History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 128

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

USA > Nebraska > History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III > Part 128

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).

in marriage with Miss Martha Osborne, who is a daughter of Robert and Maggie (Draper) Osborne, who came to Banner county in 1887, and now live at Gering. Mr. Osborne is assistant assessor. Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer have five children : Henry, Iva, Walter, Robert and Cora, for whose rearing and education Mr. Stauffer has made careful provision.

In 1913, Mr. Stauffer became identified with the Banner County Bank at Harrisburg, of which he is the vice-president and he served the institution as cashier for four years, 1913- 1916. He is also interested in the Gering Na- tional Bank. He is a Republican. Although he has been active in many public ways in the county, he has never accepted any political office except that of county commissioner, in which capacity he served four years.

JOHN CLURE, who is one of Morrill coun- ty's most highly respected citizens and sub- stantial farmers, came to Nebraska in those early days when many hardships and even dan- gers menaced the lives of the pioneers. He has resided in several sections of the state and came to Morrill county in 1905, when he se- cured his valuable homestead of a hundred and sixty acres.

John Clure was born at Aurora, Illinois, July 12, 1849. His grandfather was born in Switz- erland and took part in the war of 1812 after settling in Canada, in which country the grand- mother was born. The parents of Mr. Clure were Joseph and Mary (Burlin) Clure, and the father was born in Canada, February 10, 1819, and the mother was reared in the dominion. Of their twelve children, three daughters and four sons are living.

John Clure went from Illinois to Iowa and lived there for twenty-seven years before com- ing to Nebraska. He was one of the earliest homesteaders on Pine ridge, six miles west of Belmont, in Dawes county, and lived there for ten years. To the usual hardships of pioneers, the fear of Indian attacks was added and Mr. Clure helped in the building of stockades for protection, but the prompt and efficient protec- tion given the settlers by the soldiers from Fort Robinson made the stockades unneces- sary. In order to provide for his family be- fore the land yielded crops, Mr. Clure worked at any kind of employment he could secure for money was very scarce. He has cut and hauled many a load of wood and sold the same for seventy-five cents. He has put excellent im- provements on his homestead in Morrill coun- ty and has practically turned over the general management to his son, Samuel R., who was

651

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

honorably discharged at Fort Dodge, Iowa, having served as motor ambulance driver in France from November 13, to January 25, 1919.

On March 31, 1872, in Cass county, Iowa, Mr. Clure was married to Miss Sarah Parker, whose parents, Humphrey and Nancy (Cole) Parker, were natives of Pike county, Indiana. The father of Mrs. Clure lived to the age of eighty and the mother to the age of eighty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Clure have had children as follows: Lula May, who died in infancy ; Arthur, who lives at Minature, Nebraska ; Mrs. Lucy L. Wood, whose home is in Nevada, where she has a chicken ranch ; Mrs. Annabel Hart, who lives near McGrew, Nebraska ; Mrs. Myra A. Shawver, who lives at Alliance, Nebraska ; Myrton O. and Joseph H., both of whom live in Cass county, Iowa ; John E., who resides at Melbeta, Nebraska ; Samuel R., who lives at home; Asher E., who lives at Gering, Nebraska, and Serena A., who lives at Mc- Grew. Mr. Clure and his family attend the Chrustian church. He has been a busy man all his life and never felt inclined toward poli- tical office, and at present is an independent voter, nor has he ever united with any frater- nal organization. He has been a good friend and neighbor, however, and in every section in which he has lived may be found those who have been helped in a friendly way. He has survived many of his old neighbors of pioneer days who were closely drawn together by com- mon misfortune and danger, but some of them remain and when they meet, their stories of early days are both interesting and instructive to the younger generation.

FRANK ROBERTSON, who has been a well contended resident of Nebraska since the age of sixteen years, came to the state with his parents in 1886. He has been continuously interested in the material development of the country, being a competent carpenter as well as substantial farmer.

