History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 56

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 56

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In politics Mr. Chapin is a stalwart Republi- can, and while he has never sought public office he served very efficiently as assesor of Alkali precinct, Deuel county, in 1901-02. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, while Mrs. Chapen belongs to the Christian church.

In Delaware county, Ohio, on the 20th of October 1875, Mr. Chapen wedded Miss Lottie J. Linnabary, and she passed to eternal rest when thirty-five years of age. Of this union were born four children: Mrs. Maude L. Van Deusen, of Stockham, Hamilton county ; Mrs. Cora B. Rutter, of Minatare, Scottsbluff coun- ty; Mrs. Rose E. Fulton, who is deceased ; and Clarence L., who died when about twen- ty-eight years of age. At Scottsbluff, on the 9th of October, 1902, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Chapen to Mrs. Louise J. (Hibbs) Baker, who was born in West Vir- ginia, as were also her parents, Dr. Stephen and Malinda (Yost) Hibbs, the former of whom. a successful physician and surgeon, at-

MR. AND MRS. SEYMORE S. DICKINSON

285

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

tained to the age of seventy-four years, and the latter of whom died at the age of thirty- one years. Mr. and Mrs. Chapen have an at- tractive home in Scottsbluff, and they delight to extend its hospitality to their wide circle of friends in this community.

SEYMOUR S. DICKINSON, who came in early times to Nebraska, settled on his pres- ent homestead almost forty years ago and has lived here ever since. Like other pioneers in this section of the state, he was called upon to face many hardships, but these he had more or less expected and through courage and per- sistent industry, overcame them all. Mr. Dick- inson is one of the older residents of the county and is widely known and universally esteemed.

Mr. Dickinson was born in Saratoga county, New York, October 25, 1838. His parents were Nathan and Jane Dickinson, natives of New York who never came to Nebraska. The father died at the age of sixty-three years but the mother survived him many years and at time of death had passed her ninety-second birthday.

Seymour S. Dickinson was reared on his father's farm, attended the country schools and afterward engaged in farming in Saratoga county. In 1879 he paid his first visit to Ne- braska. In 1880 he returned and then home- steaded the 160 acres on which he has lived ever since. During his active years he im- proved his property and under his management the farm was profitable even before the irriga- tion projects were introduced, and now sixty acres of the land are benefitted by the Gering ditch.

Mr. Dickinson was married first to Miss Eunice Duncan, who was born in New York, and she is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Fan- nie Curtis, a resident of Gering. His second union was with Miss Helen Safford, who was born in New York, a daughter of John L. and Sarah Safford, both of whom are deceased. To this marriage the following children were born: Mrs. Lowa French, who lives near Henry, Nebraska; Mrs. Hattie McCue, who lives at Gering ; Emma, who died at the age of twelve years; Ray, who is a farmer near the homestead ; Floyd, who is a farmer in Canada : Ernest, who farms at home; Warren, who was a soldier in training at Camp Funston for ser- vice in the great war, is now at home; and Mrs. Helen J. Girvin, who lives on a farm near the homestead. Mrs. Dickinson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. At one time Mr. Dickinson served as assessor of tow11- ship 21, but has never been very active in politics.

EDWARD A. WHIPPLE, one of the stur- dy pioneers of Banned county, substantial farmer and ranchman, has spent many years in this section of Nebraska, and has borne an active and useful part in its development. He is a native of Indiana, born in Franklin coun- ty, September 28, 1856, and is one of the two of his parents' nine children to locate in this state, the other being a brother, Frank.

The father of Mr. Whipple, Arnold J. Whipple, was born in Rhode Island, in 1814, and was four years old when his parents cross- ed the country and over the Allegheny moun- tains in a covered wagon, to the new home, then in the far west, in Indiana. The greater part of his life was spent at Metamora, in that state, where he worked at the blacksmith trade from the age of sixteen years. He was a man of sound judgment, of sterling New England character, an honest worker and a conscientious member and liberal supporter of the Methodist church. He was also a Ma- son and lived up to the obligations of Mason- ic membership. He married Elizabeth Ken- nedy a native of Indiana, who was a faithful and devoted mother.

