History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 114

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

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THOMAS J. O'KEEFE, register in the United States Land Office at Alliance, was one of the pioneer newspaper men of Box Butte county and the Panhandle, and as an editor occupies a vantage ground from which to mould public opinion, and the community has reason to congratulate it- self that for so many years one of the lead- ing papers of this section was in such safe, sagacious and thoroughly clean hands. Mr. O'Keefe is a genial Irishman, versatile with his pen, to whom the people of Box Butte county owe much for his fearless discus- sions of public and domestic questions while he owned the Hemingford Herald.

Mr. O'Keefe was born at Fulton, Illinois, June 12, 1874, the son of John and Sarah (Killey) O'Keefe, the former born in Ire- land, where he was reared and received his carly educational training and then emi- grated that he might take advantage of the many opportunities offered a young and ambitious man in the new world. There

were four children in the O'Keefe family, three boys and a girl, all of whom were sent to the public schools. Thomas at- tended with his brothers and sister until the family came to Nebraska in the spring of 1886, locating in Box Butte county, when he entered the employ of Jean Heath, the owner and editor of the Jean Heath Grip, a paper edited and printed at Nonpariel, Nebraska. Mr. Heath was one of the old school newspaper men and Mr. O'Keefe says that he was very eccentric in char- acter but a writer of marked ability and his paper was very popular among the early settlers of the county. Thomas remained in association with Mr. Heath three years and there laid the excellent foundation for his newspaper career. After severing his connections with the Grip, Mr. O'Keefe ac- cepted a position with C. A. Burlew, the publisher of the Box Butte County Rustler, which was issued at Hemingford where he remained for several years gaining still broader experience in journalistic work. Desiring further experience, Mr. O'Keefe went to Omaha to take a special course in a commercial college, returning to Hem- ingford in June, 1893, to become deputy postmaster of the town, as his father had just been appointed postmaster under Pres- ident Cleveland. A year later Mr. O'Keefe purchased the Box Butte County Democrat published at Hemingford, changing its name to that of the Hemingford Herald which he continued to edit and publish at Hemingford seven years, removing to Al- liance in 1901 and at the same time bring- ing his printing establishment with him. Here the paper was printed until 1909, when it was sold to Thomas Pierson. Mr. O'Keefe had established a fine job print- ing business in connection with the paper and received good support from the citizens of the community in both enterprises. After disposing of his business Mr. O'Keefe opened a real estate office which he con- ducted until 1915, when he was appointed Register of Deeds in the Government Land Office at Alliance, succeeding Judge W. W. Wood in this office. In 1894 Mr. O'Keefe had been appointed Government Land Com- missioner and transacted a great amount of business in regard to land and land laws from his office in Hemingford and Craw- ford and it was, no doubt, due to the excel- lent service he rendered at that time that he was appointed to the vacancy in the land office where he is again demonstrating his executive ability as a government official.

RANCH OF ED. J. MCKINNON

MR. AND MRS. ED. J. MCKINNON

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

Mr. O'Keefe has taken an active part in all affairs both communal and civic since locating in the Panhandle; he is well and favorably known throughout this section where he has a host of warm staunch friends. He is a man of great public spirit and gives liberally of time and money to every movement for the betterment of the city and country. He is one of the most enthusiastic "boosters" of the upper valley. Mr. O'Keefe is a member of the Elks, the Modern Woodmen, the Royal Highlanders and Knights of Columbus.

In 1911 Mr. O'Keefe married Miss Edith Snodgrass, a woman of high education and marked talents. She is a graduate of the State Normal School and at the time of her marriage was supervisor of music and drawing in the city schools of Alliance. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. O'Keefe: Edith M., John R., Helen Lucille and Jean Francis

EDWARD J. McKINNON, who is one of Banner county's foremost busines men, is president of the Farmers Elevator and Store Company at Bushnell, and is one of the ex- tensive breeders of Percheron and Shire horses, Duroc-Jersey hogs and White Face cattle in the county. He was fourteen years old when he accompanied his parents to Ban- ner county and this has been his home ever since.

