History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 93

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

USA > Nebraska > Richardson County > History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions > Part 93

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Hillyard was married in 1888 to Mary McCurry, who was born in Green county, Tennessee. She is a daughter of Joseph McCurry, who settled in Gage county, Nebraska, many years ago and there became well established on a farm. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hillyard : Fred, born July 25, 1890, is engaged in business with his father; he was mar- ried on April 9, 1910, to Emma Stradter, of Humboldt, Richardson county, and they have one child, Harry, horn on March 15, 1911. Charles, second child of the subject of this sketch, was born on December 25, 1891, died on September 17, 1906; Thomas. February 21, 1894: Mabel, May 25, 1896, and Nellie, November 25, 1902.

Politically, Mr. Hillyárd is a Republican, but is inclined to vote inde- pendently. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. and, religiously, he belongs to the United Brethren church. He takes a deep interest in promoting the general welfare of his city and county.

SAMUEL F. HEIM.

Among the extensive and prosperous farmers of Richardson county must be included Samuel F. Heim, of Grant township, owner of seventeen hun- dred and sixty acres of excellent farming land, three hundred and twenty acres of which are located in sections 10 and 16, in Grant township, and four- teen hundred and forty acres in Hitchcock county, this state. He was born on November 17, 1859, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of Jacob G. and Regina ( Gross) Heim, who were also born in the Keystone state and to whom further and more detailed reference is made in another part of this work, in the course of a sketch relating to Joseph G. Heim, a brother of the subject of this sketch.

Jacob G. Heim, who came to Nebraska in 1874, was born in Pennsyl-

(60)

946

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

vania on June 15, 1832, the son of Gotleib and Margaret (Steiger) Heim, who came to America from Germany about 1808. Up to the time of his retirement a few years before his death, Jacob G. Heim was actively engaged in operating his farm of four hundred acres in section 15, Grant precinct, in which he was the pioneer settler of the Pennsylvania colony. He was mar- ried to Regina Gross, who was born on July 13, 1825, and is now in her ninety-second year. Jacob G. and Regina (Gross) Heim were the parents of eleven children, four of whom are deceased. the others being Joseph G., who lives in Dawson, this county; Mrs. Sarah Ulmer, who lives in Grant township; Samuel F., the subject of this sketch; Jonathan W .; Rebecca, the wife of Jacob Heim: Sophia, who married Martin D. Ulmer, and Margaret, who is the wife of Thomas Wuster, and all of whom are living in Grant pre- cinct, this county. The father of these children died in 1914 and his widow now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Ulmer.

Samuel F. Heim was in his fifteenth year when he came with his parents to Nebraska, arriving on June 1I, 1874, and remained at Rulo for a brief period of three weeks with some friends and on July 3, moved with his par- ents to Grant precinct. His first employment in Richardson county was herd- ing cattle on the plains and farming. Some time later he obtained his first tract of land from his father, who had purchased a half section in Grant township, and Samuel F. Heim began farming operations on his own account. As he prospered in his farming work, he continued to add to his land hold- ings and is now the owner of seventeen hundred and sixty acres of prime tillage and fattening land. On his holdings. generally. Mr. Heim has effected . some very extensive improvements and has set out an excellent grove of trees and an orchard and in the latter is engaged in fruit-growing, the prod- uce being sold and shipped in large quantities. Mr. Heim has been one of the Richardson county farmers who has helped to reclaim the prairie and convert it into well-cultivated fields and pasture lands.

On February 14, 1889, Samuel F. Heim was united in marriage to Eliza- beth Heim, who was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and is the daughter of John J. and Rosa (Heim). Heim, who were the parents of seven children, all of whom are now living. John Heim and wife now reside 01 section 10, Grant township. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel F. Heim are the parents of six children, namely: Mrs. Luella Clark Belden, residing in Montana : Mrs. Adah F. James, who lives in Porter precinct; Tillie, who married Ed. Richards, living in Porter precinct; Melvin, Mary and Richard, at home.

Mr. Heim is a supporter of the Republican party, but has never held

947

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

public office. He and his family are members of the United Evangelical church, and are liberal supporters of its various activities. In 1916 Mr. Heim installed throughout his home and barns a Delco electric system, using the lights in the home and the outbuildings; also using the electric system for pumping water, washing and many other purposes.

CHARLES G. HARGRAVE.