Edward A. Whipple attended the village school in boyhood but as soon as old enough began to be self supporting by working on the farm for four dollars a month, later doing much better but not well enough, in his opin- ion, to keep him in his native state. In the spring of 1882, Mr. Whipple came to Nebras- ka and settled in Otoe county, remaining there until the spring of 1887. In previous fall he had homesteaded in Banner county and in the following spring came by wagon to his new home, his household possessions at that time consisting of a little bedding, while the cash capital in his pocket was fifty cents. As many be imagined, his early residence was not a palace, in fact it consisted of a one-room structure, of which he took possession April 6, 1887, and on May 8, following, after he had started to break ground, he found himself almost snowed in because of a furious storm. This was a serious matter as he had to go a half mile for his meals and had made no provision for the same in his little bachelor home. For some years agricultural conditions were very discouraging. Mr. Whipple remem- bers when he hauled wheat a distance of sixty- five miles, from Big Horn Basin to Sidney and sold it for thirty cent a bushel. It took three days to make the round trip. Mr. Whipple says there were three things con- sidered indispensable on these trips, namely : cooking untensils, bedding and lariat ropes.

286

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

The ropes were used to tether their horses at night and on many occasions he had been roused in the middle of the night to drive the coyotes away, these animals finding pleas- ure is using their sharp teeth on the ropes.

Mr. Whipple remained on his banner coun- ty homestead until 1907. In 1892 he mort- gaged his place for two hundred dollars, with the prospect of doing better in the stock busi- ness, and bought heifers and steers, at six and five dollars respectively, and pastured them on the range, and in that way secured his real start. That spring he bought two cows of Hope Brown for eleven dollars and twenty- five cents each, but yearling heifers brought on seven dollars. In 1907 Mr. Whipple secur- ed the Kinkaid tract on which he now lives and at present owns fourteen hundred and forty acres, about one-fifth of which is under cultivation. Mr. Whipple now has everything very comfortable around him and his present residence is a great contrast to his first home in Banner county.

On December 26, 1892, Mr. Whipple was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary (Carter) Hide, widow of Harry Hide, and they have had three sons, namely ; Ernest, who died Feb- ruary 13, 1917; Earl who assists his father at home; and Edward, who died July 12, 1915. Mrs. Whipple had one daughter by her first marriage, Myrtle, who is the wife of Joseph Gregory and they live at Morrill, Nebraska.

Mr. Whipple was reared by a Democratic father and continued to support the candidates of that party until recent years. He now de- pends upon his own good judgment and votes accordingly. He has always been a firm friend of the public schools and has served in school offices in district number eight, and for eight years was a member of the board of super- visors, but beyond that has never consented to accept a political appointment. In his neighborhood Mr. Whipple is spoken of as a man whose word is as good as gold.

CLYDE O. WYATT, who is one of Ban- ner county's most progressive agriculturists, having extensive farms and ranch interests, belongs to one of the fine old county families that was established here thirty years ago. Mr. Wyatt was born in Wayne county, Iowa, February 16, 1879.

The parents of Mr. Wyatt were William and Susan (Duncan) Wyatt, the latter of whom was born in Iowa and now resides at Harrisburg, Nebraska. The father of Mr. Wyatt died in 1896. Of their eight children,

Clyde O. was the third in order of birth. In 1889 the family came to Banner county, and the father homsteaded and secured a tree claim on secion 7-12-53, on which he lived un- til 1904, then sold and bought six hundred and forty acres northeast of Harrisburg. He con- tinued in the farm and stock business during the rest of his life. In politics he was a Democrat and served six years as a county commissioner. He belonged to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen and ever lived up to his fraternal obligations.

Clyde O. Wyatt was ten years old when the family came to Banner county and he completed his public school education here. He assisted his father until ready to start out for himself when, with his brother Harvey, he leased the homestead, borrowing money in order to carry out this transaction, and togeth- er the brothers farmed and ranched for three years. Mr. Wyatt has been very successful as a business man. He began for himself in a small way, with no farm machinery and insufficient number of horses. He remedied the latter condition by taking horses from neighboring farms and paying for their use by breaking them. He now owns twenty-eight hundred acres of land and operates two thou- sand additional acres. Formerly he raised five hundred head of cattle, but in 1916 he sold his stock with the intention of taking things easier for a time, but as a loyal and patriot- ic citizen, when meat shortage faced the coun- try on account of the great war conditions, he reconsidered and after a year of rest return- ed to his ranch. This is one of the best im- proved ranches in Banner county and Mr. Wyatt carries on his farming operations with modern farm machinery that includes a four- plow tractor. Although his farm buildings are all modern and first class there is one excep- tion, the log barn, still sound and usable, that is probably one of the oldest structures in this neighborhood, has never given way to Mr. Wyatts progressive ideas and energetic im- provements.

