History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 29

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

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ZIBA VALETTE CLEVELAND, who is a very highly esteemed resident of Bayard, came early to Nebraska and for many years was a substantial farmer. He was born in the state of New York, April 24, 1844. His par- ents were S. A. and Ruth (Ferris) Cleveland, who spent their lives in New York. Mr. Cleveland's oldest brother died in the Civil War. One brother, I. A. Cleveland, is a re- tired druggist living in Chicago, and a sister, Mrs. Ida J. Weed, lives in New York.

From his native state Mr. Cleveland went to Iowa and bought land on which he followed farming for twenty years. In 1886 he mov- ed to Banner county, Nebraska, homesteaded, pre-empted and secured a tree claim and sub- sequently proved up on all, when there were but three houses between his homestead and Kimball. He sold out there and in Banner county and moved to near McGrew and from there retired to Bayard. He built the first frame house in Hull precinct and the first school in the precinct was held in his kitchen for three months. Later Mrs. Cleve- land taught three terms of school in a sod house.

In Iowa, in 1875, Mr. Cleveland was mar- ried to Miss Mary Warrington, a daughter of David and Sarah Jane Warrington, the former of whom was born in Indiana and the latter in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Cleve- land had four sons born to them, namely: Bert, who is a farmer in Scottsbluff county ; Ralph, who lives at Spokane, Washington ; Lee R., who lives at Bayard; and Roy, who died when aged twenty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland have a very comfortable home at Bayard. He has always been interested in the public schools and has served on school boards for thirty years. He has also been a justice of the peace. In politics he has always been a Republican and has voted for fifty years. He is independent as regards religious beliefs.

VERT B. CARGILL, the owner and man- aging editor of the Western Nebraska Ob- server, published at Kimball, is one of the most prominent members of the newspaper fraternity of the Panhandle, where he has been located nearly a decade. A journalist in this twentieth century occupies a vantage ground from which great influence extends ; he may build up a cause worthy of public support ; may lead men to action in state and

civic affairs and plays an important part in the development of the section of the country where his paper circulates. Not only the city of Kimball, but Kimball county as a whole has large reason for congratulation that the Observer is in such skilled, safe, sagacious and thoroughly clean hands. It is one of the best general newspapers published in the Pan- handle, as well as an outspoken, fair play ex- ponent of the best elements of the Republican party ; it is in all respects well worth the care and sound judgment displayed in its col- umns and reflects credit on the owner-editor, Vert B. Cargill.

Mr. Cargill was born in Iowa, July 14, 1884, the son of Ezra C. and Stella E. Car- gill, was reared in his native state and re- ceived his education in the public schools of Shannon City. Soon after graduating from the high school, the young man entered the employ of the Shannon City Sun, to learn the practical end of the newspaper business. He worked in the printing department from 1900 until the following year, leaving to become associated with the Gravity (Iowa) Inde- pendent, where he finished his apprenticeship as printer. Having mastered the trade, Mr. Cargill rose rapidly in the printing business for so young a man and became the foreman of the Corning (Iowa) Free Press in July, 1905. This business connection continued for nearly five years during which time he learned all the varied intricacies of the publishing and newspaper business, became well and favor- ably known among the publishers of Iowa and in June, 1910, was offered and accepted the position of managing editor of the Afton (Iowa) Star-Enterprise. In July he took charge of that sheet, soon becoming a joint owner of it in partnership with Senator Charles Thomas, of Kent, Iowa. Three years later Mr. Cargill sold his interest in the Star- Enterprise to Mr. O. T. Meyers. After look- ing over the Nebraska territory, he came to the belief that there was a great future for men of the Panhandle and cast in his lot with this section when he bought the Western Ne- braska Observer published at Kimball. Tak- ing over the management of the paper in August of that year, Mr. Cargill has enlarged the original plant, has a good and lucrative job printing business which is run in connec- tion with the paper which today is one of the live, up-to-date, progressive publications of the western half of the state, yielding a strong and wide spread influence in Kimball and ad- joining counties, where it plays an important part in the moulding of public opinion.

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Mr. Cargill is one of the progressive men of the middle west who advocates personally as well as editorially all movements that tend to the development of the city and county. He is alert to present to the people the latest and best discoveries in agriculure, irrigation and education thus being a great force for progress.

He is a staunch supporter of the tenets of the Republican party and served as county chairman of the Republican County Committee and at all times takes an active part in local politics and affairs.

