History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 101

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

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Sterns, a farmer of Franklin precinct, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.

Politically, Lester C. Wilson was a Democrat. He belonged to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Wilson is also a member.

LEOPOLD PORR.

There is a large element of foreign-born citizens in Richardson county, most of whom came here in pioneer days, with little or no capital. Here they have found comfortable homes and have developed one of the fine agricultural sections of the West. Of this number the name of Leopold Porr, farmer and stockman, of Speiser precinct, should be mentioned. He was born in the Rhine country of Bavaria, Germany, August 31, 1835. He is a son of Leopold and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Porr, and is the eldest of a family of four children, the names of the other three being, Katherine, who died in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1858; Charles, who died on December 16, 1016, and Elizabeth, wife of Henry Lueck, of Jackson county, Kansas, and her death occurred on November 25, 1907. . The father of the above named children was born in Germany in June, 1811, and he was killed in a runaway in 1879. He grew up in his native land, married there and on March 7, 1857, he left his native land for America, and settled in Andrews county, Missouri, but three months later came to Richardson county, pre-empting one hundred and sixty acres, the present home of the Porr family. The family made their first trip to this farm from Missouri on foot, selected their future home, and moved their household effects here with an ox-team, which they also used to break up the prairie sod. They started in the usual pioneer manner, built a small log cabin, twelve by fourteen feet, with a dirt floor, which the family lived in for two years, then the father built a larger one, which still stands. They worked hard and in due course of time had a good farm and a comfortable home. Their nearest markets were St. Joseph, Missouri, and Brownville, Nebraska, whither they hauled wheat, bacon and other products of the farm, which were usually exchanged for wearing apparel. They received very low prices for their grain and meat and there was often no market for butter at any price, so they sometimes gave it away or dumped it into the Missouri river. On June 1, 1857, Leopold Porr, Sr., took out his first naturalization papers and in 1862 received his second papers. He

LEOPOLD PORR.

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worked hard, lived frugally and endured the hardships of frontier life as well as his neighbors. For some time he hierded cattle on the plains. He did his farm work with oxen, having no horses. The nearest grist-mill was at Salem. He came near losing his life by drowning in the river, which had become swollen by rains while he was at the mill at Salem, accompanied by his brother.

Leopold Porr, Jr., subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in Germany and was educated there; he was twenty-one years old when he came to Richardson county. He was married on February 8, 1872, to Minnie Guyer, who was born on May 31, 1853, near Davenport, Iowa. She is a daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Zimmer) Guyer, natives of Germany, from which country they came to Richardson county, this state, in 1856.

To Mr. and Mrs. Porr six children were born, namely: Otto L., who lives near Sabetha, Kansas; Sophia, keeping house for her father; Henry, deceased; Ernest F., who lives in Speiser precinct, Richardson county ; Frank R., operating the home place, and Alvin A., who lives on a farm in Speiser precinct.

Mr. Porr, of this sketch, has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising and he is owner of a well-improved and productive farm of four hundred and forty acres, in sections 15 and 16, Speiser precinct. He has always kept high-grade live stock, making a specialty of Hereford cattle. He has managed well and worked hard and has met with success all along the line. Politically, Mr. Porr is a Republican. He has been a member of the German Reformed church since 1849.

In 1862 Mr. Porr took a load of wheat to Leavenworth, Kansas, for the soldiers at the army post, making the trip with Ulrich Beutler, taking forty bushels for which they received ninety cents per bushel. The snow was so deep that they had to remain at Lancaster, Kansas, a few days before they could resume their journey, waiting for the snow to melt. They returned by the Kickapoo Indian reservation, and there they camped on account of the cold. Upon their return trip home they had hard work keep- ing from freezing to death. During the period of the Indian troubles in - the West, Mr. Porr assisted in organizing a company for the protection of Richardson county. One morning he started out with Peter Stephen on a scouting expedition and encountered a party of over five hundred hostile red men, who gave chase. They finally surrounded him but did not harm him.

