USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 9
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 9
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CHARLES MIDEKE
The willingness to put forth his best efforts and the ability to direct those efforts effectively have been the positive forces in the winning of the substantial success that has come to Charles Mideke in his many years of practical experience as a representative of farm industry in Hamilton county, where he resides upon the old home farm which was raw prairie land at the time when he here established his home, as a pioneer of the year 1878. Mr. Mideke was born at Freeport, Illinois, on the 4th of June, 1852, and is a son of Frederick and Caroline Mideke, both natives of Germany. The father was born about the year 1848 and was a young man when he came to the United States. In Illinois he followed the carpenter's trade until his son, Charles, was about eighteen years of age and thereafter was there engaged in farming until his death at the age of sixty-four years, his wife having been thirty-six years of age at the time of her passing away. Public schools of Illinois gave to Charles Mideke his early educational advantages and there he continued his residence and his association with farm enterprise until 1878, when he came to Hamilton county, Nebraska. He first purchased eighty acres of rail- road land, in section 31, South Platte township, and for this he paid at the rate of five dollars per acre, his financial resources at the time of his arrival in the county having been summed up in the amount of about six hundred dollars. On
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES MIDEKE
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his land he erected a little frame house of one room and in the early days had no lack of obstacles and adversities to overcome, for his was the experience of the average pioneer of this section, but persistence and faith eventually triumphed and he is now the owner of an admirably improved and most productive landed estate of five hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Mideke has shown much discrimination and judgment in his various experiments and readjustments in connection with farm enterprise and he attributes much of his success to the fact that he has specialized in the raising of the cereal crops best adapted to the soil and climate. In the early days his finances were somewhat precarious and he has stated that six years passed before he was able to make the final payment for the construction of his first house. Now his status is that of a substantial citizen whose returns from his farm are certain and secure and no citizen is more loyal to Nebraska than this sterling and popular pioneer of Hamilton county.
Mr. Mideke has always been ready to give his influence and cooperation in the ad- vancing of measures and enterprises projected for the general good of the community, is a democrat in basic politics, has served one term as a member of the school board of his district and is a member of the United Brethren church, as was also his wife, who died in 1919, at the age of sixty-three years, and who had shared with him in the trying experiences of the pioneer period, even as she lived to enjoy with him the eventual prosperity that came to them.
The year 1879 recorded the marriage of Mr. Mideke to Miss Emma Goethe, who was born and reared in Illinois and who was one of the revered pioneer women of Hamilton county at the time of her death. Of the children the eldest is G. W., who is a representative of successful farm enterprise in Hamilton county; Hattie and Arthur remain at the paternal home; Ida is the wife of Everett Winkler and they reside in the state of Colorado, as does also Clara, the next younger daughter ; and Frank, Mabel and Lela are the younger members of the attractive home circle on the old homestead farm.
J. A. ISAMAN
J. A. Isaman is the senior partner of the firm of J. A. Isaman & Company, engaged in the real estate and abstract business, and is also connected with banking interests as the vice president of the Farmers' State Bank. In the real estate field he has negotiated many important property transfers and has won substantial suc- cess by the careful and able manner in which he has conducted his interests. A native of Iowa, his birth occurred in Van Buren county, July 4, 1869, his parents being B. F. and Mary A. (Newbold) Isaman, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania but were married in Iowa, to which state they removed in early life. The father was a son of Samuel G. Isaman, also a native of the Keystone state, who learned the shoemaker's trade and followed it for a time but afterward took up the occupation of farming. He removed from Pennsylvania to Iowa and gave his attention to agricultural pursuits there throughout his remaining days, reaching an advanced age. The maternal grandfather of J. A. Isaman was Joshua G. New- bold, who in many ways was prominently connected with the history of Iowa, serving
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as a member of the state legislature, as governor of the commonwealth and in other important public connections whereby he did much to shape the policy and promote the progress of the state.
B. F. Isaman followed the occupation of farming as a life work but at the time of the Civil war put aside all business and personal considerations and joined Com- pany F of the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, with which he served for more than three years. Being captured he was incarcerated in Libby prison, in Andersonville prison and also at Macon, Georgia, and contracted a disease which ultimately ter- minated his life. It was in 1873 that he removed from Iowa to Hamilton county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead and first lived in the cellar of a house that he was building until the superstructure was completed. He had driven over- land from Iowa and reached Hamilton county a few days before the big Easter storm. In his farming he was quite successful, carefully tilling the soil and gather- ing abundant harvests each year until he had acquired thereby a substantial compe- tence. After living on the farm until 1896 he retired from active business and removed to Aurora, where his remaining days were spent, his death occurring in 1900, while his widow survived until 1914. In early life they were members of the Baptist church, later became identified with the Presbyterian church and still later returned to the Baptist church. Religious connections were with them a matter of Christianity rather than of denominationalism and they ever endeavored to follow closely the teachings of Him who came not to be ministered unto but to minister. They were the parents of four children: Kate, now the wife of J. H. White, a real estate dealer of Seattle, Washington; J. A., of this review ; George E., who is engaged in the hardware business in Hastings, Nebraska; and Rachel, the wife of A. B. Cole, who is connected with the department of finance in the government office at Lincoln.
