History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 109

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

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To Mr. and Mrs. Hays two children have been born, one of whoni died in infancy. Herbert Hays, the son, whose birth occurred on October II, 1888, was educated in the public schools of Stella, in the Omaha high

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school and at Colgate College, at Hamilton, New York, and also studied in the University of Nebraska. He made an excellent record as a stu- dent, and thus exceptionally well equipped for his life work he turned his attention to the lumber business at Stella, and became secretary, treasurer and general manager of the yards of the Hays Lumber Company there. He discharged his duties as head of the yards there in an able, successful and highly satisfactory manner until January, 1915, when he went to Lin- coln, where he has held an official position with the company ever since.

Herbert Hays was married on January 26, 1916, to Evelyn Beaumont. who was born in Perkins county, Nebraska, a daughter of C. H. and Grace (Nash) Beaumont, both natives of Connecticut, but who are now residing in Lincoln, Nebraska, where Mr. Beaumont is engaging in the banking busi- ness.

Michael L. Hays and his family belong to the Baptist church. His wife was first married to Arthur Walsh, and a daughter was born to that union, Marguerite, who is now Mrs. Harvey Hogreve. Mr. Hogreve is now manager of the yards of the Hays Lumber Company at Hebron. He formerly lived at Stella. He is a member of the company and a stockholder in the same: Michael L. Hays is a man who has always borne a reputation for unswerving honesty, industry, public spirit and pleasing personality. and has a host of friends wherever he is known.

WILLIAM G. JONES.

A highly respected citizen and successful agriculturist of Richardson county during the generation that has just passed, who is deserving of a place in local history was the late William G. Jones, of Humboldt. He was born on March 30,. 1828, at Steuben, Oneida county, New York, a son of William G. and Grace (Griffith) Jones, both natives of Wales, from which country William G. Jones, Sr., emigrated to New York and was there married. William G., the subject of this review, was reared in New York state, and there on January 20, 1857, was married to Elizabeth J. Owens, who was born on August 19, 1837, at Remsen, Oneida county. New York. Her family and the Jones family were later neighbors. Eliza- beth. J. Owens was a daughter of Evan Owens, who was born in 1799 in Wales, from which country he came to America with his parents in 1800. and here he spent the rest of his life, dying at an advanced age

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in 1884. He married Honorah Smith, who was born at Remsen, Oneida county, New York in 1808. Her death occurred in 1850. Ten children were born to Evan Owens, nine by his first wife, named as follow: James, deceased; Charles, who lives in New York; John, deceased : Elizabeth J., who became the wife of William G. Jones; Mrs. Martha Brown, who lives in New York state; Mary Ann, deceased; Hannah, deceased; Evan, Jr., who lives in Sugar Grove, Illinois, and Smith, deceased.

William G. Jones, the subject of this sketch, and wife moved from New York to Kane county, Illinois, in 1857. They purchased a farm and continued to reside there until 1880, when they sold out and came to Ne- braska, buying a farm in Porter precinct, this county, for which they paid only eighteen dollars an acre. The same land is now worth two hundred dollars an acre. Mr. Jones brought the place up to a high state of improve- ment and cultivation and made a success as a general farmer, the place now being one of the most desirable farms in the precinct ; being not only excep- tionally productive, but well equipped with timber and running water. Mr .. Jones continued to reside there until in November, 1903, when he pur- chased a beautiful home in Humboldt, where he also made many important improvements. He had been a good manager and a hard worker while, on the farm and he was thus enabled to spend his declining years in the midst of plenty and in honorable retirement. He accumulated two hundred and ninety-six acres of valuable land in all.

To William G. Jones, Jr., and wife the following children were born: Frank, whose birth occurred at Sugar Grove, Kane county, Illinois, Feb- ruary 23, 1858, and who died on June 1, 1903; Herbert, born at Sugar Grove, Illinois, December 3. 1860, who lives at Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he has been employed by a grain commission firm since 1892, and Grace, who was graduated from the State Normal school at Peru, Ne- braska, taught school successfully in Richardson county for a number of years, including three terms in the Humboldt schools, and now looks after her father's estate, which she is managing with ability and success. Her mother was also a school teacher for some time in the state of New York and was a well educated woman for her day and generation.