Frank Robertson was born in the state of New York, not far distant from the great metropolis, September 14, 1870. He comes of sturdy stock, both of his parents surviving and his father, though seventy-eight years old, con- tinues work as a carpenter, with almost as sure a meauring eye as fifty years ago. Frank Rob- ertson is one of the sons of Levi and Eunice (Kenney) Robertson, both of whom were born in New York and now live in Franklin county, Nebraska. There Frank Robertson grew to manhood, learned his father's trade and also engaged in farming. In 1906, he came to Mor- rill county and homesteaded and now has a val-

uable farm of two hundred and forty acres, eighty acres of which is cattle pasture. He has made many improvements and his buildings are all commodious and substantial. Mr. Rob- ertson is a man of excellent business judgment and has been very successful in his undertak- ings.

Mr. Robertson was married to Miss Netta Bond, who was born June 10, 1870, in Boone county, Iowa, and is a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Ford) Bond, the former of whoni was born in 1848, in central Indiana, and the latter in 1852, in the state of New York. They came to Nebraska and homesteaded in Frank- lin county in 1873, removing to Lincoln coun- ty in 1908, and now live at Bridgeport. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have five children : Ralph, who is married, lives in Wyoming ; and Flor- ence, Olive, Seth and Eleanora, all at home. They also have an adopted daughter, Esther, who is now the wife of Wallace Smith, a farm- er in Morrill county. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson are members of the Free Methodist church. Mr. Robertson has always been an outspoken advocate of temperance and thus identified himself with the Prohibition party, and in every other way has lent his influence to the cause .of law and order wherever he has lived.

WILLIAM GETTY, who is one of the en- terprising and successful farmers and land- owners of Morrill county, was born December 19, 1883, in Morton county, Kansas. He is the oldest of seven children born to Charles and Armitta (Way) Getty, the former of whom was born in Indiana, and the latter in Morton county, Kansas.

The parents of Mr. Getty came to Nebraska and settled in Box Butte county in 1896, but about one year later went to Weston county, Wyoming, and there the father owns a ranch and carries on an extensive stock business. William Getty remained with his father in Wyoming until manhood, then acquired ranch- ing land for himself and still owns two hundred and twenty acres in Weston county, Wyoming. In 1917, he came to Morrill county and bought eighty acres of land which he has highly im- proved. It is all irrigated and is exceedingly valuable.

In 1911, Mr. Getty was united in marriage to Miss Flossie Spencer, who was born in Ne- braska. Extended mention of the Spencer family will be found in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Getty have two children, namely: Alice and Elsie. The family belongs to the Method- est Episcopal church. Mr. Getty is an inde- pendent voter.

652

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

ARTHUR M. GILBERT .- In no section of Nebraska has agricultural development been more rapid than in Morrill county, aided, in recent years, by the vast irrigation projects of the Federal Government. Ownership of irri- gated land means certain prosperity and it has been the laudable effort of homesteaders who came and established themselves here as per- manent residents, to secure the advantages of irrigation as rapidly as possible. Among the enterprising young men who came to Morrill county and homesteaded a hundred acres in 1908, is Arthur M. Gilbert, who has ninety acres of his land ditcher. It is situated on sec- tion 34 town 22. and is considered one of the best farms in the county.

Arthur M. Gilbert was born at Clarks, Ne- braska, February 5, 1886, and is third in a fam- ily of eight chidlren born to B. M. and Eliza E. Gilbert. His father was born in Kentucky and his mother in Wisconsin, and their niar- riage took place at Prairie City, Iowa. The father has been a farmer all his life, first in Iowa and later in Merrick county, Nebraska, and still later in Oregon, where he still lives.

In the public schools of Merrick county, Ar- thur M. Gilbert obtained his education and his agricultural training was secured in a very practical way on his father's farm. He came to Morrill county in 1907, and in the following year secured his homestead. He has devoted much care to the substantial improving of his land and all his surroundings indicates thrift and plenty. He carries on general farming and raises about thirty head of cattle per year, and additionally has been a moderate sheep feeder.

In Morrill county, September 29, 1909, Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage to Miss Lela E. Brown, who was born in Iowa. She is a daughter of J. M. and Hannah C. Brown, na- tives of Iowa, who homesteaded in Morrill county in 1908. Mr. Brown met an accidental death on his farm. Mrs. Brown resides at Boulder, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have three children : Le Arta, Archie and Kenneth. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert are members of the Seventh Day Adventist church, in which they are highly esteemed, as they are in the entire neighborhood. Mr. Gilbert is a well read, in- telligent man and votes according to his own judgment.