Mr. Wyatt was married November 9, 1904, to Miss Grace A. Waitman, who is the daugh- ter of Price and Minnie (Kelty) Waitman, residents of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have three children, namely : Perley, Earl and Inez. A well informed and earnest citizen, but not a politician, Mr. Wyatt votes with the Demo- cratic party but has never consented to accept public office. He is known all over the county and has the respect of his fellow citizens gen- erally.

287

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

RALPH DARNALL. - While almost every state in the Union has contributed to the citi- zenship of Nebraska, it casts no reflection on any other state to assert that a particularly worthy class came from Illinois. Many came westward from their fathers' Illinois farins, seeking the advantages that wider agricultur- al opportunities would give them, and ready to earn their reward through honest industry. One of these sturdy farmers bore the same name of Darnall, a name that has been a respected one in the state for forty years.

Ralph Darnall, who is a successful farmer and stock-raiser in Banner county, was born in Clay county, Nebraska, March 30, 1883, and is a son of Walter Scott and Rosie (Tuck- er) Darnall, natives of Sangamon county, Illi- nois. Prior to 1879 Walter Scott Darnall was a farmer in Illinois. In that year he came to Clay county, Nebraska, where he leased and cultivated land until 1887, when he home- steaded. For five years the family lived on that place and then the father moved near Kearney, not giving up his homestead how- ever, in fact, he still owns it. Discouraging circumstances that faced practically all the settlers at that time, led to Mr. Darnall's re- turn to Illnois, where he remained as a farm- er for the next twelve years. He had by no means forgotten his Nebraska land and in 1906 he returned and settled on his homestead· in Banner county where he occupied himself profitably as a farmer until 1915, when he turned the most of his farm responsibilities over to his son Ralph and moved into his comfortable residence at Melbeta. Although never particularly active in politics he has al- ways voted the Republican ticket, and as an intelligent citizen has tried to promote the wel- fare of his county and state. He is a member of the Farmer Union and the Modern Wood- men of America. He and his wife have had seven children, namely: Harry, who lives in Illinois, married Grace Billings; Arthur, who is a farmer in Banner county, married Lida Johnson; Ralph, who lives on section twenty, town one ; Mable, who lives in Missouri, is the wife of David Johnson ; Harvey, whose death occurred October 31, 1914, had been married just ten days previously ; Goldie, who lives in Banner county, is the wife of Hugh Ridge; and Gladys, who lives at home.

Ralph Darnall is company with his brothers and sisters attended the public schools and performed his share of duties on the home farm. When twenty-one years old he went to Montana and worked through the summer on his uncle's ranch, then went to Illinois for

the winter. In 1905 he came back to Banner county. Here he has since operated his own farm of one hundred and sixty acres, together with his father's twenty-four hundred acres, carrying on mixed farming and cattle raising. The home farm was exceedingly well improved while his father lived on the place, and Mr. Darnall is not one to let anything run down. He makes use of modern farm machinery and his various industries are carried on system- atically.

Mr. Darnall was married February 28, 1915, to Miss Gladys Kelly who is a daughter of Samuel Kelly, one of the solid, representative men of Banner county. Mr. Darnall votes the Republican ticket because he believes in the princples of that party. He belongs to the Farmers Union. Personally he stands well with neighbors and acquaintances because he is a young man of principle.

ARTHUR DARNALL, who is a careful, competent and successful farmer and stock- raiser in Banner county, is a native of Nebras- ka, born in Nuckolls county, March 30, 1881. His parents are Walter Scott and Rosic (Tucker) Darnall, who now live retired in the village of Melbeta. They were born in Sanga- mon county, Illinois, and were farming people before coming to Nebraska in 1879. The family lived in Nuckolls and Clay counties prior to 1887, when the father homesteaded in Banner county. Five years later he returned with his family to Illinois and twelve years passed before he came back to Nebraska. He then took charge of his old homestead and greatly improved it. He now owns twenty- four hundred acres and since 1915, when he pactically retired, two of his sons, Arthur and Ralph, have had the management of this prop- erty.

