History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 127

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

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Albert N. Mathers completed his education in the University of Nebraska, from which he was graduated in 1906. For one year after- ward he taught school, for three years follow- ing that was engaged in a mercantile business at Douglas and then went to Kansas City. In 1911, he came to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, as assistant cashier in the Scottsbluff National Bank, in which institution he is still interested. He became interested quite early in Gering with the result that in 1913 he bought a con- trolling interest in the Gering National Bank, became its president and has ably directed its affairs ever since. The latest bank statement shows the capital stock to be $40,000, with de- posits $520,000, the deposits having increased under Mr. Mather's administration to that amount from $52,000 when he took charge. Mr. Mathers has taken pains to encourage home enterprises and with other concerns, he is interested in the Scottsbluff Creamery Company and other corporation enterprises at both Gering and Scottsbluff. He owns eight improved, irrigated farms in the county and is a heavy sheep and cattle feeder. He also has much city property, in- cluding lots and business buildings and is a booster for the city and county. He is asso- ciated with every enterprise for the good of the community. In banking circles his stand- ing is high and for a number of years he was a member of the board of directors of the Nebraska Bankers Association and during one year of his directorship, was president of the board. He is a member of the Federal Re- serve board, was one of the organizers of the Scottsbluff country club and has been director and vice president since its organization.

In 1907 Mr. Mathers was united in marriage to Miss Fern Johnston, who was born near Nebraska City, Nebraska. Her father, Albert Johnston, was a prominent stockman in Otoe county for many years, featuring Shorthorn cattle and exhibiting at many state fairs. He owns three valuable farms near Gering, to which city he retired in 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Mathers have two children: Albert Lowell, who has reached his tenth year, and Elizabeth, who is four years old.

In politics Mr. Mathers is a Republican. He was elected first mayor of Gering in 1916; the fine public school building was erected, the water works and sewer system were establish-

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ed during his administration. For a number of years he has been chairman of the board of education. He has been an active and effi- cient official of the Gering-Fort Laramie gov- ernment ditch and worked hard to get the land signed up, making two trips to Washington, D. C., to present the matters to legislators, at his own expense. He was elected treasurer of the irrigation company, an office which he has filled to the entire satisfaction of the asso- ciation. Recognizing his fitness for such pub- lic service, Governor Neville named Mr. Math- ers as one 'of the committee of five represen- tative men to go to Washington to confer with Food Commissioner Hoover respecting the serious condition confronting sheep and cattle feeders in the state. He has taken an active part in government war work ; was vice chair- man of all four bond floatations, chairman of the publicity committee of the county; local chairman of the War Savings Stamps issue and a director of the Red Cross. Wherever he was needed he responded to the call and was one of the most effective four-minute speakers on the Nebraska list. Mr. Mathers has a beautiful home at Gering. He was rear- ed in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church.

JOHN T. McINTOSH, postmaster of Sid- ney and one of the younger business men of Cheyenne county who has made a name for himself in financial circles, was born in Potter, April 9, 1871, the son of James J. and Mary (Heelan) McIntosh, the former a native of Canada while the latter was born in Ireland. The father was a pioneer settler of this coun- ty, a prominent man here whose sketch appears in this volume.

John McIntosh was reared in Cheyenne county and received his education in the public schools of Sidney. After graduating from the high school he entered Notre Dame University, of Indiana, took a special commercial course and after receiving his degree returned to Sid- ney. His father was one of the influential men who started the American State Bank, and the young man went into that institution of which his father was president. This was just a few months after the bank was started. Mr. McIntosh proved to be an efficient official, holding the office of assistant cashier. He learned the banking business from the ground up and soon was made cashier, holding office eleven years, and it was due to many of the policies that he and his father instituted that the bank was so successful. He became well and favorably known in banking and financial

circles in the Panhandle as a sound, conserva- tive banker. Resigning from the bank, Mr. McIntosh accepted a position with the Union Pacific railroad, where his knowledge of finance was of great value, and he gained as high place with that road as he had with the bank, and only left because of a more advan- tageous offer from the Burlington Railroad. There he remained until appointed postmaster in 1911, an office which he has since held, to the entire satisfaction of the residents of Sid- ney. Today Mr. McIntosh is regarded as one of the substantial and reliable business men of this section, and is one who always helps in the upbuilding of Cheyenne county and the Pan- handle which has always been his home.

