History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 145

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 145

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He first engaged in different kinds of mer-

736

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

cantile business as an employe, studying how business principles were applied in each one to make for business success. With this sort of a training he later engaged in business for him- self, first in the abstract, insurance and loan business, and then in ranching operations, and as a breeder of pure Hereford cattle. At the present time his main business interests are in ranch lands and the oil industry, and he has

RANCH OF R. B. SCHNURR

the utmost faith in the future of Sioux county in both branches of these undertakings.

From January 5, 1911, to January 6, 1921, he was county judge of Sioux county, Nebras- ka. During this ten years of service he acted in the capacity of land commissioner and ren- dered valuable assistance in the settlement and upbuilding of Sioux county. The services he thus rendered were of immense benefit to the people of this county, because they came from a sagacious mind and a willing heart. Judge Schnurr's retirement at the end of his ten years of faithful service was purely voluntary.

Judge Schnurr found time, also, to devote to semi-public affairs. For several years he was secretary of the Fair Association of Sioux county, and at the present time he is secretary- treasurer of the Harrison N. F. L. Association. He has been active in various lodges, including the I. O. O. F., Patriarchs Militant, the Re- bekahs, the Elks, and the Woodmen of the World.

Judge Schnurr was one of the most active and loyal of citizens during the World War, and the advice that he gave and the example he set were noted with pride and pleasure by the great circle of his friends and admirers in Sioux county. He acted as secretary of the county council of defense and chairman of the

legal advisory board for Sioux county,, and in both these capacities he rendered able and single-minded service.

Judge Schnurr was reared a Presbyterian, but he is a man of broad and liberal views on matters of religion and in politics. At the present time he is affiliated with no church but is a supporter of them all, believing that each of them has its work to do in making the world better. In politics he is a Democrat, but here again he is liberal in his views, able to discern the weaknesses as well as extol the virtues of his own party and being generous enough to ac- cord just commendation to men in other parties whom he believes to be able and upright.

Mrs. Schnurr's maiden name was Margaret M. Bixler. She was married to the judge, No- vember 13, 1920. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Bixler, both of them now deceased. They were early settlers in Illinois, later pioneers of Indian Territory and, after the death of her husband, Mrs. Bixler moved with her adult sons and daughters to Sioux

RESIDENCE OF R. B. SCHNURR

county, where they acquired valuable ranch holdings.

An active, upright, educated man, Judge Schnurr is a fitting type of the men who have made the barren wilderness fruitful, who have transformed its wildness and monotony into prosperous ranches, comfortable, stately homes, and towns where the hum of industry never ceases. These are the men who are the bone and the sineu and the brains of America and from them and the areas they inhabit this na- tion gets its virility and courage which enables it successfully to pass every crisis and to face every foe, both without and within.

D. R. WILLIAMS

J. W. KINNAMON

737

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

DAVID R. WILLIAMS is a representative of one of the prominent and well known pio- neer families of western Nebraska and here he has won for himself individual prestige in connection with farm industry and as a dealer in real estate, in which latter domain of enter- prise he has developed a substantial business and incidentally aided in furthering the march of development in this section of the state. He is the owner of a large tract of land in Garden and Morrill counties, as well as his attractive home property in the village of Lisco, where he is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company and where also he maintains his general business headquarters.

David R. Williams was born in Harrison county, Missouri, June 22, 1878, and in the same state were born his parents, George D. and Martha E. (Johnson) Williams, whose marriage was solemnized while the groom was home on a brief furlough from service as a Union soldier in the Civil War. George D. Williams was born in Harrison county, Mis- souri, a member of one of the old and hon- ored families of that section, and when the Civil War was precipitated on the nation he manifested his patriotism by enlisting in the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, with which he served during the entire course of the great conflict between the states of the north and the south. After the surrender that brought the war to an end, it was found necessary to maintain troops for some time in repelling the uprisings of western Indians, who had taken advantage of war conditions, and thus Mr. Williams continued in service about a year. at Fort Sedgwick and at Moore's ranch, Colo- rado, where he aided in fighting the Indians. He then resumed the occupations of peace, and he continued as a representative of farm industry in Missouri until 1884, when he came to western Nebraska and numbered himself among the pioneers of that part of Cheyenne county that now comprises Denel county. There he took up and eventually proved title to homestead, preemption and tree claims, and he became a successful agriculturist, besides raising cattle and horses upon a substantial scale. He served four years as deputy sheriff of old Cheyenne county, and for three years he conducted a livery stable and business at Chappell, the present judicial center of Denel county. In 1896 he removed to Kearney. where he engaged in the livery business, and in 1901 he removed to Julesburg, Colorado, where he continued to reside until his death, in December, 1917. His widow still resides at Julesburg, and in 1919 she celebrated the seventy-sixth anniversary of her birth. She

has gained wide experience in connection with life in the west, and both she and her husband gained a host of friends during their years of residence in western Nebraska.