Charles G. Hargrave, well-known clothing merchant at Falls City and proprietor of clothing stores also at Wymore and Kearney, this state, is a native of the neighboring state of Iowa, but has been a resident of Nebraska since 1892, when he became engaged in the clothing business at Wymore; moving to Falls City in 1900. He was born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, son of Thomas E. and Mary (Pyle) Hargrave, the former of whom was born at Richmond, Virginia, and the latter at Steubenville, Ohio, both of old Colonial stock, the Hargraves having been represented in this country since the days of the Pilgrim Fathers. Thomas E. Hargrave, who was a son of Lemuel Hargrave and wife, natives of Virginia,was reared at Richmond and there trained to the dry-goods business. In 1854 he came West and located at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he engaged in the dry-goods business and where he and his wife spent their last days, the former dying on December 11, 1897, at the age of sixty-eight years. His widow survived him for more than seventeen years, her death occurring on February 4, 1915, she then being seventy-seven years of age. They were the parents of seven children, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow: Mary V., who is buyer for a dry-goods firm at Kaufman, Texas; Mrs. J. L. Wilson, a widow, of Salt Lake City; Thomas, who was a clothing merchant at Wymore and at Kearney, this state, and who died in 1913; Miss Etna Hargrave, of Salt Lake City, and two who died in infancy.

Reared at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Charles G. Hargrave received his early schooling in the schools of that city and supplemented the same by a course in Howe's Academy, which he entered in 1875. From the days of his boy- hood he had been made familiar with the dry-goods business in his father's store and upon completing his schooling entered the store and was engaged in business with his father until 1892, in which year he came to this state and became engaged with his brother, Thomas P. Hargrave, in the clothing busi- ness, the brothers establishing stores at Wymore and at Kearney, a connection

948

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

which continued until the death of the younger brother in 1913. In 1900 Charles G. Hargrave established a clothing store at Falls City and has since made that city his home, at the same time continuing to carry on the business of his stores at Wymore and at Kearney, and has long been recognized as one of the leading merchants of the city.

On January 20, 1897, at Chicago, Illinois, Charles G. Hargrave was united in marriage to Jessie Roper, who was born in that city, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Roper, the former of whom was a Chicago banker, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Thomas E. Hargrave, who was born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Hargrave have a very pleasant home at Falls City and since taking up their residence there have taken an interested part in the general social and cultural activities of the city. They are members of the Episcopal church and, fraternally, Mr. Har- grave is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

GEORGE G. GANDY, M. D.

There is no royal road to success in the medical profession, those who achieve laurels in the practice of the same being compelled to lead lives of strenuous endeavor, after laying well a broad and deep foundation. Real- izing this at the outset of his career, Dr. George G. Gandy, of Humboldt, Richardson county, has left no stone unturned whereby he might advance himself and he has achieved success in his chosen vocation, while yet a young man.

Doctor Gandy was born on January 3, 1880, in Humboldt, Nebraska. He is a son of Dr. James L. and Mary (Ott) Gandy. Dr. James L. Gandy was born near Clarksburg, Virginia, in 1844. He is a son of Dr. William O. Gandy, also a native of Virginia, who moved to Indiana, where he prac- ticed medicine for many years, later settling in Iowa. Thus the subject of this review descended from a long line of physicians, and therefore evidently possessed much natural ability in this line. His father, who is now living retired at Humboldt, studied medicine with his father, and during the Civil War he enlisted in the Union army hospital service. He returned home and completed his medical course at Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating with the class of 1867. He had previously pursued a medical course at Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the State University. He began the practice of his profession in White Cloud, Iowa, and in 1869 began practicing at Table

949

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Rock, Nebraska, later coming to Humboldt, Richardson county, where he built up a large practice, ranking among the leading local doctors of his day in this county. His wife, Mary Ott, was born in 1848, in Indiana. To these parents seven children were born, two of whom are now deceased, and four daughters and one son living.

