History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 111

Author: Shumway, Grant Lee, 1865-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., The Western publishing & engraving co.
Number of Pages: 1056

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Henry Walsh remained on the farm in Cheyenne county, obtaining his education by attending school near his home, working on the farm as all country boys do and so was well acquainted with the practical side of farming while still a youth. He was nat- urally fond of horses and other animals and as a boy helped break the colts that were raised by his father. As soon as his school days were over he became ambitious to establish himself independently and natur- ally chose the line to which his inclination turned and also that with which he was familiar and began to work while still a young man as a horsebreaker and to this day is regarded as one of the most efficient

men in this business in all Cheyenne county. September 3, 1914, Mr. Walsh rode Buster, a noted outlaw horse of Cheyenne county, and won the championship of western Ne- braska, in a bucking contest. This he still holds, having defended it for six years against any Nebraska man who has entered the bucking contests. For a number of years he was a cowboy with various outfits in Cheyenne county and along the Platte river, as that was the heigh-day of the range cattle industry when the great baronial cattle companies owned their herds, num- bering many thousands that ranged from Texas and New Mexico to the Yellowstone river in Montana. For one year Mr. Walsh was engaged in farming in Wyoming, then returned to Sidney for three years, being employed by a cattle concern in this county. Following this he was made an excellent offer to go to Colorado and accepted, but re- turned to spend nearly a year in this locality as a cowboy before going to Scottsbluff for a year, being engaged in feeding cattle there. From his father Mr. Walsh had learned the trade of carpenter during his boyhood, and after locating near Sidney permanently has been following this vocation a part of the time. Reared on a farm and having spent many years in the cattle business it was but natural that he should desire land for him- self and when he decided to make this valley his home, bought a farm where he has been actively engaged, raising diversified crops, especially forage as he is a stock-raiser and heavy feeder. Mr. Walsh, like many of the scions of the pioneer families, possesses those qualities which have made it possible for him to meet and overcome obstacles, and as the years have passed, success has crowned his efforts. Thus today he and his family are surrounded with the comforts and blessings which they justly deserve. From his first entrance into business life Mr. Walsh has taken an active part in the civic and communal life.

In politics Mr. Walsh draws no strict party lines in casting his vote, as his influ- ence is exerted to place the most practical and best man in office that the people may be well served, and thus he is known as an independent. With his wife he is a member of the Lutheran church.

March 16, 1906, Mr. Walsh married Miss Ella Peterson, at Sidney. She was a daugh- ter of the Sunflower state, where she was reared and educated. There are three chil- dren in the family: Morton E., Ralph H., and Ruby Evelyn, all of whom are at home

MR. AND MRS. JOHN H. CAMPBELL

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

with the parents. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh are leaders in their community where they have been the active promoters and supporters of all helpful enterprises, as Mr. Walsh has ever advocated good roads, good schools and the most advanced methods in farming.

JOHN H. CAMPBELL, who is one of Kimball county's best known men, now living retired at Kimball, was born in De Kalb coun- ty, Illinois, September 17, 1849. His parents were William R. and Sarah Ann (Helmer) Campbell. Of their children, John H. was the youngest, the others being as follows: James W., William R., Orlando, and three daughters, all of whom are deceased; and Mrs. Adele Hulbert, of Pine Bluff, Wyoming, and Mrs. Anna Eckerson, of Aurora, Nebraska.

John H. Campbell grew up on his father's farm in De Kalb county, occasionally attend- ing school in the winter seasons but the whole sum of educational opportunity was small. When nineteen years old he married Eliza- beth Murry, daughter of a neighboring farmer in De Kalb county, who died early, leaving three children, namely: Alice, who is de- ceased ; Iva, now Mrs. Pheiffer, who lives in Banner county ; and William R., who is de- ceased. In 1880 Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Murry, and to this marriage the following children were born : Ora, who is deceased; Roy L., who is a resi- dent of Kimball; Mrs. Etta F. Reiseberg, who lives in Kimball county, and William R., who is deceased.

