History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 18

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 18

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In 1890 Mr. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Martin, who was born in Illinois, and is a daughter of John and Matilda Martin. The mother of Mrs. Morgan died at Stamford, in Harland county, Nebraska. The father died at the home of a daughter in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have had children as follows : Mahlon C., who is a farmer in Scottsbluff county ; Merlin O., who was honor- ably discharged in February, 1919, from mili- tary service in the World War, entered the navy, was first located on the Pacific coast near Seattle, Washington, then spent one year in the Canal Zone, later was sent to New York and was discharged at Brooklyn, as chief car- penter; Mable, who is a student in the high school, and John and Audry, who are doing well in their several grades in school. Mr. Morgan and his family are members of the Christian church. Fraternally he is a Mason and belongs also to the Modern Woodmen. He is not active politically and votes indepen- dently.

CHARLES S. SIMMONS, who finds his time fully occupied with the work of his pro- fession, sign painting, can show a large amount

of fine, artistic work from his brush at Scotts- bluff, in which city he painted his first sign, in April, 1900.

Charles Sheldon Simmons belongs to an old county family and was born near Scottsbluff, Nebraska, May 20, 1887. He is a son of Charles H. Simmons, extended mention of whom will be found in this work. Mr. Sim- mons attended the public schools. Very early he displayed talent with pencil and brush and after learning the painting trade, decided to specialize on sign painting. This branch of the business requires not only practical knowledge but real skill and Mr. Simmons went to Chi- cago and entered a class in the Art Institute, where he remained a year, securing necessary technical training as well as artistic inspira- tion. His work is very much admired and his services are in constant demand.

In 1897 Mr. Simmons was united in marriage to Miss Estella M. Snyder, who was born at Garrison, Iowa, a daughter of Edward H. and Belinda (Hilka) Snyder. They were born in Pennsylvania. The father of Mrs. Simmons is engaged in truck farming near Sterling, Ne- braska. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have two chil- dren, namely: Cleo, who is seven years old, and Charles, who is a babe of eight months. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons are active members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a zealous Republican, and fraternally he is iden- tified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen, and the A. F. & A. M.

AUGUST DORMANN, who is a well known business man of Scottsbluff, where his beautiful residence and other property are located, for a number of years has been identi- fied with commercial enterprises of large im- portance here and elsewhere.

August Dormann was born at Wisner, Ne- braska, in 1877. He is a son of August Dor- mann, who was born in Germany, came to the United States, has been a merchant all his life, and now resides at Denver, Colorado. At Omaha, Nebraska, he was married to Freder- ick A. Kemenbley, who was born in New Jer- sey. February 9, 1851, and died February 28, 1910. Of their five children August is the fourth in order of birth, the others being: Agnes, the wife of William Reisendorfor, a lumber merchant in California; George W., foreman of the Skinner & Eddy shipbuilding plant at Seattle, Washington; Anna, resides with her father, and Fred, a consulting en- gineer at Denver. The family is of the Lu- theran faith. In politics the father is a Re- publican. He was one of the first three men to take out policies in the New York Life In-

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

surance Company, in Nebraska, and is the only survivor of the three.

August Dormann obtained his educational training in the public schools of Wisner, after which he was associated with his father in the mercantile business until 1906 when he came to Scottsbluff county. He bought a farm on which he resided two years, then took charge of the Zoellner clothing store at Scottsbluff, which he managed for five years. On retiring from that connection he went into business of buying and selling mercantile stocks, in which he continued until 1916, when he organized the August Dormann Company, for the purpose of buying farms and ranches for sale or trade. Early in 1919 he bought all the company's in- terests with the result that he owns many acres of fine land in Michigan, South Dakota, and western Nebraska. He now devotes himself to his large farming interests.

In 1899 Mr. Dormann was united in mar- riage to Miss Katherine O'Connor, who was born at Wisner, Nebraska, and they have had the following children born to them: Charles August, who was born December 23, 1900, en- tered military service in January, 1917, and is a member of a hospital corps now stationed in the Philippine Islands; George Eugene, who was born October 4, 1902; Genevieve Ruth, who was born May 3, 1904; Jerome Wilbur, who was born August 11, 1908, and Katherine Virginia, who was born July 7, 1911, and two deceased : Victor Hugo, and Herald. Mrs. Dormann and the children belong to the Cath- olic church. Mr. Dormann is a Republican in politics and is a Mason in good standng.