David R. Williams has satisfaction in re- verting to the fact that he attended the first school established at Chappell, the present county seat of Deuel county, and that his teacher in this pioneer school was Mrs. Onie Neil. Thereafter he continued his studies in the Kearney Military Academy, at Kearney, this state, and he was about eighteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Julesburg, Colorado. In that state he remained variously engaged from the time he attained to his legal majority until he was twenty-eight years old, when he obtained 640 acres of land in what is now Morrill county, Nebraska, the tract being situated about nine miles northwest of the village of Lisco, having been at that time in Deuel county. He per- fected his title to this land, which he still owns and upon which he has made good im- provements, in consonance with the progres- sive spirit so definitely in evidence in this sec- tion of Nebraska. Mr. Williams now owns practically 3,000 acres of land in Garden and Morrill counties, and at Lisco he has the of- fice headquarters of his well ordered and very successful real-estate business.

Mr. Williams is found arrayed as a stanch advocate and supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is affiliated with Logan Lodge, No. 70, Ancient Free & Accepted Ma- sons, at Julesburg, Colorado, and his wife holds active membership in the Presbyterian church.

At Kearney, Nebraska, on the 26th of April, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Williams to Miss Esther J. Ewey, of Amherst, Buffalo county, where her parents were pio- neer settlers ; she having been born and reared in Nebraska and having received the advan- tages of the schools in the city of Kearney. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have three children, whose names and respective dates of birth are here noted: Helen S., April 18, 1906; John Kenneth, June 18, 1911 ; Earl Palmer, Febru- ary 18, 1912.

JOSEPH W. KINNAMON is another of the progressive citizens who came in an early day to what is now Scotts Bluff county, then a part of Cheyenne county, and here his cumu- lative success has been on a parity with the remarkable development and advancement of the county during the intervening years. In 1888 he here entered claim to a homestead, near Gering, and his good judgment likewise

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

led him to file also on preemption and tree claims, the whole comprising a tract which he reclaimed from the wilds and developed into a productive and valuable farm estate. He disposed of a portion of his land, but still re- tains a model farm of 130 acres, worth $400.00 per acre, which he utilizes for diversified agri- culture and stock-growing and which is situ- ated one-half mile northwest of Gering. Mr. Kinnamon has been essentially one of the in- fluential men of this locality and has achieved prosperity of a substantial order, the while he has at all times commanded unqualified popu- lar confidence and good will. His farm has the best of irrigation facilities and is well im- proved in all respects. He is chairman of the company controlling the Gering irrigation ditch, and has aided in the constructior of other ditches in the county. He was one of the organizers of the Gering National Bank and continued as a stockholder and director of this representative institution. In former years Mr. Kinnamon conducted for a time a meat market at Gering, as did he also a feed and implement store. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party. He is af- filiated with the Masonic fraternity and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episco- pal church, of which his wife likewise was a devout member, she having been the daughter of a clergyman of that denomination.

Mr. Kinnamon was born in Clinton county, Ohio, on the 16th of March, 1861, and is a son of James and Louisa ( Wherry) Kinna- mon, both likewise natives of the old Buckeye state, where the father became the owner of a good farm and was an honored citizen of Clinton county. Both he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives in the state of Ohio. Of the ten children, four are living: James A. is a farmer in Illinois ; Thos. W. likewise follows agricultural pursuits in that county ; Harry, a half-brother, resides in Ohio ; and Joseph W. is the immediate subject of this review. The father was a Democrat in politics and both he and his wife held mem- bership in the Christian church.

Joseph W. Kinnamon gained his youthful education in the public schools of Ohio and was sixteen years of age when he became a resident of Illinois. When he was twenty-four years old he came to Nebraska and established his residence in Gage county, where he remain- ed three years. Ile then, in 1888, came to what is now Scotts Bluff county, where he has since maintained his home and where his success has kept pace with the growth and development of the county.

In 1902 was solemnized the marriage of Mr.

Kinnamon to Miss Loura E. Mann, who was born and reared in this state and whose death occurred in 1917. Of the three children of this union two died in infancy, and the sur- vivor, Joseph Carl, remains on the home farm and is attending school.

ALSON J. SHUMWAY, who started in the abstract business when he came to Scotts- bluff in 1905, continued in the same until he entered the National army, October 16, 1918, and went to France as a member of an am- munition train, 77th division sector Y. M. C. A.