Mr. Campbell came to Nebraska in 1871 and homesteaded in York county, coming from there to Kimball county, April 17, 1886, which county has been his home ever since. He homesteaded and still owns his ranch of two sections, where he engaged in general farming and raised cattle and sheep for a num- ber of years. In 1912 Mr. Campbell came to Kimball in order to give his children better advantages than those afforded by ranch life, and for four years conducted a land business, he with his son owing 4160 acres of fine land. He has recently retired, selling his modern office building to Edward Larson. Although never very active in politics, Mr. Campbell as one of the solid, dependable men of the county, has often been called upon for public service, and he was one of the first county commission- ers of Kimball county. He takes pride in the fact that two of his grandsons served with honor in the great war. The family attend the Presbyterian church. They all belong to the fraternal order of Highlanders, and Mrs. Campbell has the degree of honor in this or-

ganization. The Campbell name is one held in very high esteem in Kimball county.

FRANK STEARNS, president of the largest mercantile establishment of Morrill and one of the best known business houses in the Panhandle, is numbered among the progressive and substantial men of western Nebraska. He is a self-made man and has won to his present position by his own ef- forts and hard work. Mr. Stearns is an en- ergetic man of great personal magnetism, and these qualities combined with his great capacity for handling people and an eye for detail have aided him in building up a pros- perous business house within a short period, for today he is one of the substantial busi- ness men of the Platte valley.

Mr. Stearns is descended from old New England and Pennsylvania stock. He was born in Chippewa county, Wisconsin, Janu- ary 11, 1871, the son of Eugene M. and Eva (Brown) Stearns, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Pennsylvania. There were three children in the Stearns family, but Frank is the only one living. Eugene Stearns received a good education in his youth, and as there were not many good openings for a young man in the east, he came west, locating in Wisconsin, where he established a general mercantile house which he conducted with marked success for many years. Having accumulated a comfortable fortune, Mr. Stearns retired from active business some years ago and is now enjoying the mild climate of the Pacific coast, as he lives in Portland, Oregon.

Frank Stearns passed his youth in his native state, attended the public schools un- til he was fourteen years old, when the fam- ily came to Nebraska, locating at Loup City, Sherman county, where he continued his education, graduating from the high school and later attended a commercial col- lege at Omaha, taking special courses to prepare for financial life. Mr. Stearns liad already learned the mercantile business in his father's store which helped him in the choice of his studies. After returning to Loup City for a time. Mr. Stearns went to Alliance in 1888, and became one of the prime movers in the establishment of the town of Bayard, Morrill county; as it was through his energy and the money he sup- plied that the Nine Mile irrigation ditch, known as the Bayard canal, was construct- ed, which, with other canals has brought prosperity to a large and rich agricultural district.

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

Mr. Stearns had been bookkeeper in Loup City after leaving college. In the bank he became familiar with finance and later took charge of his father's bank at Bayard. He then engaged in a mercantile business in Scottsbluff but sold the store to come to Morrill in 1915, as he believer there was a good opportunity for an establishment here. He soon opened the "Stearns Store," which is the best known mercantile house in the town and one of the representative ones of its kind in the county. Mr. Stearns carries a large and representative line of goods; he is up-to-date in his business methods as his policy is service, square dealing and he now enjoys a trade covering a wide territory in the valley and surrounding country, where his reputation for honesty and integrity have won him customers as well as a high place in the esteem of the people. Mr. Stearns typifies the progressive spirit of the west, while he is conservative in financial matters. He is a Republican, takes an ac- tive part in politics and was three times state representative in the legislature from the seventy-fifth district in 1913, 1915 and 1917. Mr. Stearns has headed every move- ment for civic and communal progress that will develop this section and Morrill, and it was through his efforts that the Irrigation School at Scottsbluff, the only one of its kind in the world, was secured for this sec- tion. In January, 1920, Mr. Stearns sold his store in Morrill to Harry M. Stearns and Roy C. Craig and he now devotes his time to the management of his six hundred and forty acre ranch in Morrill county. Most of the land is under irrigation and is rented.

Mr. Stearns married Miss Ada Flanagan, of Illinois and they have three children : Harry M., living in Morrill; Irene M., and Leslie, both at home.

RALPH E. CAPPER, one of the native sons of Nebraska, who is a prosperous farm- er and stock-raiser of Scottsbluff county, has been well and favorably known here the greater part of his life. Mr. Capper is an example of what may be accomplished by the application of intelligent energy in one direction, his success in his agricultural ac- tivities depending upon his natural leanings and the study which he has given to his bus- iness problems.