Dr. George G. Gandy received his early education in the Humboldt public schools, began studying medicine when but a boy under his father, and later entered Ensworth Medical College at St. Joseph, Missouri, from which institution he was graduated in 1902. In the spring of that year he entered the Chicago Polyclinic Institute, where he studied for some time. He began the practice of his profession at Covington, Oklahoma, where he remained two years, then in 1904, came to his home town and has since maintained his office in Humboldt and has had splendid success as a general practitioner, soon taking his position among the leading medical men in southeastern Nebraska. He took a post-graduate course in Allgemine Kraunken Hause (Hospital) in Vienna, Austria, in 1910. He attended clinics conducted by the famous Doctor Lorenz and others of the most noted medical men and instructors of the old world. He also pursued a course at Westminster Hospital, London, England, in the same year. He traveled extensively in Europe while abroad and was a spectator of the famous Pas- sion Play at Oberammergau. Bavaria, which play is given every ten years. He has one of the best equipped offices in the state, which is located in the Park Hotel building. His furnishings and equipment are all modern and have been collected at great expense. He has the only real X-ray machine in southeastern Nebraska.

Doctor Gandy was married in London, England, September 6, 1910, to Clementine Rousek, a daughter of J. W. Rousek, who was also touring Europe at the time, with relatives, and Doctor and Mrs. Gandy finished a tour of the continent together. She was a daughter of J. W. Rousek, a deceased merchant of Humboldt, Nebraska. This family, like the Gandys, have long been well and favorably known in Richardson county.

Doctor Gandy is a member of the Richardson County Medical Society, the Nebraska State Medical Association, the American Medical Associa- tion and is a life member of the American Medical Association of Vienna, Austria. He is a director in the Home State Bank at Humboldt. He has remained a deep student of all that pertains to his profession, thereby keeping well abreast of the times. He is a man of engaging personality, obliging, sympathetic and of unquestioned integrity.

950

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FRANK EIS.

One of the most enterprising general farmers and stockmen of Rich- ardson county is Frank Eis, of Humboldt precinct. He came to us from a foreign clime and, seizing upon the superior opportunities offered here, has made a success of his life work. He was born in Chotebor, Bohemia, April 20, 1860. He is a son of Antone and Mary (Zulick) Eis, natives of Bohemia, where they grew up, married and established their home. Seven children were born to them, namely: John, living retired in Humboldt, Nebraska ; Mrs. Mary Schwab, deceased; Mrs. Fannie Watzek, living in Humboldt, this state; Mrs. Lizzie Kubick, who lives in Clay Center, Kansas; Frank, of this sketch; the rest of the children died in early life. The parents of these children immigrated to America in 1869, the voyage across the Atlantic requiring thirty-three days, and in December of that year established their future home in Richardson county, Nebraska. They drove from St. Joseph. Missouri, in a sled, on Christmas day, and located on land in Speiser town- ship, a mile west of the present Eis homestead, the father buying eighty acres for which he paid the sum of one thousand dollars. He built a stone house, containing only one room and when spring came he broke the prairie sod with oxen. His nearest market was Brownville, Nebraska. He endured the usual hardships of life on the Western frontier, but being a hard worker developed a farm and had a comfortable home in due course of time, con- tinuing general farming until his death, which occurred in 1899, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His wife had preceded him to the grave in1 1892 at the age of seventy-six years.

Frank Eis spent his childhood in Bohemia, being nine years old when the family came to the United States. He attended the common schools for some time in Humboldt township. Richardson county. He helped his father with the general work on the home farm until he was eighteen years old, then, desiring to further his education he entered the Humboldt high school, where he studied for some time, then began clerking for the Nimis Brothers in their general store in Humboldt. He continued working in Humboldt for sixteen years, then worked with his brother, John, on a farm. He bought his present farm in 1889 and has been very successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising on the same place, which excellent and well-improved farm consists of four hundred and eighty acres. He built a large modern home in 1915. which is equipped with electric lights, bath, sewer, furnace and hot and cold water fixtures, and is one of the most de-

951

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

sirable and attractive dwellings in the county. He also has substantial barns and other outbuildings. Everything about his place denotes thrift and good management. He drove three yoke of oxen to a plow, breaking wild prairie in his boyhood. He has been a hard worker all his life.

Mr. Eis was married in 1889, to Mary Petrashek, who was born in Toledo, Ohio. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Skalak) Petrashek. both natives of Bohemia, from which country they came to America about a half century ago, and located in Richardson county, in 1867. Both are now deceased. Three children have been born to Frank Eis and wife, named as follows: Frank. Jr., Rudolph, and Arthur, all at home.

Politically, Mr. Eis is a Democrat. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and the C. S. P. S. Bohemian lodge.

LEWIS M. BILLINGS.