October 25, 1899, Mr. McIntosh married Miss Mary McFadden who came to Cheyenne county with her parents when six months old and was reared and educated here. Two chil- dren have been born of this union : James Clifton and Jean Heelan, both at home.

Mr. McIntosh is a member of the Knights of Columbus, belongs to the Catholic church and is a Republican. He is one of the men who believes in the future of the Panhandle and like his father, is a constructive builder when it comes to county and civic affairs.

JAMES L. McINTOSH is a native son of Nebraska. He resides at Sidney, the county seat of Cheyenne county, where he is engaged in the practice of law, and also in the real estate business. In his professional business alliance he is senior member of the firm of McIntosh & Martin, and formerly was asso- ciated in law practice with George W. Heist, at Sidney. He has proved himself one of the most aggressive and loyal supporters of pro- gressive movements that have conserved the civic and material advancement of Sidney and Cheyenne county and had the distinction of serving as the first mayor of Sidney. He rep- resents most fully what is known by the char- acteristic American expression of "live wire," and is one of the leaders in community thought and action at Sidney. He is a stalwart in the local camp of the Republican party, is affiliat- ed with the Knights of Columbus and both he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church.

Mr. McIntosh was born in that part of Chey .. enne county, Nebraska, that is now comprised in Kimball county, near the old town of An- telope, now Kimball, and the date of his na- tivity was. April 11, 1874. He is a son of James J. and Mary Helen McIntosh, and on other pages will be found a review of the ca-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

reer of his father, so that further data con- cerning the family history are not demanded in the present connection. After due prelim- inary discipline in the schools of his native state James L. McIntosh entered Notre Dame University, Indiana, and after taking an aca- demic course there he was matriculated in the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1893, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Upon his return to Ne- braska he was admitted to the bar of his na- tive state and forthwith engaged in the prac- tice of his profession at Sidney, where he formed a partnership with Henry St. Raner, who is now a resident of Portland, Oregon. Later he was similarly associated with George W. Heist for some time, and his present pro- fessional and business coadjutor is Paul L. Martin. The firm has a substantial and repre- sentative law business.

In 1898 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. McIntosh to Miss Rose Pavla, a native of lowa. Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh have three children: Mary, who won a scholarship at the time of her graduation in the Sidney high school; Mckinley, who is a member of the class of 1920 in the high school ; and James G., who is attending the public schools of Sidney ; the family being one of marked popularity in connection with the representative social ac- tivities of the community.

MYRTLE J. LANCASTER, treasurer of Cheyenne county is one of the native daughters of Nebraska who has made a marked success in business life through her own ability and high standards. Miss Lancaster was born in York county, Nebraska, the daughter of John P. and Madge E. (Miller) Lancaster, the former a native of Illinois and the mother of Pennsylvania. They were married in Illinois and became the parents of four children : Clyde W., who lives in California; William L., deceased; Myrtle, of this review, and Helen, who married Mervin E. Oliver, and lives in Sidney.

Mr. Lancaster was a farmer who came to Nebraska at an early day, locating first in York county and then coming farther west in 1886, to settle here in Cheyenne county. He took up a homestead, proved up on it and en- gaged in farming until 1891, when he went to Colorado and became a gold sampler at Vic- tor, Colorado, for the Taylor and Brunton Sampling Company, later returning to Sianey he became a railroad man and is now connected with the Union Pacific Road.

Miss Lancaster received her education ill the public schools of Sidney, where the greater part of her life has been spent. After finish- ing hier education she entered business life, being bookkeeper for some years for a firm in Sidney. Later she went into the county offices, where she showed marked ability in handling the work, became familiar with many branches of county administration and was appointed deputy under W. R. Wood, county treasurer, and S. Fishman, county treasurer. After serving under them she ran and was elected treasurer of Cheyenne county in 1918, the first woman to ever hold that office in Cheyenne county. Miss Lancaster was thus thoroughly acquainted with the administration of the county funds and her clection proves in what high standing she is held by the people of the county. For nine years she has been working in some official capacity in the court house and is regarded as one of the most able and efficient officers that the county has ever had.