Edward J. Mckinnon was born at Mus- kegon, Michigan, June 19, 1875. His parents were Hugh and Elizabeth (Meikle) McKin- non, natives of Scotland, his birth taking place in 1830 and her birth a little later. They were married in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, Jan- uary 1, 1867, and in the same year came to Canada and in 1872 to the United States. He had served an apprenticeship of five years to the machinist's trade in Scotland and after coming to this country worked at the same in Michigan and later in Iowa. As a family of sons began to grow up around him he felt it to be his duty to look out for their future wel- fare. There was little to encourage him in Iowa as the land was rapidly being settled, with consequent advance in price, and this led to his moving to Banner county, Nebraska. He homesteaded in 1889 near where his son Edward J. Mckinnon now lives, shipping his goods from Iowa and being in somewhat bet- ter financial condition than many of his neigh- bors. He remained on his homestead until 1904 when he sold his farm to his sons Edward J. and Norman N., retired and moved to Har- risburg. His death occurred June 19, 1904.

After becoming a widow, the mother filed on a Kinkaid claim near the other property and resided on it five years. Her last days were spent in the homes of her children, and her death occurred May 3, 1918. Of the ten chil- dren the following survive: Robert, of Ar- mour, South Dakota; John, of Merced, Cali- fornia ; Edward J., of Banner county ; Harry C., of Scottsbluff ; Norman N., of Scottsbluff ; Hugh A., of Bucyrus, Ohio; Mrs. Annie R. Kelly, of Harrisburg, Nebraska, and Mrs. Nettie Schumway, of Scottsbluff. The par- ents were members of the Presbyterian church. The father assisted to organize school district No. 31, and served as school director for some years. Like other early settlers Mr. Mckinnon met with discouragements and losses, mainly occasioned by drouths, and for long periods had to haul water a distance of from five to thirteen miles. At one time he went to Cheyenne and began work in a ma- chine shop there but illness caused his return home and after that he continued on the farm. He was a man of sterling character and is yet mentioned in terms of respect.

Edward J. Mckinnon attended the public schools in Iowa and in Banner county and later took a busiess course ai Shenandoah, Iowa, from which he was graduated with a diploma testifying to his excellence in pen- manship. He remained at home until 1905. On November of that year he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Barfoot, who is a daughter of Enos Barfoot, a prominent early settler of the county, extended mention of whom will be found in this work. Mr. Mc- Kinnon owns 640 acres of fine land, his home farm being exceptionally well improved and his operations are carried on with improved farm machinery. As a breeder of fine stock he has been very succesful and averages from 75 to 100 head of cattle yearly. In addition to the business enterprises above mentioned, he is a stockholder in the Banner County Bank of Harrisburg and also a stockholder in the Farmers Union. Politically he is a Republi- can, but aside from school offices, he has never accepted a public office. He has always been interested in school district No. 31 and as school director for some sixteen years has looked after its best interests. Mr. Mckinnon is a man of principle, upright, honest and de- pendable under all circumstances.

BERT R. WEBER, who is numbered among the successful younger exponents of agricultural and live-stock industry in Scottsbluff county, has the distinction of being a native son of this county, his birth

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

having taken place on the home farm of his father, near Gering, on November 14, 1890. Of the family genealogy adequate record is given on other pages, in the sketch of the career of his father, William Weber.

Bert R. Weber early gained agricultural experience in connection with the activities of the home farm, and his youthful educa- tional advantages included those of the public schools of Gering. He continued to be associated with his father in the opera- tions of the latter's ranch until he had at- tained to his legal majority, when he began his independent career in connection with the same important line of industry. As a general agriculturist and stock-grower he is alert and progressive, and now conducts operations on a well improved place of two hundred and seventeen acres, all of which will eventually have ample irrigation facil- ities and upon which he is making the best of improvements. This ranch is situated in section one, township twenty-one, about a half mile distant from the county seat. which is the postoffice address of Mr. Web- er. On his farm he has a fine French draft stallion, and he is making a specialty of breeding this type of horses.

In 1914 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Weber to Miss Lucile Duff, who was born and reared in Nebraska, and they have two children, a winsome little daughter, Marvel, and son, Kenneth Elsworth. Mrs. Weber was educated in the public schools of David City, Nebraska, and she holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Weber gives alle- giance to the Nonpartisan party in national and state campaigns, but in local affairs he maintains an independent attitude.