Politically, Mr. Jones was a Republican, and was active and influential in public affairs. He held the office of county commissioner in Kane county, Illinois ; however, he never cared for public office, being primarily a home man, best contented when by his own fireside, and was always kind, thoughtful and indulgent to his family. He and his family attended the

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Presbyterian church. He was a man of friendly and helpful nature and upright character.

The death of Mr. Jones occurred on February 25, 1907, when lacking about a month of his seventy-ninth birthday. Five weeks before his death, on January 20, 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Jones celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, the day being devoted to a reception and dinner to scores of their country friends, and the evening being devoted to receiving.the city people from 7:30 to 9:30 P. M. More than two hundred invitations were issued and many very fine presents were received by this estimable couple.

MAJOR WILLIAM H. KEELING.

In a history of Richardson county, Nebraska, special mention should be made of Major William H. Keeling, now living in retirement in Falls City, after a successful career. His army record is one of which his family and friends may well be proud, for he performed his duties nobly in assist- ing to save the Union a half century ago. He was born on March 18. 1835. in Vermont, near the Canadian boundary. He is a son of Henry and Nancy (Hill) Keeling, natives of Canada and Vermont, respectively. The mother of Henry Keeling was a Revolutionary pensioner, who, when ninety-six years of age, made the long journey from Rockford, Illinois, to Connecticut. The family is of pioneer New England stock, dating back to the year 1635. Henry Keeling left Vermont in 1836 and went to New Orleans, Louisiana. He became a sailor, following the sea in a sailing vessel until 1855. then came to Amboy, Illinois. He bought the land warrants of American soldiers who had served in the Mexican war, and entered a vast tract of land near Amboy. engaging in farming there on an extensive scale: but he had sold all his land prior to his death. He sold one hundred and sixty acres to a brother of Charles Dickens. The mother of the subject of this sketch died when he was a child. He remained with the rest of the family in Vermont when his father went to New Orleans. It was not long until the latter became a sailing master on the Gulf of Mexico, where he remained for a number of years.

William H. Keeling spent his boyhood in his native state and there attended the common schools and the academy at Bakersfield. Vermont. He began working at the printer's trade, but in 1853 joined his father in New Orleans. In April, 1855. he entered the employ of the United States gov- ernment, and was a member of a surveying corps at Leavenworth, Kansas.

WILLIAM H. KEELING, 13TH U. S. INFANTRY, 1861-68.

WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, 13TH U. S. INFANTRY, 1861.

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one season. He then clerked in a grocery store at Leavenworth until the spring of 1856, following which he entered the employ of an immigration company in eastern Iowa for one year. He followed surveying in Louisiana a year, and in 1858 went to Houston, Texas, where he was associated with a family that were relatives of William H. Taft, later to become President of the United States, remaining with that household until 1860. He planned to go into business in the South, but sickness overtaking him, he returned to the old homestead, later coming to St. Louis, where he worked awhile, going to eastern Iowa in 1861, where he recruited for the United States army. He was offered a commission of lieutenant-colonel of a regiment of volunteers, but declined, preferring to remain with the Thirteenth Regiment of the regu- lar army, which he did until 1867. He has been known as "Major" Keeling for fifty years. He has three commissions, two signed by President Lincoln and one by President Johnson. His first service was at Jefferson barracks, St. Louis, but from 1862 until the close of the war he was under Gen. Will- iam T. Sherman in his famous Southern campaigns, and he was for a time a member of Sherman's staff, temporarily as quartermaster. He had auth- ority as lieutenant to use Sherman's name in performing his duties in his official capacity. He is one of only two living survivors entitled to "head- quarters badges" of the military division of the Mississippi commanded by Gen. W. T. Sherman. He was admired by his comrades and trusted by his officers, known to all as a brave and efficient officer. He served in many important engagements and campaigns. On May 6, 1866, having remained in the regular army after the close of hostilities, he was sent from Ft. Leaven- worth to Montana, as quartermaster in charge of a vast amount of govern- ment supplies carried on several steamers, arriving at his destination on July 11th of that year. He built the military post at the mouth of the Judith river in Montana, known as Camp Cooke. He also selected the site of Ft. Shaw. He retired from the service in 1867, after a most commendable record, receiving an honorable discharge. He came to Falls City in 1868 and on September 5th of that year engaged in the general merchandise business with Maj. J. E. Burbank, until the fall of 1872, when he was appointed army post trader for the United States government at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He held this position until the spring of 1886, when he returned to Falls City, wher he had retained some business interests during his absence at the fort, and here he again entered actively into mercantile pursuits. It was a partner- ship business until in January, 1888, when he conducted the store alone for five years or until 1893.