Miss Lancaster is a member of the English Lutheran church, of the Rebeccas and is vice- president of the State Association of County Treasurers.

CLAYTON RADCLIFF, county attorney of Cheyenne county, is a native son of the Panhandle, born at Ogallala, March 16, 1889, the son of Mack and Bertie (Gasp) Radcliff, to whom were born three children: Harriet, of Sidney ; Clayton, of this review and Anna, also living in Sidney. The father was a native of Ohio who ran away from home when a boy of fourteen years and went to Texas, staying there five years. When Mr. Radcliff came to Cheyenne county in 1872, with a "trail herd" from Texas, he was about nineteen years old. He found work as a cow boy which he fol- lowed for some time, then engaged in ranch- ing business for himself, at the Ogaliala ranch. Later he took up a homestead and the log cabin which he built is still standing today with the loop holes through which to fire at the Indians, when the whites were attacked. There is a picture of this cabin in the history of the Panhandle. Sidney, the nearest post- office, was thirty-five miles distant and the nearest neighbor was twenty miles away, which shows the condition of the country at the time. Mack Radcliff still owns and oper- ates this ranch consisting of about seven thousand acres, located on Cedar creek in Mor- rill county. Sidney was the great town of the Panhandle at that time, the outfitting place for the northwestern section of the state and also for the Black Hills. Mr. Radcliff was foreman

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

of the Ogallala Cattle Company for a number of years, one of the well known cattle men of this section. Clayton Radcliff's grandmother on his mother's side ran the first hotel in Ogal- lala and at the time of one of the Indian upris- ings was the only woman left in the town. Just after the Indians had left Mack Radcliff came very near capture by the Indians when he rode to the Keystone ranch on North Platte river to warn them of the coming Indians and a few days later Mr. Radcliff acted as guide and scout for the cavalry from Fort Sidney, who pursued the Indians into the sand hills. The following winter Mr. Radcliffe was in Fort Robinson-1878-when the Indians made their last final and fatal effort to escape, which re- sulted in the death of most of them when they were held as prisoners at Fort Robinson. The story of this Indian fight is well told in Edgar Bronson's Cow Boy Life on the Western Plain. The following year Mr. Radcliff, as foreman for Bill Shadley, trailed the first herd of Mormon cattle from Utah to western Ne- braska.

Clayton Radcliff was educated in the public schools of Sidney, graduated from the high school and then entered the State University at Lincoln where he took a course in the law school, receiving his degree in 1913. He was at once admitted to practice in Nebraska and came back to Sidney to open a law office where he has since been engaged in his professional work. Mr. Radcliff was elected county attor- ney in 1914 and has been re-elected to that of- fice and is serving at the present time, which testifies to the faith and confidence which the people have in his ability.

In 1918, Mr. Radcliff married Miss Merna Swartzlander, a native of Iowa whose father is a doctor. Mr. Radcliff is one of the younger members of the Cheyenne County Bar who bids fair to go far in his chosen profession. He is a Mason and an Elk.

NELS JOHNSON, represents the progres- sive, sturdy type of citizens which has been furnished Cheyenne county by Sweden. Mr. Johnson had had some experience in agricul- tural industry in his native land, but farming is conducted in a much different manner in Europe than in America and the crops grown in that country are of another character so that he was forced to work out his own prob- lems. He possessed willingness, inherent abil- ity and a determination to succeed, and so well has he directed and managed his affairs that today he is one of the largest landholders in Cheyenne county ; is accounted one of the sub- stantial and progressive citizens of his com-

munity and held in high esteem by his busi- ness associates and the many friends he has made in the land of his adoption.