Another enterprising young farmer of Humboldt precinct, Richardson county is Lewis M. Billings, who was born in Adair county, Iowa, September 18, 1878. He is a son of John and Sophia (Meliza) Billings, the subject of this sketch being their only child. The father was born in Iowa, where he grew up, married and spent his life, dying there in 1879 at the early age of twenty-eight years. His widow subsequently married James M. Trimble. and one child was born to their union. Sophia Meliza was born in Indiana and died in 1898 at the age of forty-seven years.

Lewis W. Billings was but a child when his father died and he grew up on the farm of his stepfather and he received his education in the district schools, also the high school at Humboldt, Nebraska, later took a course in telephone engineering in the International Correspondence Schools at Scranton, Pennsylvania. He worked at the telephone business for nine years at Table Rock, also at Omaha, Nebraska, holding a position in the Union depot in the latter city for the Markell dining car system. Later, he was employed by the Hammond packing plant at south Omaha, in the fire department. In 1913 he came to Richardson county and bought his present farm of eighty acres in section 18, Humboldt precinct, and here he has since been engaged in general farming, specializing in high-grade Poland China hogs. He has made many improvements on the place.

Mr. Billings was married on June 10. 1903, to Lydia E. Rist, who was

952

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

born on August 25, 1881, in Richardson county, and here she was reared to womanhood and educated. She is a daughter of Christian and Emma (Hunzeker) Rist, natives of Berne, Switzerland, from which country they came to Richardson county, in pioneer days and here became well established through their industry. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Billings, Loreene, whose birth occurred March 7, 1912.

Politically, Mr. Billings is a Democrat. He has served as assessor of Humboldt township. He attends the Christian church.

In the spring of 1917 Mr. Billings embarked in the thoroughbred poultry business with G. J. Cernohlavek as partner, the firm being known as the "Banner Poultry Farm." Many up-to-date poultry and brooder houses were built : also a modern hatchery of ten thousand-egg capacity. The "Banner Poultry Farm" breeds all of the popular breeds of chickens, as well as Belgium hares and Carneaux pigeons. It is one of the best equipped poultry farms in the state.

JAMES WILLIAM LUNDY.

James W. Lundy, one of Barada precinct's well-known and substantial retired farmers and stockmen, now living at Shubert, where he has a very. pleasant home, is a native of the neighboring state of Missouri, but has been a resident of Nebraska since he was five years of age, his parents having settled on this side the river in 1863, becoming counted among the most substantial and useful pioneers of the half-breed strip in the precinct of Barada. He was born in Johnson county, Missouri, March 4. 1858, son of Ebenezer and Paulina (Chapman) Lundy, pioneers of Richardson county, whose last days were spent here.

Ebenezer Lundy was born in Grayson county. Virginia, in 1832, son of Samuel Lundy and wife, also Virginians, and was early trained to the trade of stonemason. He married Paulina Chapman, who was born in Butler county, Kentucky, on September 20, 1835, of colonial ancestry. Tracing a lineage back to 1676. An ancestor owned Lundy's Lane, of Rev- olutionary fame; Benjamin Lundy. the great abolitionist, was another fa- mous ancestor. After his marriage he settled in Missouri, remaining there until 1862, when he came over into the then Territory of Nebraska and became engaged on the construction of the bridge across the Missouri at Nemaha City. While thus engaged he bought a tract of land in the Barada half-breed strip in this county, just on the county line, and there estab-

தா

953

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

lished his home. There was a log cabin there and in that humble abode he and his family made their home until after awhile, when lumber became more plentiful, he erected a frame house. By that time he had one of the best-developed farms in that neighborhood and was recognized as one of the leading pioneers of the strip, helpful in many ways in promoting the early interests of his home precinct,. There he and his wife spent their last days, the latter dying in June, 1902, he surviving until in June, 1909. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being Emma, wife of A. J. Hanika, of Shubert; Mrs. Mollie Stotts, of Shubert, and Effie, wife of Daniel Lewis, a well-known farmer of the precinct of Barada.

