History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 113

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

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Four children have been born to Frank E. Church and wife, namely : John, who lives on the farm east of his father's, married Leona Rue, and has one child, Virgil Leonard; Earl, who is teaching school near Lincoln, in Seward county, and who was married, June 11, 1917, to Anna Heacock; Vernon, who lives at home, and George, who is attending school at Frank- lin Center. Mr. Church votes independently, preferring to cast his ballot for the best man rather than for the party.

CHARLES SMITH.

The late Hon. Charles Smith, former representative from this district. to the Nebraska General Assembly, an honored veteran of the Civil War, and during his life one of the best-known and most substantial farmers in Richardson county, the proprietor of a fine farm in the precinct of Nemaha and for years actively identified with the interests of this section of the state, was of European birth, but had been a resident of this country since he. was fifteen years of age and of this county since he was eighteen. Born in Germany on March 19, 1840, he remained there until 1855, in which year he came to this country with a married sister and settled in Missouri, coming thence in 1858 to Nebraska and settling on a farm on Honey creek, in the precinct of Nemaha, this county, he and his brother, Julius Smith, farming the place in partnership for some years, at the end of which time be bought his brother's interest in the farm and thereafter developed it alone. During the progress of the Civil War Mr. Smith enlisted for service in Company G, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, and with that command rendered valiant service. in behalf of the preservation of the Union, he having from the day of his arrival in this country given himself wholeheartedly to his adopted country ..

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES SMITH.

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After his marriage in the spring of 1869 Charles Smith established his home on his farm in Nemaha precinct and it was not long until he came to be regarded as one of the leading farmers in that part of the county. As he prospered he added to his land holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of five hundred acres, which he had improved and developed in admirable shape, and there he spent his last days, his death occurring on January 15, 1916, and his widow is still living there, retaining her interest in three hundred and ninety acres of the estate. Mr. Smith was an ardent Republican and ever gave his earnest attention to local civic affairs, one of the recognized leaders of his party in this county. In 1898 he was elected to represent Richardson county in the Legislature and during the session of 1899 rendered admirable service in behalf of his constituents and of the state at large in the House. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, was one of the active workers in the ranks of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Sabetha, Kansas, and was affiliated with the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at that place, in the affairs of all of these organizations taking a warm interest.

On March 11, 1869, Charles Smith was united in marriage to Lucinda Lockwood, who was born in Allegany county, New York, January 16, 1850, daughter of Joseph and Theda (Martindale) Lockwood, natives of that same state and members of old Colonial families, the latter of whom was a granddaughter of Sheldon Holbrook, a soldier of the Revolution and a large landowner in New York. The Lockwoods left New York in 1853 and moved to Michigan, settling at Chasaning, in Saginaw county. where they lived for eleven years, or until 1864, when they moved to Minnesota and settled on a farm in the neighborhood of Alma City, where they remained two years, at the end of which time, in 1866, they came down into Nebraska and settled .on a farm in the precinct of Nemaha, in this county, becoming substantial pioneers of that conimunity. Later, Joseph Lockwood and his wife moved to Mitchell, Kansas, where their last days were spent.

To Charles and Lucinda (Lockwood) Smith were born nine children, of whom five are still living, as follow: Nellie, wife of George F. Funk. a farmer, living three miles southwest of Dawson, this county; Olive, wife of Oliver C. Ayers, of Nemaha precinct, a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume: Helen, wife of Benjamin Stalder. of Salem precinct ; Ardie, wife of C. Foy French, of the city of Lincoln, and Fred, living on the old home place, which he is successfully farming, who- married Carrie Brougher and has four children, Gertrude, wife of Lloyd Keim; Charles, Zuella and Villas. All of the Smith children received excel-

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lent schooling and in their younger days all were for a time engaged in teaching school in this county, the family ever having taken an active and useful part in the general social and cultural activities of the community. Mrs. Smith is a member of the United Brethren church and has for years been among the leaders in all good works in the community in which she has lived since pioneer days and the development of which she has witnessed and aided since the days of her girlhood.