HUGH E. MANTOR .- In promoting general efficiency along all lines of human endeavor there has come in these later days a distinct recognition of the supreme value of effort and concentration. This is es- pecially true in the medical profession and such exponents find the maximum success and are able to give the most benignant service through devoting their attention to perfecting themselves in some one special branch of medicine. In Cheyenne county, Dr. Mantor has gained exceptional prestige by specialization, as he devotes his time and attention primarily to surgical work and roentgenology. He maintains his resi- dence and profesional headquarters in the city of Sidney, and has become well known because of his estimable character and high

professional attainments, as one of the rep- resentative physicians and surgeons throughout the Panhandle.

Dr. Mantor was born at Sheldon, Illinois. December 2, 1874, the son of Lyman and Mary (Cole) Mantor and is descended from old eastern stock, as his ancestors located in the Atlantic states at an early day. His father was a native of Ohio, while his mother claimed New Jersey as the place of her nativity. The father was employed during his early manhood as contractor and in 1885 came to Nebraska, with the idea of establishing himself independently in business. Soon after arriving here he purchased railroad land in Dawson county, being one of the pioneer settlers of that section, where he began at once to make improvements on his land; put up a com- fortable home as soon as possible, erected permanent farm buildings and began to en- gage in general farming, stock-raising and feeding. Being a man of education Mr. Mantor gave deep study to agricultural questions, kept abreast of all improved methods, buying the latest machinery to lighten the work on the farm and was re- warded with unusual success as the result of his labors. After gaining a comfortable competency he retired from active parti- cipation in farm affairs and lived the last years of his life in a leisurly manner, en- joying the modern books and periodicals. He passed away at the age of seventy- seven years, being survived by his wife who now makes her home with her son in Sid- ney.

Hugh Mantor was but ten years of age when his parents came to their new prairie home in Nebraska. He had already at- tended school back in Illinois but from his tenth year he spent his boyhood days and early youth on the home farm, learning there the excellent qualities of self reliance and service. Coming from a family of un- usually well educated parents they saw that their son had every advantage obtainable, as they had sufficient means to send him to school at all times. At first he attended the district school in his home locality, then the high school at Lexington, where he graduated. At an early age the boy had decided upon a professional career and with this end in view he entered the medical de- partment of the State University at Lin- coln, completing his course in 1902, re- ceiving the degree of M. D. The same year he opened an office at Cozad, Dawson county, and at once engaged in practice.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

For seven years he served the town and county around with great ability but he desired high work as he already realized that the twentieth century is one of special- ization and having pased the time of his general professional work, went to England where he entered the West London Hos- pital for a course of post graduate study. Spending the winter of 1909 and 1910 abroad, the doctor on his return to America came to Sidney where he has since been continuously engaged in practice. While in England Dr. Mantor had given most at- tention to all phases of surgical work and since his return to this country this has been his special branch of medicine, so that he is called to points not only outside of Sidney but throughout the Panhandle for this kind of work. He has equipped his office with the most complete and modern X-Ray equipment and Electro-Therapeutic appliances which he uses in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The doctor con- trols a large and representative clientelle, keeps in close touch with the advance made in medical, surgical and roentgenological science, and is unremitting in the study of the best standard and periodical literature of his profession. For a number of years he has been district surgeon for the Union Pacific Railroad, is a member of the Amer- ican Medical Association, the Nebraska State Medical Society, the County Medical Association, while his fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Elks. He is an independ- ent Democrat in politics and lets no party lines dictate the casting of his vote. While he is a progressive citizen and promoter of every movement for the benefit of Sidney he does not care for public office and can- not be persuaded to hold one, devoting all his time and energies to the close study and many demands of his chosen calling, medicine.

In June, 1907, Dr. Mantor married Miss Stella Batdorf, a native of Omaha, where she was reared and educated.