Mr. Cargill is a charter member of the Masonic Lodge No. 294 of Kimball and was Master of the organization from 1917 to 1919.

July 31, 1911 Mr. Cargill was united in marriage with Miss Belle M. McElroy, the daughter of Samuel and Mary McElroy, at Corning, Iowa. The McElroy family are of Irish extraction and Mrs. Cargill's parents were born in the Emerald Isle, coming to America many years ago. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cargill: Mary El- zene and Wayne McElroy, seven and five years of age respectively. Since coming to the southwestern part of Nebraska, the Car- gill family have made many warm friends in Kimball, where they are progressive and lead- ing residents of a growing and populous city.

OSCAR E. FORSLING, sheriff of Kim- ball county, Nebraska, most efficiently fills an office of danger and importance. As long as unruly elements insist on breaking the law in a community, public officials must be elected to curb them in order to protect the innocent. These officials, in the nature of things, must be men of great personal courage as well as of close discernment and sound judgment. Such an official is the sheriff of Kimball coun- ty.

Oscar E. Forsling was born July 19, 1873, in Sweden. His parents were John and Inga Forsling. Their nine children all reached ma- turity, the following members beside Oscar E. being well known in this locality: Anna, who married B. A. Norberg, and their son, En- sign Thor Norberg, was an officer at Great Lakes training station, Chicago, during the great war; Alfred, who occupies his ranch situated eight miles west of Kimball ; Clarence A., who is a large landowner in Kamball coun- ty, served two terms as county sheriff ; Au- gusta, who married Rev. A. M. Breener, chaplain at Camp Taylor during the World War, they being the parents of three sons in the service, one of whom, Paul, died at Des

Moines, a victim of influenza; Frank, who lives at Kimball; and Emma, who is the wife of E. A. Hagstrom, a prominent farmer liv- ing six miles from Kimball. In 1883 the par- ents of Sheriff Forsling came to the United States and for one year afterward the father worked in the Pullman shops at Pullman, Illi- nois, then came to Nebraska and in 1889 filed on a homestead in Kimball county.

Oscar E. Forsling was twelve years old when he accompanied his parents to Kimball county, and grew up on his father's prairie farm. Some fifteen years of his life were spent riding range as a cowboy in Colorado, Wyoming and southern Montana, and thus his thorough knowledge of this western country can scarcely be overestimated, not only hav- ing knowledge of the configuration of the country, but of the people, among whom he has hosts of friends.

On November 25, 1900, Oscar E. Forsling was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Whit- man, who is a daughter of Fred M. and Mary (Francis) Whitman. Sheriff and Mrs. Fors- ling are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he has always believed in the prin- ciples of the Republican party and has taken a somewhat active part in its councils in Kim- ball county. After serving six years as depu- ty county sheriff, he was elected sheriff in the fall of 1907 and is still serving. For a num- ber of years he has been prominent in the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed all the local chairs and after serving one term as deputy grand chan- cellor, in 1918 was again elected, and on sever- al occasion has attended the meetings of the Grand Lodge in an official capacity. He be- longs also to the order of Modern Woodmen of America.

WILLIAM D. ATKINS, one of the promi- nent and representative men of Kimball coun- ty, has spent many useful years in this sec- tion, to which he came with his father, March 22, 1889. He was born in Davis county, Iowa, September 2, 1869, son of Peter L. and Delilah Atkins. He has one brother, Dallas K., who lives in Kimball county.

William D. Atkins grew up on his father's farm in Davis county and obtained his school- ing there. When his father decided to move to Nebraska and secure a homestead, William D. determined on the same course and both father and son proved up on their land in Kimball county. They at first went into the

YORICK NICHOLS

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sheep business and later raised cattle also. The father died December 12, 1908, but the mother survives and lives on the old home- stead adjoining that of William D. His early years in Kimball county were mainly spent in herding cattle and working on the farm. In later years Mr. Atkins has extended his in- terests and is now one of the county's sub- stantial farmers.

In 1890, Mr. Atkins was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Pywell, daughter of John and Mary Ann Pywell, both of whom are de- ceased. Their family consisted of three sons and three daughters, the survivors all living in Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Atkins three daughters and two sons were born: Mabel, the wife of George Ketch, of Kimball ; Arthur E., who served overseas in the great war, in the One hundred and ninth Engineers, was promoted to top sergeant, returned to America safely and was honorably discharged at Fort Dodge, July 1, 1919; Grace, the wife of Har- ley Neely ; Ira, who assists his father ; Mary, deceased ; and Heloise, at home.