JOHN W. BROSHAR for many years was well known in Nebraska, and his honorable name is preserved by a surviving famliy of Scottsbluff. He was a native of Ripley coun- ty, Indiana, born May 7, 1845. His parents moved to Champaign, Illinois, in 1852, and Mr. Broshar was educated there and from that town enlisted and served during the thirteen closing months of the Civil War. After leav- ing the army he began business independent- ly as a farmer in Illinois and continued agri- cultural pursuits until 1888, when he came with his family to the Panhandle, took up a home- stead in Box Butte county, and lived on this farm for a number of years, then took a Kin- kaid claim near the line of Sioux county. His death occurred at Canton, Nebraska, Febru- ary 6, 1913.

At Paris, Illinois, in 1875, John W. Broshar was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Wag- goner, who was born in Fayette county, Ohio, and is a daughter of E. D. and Elizabeth

F. (Bush) Waggoner. Mrs. Broshar's father was born in Virginia and the mother in Ohio. They moved to Illinois in 1864 and both died there. Mrs. Broshar was the eldest of their four children. To Mr. and Mrs. Broshar three daughters were born: Pearl, the wife of Arthur Barr, a farmer near Melbeta, in Scotts- bluff county; Myrtle, the widow of Henry Safford, resides at Scottsbluff, and Edith, who resides with her mother, is connected with the Irrigation Bank.

Following her husband's death, Mrs. Bro- shar displayed business capacity by securing a homestead for herself and resided on her prop- erty until 1915, when she came to Scottsbluff and is now enjoying the comforts of a beau- tiful home at No. 1601 Fourth avenue. The family belongs to the Baptist church. Mr. Broshar was a man of sterling character. He was successful as a farmer and stockraiser, and took considerable interest in public mat- ters in Republican political circles in Box Butte county, although he never consented to accept public office.

ALBERT W. PETERSON, who is one of the quiet, industrious, useful business men of Scottsbluff, has been a resident of this city since the spring of 1915, but has lived in Ne- braska since he was five years old. He is a carpenter and contractor who has built up a large business and has the reputation here and elsewhere of business integrity and depend- ability.

Albert W. Peterson was born at Princeton, Illinois, April 14, 1880, and is the oldest of seven children born to Nels W. and Anna C. (Swanson) Peterson, both of whom were born in Sweden and came young to the United States. They were married at Princeton, Illi- nois, where he was foreman for the Bryant Nursery Company for nine years. In 1885 Nels W. Peterson brought his family to Ne- braska and bought land near Aurora, in Ham- ilton county, on which he has lived ever since, at the present time owning 320 acres of fine land. He is an example of the citizenship of Nebraska that has prospered within her wel- coming borders through faithful and law- abiding industry, for he came here from Illi- nois not only without capital but burdened with debt. He has worked hard but feels well repaid. He lias never been active in politics, has always favored prohibition legislation, and in casting his vote as a citizen, gives his sup- port to candidates he believes will unselfishly do their best, irrespective of party policy, for the country. He and wife are members of the Swedish Mission church.

RANCH OF JOHN ENGSTROM

JOIIN ENGSTROM AND FAMILY

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

After his school days were over in Hamilton county, Albert W. Peterson worked as a farm- er and also as a carpenter, early showing skill with tools, and continued to live in Hamilton county until March, 1915, when he came to this city, the rapid settlement of which and expansion of industries, offered abundant op- portunity for his line of work. He has done a great deal of substantial building here and gives all his time to carpentering and contract- ing. Formerly he owned a farm in the east- ern part of Scottsbluff county, but this he sold in the spring of 1919. He has property in the city which includes a comfortable and ex- tremely attractive residence at No. 2008 Ave- nue A, a beautiful home.

Mr. Peterson was married February 24, 1906, to Miss Mina Hanson, who lived at Chi- cago, Illinois, and is a daughter of Hans Han- son and his wife, who spent ther entire lives in Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are mem- bers of the Swedish Mission church and great- ly interested in its various avenues of benev- olence. Like his father, Mr. Peterson prefers to be independent in politics.