Mr. Porr has a clock in his possession which the family brought from (65)

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the old country, in the sailing vessel that took fifty-six days to cross the Atlantic. The clock was made for Grandfather Porr; it is ten feet highı and eighteen inches across. Although it is two hundred years old, it still keeps good time, and has been in constant use ever since it was made, and has had no attention by clock repairers.

DAVID KEAN.

David Kean, one of Richardson county's well-known and substantial farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm of a quarter of a section in the Dawson neighborhood in the precinct of Grant, is a New Englander by birth, but has been a resident of this county ever since he was fourteen years of age, with the exception of two years during the time of the grasshopper plague back in the middle seventies, when the family was compelled to return East to await the return of normal conditions. He was born in the state of Connecticut on June 15, 1859, the eighth in order of birth of the ten children born to his parents, Thomas and Bridget Kean, natives of Ireland, and the former of whom died in Connecticut in. 1869.

After the death of her husband the Widow Kean maintained her home in Connecticut until 1873, when she disposed of her interests there and with six of her children, Thomas, James, Ellen, Elizabeth, Sarah and David, came to Nebraska and settled in this county. She bought a quarter of a section of raw prairie land in the precinct of Grant, this county, the place now occu- pied by the subject of this sketch, and there enlisted her home; but the next year, 1874, when the grasshoppers came and took everything in sight she returned to Connecticut with her family and remained there until 1877, by which time things out here were beginning to resume their normal aspect. when she returned here and resumed her place on the farm, the cultivation of which she successfully directed. Years afterward she went to California to make her home with her daughters, who meanwhile had gone to that state, and there she spent her last days, her death occurring in 1903, she then being in the eighty-second year of her age. Before her death her son, David Kean, bought from her the home place which meanwhile he had helped to develop into one of the best farms in that neighborhood and on which, after his mar- riage in 1883, he had established his home, and he ever since has resided there, he and his family being very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. The Kean place is situated just three miles northeast of the village of Daw- son and Mr. Kean has created there one of the best farm plants in the east

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central part of the county. Mr. Kean also owns fifty acres a half mile east of Dawson. He is a Democrat and from the days of his boyhood has taken an interested part in the political affairs of his home county and has filled various precinct offices at one time and another.

On January 28, 1883, David Kean was united in marriage to Mary A. Fenton, of this county, who was born on October 5, 1863, in Virginia, a daughter of Jeremiah and Catherine (Callan). Fenton, natives of Ireland, who came to this country in the fifties and settled in Connecticut, later mov- ing to Virginia, where they were living when the Civil War broke out. Suc- cessfully resisting an attempt to force him into the Confederate army, Jere- miah Fenton escaped back to Connecticut and in 1867 came from that state to Nebraska and settled with his family on a farm in the precinct of Grant, in this county, early becoming recognized as among the most influential pioneers of that section. In 1878 he was elected a member of the state Legislature from this district and in other ways gave his service to the new commonwealth back in pioneer days. His brother, William Fenton, also served as a member of the Legislature from this district years ago. William T. Fenton, a brother of Mrs. Kean, is warden of the state penitentiary. Mr. and Mrs. Kean have twelve children, a family of which they are justly proud, namely: Bridget, who is keeping house for her bachelor brothers on their farm northwest of the old home place; Jeremiah, a farmer, in the neighbor- hood of his father's farm, who is married and has three children; Thomas F. and Joseph, who are farming the old Clancy farm, northwest of the home place ; David, also a farmer, who is married and has one child; William E., who is farming with his brother, David, a mile and a half northeast of town; Katie, who is at home; Emmet, a farmer; Hannah, at home, a teacher in the home district, No. 34; Mary, also a teacher, teaching the Arnold school, dis- trict No. 24; Leo, at home, and John, who is attending school at Dawson. Thomas, David, Joseph, William and Emmet have all registered for service in behalf of their country in the great war.

