History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 37

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 37

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In Nebraska, in 1894, Mr. Bowman was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Linton, who was born in Otoe county, Nebraska, Feb- ruary 19, 1876. Her parents were James and Elizabeth (McNiel) Linton, now deceased, who were farming people in Otoe county. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman have had the following named children: Cecil who is a farmer in Scottsbluff county; Maurita, who is married and lives in Colorado; Harold, who assists his father on the farm; and Merle, Allen Stanley and Delbert, all of whom are at home. Mr. Bowman belongs to the order of Modern Woodmen.

MONROE J. REED. - When a man chooses any vocation in life it is satisfactory indeed to find that his judgment has not been at fault but that success has rewarded his earnest efforts. While there is no business so important as farming, not every young man can make it profitable when he leaves the home farm where everything is familiar, and starts out for himself. When Monroe J. Reed, how- ever, came to Scottsbluff county, from his father's farm in Sarpy county, he found he had been well trained and the effects of this train- ing are seen in the excellent condition of his homestead, which is situated on section 17 town 22-53, no great distance from a fine market at Scottsbluff.

Monroe J. Reed was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1873. He is a son of James Mitchell and Mary E. (Read) Reed, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1880 they moved to Sarpy county, Nebraska and engaged in farming for the rest of their lives. Mon- roe J. Reed obtained his education in the pub-

lic schools. He was reared on his father's farm and from there came to Scottsbluff coun- ty in 1910 and homesteaded. Almost all the substantial improvements which mark the place as the property of a careful owner, were put here by Mr. Reed. His land is all irri- gated and abundant crops result from his efficient methods of farming.

In 1919 Mr. Reed was married to Mrs. Minnie (Van Meter) Meyers, who was born in Illinois, December 4, 1885, and was care- fully educated in Nebraska. She is a daugh- ter of Henry and Mary (Hulbut) Van Meter, her father being a substantial farmer in Hitch- cock county, Nebraska, where both parents have spent their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he has always been identi- fied with the Republican party.

WILLIAM BOSTON MEEK, who is one of Scottsbluff county's successful self-made men, finds himself quite ready to believe stories often told the traveler through this section, of the pioneer hardships of seventeen years ago. Like many other young men, he came here with more courage and ambition than capital but all these were necessary during the early years. He came before the great irri- gation projects were under way, and deserves credit as do others, because of the determina- tion and persistency with which he earned the right to his land. His fine irrigated farm is enough reward.

William Boston Meek was born in Wayne county, Indiana, June 30, 1888, and is a son of John William and Wilda (Porter) Meek, the former of whom was born in Indiana, February 2, 1851, and the latter in the same state, November 6, 1853. They now live on their large ranch in Boxbutte county, Ne- braska. When young Mr. Meek's parents moved to Morrill county and he was reared there and worked on his father's farm until 1892 when he came to Scottsbluff county and homestead on one hundred and sixty acres. He then had this large tract of wild, unimprov- ed land and set about developing it as rapidly as possible, in the meanwhile reducing his living expenses to the lowest ebb. It was a long season of hard work before he had completed his contract with the government and at times found it necessary to leave his own farm and work for others in order to get money to hold his claim. At first the land was not properly productive, his crops being iniured on many occasions by protracted drouths, but since it is irrigated an entirely different story may

WILL N. RANDALL AND FAMILY

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

be told. He devotes himself to general farm- ing and his neighbors call him verv success- ful. Mr. Meek is not married but he is widely known and his fellow citizens are all friends. He belongs to the order of Odd Fellows.

GOTLEIB GRASSMICK, who is an enter- prising young farmer of Scottsbluff county, was born April 28, 1887, in Russia, where he went to school for several years before ac- companying his parents to the United States. His father, Carl Grassmick, was born in Rus- sia and lived there until 1899, when he brought his wife and children to America. The moth- er, Mary (Helzer) Grassmick was born in Russia and now lives in Colorado, aged forty- five years. The parents landed safely in the United States and went west to North Da- kota, where the father homesteaded. Later he moved to Colorado and died there when aged sixty-four years.

Gotlieb Grassmick worked on his father's farm in North Dakota until 1914, when he came to Scottsbluff county, Nebraska. Here he is operating a farm of forty acres that be- longs to his father-in-law, and is doing ex- ceptionally well. In 1915 he was married to Katie Hohnstein, who was born in Russia, November 11, 1894. She is a daughter of John and Katie (Tellman) Hohnstein, all born in Russia. Mr. and Mrs. Grassmick have two children : Esther and Helen.