GEORGE R. BUCKNER, banker, finan- cier, ranchman and oil magnate, is a man whose business career has been significant- ly characterized by marked executive abil- ity and creative initiative. His unchange- able purpose and integrity have gained the popular confidence and esteem that are most essential in the successful execution of the important and varied enterprises to

which he has devoted his attention and en- ergies, and through the medium of which he has secured high standing as a repre- sentative figure in banking and financial circles in Nebraska. From first entering business life Mr. Buckner has been identi- fied with banking enterprises and his ad- ministration has done much to conserve the success attained by the institutions with which he has been associated. His aggressiveness, keen foresight, honesty and civic loyalty have gained him a high stand- ing in the comunities where he has been en- gaged in building up his business to its present extensive proportions.

Mr. Buckner was born in Macedonia. Iowa, September 2, 1882, the son of Perry and Dora B. (Starts) Buckner, the father being a native of Missouri and the mother of Illinois. They were reared and educated in their respective communities, but after their marriage removed to Iowa, being pioneers of that state, as the father took up a homestead in Pottawatomie county, about thirty-five miles east of Council Bluffs, but died at the age of thirty-two years, leaving his wife with four small boys to rear and support. After her husband's death Mrs. Buckner put her capable shoulder to the wheel and though but a woman alone in a new country, she was equal to the task; she capably managed the frontier farm, paid off the money due on the land as it came due, devoted such time as she could to her family and became a successful farm- er within eight years after she was left alone in the world. Being a woman of good education and desiring every advan- tage for her fatherless boys Mrs. Buckner decided to leave the farm and locate in some place where the children could have the best educational advantages. After look- ing over the various locations she chose University Place, near Lincoln, Nebraska, a college town where youths would grow up in an atmosphere of culture and refine- ment. The four boys were: Charles L. of Red Oak, Iowa; Louis J., who lives at El- liott, Iowa; George, and Wilbur G., who died at the age of six years.

George Buckner was about ten years of age when the family left the farm in Iowa and located at University Place ; he had already attended the public school near his home and after coming to Nebraska entered the grammar school. After finishing the grades he entered the academy of Nebraska Wesleyan University of University Place. He was a sturdy youth and realized the struggle his mother had had

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

to rear her little family and decided to start out for himself and earn some money. For four years he worked on a farm, then on a railroad for a year, but was too ambitious to be contented with what he could earn in this position and having determined upon a commercial career, entered the Nebraska Busi- ness College at Lincoln, where he completed a course in business methods and bookkeeping. In 1901, he entered the Farmer's and Mechanics Bank at Haverlock as bookkeeper. For one season he played professional baseball with the Burlington Railway shop men, but while in the bank had decided that banking was to be his chosen vocation and having accumulated considerable capital, in 1903, he became one of the organizers of the bank at Davey, Ne- braska, where he was given the position of cashier and manager. Mr. Buckner had a special constructive talent for banking and it was through his liberal policies that he fur- thered the success of the first bank with which he was associated. His foresight, progres- sive, yet conservative methods won the confi- denct of the residents in the vicinity of Davey who became heavy depositors of the bank. In 1907, Mr. Buckner severed his relations with the Davey bank, disposed of his stock and helped organize the Lancaster County Bank of Waverly, Nebraska, and two years later was made president of the institution. By this time he had become recognized as one of the leading bankers and financiers of east- ern Nebraska, for within the short period of two years he has promoted from cashier of the bank to its executive head. The bank had become a flourishing institution under his cap- able direction, changes came about and still greater expansion ensued, but Mr. Buckner had not been contented to devote all his ener- gies to one line and had become interested in valuable oil and gas properties, which grew with such astounding rapidity that in 1917, he sold his stock in the banking house to take active management of his other interests, as he had already organized the Independent Gas and Oil Company with headquarters at Sidney, having established his home there in 1918. The

following year he bought a block of stock in the American Bank of Sidney and became its vice-president. All depositors in this bank are protected by the depositors' guaranty fund of the state of Nebraska. In 1919, Mr. Buckner was the prime mover in the organization and incorporation of the Grain Belt Oil Company,

with a paid up capital of $85,000, and from its initiation has been president of this progressive concern. The company operates in eight towns

