History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 20

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

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Edwin Currie attended the district schools in Ohio, receiving an excellent rudimentary edu- cation supplemented by the instruction of his parents and the reading they induced him to do by himself. He began working by the month for a short time, then bought a team and began running a huxter wagon and dealing in stock. The Ohio valley was thickly settled at this period and the young man determined to take advantage of the opportunities of securing gov- ernment land in the newer state west of the Mississippi, and the Great Muddy, as the Mis- souri was known, for here on the rolling prai- ries was land, and room enough for all who desired to come and take it. On April 6, 1886, the start for the new home in the west was made. Mr. Currie was a bachelor, so it was not necessary to take as much household goods as though more members were to make the trip. In Missouri he and his uncle, John H. Currie, purchased a team and wagon for the long journey overland. Leaving there May

18th it was the Ist of July before Mr. Currie reached Scottsbluff county where he took a tree claim, preëmpted 160 acres and home- steaded another 160 acre tract in 1887. He at once began to make improvements upon his land, engaged in general farming and stock-raising. The early struggles taxed the young man's strength to the full but he pos- sessed determination and persistence and in the end they triumphed over all obstacles. Mr. Currie had the utmost confidence in the com- munity where he had selected to make his home, and during the drought years of 1890 and 1894, when other settlers were discour- aged and were leaving for their former homes in the east, he bought more land, and has lived to reap the reward of this confidence. He still owns the original homestead and claim but has added to them until today he has a rural estate of 6,000 acres dry grazing land, about 600 acres of which are under irrigation. From 1886 to the present Mr. Currie has been active- ly engaged in agricultural pursuits ; his talents seem naturally adapted to these lines and today he is the owner of a splendid enterprise which is but a just reward for a man of industry and energy, enterprise and spirit, which was so well demonstrated during the trying years when crops failed. He is noted for his integ- rity and the manner in which he lives up to his business obligations.

Mr. Currie was married in 1906 to Miss Jennie G. Richards of New England extrac- tion, as she was born in Vermont and came to western Nebraska while her father at the time of settlement in this section. Mr. Currie is a staunch Republican in politics ; he and his wife are members of the Federated Congregational church, while he is fraternally a Scottish Rite Mason. He now rents his irrigated land and keeps his pasture land. He was one of the organizers and the first president of the Amer- ican Bank of Mitchell.

ADELBERT A. MILLER, widely known in Western Nebraska as special agent for the Occidental Building & Loan Association of Gering, for a number of years was prominent in the educational field and has also been con- nected with business enterprises of some mag- nitude. Mr. Miller was born at Tekonsha, Calhoun county, Michigan, July 14, 1873, and has been a resident of Gering, Nebraska, and a leader in many of its affairs of moment, for the past eighteen years.

Mr. Miller's parents were Daniel S. and Elizabeth Ann (Harsh) Miller, both born near Canton, Ohio. The grandparents were Peter Miller and Adam Harsh, both natives of

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Pennsylvania who moved to Ohio, where the latter died but the father passed away in Mich- igan. Daniel S. Miller served in the Civil War as a member of the Ninety-eighth Ohio infantry and accompanied his regiment with General Sherman on the memorable march to the sea. In 1866 he moved to Michigan, bought land in Calhoun county and there both he and wife died. They had the following children: Maggie the wife of William Cre- ore, of Battle Creek, Michigan; Adelbert A., who resides at Gering ; Lawrence L., a retired merchant at Gering; and two who are de- ceased. The father was reared in the Luther- an faith and never changed his church rela- tionship, while the mother was a; faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Miller's father continued his interest in the Grand Army of the Republic up to the time of his death, belonging to the post at Tekonsha, Michigan.

Adelbert A. Miller attended the country schools near his father's farm and afterward the normal school at Ypsilanti with the inten- tion of making teaching a part of his life work and for a number of years he was very prominent in the educational field, first in Michigan, later in North Dakota, where he was superintendent of schools of Milnor, in Sargent county, for four years, and afterward at Gering, where he filled the same office. Mr. Miller then embarked in the lumber business, which he followed for nine years, retiring from that line to enter the mercantile busi- ness with his brother. Six years later he sold his store interest to accept the position of special agent for the Occidental Building & Loan Company, a business concern of large importance, and Mr. Miller now has charge of all the loans in Western Nebraska. He de- votes all his time to furthering the interests of this corporation, but during the progress of the World War, he put aside most of his per- sonal interests in order to work for the pub- lic weal, serving early and late as a member of the Council of Defense and as food adminis- trator.

