History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 100

Author: Edwards, Lewis C
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1742

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JAMES R. WILHITE.

Judge James R. Wilhite, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former judge of the court of Richardson county, former police judge and former city attorney of Falls City and a practicing attorney in that city since his admission to the bar in 1877. is a native of Illinois, but has been a resident of Nebraska since 1865, having settled here almost immediately upon the completion of his military service at the close of the war. He was born on a farm in Morgan county, Illinois, March 21, 1845, son of George Washington and Nancy (Wilhite) Wilhite, natives of Kentucky, the former of whom was a son of Humphrey Wilhite, a native Virginian and of Bavarian descent. George W. and Nancy Wilhite were the parents of six sons and two daugh- ters, the subject of this sketch having had a brother, William T. Wilhite, who came to Nebraska in 1860 and later went to the Pacific coast, where he spent his last days, his death occurring at Los Angeles, California, on January 29, 1914. It was in October, 1831, that George W. Wilhite moved from Kentucky to Illinois. He settled on a farm in Morgan county, that state, and there remained until 1886, when he and his wife moved to Wichita. Kansas, where the latter died in September, 1888. in the seventieth year of her age. George W. Wilhite later made his home at Falls City, where his last days were spent, his death occurring there on July 8, 1903, he then being just past ninety years of age, he having been born on January 18, 1813.

Reared on the home farm in Illinois, James R. Wilhite received his early schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing and

JUDGE AND MRS. JAMES R. WILHITE.

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improving the farm. Though but sixteen years of age when the Civil War broke out, he enlisted, in April, 1861, for service in Company E, Fourteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and with that command served until his discharge, April 23. 1864. on a physician's certificate of disability, two serious wounds received in the battle of the Hatchie River having incapaci- tated him from further service. During that period of service Judge Wil- hite participated in some of the most stirring engagements of the war, hav- ing been present with his regiment at the battles at Ft. Donelson, at Shiloh and at Corinth, besides numerous minor skirmishes and engagements. At the notable battle of the Hatchie -River, Mississippi, in which more than forty thousand men were engaged, he was wounded in the left arm and in the thigh, injuries which left him practically incapacitated in a physical way for two years thereafter. Nine months after receiving these wounds he received his final discharge and returned home to recuperate.

Upon regaining something of his normal strength, James R. Wilhite came out to the then Territory of Nebraska. landing at Brownville on August 27, 1865, and at Nebraska City, in the neighboring county of Otoe, obtained a job as a "bullwhacker" on the Denver trail and was thus engaged until the following January, during which time he became familiar with the life of the plains and had many interesting experiences. Determining to make his permanent home in Nebraska he then settled in this county, purchasing a tract of land in the precinct of Porter, where he began farming and where he remained until in May, 1873, when he left the farm and located in Falls City, where he ever since has made his home, a period of more than forty-four years. During the time spent on the farm Judge Wilhite had not been neglecting the studies that had been broken off when he entered the army as a boy and he presently turned his attention seriously to the study of the law. Upon locating at Falls City he continued his law studies in a more systematic fashion and in 1877 was admitted to the bar, and opened an office there for the practice of his profession. 'In that same year he was elected justice of the peace in and for Falls City precinct and served in that important magis- terial capacity for two years. serving also as police judge during that same period. In November, 1879, he was elected judge of the county court and served for four years in that capacity, afterward serving two other terms of four years each in that same capacity, these latter periods of service cover- ing the years 1892-96 and 1902-06. In 1910 Judge Wilhite was appointed city attorney of Falls City and in that capacity served for one year. The Judge is an ardent Republican and for years has been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this county.

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In October, 1898, Judge James R. Wilhite was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah E. ( Crook) Schoenheit, who was born in Tennessee on March 2, 1849, and who was but six years of age when she came to Nebraska with her parents, Jesse Crook and wife, and settled in Richardson county, the Crooks, who arrived here on April 17, 1855, being the third family to settle in this county. Jesse Crook entered a tract of land at a point one and one- half miles north of what later came to be the county seat of Richardson county and there established his home, becoming one of the substantial pioneer farmers of this county. Sarah E. Crook grew to womanhood on that pioneer farm and married Augustus Schoenheit, a former prominent attorney at Falls City, who died, leaving his widow and three sons, now deceased, and a daughter, Mrs. Sallie McKee, the latter of whom is now liv- ing in Colorado. Judge and Mrs. Wilhite have a pleasant home at Falls City and have ever taken an interested part in the general social and cultural activ- ities of their home town. Judge Wilhite is a member of the Christian church and Mrs. Wilhite is an Episcopalian. The Judge is a charter member of the local post of the grand Army of the Republic and has for years taken an earnest interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization.