The Keans are members of the Catholic church and have ever taken an earnest part in parish affairs, as well as in the general good works of the neighborhood and in the general social activities of the community in which they live, helpful in many ways in advancing the common interest thereabout. Mr. Kean is a member of the local lodge of the Knights and Ladies of Secur- ity and in the affairs of that organization takes a warm interest. Mr. Kean is serving as vice-president of the local Red Cross chapter and has taken a very active part in the organization and raising of funds. Every member of his family has joined the Red Cross society.

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JOHN F. WEDDLE.

John F. Weddle, vice-president of the State Bank of Stella, a well-known merchant of that thriving little city, a successful dealer in hardware and furniture there, and a well-to-do landowner, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm not far from the county line in the precinct of East Muddy on October 15, 1875. son of Lewis M. and Martha E. (Fleener) Weddle, natives of Indiana, who became early residents of this county and the latter of whom. is still living here, one of the honored pioneers of Richardson county.

The late Lewis M. Weddle, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a former member of the board of county commissioners of Richardson county, was born in Indiana on October 6, 1843, and as a young man went to Illinois, where he engaged in farming and where he was living when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted his services in behalf of the Union and not long after the completion of his military service came west with his family and settled at Nebraska City, remaining there until about 1873, when he came down into this part of the state and settled on a farm in section 15 of East Muddy precinct, this county, where he established his home and where he spent the remainder of his life, one of the most useful and influential pioneers of that part of the county. Lewis M. Weddle was a good farmer and as his affairs prospered he added to his holdings until he became a considerable land- owner in the northern part of the county. He gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock and in the height of his efforts in that direction was accustomed to keeping seven hundred or eight hundred head of cattle on his place. Politically, he was a Democrat and but a few years before his death had served a term as a member of the board of county commissioners from his district. Fraternally, he was a member of the local lodges of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Nemaha City and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Woodmen of the World at Shubert, and in the affairs of these organizations took a warm interest. He was a member of the Christian church and took a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good works of the community, and was helpful in advancing all movements designed to promote the common welfare hereabout. Lewis M. Weddle died on November 24, 1915, and Mrs. Weddle also is dead. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the seventh in order of birth, the others being as follow: William M., a farmer and landowner in section 15 of East Muddy precinct, this county ;

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Selmon, of Quincy, Illinois; Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Brisby, of East Muddy precinct ; Mrs. Allie Lewis, of Aspinwall township, in the neighboring county of Nemaha ; James A., a farmer of the precinct of East Muddy ; Mrs. Lenora Colglazier, of Falls City; Walter J., of Hemingford, this state; Oscar E., of East Muddy precinct; Lawson W., now a resident of the state of Wyoming, and Mrs. Gertrude Harris, of East Muddy precinct.

Reared on the home farm in East Muddy precinct, John F. Weddle grew up there and from boyhood was familiar with pioneer conditions, his boyhood recollections preserving many interesting incidents of the early days in that part of the county. He received his schooling in the schools of dis- trict No. 84 and district No. 103 and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant in the labors of improving and developing the home place. When eighteen years of age he began farming on his own account, renting a tract of ground from his father, and after his marriage in 1892 established his home on the farm, continuing to make that place his home until his retire- ment from the farm in 1911 and removal to Stella, where he since has made his home and where he and his wife are very pleasantly situated. Upon moving to Stella Mr. Weddle bought the J. W. Vaught hardware and furni- ture store and has since been conducting the same, doing very well in his busi- ness venture, and has built up an extensive hardware business there. For some time Mr. Weddle had been a stockholder in the State Bank of Stella and in 1916 was elected vice-president of the same, which position he still occu- pies. In addition to these holdings he is the owner of a well-kept farm of eighty acres in section 15 of East Muddy precinct; a part of the old home place. Mr. Weddle is a Democrat and for four years during his life on the farm served as treasurer of his home precinct.