of Nebraska, Sidney, Chappell, Ogalalla,

Grant, Gurley, Dalton, Scottsbluff and Mitch- ell. Reared during his boyhood on the farm Mr. Buckner naturally has ever taken an in- terest in land and as his business met with its phenominal success and his capital increased he has invested from time to time in country property, having become the owner of the celebrated St. George Ranch of some nineteen hundred acres only three miles from Sidney, in the Pole creek valley. While working on farms after leaving school he had learned prac- tical farming by experience and also had taken great interest in the cattle business so that when he acquired a large landed estate of his own he began to apply his knowledge to its management. His operations have been most successful as he believes in modern methods, uses the latest machintry for work on the ranch and specializes in forage crops, feeding and the raising of high bred cattle and hogs, so that today he is one of the heavy shippers from this district. The land out at St. George has been raised to a high state of fertility where cultivated and the pastures are usually

in fine condition, so that Mr. Buckner may be said to be a progressive and exceedingly pros-

perons farmer aside from his many other varied interests. Such ranches as his are of inestimable valne in a community as he can become a leader in all new farm movements and when he has tried out the methods advocated by the farm experts of state and nation they can be adopted by men who have not the capi-

tal for such investigation who live in the dis- trict where the St. George is well known In a way Mr. Buckner's farm is doing for the Pan-

handle what the famous Rockfeller ranch did for the stockmen of Kansas, down in Kiowa

county. From first locating in Sidney Mr. Buck- ner has taken an active and prominent part in all the activities of the city and county. During

the war he was president of the city and county committees of the Red Cross and was one of the largest salesmen of Liberty Bonds. In politics he is a staunch supporter of the Repub- lican party and takes an important part in shap-

ing its policy in county and states. As a young man, soon after he became independent- ly established in business he began his political career, for, in 1913, he was elected as repre- sentative of his district to the state legislature on the Republican ticket. In 1915, he was nominated for county treasurer, but was de- feated. He cares nothing for political pre-

ferment but has felt that his duty as a citi- zen called him to such office as he could cred- itably fill; today he is far too fully accupied to even think of accepting the nomination for any office. Fraternally Mr. Buckner's rela-

C. T. GREWELL AND FAMILY

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

tions are with the Masonic order, standing high in its councils as he has taken the 'Thirty- second degree, he is also a Shriner and a niem- ber of the Modern Woodmen. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church and Mr. Buckner was a delegate to the general conference in New York.

In 1905, Mr. Buckner married Miss Lola M. Danforth, a native of Jefferson county, Nebraska, the daughter of George Danforth, who was one of the gallant soldiers of the Civil War. He was a well educated man of high culture and attainments. Soon after the close of the war he laid aside the sword for the pursuits of peace, and while he did not take up the plowshare did his part even more worthily as he was a member of the survey- ing party which laid out the route of an early railroad across the state of Nebraska. Later, when the pioneer construction of the road was completed he became one of the first merchants of Alexandria, where he was engaged in busi- ness for many years. He lived until 1917. Mrs. Buckner was educated in the excellent schools of her native town and since her school days were over has ever continued to broaden and cultivate her mind by wide and judicious reading ; she is a gracious and charm- woman who has a host of friends and is the able and capable chatelain of the beautiful Buckner home, which is one of the most hospit- able houses in the Panhandle. There are three children in the family: Frances A., twelve years of age in school ; Wilbur G. and Harold B.

CHARLES T. GREWELL. -- Included among the substantial pioneer farmers and stock-raisers of Scottsbluff county, Charles Grewell is also known as a progressive, useful, and energetic citizen whose public spirited ser- vices have contributed in no small way to the advancement and development of his com- munity's interests. For thirty-six years he has been a resident of the Morrill valley, and there has identified himself with many of the move- ments that have served to aid in progress both agricultural and along civic lines ; for he has seen pass before his eyes the panorama of change that first showed the rolling prairies covered with the curly buffalo grass and wild flowers, then it was covered with the vast herds of cattle during the heigh-day of the cattle business, following that came the few farms far apart and scattered, then closer set- tlement, and finally to crown all, irrigation was introduced so that the wilderness countryside now blossoms like the rose ; and today he sees the Panhandle the garden spot of our great

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 114

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