WILL N. RANDALL is one of the pioneer settlers who has assisted in demonstrating the splendid advantages of Scottsbluff county in the development of the agricultural and live- stock industry, and his well improved farm property is situated in section 28, township 23- 55, about seven miles from the city of Scotts- bluff. Mr. Randall was born at Des Moines, Iowa, on the 18th of October, 1863, and was reared and educated in the Hawkeye state, where he duly availed himself of the advan- tages of the public schools of the period. He is a son of Milo M. and Adelia ( Roberts) Ran- dall, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Vermont. The father, who was a wagonmaker and cabinetmaker by trade, became one of the early settlers of Iowa, where he developed a fine farm property in Polk county, the same being still in the possession of the family and the place of abode of the ven- erable widow, who celebrated in 1919 the eighty-fourth anniversary of her birth, Mr. Randall having died at the patriarchal age of ninety-one years. Milo M. Randall was a pio- neer in the work of his trades in Iowa, but there he gained his major success through asso- ciation with farm enterprise. He purchased

the old home farm from a man named Randall, but no relation, who had obtained the land from the government, and thus it has changed ownership only once. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and he held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, as does also his widow. He was long affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and was a man of sterling character and strong mentality. Of the six children the eldest, Emma, is deceased ; Will N., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Sophrona M. is the wife of Martin Troup, a prosperous real estate dealer at Max- well, Iowa; Charles is a prosperous farmer near Lander, Wyoming ; Rose is deceased ; and Cora resides at Maxwell, Iowa.

Will N. Randall early gained practical ex- perience in connection with the work of the home farm and he continued to be identified with agricultural enterprise in Iowa until 1886, when he came to Scottsbluff county, Nebraska, which was then a part of Cheyenne county. Here he filed on a homestead of 160 acres and also on a tree claim, both of which properties he still owns. He also owns land on the North Platte river, in the same section of the county, and the aggregate land holdings of the family comprise 640 acres, one-half of which is sup- plied with excellent irrigation facilities. Diver- sified agriculture and stock-raising have con- tinuously engaged the attention of Mr. Ran- dall, and through these basic mediums he has achieved substantial success, with incidental status as one of the popular and representative citizens of his community. He has made good improvements on his land and the family home is one of attractive order.

In politics Mr. Randall holds aside from par- tisan lines and gives his support to men and measures meeting the approval of his judg- ment. He is affiliated with the Masonic fra- ternity, including the Order of the Eastern Star, in which his wife likewise holds member- ship, as does she also in the Church of the Brethren.

The year 1891 recorded the marriage of Mr. Randall to Miss Margaret Pfoutz, who was born in Pennsylvania, and they have four chil- dren: Milo M., who married Christina Hass, and is one of the progressive exponents of farm industry in Scottsbluff county, as is also Ora P., who married Catherine Bear ; Ira N., who entered the military service in connection with the late World War and who was sta- tioned at Camp Funston, Kansas, is now con- ducting a well equipped farming and cattle ranch near Du Bois, Wyoming, having married Mabel Wilson ; and Charles Glenmore, who is farming with his brother at Du Bois, Wyom- ing.

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JOHN HOHNSTEIN, who is one of the highly respected residents and substantial farmers of Scottsbluff county, has been a resi- dent of the United States since 1904 and of Scottsbluff county since 1910. He was born in Russia, January 16, 1873. His parents were Henry and Lizzie (Schreere) Hohnstein, na- tives of Russia and good people. The father was a farmer all his life and died in his na- tive land when seventy-two years old, and the mother at the age of sixty-five years.

John Hohnstein grew up on his father's farm in Russia and had some school train- ing. From early manhood he had determined at some time to come to the United States, but the chance did not present itself until he was thirty-one years old. He landed in this great country in 1904 and found plenty of work and comfortable living on a Kansas farm, where he remained until 1910, when he came to Scottsbluff county. He went to work again as a farmer and four years later had a farm of his own, buying eighty acres of land situated on section 20 town 22-53. This land is now irrigated and richly productive. He now owns one hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Hohnstein has put many substantial improve- ments on his place and has comfort, plenty, and is well content.

