thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He also belonged to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. At the time of his demise Mr. Avery was serving as county treasurer of Clay county.
HARVEY E. WOOD
Harvey E. Wood, an Aurora contractor whose business has reached substan- tial proportions and whose patronage has long been most gratifying, was born in Mauston, Wisconsin, October 30, 1864, a son of H. C. and Ann (Ellis) Wood, the former a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, while the latter was born in Woodstock, Vermont. They were reared and married in New England and after- ward removed to Illinois, while later they became residents of Wisconsin. The father was a teacher in the east and also in Danville, Illinois. He had been lib- erally educated and was a graduate of Dartmouth College of Massachusetts. Both he and his wife were active and devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he became a minister of that denomination. He was also one of the earliest supporters of the republican party, joining its ranks when the party was organized to prevent the further extension of slavery. His aid and influence were always on the side of progress, reform and improvement and he was ever a strict prohi- bitionist in principle and did all in his power to advance the temperance cause. After living in Wisconsin for a number of years he removed to Hamilton county, Nebraska, in 1880, and purchased a farm upon which he made his home for a decade and then took up his abode in Aurora, where both he and his wife passed away. They were parents of twelve children, nine of whom are living, two being residents of Aurora, C. W. and Harvey E., the former a commercial traveler.
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Harvey E. Wood pursued a high school course in Evanston, Illinois, and started out to provide for his own support as a farm hand. In 1888 he turned his atten- tion to brick manufacturing south of Aurora and prospered in this undertaking. In 1890 he took up contract work and has since engaged in general contracting and building, having done a large amount of the building in Aurora and elsewhere. He has erected a number of depots for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and is today recognized as one of the foremost contractors in this part of the state, having a patronage that places him among the leaders in his line. Thoroughness and efficiency have ever been his watchword and his well arranged plans have added much to the architectural beauty of the city in which his work is seen. In the last two years he has somewhat retired from the contracting business, for he now owns a section of irrigated land in Montana and one hundred acres of irrigated
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land in Idaho and is giving much of his time to the supervision, development and improvement of his farm properties.
In 1898 Mr. Wood was married to Bertha Snow, a native of Seward, Nebraska, and a daughter of Simeon Snow, who was a pioneer of Hamilton county and in 1873 homesteaded here. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been born two children: Helen, who is attending the Wesleyan University at Lincoln; and Joe, a student in the State University. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Wood belongs to the Modern Woodmen and the Royal Highlanders, while politically he maintains an independent course. He and his family occupy a beautiful home at No. 503 L street, which he erected in 1912, and their social position is an enviable one, while in business circles he has long maintained a place of prominence and leadership.
CHARLES NEUMANN
Charles Neumann is living retired at Sutton and has passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred near the Rhine in Germany on the 6th of February, 1843. He is a son of William G. and Catherine (Kohl) Neumann, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was in the mili- tary service of his country for a number of years, serving under King William, and participated in the war against France, after which he was pensioned for his aid. His loyalty to his country and his bravery won him two iron crosses. In 1857 he came to the United States, bringing with him his family of nine children. His reason for leaving Germany was his opposition to a one-man rule. He had become quite well-to-do while in his native country and was thus able to secure a comfortable home when he located in Henry county, Illinois, there spending his remaining days, his death occurring December 25, 1861. To him and his wife were born twelve children, of whom six are living: Hugo, who is living retired in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of eighty-eight years; Adolph, who is living retired at Broken Bow, Nebraska, at the age of eighty-five; Frederick, who makes his home in Exeter at the age of eighty-two years; Charles, of this review ; Jacob, who was born in 1846 and resides in Des Moines, Iowa; and Julius, seventy-three years of age, who is a merchant of Wymore, Nebraska, and built the first brick business house of that place. Four of the sons of the family served in the Civil war, these being Charles, Frederick, Jacob and Valentine. The parents were members of the Lutheran church and in political faith Mr. Neumann was a democrat. His wife died in Wymore, Nebraska, in 1880.