For many years Mr. Atkins has been ac- tive in the councils of the Democratic party. Fully twenty-five years ago he was elected chairman of the town board and one many occasions since has filled important offices, in 1914, being elected a county commissioner, the only one of his party candidates elected, and in 1919 was re-elected for a second term of four years. He has also served as highway commissioner. He signed the franchise for the first telephone company in the county. LIe is prominent in the order of Knights of Pythias, being past chancellor, and also in the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Atkins and his family belong to the Methodist Epis- copal church.

YORICK NICHOLS was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1863, the son of Wil- liam A. and Nancy ( Mitchell) Nichols, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was an attorney who practiced law at Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, until 1869, at which time he re- moved to Kansas, where he continued his law practice and at the same time took a homestead and proved up on it. He did the first hard- wood building in that county, having floated lumber across the Neosho river with an ox team. He also dug the first cellar in Neosho county, started the town of Tioga, Kansas, and practiced his profession there until he died in 1873, a successful man and one of the pioneers who helped to start the development of the great West following the Civil War.

Yorick Nichols was the oldest boy of five children in the family. The others were : May, the wife of Henry Block, now deceased ; Car- roll, who died in Morrill a few years ago, and who together with his brother Yorick built the first substantial building in that town ; Willis, who lives at Sweetgrass, Montana, and is the owner of the townsite at that place; and Blanche, now Mrs. Henry Russell, at Mitchell, Nebraska.

Mr. Nichols still keeps as one of his most prized relics his father's commission as a cap- tain in Hancock's corps of the Union army, signed by President Abraham Lincoln.

In 1882 Yorick Nichols came to Wyoming and worked as a cowboy. He took a preëmp- tion claim and timber claim in that part of old Cheyenne county, Nebraska, which is now Scottsbluff county, and also a homestead of 320 acres in Wyoming, with 100 acres under irriga- tion. He has followed stockraising for his main occupation all his life, feeding in the win- ter time, and raising a good grade of stock. He ran cattle on 5,000 acres adjoining the pres- ent town of Henry. Nebraska, which town was founded by him. His place is now known as "Little Moon Ranch."

He was married first to Alice D. Dyer, a native of England and a woman of literary talent who did quite a little writing. She is now deceased. They had an adopted son, Henry B. Dyer, who met an accidental death by drowning a few years ago. It was in his honor the town of Henry was named.

Mr. Nichols' present wife was Maude Law- rence, a native of Nebraska. She is a member of the Christian church.

Mr. Nichols is an independent voter. He is one of the best known of the old-timers of westeren Nebraska and eastern Wyoming, and claims the distinction of being the first bona fide settler in this part of the North Platte valley.

CALVIN NEELY, one of Kimball coun- ty's highly esteemed citizens, for many years was engaged in the stock business but now lives practically retired in his comfortable home at Kimball. Mr. Neely was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, December 27, 1861. His parents were Samuel and Anna Neely. who had eleven children and eight of these reached maturity. Samuel Neely enlisted 111 the Forty-second Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War at Lancaster, Wisconsin, and was honorably discharged at Cairo, Illinois.

Calvin Neely grew up in Wisconsin and ob- tained his schooling there. As one of a large family he early had to assist in his own sup-

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port by working on farms and herding cattle and remember how far he felt from home and how big the world looked to him, when his father sent the eleven-year old boy to look after the herding a dozen miles away. He accompanied his parents to Nebraska in 1886, when his father homesteaded in Cheyenne county. The family lived there about eight years, then moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where the father died, the mother returning then to Nebraska, where she lived with a daughter until her own death.