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Major Keeling had rare experiences on the western plains in the early days of the "wild and woolly West," and he recalls many interesting remin- iscences of those times. He mingled much with the Indians, was a friend to them and in turn was beloved by them; he had great influence over them. While in Montana they called him "The man that shakes hands and gives us bread and meat." He and General Sherman remained warm friends until the latter's death.

Major Keeling was married three times; first in 1863, to Abbie E. Dunham, of Almoral, Iowa, who died in May, 1866. This union was with- out issue. On January 5, 1868, he married for his second wife, Eliza E. Hoyt, whose death occurred on April 5, 1891, leaving two children, Lois H., who lives at home, and Taylor, who lives in Montana and is married and has one child, Lois Harriet. The Major's third marriage took place in July. 1897, when he espoused Mrs. Zaida ( Miller) Strech, of Falls City, widow of one of the first editors of the Falls City Journal. She is a daughter of Anderson Miller, an old settler of Falls City, and was born near Savannah, Missouri. Anderson Miller, her father, was born in Indiana, but moved from that state to Hancock county, Kentucky. He married Lucretia Crane, a native of New York state and the representative of an old family there. She was born in 1825 and died in 1911. Anderson Miller was born in 1825 and died in August, 1916, having reached an advanced age. They were married in 1853 and first moved to Missouri, locating near Savannah; then returned to Indiana, but later moved back to Missouri, and in 1859 came to Richard- son county, where there was but a handful of houses at Falls City. They secured eighty acres, which is now covered by the city and is a part of the original survey of the town. Mr. Miller devoted his entire active life to farming, specializing in fruit growing, maintaining a large orchard and was one of the most successful horticulturists of this locality. He was well known and .highly respected throughout the county. His daughter, Zaida Miller, first married H. S. Strech in 1872. He was for a number of years publisher of the Falls City Journal and his death occurred in 1885. To Mr. Strech and wife three children were born, namely: Mrs. Ada Coleman, living in Wyoming; Helen, the wife of J. L. Morgan, of Strahsville, Rich- ardson county, and Mrs. Stella Sweeney, who resides at Golden, Colorado. To Major Keeling and his last wife one child has been born, William M. Keeling, who is at this writing attending the military school at Kearney. Nebraska.

Politically, Mr. Keeling is a Republican and he has long been active- and influential in party affairs. He has served as mayor of Falls City three differ-

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ent terms, during which he did much for the general welfare of the com- munity, discharging his duties in a manner that reflected much credit upon his business ability, his public spirit and high sense of honor. Religiously, he belongs to the Episcopal church. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and has served this order as district commander. He is one of the most substantial and progressive citizens of Richardson county and is a man of excellent personal qualities, being well informed and an obliging. companionable and upright gentleman, who is highly esteemed by all who know him.

CHRISTIAN A. JORN.

Christian A. Jorn, contractor of Verdon, this county, was born in Hanover, Germany, January 7, 1864, a son of Christian and Melasina (Siebrecht) Jorn, who were natives of Germany, where they grew up, mar- ried and established their home. They were parents of twelve children, only four of whom are living at this writing, namely: Mrs. Louise Well- housen, who lives in Hesse Cassel, Germany; Mrs. Christena Ihsen, who lives in Hanover; George, who lives in Decatur, Kansas, and Christian A., the subject of this sketch.

The gentleman whose name heads this review grew to manhood in his native land and there attended school. When a young man he learned the trade of cabinet maker. He left his native land in 1880, coming to Nebraska and settling in Arago, where he followed his trade; and in 1883 moved to Verdon, where he has since made his home, with the exception of five years spent in Decatur county, Kansas, where he was a pioneer. He has been one of the leading builders in the county for over thirty years, ereet- ing town and farm houses, barns and public buildings all over this part of the county. He is also a designer, which art he learned in his native land. He is a student of modern architecture and has kept well abreast of the times in all that pertains to his calling. He is owner of five valuable resi- dence properties in Verdon, and also owns two vacant lots there. In 1915 he erected a modern bunagolw, equipped with hot and cold water, furnace heat, gas lighting, etc., designed and built by himself, and it is one of the choice liomes of its type in the county.