In 1898 Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Elsie Johnson, who was born in Southern Michigan, a daughter of Homer Johnson, who was a substantial farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller the following children have been born: Margaret, educated at Ger- ing, occupied a position of chemist in the sugar factory here for one year, and is now ticket and express agent for the Union Pacific Rail- road at this point ; and Murray, Dorothy, Stan- ley, Esther, Adelia, Jack, Elizabeth and Cath-

erine. Mr. Miller and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a staunch Republican and frequently he has served in public offices at Gering. He was the first city treasurer and has served on the school board for twelve years. He is prominent in the order of Odd Fellows and is a member of the grand lodge, having passed through all the chairs. Mr. Miller is recognized as one of Gering's representative citizens.

HENRY EBERHARDT, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Scottsbluff, has, in a few years, built up a large business en- terprise here, on a foundation of business hon- esty and courtesy to everyone. Mr. Eber- hardt came to the United States from a far distant country, but soon adapted himself to American ways and is able to count his ac- quaintances as friends.

Henry Eberhardt was born in Russia, April 12, 1891, the youngest of a family of six chil- dren born to Jacob and Mary (Milburger) Eberhardt. The other members of the family are: George and Jacob, who are farmers in Russia; Mary, who lives with her mother in Russia ; Fred, who came to the United States and is in the creamery business in Kansas ; and Lizzie, who lives in Russia. The father died on his farm in Russia when Henry was but six months old. He attended school in his native land and thus was well informed when he came to the United States and settled in Kansas in 1910. There he worked in a store and also learned the language of the country with the quick intelligence for which his coun- trymen are noted. In 1914 he came to Scotts- bluff and started a small store, stocking it with reliable and seasonable goods, and from that modest beginning has built up a large trade and now has a commodius general store. Having sold this out he and Dr. C. N. Moore bought the Harris market on Broadway and have one of the most modern and up-to-date markets in Western Nebraska.

In 1915 Mr. Eberhardt was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Kuxhousen, and they have two children, namely: Leo and Ruth. They are members of the Lutheran church.

WILLIAM L. SIMMONS, who is one of the leading contractors at Scottsbluff, is a member of a very important old family that settled first in Dodge and later became known in other couties of the state of Nebraska. He was born at North Bend, Dodge county, June 7, 1882, and is a son of Charles H. Simmons, extended mention of whom will be found in this work.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

William L. Simmons did not have the edu- cational advantages that he is able to afford his own children, but he remembers when school was held in a sod house within walking distance over the prairie from his father's homestead. He helped on the farm but his in- clination was toward mechanics and when eighteen years old he learned the carpenter trade and has spent the greater part of his time at Scottsbluff ever since as a carpenter and contractor. He is now associated with his brother, O. W. Simmons, and they do a large volume of business, running two crews of men all the time. The business reputation of the firm is above par.

In 1904 Mr. Simmons was united in mar- riage to Miss Alpha „McCartney, who was born at Sibley, Iowa, a daughter of James S. and Alice (Darling) McCartney, natives of Illinois who were married in Iowa, to which state they were taken when young. The fath- er of Mrs. Simmons was a farmer. He died January 15, 1913. The mother resides at Scottsbluff. Mrs. Simmons has two sisters: Mary, the wife of W. G. Munser, a farmer in Wyoming; and Alice, the wife of Arthur Marley, a farmer near Lingle, Wyoming. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have a son and daughter, Harry and Harriett, now fourteen years old and attending school, who have the distinction of being the first twins born in the city ; and Fred, who is ten years old and also in school. Mrs. Simmons is a member of the Presby- terian church. Mr. Simmons is a Republican in politics but he has never desired any po- litical office. He is somewhat prominent in the order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the grand lodge and the Encampment.

DAVID W. HILL, who is a highly re- spected citizen of Scottsbluff, has been one of the county's extensive cattle feeders for many years, and since moving into this city in 1914 still devotes his Scottsbluff irrigated land to this industry. Mr. Hill has been a resident of Nebraska for thirty-three years.