MICHAEL M. KLINE, of section 30, township 14-48, Cheyenne county, has been one of the industrious men of this locality for more than three decades, linking his name with all that is admirable in farming, and wise and progressive in individual life and bearing the distinction of being thoroughly and com-

pletely self-made. He is a native of the Old Dominion of fine German stock, and has many of the admirable traits of that fine race. Mr. Kline was born in Virginia, December 17, 1855, the son of George and Elizabeth ( Mill- er) Kline, both natives of that state. The father was a general farmer who followed that vocation all his life, passing away at the age of sixty-seven years, while his wife sur- vived him until her seventy-fourth year. There were the following children in the Kline fam- ily: Michael, the subject of this review ; Eliz- abeth, who married Paul Kappler and lives in Iowa ; Ira, a resident of Omaha, and Eva, who is married and now resides in Colorado.

Michael grew up on his father's farm in Virginia, attending school during the term and helped on the farm during his vacations and after school hours, as there are many things that a sturdy boy can do that do not tax his strength and at the same time keep him out of doors. When he was young boys did not have the lives of youths on a farm today ; there was no using the family automobile after supper to go to town or visit friends, though a general eight hour schedule was in vogue, eight hours in the morning and another in the afternoon, so that he grew up with an excel- lent practical knowledge of the farming busi- ness as carried on along the Atlantic seaboard. After finishing school Michael remained with his father for a period before launching him- self as an independent business man in agricul- tural pursuits, but there was little chance for a young man in such an old and well settled state as Virginia and he decided to try his for- tune in the west. In the fall of 1878 he came west to Keokuk county, Iowa, where he lived nine years. In 1887, he came to Nebraska, settled in Cheyenne county becoming one of the pioneers of the section. He took up a homestead on which he still resides, which is ample testimony that he considered the loca- tion an excellent one and had faith in the fu- ture of the Panhandle. His start, necessarily was a modest one, but as time passed and he was able to realize money from his labors and crops, he added to his equipment, made im- provements and enlarged the scope of his oper- ations. From the first, Mr. Kline engaged in general farming and stock raising, and as he was careful, thrifty, willing to try and adopt new methods and new farm machinery that lightened the work on the farm, was soon meeting with gratifying success. He erected a comfortable home, many and substantial farm buildings and made such other improve- ments as highly enhanced the value of the land,

653

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

so that today his is one of the finest proper- ties in the district. He has not confined him- self to farming alone as he has ever taken an active part in communal affairs and for two years was postmaster at Colton, an office he filled efficiently and well. Since first coming to Cheyenne county he has been an advocate of good schools, good roads and intensive and for more than thirty years has served as a school director in district No. 64. In poli- tics he is a Democrat and though he never has had time or aspired to public office, takes a keen interest in the local elections. Both he and his wife are members of the Brethren church (Dunkards) of which they are liberal supporters.

Before coming to his western home, on Oc- tober 21. 1880, Mr. Kline married Miss Fannie Floy, also a native of Virginia. She was born in that state May 26, 1852, the daughter of Samuel Floy who was born, reared and edu- cated in his native state, who after attaining his majority and engaging in farming in the Old Dominion for some years, came west to Keokuk county. Iowa, where he was an early homesteader. There he spent many years as a tiller of the soil and was a minister of the Brethren church and did much church work. He passed away on his farm after living out the psalmist's span of "three score years and ten" for he was eighty-eight years old at the time of his death.

During the years he has been a resident of this locality Mr. Kline has not only gained material success and become established as one of the productive farmers of the Pan- handle, but at the same time has built up a personal reputation for honesty in business, industry in the daily affairs of life and public spirit as a citizen of the community.

PATRICK O'GRADY, who undoubtedly is one of the best known men of Banner county, is serving in his third term as sheriff of the county, an office he has filled with remarkable efficiency. On many occasions he has proved his great personal courage, and the record of his public services shows that fidelity to duty has always been his aim, irrespective of danger or loss to himself. Hence Sheriff O'Grady en- joys a large measure of public esteem, all men being his friends except those who have broken the law.

Patrick O'Grady was born in County Sligo, Ireland, February 3, 1873, the only child of Owen and Mary (Casey) O'Grady. His fath- er was a tanner by trade and this he followed all his life either in Ireland or England. Both

parents were faithful members of the Roman Catholic church.

