History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 107

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

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EDGAR RANDOLPH MATHERS, D. D. S.

Dr. Edgar Randolph Mathers, of Falls City, one of the best-known and most successful dentists in southeastern Nebraska and late president of the Richardson County Sunday School Association, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of Falls City since beginning the practice of his profession in 1899. He was born at Bucyrus, in Crawford county, Ohio. June 23, 1863, son of the Rev. William and Charlotte F. (Randolph) Mathers, the latter of whom is still living, now a resident of Tiffin, Ohio.

The Rev. William Mathers was born in Pennsylvania in 1822, of Scotch- Irish ancestry, and early turned his attention to the ministry of the United - Brethren church, becoming an "old-time" circuit-riding preacher in the towns and cities of northeastern Ohio, for sixty years remaining actively engaged in the calling that was ever dear to his heart. His first sermon was preached at Osceola, Ohio, and he celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of his entrance into the ministry at that place, the occasion being one of much congratula- tion on the part of his hosts of friends throughout that part of the state. For fifty years he had maintained his home on a farm eight miles northwest of Bucyrus and there his last days were spent, his death occurring there in September, 1915. His widow, who was born in 1830 in Morrow county, Ohio, is now living at Tiffin, Ohio. She is a member of the old American

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family of Randolph, the ancestry of which traces back in unbroken descent to the days of Charlemagne.

Edgar Randolph Mathers was reared on the home farm and from the days of his boyhood was a close student, his schooling in the local schools being supplemented by the prudent instruction of his scholarly parents. He was prepared for college and then entered Otterbein University at Wester- ville, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1889. He then taught school for one year, at the end of which time he took up the work of the Young Men's Christian Association, with which in the meantime he had become quite familiar, and was made general secre- tary of the local branch of that association at Hamilton, Ohio. Three years later he was made secretary of the college department of the Young Men's Christian Association at Cincinnati and for three years looked after the col- lege men of that city, resigning his position there in 1896 to take up the systematic study of dental surgery, to which he had been giving some atten- tion. In pursuance of this design he entered the Kansas City Dental College, from which institution he was graduated in 1899, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, and on April I of that year opened an office for the prac- tice of his profession in Falls City, where he ever since has been located. From the very beginning of his practice in Falls City Doctor Mathers has done well and he has made some valuable investments in lands in Texas and in the state of Washington. He is an active member of the Nebraska Dental Society and for years has taken a warm interest in the affairs of that organi- zation.

Doctor Mathers is a member of the Brethren church and has for years taken a leading part in the affairs of the local congregation of that church, for seventeen years acting as superintendent of the Sunday school. For three years he was secretary and treasurer of the Richardson County Sun- day School Association and then for three years served as president of that association, resigning that position in the fall of 1916. During these six years of Doctor Mathers' incumbency the Richardson county association grew from "zero" in the estimation of Sunday School workers to a place as one of the foremost county organizations in Nebraska and in recognition of the Doctor's valuable service in that connection he was elected recording secretary of the Nebraska Sunday School Association in June. 1916. "Vision and inspiration are allied terms, and both come only when there is a true purpose to do the will of the Master," is the declaration of Doctor Mathers. and this is the keynote to the wonderful success he attained as leader of the Sunday school forces of this county during his incumbency as executive

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of the local organization. In this connection, it is but fitting to present here the following "Impressions of the Richardson County Convention," writ- ten by George G. Wallace, of Omaha, chairman of the state executive com- mittee, for the Nebraska Sunday School Record in June, 1915:

The Richardson county Sunday school convention, which I was privileged to attend, impressed me immensely. These impressions were made deeper because of my long acquaintance with the conditions in that county- and knowledge of the rather indiffer- ent attitude of the people toward religious activities and the seeming difficulty in the past of getting them together. But there was an evidence of a great revolution in religious sentiment and of the keenest kind of interest in not only Sunday school work. but in all departments of the work of the Kingdom, and a delightful fellowship that I have seldom seen equaled in a long experience. There was a "keeping step" and systematic action that is seldom equaled.