On November 1, 1892, John F. Weddle was united in marriage to Effie M. Weaver, daughter of H. D. and Martha (Shafer) Weaver, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and of Illinois, who became pioneers of Rich- ardson county, the former of whom is now deceased and the latter of whom is still living, making her home at Stella, and to this union was born one child, a daughter, Ruby Fayette, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Weddle have a very pleasant home at Stella and take a proper part in the general social activities of their home town, helpful in promoting such agencies as are designed to advance the common welfare. Mr. Weddle is a Mason and a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America and in the affairs of these fraternal organ- izations takes a warm interest.

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CLIFFORD F. PHILLIPS.

Clifford F. Phillips, of the law firm of Phillips & Hebenstreit at Falls City, secretary of the famous Falls City Boosters' Club, secretary of the Republican central committee of Richardson county and one of the best- known young lawyers in this part of the state, is a native son of Nebraska and has lived in this state all his life. He was born at Beatrice on March 17, 1890, son of John Thomas and Mary Lillian (Tice) Phillips, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio, who are now living in Beatrice, where Mr. Phillips has a fine business. .

John Thomas Phillips, who was born in 1859, was fifteen years of age when he accompanied his parents from Virginia to Ohio and in the latter state he completed his schooling and grew to manhood, becoming an expert plasterer. There he married Mary Lillian Tice, who was born in Ohio in 1864, and in 1885 he and his wife came to Nebraska and located at Beatrice, where Mr. Phillips began working at his trade, presently becoming a gen- eral contractor in that line and has ever since been thus engaged there. He and his wife have three children, those besides the subject being another son, James Tice Phillips, who is the general auditor for the Oahu Railroad and Land Company at Honolulu, Hawaii, and a daughter, Mrs. Hazel Steinmeyer, of Beatrice.

Reared at Beatrice, Clifford F. Phillips completed the course in the high school there and then took a course of collegiate work at the Univer- sity of Nebraska in preparation for the further study of law and thus equipped by preliminary study, entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in 1914. Upon receiving his degree Mr. Phillips returned to Beatrice and was there en- gaged in the law office of Hazlett & Jack, acquiring practical experience in the practice of his profession, until in May, 1915, when he located at Falls City and there opened an office for the practice of his profession, practicing alone there until in January, 1916, when he formed his present partnership with Frank A. Hebenstreit, under the firm name of Phillips & Hebenstreit, which firm is enjoying a constantly increasing practice, both young men having distinctly "made good" during their comparatively brief residence in that city. Mr. Phillips is a Republican and his activities in behalf of the interests of that party provided so effectual a recommendation to the leaders of the party in this county that he was made secretary of the Republican county central committee and is still serving in that capacity. From the

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very beginning of his residence in Falls City he demonstrated his capacity for active service as a "live wire" and in May, 1916, he was elected sec- retary of the Falls City Boosters' Club and has since done excellent service in behalf of the promotion of the city's interests along all lines.

On March 26, 1915, Clifford F. Phillips was united in marriage to Kathryn Justesen, of Council Bluffs, daughter of Peter Justesen and wife, of that city, and to this union has been born one child, a daughter, Ellen Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are members of the Presbyterian church and take a proper part in church work and in the general good works of the city, as well as in the social and cultural activities of the community, help- ful in promoting all worthy causes hereabout. Mr. Phillips is a Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in the affairs of these two popular fraternal orders takes an active interest.

WILLIAM C. NORTON.

Under the able management of William C. Norton, the Humboldt Standard is wielding a potent influence for the general good of the people of Richardson county, for he is a man of progressive ideas and unques- tioned public spirit.

Mr. Norton was born, December 21, 1869, at Evansville, Wisconsin. He is a son of John T. and Delphine (McMillan) Norton, natives of New York state, where they spent their earlier years, later moving to Wiscon- sin, and in 1874 came to Richardson county, Nebraska. The father devoted his active life to the grain and live-stock business, in which he was success- ful. His death occurred on September 26, 1916, at the age of eighty years. His wife died on November 7, 1907, at the age of fifty-eight years. Three children were born to Jolin T. Norton and wife, namely: Charles M., who lives in Humboldt; William C., the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Laura M. Campbell, who resides at Hastings, Nebraska.