When Patrick was thirteen years old, he came to the United States. He had al- ready had some schooling but had additional school training in America, but the greater part of a very sound and effective education Sheriff O'Grady no doubt obtained in associa- tion with others as his life experiences have brought about. He landed on United States soil April 11, 1886. His first work was in con- nection with railroading and for five years

he lived at Miles City, Montana. For a short 111- terval he worked in Banner county but went back to Montana, and it was several years later that he came to Banner to establish his permanent home. In 1893, he homesteaded and engaged in farming until called to public office.

On June 14, 1892, at Corning, Arkansas, Sheriff O'Grady was married to Miss Florence Cripp. Mrs. O'Grady died in 1896 leaving no children.

In politics the sheriff is a republican. He served one term as deputy sheriff under Sher- iff Ingalls, then was elected sheriff and has served ever since. During the continuance of the World War, he was chairman of the coun- ty draft board. He belongs to the order of Royal Highlanders and also to the Knights of Pythias and in the latter organization has passed all the chairs in the local body.

JOHN B. KILGORE, who owns a fine, ir- rigated farm in Morrill county, successfully carries on large farm industries here, for he is thoroughly experienced, having been engaged in farm pursuits all his life. Mr. Kilgore was

654

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

born at Springfield, Kansas, November 6, 1876, and is a son of James V. and Sarah ( Buskirk) Kilgore.

James V. Kilgore was born in Illinois and like others of his name still living in that state, served with honor in the Civil war, for the Kil- gores were well represented in that struggle and have always been noted for their loyalty and good American citizenship. In early man- hood he learned the carpenter trade and later worked at the same in Kansas and in Nebraska. After coming to the latter state he homesteaded in Perkins county where he engaged in farm- ing for a time. His wife is a native of Wiscon- sin and they both survive, living in comfortable retirement in Yamhill, Oregon.

After his schooldays were over, John B. Kil- gore gave his father assistance, and it was not until 1911, that he homesteaded for himself, in Morrill county. Like many another investor he found little encouragement at first in his ef- forts to raise crops on arid land and for two years a cloud of discouragement attended him, but when irrigation became a fact and the ditches brought the water, he realized that after all his judgment had not been at fault and that he owned property worth thousands of dollars in his hundred acre farm. When government statistics announce an increase of yield in crops on irrigated land of twenty-eight per cent, the bountiful harvests of this section can be under- stood. Mr. Kilgore has improved his farm in every way and his attractive farm house indi- cates a large degree of comfort.

Mr. Kilgore was married to Miss Ella Davi- son, who was born in Sweden, April 21, 1882, a daughter of Oscar and Huldah Davison, who came to the United States from Sweden in 1887, and settled in Cass county, Nebraska. The father of Mrs. Kilgore worked on the rail- road until the time of his death, when he was forty-seven years old. The mother lives in Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Kilgore are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bayard, Nebraska. In politics Mr. Kilgore has always been affiliated with the Republican party.

BENJAMIN LEVENSKY, who is a well known and highly respected resident of Omaha was for years connected with large business enterprises in Kimball, Nebraska. He was born in Russia, in 1863, and in 1882 came to the United States. The first years in America, Mr. Levensky spent in Connecticut, then made his way west to Iowa, lived there until the spring of 1885, when he came to western Ne- braska and secured a homestead and tree clain in Sheridan county. He lived on this

land five years and proved up on the claim, then sold, and under the firm name of Leven- sky & Litman, engaged in the mercantile business in Hay Springs, with branch stores at Bassett and Newport. Because of good crops at that time the farmers bought many goods and the firm prospered, but in 1892, there was a crop failure and this was immediately felt by the merchants in their business. Mr. Le- vensky sold his interest and moved to New- port, where he carried on his business for twelve years, then traded his store for four sections of land, two of them in Kimball and two in Banner county, and now owns about five thousand acres in these counties. For six years he carried on a store and also engaged in farming and stock-raising. In October, 1918, he sold his store and the stock on his ranch, as his older sons entered military serv- ice and were not able to help him, and now lives retired in Omaha, at 2747 North Forty- fifth Avenue.