David W. Hill was born at Lockport, New York, December 15, 1864, one of a family of fourteen children born to Minard and Almira (June) Hill, the former of whom was born in England, and the latter in New York, in which state they were married. In 1865 re- moval was made to Michigan, where the fath- er bought land and both parents died there. They were quiet, Christian people, and both belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church.

Of the seven surviving members of his par- ents' family, David W. Hill is the only one

living in Nebraska. He was afforded a thor- ough public school education, being graduated from the high school, in Van Buren county, Michigan, after which he intelligently took up work on the home farm, paying consider- able attention to stockraising. In January, 1886 he moved to Buffalo county, Nebraska and shortly afterward took a pre-emption in Banner county, and for a number of years following lived in that section. For fifteen years he was in partnership with T. C. Eg- gleston in the cattle business, their opera- tions being extensive in raising and handling high grade and registered White Face cattle. Mr. Hill then came to Scottsbluff county and bought irrigated land and went into the cattle feeding and shipping business, in which he continued actively engaged until 1914, when he came to Scottsbluff and took possession of his comfortable residence on Avenue A and identified himself with the best interests of the place.

In the spring of 1894 Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Grafiuse, who was born in Pennsylvania and is a daughter of Thomas and Jennie (De Remer) Grafiuse. The parents of Mrs. Hill moved to Buffalo county, Nebraska, in 1878, homesteaded and resided on their land until the father's death in 1910. Mrs. Hill has one brother, Charles, who is a hardware merchant at Kearney, Ne- braska. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have the follow- ing children: Bernice, who is a student in the state university ; Jennie, who is also a uni- versity student ; and Ivis, Charles and Doro- thea, all of whom are in school with higher educational advantages in prospect. Mrs. Hill is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Hill was quite active in Republican politics while living in Banner county and for six years served as a member of the board of county commissioners. He belongs to the Odd Fel- lows and the Knights of Pythias and is past chancellor in the latter organization.

FRANK E. COWEN, who is a representa- tive business man of Scottsbluff, has been en- gaged here for a number of years as a cement contractor and has built up an unquestioned reputation for reliability. Mr. Cowen was born in Marshall county, Iowa, July 2, 1873, and is a son of Elisha M. and Elvira (Trip- lett) Cowen, extended mention of whom will be found in this work.

Frank E. Cowen attended the public schools in Chicago, Illinois, in boyhood, then came to Cheyenne county, Nebraska, worked at farm- ing for some years and also at times on the

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"round ups" in Wyoming. In 1904 Mr. Cowen came to Scottsbluff and has been interested in the cement business and identified with the Cowen Construction Company, ever since, with the exception of three years which he spent as a farmer in Arkansas.

On December 31, 1894, at Harrisburg, Ban- ner county, Nebraska, Mr. Cowen was united in marriage to Miss Maude Dennison, who is a daughter of Edward and Mary (Urban) Dennison, the former of whom was born in Illinois, and the latter in Bohemia. The par- ents of Mrs. Cowen live at Scottsbluff and her father is interested in the cement industry. Mr. and Mrs. Cowen have had children as follows: Grace, who died when aged eighteen years; Luretta, who is employed by the local telephone company; Vera, who is also a tele- phone operator ; and Lovella, Nellie and Ed- ward Mason, who are yet in school. Mr. Cowen has taken much interest in civic mat- ters ever since coming to Scottsbluff and his attitude on many public questions has won him the confidence of his fellow citizens, which they have evidenced by electing him a member of the city council for the third time. He be- longs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Modern Woodmen.

ELISHA M. COWEN, who is at the head of the Cowen Construction Company, Scotts- bluff, for the past fourteen years has been identified with building interests here, and to him the city is largely indebted for the sub- stantial character of the larger number of its residences and business houses. The Cowen stamp on a building marks material and work- manship the best that can be secured.

Elisha M. Cowen was born at Cummington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, March 28, 1848. His parents were James M. and Julia M (Mason) Cowen, the former of whom was born at Glasgow, Scotland, and the latter in Massachusetts. In early youth James M. Cowen was bound out to an uncle, in whose cotton-spinning mill at Preston, England, he learned the trade of spinner and before leav- ing the mill had become a foreman. In 1840 he crossed the Atlantic ocean to the United States in a sailing vessel and found work in one of the great mill districts of Massachu- setts. Of his two children Elisha M. is the only survivor.