This remarkable success in organizing the Sunday school forces of Richardson county is largely due to the capable officers who have been serving the past two or three years. There are few presidents like Doctor Mathers, and he is ably assisted by the other officers. They all seem to have caught the vision of the possibilities of organizing Sunday school forces.

I wish other counties, either nearby or farther away, might send reprsentatives to Falls City to study their methods, and if possible, get some of these Richardson county workers to go to their convention and tell them of their success and how it was attained. As for myself, I shall never forget the impressions made upon me by this splendid convention and the fine organization it represented.

Doctor Mathers is a member of the executive board of the State Sunday School Association and on account of the prestige attained by this county in the work of the Sunday schools of the state, the state convention of the association was held in Falls City in 1916, a meeting that will long be memorable among the Sunday school workers of this county. In its issue of January, 1915, the Nebraska Sunday School Record carried a biographi- cal sketch of Doctor Mathers, together with a personal appreciation of his services in the Sunday school work of the state, from which the present biographer takes the liberty to quote the following excerpts:

For nearly sixteen years he has engaged diligently in the practice of dentistry in Falls City, meeting with signal success. Doctor Mathers has more than he can do. His skill, honesty, and above all, his absolutely clean character, are characteristics that have made possible his success.

In the midst of his rapidly growing business he never forgot his duty to the church of his choice, and was and is still ready to do anything for the extension of the Kingdom. Ile is gifted in leading in song. He has been in county Sunday school work for four years-one year as treasurer, two years as secretary-treasurer. and one year ago he was prevailed upon to become the county president.

The condition of the work was anything but bright. but with his wonderful vision of the Sunday school work, and with his executive ability, he was able to make it what it is today. Throughout the year just past he kept in touch with every phase of the work. ofttimes at the sacrifice of his business aud home life. But he has

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the satisfaction of knowing that the county of which he is president stands at the very top in organization. He displayed a wonderful ability to perform the vast amount of work connected with his program of the office. He was made to see that there was no one in the county that could do the work as well as he through the coming year, and in spite of the sacrifice that it will mean to him, he consented to remain at the helm for another year. Under his able direction there is every evidence that the work will continue to be more and more efficient.

In May, 1893, Dr. Edgar R. Mathers was united in marriage to Ella A. Saylor, of Falls. City, a daughter of Simon and Lydia (Myers) Saylor, natives of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Richardson county, the former of whom is now deceased and the latter of whom is still making her home in Falls City, and to this union two children have been born, Lydia Gertrude, born in 1898, and Edgar Saylor, 1902. Doctor and Mrs. Mathers have a very pleasant home at Falls City and have ever given . proper attention to the general social, religious and cultural activities of their home town. The Doctor was reared a Republican, but of late years has been inclined to be independent in his political views, with a strong lean- ing toward the Prohibitionists, and is an active worker in the temperance cause in this county and throughout the state. He has a well-appointed office in the Falls City State Bank building and keeps fully abreast of modern advances in dental surgery, his office being equipped with the most up-to-date appliances for the successful practice of his difficult profession. Upon the declaration of war in April, 1917, the Young Men's Christian Association of this country assumed new burdens and responsibilities and Doctor Mathers became at once one of the foremost figures in the prosecution of this work in Nebraska. He is a member of the executive committee on war work for the Young Men's Christian Association's efforts on behalf of the Ameri- can soldiers enlisted for service in the war with Germany and is giving his most intelligent attention to the important duties thus entailed upon him.

JONATHAN W. HEIM.

Jonathan W. Heim is another of those Richardson county farmers who have come to this part of Nebraska from the old Keystone state and who have become owners of land on extensive scale. He lives on a farm on which his father settled in July, 1874, containing eighty acres of land in section 15. Grant precinct, and is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres in section 10 and another tract of eighty acres west of Henry Heim's place.

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He was born on August 11, 1861, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, a son of Jacob G. and Regina (Gross) Heim, natives of the same county and state, who settled in Richardson county in 1874.

When Jacob G. Heim settled here he bought eighty acres of land on which his son, Jonathan W., now resides. He proceeded at once to prepare the ground for crops and was in a fair way to make a success of his work, when in common with the other settlers he suffered from the plague of grass- hoppers which visited Nebraska in 1874. The first year spent on his new holding was a hard one; in addition to the grasshopper pests, it turned out to be a dry year and vegetation did not thrive. He also suffered the loss of two children. His courage, however, did not desert him and by perse- verance and industry he prospered, later buying another half section of land.

