History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 23

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

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On November 20, 1897, Mr. Neumann was united in marriage to Miss Callie Capron, who was born in Ohio, and they have three daughters, namely: Violet, who fills an im- portant position in the Bridgeport Bank ; and Opal and Callie, both of whom are attending school. While never unduly active , Mr. Neu- mann has always been faithful to the princi- ples of the Republican party, believing them safest for a real foundation upon which true Americanism can build. For many years he has been identified with the Masonic fratern- ity. He is numbered with the useful and rep- resentative citizens of Bridgeport.

FRANK N. HUNT, whose successful oper- ations in real estate in Morrill county have resulted in a change of ownership of large and valuable tracts of land, and thus brought con- siderable outside capital to this section, has won a place among the leading business men of even much riper experience. Mr. Hunt be- longs to Nebraska, having been born at Oma- ha, October 19, 1887, the son of George J. and Margaret (Bouldin) Hunt, both descended from ancestors who settled in Maryland at an early day. His father was born in the city of Baltimore, in 1856, where the Hunt family for generations has been prominent in financial and political affairs. Immediately after his graduation from the University of Maryland, in 1876, he came to Nebraska and the impres- sion he received during a year spent at Omaha, was so favorable that after his admission to the bar two years later, he came back to that city and became prominent as a member of the

WILLIAM D. LINDEN

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

law firm of Condon, Clarkston & Hunt. In the spring of 1893 he came to Morrill county and prior to locating at Bridgeport in 1904 gave his professional attention to the affairs of the Belmont Ditch, in which he was heavily interested. He stands at the head of the Bridgeport bar. His marriage took place in 1883 to Miss Margaret Bouldin, of Belair, Maryland, and Frank N. is the youngest of their three children, of whom personal men- tion and a steel portrait appears on other pages of this work.

After his preliminary educational training in the public schools, Frank N. Hunt entered a military school in Missouri, afterward at- tending an academy at Macon, Missouri, for two years, then became a student at Lehigh University, South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the class of 1910. The same year he came to Bridgeport and spent one season on his father's ranch in Morrill county, and the following two years found him at work in the Bridgeport Bank. He then took up Kinkaid land, of which he yet owns six hundred and forty acres, lived on his property for three years and then came to Bridgeport to enter the real estate business, opening his office in 1916. The firm does a general land and abstract business, has valu- able clients all through the valley and takes pride in its reputation for business integrity.

In 1912 Mr. Hunt was united in marriage to Miss Sybil Ball, who was born in the city of London, England. They have two children: Lesa Mary and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt belong to the Episcopal church. Mr. Hunt is a Democrat in politics and a loyal party work- er, but personally is more interested in busi- ness than in politics. He is devoted to the welfare of Bridgeport and is ever ready to co- operate with other good citizens for the city's benefit, and has had influence in bringing about improvements in many directions. For some years he has been an Odd Fellow and at pres- ent is serving as secretary of the lodge at Bridgeport.

WILLIAM D. LINDEN .- The Panhandle district of Nebraska is indebted to the neigh- boring state of Iowa for many of its repre- sentative citizens, and among the prominent figures in the industrial life of Scottsbluff county who is thus to be designated as a native of the Hawkeye commonwealth is Mr. Linden. He is one of the most loyal, progressive and valued citizens of Mitchell, where he has de- veloped an important and successful enterprise in the conducting of a mill for the grinding of alfalfa and the manufacturing of a valuable

product, and where also he has been specially vigorous and enthusiastic in furthering the ad- vancement of the town and the county, it hav- ing been his privilege to serve as the first mayor of Mitchell.