Elisha M. Cowen was educated at Albany, New York, passing through the high school and the normal college, and in 1863 was gradu- ated from the Bryant & Stratton Commercial college of that city. While attending school

in Albany, he was occupied during a part of the time with the duties of a page in the House of Representatives there. Although opportunities were afforded him for a pro- fessional or possibly a political career, for he made many influential friends at the capital, his inclinations were in an entirely different di- rection. He learned the bricklaying trade and worked at the same in Albany until 1866, when he went to Chicago, Illinois, worked there at his trade, then to Iowa for three years, and then to Banner county, Nebraska. Mr. Cowen then homesteaded and remained on his land for seventeen years, removing then to Colorado Springs, and from there, in 1905 came to Scottsbluff. Mr. Cowen has been very successful in his business undertakings and is ranked with the leading men in his line in this part of Nebraska.

On January 25, 1870, Mr. Cowen was unit- ed in marriage to Miss Elvira Triplett, who was born at Princeton, Illinois and is a daugh- ter of Edward and Lucinda Triplett, natives of Ohio. They moved on a farm in Illinois and both died there. Mr. and Mrs. Cowen had two children born to them, namely: Nel- lie and Frank E. The latter is prominent in public affairs at Scottsbluff and is serving in his third term as a member of the city coun- cil. He is a cement contractor and is con- nected with the Cowen Construction company.

The only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cowen, Nellie, was the widow of W. M. J. Brozee, and had two children: Stanley and Etola, the latter of who is the wife of Frank H. Burbank, who is a railroad man. Stanley Brozee was an employe of the Mid-Continent Oil Com- pany at Bartlesville, Oklahoma, prior to en- tering military service in the World War, in May, 1918. He was trained in ambulance service at Tarrytown, New York. His mother died in 1900 at the early age of twenty-two years. Mrs. Cowen is a member of the Bap- tist church. Since 1870 Mr. Cowen has be- longed to the order of Odd Fellows and for many years has been a Mason and twice has been master of his lodge.

PHILO J. McSWEEN, chief of Police De- partment at Scottsbluff, occupies a position that requires personal courage, together with a large measure of discriminative judgment and understanding of human nature. Since entering upon the duties of this office, Chief McSween has enforced the law intelligently and without fear or favor and to the fullest extent enjoys the confidence of the law-abiding public.

ANDREW J. FAULK, M. D.

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Philo J. McSween was born in Burnet coun- ty, Texas, September 11, 1872, and is a son of Dr. John and Elizabeth (Wright) McSween. The father was born in Tennessee and the mother in Mississippi, in which latter state they were married and the father obtained his medical degree from a Mississippi college. After some years of practice there he moved to Texas, in which state he also practiced his profession for some years and then went into the cattle business in which he continued un- til he retired from active life. His death oc- curred in Texas and that of the mother of Chief McSween in Colorado. Of their nine children Philo J. was the youngest and is the only one of the five survivors living in Nebras- ka. Before the war between the states, Dr. McSween was a man of large fortune, but like many others he lost heavily through cir- cumstances over which he had no control. As long as he lived he was a conscientious sup- porter of the priciples of the Democratic party. He was a faithful Mason and strict in his adherence to the tenets of the Presby- terian church.

Philo J. McSween obtained his education in the schools of Burnet, Texas. When eigh- teen years old he went to Colorado and for sixteen years he was concerned with farm in- dustries there, having had experience in his native state. From Colorado he came to Ne- braska and in 1907 embarked in the meat business at Scottsbluff in partnership with M. E. Harris, but two years later bought a farm in the county, which he conducted until March, 1919, when he sold it and moved back into town, accepting the appointment of chief of police.

At Brush, Colorado, January 10, 1899, Philo J. McSween was united in marriage to Miss Lureada Lee, who was born in Iowa and is a daughter of Joseph and Rosaline Lee, natives of Kentucky, who moved to Iowa and became farming people there. Chief and Mrs Mc- Sween have had five children, namely : Myrtle, who was graduated from the high school at Scottsbluff in the class of 1919; Raymond L., who fell a victim of influenza in the epidemic of 1918, a promising and talented youth of sixteen years; and Merle, Mildred and Fred, aged respectively thirteen, seven and three years. A staunch Democrat in politics, a loyal member of the Knights of Pythias, a public- spirited citizen and an efficient and reliable official, all these may be truthfully cited of Chief McSween.