Ralph Capper was born at West Union, Nebraska, in 1882, being the son of Howard and Susan (Predmore) Capper, the former a native of Illinois, while the mother was born in Iowa. The father was a farmer who

located in Iowa at an early day and later re- moved to Custer county, Nebraska, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising un- til 1900, when he with the family came to the Gering district to locate upon a home- stead. Here in the valley Mr. Capper con- tinued the general agricultural pursuits with which he had been engaged farther east and soon became one of the substantial and pro- gressive men of this section. There were five children in the family: Grace, the wife of Charles Johnson, of Dalton, Montana ; Ralph; John, in Gering; Amy, married Wal- ter Beebe, a farmer of Wyoming, and How- ard, on a farm in Scottsbluff county.

Mr. Capper was a member of the Modern Woodmen and with his wife was a member of the Christian church.

Ralph received his early academic train- ing in Custer county, where he attended the public school of his district. After locating here he finished school and then engaged in farming, first with his father and later in- dependently as he took up a homestead of a quarter section of land in section eighteen, township fifteen. Mr. Capper has placed fine improvements on his place, has a good comfortable home, and is demonstrating the success attained by the adoption of modern methods in general farming and also raises a good grade of live-stock. He is progres- sive in his ideas and also advocates the same in all lines of life; he boosts for all move- ments that tend to the development of his county and community and has taken active part in the affairs of the valley for some years, as he is school director of district No. 12 at the present time. Politically he is a member of the Socialist party, is a member of the Modern Woodmen and participates in general social activities.

In 1906, Mr. Capper married Miss Anna Cook of North Platte, Nebraska, and to them seven children have been born: Grace Dulce, Warren, Claudia and Carroll, twins; Percy and Vesper, all at home. These children have a bright future as their parents intend to give them every oppor- tunity in an educational way to fit them for life.

FRANK M. SANDS is a conspicuous ex- ample of the faith that conquers. In com- mon with most of those who chose western Nebraska for a place of abode in the early days, faith was about all that he brought with him. But he had an abiding faith in the ultimate development of this section of the country, and had the tenacity of purpose

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

that wins. Mr. Sands and the late William H. Wright, of whom mention is found else- where in this volume, were the two men most prominently identified with the promo- tion of irrigation in the valley of the North Platte river. Mr. Sands has lived to see the realization of their early plans for mak- ing one of the most productive sections of the country in the place which was then only a semi-arid, sparsely settled prairie, and to share himself in the rich harvest that has come to those who put their faith and their efforts into the development of western lands.

He was born in Stanfordville, Duchess county, New York, on December 25, 1850, the son of Isaac G. and Sarah A. (Badgley) Sands. Both his parents were natives of New York state, and the father farmed in that state all his life. He also ran a freight boat from Poughkeepsie to New York City. Hannah Griffin, the grandmother of Frank M. Sands, saw the first steamboat, Fulton's "Clermont," on one of its voyages. Six chil- dren were born in the family, two of them, Charles B. and Elma, being now deceased. The others, besides the subject of this sketch, are all living in New York. Their names are: James H., who owns land in New York and also in eastern Nebraska; Nettie, the wife of M. B. Cole; and Henri- etta, the wife of Charles F. Bishop, an attor- ney at law in New York City. The father was a Whig in politics, and on the formation of the Republican party became a member of that political faith and was active in pol- itics. The mother was a member of the Christian church.

Frank M. Sands took a course in civil en- gineering at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, and set out to make that profes- sion his life work. In 1872, he was in Chi- cago when the great fire that destroyed that city broke out, and the hotel in which he was staying caught fire. He came on west and worked as an engineer for the govern- ment and in railroad construction in Ari- zona, then started in the sheep business in New Mexico and Kansas, handling and feed- ing sheep for market. In 1886, he was mar- ried to Miss Phena Rogers, a native of New York and the daughter of Silas and Ada (Chamberlain) Rogers.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sands came west and located at Nonpareil, in Box Butte county, Nebraska. Here Mr. Sands embarked in the banking business, opening the Bank of Nonpareil. He still re- members driving to Nonpareil with a team

of ponies, tying his team, and going into the postoffice to inquire for mail. The postmas- ter was Gene Heath, and near the window the accommodating postmaster maintained a public plug of Horseshoe chewing tobacco, the idea being that patrons of the office should help themselves to this while waiting for their mail.