Mr. Linden was born at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on the 14th of September, 1872, the son of Andrew G. and Elizabeth ( Hakanson) Lin- den, both natives of Sweden, where they were reared and educated. Andrew G. Linden em- igrated from his native land to the United States in 1864 and first established his residence at Galesburg, Illinois, where he became a team- ster. Eventually be became a pioneer settler near Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he became the owner of 160 acres of land, which he reclaimed and developed into a productive farm. In 1873 he disposed of this property and came to Clay county, Nebraska, where he took up and per- fected title to a homestead of 160 acres and where he became one of the representative agriculturists and stock-growers of the county. He made excellent improvements on his home- stead and there continued to reside until he was well advanced in years and was justified in retiring. He and his wife now reside at Her- shey, Lincoln county, and are enjoying the gracious rewards of former years of earnest and honest endeavor, the former being seventy- four and the latter sixty-four years of age at the time of this writing, in the winter of 1919. They are earnest communicants of the Lu- theran church and politically the Republican party enlists the loyal support of Mr. Linden. Of the fine family of children the subject of this sketch is the eldest ; Martin is a prosperous farmer near Funk, Phelps county: Reka is the wife of Alvin Johnson, who likewise is a pros- perous Nebraska farmer ; Anna is the wife of Morey Johnson, a farmer near Hershey, Lin- coln county ; Lillian is a popular teacher in the public schools of the state of Montana; Gus- tavus is a prominent ranchman and merchant in Tripp county, South Dakota, where he is serving as postmaster at Linden, an office named in his honor; Esther died at the age of seven years.

William D. Linden was an infant at the time of the family removal to Nebraska and is the only one of the children born in Iowa. He was reared on the old home farm in Clay county, there received the advantages of the public schools, and there he continued his active alli- ance with farm industry until he had attained to the age of twenty-seven years. In the mean- while he had the distinction of doing the first plowing by steam power in that county. In 1900 he removed to Phelps county, where for three years he was engaged in farming and the

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raising of pure-blood Duroc-Jersey hogs and Red Polled cattle. He then removed to Lin- coln county, where he developed and irrigated a farm for his father, near Hershey, in which village he likewise established and put into suc- cessful operation an alfalfa mill. In 1909 he removed to Mitchell, Scottsbluff county, and assumed control and active management of a well-equipped alfalfa mill which had been established by others, but which had proved a failing venture. His energy, executive ability and technical knowledge proved potent in the redemption of the enterprise and placing the same on a most substantial working basis, so that it now proves a definite adjunct to the in- dustrial activities of the village and the county.

Mr. Linden has been a leader in movements and enterprises tending to advance the interests of Mitchell, and he was chosen the first mayor of the town, in which position he gave a most able and progressive administration, while he also rendered equally effective service during the five years that he was a member of the city council. He is now president of the Mitchell Alfalfa Milling Company and the Mitchell Electric Light Company, and is one of the foremost boosters of the fine little city, in which he has established his home. His polit- ical support is given to the Democratic party, he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is a member of the Con- gregational church, his wife holding member- ship in the Christian church.

The year 1902 made record of the marriage of Mr. Linden to Miss Elizabeth S. Sullivan, who was born in Illinois and who is a daughter of John Sullivan. Mr. and Mrs. Linden have a pleasant home in Mitchell and the same is notable for its generous hospitality and good cheer, the while it is brightened by the presence of their five children - Raymond, Devona, Kenneth, Dorothy, and Doris.

MIKE BEERLINE. - The senior member of the firm of Beerline & Scott, hardware merchants of Bridgeport, Mike Beerline, be- longs to that class of men who have fought their own way to position and independence through the exercise of qualities which have been developed under the stimulating influ- ence of their own necessities. When he en- tered upon his career he had little save his ambition and his yet undeveloped native abil- ity to assist him, but so ably has he directed his activities that he has elevated himself to a place of commercial prestige and has as- sisted in making the enterprise with which he is connected one of Bridgeport's necessary business adjuncts.

Mr. Beerline was born October 16, 1857, in Auglaize county, Ohio, a son of Henry and Christina (Elsass) Beerline, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. They were married in the Buckeye state, and in 1865 moved to Nebraska, where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1867, when the family removed to Missouri, where Mr. Beerline met with a measure of suc- cess and remained until his death. In 1871, the widow and children returned to Nebraska, locating in Sarpy county. The father was a Democrat in politics, and his religious faith was that of the Lutheran church. To this denomination belongs Mrs. Beerline, who sur- vives him as a resident of Papilion, Nebraska. They were the parents of five children: Mike, Mrs. Eaton, the wife of an automobile garage proprietor at Papilion; George, who is carry- ing on agricultural operations in Morrill coun- ty, this state; Henry, successfully engaged in the implement business at Papilion, and Wil- liam, a farmer in the vicinity of Broadwater, Nebraska.