On October 16, 1898, Mr. Jorn was married to Emma Schrader, who was born in Illinois, February 8, 1872. Mention of her family is made in the sketch of Harry H. Schrader, appearing in another portion of this

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volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Jorn four children have been born, Mildred, Mabel, Alma and Georgia, all at home. Mr. Jorn is a Democrat, is presi- dent of the Verdon high school board and has for some time been deeply interested in the welfare of local schools. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He belongs to the Lutheran church.

ELIJAH CURTIS HILL, JR.

Elijah C. Hill, well-known stockman and farmer, of Grant township. Richardson county, owner of two hundred and fifty acres of land, sixty acres of which he farms, was born on the farm on which he now resides on April 7, 1867. He is the son of Elijah C. and Arcosh ( Kallerstine) Hill, who were the parents of twelve children, six of whom are deceased, the others being Roland, who lives at Greeley, this state; Reuben J., of Porter township; Mar- shall N., further reference to whom is made elsewhere in this work; Mrs. Martha Van Vleet, Crete, this state, who recently married Perry M. Talley, and Grant, who lives in Cameron, Montana.

The following interesting facts are gathered from the Falls City Journal, published on the occasion of the anniversary of the fiftieth year following the arrival in Nebraska of E. C. Hill, Sr .:

"In 1865 E. C. Hill, living in the province of Ontario, near London, Canada, heard and hearkened to the call of the great West. He gathered such possessions as were his and started for the homestead country, which he understood was beyond the Missouri river. Somehow or other the name 'Nebraska' loomed large before him and beckoned him on to the promise of a new and free home, the gift of the great republic on whose borders he was born and had lived up to that time. It was the 19th day of April, 1865, that he arrived in Nebraska.

"It was to celebrate this event that his neighbors and old-time friends met at his farm, three miles north of Dawson, on the 19th of April, 1915, at a twelve o'clock dinner, there to rejoice with him that the fifty intervening years had brought to him and his such a wealth of friends and fullness of life and success in the effort to build a home upon and from the fruitfulness of the virgin soil of Richardson county.

"E. C. Hill was born in the province of Ontario, Canada. on December 2, 1832, and is now in his eighty-third year. On September 19, 1856, he

ELIJAH C. HILL, SR.

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married Miss Arcosh Kallerstine. On April 19, 1865, he arrived in Nebraska. On March 26, 1866, a home was established on the one hundred and sixty acres of land entered as a homestead north of Dawson. From this modest start Mr. Hill's possessions have grown until his farm, including the original homestead, comprises one thousand and forty acres, three miles north of Dawson. But these broad acres do not comprise all his land hold- ings, for he owns a section of land near McCook, Nebraska, and a section of land in Saskatchewan, Canada.

"Mr. Hill is distinctly a farmer and stock raiser and his success has come by giving close attention to the details and much study to the planning for the harvest before the seed was committed to the soil. . . .

In 1875 the grasshoppers ate up the early crops and later the same year a severe hail storm wiped off the face of the fields what remnants the hoppers had over- looked. . At that time Mr. Hill had a family of eight to feed and it was no easy task to keep the wolf from the door. . Following the plow for seventy-two years has given him a close acquaintance with the mys- teries of nature and the evolution of life as manifested in the growth of crops, the development of live stock and the procession of the seasons.

. He has never held any political or military positions. In politics he is a Republican and his church affiliations incline to the Baptists. He is a Mason." Mr. Hill died on April 1, 1916. Mrs. Hill was born on October 6, 1829, and died on October 17, 1906.

E. C. Hill, Sr., was the first farmer in the state of Nebraska to intro- duce and breed the famous Polled Angus cattle, of which he was a very exten- sive breeder. With some fine specimens of his stock he won a good many prizes at various cattle shows and his Polled Angus breed were in much demand outside the confines of his home county. He was a member of the Polled Angus Cattle Association, the Farmers' National Congress and the Corn Belt Meat Association, in all of which organizations he took an active part, his ripe experience in all matters appertaining to the breeding and care of cattle being widely sought.