LEONARD R. MANN.

Leonard R. Mann, farmer and live-stock buyer, living.in Humboldt, is one of the native sons of Richardson county who has appreciated home opportunities and has been content to stay here. He was born in Humboldt, November 12, 1877, a son of Lewis C. and Mary (Cox) Mann, the former of whom was born in Randolph county, Indiana, June 6, 1848. Lewis C. Mann devoted his life to the live-stock and butcher business. He spent his early life in the East, coming to Nebraska in 1870 and locating at Humboldt, where he bought and shipped cattle and hogs to the markets, spending the balance of his life there, dying on May 17, 1910. He was one of the best- known stockmen in the northwestern portion of the county, and took an active interest in local public affairs, serving as a member of the city council at Humboldt at different times, and did all he could toward the general upbuild- ing of his community. He became owner of considerable property in Hum- boldt. He was a member of the Christian church there and leader in the same for many years. He belonged to the Ancient Order of United Work- men. His wife also was born in Randolph county, Indiana, in 1851, and is now living at Humboldt, Nebraska. To these parents nine children were horn, five of whom are living at this writing.

Leonard R. Mann was reared at Humboldt, where he attended the public schools. He worked in the butcher business with his father until 1902, when he began buying live stock on his own account; in fact, he has been buying stock since he was thirteen years old. Through long years of practice and also a pronounced natural ability in that line, he has become one of the best judges of live stock in the county. In 1910 he bought, in partnership with Walter Legg, a farm of one hundred acres, which partner- ship existed until 1913, when Mr. Mann bought eighty acres of the place in Franklin precinct, since which time he has devoted his attention to general

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farming there, although maintaining his residence in the town of Humboldt. He has also continued buying stock for the market.

Mr. Mann was married on November 17, 1909, to Frances M. Little, a daughter of Oliver T. and Elizabeth (Pollock) Little, natives of Conners- ville, Indiana, and of Red Oak, Iowa, respectively. They were early settlers in Pawnee county, Nebraska, where they engaged successfully in agricul- tural pursuits until retiring from active life. They now live in Humboldt. Mrs. Mann was born at Pawnee City, Nebraska, and there she grew to maturity and received a good education in the public schools, graduating from the high school, and later was a student in the State University of Nebraska. After coming to Humboldt she became associate editor of the Standard, the duties of which position she discharged with ability and credit for a period of three years. She was with that newspaper six years in all. She is a woman of high educational attainments and a writer of much natural ability. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Mann has been blessed by the birth of one child, Frances Marjorie, born on October 26, 1913.

NEWTON C. CAMPBELL.

The enterprising merchant, Newton C. Campbell, of Humboldt, has succeeded because he has had courage and perseverance and has been willing to follow the Golden Rule in dealing with his fellow men. He was born on October 15, 1855, in Lasalle county, Illinois, a son of Abel and Eliza (Woodward) Campbell, who were parents of fourteen children, five sons and two daughters of whom are still living, Newton C. having been the tenth in order of birth. Abel Campbell was born on November 28, 1809, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he spent his earlier years. He moved to Illinois about 1852, presently locating at Streator, that state, and in 1872 took up his residence at Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he made his home with one of his sons for five or six years, at the end of which time he went to Templeton, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1894. He spent his active life as a farmer. He was reared a Quaker, but gave up that faith when he married. He was a man of deep religious convictions and an active church worker. The mother of the subject of this sketch also was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1813, and died in 1897. She worked hard assist- ing her husband rear their large family, often sewing until far into the night, making clothes for them.