In Russia, in 1894, Mr. Hohnstein wos mar- ried to Miss Katie Tellman, who was born in Russia March 15, 1875. Her aprents were John and Katie (Loos) Tellman, natives of Russia. Both parents died on their farm. The following children have been born to Mr. Mrs. Hohnstein: Katie, who is the wife of Gotlieb Grassmick, who is a farmer in Scotts- bluff county ; Henry, who assists his father on the home place; Maggie, who is the wife of George Snell, who is a farmer in Scottsbluff county; Anna, who assists her mother at home; John, who works for a neighboring farmer; and George, Christina and Asrey. Mr. Hohnstein is giving his children every advantage in his power, and all are doing well. The family belongs to the Russian church and Mr. Hohnstein helped to build the first church of that faith in the county.

WILLIAM M. LACKEY. - The well im- proved farms for which Scottsbluff county is justly noted, indicate the type of people who live here, a solid, self-respecting class who desire comfortable and attractive surroundings as a part of the enjoyment of life. Such a farm is the beautiful eighty acres of irrigated land that is the homestead of William Mitch- ell Lackey, and it lies on section 21 town 22-

53, within easy communication with Scotts- bluff for market, church or social purposes.

William M. Lackey was born March 17, 1873, in Ontario, Canada. His parents were Andrew and Eliza (Campbell) Lackey, the latter of whom survives and lives at Gering, Nebraska. The father of Mr. Lackey was born in Ireland and was brought to the Do- minion of Canada when two years old. He grew up on a farm and followed agricultural pursuits all his life. He was married in Can- ada and some years afterward moved to the United States and settled in eastern Nebraska where he bought three hundred and twenty acres of land. He was a man of sterling char- acter and was respected wherever known.

William M. Lackey was reared in Ontario province, Canada, and had the advantage of good schooling. He chose farming as his vo- cation and has followed it in a thorough, prac- tical way that has brought profitable results. He came to Nebraska with his parents when seven years old and in the spring of 1892 came to Scottsbluff county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres. At the present time he has his irrigated farm in Scottsbluff county and in addition owns four hundred acres in Banner county, range land. Mr. Lackey devotes himself pretty closely to the management of his large holdings, has all his industries well in hand, and undoubtedly is one of the county's level-headed, competent farmers.

In 1889 Mr. Lackey was united in marriage to 'Miss Bertie Jones, a daughter of W. S. and Mary (Smith) Jones, natives of Illinois. The mother of Mrs. Lackey is deceased, but the father is living at Scottsbluff. To Mr. and Mrs. Lackey the following children were born: Ethel, who is the wife of Evan Jones, lives in Colorado ; Leo, who is deceased ; Win- nifred, who lives with her parents ; Floyd, who is in the employ of the government; and Charles, Eva, Artist, Fred, Eugene and Lil- lian. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the district school board but is not unduly active in politics.

JAMES A. BAXTER, who owns two hun- dred acres of fine land in Scottsbluff county, was reared on a farm but for a number of years was a railroad man before coming here in 1916. Mr. Baxter was born in Delaware county, Iowa, October 15, 1882. Extended mention of the Baxter family will be found elsewhere in this work.

James A. Baxter remained on his father's

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

farm in Iowa until he was twenty-one years old. He then secured work in Nebraska and Colorado where the government had inaugu- rated a great irrigation project. He worked at ditching in three state, and worked on the railroad all through Idaho, railroading and ditching from Miles City to Spokane and from Spokane back to Idaho. In 1916 he located permanently in Scottsbluff county, where he bought two hundred acres of land, eighty acres being irrigated. He breeds White Face cattle and raises eighty head of livestock year- ly. He has had an oil lease on his home place for five years and with a one-eighth royalty, may realize a fortune.

Mr. Baxter was married to Miss Dora Bosh, a daughter of Henry and Tena Bosh, resi- dents of Utah. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter have three children, namely: Donald M., Murray C., and Marjorie, the eldest being a sturdy lad of six years, and the youngest yet an in- fant. Mr. Baxter is a stockholder in the Globe Life Insurance Company.

WILLIAM T. TENNIS. - It is an inter- esting story indeed that can be told of early Nebraska by William T. Tennis, who is one of Scottsbluff county's worthy and substall- tial citizens, for his experience covers the de- velopment of at least four counties of the state, and he was an active participant in many events of historical interest. Mr. Tennis has been a resident of Nebraska for almost forty years.