WILLIAM FRANKLIN BUTLER.

William Franklin Butler, a well-known merchant at Barada and a sub- . stantial landowner in the precinct of that name, is a native of Illinois, but has been a resident of this county since he was twenty years of age, having come here with his parents in 1879. He was born in a village in Vermillion county, Illinois, December 8, 1859, son of Ephraim P. and Minerva J. ( McCarthy ) Butler, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illi- nois, who became pioneers of Richardson county and here spent their last days.

Ephraim P'. Butler was born on September 2, 1831, and was but three years of age when his parents, Asa and Catherine (Porter) Butler, moved from Kentucky in 1834 and settled in Illinois, where they spent the remainder of their lives. . Asa Butler was born in Virginia in 1806 and his wife also was born in the Old Dominion, in that section of the state now comprised in West Virginia, in 1805. Upon moving to Illinois Asa Butler pre-empted a tract of land in Edgar county, but later moved to Vermillion county. In

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM F. BUTLER.

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addition to being a practical farmer he was a skilled blacksmith and operated a pioneer blacksmith shop and also made wagons. He died in November, 1876, and his widow survived him more than twenty years, her death oc- curring in 1898. They were the parents of nine children, of whom Ephraim l'. was the first-born, the others being as follow: William F., deceased ; Mrs. Ellen Adams, a widow, of Georgetown, Illinois; Elizabeth, deceased: Walker T., of Sidell, Illinois; Samuel F., of Georgetown, Illinois; Catherine. deceased; Rosa, deceased, and one who died in infancy. Ephraim P. Butler was early trained by his father to the trade of wagon-maker and followed that trade all his life, working at it long after he came to this county. On June 22, 1858, in Carthage, Missouri, he married Minerva J. McCarthy, who was born in Edgar county, Illinois, April 24, 1837, a daughter of Elijah McCarty, who moved to Missouri in 1857 and died in that state in the fol- lowing year. After his marriage Ephraim P. Butler continued to make his home in Illinois until 1879, when he came with his family to Nebraska and settled at Falls City, moving thence a year later to Barada, where he estab- lished himself as a wagon-maker. Though starting in a small way he presently began doing a good business and as he prospered invested in land and became the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and sixty acres in the precinct of Barada. He died on May 23, 1904, and his widow sur- vived for a little less than three years, her death occurring in March, 1907. They were members of the Baptist church and their children were reared in that faith. There were four of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being Elmer E., of Hebron, Ne- braska; . Addah, wife of Charles Martin, a landowner in section 10 of the precinct of Barada, and Clellie, wife of M. M. Hendricks, also a landowner in Barada precinct.

.As noted above, William F. Butler was about twenty years of age when he came to this county with his parents in 1879 and he worked on his father's farm until after his marriage in 1883, when he rented a farmi and began farming on his own account. In 1898 he bought a farm in section 19 of Barada precinct and set about improving and developing the same, only about forty acres of the place having been improved when he took posses- sion. Among these improvements made by Mr. Butler was the setting out of an orchard of ten acres. In 1908 Mr. Butler retired from the farm and moved to Barada, where he bought the Lloyd Mitchell store and has since been engaged in business at that place. In 1910 he built his present sub-

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stantial store building and is doing an extensive business, his store being well stocked and conducted along up-to-date lines. Mr. Butler still owns his farm of two hundred and fifty acres in the neighborhood of Barada and is recognized as one of the substantial citizens of that part of the county. He is a Republican and gives his earnest attention to local political affairs.