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Newton C. Campbell was reared on the farm and received his educa- tion in the district schools and at Streator. Illinois. After leaving school he clerked in a clothing store there for two years. He came to Nebraska in 1876 and worked as a farm hand in the vicinity of Table Rock for four years, receiving sixteen dollars a month, later two hundred dollars a year. He began farming for himself in 1880, and in 1891 bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Franklin precinct. Richardson county. Sell- ing out there in 1894, he moved to Humboldt precinct and bought eighty . acres, which he operated until 1900, in which year he sold out and moved to the town of Humboldt, where he bought a partnership in the Watts grocery and queensware store. Four years later he bought his partner out and has since been conducting the business alone. He has been very successful and has built up a large and growing trade. He carries an extensive and care- fully selected stock of staple and fancy groceries and a fine line of queens- ware, about a six-thousand-dollar stock. His store is modern in its appoint- ments, neat and well arranged.

On February 26, 1880, Mr. Campbell was married to Parmelia Fellers, who was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Philip and Katherine Cordelia (Puever) Fellers, both natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Nebraska in 1878 and located on a farm two and one-half miles from Table Rock. There the death of the father occurred in 1879, at the age of fifty-five years, and his widow is now making her home with the subject of this sketch. She has reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Mrs. Campbell is a member of the Methodist church and an active worker in the same. She is a member of the local lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah and of the Degree of Honor. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell nas been without issue.

Mr. Campbell is a Republican. He was elected a member of the Hum- boldt city council in 1904, serving for two years, and in 1909 he was again elected to the council, serving until 1911, when he was elected county super- visor, the duties of which office he discharged in an able and faithful manner until 1917. when the office was discontinued. In 1911 he was appointed chairman of the county board, which position he held for six years. In all these offices of trust he has been painstaking and worked for the general good of the public, making a record that was satisfactory to all concerned. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the Methodist church, of which he is a trustee, and is an active worker in the same.

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CHRIST WUSTER.

Another foreign-born citizen of western Richardson county who has been successful in our land of many opportunities and has been enabled to retire from active life is Christ Wuster, of Dawson, Grant township, this county. He was born in Germany, May 13, 1848, a son of Christ and Rosanna (Likes) Wuster, natives of Germany. The father was born on December 14, 1821, and died on February 1, 1885. The mother was born on February 19, 1823, and died in January, 1888. They were parents of nine children, eight of whom are living.

The Wuster family remained in their native land until 1851, when they immigrated to America, locating in Pennsylvania, in which state the parents spent the rest of their lives, and there their son Christ, Jr., grew to manhood, attending the common schools, and for several years worked on a farm in Lycoming county. After his marriage he came to Nebraska in 1890, and located on a farm four miles north of Dawson, in Porter precinct, paying ten dollars an acre for his land, which he improved and tilled with success until 1904, becoming one of the leading general farmers and stock raisers of Porter precinct. He then retired from active life and moved to the village of Dawson, where he bought a home and there he has since resided. While on the farm he made a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cattle.

On September 25, 1873, Mr. Wuster was married to Martha Marquardt. who was born on January 31, 1850, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of Fred and Rosanna (Keiss) Marquardt, both natives of Germany; from which country they came to America with their respective parents and located in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, the father being only ten years old when they crossed the Atlantic. They grew to maturity in the old Keystone state and were married there. Mrs. Martha Wuster was reared and educated in her native state. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wuster: Anna, who is the wife of Walter Kirk and they live on the Wuster home farm in Porter precinct; Charles, who is also living on the home place; Clara, wife of Charles Perry, now living in California : Henry, who lives in California; Thomas Frederick, who lives on a farm one mile north and one-half mile east of Dawson; David E., deceased; John A., who lives in California, and Mrs. Mary Dillon, also of California.

Christ Wuster, Jr., deserves a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished since coming to Nebraska, for he then had but six hundred dollars. He went in debt for his farm of three hundred and twenty acres,

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but worked hard and managed well and success eventually crowned his efforts. For several years he hanled his wheat to Salem Mills and exchanged it for flour. He lived in the old log cabin on his land for some time, or until he was able financially to build a better residence. There was considerable native timber on his land, and he got from his own woods most of the lumber with which to build his barn and other buildings. There was an apple orchard on his place, which for some time was the only one in Richardson county. This orchard brought him large returns, his apples being in great demand at fancy prices. Politically, he is a Democrat. He and Mrs. Wuster belong to the Evangelical church.