Mr. Shumway was born at Oxford, Illi- nois, May 1, 1869, and is a son of G. L. Shum- way, extended mention of whom will be found in this work. He first attended the country schools and later Knox College, beginning business life in the newspaper business and prior to coming to Scottsbluff was editor of a journal published at Harrisburg, Nebraska.

On September 1, 1896, Mr. Shumway was united in marriage to Mrs. Jennette (McKin- non) Rosenfeldt, who was born at Muskegon, Michigan, the fifth in a family of ten children born to Hugh and Elizabeth (Mickel) Mc- Kinnon, the other survivors being: Mrs. John R. Kelley, of Harrisburg, Nebraska; Edward J., who is a farmer near Flowerfield, Nebras- ka; and M. M. and H. O., both of whom are residents of Scottsbluff. Mr. and Mrs. Shum- way have two sons: Burgess Mckinnon and Hugh S., the latter of whom, born June 19, 1906, is yet in school. The elder son was born June 19, 1898, was well educated and entered the National army for military training July 5. 1918. He remained in the training camp at Mare Island, California, until his honorable discharge, February 19, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Shumway are members of the Christian Sci- ence church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Neighbors, is a Scot- tish Rite Mason and both he and wife are members of the Eastern Star. Mr. Shumway is a Republican in politics. During his ab- sence, Mrs. Shumway carried on the abstract business very efficiently. This office has the only set of abstract books in the county that have been photographed from the original rec- ords. Mrs. Shumway is of Scotch ancestry. Her people came to Muskegon, Michigan, in 1870, moved from there to Chicago, where her father was a machinist in the railway shops, and came to Nebraska in 1889 and homestead- ed. Both parents died in this state.

MARK SPANOGLE, financier, and law- yer, is in years of service here one of the old-

Yours Truly a.S. Shumway

Mark Spanogle

739

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

est active bankers in the north Platte valley and one of the best known men in Morrill county, having been cashier of the Bridgeport bank for twenty years. Ever since his arrival in Bridgeport he has taken an active part in the development of this section of the Pan- handle ; has been an indefatigable worker for the opening up of the valley ; stood behind all movements. for progress in all the varied in- dustries of the county ; and has helped turn the wheels of enterprise for the good of his community and Morrill county.

Though practically a native of Nebraska, as he has spent the greatest part of his life in this state, Mr. Spanogle was born in Lewiston, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1868. the son of Andrew and Margaret (Rice) Spanogle, who came west in 1879, reaching Hamilton county, Nebraska, on March 4th of that year. As a young boy Mr. Spanogle had attended school in his native state and after accompanying his parents to the new home in the west, he attended the frontier schools maintained in Hamilton county at that time, thus completing his elementary education. When only nineteen years of age he began his business career as bookkeeper in a bank at Phillips, Nebraska, in 1887. Having a natural aptitude for finance, he was rapidly advanced and, in 1892, was elected manager of the bank of Phillips, though very young to hold such a responsible position. From first entering the financial circles of the state Mr. Spanogle's career has been marked by executive ability, initiative, self-reliance, and progressiveness. His high standing has gained him popular con- fidence and esteem, which has furthered the success of every bank with which he has been associated.

Matriculating in the law department of Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, in 1892, Mr. Spanogle took this course with the idea of fitting himself still further for his business. He received his degree in 1894 and located in Clay county to practice law. Three years lat- er he was elected county attorney of Clay county, serving in that office until the expira- tion of his term. In 1901, Mr. Spanogle came to the Panhandle, as he had long believed that this section of the state had a great future. Locating in Bridgeport, in August of that year, he was elected cashier of the Bridgeport bank on September 1st, a position which he has since continuously filled. Just two years after settling in the valley, Mr. Spanogle was elected attorney of Cheyenne county in 1903. Within a short period he became one of the organizers of the Union State bank of Broadwater, Ne- braska, and, in 1917, was elected its president.

Mr. Spanogle is the pioneer banker of the north Platte valley and his influence here has been wide and of great value to the people; for his policies have ever been constructive and of benefit in the development of every community where he has banking interests.

When the question of dividing Cheyenne county came up, Mr. Spanogle was made chairman of the campaign committee which worked for the erection of Morrill county as a separate unit of the state. This was a long. hard fight and it was due to the able work and administrative ability of the chairman that in the end it was settled in an amicable manner. The new county was erected and no hard feeling remained between the people of old Cheyenne county and new Morrill county, and their relations have been cordial and happy ever since. When the selection of the seat of justice came up for Morrill county, Bayard made a hard fight for it and again Mr. Span- ogle was called on to head the campaign to secure it for Bridgeport. It was due to his able management that Bridgeport became the county seat, and an easy winner in the contest.