Arthur Darnall obtained his education in the public schools and his business throughout life has been of an agricultural nature. For some years he lived in Illinois and while there served in the office of county commissioner, being elected on the Republican ticket for a period of three years. In 1905 he accom- panied his father from Illinois, where the lat- ter had been continuously farming, to Banner county, and now, as mentioned above, in asso- ciation with his brother, has charge of the estate of twenty-four hundred acres, mostly range land and ranch. The Darnalls are prac- tical, experienced business men and they have been very successful in all their farm under- takings.

On March 8, 1905, at Barclay, Illinois, Ar-

288

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

thur Darnell was united in marriage to Miss Lida Johnson, who is a daughter of William D. and Louisa (Marshall) Johnston. The mother of Mrs. Darnall resides at Riverton, Illinois, but the father died on July 27, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Darnall have four children, namely : Nina, born November 3 1909; Frank, born September 13, 1912; Glenn, born October 12, 1913; Harvey, born October 28, 1915, this son was named in memory of Mr. Darnall's youngest brother, who had died suddenly a year before, just ten days after his happy marriage; David Arthur born August 3, 1919.

JOHN L. MUHR, who is one of Banner county's substantial farmers and ranchmen, has spent almost his entire life in this county, accompanying his parents here when three years old. He was born in Kansas, April 4. 1883, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Milard) Muhr, natives of Illinois.

The father of Mr. Muhr still survives and he and the mother live retired at Fullerton, California. He is a veteran of the Civil War and at one time was a brave and valorous sol- dier, taking part in such battles as Chatta- nooga, Chickamauga and Stone River, being twice wounded, and marching to the sea in the victorious army of General Sherman. He came to Banner county, Nebraska, 1886, homesteaded and took a tree claim and later a Kinkaid claim, and followed farming and ranching until 1915, when he sold out and re- tired to California. Of his nine children, John L. was the seventh in order of birth.

John L. Muhr attended the country schools and spent one year in school at Sidney. As he grew old enough he assisted his father, and knows something of the hardships that beset early settlers in the county. In contrast to the present day high prices, he remembers assisting his father to cut cord wood and haul it forty miles to Sidney and sell it for $3 a load, the round trip taking two days. Mr. Muhr now lives on the old homestead and has improved the place with substantial farm buildings.

Mr. Muhr was married February 1, 1909, to Miss Grace Stroud, who is a daughter of Charles and Emma Stroud, now living at Bay- ard, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Muhr are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Muhr is an honorable, industrious man, in every way exemplary, and like his brother in Banner county, is held in much esteem. Mr. and Mrs. Muhr have three children: Vivian, Garnold and Vernon, aged ten, eight and six years respectively.

WALTER A. MUHR, who is a practical and enterprising farmer and ranchman of Banner county, has a wide acquaintance and like other members of this family is held in esteem by all who know him. He was born on his father's homestead in Banner county, Ne- braska, October 31. 1892, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Millard) Muhr, who live re- tired in California.

After a long and honorable service in the Civil War the father of Mr. Muhr, a twice wounded soldier, came to the west, but did not locate in Banner county until 1886. He then homesteaded, took a tree claim and later a Kinkaid tract and continued farming and ranching on his land until 1915 when he retir- ed. Of his family of nine children, eight are living and Walter A. is the youngest member.

Walter A. Muhr had excellent educational advantages at Sidney during the ten years the family lived there. Later he accompanied his parents in a year of travel, undertaken to benefit the mother, who was then in failing health. He has always been interested in agri- cultural pursuits. In July, 1914 he filed on a Kinkaid claim of four hundred acres and now owns it, in all having five hundred and sitxy acres, having four hundred under cul- tivation and operating twelve hundred acres. He breeds Aberdeen Angus Cattle and raises about fifty head a year.

On July 25, 1914, Walter A. Muhr was united in marriage to Miss Edna L. Baldwin, who is a daughter of Frank A. and Carrie (Kennedy) Baldwin, who are residents of South Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Muhr have two children, interesting little sons of five and three years, Richard L., who was born December 6, 1914, and Winfred F., who was born October 26, 1916. Mr. Muhr is in- dependent in his political views and has always been fearless in defense of what he has be- lieved to be right. He is a member of ine Farmers Union.