Two years later, in 1888, Mr. Sands re- moved his bank to Alliance, where he bought the first business and residence lots and built the first brick building. He con- tinued in business there for four years, then came to Gering in 1892, and bought about two thousand acres of land. Part of the house in which he still lives is built of lum- ber hauled from Pine Ridge. Here he turned his attention to irrigation construc- tion work, and for the next ten years en- gaged in the building of irrigation ditches in the capacity of contractor and engineer. He was superintendent and financial manager of the Gering canal, and also engaged in general farming and stockraising, which lat- ter calling he has since followed. He fed five hundred head of cattle last year. He has developed his land to a high state of pro- ductiveness, and recently sold a quarter-sec- tion for three hundred and fifty dollars per acre, the price received for one acre being about what the entire quarter was worth when he came to this section of the country.

To Mr. and Mrs. Sands five children have been born: Charles B., who now manages the home farm; Henry H., a farmer in Scottsbluff county; Sally, who lives at home; Antoinette, a teacher; and William B., who has lately completed a term of fif- teen months' service in the American army in France, being in the motor truck service with the front line of troops.

Mr. Sands in politics is an independent voter, Blue Lodge Mason. He has held the office of county commissioner and every office connected with the Gering Irrigation District. He is a man who is abreast of the times, well informed on public questions, and his judgment com- mands the respect of all his acquaintances. He stands high in the community as a man of integrity, and has the satisfaction of knowing that his life of honorable and in- dustrious effort has been rewarded with success.

DEAN E. RANDALL, who has spent the greater part of his life in Nebraska, is a substantial farmer and highly respected cit- izen of Scottsbluff county. He was born in Trempealau county, Wisconsin, September

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

9, 1871. His parents were James M. and Lucy (Hassan) Randall. His father was born in Michigan and in early manhood worked in the great logging camps of Mich- igan and Wisconsin. He was a man of fine constitution and still survives, living at Ger- ing, Nebraska, in his eighty-fourth year. In 1885, he moved to Nebraska with his family, settling in Butler county, but, in 1886, he pre-empted and took a tree claim in Scotts- bluff county. The mother of Mr. Randall was born in New York and died at the age of thirty-six years.

Of his parents' family, Dean E. Randall was the second in order of birth. He ob- tained a public school education and grew up on a farm and has followed agricultural pursuits all his life. In 1890, he homestead- ed, and his wife did also, in this county, and now owns and operates five hundred and twenty acres. This land has been well im- proved and is a fairly representative farm property of this county.

Mr. Randall was married to Miss Sadie Belden, who was born at Jamestown, Kan- sas, and is a daughter of Wallace and Aman- da (Dugger) Belden. The parents of Mrs. Randall came to Nebraska thirty-three years ago, homesteaded near Bridgeport, and there the mother yet lives, the father being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Randall were mar- ried December 24, 1904, at Chimney Rock, in Morrill county, and they have four chil- dren, namely : Kenneth, Darrell, Glenn and Rena, all of whom have had educational ad- vantages. In politics Mr. Randall is a Re- publican. He has never cared for political honors but has been interested in having good schools and served on the school board for four years.

WILLIAM F. PULLEN, who is an en- terprising young farmer of Morrill county, belongs to an old pioneer family of this sec- tion that has been known and respected here for many years. His father, William Pullen, homesteaded here among the first settlers, developed his land and has a good property. Later he moved into Bayard and has contin- ued to live there.

William F. Pullen was born at Bayard, Nebraska, June 25, 1896, and grew up in Morrill county, receivingg his education in the public schools. Hle assisted his father on the farm and ranch until 1915, since which time he has been working for himself, rent- ing his mother's farm of eighty acres, and also a hundred and sixty acres of hay land. He has the reputation of being industrious,

provident and successful, and wherever known is held in high esteem. He owns modern machinery and carries on his vari- ous industries according to the latest methods. methods.