On March 15, 1883, William F. Butler was united in marriage to Ella Underwood, who also was born in Vermillion county, Illinois, December 16, 1863, daughter of Harrison S. and Elizabeth (Gebhard) Underwood, the former of whom was born in Virginia, a son of John and Drusilla Under- wood, of Virginia, who was one of the organizers of Vermillion county, Illinois. Achilles Morgan, her great-grandfather, settled in Vermillion county in 1822, and the latter in Illinois, and to this union six children have been born, namely: \sa E., who was graduated from the Nebraska State Normal School at Peru and is now teaching at Huntley, this state, mar- ried Pearl Morgan at Minden, September 18. 1907. She died at Huntley, Nebraska, April 23, 1917, leaving five children, Norvall, Joy, Asa E., Ivan 31., and Nellie Irene: Kittie, who married Guy Sailors, a clerk in the store at Barada, and has two children, Howard and Lois; Lela, wife of Doctor Bloomenkamp, of Barada, and has one child, William Lawrence; Harley D., married August 11, 1915, to Helen Bolejack, who is farming, and Nellie and Emma, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Butler are members of the United Evangelical church and have ever taken a proper interest in church work and other neigh- borhood good works. Mr. Butler is a member of the local lodges of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Woodmen of the World and takes a warm interest in the affairs of these organizations.

The Underwood family had its beginning in America with the coming to this country from England of William Underwood, who became a col- onist in 1637. His son, William Underwood, settled in Virginia in 1680, and it is from that line that Harrison S. Underwood was descended. Har- rison S. Underwood, son of John and Drusilla Underwood, was born on August 25, 1832, and died on January 22, 1870. His wife, Elizabeth, was born on August 25, 1837, and died on July 3. 1898. They were the parents of three children, Mrs. Butler having a sister, Mrs. Emily A. Williams, who was born on February 15, 1858, and who is now living at Bloomington, Illinois, and a brother, Lincoln .A. Underwood, born on May 6, 1860, who is now living at San Francisco, California. Mrs. Butler also is descended, on the maternal side, from the old colonial Virginia family of Morgans.

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ERNEST S. FERGUS.

A careful and enterprising farmer of Porter precinct, Richardson county, is Ernest S. Fergus, who was born in that vicinity, on a farm three and one-half miles southeast of his present home, July II, 1872. He is a sôn of James Corwin and Frances (Forgey) Fergus. The father was born in 1846 and died on February 13, 1905; the mother was born in 1841 and died on March 9, 1906. These parents grew to maturity in Ohio, where they were married. Shannon Fergus, the paternal grandfather, was an early settler in the old Buckeye state. James C. Fergus first came to Nebraska in 1869 and selected a farm in section 29. Porter precinct. Richardson county, then returned to Ohio and married there in 1871. Returning with his family to Richardson county he applied himself closely to the management of his farm and prospered, in fact, he accumulated a fortune as the result of his rare ability in a business way. He became the owner of one thousand two hundred and forty acres of good land, all in Richardson county, with the exception of three hundred and twenty acres in Pawnee county. He had the foresight to see a great future for the state of Nebraska and he in- vested all he had in land, which was cheap in those days. He farmed on an extensive scale and handled live stock in large herds. He was one of the leading citizens of the county in his day. Politically, he was a Republican, and he belonged to the Presbyterian church. He served during the latter part of the Civil War, having enlisted in 1864 in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of hos- tilities in the Army of the Potomac. He fought in the battles around Rich- mond, Virginia.

Ernest S. Fergus was reared on his father's farm, where he was an apt pupil under his able father in general agricultural affairs. He attended the public schools of his community and the Humboldt high school, after which he took up active farming, remaining with his parents until he was twenty-four years of age; he then began life for himself. Most of his present farm was inherited from the estate; however. he has added one hundred and sixty acres, in section 24, Franklin precinct. The one hundred and sixty acres, his part of the homestead, lies in section 18. He moved to his present home in 1896. He has a commodious and attractive residence of ten rooms; he also has a large barn and many other convenient out- buildings. He carries on general farming and stock raising and is very successful.

Mr. Fergus was married on March 10, 1897, to Jennie May Butter-

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field, who was born in York county, Nebraska. She is a daughter of George and Carrie Butterfield, a well-known old family in Humboldt, where they still reside. The following children have been born to Ernest S. Fergus and wife, namely: Thelma, born on January 5, 1900, is now attending Humboldt high school, class of 1918; Mabel, April 22, 1902; Fern, July 18. 1913, and Ernest Harlan, January 23, 1916.