JOHN ENGSTROM. - This representa- tive agriculturist and stock-grower of Scotts- bluff county has been a resident of Nebraska for nearly twenty-seven years and by making use of the advantages here offered he has made his way forward to the goal of independence and marked prosperity. Today he is the owner of 160 acres of the finest property in the west- ern part of the state. Mr. Engstrom is one of the sterling citizens here who has had the prescience and energy to make the most of the opportunities offered in connection with civic and material development and progress. He is a native of Sweden, that land which has furnished this great country so many of its earnest and progressive men of affairs. His natal day was May 20, 1859, being the son of Swan and Louise (Carlson) Engstrom, both of whom were Scandinavians, born in Sweden. Both parents were vigorous and sturdy, the father living to the advanced age of seventy- four years and the mother to seventy-six years of age. John's father was a farmer, but as land allotments are not large in Sweden he learned the shoe-maker's trade, in which he was engaged a part of the time. There were six children in the family but only three brothers broke the home ties to begin a career in Amer- ica : Gustav, Emil, and John, who landed in the United States in 1882; Gustav subsequent- ly returned to the mother country, but John remained, determined to win a way in the great west. Emil died in Kansas. He has been in

the greatest sense the architect of his own for- tunes and few men have played a more sturdy part in the development of the communities in which they lived. Both civic and industrial lines have been benefitted by the interest dis- played in them by this young Swede, who soon after coming to this great land went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where so many of his coun- trymen had established homes. He soon found employment in Minnesota but later went north, being employed by a railroad in Canada for a considerable period before deciding to become an owner of land, the great desire of nearly all men who came to America from Europe. With this idea in mind he came to Nebraska and soon had filed on a claim in Sidney Valley, Chey- enne county, he proved up on this land, living there six years before removing to Scottsbluff county, purchasing 160 acres of land in section 15, forty-five acres being under ditch. Mr. Engstrom has proved himself one of the world's constructive workers and in the fur- therance of his own prosperity has aided in the civic and material development and progress of the country and state of his adoption and as one of the prosperous representatives of the western section of this great commonwealth deserves recognition in this history.

Mr. Engstrom first married Anna Carlson in Sweden; to this union five children were born : Carl J., who lives at home; Gustav A., deceased; Anna, the wife of Otto Swanson, a farmer in Scottsbluff county, and Betty Louise, now living in Chicago. For his second wife Mr. Engstrom married Ada Carlson, also a native of Sweden, and they have one daugliter, Hilda Carlson, who is at home. The family are members of the Swedish Mission church. Mr. Engstrom is a man of sterling character and ability, so he has been called upon to serve as a school director, an office in which he has made a record for liberality and progressive- ness as he takes great interest in the welfare of his community and the prosperity and happi- ness of the rising generation. Politically he is an independent, believing that the man best fitted to hold office should be elected.

Mr. Engstrom sold his farm in 1919 and moved to Scottsbluff where he has bought property. He worked for fifteen years to make his farm one of the best improved prop- erties in the county and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished.

ALBERT PAXTON, for several years one of the active and energetic men engaged in handling real estate at Scottsbluff, is well known as a handler of realty and other activ- ities in the middle west, and also owns some

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

very valuable farm land near Henry, in Goshen county, Wyoming. Mr. Paxton was born at Rensellaer, Jasper county, Indiana, August 27, 1867, the son of William F. and Isabella (Sharpe) Paxton, the former born at Bedford and the latter at Johnstone, Penn- sylvania. They were married in that state, then moved to Ohio and later settled in In- diana, where they lived out the allotted span of life. Of their family of eight children two reside in the West, Ralph and Albert, the for- mer of whom owns and operates the Paxton hotel at Torrington, Wyoming, and also owns a farm in that vicinity. The father was a farmer in Jasper county and was active in the Democratic party of that section. Both par- ents were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.

Albert Paxton was given educational op- portunities in his youth, his father being a man of education himself. The young man began his business life as a clerk in a store at Montpelier, Indiana, and later, for a number of years was manager of the New York Store Company in that city. He became prominent in Democratic party circles, was recognized as a man of civic influence, was elected to the city council of Montpelier and served as pres- ident of that body. In 1908 Mr. Paxton came west to Wyoming, locating at Torrington, where for a number of years he engaged in the live-stock business, being an extensive buyer of horses, on one occasion buying seven carloads in a month, at Henry, Nebraska. In 1917 he embarked in the real estate business at Scottsbluff and still owns his handsome res- idence here, although recently he has trans- ferred his real estate business to Torrington, Wyoming, where he is associated with G. E. Gannon. They are doing an extensive busi- ness in general real estate, farm loans and insurance.