As noted above, J. W. Lundy was but five years of age when he came with his parents from Missouri to Nebraska and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Barada precinct, familiar from boyhood with the life of the pioneers of the sixties, and his youth was given over largely to herding cattle on the plains. He received his schooling in the local schools that quickly were organized in his neighborhood and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he became engaged as a herder on the John P. Smith ranch in Pawnee county and was thus engaged for a year, at the end of which time he resumed farming and was thus actively engaged until his retirement in 1913. He was married in 1884 and in 1886 his father gave him an "eighty," three miles west of Barada, where he estab- lished his home, continuing to develop and improve that place until he had one of the best-improved farms thereabout. To that' tract he added an adjoining "forty" and when his father's estate was diveded he received an additional "eighty," and bought other land, thus being now possessed of three hundred and thirty acres of fine land in the precinct of Barada. one of the best farming regions in Nebraska, besides eight acres in the town of Shubert, and has. a half section in Texas-six hundred and fifty-eight acres in all., In addition to his general farming Mr. Lundy gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock and did very well in his operations. On Jan- uary 1, 1913, he retired from the farm, bought a fine home in Shubert and there he and his wife have since been living, very comfortably situated. Mr. Lundy is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

On March 26, 1884, J. W. Lundy was united in marriage to Emma Barker, who was born in Nemaha county, this state, March 8, 1868, daughter of Henry and Amanda (Davis) Barker, natives, respectively, of Missouri

954

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and of Iowa, who were married in Nebraska and became well-to-do resi- dents of Nemaha county. Henry Barker was a son of William Barker and wife, who came over into the then Territory of Nebraska in the early sixties from Missouri, and Amanda Davis was a daughter of Mathias Davis and wife, who became residents of the Territory in 1865, coming over here from Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Lundy have four sons, namely: Louis Lundy, who married Minnie Lehan and is now living in Idaho; Dr. Fred Lundy, a practicing physician of Seattle, Washington, who married Ruby Leedam on December 23, 1916; Ray Lundy, who married Nellie Bucholz and is liv- ing on the old home farm in Barada precinct, and has an infant child, Glen Eugene, and Clark Lundy, also on the home farm, who married Vera McDowell and has one .child, a son, William Ervin. J. W. Lundy is a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Degree of Honor and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.

JOHN H. KOSO.

When John H. Koso came over into this county from Missouri in the spring of 1899 and bought the farm on which he is now living in East Barada precinct some of his new neighbors were good enough to tell him that nobody had ever been able to make a living on that place and that he, too, would be starved out, which was not very encouraging for a new set- tler. However, Mr. Koso did not starve; and, not only that, but he has added to his land holdings, is free from debt and besides developing a fine farm plant on his place has been able to make other investments. All of which simply goes to show that there may be different ways of getting re- sults, for Mr. Koso certainly has been successful where others seemed to have failed, and is now accounted one of the substantial farmers of the northeastern part of Richardson county.

John H. Koso was born at Solon Mills, McHenry county, Illinois, in 1858, son of Joseph and Sophia Koso, both of European birth, natives of the grand duchy of Mecklenburg, who were the parents of three children, and the latter of whom was married three times, being the mother of eleven children in all. When John H. Koso was two years of age his father died and his childhood was spent in the households of his uncles. John Koso and George Sutton. When sixteen years of age, in 1874, he left Illinois and

955

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

came over into Nebraska to make his home with Peter Thelk in this county, working for him and attending the Lutheran school in the neighborhood of the Thelk home, and remained there for three years, during which time he learned to speak and to read German. In 1877 he returned to Illinois. where he learned the cooper's trade and where he remained until 1883, in which year he returned West and in the vicinity of Thayer, Kansas, became employed as a farm hand and continued thus engaged until his marriage in the fall of 1885, when he rented a farm and began farming on his own account. In December, 1894. Mr. Koso disposed of his interests in Kansas and moved over into Gentry county, Missouri, where he bought a farm of fifty-eight acres and where he remained until the spring of 1899, when he sold his Missouri farm and came over into Nebraska, arriving in this county on April 5 of that year with his household goods, his live stock and nine hundred dollars in cash. This sum he applied on the purchase of seventy acres in section 27 of the precinct of Barada, a tract that had had several previous owners, and there established his home and proceeded to improve and develop the place. Despite the fact that neighbors told him he would starve on the place, as others, they said, had done, Mr. Koso went right ahead with his farming operations and soon found himself on the way to prosperity. He planted an orchard, built a new barn and made other im- provements on the place; in 1911 bought an adjoining "forty" and in 1913 bought another similar tract to the east, and now has a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm of one hundred and fifty acres in sections 27 and 28. By 1913 Mr. Koso had his land all paid for and has since been able to extend his investments in other directions, thus conclusively refuting the doleful predictions made by his neighbors when he took possession of his present fine home place less than twenty years ago.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 93

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