WILLIAM C. MUHR. - An old and rep- resentative family of Banner county bears the name of Muhr, and a substantial representa- tive of the same is found in William C. Muhr, who has been a continuous resident since he was seventeen years old and well remembers many seasons of pioneer hardships. He was born in Pike county, Indiana, September 18, 1869.

The parents of Mr. Muhr were John and Elizabeth (Millard) Muhr, natives of Illinois, who now live retired at Fullerton, California. The father is a veteran of the Civil War, in

289

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

which he served three years and eight months and during this time was wounded. At that time work that is now quickly accomplished by a trained engineering corps, had to be done by the private soldiers and it was while assist- ing in laying pontoon bridges that he contract- ed rheumatism from which he still suffers. He took part in such battles as Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Stone River, and was with Sherman in the memor- able march to the sea. Before locating in Banner county, Nebraska, the family had lived for a time in Pike county, Indiana, and also in Kansas. The father homesteaded in Banner county in 1886, took a tree claim and later a Kinkaid claim and at the time of retirement in 1915, owned nine hundred and sixty acres, which he sold before moving to California. He has always been independent in politics. Both he and wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. They have had chil- dren as follows : William C., whose home farm lies on section elevent, town twelve; Emma, who is the wife of J. W. Mosier and they live in Oregon ; George, who died in infancy ; Allen, who lives in Banner county, married Angeline Broughton; Maggie, who lives at Orleans, Nebraska, is the wife of Burr Mc- Conaughty ; Effie, who is the wife of Homer Sickles of Banner county ; John L., who lives on the home ranch, married Grace Stroud; Verdia, who is the wife of Clifford Houston and they live in California ; and Walter, who is a merchant at Redington, Morrill county married Edna Baldwin.

William C. Muhr remained with his parents until he was twenty-nine years old. He as- sisted his father from the first. In recalling early conditions he says that for two years af- ter the family came the crops were exception- ally abundant, but a long period of drought followed that brought discouragement and dis- aster to many settlers. When his parents set- tled here they had one cow and four horses and just three dollars in money left after their long journey. Within three weeks the mother was taken so ill that a doctor had to be brought from Sidney to attend her, and when he left he took one of the horses as his fee, seemingly a rapacious one even if the distance was fifty- one miles. Later Mr. Muhr and his father hauled wheat to Sidney and sold it for thirty- seven cents a bushel. The Muhrs at first lived in a dugout and during one of the fierce blizzards of those days, at one time were im- prisoned by the snow.

In 1891 William C. Muhr homesteaded and took a Kinkaid claim as soon as that law was

passed. He lives on this claim and has re- tained his homestead so that altogether he has ten hundred and forty acres, mostly ranch land. He raises about sixty head of cattle yearly, formerly raising one hundred and fifty head and sometimes two hundred head. He breeds Duroc-Jersey hogs and in earlier years raised Percheron horses but this industry is less profitable than formerly.

On September 18, 1898, William C. Muhr was united in marriage to Miss Alice L. Broughton. who died May 6, 1916. She was a daughter of Orr and Ella ( Miller) Brough- ton, old residents of Cheyenne county who now live retired in California. The follow- ing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Muhr : Pearl, who is the wife of Bert Tinsley, of Mor- rill county ; Opal, who is the wife of Lloyd Sample ; and John, Cecyl, Alvin and Allen, twins; Theodore, Beryl, Gilbert and Ruby Mr. Muhr's second marriage took place April 22, 1918, to Mrs. Etta Sample, widow of John Sample and daughter of Stephen and Marian (Banister) Shaw, residents of McPherson, Kansas. They have a beautiful home, for Mr. Muhr has taken much pride in improving his property. His residence is situated under the east side of the bluffs between Pumpkin Seed and Lawrence Fork creeks. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is an independent voter and has never been a seeker for office although he has served in minor township positions when he has felt it to be his duty. He is a man who is universally respected.

WILLIAM M. WISNER, who is a well known citizen of Banner county, operates a large body of land here. He accompanied his parents to Banner county when about twelve years old, has acquired land of his own but resides, at present, on the land his father homesteaded in March, 1888. He was born in Poweshiek county, Iowa, February 4, 1876.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 56

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