William T. Tennis was born in Marion county, Iowa, May 4, 1855, a son of John and Mary (Dawson) Tennis, who were born in the city of Richmond, Virginia. They moved to Iowa in 1844 and both died there, the father when aged forty-seven and the mother when aged fifty-six years. Mr. Tennis has three brothers and three sisters, but he is the only member of the family living in west- ern Nebraska.

Mr. Tennis had country school opportunities in boyhood and remained on his parent's farm until manhood, and in the state of Iowa until twenty-five years of age. In 1880 he came to Nebraska and located near Newman Grove, in Madison county. There were but few settlers in that locality and the Indian menace was not yet over, so that within six months he sought a more satisfactory location near Oakdale, in Antelope county. He lived there four years and then moved into Sheridan county where he engaged in farming and cattle raising for fourteen years and then returned for a like interval to Oakdale. Each county possessed

advantages over the other along some lines and Mr. Tennis made many friends in every sec- tion in which he settled. In 1914 he came to Scottsbluff county, where irrigation had in- creased both the value and price of land. He bought eighty acres of ditched land and has a valuable farm property that he devotes to gen- eral farming and the feeding of cattle and hogs.

Mr. Tennis was married to Miss Lora Mul- len, who was born in Iowa, and they have had the following children: Dalbert, who assists his father on the home place; Arthur, who lives in Oregon; Eliza, whose home is in the state of Washington; Maude, who lives in California; Percy, who lives near Minatare, Nebraska; and Araminta, who died at the age of twenty-three years. Mr. Tennis and his family belong to the United Brethren church. He is an independent voter.

CHARLES BRACKMAN, who is one of the successful farmers and respected citizens of Scottsbluff county, was born in Germany and obtained a practical education in the schools of his district. He came to the United States in 1883, and to Scottsbluff county, Ne- braska, in 1887. He homesteaded one hun- dred and sixty acres, which he still owns, and through other purchases has increased his holdings until he now has two hundred and forty acres of valuable land. He carries on a general farming line and is an extensive raiser of alfalfa.

Mr. Brackman married Alice Holthusen, who was born in Colorado, and they have chil- dren as follows: Mrs. Clara Gilbert, who lives in Scottsbluff county; Edward, who assists his father on the homestead; Anna, who is a school teacher at Morrill ; and Martha, George, Karl and Alice, all of whom live at home. Mr. Brackman has never desired political office but has been interested in maintaining good schools in district No. 2, and for nine years has served as a school director.

JAMES CHRISTIAN HANSON, whose well improved property lies in Scottsbluff county, Nebraska, where he is widely known and highly respected, was born in Denmark, October 8, 1856. His parents were Lars and Ann Hanson, the latter of whom lives in Idaho, in her eighty-third years. The par- ents came to the United States and the fath- er homesteaded in South Dakota. His death occurred at the age of forty-six years.

J. C. Hanson came to Scottsbluff county in 1887 and homesteaded one hundred

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

and sixty acres. He has always been en- gaged in general farming. In early days he often found it difficult to provide for his fam- ily as he desired to do, as was a fact with al- most every other settler in this section at that time. To "make both ends meet" in those days required hard work and good busi- ness management. Mr. Hanson remembers when, after taking two days to cut, two days to split and consuming three days to and from Alliance with his load of sixty-five posts, he had to accept seven cents apiece for the posts. Notwithstanding the many hardships of those early days, Mr. Hanson says that social en- joyment was not absent and recalls the many occasions on which the settlers would drive miles in their lumber wagons to attend some dance or other gathering, when everyone was on an equality and a genuine feeling of friend- ship and good fellowship prevailed. Mr. Han- son now owns two hundred and twenty acres, practically all of it being ditched and is num- bered with the prosperous citizens of the coun- ty.

Mr. Hanson married Ada L. Roberts, who was born in Iowa, the ceremony taking place in Cheyenne county, Nebraska. They have four children, namely: Mrs. Ethel Fosberg, who lives in Morrill county ; and Guy J., Clar- ice and Ivy, all of whom reside at home. Mr. Hanson has always been a great friend of the public schools and has served as a school di- rector. He has never united with any par- ticular political party but is a good, fair-mind- ed, intelligent citizen and votes according to his own judgment.