Politically, Mr. Fergus is a Republican but is not active in party affairs and he now votes independently. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.

DANIEL H. WEBER.

Prof. Daniel H. Weber, superintendent of schools for Richardson county, is a native of the neighboring Sunflower state, but has been a resident of Neb- raska since the days of his childhood. He was born on a farm in Marshall county, Kansas, February 12, 1887, son of Daniel and Priscilla ( Wolfgang) Weber, natives, respectively, of Germany and of Pennsylvania, the latter of Pennsylvania-German stock, born in 1860, who are now living in Gage county, this state.

Daniel Weber, Sr., was born in 1854 and was fourteen years of age when he came to this country with his parents in 1868, the family first locat- ing in Illinois, where they lived for two or three years and then, in the early seventies, moved to Kansas and settled in Marshall county, where they remained until 1889, when they came to this state and located in Gage county, where Daniel Weber, Sr., is now engaged in railroad work.

Daniel H. Weber was but two years of age when his parents moved from Kansas over the line into Nebraska and he grew to manhood in Gage county. From his earliest youth he was a diligent student and at the age of eighteen, in 1905. began teaching school at Barnston, in his home county, and was thus engaged at that place for three years, later teaching for two years in the vicinity of Beatrice, in the meantime continuing his studies in Wesleyan University at University Place, Lincoln, and at the Peru Normal School and was graduated from the latter institution in 1910. Before receiving his diploma he had been called to the superintendency of the schools at Shubert. this county, and was there engaged in that capacity for five years, or until his election, in 1914, to the office of superintendent of schools of Richardson county. During his first term of office in that incumbency Professor Weber

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gave so many evidences of his fitness for the position that he was re-elected and is now serving his second term, continuing to give his most earnest and whole-hearted attention to the interests of the schools of the county. In his political affiliation Professor Weber is a Democrat and has ever given his thoughtful attention to civic affairs.

On December 25, 1912, Prof. Daniel H. Weber was united in marriage to Lillian Hiatt, of Shubert, a former teacher in the schools of this county and a daughter of J. A. Hiatt and wife, of Weeping Water. Professor and Mrs. Weber are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodges of the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World and in the affairs of all of these several organizations takes a warm interest.

JOSHUA BLOOM.

Joshua Bloom, well-known and substantial farmer of Muddy precinct, this county, proprietor of a fine farm in section 22 of that precinct, a suc- cessful cattle breeder and treasurer of the Richardson County Mutual In- surance Company, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resi- dent of Nebraska and of Richardson county since he was nineteen years of age, having come here in 1884. He was born on a farm in Mahoning county, Ohio, May 17, 1865, son of Jacob and Clementine (Swartz) Bloom, who later came to Nebraska and settled in this county and further and fitting reference to whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

Reared on a farm in Ohio, Joshua Bloom early became a practical farmer and a self-reliant workman. Upon coming to this county in 1884 he began working in the neighborhood of Falls City and later rented a tract of land north of Verdon and began farming on his own account. In the fall of 1894 he married and in 1902 bought the first "eighty" of his present farm in section 22 of the precinct of Muddy and proceeded to de- velop and improve the same, building a house and barn, setting out trees and bringing the place up to a high state of cultivation. He later bought an additional "eighty" there and now he and his wife are the owners of a fine place of two hundred and forty acres. They remodeled their house in 1909 and are now very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. Mr. Bloom has made a specialty of the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and is doing very well. In addition to his farming operations he has also given attention

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to the general business affairs of the community and for some time has been serving as treasurer of the Richardson County Mutual Insurance Com- pany, in the affairs of which he takes an active intere-+.