Elijah C. Hill, the subject of this sketch, attended the district schools of Grant township and the Humboldt high school. When twenty-one years of age he began working as a farm hand in his home neighborhood. - After a year's experience at this work he commenced clerking in a confectionery store and thus continued for about nine years. He then decided to gointo the business on his own account and started a confectionery store, which he oper- ated for a period of seven years, meeting with considerable success. He then moved to Dawson, where he also carried on the confectionery business for

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two years. In 1904 he moved out to the place which was the original home- stead and began farming. He was his father's overseer on the holdings until the death of the latter.

On October 11, 1896, Elijah C. Hill, Jr., was united in marriage to Mary A. Murphy, who was born at Seneca, Kansas, the daughter of Thomas and Ellen E. (Quinn) Murphy, both of whom were natives of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are parents of two children, namely: Marguerite, who is now in a convent in Falls City, this state, and Aileene, who is also in a convent at Falls City. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are earnest members of the Catholic church and liberal supporters of the same, ever ready to assist in all matters tending to the welfare of the church. Mr. Hill is a member of the Knights of Col- umbus and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in the affairs of these organizations he takes considerable interest. In politics he is affiliated with the Republican party. By the terms of the will of the late E. C. Hill. he was made executor of the large estate left by his father and is ably managing it. He is continuing the breeding of thoroughbred Polled Angus cattle. He has only recently added some registered thoroughbred stock to the Hill herd. Mr. Hill has contributed liberally to the Red Cross movement and is a mem- ber of the local chapter of the Red Cross.

REV. JOHN J. HOFFMAN.

The Rev. John J. Hoffman, pastor of the Catholic church of Sts. Peter and Paul at Falls City, is of European birth, but has been a resident of this country since he was eighteen years of age and of Nebraska since 1889. In June, 1895, the year of his ordination to the priesthood, he was appointed to the parish of Rulo, later being transferred to Bellwood and thence, in 1910, to Falls City, where he since has had his residence and where he has performed a notable work in behalf of the parish over which he has spiritual direction.

Father Hoffman is a native of Luxemberg, born in the grand duchy of that name on October 3, 1871, son of John J. and Catherine (Concimio) Iloffman, the latter of whom was of Spanish parentage. The elder John J. Hoffman, who was a native of Belgium, was a manufacturer in Luxemberg and late in life moved over into Germany, where he spent his last days. Until he was nine years of age the younger John J. Hoffman received his schooling in his native Luxemberg and he then was sent to an academy in

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the vicinity of Liege, in Belgium, where he received a scholastic train- ing about the same in scope as that comprised in the American high school course, after which he entered the ancient University of Treves, perhaps the oldest institution of learning in what is considered to be the oldest city in Germany. Before completing the collegiate course there he came to America and located at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he entered the high school, with a view to rounding out his acquaintance with the English language. It was in 1889 that Father Hoffman came to this country, he then being eighteen years of age. After a year of high school training in English he entered upon the prescribed course in theology and philosophy, in preparation for the service of the church, to which he had consecrated his life, and after three years of such study in Milwaukee entered St. John's University, in Minnesota, where, in 1895, he was ordained to the priesthood.

Immediately following his entrance upon Holy Orders, Father Hoff- man was given charge of the Catholic parish at Rulo, this county, and he remained there for five years, doing a good work. In 1900 he was transferred to the parish at Bellwood, in Butler county, this state, and there he remained ten years, at the end of which time, in 1910, he was given charge of the church of SS. Peter and Paul at Falls City, a charge which he since has faithfully administered, long having been regarded as one of the leading clergymen of his communion in the eastern part of the state. It was in May, 1910, that Father Hoffman entered upon the duties of his priestly office at Falls City and not long after becoming settled there he took up the work of parish improvement and in a remarkably short period of time had a movement on foot that resulted in the erection of a new church edifice and parish house, the same being provided for at a cost of fifty-two thousand dollars. Since then Father Hoffman has made addi- tional improvements, in the way of furnishings and decorations, costing no less a sum than thirteen thousand dollars; the total expenditures on parish improvement during his pastorate thus totaling about sixty-five thou- sand dollars, a notable work when it is considered that the parish contains but one hundred and twenty-five families. Not only in a material way has Father Hoffman advanced the interests of the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul since assuming the pastorate of the same, but equal progress has been made in a spiritual way and all departments of the work of the parish are reported progressing admirably. In the historical section of this volume. in the chapter relating to churches of Richardson county, there is presented

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 109

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