ROBERT I. FRANKLIN, who is a success- ful general farmer in Scottsbluff county, has spent the greater part of his life here and is well and favorably known over the county. Mr. Franklin was born in Putnam county, Missouri, September 30, 1882. Extended mention of the Franklin family will be found in this work.

Robert I. Franklin accompanied his parents to Nebraska in March 1887, and grew up on his father's homestead in Scottsbluff county, obtaining his education in the public schools. At Sidney, Nebraska, in 1907, he was united in marriage to Miss Beulah Rashaw, who was born in Nebraska, and they have four children, namely : Paul, Cal, Roberta and Betty. Mrs. Franklin is a member of the Roman Catholic church.

Mr. Franklin has been a farmer all his life and is considered a very competent one by his neighbors. He owns one hundred and

eighty-one acres, all under ditch, and the im- provements he has placed here are obvious and substantial. Mr. Franklin entertains very decided opinions on many public questions and votes according to his own judgment.

HERBERT L. CLEVELAND, who exten- sive operations in farming and stockraising, make him an important factor in the agri- cultural life of Scottsbluff county, is well ex- perienced in this line, having devoted his en- tire life to such pursuits. He has proved him- self a good business man and his neighbors hold him a worthy citizen in every respect.

Herbert L. Cleveland was born in Story county, Iowa, July 24, 1877, a son of Z. V Cleveland, a sketch of whom appears in this work.

Mr. Cleveland came to Scottsbluff county in 1909 and homesteaded. He now owns eleven hundred and eighty acres of farm and ranch land, two hundred and twenty acres being ditched and exceedingly productive. He aver- ages one hundred head of cattle yearly.

At La Grange, Wyoming, Mr. Cleveland was married to Miss Edna Miskimmins, who was born in Iowa and brought to Nebraska in 1887. Their five children are as follows : Robert, Gladys, Harold, Nina and Grace. Mrs. Cleveland is a member of the Presbyter- ian church and is active in its various benevo- lent missions. Mr. Cleveland is intelligently interested in the country's public affairs as well as matters near home, but has never identi- fied himself with a particular political group and has never accepted public office. He be- longs to the order of Modern Woodmen of America.

JOHN F. MARSHALL, who is an ex- perienced and successful farmer of Scottsbluff county, came to this section of Nebraska thirty-one years ago and has lived here ever since. With other early settlers he experi- enced some hardships, but in the main has been well satisfied with all the investments he has ever made here. Mr. Marshall was born in Fulton county, Illinois, August 29, 1860. His parents were Samuel S. and Eliza Clannon Marshall, both of whom were born in Fulton county, Illinois. The mother died in Iowa when thirty-five years old, but the father sur- vived to the age of eighty-one years. He had been a general farmer in Illinois and in Iowa, later retired and removed to the state of Washington and his death occurred there.

John F. Marshall obtained his education in the public schools and remained on his father's

WVM. H. SCHOOLEY AND WIFE

ELMER SCHOOLEY

193

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

farm in Iowa until he reach his majority. He came then to Nebraska and on April 11, 1889, took a tree claim in Scottsbluff county, remain- ing so well satisfied with his surroundings and his neighbors, that in 1908 he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in the same county. Without attempting to acquire an extensive acreage, Mr. Marshall has most sensibly de- voted his efforts to the development and im- provement of his homestead and has found both pleasure and profit in so doing.

Mr. Marshall married Mary Orin, and six children were born to them: Edward, Charles, John, Bessie and Charlotte; and Earl, who is deceased. Mr. Marshall has never been ac- tive in a political sense but is not an indif- ferent citizen where the welfare of the coun- ty is concerned and casts his vote according to his own well considered ideas on public mat- ters.

ELMER SCHOOLEY was born in Banner county, October 25, 1888, son of William H. and Mary Jane ( Wildman) Schooley, a record of whose lives will be found elsewhere in this publication. He was reared in Nebraska and educated in the public schools of the state. He joined, on July 25, 1918, the Thirtieth Balloon Company for service in the World War. He was at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and went later to Ft. Omaha and then to Newport News. On the evening of sailing for France he became ill and died at Camp Morrison, October 12, 1918. He was a young man of fine character, and a patriot.

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 37

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