In 1894 Mr. Paxton married Miss Anna Bebout, who was born in Indiana, and they have two children : Albert E. and Melva, aged respectively seventeen and thirteen years. The family belongs to the Methodist Epis- copal church. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias.

LIGGETT FURNITURE CO. - A recent business enterprise at Scottsbluff that may confidently be expected to be of substantial importance to the city, is the furniture and house furnishing goods store established here May 24, 1919, by Clarence D. and Dwight W. Liggett, under the firm name of Liggett Fur- niture Co. Both members of the firm are

men of business experience and of the highest possible personal character.

Clarence D. Liggett was born in 1884 and Dwight W. Liggett in 1890, both in Union county, Ohio. Their parents are John W. and Mary (Hardy) Liggett, both natives of Ohio, the father born in 1852 and the mother in 1853. In addition to the two sons mentioned, they have two others, namely: Raymond H., who is connected with the Mid-west Con- struction Company, and James Bruce, who, since his military service overseas ended, has been associated with his father in business at Fort Morgan, Colorado. He was in the Thirty-sixth Division in France and was wounded in the battle before Compiegne, but fortunately not fatally and has been recently welcomed home. The paternal grandfather was John Liggett, who was born in Virginia, moved to Ohio and spent the rest of his life there. The maternal grandfather, W. D. Har- dy, was born in Scotland, came to the United States and died on his farm in Greene county, Ohio. When John W. Liggett left Ohio, he was ready to invest and enter into business at some favorable location in a western state and he selected Fort Morgan, Colorado, where he went into the furniture business and has con- tinued there ever since. He is a Republican in politics and both he and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church.

Clarence D. Liggett was educated at Cedar- ville College, in Ohio. He began his business career as proprietor of a bicycle shop at Fort Morgan, and later became associated with his father at that point in the furniture business and still owns a half interest in the store there. He then entered into partnership with his brother at Scottsbluff, in 1919, and already the firm has an established place and firm standing in the city's commercial life. In 1912 he was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Coulter, a native of Iowa, but at that time a resident of Colorado, and their little daughter Helen is four years old, and a son, Howard Dean, born November 21, 1919.

Dwight W. Liggett was educated at Cedar- ville College in Ohio. In 1913 he came to Scottsbluff, where he was interested in the Mid-West Concrete Construction Company, but sold his interest to his brother and in the spring of 1918 established the Liggett Furni- utre Co., at Antioch, Nebraska, and Mr. Lig- gett came back to Scottsbluff and the present business was founded here May 24, 1919. In 1915 Mr. Liggett was married to Miss Lona Smith, who was a school teacher at Lodgepole, Cheyenne county, Nebraska, but a native of Iowa, and they have a little daughter of eigh-

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

teen months whom they have named Dorothy Dell. Dwight W. Liggett is a member of the Presbyterian church at Scottsbluff, and Clar- ence D. Liggett belongs to the United Presby- terian church at Fort Morgan. The brothers are Republicans in their political affiliation and both are men of sterling worth.

MILTON E. HARRIS. - One of the lead- ing business men of the Platte valley is found in Milton E. Harris, rancher and cattle feeder, and also proprietor of the most extensive meat business in the section west of Lincoln. Mr. Harris came to Scottsbluff in the spring of 1907 and his immense business is the result of his energy and good business judgment. Mr. Harris is a self-made man, starting out for himself at the age of eleven years and has fought his way steadily upward with the old watchwords of industry and perseverance ever in mind.

Milton Evan Harris was born in Hancock county, Illinois, August 12, 1879, and is a son of John G. and Jane (Latham) Harris and the youngest of eight children. Both parents were born in Ohio, later were residents of Illinois, and the mother died subsequently at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The family was established at Brush, Colorado, in 1901, where the father served in some town offices, and died at that place in February, 1902. Three of his mother's brothers were soldiers in the Civil War. He was a Republican in politics and both he and wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. All through life his business was farming but his efforts did not bring great financial independence.