Jonathan W. Heim was about twelve years of age when he came with his parents from Pennsylvania to the state of Nebraska. He was educated in the district schools and in Dawson, this county. He helped his father on the farm and later bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from his father. On this tract he commenced farming operations on his own account and meeting with a fair measure of success, he added to his hold- ings by the further purchase of eighty acres. Some time before his father's death he bought out the home place, the father having gone to reside in Dawson, and here ever since he has continued to make his home. The house in which he resides is nicely situated back from the road on a hillside, with a nice grove of walnut trees in the rear. The house and outbuildings are all in excellent condition. By his thrift and industry Mr. Heim has been in a position to pay cash for all his land.

On December 26, 1894, Jonathan W. Heim was united in marriage to Louisa Shafer, who was born on October 20, 1872, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Heim) Shafer, who now reside in Canada, just across the border eight miles west of Buffalo. They formerly lived in Nebraska and later went to the western portion of this state. Some time later they went to Dickerson county, Kansas, and remained there for a number of years and in the late nineties moved to Iowa, going from there to the old home place in Pennsylvania. From the latter place they moved to Canada, across from Buffalo, about three miles from Lake Erie and now reside in a settlement among his church people, the Brethren in Christ. Mr. and Mrs. Heim are the parents of seven children, namely : Mattie M., Howard John, Pearl Mary, Wesley Laurence, all at home; Clar- ence Walter, who died at the age of three years: Arthur William and Edith

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Viola, both at home. Mr. and Mrs. Heim and family are members of the United Evangelical church and take a proper interest in all church matters. Mr. Heim is a supporter of the Republican party, but has never been a seeker ·after office.

JOHN HEIM.

The late John Heim, who for more than a generation was a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Dawson, Richardson county, was a native of the old Keystone state, which he left and came to Nebraska in 1881 and farmed in this county for the remainder of his life, or up to the time of his death in 1916. He was born on July 18, 1836, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, the son of Christian and Rosina (Wagner) Heim, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in an early day.

John Heim left Pennsylvania in 1881 and on coming to Richardson county settled on a farm north of Dawson. His first investment in land was one hundred and sixty acres, on which he carried out many necessary improvements and planted to crops. Later, he added a further tract of one hundred and sixty acres and still later he bought eighty acres of prime land, all lying in Dawson. He met with considerable success on these different parcels of land and was regarded as an enterprising and modern farmer in his methods, and at the time of his death on April 14, 1916, his passing was a source of much sorrow to his many relatives and friends throughout this and neighboring counties. Mrs. Heim's son-in-law, Henry W. Heim, is now the owner of the old home place on which John Heim. originally settled; the eldest son, Jonas A. Heim, owns the other one hundred and sixty acres and Mrs. Heim is in occupation of the eighty acres on the site of which the United Evangelical church and cemetery are located.

John Heim was united in marriage on April 27, 1861, to Margaret Heim, who was born on December 31, 1843, in Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, a daughter of Jacob and Regina (Steiger) Heim, natives of Ger- many and Pennsylvania, respectively. To John and Margaret Heim, eight children were born as follow: Rosa, Regina, Jonas A., Christian F., Martha, who died in infancy; Malinda, Bertha, who died in infancy, and Alma. Of these children, Rosa became the wife of Joseph G. Heim, of Dawson ; Regina married Henry W. Heim and has seven children, Lottie, Charles, Martha, Paul, Harlan. Jessie and John, and Lottie married Clyde Iliff and has two children, Harlan and Enid; Charles married Pearl Klima and has two chil-

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dren, Anna Martha and Genevieve; Martha is the wife of Arthur Klimar and has one child, Virginia. Jonas A., a farmer near Dawson, married Ida Emerson and has four children. Linden, Edna, Waldo and Marie. Chris- tian F., of Eddyville, this state, married Ada Barlow and has two children, Margaret Ruth and Ellen ; Malinda, who married Bert Judd, of Dawson, and has two sons, John H. and Delbert, and Alma, who was the wife of William James and was the mother of one child, Alma. Mrs. Heim has seventeen great grandchildren.