Charles Neumann was educated in the schools of Germany to the age of four- teen years and then came with his parents to the new world. He afterward worked out as a farm hand by the month until the Civil war began, when he enlisted as a member of Company L of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, serving until November, 1865. He participated in a number of skirmishes and in the battle of Nashville. The Neumann family are all musical and the four brothers who served in the war were buglers. When the country no longer needed his military aid Mr. Neumann returned to his home in Illinois and in 1879 removed to Clay county, Nebraska.
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He was on his way to Kansas, but one of his horses was taken lame at Sutton and as it was impossible for him to proceed farther he hired out to a man to work as a farm hand. He continued in that employ for two years and later worked for Mr. Grosshaus for seven years, in the implement and grain business. He then began driving wells and devoted twenty years to that work, winning substantial success in the undertaking. Mr. Neumann has done much to assist in the upbuild- ing of the town of Sutton and has erected three different residences there. He retired from active business in 1912 and is now enjoying well earned rest from further labor, his son, Clarence, having taken over the business.
It was in 1864 that Mr. Neumann was united in marriage to Miss Mary Metcher, who was born in New Jersey and whose parents came from Germany to the new world. They settled in Henry county, Illinois, at an early day and there Mrs. Neumann was reared. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children: August, who is engaged in well drilling and makes his home at Stockham, Nebraska ; Edward, who has been with the Fairmont Creamery Company for the last thirty years at Grand Island, Nebraska; Emlora, the wife of Christian Rath, proprietor of a garage at Sutton, Nebraska ; George L., a farmer living at Wolbach, Nebraska; Catherine, the widow of Mack Stephens and a resident of Maywood, Illinois; Ida May, the wife of Louis Esch, a farmer and garage owner; Oscar B., a farmer of Blackfoot, Idaho; and Clarence, who conducts a plumbing business at Sutton. In 1883 Mrs. Neumann was converted and joined the Methodist church and in the following year Mr. Neumann became a member of the same church. She ever afterward lived a consistent Christian life and in that faith passed away April 22, 1920. Mr. Neumann has been equally loyal to the church and very active in its work, doing all in his power to advance its growth and extend its influence.
JOHN F. HAGEY
John F. Hagey of Hamilton county was born in Dixon county, Illinois, Decem- ber 9, 1871, and was but three years old when his parents removed from that state to Nebraska, settling in Hamilton county. They took up their abode in Hamilton precinct and were among the pioneer residents of this section of the state, bearing their full share in the work of general development and improvement. More extended mention of the father is made in connection with the sketch of his son, George Hagey, on another page of this work.
John F. Hagey was reared under the parental roof and his education was acquired in the common schools. Through the summer months he worked in the fields and through practical experience became acquainted with the best methods of planting and cultivating his tract. He continued upon the old home place until 1904, when he started out in the business world independently, purchasing the farm upon which he now resides, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of good land on section 7, Orville precinct. Here he carried on general farming, cultivating those crops which were best adapted to the soil and climatic conditions here and in addition to the raising of crops he gave much attention to the raising of Duroc Jersey hogs.
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Mr. Hagey has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Bertha E. Mattern, who passed away January 9, 1911, and their children are: Harold, nineteen years of age; and Maurice, a lad of ten years. Some time later Mr. Hagey wedded Pearl A. Munson. They are well known in this section of the county, having many friends who esteem them highly. Mr. Hagey has served as school director for two terms, also as school treasurer of the Consolidated School District and the cause of education profits by his stalwart championship. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. His life has always been concentrated upon agricultural interests and the thoroughness with which he has performed his work has brought to him a substantial measure of success and his labors have been an important element in the agricultural development of the county.
J. A. SWIGART
One of the most prominent farmers and stock raisers in Clay county is J. A. Swigart, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1858, a son of John and Hannah (Seaborn) Swigart, both natives of that state, in which they resided until death. The father was a successful farmer and to his marriage nine children were born ; three of whom are living: Elizabeth, who is the wife of a Mr. Craig of Roanoke, Virginia ; J. A., whose name initiates this review ; and John, a farmer of Nuckolls county, where he has resided since 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Swigart were consistent members of the United Brethren church and the father was a staunch supporter of the republican party. J. A. Swigart is descended from an old and honored family, the paternal ancestors having come to this country from Switzerland three hundred years ago.