The first school which J. A. Isaman attended was taught by a woman in her own home, but afterward public schools were established and J. A. Isaman thus continued his education, while still later he attended school at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, also became a student in the Aurora high school and in York College of Nebraska. His youthful experiences were those of the farm bred boy and he early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He afterward went to North Platte, Nebraska, where he lived for two years, en- gaged in the abstract business. While there residing he was married in 1896 to Miss May E. Salisbury, a daughter of William N. Salisbury, and to them were born two children : Francis, at home; and Emma, the wife of Mac C. Brown, who is deputy county treasurer at Aurora.
Mr. Isaman is a stalwart republican in politics, thus following in the political footsteps of his father, who was a recognized leader in political circles in Hamilton county and who served at an early day as county commissioner and was again called to that office in later life. The same qualities of faithful citizenship and capability have been manifested by J. A. Isaman and in 1902 his fellow townsmen called him to the office of county clerk, which position he filled until 1904. He also served as city treasurer for seven years and made a most capable record in office. In 1896 he returned to Aurora and again resided on a farm, cultivating land belonging to his father for a number of years. In November, 1903, he took up his abode in the city and in December of the same year purchased the abstract and insurance busi-
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ness from the firm of Hainer & Smith. He afterward extended the scope of his business to include real estate dealing. He has the only set of abstract books in the county and his accuracy in this connection is well known. In 1919 he admitted Irvin H. Otto to a partnership and they conduct a general real estate business, largely handling local property. Mr. Isaman has negotiated many important realty transfers and has been very successful as a real estate man. He is today the owner of valuable farm lands and city property, from which he derives a gratifying income and he is also well known as the vice president of the Farmers' State Bank but devotes the greater part of his attention to the real estate, abstract and insurance business, having today the largest fire insurance agency in the county.
Mr. Isaman became a charter member of the Rotary Club of Aurora and is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to the lodge, chapter, Scottish Rite bodies and the Mystic Shrine. He served as secretary for the Royal Arch Masons for a num- ber of years and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star, in which he is a past patron and his wife a past matron. They are also members of the Congregational church and they occupy an enviable position in social circles where true worth and intelligence are accepted as the passports to good society.
SYLVESTER R. SIDDERS
An earnest and upright life, filled with worthy achievement, was that of the late Sylvester R. Sidders, and thus his memory is especially honored in Hamilton county, Nebraska, where he lived and labored to goodly ends and where he became the owner of a fine farm property, having maintained his residence in this county from 1884 until his death, which occurred on the 6th of November, 1913.
Mr. Sidders was born in the state of New Jersey, on the 6th of June, 1854, and was eight years of age at the time of the family removal to Ohio, where he was reared to manhood and received the advantages of the public schools. At the age of twenty-one years he came to Nebraska and for a time was associated with his brother-in-law in farming enterprise near Bennet, Lancaster county, where he farmed on shares. Thereafter he served one year as a guard at the state penitentiary and in 1884 came to Hamilton county, where he and his brother John, under partnership alliance, purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land. Mr. Sidders was a man of fine initiative and constructive energy and with the passing years developed one of the valuable farm properties of the county, his success and progressiveness having been attested by the excellent buildings and other improve- ments which he provided for his home farm. At the time of his death Mr. Sidders was the owner of a valuable farm property of three hundred and sixty acres in Scoville township, and this land is now in possession of his family. He was a vigorous exponent of agricultural and live stock industry, commanded the respect and goodwill of all who knew him, was influential in public affairs in his township and served several years as township assessor. He was affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and his religious faith was that of the Baptist church, of which his widow likewise is an earnest member.
Mr. Sidders was twice married, the first time in 1885 to Miss Jennie Case,
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who is survived by one child, Laura, who is now the wife of William Race, their home being in the state of Colorado. On the 10th of March, 1895, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sidders to Miss Lucy Gallentine, who was born in the state of Pennsylvania and who was two years old when her parents came to Nebraska and numbered themselves among the pioneer settlers of Clay county, where she was reared and educated. Mrs. Sidders' father, William Gallentine, was a home- steader of Clay county in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Sidders became the parents of two sons and one daughter: William, Sylvester B., and Charity. The sons now have the active management of the old home farm and are numbered among the pro- gressive farmers of the younger generation in their native county. Mrs. Sidders remained on the farm until 1916, when she removed to the village of Giltner, where she purchased an attractive residence property and where she and her daughter now maintain their home. Mrs. Sidders is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church in her home village and is a popular figure in connection with the repre- sentative social activities of the community.