Nels Johnson was born in Sweden Septem- ber 23, 1862, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jons Monsen, who were natives of that land where they were reared, educated and married. The father was one of the successful small farmers of Sweden, who are known the world over for thrift, industry and the good living they are able to make of the small farms that lie be- tween the mountain ranges, for the land of the valleys is very fertile and the husbandmen of this far northern country are able to win a comfortable living on an amount of land that is inconsiderable in our own country of broad prairies. Nels grew up on his father's farm, attending school, which is under government supervision in Sweden, until he had gained a good practical education. He assisted as a boy with such tasks as were not beyond his strength, and as he grew to manhood assumed more and harder work. He was an ambitious youth, and had heard from many of his re- turned countrymen of the opportunities to get ahead in America, so determined to come here for that purpose. In 1882, while not yet of age, he embarked for the New World, the "Land of Promise" which in reality has be- come one to him. Landing in Portland, Maine, he came west and was employed on a farm in Illinois, for five years before he accumulated enough capital to really engage in independent business as a farmer. During this time Mr. Johnson had made inquiries about the different sections of the country, where the best land was to be obtained and after long consider- ation chose Nebraska for his permanent home. Coming to the Panhandle he located in section 8, township 14, range 48, on a hundred and sixty acre claim, and that the location has proved satisfactory goes without saying when we learn that this is still the family home. In addition to this first tract Mr. Johnson filed on a tree claim. He proved up on all his land within the time required by the government. Mr. Johnson had some small capital, which, with his native thrift, he had been able to save from his earnings-enough at least, to make a substantial payment on the land he had se- lected. There he at once began permanent improvements ; at first they had the usual sod house of the pioneer, but it was a warm com- fortable home when the terrible winter bliz- zards swept across the prairies. As soon as possible he erected buildings for his stock so that they too would be protected alike from winter cold and summer heat. As Mr. John-

FRANK F. STAUFFER AND FAMILY

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

son says, he raised little the first years and the mere question of existance in the new country proved serious, but he was young, had been reared to hard work and was not afraid of doing whatever he could to earn money. From the first he had great faith in the possibilities and future of the Panhandle, and though he suffered from drought in the early nineties, from the grasshoppers and other insect pests, held on through all and his faith has been jus- tified ; for today he has a comfortable fortune and has seen this rolling prairie become a veri- table garden spot of Nebraska. Mr. Johnson engaged in general farming, cultivated his land with care and skill, adding improvements from time to time as his capital allowed, erected new and substantial buildings, and eventually converted what had been useless and valueless property into one of the finest cul- tivated farming estates in this part of Chey- enne county. As the years passed he bought land adjoining his original tract until today he owns a full section and the improvements on all of it he has the pride of knowing he placed there himself. Mr. Johnson has con- tinued to engage in diversified farming and stock-raising, managing his affairs with success so that he now has this valuable farm estate and various other investments. Among the citizens of Cheyenne county he is known as an indus- trious man of high principles, excellent busi- ness ability, and utmost personal probity. He has their respect for what he has achieved and the manner in which he accomplished it. Pub- lic life has never been attractive enough, nor political rewards strong enough, to take his attention from the cultivation of the soil; and he has been contented to carry his career straight through as a representative of the agricultural interests of his community. Hav- ing an excellent practical education himself, Mr. Johnson has taken an active part in every progressive civic movement since locating in Nebraska; he advocated good roads, good schools and all improved agricultural methods ; to demonstrate this he has been a member of his school board for many years, filling it effi- ciently and well.

In 1888, just a year after coming to this community, Mr. Johnson married Miss Elna Olson, also a native of Sweden, and this cour- ageous woman has proved an able helpmate and devoted mother; for she stood beside her husband during all the early years, lending aid and encouragement and has played no minor part in building up the fortune which she and her husband today enjoy. There have been four children in the Johnson family : Ester

A1., lives on a ranch in Colorado; Sophie, re- sides on a farm near Sidney ; Julia, now Mrs. Rassmuson, also lives on a ranch in Colorado, and Mabel, who is at home with her parents. The family are members of the Lutheran church, while Mr. Johnson is guided by no party lines when he casts his vote, but gives his support to the man best fitted to serve the community, state or nation, as the case may be.