Mike Beerline was but sixteen years of age when he accompanied his widowed mother to Papilion, Nebraska, where he attended the public school, residing there until 1887, in which year he located in Morrill county and took up a tree claim. On this property he re- sided for some eighteen years, continuing to till the soil and make improvements until 1905, the year of his advent in Bridgeport. He had carefully saved his earnings, and upon his ar- rival in this enterprising and promising com- munity invested his capital in a hardware busi- ness, in partnership with Elbert Scott, under the style of Beerline & Scott. As a result of the splendid work and honorable methods of the partners the business has grown to large proportions, and now commands an excellent trade in Bridgeport and throughout the sur- rounding country. Not only is Mr. Beerline one of the thoroughly capable business men of Bridgeport, whose standing in the confidence of his associates is of the highest order, but he has also taken an active and constructive part in civic affairs. He has supported ably and generously all movements tending to make for higher education, cleaner morals and better citizenship, and as a member of the town coun- cil for ten years was able to apply his inherent gifts to the securing of needed legislation and the obtaining of improvements for the place of his adoption. He is a Democrat in his political allegiance and is accounted an influential fac- tor in the ranks of his party in this community. His only fraternal affiliation is with the local

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lodge of the Knights of Pythias, in which he has numerous friends.

Mr. Beerline was married in 1906 to Miss Blondina Hanewald, daughter of Martin Hanewald. They have no children.

ELBERT SCOTT. - With the coming of Elbert Scott to Bridgeport, in 1894, there was added to this community the services of a young man who had both the ambition and the ability to become a factor of great general use- fulness. Since that time he has steadily ad- vanced in position and prosperity, and at the present day, as a member of the hardware firm of Beerline & Scott, is accounted one of his community's substantial business men, occupy- ing a position which presents him with oppor- tunities for the commercial and civic advance- ment of the locality.

Mr. Scott, like numerous other residents of Morrill county, is a native of the Buckeye state. He was born at Palmyra, Ohio, March 1, 1869, his parents being Alexander and Har- riet (McKensie) Scott. His father, born in Pennsylvania, was a young man when he mi- grated to Ohio, and there married a native of that state and entered upon his career as the operator of a farm. In later life, when his agricultural ventures had proven successful, he branched out into other pursuits and for some years carried on a successful contracting business. Both he and his wife were faithful members of the Latter Day Saints, in the faith of which denomination they passed away. Mr. Scott was a Democrat in politics, was elected to township offices on several occasions, and was a man of considerable influence in his community, where he was universally respect- ed. There were eight children in the family, of whom seven are living, but only two reside in Nebraska: Rosel P., who is engaged in farming near Bridgeport, and Elbert.

Elbert Scott enjoyed the benefits to be ac- quired through attendance at the public schools of Ohio, and remained in his native state as an associate of his father in farming until June, 1894, when he came to Nebraska and located at Bridgeport. Here he secured employment with the Belmont Canal Company, and later conducted a ranch for several years. He re- ceived his introduction to the hardware busi- ness with the concern of Elter & Company, an association which continued from 1904 until 1906, the latter year Mr. Scott embarked in an enterprise on his own account, in partnership with Mike Beerline, under the firm style of Beerline & Scott. From a modest beginning, the partners have built up an excellent business, and their affairs are in a flourishing condition,

while their standing in business circles is of the best. Mr. Scott is a man of sound and practical ideas, possessed of clear judgment and good business sense, and has made a thorough study of the hardware trade, as well as of the needs of the community at large and his pat- rons in particular. His reputation for integ- rity has been honestly won through years of honorable dealing, while his good citizenship has been evidenced by his cooperation in move- ments of a progressive and beneficial char- acter.

Mr. Scott was married in 1910 to Miss Mabel Pool, who was born in Illinois. They have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter, Sylvia, who was born in April, 1918. Fraternally, Mr. Scott is affili- ated with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed through the chairs, and both he and Mrs. Scott are members of the Rebekahs. His political tendencies cause him to support the candidates and principles of the Democratic party.