CHARLES L. WHITNEY
Charles L. Whitney, who for more than a decade has engaged in the practice of law in Aurora, was born in Shelby county, Iowa, in April, 1884, a son of M. L. and Jennie (Weatherill) Whitney, both of whom are natives of New England. The paternal grandfather, D. R. Whitney, removed to Iowa in pioneer times and spent his remaining days in that state, becoming a well-to-do farmer there and. ultimately retiring from active business. The maternal grandfather, Thomas Weatherill was a native of England and crossing the Atlantic took up his abode in Canada, while later he, too, established his home in Iowa, where he remained until called to his final rest. M. L. Whitney was quite young when the family home was established in Iowa and there he was reared to pioneer life. In 1886 he came to Nebraska and purchased land in Wayne county, becoming identified with the early development of this state. He afterward removed to Cedar county and was identified with farming interests in that locality. Year by year his cultivation of his farm con- stituted an asset in the progress and upbuilding of the section in which he lived. In 1911 he removed to Aurora and retired from active business, having won a com- fortable competency through the years of his earnest and intelligently directed toil. He is now enjoying a well earned rest, his success supplying him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. He is a member of the Christian church and his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. For many years he has been a faithful follower of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he has never maintained a partisan attitude but has always pursued an independent course in casting his ballot. To him and his wife were born five children, but only Charles L. is living.
It was in the country schools of Wayne county that Charles L. Whitney began his education, for he was but two years of age when brought by his parents from Iowa to this state. He continued his education in the high school at Hartingtou, Nebraska, and afterward pursued a teacher's course in the Fremont Normal Col- lege, graduating from the scientific course as a member of the class of 1906. He
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later attended the State University and was graduated in June, 1910, upon the completion of a course in law. He was then admitted to the bar and started to practice his profession in Aurora in December, 1910. He has always practiced alone and his ability in the path of his profession is widely recognized. His legal learn- ing, his analytical mind, the readiness with which he grasps the points in an argu- ment all combine to make him one of the able lawyers of the district and his reputation has been won through earnest, honest labor, while his standing at the bar is a merited tribute to his ability.
On the 27th of December, 1916, Mr. Whitney was married to Miss Leona Entrekin, of Aurora, a daughter of A. L. Entrekin, a retired farmer of this city. They have one son, Charles L., born October 1, 1918. Mrs. Whitney is a member of the Bethany Baptist church and Mr. Whitney belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since the age of twenty-one years and has passed all of the chairs in the local lodge. He has also held all of the offices in the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a democrat and for two terms filled the office of county attorney of Hamilton county but has never sought nor desired official preferment outside of the strict path of his profession. He has always devoted his entire time to law practice, has been admitted to all of the courts and as the years have passed has been accorded a liberal clientage of a distinctively representative character.
JOHN S. HALSTED
Among the prominent agriculturists of Clay county is John S. Halsted, who has been a resident in that county since March, 1880. Like many other prominent and successful men of Nebraska he is the state's son by adoption, his birth having oc- curred in Wabash county, Indiana, April 25, 1849.
John S. Halsted was seven years of age when his parents moved to Illinois, and he received his education in the country schools in the vicinity of his home. He there resided until on reaching man's estate he left the parental roof and set out for the west. He arrived in Clay county, Nebraska, in March of the year 1880 and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land, paying four hundred dollars for the improvements on this land, which consisted of a shanty, straw stable, and ninety acres of land already broken. Mr. Halsted is now in possession of two hundred and forty acres of fine land. He has set out many shade trees and has made his farm one of the attractive places of the county. He has always carried on general farming and stock raising, specializing in Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs. In addition to this land in Clay county Mr. Halsted is the owner of six hundred and forty acres in Lincoln county.
On the 1st of January, 1873, occurred the marriage of Mr. Halsted and Miss Mary L. Coleman and to them four children have been born: Lewis, who is on the farm in Lincoln county; Rawley H., who is engaged in farming near his father; Mary A., who is now the wife of John Livingston, a farmer of Adams county ; and Cora B., who is residing at home.
Mr. Halsted has always taken an active part in civic affairs and his stanch
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support may ever be counted upon in furthering a movement which he deems of necessity to the improvement and development of the community. For several years he was township clerk and has been a member of the school board for one year. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen and took a prominent part in the activities of that lodge in past years. His wife and daughter are consistent members of the Christian church and are prominent in the social and club circles of their community. Mr. Halsted has proved himself to be a farmer of great ability and progressiveness and there is no phase of modern scientific farming with which he is not familiar. He is indeed a representative citizen of Clay county and one of whom that county has a right to be proud.