In 1887 Calvin Neely was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Bliss, daughter of Ambrose K. Bliss. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss came to Ne- braska in 1886 and located in Cheyenne coun- ty, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres and proved up on the claim. In

1898 they moved to Eaton, Colorado. The mother died in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1901, and the father died in Denver, Colorado in 1908. Mr. Bliss was a corporal in Company C of the Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry, and served for three years, being mustered out at Galveston, Texas, July 14. 1865. Mrs. Neely was one of a family of eleven children, like her husband, and all reached maturity ex- cept one who died when fourteen months old. The Bliss family lived in Wisconsin, but Mr. and Mrs. Neely were married in Cheyenne county, Nebraska. They became the parents of three sons and one daughter, namely : Charles Vere, Chester C., Harlan L. and Doris G. All three sons were soldiers in the great war that has left its black trail of sorrow in so many homes. The eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Neely, Charles Vere Neely, was well and affectionately known all through Kimball county, for he had qualities that won him friends wherever he went. For about twelve years before entering the National army, he had lived at Golden, Fruitdale and Maple Grove, Colorado. He was sent from Golden in the draft contingent leaving April 27, 1918, to Camp Funston, where he was assigned to the Three hundred and fifty-fourth infantry and was sent overseas with the Eighty-ninth division. Although, through bravery exposed on hundreds of occasions to a soldier's haz- ard, he escaped injury until the practical end- ing of the war, receiving his death wound just fifty minutes before the signing of the armistice that ended the fighting. In a beauti- ful, touching letter received subsequently by the bereaved family, his closest comrade during their sojourn in France, says : "a better buddy in every way, a more fearless soldier, a quick- er or more dependable runner, and a· surer

guide, never lived." Neely Post No. 22, at Kimball was named in his honor.

Chester C. Neely, the second son, is an overseas soldier who is now at home, having been honorably discharged from military serv- ice, May 17, 1919, at Camp Lee, Virginia. He had twelve months of training at Camp Fun- ston and Camp Cody, New Mexico, then went to France attached to company A, One hun- dred and ninth engineers, Thirty-fourth divi- sion, and served there eight months. Harlan L., the third son, was in training for some months at Lincoln, Nebraska, and Camp Sher- man, Ohio, and was honorably discharged. The one daughter of the family, Doris G., a high school graduate, is employed in a Kim- ball business house as a bookkeeper and re- sides with her parents. Mr. Neely and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.

SAMUEL B. HANNA, who has the dis- tinction of being the second oldest real estate dealer, in point of time, in Kimball county, came here in 1906 and has built up an ex- tensive business connection in land and insur- ance. Mr. Hanna was born in Fayette coun- ty, Ohio, April 7, 1870. His parents were James and Tabitha Hanna. His mother died May 28, 1870, leaving a daughter, since de- ceased, and Samuel B., an infant. In 1904 his father came to Nebraska and bought land in the Wood River valley, on which he lived until 1907, when he moved to Oklahoma and his death occurred in 1915, at Hennessey, in Kingfisher county. Both parents were mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, solid, re- spectable people of good old Scotch-Irish stock.

Samuel B. Hanna had adequate school op- portunities in his youth but no special ad- vantages. In 1906 he came to Kimball coun- ty and on June 1, of that year, embarked in the real estate and insurance business, having secured an agency from W. F. Shelton, of Omaha, in the sale of Union Pacific Railroad lands. In fulfilling this contract Mr. Hanna has handled many thousand acres of land, dis- posing of the last tracts in this section in 1911. Perhaps no one in the business is better quali- fied concerning land of every description and value all through Nebraska, and many east- ern firms consult him concerning investments. He also represents old line insurance com- panies. In every phase of his business Mr. Hanna has been found reliable and upright.

In 1892 Mr. Hanna was united in marriage to Miss Effie M. Briggs, who was born at

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Greenfield, Ohio, a daughter of Jesse and Delilah Briggs, farming people. To Mr. and Mrs. Briggs nine children have been born: Charles Wesley, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, in Ohio; Elijah, deceased, was a farmer; Jesse, died in 1918; Effie and Elmer, twins, the latter of whom died in in- fancy; Clara, the wife of Edward Preston; Martha, resides at Greenfield, Ohio; Rebecca, the wife of William Roseboom, a retired farmer of Summitville, Indiana; and Emma, who was the wife of William Fisher. The family home is a handsome modern residence on the corner of Fourth and Chesnut streets, Kimball. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hanna are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is prominent in the order of Kinghts of Pythias, being a past chancellor and deputy grand chancellor and master of finance in the local body, and belongs also to the Modern Woodmen.

WILLIAM J. CRONN, who has been a prominent citizen of Kimball for many years, active in business and foremost in civic affairs, was born at Millbrook, Ulster county, New Jer- sey, July 7, 1860. He was reared and edu- cated in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, had public school advantages, and was twenty years old when he went to Wisconsin, his parents following about eight months later.