The late John Heim was a member of the Dunkard church while living in Pennsylvania, and was a consistent supporter of that organization. - In politics he was a Republican, but had never been a seeker after public office. His death was the occasion of general regret in this and neighboring coun- ties, where he was well known and esteemed.

GEORGE E. KORS.

A farmer of Franklin precinct, Richardson county, who is deserving of his success, is George E. Kors, who was born on April 7, 1863, at Beards- town, Illinois. He is a son of Henry Frederick and Margaret (Feihl) Kors, both natives of Hanover, Germany, from which country they immigrated to America when young and spent the rest of their lives in Illinois. To them the following children were born: Lydia, deceased; Theodore. deceased; Caroline, deceased; Mary, the wife of C. C. Unland, of Humboldt, Nebraska, (died March 15, 1917) ; Amelia was the wife of L. C. Hackman and died on February 20, 1912; Luther L., making his home in Beatrice, Nebraska, and George E. of this sketch, who is the youngest. By a second marriage Henry F. Kors had two children, Mrs. Kate Boyd, deceased, and Henry Frederick, deceased.

George E. Kors was reared in Illinois and there received a limited edu- cation in the public schools. He moved to Nebraska in September, 1885, and rented land in Richardson county until 1894 or for a period of nearly ten years, then bought a farm and has since made a comfortable living. It was hard for him to get a start. He was only eighteen months old when his father died. His mother later remarried and he left home to work his own way in the world. When he married he was in debt for his eighty acres which he had previously purchased. The first money he earned after coming to Nebraska was twenty dollars in gold, which James Atwood paid him for

GEORGE E. KORS AND FAMILY.

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one month's work. He now owns a well-improved and productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has resided since .. In March, 1908, he remodeled the dwelling, making it modern in every respect, including the installation of a Delco lighting system. He has also erected a new barn, fifty by fifty-six feet, and has one of the most attractive farmsteads in Nebraska. He engages in general farming and stock raising, always handling a good grade of live stock. Mr. Kors' place is named "Highland Farm," because of its excellent location on a high plain ; near his homestead being one of the highest points in Richardson county. A magnificent view overlooking many square miles of rich and fertile territory, may be obtained from the farm home.

Mr. Kors was married on November 29, 1894, to Mary Ellen Hinners, who was born, November 21, 1863, in Cass county, Illinois. She is a daugh- ter of Henry and Matilda (Benidt) Hinners, both natives of Germany. They spent their earlier years in the providence of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, finally immigrating to the United States, and established their home in Illinois, where the father died in 1876, while still a young man. Mrs. Hinners married Henry Hinners, who died in 1915, and she makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Kors, of this sketch. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hinners: Peter, living in Beardstown; William, also living at Beardstown, Illinois; Rose, the wife of R. T. Wilson and they live at Rising City, Butler county, Nebraska; Mary Ellen, wife of Mr. Kors, sub- ject of this review; Henry, who resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota : Albert, who lives in Illinois, and Edward, in Beardstown, Illinois, and is farming the Hinners home place.

Mrs. Kors came. to Richardson county in 1894 and Mr. and Mrs. Kors lived for some time on the farm of Mr. Kors' brother-in-law, a three hun- dred and twenty acre farm located two miles east of where their own farm is now located, and moved to their home place in 1908. Since that time Mr. Kors has made many improvements on the farm, which now ranks among the most desirable in the precinct. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Scott county, Kansas, and one hundred and sixty acres in Hitchcock county, Nebraska. He has worked hard, managed well and is eminently entitled to the success he has attained. His wife, who is a woman of sound judgment, has been of much help to him; in fact, he attributes the major portion of his success in a financial way to her. as he has always followed her counsel and advice in important matters.

To Mr. and Mrs. Kors the following children have been born: Elmer

(69)

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Hinners, born September 22, 1895; Ralph Dewey, May 19, 1897; Veda M., September 27, 1899, and Mabel Margaret, May 1, 1901. The two sons are assisting their father on the farm and the two daughters are attending Hum- boldt high school, (1917).