SAMUEL M. KENSINGER
Prominent in the ranching circles of Hamilton county is Samuel M. Kensinger, a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where he was born September 25, 1849, a son of Samuel and Nancy (McLean) Kensinger, also natives of that state. There the father engaged in farming and was a successful and highly respected citizen of the community in which he made his home.
Samuel M. Kensinger received his education in the country schools of his native state, the schools being made of plastered logs and fitted inside with home-made wooden benches. He began working on his father's farm at the age of nine years and then worked out on farms in the surrounding vicinity, being in one man's employ for a period of eight years. In 1866 he decided to engage in farming on his own account with the result that he located in Illinois and there rented land for two years. He then removed to Whiteside county and worked on a farm for two years. In 1870, in company with his brother, Daniel, Mr. Kensinger came west, driving through to Hamilton county in a covered wagon. They had but one team and four weeks were spent in making the journey. Arriving in Hamilton county Mr. Kensinger took a homestead of eighty acres on township 9, range 6, which land he still owns and operates. His first home on this land was a most primitive one being part dugout and logs. Later he built an addition of sod and a sod stable and subsequently erected a small frame house. His lumber he hauled from Harvard and his provisions from Lincoln and Grand Island. Mr. Kensinger walked to Grand Island one Fourth of July and played for a dance. Hunting was fine in the county at that time and he shot many buffalo and antelope and also caught many beaver on the Blue river during the winter months. In the grasshopper storm of 1874, Mr. Kensinger lost all of his crops with the exception of some barley and during the Easter blizzard of 1873 he was snowed in for three days. His brother Daniel had a yoke of oxen that drifted with the blizzard to Sutton, Nebraska. During the years of '93 and '94 Mr. Kensinger had about twenty milch cows on his place. Achieving a great amount of success in his ranching, he purchased an additional eighty acres and also bought two hundred acres in Union township.
On the 22nd of April, 1873, occurred the marriage of Mr. Kensinger and Miss Ella A. Franklin, a native of Pennsylvania, whose death occurred in 1886
MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL M. KENSINGER
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at the age of thirty-six years. Her father, Lora A. Franklin, turned his log carpenter shop into a schoolhouse, made and supplied it with benches, and Mrs. Kensinger had the distinction of teaching the first school in their precinct in Hamilton county. She was the mother of six children, two of whom are now living: Burton E., who is farming with his father; and Anna, the wife of Oscar Van Deusen of Giltner, who is manager of the Farmers Union store of that place. The other children are as follows: Charles F., who died in 1874, and Carrie F., his twin, whose death occurred at the same time; Ida B., who passed away in 1876; and Lucinda M., whose death occurred in 1886.
Since age conferred on Mr. Kensinger the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party being a firm believer in the principles of that party as factors in good government. Any movement for the further development and improvement of the community is always assured his support. He is a firm believer in education and has served on the school board for many years. For over half a century, Mr. Kensinger has made his home in Hamilton county and during that time he has risen to a high place among the agriculturists of the county and state. He is justly entitled to the proud American title of self- made man for as a man of strong purpose he has carried to successful completion every undertaking.
WILLIAM S. PATTERSON
A man of broad vision, marked initiative and distinctive business acumen, the late William S. Patterson proved a potent force in the furtherance of farm indus- try and civic advancement in Hamilton county, Nebraska, and especially did he do much to further the advancing of live stock standards in this state. His character and his achievement were of positive order and for his sterling qualities and his worthy work in connection with the practical and productive affairs of life, he is remembered with unequivocal respect and honor in the county to whose progress he contributed much.
Mr. Patterson was born in Franklin county, Ohio, on the 21st of December, 1825, and he received his youthful educatiou in the pioneer schools of the old Buckeye state. He was a lad of eleven years at the time of his mother's death and thereafter depended largely upon his own resources in making his way to the goal of independence and prosperity. He was seventeen years old when he ac- companied his father to Knox county, Illinois, and became a skilled workman at the trade of barrel-maker. As a pioneer workman at his trade in Illinois he hauled his cooperage products overland a distance of fifty miles to Peoria, where he found a market for his barrels. Among his other early experiences in Illinois was that of driving flocks of turkeys overland a distance of one hundred and thirty-six miles to the market in Chicago and later he became extensively engaged in the buying and selling of live stock, besides becoming owner of a large landed estate in Illinois. In 1884 Mr. Patterson came with his family to Hamilton county, Nebraska, having here purchased, fully ten years previous, the present celebrated Patterson ranch of three hundred acres located in Union township, and having
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