On September 6, 1894. Joshua Bloom was united in marriage to Lillie M. Weaver, who was born on a pioneer farm in the precinct of Muddy, this county, daughter of Jesse and Emma R. (Kroh) Weaver, natives of Penn- sylvania, who were married in Illinois and about 1874 came to Nebraska and settled in Richardson county, where their last days were spent. Mr. and Mrs. Bloom have two sons, Bernard and Myron, both of whom are at home. They are members of the Christian church and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good works and social activities of the community in which they live. Mr. Bloom is a Democrat and is now serving as a member of the school board in district 16 and as overseer of road district No. 4. He is a member of the local lodges of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Woodmen of the World, becom- ing a charter member, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.

LESTER C. WILSON.

The name of the late Lester C. Wilson will long be remembered in Richardson county, for all those who knew him say he was an industrious and public-spirited citizen, who stood well among his neighbors and friends during his long residence in Franklin precinct. He was born on December 4, 1861, in Marion county, Iowa. He was a son of Liberty and Kitty (Wil- son) Wilson, natives of Illinois, from which state they moved to Iowa, where they spent the rest of their lives.

Lester C. Wilson attended the public schools in Marion county, Iowa, and remained in his native state until in 1880, when he came to Nebraska. and here he was married on February 27, 1884, to Emma Shrader, who was born on July 9, 1865, in Rush county, Indiana. She is a daughter of Henry C. and Martha M. ( Overheiser ) Shrader. Mr. Shrader was born on Janu- ary 17, 1832, and died on January 14, 1907. His wife was born on April 17, 1832, and died on March 16, 1880. She was a daughter of George Over- heiser, who was a son of John Casper and Mary ( Near) Overheiser, who were parents of twenty-one children. George Overheiser was a grandson of Conrad and Mary ( Story ) Overheiser, and was born in Otsego county.

MR. AND MRS. LESTER C. WILSON.

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New York, August 21, 1804, and he died in Indiana in 1862. In 1826 he married Elizabeth Storms, a daughter of Peter and Dorcas (Ballard ) Storms. She was a granddaughter of Thomas and Acenath Ballard. She was born on June 30, 1807, in New York state, and died in Indiana in 1860. In 1838 he moved to Indiana, settling first in Fayette county; later moved to Han- cock county and finally to Blackford county, that state. His family consisted of thirteen children, namely : Belinda, born on December 18, 1827; John P., November 9, 1828; Mary, July 26, 1830; Elvira, March 25, 1832; Martha M., .April 17, 1833; Henry S., January 2, 1835; Alanson. June 2, 1836; Ann H., March 16, 1838; Charles, February 15, 1840; Willard B., November I. 1841; George M., January 21, 1843; Sarah E., March 6, 1845; Keturah, April 20, 1847.

Henry C. Shrader went from Rush county, Indiana, to Rockport, Mis- souri, arriving there on March 1, 1868. He crossed the river into Richard- son county and bought forty acres north of Rulo, and three miles east of Barada, and lived there seven years. In 1875 he moved two miles nearer Barada onto the prairie; then moved to Barada. He experienced the hard- ships of the three grasshopper years, from 1871 to 1873, inclusive, when his family nearly starved to death. He moved to Stella, Nebraska, in 1882. His family consisted of the following children: Ida, the wife of W. D. Elmore and they live in Nemaha township: Belle lives in Chicago; Harvey lives at Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; John also resides at Broken Arrow ; Willard and Alice are both deceased, and Mrs. Wilson.

After their marriage Lester C. Wilson and wife settled in Franklin pre- cinct. Richardson county, in 1884. at Franklin Center, living on a farm there six years: then moved two miles east of that place, where they spent two years. In 1892 they bought one hundred and twenty acres, half a mile north of the present Wilson homestead, and there Mr. Wilson made a number of improvements, remodeling the dwelling house, dying soon thereafter, on December 28, 1899, at the age of thirty-seven years and twenty-four days. After his death Mrs. Wilson moved to the town of Humboldt, where she spent three years, sold out and bought a cheap tract of land in Butler county, Kansas, but not liking that country as a place to live, she returned to Rich- ardson county in 1906 and bought her present farm of eighty acres in Frank- lin precinct, which place she has managed successfully. She has an attractive home and good outbuildings, and everything about the place shows thrift and good taste. She has a rich bottom land farm, well improved and under a high state of cultivation. Her only child, Opal P., is the wife of B. W.

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 100

Author: Edwards, Lewis C Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1742

Author: Edwards, Lewis C
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1742