JOSEPH O. HORTON.

Joseph O. Horton, well-known farmer and live-stock breeder of Salem precinct, is one of the representative citizens of Richardson county. Like many of our enterprising men he hails from the Hoosier state, having been born at Bedford, Indiana, March 7, 1854, a son of John and Cynthia Ann ( Peters) Horton. The father was also born in Bedford, Indiana, October 6, 1817, and died on March 11, 1885. He devoted his life to farming and in 1857 moved to Iowa county, Iowa, where he remained until 1873. when he went to Van Buren county, that state, and his death occurred near Birmingham, Iowa. He was married four times. Three children were born to his first union, one to his second and two to his third, the fourth union being without issue. The subject of this sketch was born to the second wife. Cynthia Ann Peters, who was born in Indiana and who died in 1854. The other children were as follow: George, a Union soldier during the Civil War, who was killed in the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, October 4, 1864, while serving as a member of the Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry; John M., who lives in California; Henry, deceased, and Mrs. Sarah Gilbert, who was killed by being run over by an automobile in Kansas City, Missouri.

Joseph O. Horton was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools in Iowa. He left there when a young man and went to Illinois, where he worked on different farms; also worked as a farm hand in Iowa, receiving eighteen dollars and later twenty dollars a month, and worked two years on one farm. Saving his earnings, he bought a team and went to Mahaska county, Iowa, where he began farming for himself on rented land. He also lived a while in Guthrie county, Iowa. In 1883

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he moved to Hutchins county, South Dakota, where he took up a homestead, on which he lived until 1887, when he sold out and moved to Mills county, Iowa, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres. In 1896 he came to Nebraska and bought his present farm in Richardson county, on which he has made extensive improvements. It contains three hundred and forty acres in section 5 of Salem precinct and section 32 of Liberty precinct. In connection with general farming he is a breeder of Percheron horses and pure-bred Poland China hogs. At this writing he has a fine tsandard-bred Percheron stallion and an excellent jack.

On September 24, 1884, Mr. Horton was married to Bessie Wallace, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of James Wallace and wife, natives of Ohio, where they grew up and were married. They resided in that state until about 1867, when they moved to Olathe, Kansas. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Horton, namely: James W. and Benjamin F., both of whom live in Salem township and are there engaged in farming ; Robert A., John O. and Dean, all at home; Harriet, who is teaching school in Salem, and two daughters who died in infancy. Mrs. Horton has been twice married, her first husband having been George Woodward, by whom she had one child, a son, the Rev. George W. Woodward, who is a minis- ter in the Presbyterian church at Broadwater, Nebraska. Mr. Horton is a Republican. He is a member of the local lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

FATHER FRANCIS A. O'BRIEN.

Father Francis A. O'Brien, the genial and earnest priest of St. Mary's church, Dawson, Grant precinct, is doing a good work in the western part of Richardson county. He was born on April 30, 1879, in Watertown, Massachusetts, a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Geraughty) O'Brien. Peter O'Brien was born in Ireland in 1852, and there also occurred the birth of his wife. They grew up in their native land, attended school and were mar- ried there. later immigrating to New England, when Peter O'Brien was twenty-five years old, locating in Watertown, Massachusetts, and there he has since maintained his home. His wife passed away in 1892, when about forty years old. To these parents seven children were born as follow : William, deceased: Mary, keeping house for the subject of this sketch; Joseph, engaged in mercantile pursuits near Boston, Massachusetts; Eliza- beth, at home with her father in Watertown, that state; William, also at

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home; Anna, the youngest, is still a member of the family circle, and Francis A., of this review.