Politically, Mr. Kors is a Democrat. He is a director in school district No. 93, serving his third term. Fraternally, he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Bankers Life of Lincoln and also carries accident insurance in the Travelers' Insurance Company. He and Mrs. Kors are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Humboldt, of which denom- ination he has served as trustee and treasurer of the building committee.

Henry Frederick Kors, a half-brother of George E. Kors, was a son of H. Frederick and Marie (Henninghouse) Kors (the latter having been the first wife of the father of the subject of this review). He was born at Beardstown, Illinois, December 2, 1846, and died on February 21, 1917. He was prominent in Cass county, Illinois, where he served as circuit clerk and recorder.

CHARLES E. NIMS.

There is much of interest and incentive in the life history of a man like the late Charles E. Nims, former mayor of Humboldt, Richardson county, for he had been successful in his chosen field of endeavor and always ranked with the best citizens of his community. He was born, September 27, 1841. in Burlington, Wisconsin. He was a son of Luther and Hannah (Yost) Nims, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they grey up and were married, but moved from that state to Wisconsin in pioneer days, remaining in the Badger state until 1867, when they came to Nebraska, locating at Humboldt. buying land which now forms a part of the townsite on the east side.

Luther Nims was born at Middlesex, Ontario county, New York, Octo- ber 24, 1809. He was a son of Ruel Nims, who was born on December 6, 1786, and who died in 1881, at the age of ninety-five years. The death of Luther Nims occurred on June 13, 1893. His wife. Hannah Yost, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1810, and died on August 14, 1894. These parents were married on January 14, 1833, and to them the following children were born: Alexander, born on October 14, 1833. who lives in Kansas City, Missouri; John Henry, born in Ohio on April 4, 1835, who died in Wisconsin during the Civil War; Luther Bingham, born in

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Pennsylvania on March 8, 1837, who lives in Cosmopolis, Washington; Ruel, born in Pennsylvania on January 10, 1839, now deceased; Charles E., the subject of this sketch; William Nelson, born on May 6, 1843, at Waupon, Wisconsin, where the Nims family settled in 1844; Mary, who married a Mr. Hilibert and whose death occurred on February 23. 1880; Julia Alvira, born in Waupon, Wisconsin, July 17, 1847, who married a Mr. Sweeney and is now deceased; Marilla Aurelia, born in Waupon, Wisconsin, April 26, 1849, who died while living in the state of Washington, and Emma, who died when ten years old.

Charles E. Nims, of this memorial review, grew to manhood on the farm and attended the early-day schools during the brief winter sessions for a few years. Toward the latter part of the Civil War he enlisted, October 10, 1864, in Company G, First Regiment, Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. He was on duty in the forts near Alexandria, Virginia, and was one of the extra guards at the time of Lincoln's assassination. He was honorably discharged on June 26, 1865.

Mr. Nims was married at Waupon, Wisconsin, February 4, 1864, to Isabelle Landon, who was born on May 14, 1846, at Margaretville, New York, a daughter of Luther and Deborah (Carpenter) Landon, both of old New York families, who moved to Wisconsin in pioneer days, arriving there in October, 1841, and took up a homestead. The family lived in that state until in the seventies, when they removed to Kansas, but later returned to the state of New York, where Mrs. Nims's parents died, the father passing away about the year 1892.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nims lived in Wisconsin two years, then went to Minnesota and bought a farm in the German settlement in Steele county, in 1867. There they prospered, principally by raising big wheat crops. They came to Nebraska in 1871 and Mr. Nims bought forty acres from his father, adjoining the town of Humboldt, in Richardson county, for which he paid the sum of ten dollars an acre. Later Mr. Nims bought eighty acres more there and operated that farm until 1909; then built two beautiful dwellings in the eastern part of the town. He has also bought eighty acres in another part of this locality, which he sold for a profit. He owned at one time two hundred acres. He sold his home farm in 1908 for one hundred and ten dollars an acre, and later sold forty acres for one hundred dollars an acre. Mr. Nims died on April 30. 1917.

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 107

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