At Leads, South Dakota, in 1891, Mr. Le- vensky was married and he and his wife have had seven children: Dora, who is married to Earl Wolff of Nashville, Arkansas; Israel, who had the distinction to be the second young man to enlist in the World War, from Kim- ball county, was in an infantry unit and sta- tioned for eighteen months at Honolulu, and received his discharge at Camp Dodge; Eph- raim also enlisted and saw service with the submarine division of the navy, was a mem- ber of the crew of the Oregon and crossed the ocean carrying supplies to the troops in France, and was honorably discharged at Den- ver, Colorado; Sol, who is completing his high school work at St. John's Military Acad- emy, a member of the class of 1920; Mae, de- ceased; Jacob, who is attending the public schools; and Mier, who died in infancy.

Mrs. Levensky died in 1912. Mr. Leven- sky has been a leading citizen wherever he has lived and while at Newport was a member of the school board and director of the Citizens State Bank. For years he has been prominent in Masonic circles and was past master of his lodge. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows in which he was noble grand. On November 11, 1916, Mr. Levinsky married Mrs. Jennie Levinsk of New York, who came to the United States from Russia and lived in New York until her marriage to Mr. Le- vensky.

EMAL W. SWANSON, who is one of Bridgeport's best known citizens, having been agent for the Burlington railroad at this point since 1909, has been identified with this

655

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

system for sixteen years, during that time earning promotion and is held in high re- gard not only by the corporation by which he is employed, but by the traveling public gen- erally in this section. Mr. Swanson was born at Aledo, Mercer county, Illinois, September 6, 1885.

The parents of Mr. Swanson were John and Saralı (Robinson) Swanson, the former of whom was born in Minnesota and the latter in Missouri. Their marriage took place at Joy, Illinois, where the mother yet resides. The father operated a restaurant at Joy, for a number of years, and his death occurred there in 1914. He was a Republican in poli- tics and both parents belonged to the Metho- dist Episcopal church. They had the follow- ing children: Lena, who is the wife of Virgil A. Love, a stockman in Mercer county, Illi- nois; Celesta, who is the wife of Scott 'Terry of Los Angeles, California, a civil engineer ; Emal W., who resides at Bridgeport; and George, who is employed in the government shipyard at Moblie, Alabama.

Emal W. Swanson obtained his education at Joy, Illinois, where he completed the high school course, then learned the art of teleg- raphy, a natural aptness assisting him in quick- ly reaching facility. He was sationed first at Viola and then at Bushnell, Illinois, and in 1909, he was placed in charge of the station at Bridgeport, where he has faithfully per- formed his duties ever since. In 1916, he established a bottling plant at Bridgeport for the manufacture of soft drinks and has pros- pered in this undertaking. Mr. Swanson has been industrious and saving and recently has made investments that have resulted in the building of a comfortable and attractive resi- dence here. Mr. Swanson is a self-made man and his financial independence is the direct re- sult of his own efforts.

In 1910, Mr. Swanson was united in mar- riage to Miss Josephine St. Clair, who was born at Monmouth, Illinois, and they have one son, Robert St. Clair, born October 14, 1915. They are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

WILLIAM RITCHIE, JR., lawyer, with offices at Bridgport and Omaha, has been identified for seventeen years with educational, professional and military affairs in Nebraska as they came within the scope of his effort. On July 1, 1904, he came first to Bridgeport, and this city, as other sections, has been benefited by his vitalizing energy and by the example he has set of loyal and patriotic citizenship. Mr.

Ritchie was born at Ravenswood, Chicago, Illi- nois, July 28, 1886, the son of William and Charlotte (Congdon) Ritchie, the latter of whom was born at Amboy, Illinois, and the former at Frederick, Maryland, his home being across the street from the home of the heroine of Whittier's poem, "Barbara Fritchie," his father being Barbara Fritchie's family physi- cian. For thirty-five years William Ritchie, Sr., has been a lawyer of prominence in the city of Chicago, one of his distinguished clients being the late Theodore Roosevelt. He has served as chancellor of the Episcopal Dio- cese of Chicago. Of his four sons, William Jr., and his twin brother, Prescott C., were the first born, the latter of whom is connected with the Westinghouse Company in Chicago; John, who left Princeton College to enter a military training camp during the World War ; and Gorton, who is a student in the University of Wisconsin.

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 western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 128

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