Mr. Pullen was married to Miss Pauline Worick, a daughter of John Worick, whe now lives on a farm northeast of Bayard. They have two children: Frances and Dor- othy. Mr. Pullen carries life insurance in the Mid West Life Insurance Company. In politics he is careful and cautious and votes independently, having more trust in his own judgment than in the often conflicting state- ments of party campaigners.

CHARLES W. McFERON, an industri- o11s farmer and respected citizen of Morrill county, was born in Washington county, Il- linois, May 12, 1877. His father, J. L. Mc- Feron, was born in Perry county, Illinois, seventy-three years ago. He came to Ne- braska in 1898 and settled at Sidney, Chey- enne county. He resides with his son, Charles W. His wife is deceased.

Charles W. McFeron came first to Ne- braska in 1895. His first summer was spent on a farm but for twelve years afterward he worked on ranches in different sections, then went to Texas. There he engaged in general farming until 1917, when he came to Morrill county with the intention of invest- ing in land. In the meantime he is operat- ing a rented farm of a hundred and twenty acres of well improved land and when an advantageous opportunity presents itself, he will become a landowner here. He will be a welcome addition to the county's perma- nent citizenship.

In 1910, Mr. McFeron was married to Miss Zella Van Degrift, who was born in Saline county, Arkansas, and is a daughter of William and Nettie (Kawk) Van Degrift, natives of Arkansas, who now reside at Texas City, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. McFeron have three children: Alma, Elbert, and Calista.

FRED BREYER, who is one of the rep- resentative men of Morrill county, resides on his valuable irrigated farm of two hun- dred acres, which lies in section 7, township 20-51. Mr. Breyer was born in Michigan, January 4, 1867. His parents were Edward and Lucy (Kostenbader) Breyer. His father was born in Scotland and came to the United States in 1858. locating first at Bal- timore, Maryland, but later went to Mich- igan and married there. His wife was born

DR. A. E. Moss

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

in Pennsylvania. They were theatrical people and as a family troupe appeared in various eastern cities during the sixties.

In 1889, Fred Breyer came to the west and lived in Colorado and later in Mexico for some years. When he settled permanently he homesteaded in Morrill county, Nebras- ka, and his hundred and sixty acres have been highly improved and to his original farm he has added until he now has two hundred acres, all irrigated. Mr. Breyer is one of the county's substantial men.

Mr. Breyer was married to Miss Mary Lyman, who was born in Hudson county, Wisconsin, February 6, 1866, and they have three children: Bessie, Aaron and Daniel. In his political views Mr. Breyer is a Social- ist. At the present time he is a member of the school board of District No. 44, but otherwise has accepted no public office.

ALBERT E. MOSS, D.O., who has met with remarkable success in the practice of his profession, has been established at Kimball for twelve years, and during this time has not only built up a substantial practice in the face of competition, but has also won the personal es- teem of his fellow citizens.

Albert Edward Moss was born in McDon- ough county, Illinois, April 21, 1876. His par- ents. Samuel and Sarah A. Moss, are deceased. He attended the public schools in his native county, the high school of Centerville, Iowa, and later the Wesleyan University at Cham- paign, Illinois, from which he was graduated after a theological course, in 1896. For eigh- teen months after leaving the university he filled ministerial appointments. Circumstances then turned his attention to the field of med- icine, in which his reading and investigation soon aroused deep interest in the line of oste- opathy, resulting in his becoming a student at Kirksville, Missouri, from which institution he was graduated with his degree in 1898. Dr. Moss began practice in Iowa, where he re- mained until in February, 1907, when he came to Kimball, practicing alone until March 26, 1919, when he admitted a partner, the firm name now being Drs. Moss & Bonnell, they be- ing the only osteopathic practitioners in Kim- ball county. During the somewhat recent epi- demic of influenza, Dr. Moss had 166 patients prostrated with this disease, and with one ex- ception was able, by his methods, to restore them to health.

In 1902 Dr. Moss was united in marriage to Miss Mollie Florence Wood, and they have had four children : Lucile, William E., Flor-

ence, and Victor Harold, William E. being de- ceased. Dr. and Mrs. Moss are members of the Presbyterian church.

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 111

Author: Shumway, Grant Lee, 1865- Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., The Western publishing & engraving co. Number of Pages: 1056

Author: Shumway, Grant Lee, 1865-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., The Western publishing & engraving co.
Number of Pages: 1056