Father O'Brien grew to manhood in Watertown, Massachusetts, where he attended St. Patrick's school up to the ninth grade; he then entered the Watertown high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1898, later entering Boston College. from which institution he was graduated in philosophy and the classics with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1902. In September, 1902, he entered St. Meinrad Seminary, at St. Meinrad, Indiana, and was ordained to the priesthood there on June 17, 1905. Soon thereafter, in July of that year, he was assigned as assistant priest to the St. Theresa Pro-Cathedral, in the city of Lincoln, diocese of Lincoln. After remaining in this latter charge four years and nine months he was transferred to St. Vincent church at Seward, Nebraska, after which he took charge of the Mission at Utica, this state. On October I, 1911, he took charge of the Dawson parish, where he has since remained. He has fifty families in the church at Dawson, and there is also a parochial school, good work being done in each.

JOSEPH STEELE.

EDWIN F. STEELE. ROBERT EDWIN STEELE.

Joseph Steele was one of the pioneer settlers of Richardson county, who came to this locality in 1857 and invested in a tract of land in the vicinity of Falls City, which is still owned by his descendants. He was a man of fine character and was widely known for his sterling qualities and attainments. He was born at . Hanover, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. on February 9, 1809, and was a son of Joseph Steele, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, whose father, Peter Steele, settled with his family in the Wyo- ming valley in 1778. Peter Steele was a younger son of the Steele family of Scotland, which was prominent in the early wars for Scotch liberation, loyal to their country and their religion, and suffering the persecution which the Covenanters received under Charles II.

The mother of Joseph Steele, pioneer of Nebraska, was Sarah Ran- som, who was a daughter of George Palmer Ransom, son of Capt. Samuel Ransom, a member of Washington's staff, killed at the battle of Wyo- ming. George Palmer Ransom was a member of his father's company,

EDWIN F. AND MARY E. STEELE.

JOSEPH AND MARGARET STEELE.

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and though but fourteen years of age, fought so bravely in this battle that he was recommended by General Washington for promotion as a reward "for bravery on the field of battle." He was afterward made colonel of a regiment under Washington.

Joseph Steele's early education was obtained in the country schools of the period, supplemented by instruction from private teachers. His early ambition was to become a lawyer and he studied for this profession under his brother, Judge Steele, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. During the course of his law studies he joined a surveying party which had secured a con- tract to survey Susquehanna, Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, in which counties he afterward acquired large and valuable holdings. He bought and sold this land to such good advantage that he decided to continue in this business, making a practice of placing much of this land under culti- vation before disposing of it. It was thus he began his successful farming career.

In 1852 Joseph Steele came West with the intention of investing in land, and visited a brother, then living in Missouri. Although he was a Democrat and loyal to the principles of that party, he was a pronounced "anti-slavery" advocate and could not reconcile himself to the idea of settling in a slave state such as Missouri was at that time. He decided to come farther West into Kansas and Nebraska and joined a party of Eastern men, who were making a tour of those territories. They traveled by horse over eastern Kansas and Nebraska, their guide taking them to the new settlements of Archer, Table Rock, and onward to the present site of Omaha. His next trip to Nebraska was made in 1855, after Richardson county was organized, with Archer as its county seat. While on this trip he located land in Richardson and Nemaha counties, bought land in Kansas and Mis- . souri, and then returned East, where he married Margaret Fisher, at Beloit, Wisconsin. In 1857 he came again to Nebraska and bought cight hun- dred acres of land, the northeast quarter of section 14 and the northwest quarter of section 13, being part of this purchase. He decided definitely to take up farming as a permanent vocation and to cast his lot with the new territory of Nebraska; and, accordingly, sent his brother, Charles Steele. to this county to superintend the erection of a dwelling on the land in section 14 of Falls City precinct. The lumber for this home was transported by boat from St. Joseph to Rulo and from there hauled to Falls City. This house is still standing, in a good state of preservation, and is owned by his youngest son, Joseph C. Steele. To this home Joseph Steele brought

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his family in April, 1865. At the end of six years Joseph Steele erected the residence on the northwest quarter of section 13, where he lived, and was engaged in farming and stock raising on a large scale until his death, November 27, 1887. This farm was inherited by his son, Edwin Ferris Steele, and is now owned by his grandson, Robert Edwin Steele.

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 113

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