LLOYD WIGGINS. - Beginning as a clerk in a country store, Lloyd Wiggins, cashier of the First National Bank of Bridge- port, Nebraska, probably learned lessons in patience, accuracy and courtesy that have re- mained with him through many years of bus- iness life and have been helpful from the be- ginning to the present. A bank cashier very often has need of all these qualities in his deal- ings with his fellow men and responding to the many and varied demands of the public. Mr. Wiggins has been identified with the First Na- tional since 1915 and is one of its most popular officials. He was born May 8, 1881, in Cosh- octon county, Ohio, the son of Warren and Ruth (Pigman) Wiggins, both of whom were born in Coshocton county, where the father still lives. The mother died there in January, 1914. Of their six children, Lloyd is the youngest of the three survivors, the others be- ing : Mrs. Etta Russell, of Martinsburg, Knox county, Ohio, and D. M., a blacksmith at Bladensburg, Ohio. The family was reared in the Christian church. The father is a re- tired carpenter. His father, Kinsey Wiggins, was born in Ohio and died there and he also was a carpenter. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Wiggins were James and Mary (Hook- er) Pigman, both of whom came to Ohio from Maryland, in 1910. He was a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, a circuit-rider, and continued to travel back and forth per- forming his religious duties as long as he lived.

Lloyd Wiggins attended the public schools and then accepted a position as clerk in a coun-

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try store, but this did not offer advantages for the future and Mr. Wiggins soon made his way to Zanesville. There, for three years, he saw life from the platform of a street car. The next change was to the West and for one year he served as a clerk in a grocery store at Victory, Colorado, but this also was but a stepping-stone, for Mr. Wiggins had the ambi- tion and knew he had the ability, to satisfac- torily fill a much more important position. In December, 1906, he came to Mitchell, Nebras- ka, to enter the employ of Carr & Neff, lum- ber dealers, and subsequently bought an in- terest in the business, an association which lasted for eight years, as he attended to the company's interests at Mitchell, Scottsbluff and Bridgeport, in this way becoming well known to solid men of business who were not slow in recognizing his business capacity and strict integrity. In 1915 he came to the First National Bank as assistant cashier and in the following year became cashier. This flourish- ing institution is capitalized at $25,000, has a surplus of $5,000, and average deposits of $180,000.

On June 8, 1910, Mr. Wiggins was united in marriage to Miss Augusta M. Mack, who was born in Germany. She is a member of the Pres- byterian church. Mr. Wiggins has never been unduly interested in politics but is a sound Re- publican and freely expresses his reasons for being of that political faith, but has never been willing to accept any public office. He is de- voted to his business, his home and friends, and finds many of the latter among the Masons and Odd Fellows, to which fraternities he has belonged many years, at present being senior warden of the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., and past grand in the latter organization.

ALBERT T. SEYBOLT, whose name stands for business integrity at Bridgeport, established himself here in the real estate line, in a small way, in September, 1910. The bus- iness has expanded into a large enterprise, in which Mr. Seybolt requires the help of three assistants. Good business judgment, careful attention to clients, strict honesty and prompt fulfilling of obligations have brought this pro- gress about, and perhaps no dealer in real es- tate, insurance and abstracts in this section en- joys, in greater degree, the confidence of the public. Mr. Seybolt is a native of Nebraska, born at Plattsmouth, February 26, 1875, the son of George A. and Mary J. (Thorne) Sey- bolt, both born in 1843, in Orange county, New York. They were reared, educated and mar- ried in the Empire state, and came from there

to Nebraska late in 1874, but unfavorable con- ditions in the new country caused them to re- turn to New York in 1877. Ten years later, in 1887, they again came to Nebraska and Mr. Seybolt preëmpted land in Custer county and took a tree claim. In later years he resided at Lincoln, engaging there in the real estate bus- iness, and to some extent, was interested in Democratic politics. The mother died in 1904 and the father now lives at San Diego, Cal- ifornia. Of their five children, Albert T. was the third born, the others being as follows: Anna, who resides at Ashland, Nebraska ; Floyd, who now lives retired at Lincoln, was formerly a Federal bank examiner; Andrew D., whose home is at Ashland, Nebraska, and Sarah, the wife of James A. Kurk, who is in the real estate business at Broken Bow, Ne- braska.