J. A. Swigart received his education in the district schools of Pennsylvania and after putting his textbooks aside engaged in work in connection with a railroad. In addition to that work he also followed farming and in 1884 came to Nebraska, locating in Nuckolls county and working on farms for a period of three years. In 1889 he settled in Clay county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres at twenty dollars per acre. He has brought his farm to a highly improved state and engages in general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Swigart has been twice married. In 1889 he was wedded to Miss Metta McClians, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Joshua MeClians, who came to Nebraska and located in Nuckolls county, where he acquired a homestead and there resided until death. Two children were born to that union: Ethel, who is the wife of Arthur Dietrickson, a farmer of Marshall township; and Ralph, who is farming with his father. Mrs. Swigart passed away in 1906 and in 1908 our sub- ject was again married, taking Miss May Elwood for his wife. She was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Lyman B. Elwood, who homesteaded the place now owned by Mr. Swigart in 1872. In later life he became financially independent and removed to Clay Center, residing there retired until his death.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Swigart the right of franchise he has given his support to the republican party, in the interests of which he has taken an active part. He is now a member of the school board, on which he has served for years and he is
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likewise town assessor. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Swigart's time and energies are concentrated upon his busi- ness affairs and he has justly won classification with the representative farmers of Clay county.
JOHN BANKSON
Among the many prominent and successful agriculturists that Sweden has con- tributed to Nebraska is John Bankson, who was born in that country in 1850. He has come to be widely known throughout Hamilton county as a farmer of great ability and so great has been his success that he is today living retired in Central City, financially independent.
In 1868 John Bankson came to the United States, first locating in Pennsyl- vania, where he worked at odd jobs for some time. He was fireman in a sawmill there but finding this job and various others not to his liking he decided to come west and as a result located in Hamilton county, Nebraska, on the 28th of June, 1878. He bought one hundred and sixty acres, three-quarters of a mile west of Hordville, about sixty acres of which land was then in cultivation. He had about one thousand dollars with him when he located in the county and out of this sum he purchased up-to-date farm machinery. For six years he made his home in a sod house and then built a frame home. Eighteen years ago Mr. Bankson retired to Merrick county and lived on a small farm near Central City for a few years but in 1915 removed into the town. There he is now residing and has one of the finest homes in Central City. Mr. Bankson is also in possession of three hundred and sixty-four acres of fine land all of which is located in Hamilton county.
In 1873 occurred the marriage of Mr. Bankson and Miss Johanna Nickelson, that event taking place in Pennsylvania. To this union have been born eleven children : Ranold, who is a mail carrier in Oakland, California; Doris Burrows, who is now residing in Berkeley, California; Albert, residing in Hordville; Nancy, at home; Ernest, who is residing at Bayard; Julia Randall, residing in Hordville; Esther, who is residing at home; Seth, living at Bayard; Newton, who is farming the honie place in Hamilton county ; Amos, who is residing in Bayard ; and Evert, at home.
The Bankson family are all consistent members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Bankson is fraternally identified with the Highlander Lodge. He has always been active in civic affairs and for nine years was road supervisor in Hamilton county. The success of Mr. Bankson as an agriculturist in both Merrick and Hamilton counties is readily conceded and he is also widely recognized as a prominent and representative citizen.
ALBERT WEBSTER CLARK
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Albert Webster Clark, familiarly known as Bert, was born in Champaign, Illinois, in 1871, coming to Sutton with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Clark, in 1872. He graduated from the Sutton high school in 1886 and attended the Nebraska State University for two years. For over thirty years he conducted a most successful
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ice business, selling the same in 1918. Every year since Mr. Clark has grown to manhood he has held offices of trust and honor in his home city and county. For eight years he was city treasurer, for eight years he served as councilman and in 1919 he was mayor of Sutton, declining a second nomination. In the county he has the distinction of serving on the county board of supervisors for over twelve years, acting as chairman of the board during the last two years. It was during his last year as chairman that the money and bonds were voted for Clay county's new courthouse at Clay Center. Since 1890 Mr. Clark has been part owner and manager of the Sutton Opera House.
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