In 1904 Mr. Spanogle, Robert Willis, L. R. North, and Charles F. Clawgs became con- vinced that the rich alluvial soil of the valley was excellent for raising sugar beets; others were skeptical, and in order to convince people these men planted forty acres in beets. They knew little or nothing of sugar beet culture, were rank amateurs as farmers, but Colonel Atkins helped them, hired a crowd of high school boys to hoe the beets during the sum- mer and in the fall when the crop had ma- tured the beets were harvested, and shipped to Grand Island to the sugar factory. The test proved a great success and fully demon- strated that this section was a fine location for raising beets. From the date of shipping this first crop inquiries began to come in with re- gard to locating in the valley for beet growing. More settlers arrived, new farms were opened up, with the result that the country around Bridgeport is today one of the most highly productive, not only in western Nebraska but the whole country. Thousands of acres of land are now under cultivation that were virgin soil ; more are and will be broken and sowed to beets. Four sugar factories are already in operation, with the prospect of others in the near future to care for the increasing crops ; and much of this is due to the small group of men who had the enterprise and courage to go ahead and show what could be done in this district.

The early irrigation projects in the valley had been largely by independent corporations,

740

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

operating individually, all with different water rights and rates. As the new land was opened up and entered new methods were needed, and it soon became apparent that some general unified irrigation system was needed, as the old companies were all working on different plans and basis. It was necessary to enact new laws that would tend to unify the general system. When this was known, Mr. Spanogle was asked to assist in getting the different old companies to join with the new projects for a unified district and federal system, which was accomplished with little friction and for the benefit of all who bought water for irrigation.

During the war Mr. Spanogle devoted much of his time to assisting the government in its prosecution. He was drafted as chairman of the Liberty Loan committee and was placed in charge of the western six counties of the state. His work was continuous and he prose- cuted a vigorous campaign with the result that

the Panhandle did its full share in buying bonds, due largely to his personal activities.

April 22, 1899, Mr. Spanogle married Miss Gertrude L. Hurd, of Harvard, Nebraska, and since coming to Bridgeport they have been recognized as leaders of every communal movement for the development of the town. Mr. Spanogle is a member of the Masonic or- der, while his wife belongs to the Episcopal church.

A hard worker, Mr. Spanogle is naturally a busy man, but never too much so to give a word of personal advice or listen to a propo- sition of benefit to Bridgeport or Morrill coun- ty. He has a host of warm friends and is known best to them as "Mark." A man of great constructive ability he has builded soundly and well for the upper valley, ever placing its welfare before his own personal affairs and interests.

INDEX OF PORTRAITS

ANDERSON, VICTOR, M.D., 17 Atkins, Auburn W., 21

BAILEY, MR. AND MRS. ARTHUR, 141 Baker, James O., 121 Barkhoff, Mr. and Mrs. William, and Family, 545 Bartlett, Arthur M., 689 Beard, Andrew Broaddus, 341 Beard, Mr. and Mrs. Goorge, 521 Beck, Mr. and Mrs., 197 Bellows, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J., 533 Braddock, Mr. and Mrs. Wm., 727 Brown, Hope and Family, 73 Bushee, Berton Kenyon, 5

CAMPBELL, MR. AND MRS. JOHN H., 565 Chambers, R. O., 213 Chew, Fred and Family, 561 Coffee, Charles F., 29 Cogdill, George K. and Family, 697 Colbert, Frederick J., M.D., 425 Crawford, Andrew T., 41 Cromer, Edward P., 169 Crume, Harvey Wallace and Family, 245

DEBILY, MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM, 269 DeLaMatter, Enos S., 349 DeLaMatter, Mr. and Mrs. Robert, 165 Bean, Richard E .; James Em- mett ; Remsberg Asa, 601 Dickinson, Mr. and Mrs. Seymour, 285

EHRMAN, GEORGE, 173 Ehrman, George, Farm Residence of, 173 Ehrman, Mr. and Mrs. Fred, and Residence, 309 Engstrom, John and Family, 93 · Engstrom, John, Ranch of, 93 Everett, Fred F., 465 Ewbank, Mr. and Mrs. John, 529

FAULK, ANDREW J., M.D., 105 Filer, John I., 525 Fisher, Aaron P., and Five Generations, 237 Fisher, Frank F., 453 Flower, Charles H. and Family, 229

French, John E. and Family, 161 Fritcher, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, 673 Foreman, Frank L. and Family, 85