William C. Norton was educated in the common schools and in the Hum- boldt high school. When thirteen years of age he began learning the printer's trade in the office of the Standard and has since been connected with that paper, with the exception of twelve years, when he was employed in city printing offices. He returned to Humboldt in December, 1908, and took charge of the Standard, which he has improved in various ways, brightening it up from a mechanical standpoint and increasing its circulation. The

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Standard is well edited and its columns set forth each week the best of the local and general news. It is recognized as a valuable advertising medium.

On May 3, 1896, Mr. Norton was married to Sue M. Willis, of Hum- boldt, a daughter of S. P. Willis, who is now a resident of Colorado. To Mr. and Mrs. Norton two children have been born, Harry K., born on November 2, 1897, and Delphine, October 12, 1901.

Mr. Norton is a Democrat and is active in the support of his party. He has served as city clerk of Humboldt. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He belongs to the Presbyterian church.

JOHN HARDEN COONS.

Among the successful farmers and stockmen of Porter precinct, this county, is John H. Coons, owner of the east half of section 28, that precinct, containing three hundred and' twenty acres of prime land. He was born on March II, 1860, in Sangamon county, Illinois, and is the son of Benjamin Thomas and Hannah E. (Smith) Coons, both of whom were twice married.

Benjamin T. Coons, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Morgan county, Illinois, on April 11, 1826, and died on December 15, 1916. He was the son of Martin Coons, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, who in an early day became a settler of the state of Illinois. Benjamin T. Coons came to Richardson county in 1869 and in the following year bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of and near Stella, Muddy precinct. paying for the same two thousand one hundred dollars. He farmed on this land for the rest of his active life until he retired about 1892. He was generally recognized as a successful farmer and stockman. In addition to his work on the farm, he was also interested in the cause of education and served on the township school board for several years. He was a member of the Baptist church and a liberal subscriber to its upkeep.

Benjamin T. Coons was married twice. His first wife was Martha Smith, and to that union two children were born, namely: Mrs. Margaret Thompson, deceased, and Mrs. Nancy Creed, who lives in Humboldt, this state. By his marriage to Hannah E. Smith, sister of his first wife, he became the father of nine children as follow: William, who lives in Web- ster county, this state; Jolin H., Mrs. Mary Dawson, also living in Webster; Mrs. Laura Creed, living in Humboldt, this state; Louise, also living in

MR. AND MRS. JOHN H. COONS.

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Humboldt; Charles, deceased; George H., in Frankfort, Kansas; Mrs. Pearl Jones, deceased, and one that died in infancy. By her former marriage to Dow Robinson two children were born, James H., living in Webster, Nebraska, and a girl who died when young. Dow Robinson was a native of Illinois; his parents were born in Kentucky. Mrs. Hannah (Smith) Coon's parents, James Smith and wife, were natives of Morgan county, Illinois, and came to Pawnee county, Nebraska, about 1882 and lived there for the remainder of their lives.

John H. Coons was nine years old when his parents came to this state. He attended the Hays district school and later assisted his father on the farm; he also worked one year for M. E. Quinlan, an old settler. In 1882 he started doing for himself by renting land, working in this way up to 1884, when he went into the livery business at Stella. He then, from 1886 to 1892, rented land in Nemaha county, and in 1892 he bought his present farm, which was the homestead of a Mr. Smith, from Hagerstown, Mary- land, later owned by Alex Coleman. At the time Mr. Coons bought the land from Fredrick Marquette, some improvements had been effected on it. Since it has come into Mr. Coons' possession he has made further extensive improve- ments and has set out a large grove of trees, which adds considerably to the general appearance of the place. In addition to his farming activities he is also engaged in breeding and feeding of live stock, and in this line, as in his general farming, he has met with a large measure of success.

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 101

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