When eleven years old Milton E. Harris started to work for Dr. Martin for his board and attended school at La Harpe, Illinois, and two terms after 1893 at Ray, Colorado. At the latter place he worked in a butcher shop for two years, then went on a ranch and was em- ployed near Ray on a ranch for about two years. He then worked in a brother's meat shop at Brush, Colorado, for two years, fol- lowing which, in May, 1907, he came to Scotts- bluff and bought a meat shop here. Mr. Har- ris prospered from the first and has continued to prosper, as indicated by the report of busi- ness for the year of 1907 showing its amount as $9,862.15 and the acknowledgment that since then it has amounted to $125,000 per year. To provide facilities for such expan- sion, Mr. Harris erected a handsome building of brick construction, on Broadway, with di- mensions 26 x 140 feet with fine basement, 7 feet high and 124 feet long in which every modern improvement is installed and all de-

vices for the sanitary handling and preparation of meats provided. Wherever the "T. H. S." trademark is seen, representing the Harris Sanitary market, his patrons, and people at large, feel confident as to the quality of meat and produce appearing under this style. As manager Mr. Harris has his brother-in-law, George Hillerege, an old experienced meat man, entire efficiency marking every detail of the business. Mr. Harris owns a fine ranch near Scottsbluff and feeds from 500 to 800 cattle and hogs.

In politics Mr. Harris votes the Republican ticket but gives the greater part of his time to his business affairs rather than public matters. He is identified with the order of Odd Fellows.

He married, April 30, 1901, Miss Helen Dow, a native of Jo Davies county, Illinois. They have three children : Beulah, Chas. L., and Emmett G.

OTIS W. SIMMONS, who is a member of the contracting firm of Simmons Brothers, at Scottsbluff, is exceedingly well known in the construction line here, and is numbered with the city's active and representative citizens in many ways. Mr. Simmons was born at North Bend, Dodge county, Nebraska. September 16, 1885, and is a son of Charles H. Simmons, extended mention of whom will be found in this work.

Otis W. Simmons attended his first school in Scottsbluff, held in one of the primitive sod houses very numerous in his boyhood days all through the newly settled sections of the West, later had advantages at Gering, and in 1903 was graduated from the high school of Scotts- bluff. He then learned the carpenter trade and about that time became greatly interested in amateur photography, which he still sometimes engages in as a recreation, owning many pic- tures of artistic value taken all through the beautiful Platte valley. In .... Mr. Simmons became associated with his brother, W

L. Simmons in the contracting business and they have done a large amount of substantial residence building here, at the present time having ten residences in course of construction and giving steady employment to five skilled men. The firm enjoys the reputation of per- fect reliability and their work is constantly in- creasing in volume.

In 1907 Mr. Simmons was united in mar- riage to Miss Nellie G. Cline, who was born at Osceola, Iowa, and is a daughter of W. S. Cline, extended mention of whom will be found on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have two children, namely : Helen, who was born February 25, 1909, and

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

Harold, who was born Angust 11, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons are members of the Pres- byterian church. Mr. Simmons is in active membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen, has passed the chairs and has represented the local lodge in the Grand Lodge on three occasions, and has served almost continuously since 1905 as keep- er of records and seal. Mr. Simmons is an earnest and straightforward citizen, ever ready to do his part in bringing about the best of conditions. Politically he is a Republican.

DANIEL D. DAVIS, who is one of Scotts- bluff's most esteemed retired citizens, has long been identified with the substantial develop- ment and material progress of this city and county. He is widely known, as he came to Nebraska in 1884 and homesteaded in Scotts- bluff county in 1886. This section has been his chosen home ever since, where many marks of public confidence have been shown him, and where mutual and sincere regard has followed the acquaintanceships of years. Mr. Davis was born on Catawba Island, Ottawa county, Ohio, March 7, 1859, the son of Captain Daniel N. and Sarah (Prentiss) Davis. The father was born on Long Island, New York, and followed a seafaring life, being captain of a sailing vessel on Lake Erie at the time he was attacked by a highway robber and mur- dered for his money, while on a visit on land, in November, 1868. The Davis family was reared in the Baptist church by a good mother. Captain Davis was active in politics long ago and was a Democrat until the party accepted the candidacy of C. L. Vallandigham, who had favored the cause of the Confederacy during the war in which his own son had suffered, when he changed his political views entirely and became a Republican.

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 18

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