GARRARD, ROBERT, 549 Goos, Adolf F., 325 Green, Mr. and Mrs. L. A., 299 Green, Farm Residence of Mr. and Mrs., 299 Grewell, C. T. and Family, 585 Gumaer, Alfred W., 613 Guernsey, Horace W., 317

HALL, EUGENE A., 478 Howard, Mrs. and Mrs. Thomas M., 461 Howard, Mr. and Mrs. James, 277 Hiersche, Wenzel, 449

Halley, Tullius, 473 Hampton, Rodolphus M., 9 Hodder, Ernest C., 593 Holladay, Mr. and Mrs., and Son, 553 Hotchkiss, Mr. and Mrs. Charles B., 389 Hunt, Geo. J., 493

JENKINS, ELMER Z. AND WIFE, 113 Jennings, Mr. and Mrs. Walter, 81 Jones, John A. and Family, 97

KAMANN, GOTTFRIED, 129 Kennedy, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony, 481 Kinnamon, Joseph W., 737 Kronberg, Chris and Family, 77

LARSON, S. N. AND FAMILY, 319 Laucomer, George. 485 Linden, William D., 117 Linn, Gus, 509 Lockwood, Charles Elmer, 33 Lovelace, Oscar R., 629 Lyda, Curtis O., 401

McCOSKEY, ALLEN B., 409 McCormick, Mr. and Mrs. Chris, McCormick, Edd. W ... McCormick, James, McCor- mick, Jack, McCormick, Jennie, McCormick, Robert A., 597 Mckinnon, Mr. and Mrs. Ed. J., 581 Mckinnon, Ranch of Ed. J., 581

McClenahan, Mrs. Ehzabeth, 05

MAGINNIS, PATRICK, 25 Manning. Charles F., 501 Maryott, Miles J., 443 Mason, George E., 49 Morris, Mr. and Mrs., 177 Moss, Dr. A. E., 569 Mathers, A. N., 645 Maupin, William and Family, 357

NEIGHBORS, MIR. AND MRS. JOSEPH, 111 Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Peter, 557 Newell, John and Family, 573 Nichols, Yorick, 149

O'BANNON, MR. AND AIRS. OSCAR, AND SON, 609 O'Harra, Thomas L., 365 Orr, John H., 589 Orr, John A. and Wife, 457

PARMENTER, MR. AND MRS. A. M., 427 Peterson, Mr. and Mrs., 577 Peterson, Petrus and Family, 541 Petite, Captain Albert M. and Wife, 37 Pickett, Mr. and Mrs., 61 Pickering, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse, 221 Plummer, Denver N. and Wife, 125

RANDALL, WILL N. AND FAMILY, 189 Raymond, Lewis L., 13 Roush, Isaac, 538 Reeves, Ruben Thomas, 45 Russell, James R. and Family, 137 Reynolds, Edward M. and Family, 605

SAMS AND MCCAFFEE, 417 Sayre, Edward W. and Family, 641 Scanlon, Mrs. Julia and Husband, 643 Schooley, Wm. H. and Wife, 193 Schooley, Elmer, 193 Scott, Ambrose E., 445 Seger, Bert J., 441 Shumway. Alson J., 738 Shumway, Mr. and Mrs. S. B., 418 Simmons, Charles H. and Family, 469

742

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

Smith, Alva A. and Family, 89 Smith, H. Leslie, 413 Snow, George T., 705 Spanogle, Mark, 738 Spracklen, John W. and Family, 661 Stauffer, Frank F. and Family, 649

THOELICKE, MR. AND MRS. J. T., 53 Thomas, Gustav Adoph ; Thomas, Gottfried; Thomas, Carl; Thomas, Christian Henry, 57 Thornton, Henry M., 381

Troy, Francis M., 373

VAN PELT: THOMAS; CYRUS and Family; Nancy; Mary : Wm .; Thomas; Mrs. Sarah Johnson ; Jonithan, 657 Vogler, Mr. and Mrs. Henry, 513 Vonhurg, Peter, 133

WADE, J. B. AND FAMILY, 360 Wallace, Mr. and Mrs. D. E., 293 Wallace, Mr. and Mrs. William L., 157 Walters, Mr. and

Mrs. William T., 261 Westervelt, Eugene T., 405 White, W. W., 477 Whitehead, James Theaker, 633 Wilcox, George L., 429 Willis, Robert H., 489 Wilson, Everett P., 665 Wisner, Mr. and Mrs. F. O., 537 Wood, Asa B., 333 Wright, Mr. and Mrs. Albert M., 713

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 145

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