The family lived in the above named state for five years and then the father moved to Nebraska, in 1885, locating in Colfax county. In 1890 he took up a homestead in Banner county but at a later date sold it and moved to California, where they are still living near Los Angeles, being aged about eighty-six years. Of their thirteen children nine are living. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

William J. Cronn was thirty-eight years old when he came to Kimball county and started into business in the village as a painter and paper-hanger. Business prospects at that time were not very bright for the village and Mr. Cronn remembers seeing three of the rather limited number of houses moved by their owners out on their ranches. He found plenty to do however, as he was the only man in his line in the neighborhood and the most of the painting and paper-hanging jobs be- tween Sidney and Cheyenne came to him. He now has a paint and paper store at Kimball and is a contractor in this line of work. He owns considerable propertly at Kimball in- cluded in which is his fine modern residence.

In 1888 Mr. Cronn was united in marriage

to Miss Hattie Longworth, a daughter of William Longworth and wife, who reside in Schuyler, Colfax county, Nebraska. The latter have three daughters and one son : Ethel, the wife of Mr. McGregor, has five children ; Alice, who married Mr. Wilson and resides at Kimball; Chester, a painter by trade; and Irene, her father's assistant in the store. From the first Mr. Cronn has been enterpris- ing and progressive as a citizen. He has been mayor of the city and is now serving in his third term as city alderman. In speaking of him his fellow citizens say, "he is a fine man." Mr. Cronn and his family belong to the Metho- dist Episcopal church.

GEORGE W. HARVEY, who is a highly respected retired resident of Kimball, came to Nebraska many years ago, and in one way or another, has been identified with the sub- stantial development of several sections of the state. He belongs to that sturdy group of pioneers who blazed the way for those who later more comfortably followed the trail.

George W. Harvey was born in Hardin county, Ohio, March 19, 1849. His parents were Brice and Caroline Harvey, who were married on February 18, 1847. They had two children, George W. and Mary D., the latter of whom died in infancy. The father died on the old homestead in Ohio, June 8, 1856. The mother remained a widow six years, then married John Merritt, a fine man, a farmer and stockman of Jones county, Iowa. To the second marriage of Mr. Harvey's mother sev- en children were born, and the mother died February 16, 1904, on the homestead situated three miles west of Olin, Iowa.

After his father died and until his mother married again, George W. Harvey lived with his grandparents and an uncle, then went to Iowa with his mother and step-father, the latter treating his stepson very kindly and he re- mained at home until he was twenty-one years old. In August, 1871, Mr. Harvey was united in marriage to Miss Cora A. Williams, a daughter of Harris and Louise (Young) Will- jams. Mrs. Harvey had one brother, who died in infancy. Her mother died in Illinois, while her father was a farmer and stock- raiser, near Joliet, but he later moved to Iowa and died in Jones county. To Mr. and Mrs. Harvey the following children were born : Celesta, born August 8, 1872, died in infancy in Iowa; Lillian, born October 8, 1873, is the wife of John McKinnon, who owns a fruit farm in California; Charles, born May 27, 1875, is a rancher in Montana; Ella, born

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March 8, 1877, is the wife of Frank O. Ba- ker, who is a banker; Arthur, born June 18, 1878, is in business at Joliet, Wyoming, is married and has three living children; Earl, born March 18, 1881, conducts a stock ranch and farm in Banner county, is married and has seven children; and Nina E., born April 30, 1882, is the wife of William Deakin, of Omaha.

In 1882 Mr. and Mrs. Harvey came to Ne- braska and located in Burt county, the near- est market town being Decatur. They remain- ed in Burt county for some years, Mr. Harvey buying three hundred and twenty acres, which he sold in 1888 and then they came to what is now Banner county, just prior to the contest over the county seat, details of which are found in the county annals. After taking up a pre-emption in Banner county he proved up, remained twelve years and from time to time bought land until he now owns seventeen hun- dred and sixty acres of fine land there. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey's first home was in a tent that served them for six months, when Mrs. Harvey's uncle, Ebenezer Williams, built them a stone house, Mrs. Harvey assisted in mixing the mortar, and a warm, comfortable resi- dence was the result. When Mr. Harvey had his house ready to move into, he had just sev- enty-five cents in his pocket, and when his household goods arrived at Kimball he could not find any place to store them, so hauled them out to his homestead, covered them with boards and left them undisturbed until he had managed to put in a crop on forty acres.

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 29

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