After Albert T. Seybolt had completed his course in the public schools at Lincoln, he went to work on his father's farm in Custer county where he remained nine years, then removed to Douglas county and continued agricultural pursuits, for a time enjoying the same, and still takes an interest in looking after his fine irrigated farms. After some experience on the road for a well known insurance company, Mr. Seybolt came to Bridgeport and embarked in the insurance business himself, in connec- tion with handling real estate, and has greatly prospered as noted above. His is a conspicu- ous example of close attention to business, bringing commensurate results.

On December 31, 1901, Mr. Seybolt was united in marriage to Miss Bessie L. Milmine, who was born at Kenney, Dewitt county, Illi- nois, the only daughter of Murray M. and Delia (Kent) Milmine. The father was born at Hamilton, Canada, September 23, 1843, and now resides at Lincoln, Nebraska. The mother was born at Lansingville, New York, September 14, 1845, and died October 11, 1896. They were married at Maroa, Illinois, December 31, 1867, lived for a time in Illinois but later came to Nebraska. Mrs. Seybolt has one brother, Edward K., who takes care of the abstract department of Mr. Seybolt's office. Mr. and Mrs. Seybolt have one daughter, Marian, now attending school. The family belongs to the Presbyterian church and Mr. Seybolt has served on its board of trustees at Bridgeport. Ever since locating here he has been active in all movements promising sub- stantial benefit to city or county. From prin- ciple, he votes with the Republican party, but political office has no attraction for him equal to that of business.

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ZADOCK GOODWIN, a resident of Mitchell, Scottsbluff county, who takes pride in claiming the fine old Hoosier state as the place of his nativity, was a young man of twenty- three when he came with his father to Ne- braska and established his residence in Box Butte county, and thus to whom may be justly accorded pioneer honors in the famous Pan- handle of the state, to which this history is ded- icated. He has been a prominent and influ- ential force in connection with the development of farm industry in this section of the state and he and his wife are now the owners of a large and well-improved landed estate in Scottsbluff county, where their attractive home is situated about twenty-five miles distant from the thriving little city of Mitchell, which is their postoffice address.

Mr. Goodwin was born in the vicinity of Greencastle, Putman county, Indiana, on the 9th day of January, 1867, a son of Zadock Goodwin, who was born in Ohio and who was one of the most venerable citizens of Box Butte county, Nebraska, at the time of his death, in 1912, when he was ninety years of age. The maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was Nancy Sigler, and she likewise was born near Greencastle, Indiana, her death having occurred when she was about forty years of age. Zadock Goodwin, Sr., was a farmer in Indiana and from that state he final- ly removed to Iowa, where he became a pioneer in the realm of agricultural and live-stock en- terprise and where he remained until 1886, when he came to Nebraska and took up a homestead and a tree claim in Box Butte coun- ty. To this tract of 320 acres he later made very appreciable additions, and he became largely and prominently identified with the raising of cattle in this section of the state, where he became well known as a man of sterling character and marked business ability.

He whose name initiates this article was a boy at the time of the family removal to Potta- watamie county, Iowa, where he received the advantages of the public schools and where also he gained his initial experience in connection with agricultural enterprise and the stock busi- ness. In 1886 he accompanied his father to Box Butte county, Nebraska, where he took a preëmption claim, to which he perfected his title and which he finally sold. In 1895 he be- came a pioneer farmer in Scottsbluff county. He has wisely made investment in land in this county and now has a valuable estate of 2000 acres, of which 160 acres are supplied with irrigation and given over to the raising of diversified crops. On his extensive ranch Mr. Goodwin likewise gives special attention to the

raising of cattle and other livestock of excel- lent types and he has erected good buildings and made other modern improvements on the place. Though he still gives a general super- vision to this fine estate, which he now rents, he is living virtually retired, in the enjoyment of the ample rewards for former years of intense and well-ordered activity as one of the world's productive workers. He is a staunch advocate of the principles for which the Democratic party stands sponsor in a basic sense and is a liberal and loyal citizen. His wife and daugh- ters hold membership in the Presbyterian church.

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 23

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