ANDREW J. FAULK, M.D., is one of the favored mortals whom nature launches into the world with the heritage of sturdy ancestry, a splendid physique, a masterful mind and en- ergy enough for many men. Added to these attributes are exceptional intellectual and pro- fessional attainments and useful lessons of a wide and varied experience stored away. He is a type of the true gentleman and representa- tive of the best in communal life, dignified, yet possessed of an affability and abiding hu- man sympathy that have won him warm friends among all classes and conditions of men. Of sturdy pre-Revolutionary stock, he was born strong of decision, with judgment and pronounced independence. If a man comes of a good family he ought to be proud of it and he performs an immeasurable duty when he employs the best means to preserve the fam- ily record in enduring form, that future gen- erations may receive instruction through the principles and influences, the personality and career of the forbears. The subject of this biography can trace his lineage to colonial days, as two of his great-grandfathers came to this country and located in the Keystone state be- fore the Revolutionary war and aided in re- claiming Pennsylvania from the virgin forest and possession of the Indians.

Andrew J. Faulk was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1858, the son of Thomas B. and Sarah (Reed) Faulk, both natives of that great commonwealth. Thomas Faulk received an excellent education and served on the editorial staff of one of the Pitts- burgh daily papers for several years. He was an ardent supporter of the Republican party and as a young man eagerly entered into polit- ical life, taking a leading part in party policy and administration, holding one office for twen- ty-seven years, being reelected term after term. Andrew's grandfather removed to Dakota Ter- ritory in 1862, locating in Yankton, where he entered prominently into the communal life of the city and surrounding country, and was ter- ritorial governor. He was a member of the Republican national convention that nomin- ated John C. Fremont. The grandfather died in 1898, passing away a man of honor in his eighty-fourth year. Thomas B. Faulk died at the age of fifty-nine years at Kittanning, Penn- sylvania, in 1898.

Reared in such a family with its many tra- ditions and high ideals it was but natural that the boy should receive an excellent elementary education afforded by the public schools of Yankton, followed by broader and more com- prehensive courses that developed his fine men-

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tality and prepared him for the career to which he intended to devote his life's labors. At the close of his academic career the young man entered upon the study of law, being admitted to practice in South Dakota in 1881, passing a brilliant examination before the bar. For some years he followed the profession of law and his name became well known in the territory and state, but the career of a lawyer did not en- tirely satisfy him for he wished his life to be significantly one of service, for he is a man of unwavering optimism and abiding human sym- pathy and to satisfy these qualities he entered the Sioux City College of Medicine, receiving his degree of M.D. in 1901. For a short period the doctor was engaged in the practice of his profession in westeren Iowa, but in 1903, he removed to western Nebraska, and on the 25th day of September opened an office in Mitchell. On coming here his ability soon gained him recognition, with the result that great success has attended his earnest efforts in his chosen calling. In the work of his humane mission Dr. Faulk spares himself neither mental nor physical effort, and carries relief and solace to those in affliction and distress. His practice has grown to immense proportions for he has gained a reputation throughout the entire Pan- handle as physician and surgeon. The doctor is a namesake of his illustrious grandfather ; while his ancestor, General Daniel Brodhead, was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and while the doctor has never sought military hon- ors he is a worthy representative of his family, as he volunteered among the first on the decla- ration of war in 1917. He is a leading figure in all patriotic movements and takes an active part in all civic and national affairs that tend toward the betterment of living conditions in state and county. His aunts have been at vari- ous times delegates of the Daughters of the American Revolution and one also served as president of this organization in both South Dakota and Nebraska. Dr. Faulk does not neglect his duties as a citizen of the city in which he makes his home but enters actively in the political life of Scottsbluff county as a staunch Republican, having served several terms as chairman of the Republican Central Committee and as Congressional committee- man. He is a member of the Masonic frater- nity and a Shriner, having taken his thirty-sec- ond degree ; is also a member of the B. P. O. E. and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a generous supporter of the Episcopal church, of which the family are members. He has served as surgeon general of the Patriarchs Militant for Nebraska ; was the organizer and first president of the Scottsbluff County Med-

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 20

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