FRANK F. STAUFFER, the vice-presi- dent and former cashier of the Banner County Bank at Harrisburg, has long been one of Banner county's representative men. He has lived here since boyhood and owns many acres of valuable land, included in which is a tract on which was sown the first alfalfa seed in Banner county.

Frank F. Stauffer was born in Wayne coun- ty, Ohio, May 14, 1875. His parents were Dansel H. and Mary (Frase) Stauffer, the former was born in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, and died in Nebraska, April 11, 1899. The latter was born in Ohio and died in Wayne county in January, 1881. Of their eight chil- dren, five are living and are thus distributed as to homes : Frank F., lives in Banner county ; Nancy, in Akron, Ohio; John at Massilon, Ohio; Cora at Warwick, Ohio; and Salamon, in Michigan. Before coming to Nebraska, in November, 1885, the father for many years had been a farmer, fruit grower and dairyman in Ohio, where he owned one hundred and six- ty acres of land. After reaching this state Dansel H. Stauffer pre-empted a quarter sec- tion in Banner county on which his son now lives, later filed as homesteader on the same land and also took a tree claim, Frank F. now owning that land also. Mr. Stauffer was greatly interested in fruit growing and set out the first orchard in the county, and was also the first successful experimenter in alfal- fa. Before leaving Ohio he was married a second time, Miss Lucy Rudy becoming his wife in 1885. No children were born to this union but she survived him until 1915. Mr. Stauffer was a member of the Christian church, and in his political views he was a Republican. In every way he was a man of sterling character.

Frank F. Stauffer was eleven years old when he accompanied his father to Banner county but in his own opinion his education had not been completed. He was quite am- bitious and as there were no schools organized here for about three years, he had to study alone and applied himself so diligently to his books that he qualified himself for teaching,

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and later on taught one term of school in Ban- ner county for twenty-five dollars a month, two terms in Hamilton county and one more term in Banner county, at thirty dollars a month. His school district was the first to organize in the county. Clara Shumway was the first county superintendent, and Minnie Shumway taught the first school in an up- stairs room of Mr. Stauffer's home.

Beginning early to work on the farm at wages of fifty cents a day, Mr. Stauffer care- fully saved his money and when ready to start into the cattle business had five hundred dol- lars to invest. He remained at home that winter and taught his last term of school in Banner county, but in the spring located at Kearney, from which place he was shortly af- terward summoned home by a telegram an- nouncing his father's serious illness. His father died a week later and Mr. Stauffer had to take charge and assume many responsibil- ities not of his own undertaking. He found himself obligated to stay, when the estate was finally settled, and this has since been his home, although at that time he much preferred Ham- ilton county as a place of residence. It was about that time that serious troubles arose between ranch owners and those who turned their hundred of cattle out on the range with- out paying any attention to whom the ranges belonged. This trouble was not to Mr. Stauf- fer's liking but he did the best he could where the estate's interest was concerned and re- ceived credit for acting justly and fairly.

Mr. Stuffer now has in farms and ranches more than twenty-two hundred acres. He breeds Shire horses and Hereford cattle, rais- ing fifty head of cattle yearly and a hundred head of horses. From a field of thirty-five acres of non-irrigated land, his father's origi- nal alfalfa farm, Mr. Stauffer cuts an aver- age of a hundred tons of alfalfa a year. This land had been reseeded only once in twenty- five years. The orchard set out by his father consists of five acres of apples and cherries, the latter being a pretty sure crop, apples not doing so well when there have been late frosts. Mr. Stauffer has harvested a hundred bushels of luscious cherries in one season. He and his family enjoy the comforts of a modern resi- dence of ten rooms and bath, hot water system of heating and acetylene gas for lighting, cook- ing and ironing. The barns Mr. Stauffer con- structed himself, of substantial logs and he has installed a water pressure system covering all the out-buildings and garden lots. This is one of the model rural homes of the county. On June 18, 1906, Mr. Stauffer was united

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 127

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