History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 58

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

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As noted above, Mr. McNett came to this section for his health and for some years hunt- ing was engaged in both as a sport and for the wild game diet. He lived in a tent for a time. He tells of an early hunting expedition

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when he and his brother covered seventeen mountain sheep in a pocket, as they supposed, as the cliffs were so steep it did not seem possible the sheep could climb out, but since then he has learned more about the agility of mountain sheep, for when he returned in a few moments with his gun the sheep had vanished, having climbed an almost perpen- dicular bluff one hundred feet high. Another hunting experience that Mr. McNett tells of might have resulted fatally. It was his early ambition to kill a mountain lion and one day after his skill as a marksman had been pretty well established, he discovered the tracks of a lion in the snow, followed them into a gulch in the Horse-shoe Horn and climbed the ridge. He found his game so suddenly and unexpect- edly that he had no opportunity to hide. The lion emitted a yell that was very threatening and the situation was made worse by Mr. McNett discovering that the snow had damp- ened the caps in his old-style rifle. He had no time to replace, but with remarkable pres- ence of mind raised the weapon in firing posi- tion and slowly retreated, in the meanwhile keeping a careful eye on the lion. For some reason the animal did not take advantage of the encounter, but the occurrence was suffi- ciently alarming and Mr. McNett was com- pletely cured of desire to hunt mountain lions.

During those early days in Banner county Mr. McNett assisted in the digging of many wells, owning a regular outfit. He had many experiences in this work, some of them being amusing and others partaking of tragedy. He has been concerned in many movements of a public nature and at one time was appoint- ed a justice of the peace. He qualified but afterward, finding that a large measure of his official duties consisted of performing mar- riage ceremonies, in which the happy bride- grooms took refuge in scarcity of money in the country to avoid paying a fee, and that cost Judge McNett twenty-five cents to regis- ter, he resigned the office with its doubtful emoluments, and retired to private life.

In 1886 or 1887, when the county seat fight came up, Mr. McNett, as a resident of the north part of the county favored Ashford instead of Harrisburg. Ashford was a vil- lage, with a store and flour mill, named for William Ashford, who had established it, and the latter would have been pleased to have his village accepted and before the decision was not above diplomatically distributing a few deeds for land among those whom he consider- ed would advance his ambitions. When his town was not chosen he made no secret of the

fact that he would like those deeds returned. Finally a proper occasion arose and Mr. Mc- Nett returned the deed he had received but never profited from.

There is a grotto on Mr. McNett's land that has a notoriety extending far beyond local circles. It is not a cave although the sun never shines into it, but seemingly a natural configuration of the land. For years visitors have come from far and near and among the many names and dates therein inscribed may be found notable signatures and dates as far back as 1861. Mr. McNett has never mar- ried. He lives a contended, independent life, looking after his ranch as suits his conveni- ence. A worthy visitor with proper creden- tials will meet a generous hospitality and find in McNett a jovial, genial host, whose natural friendliness has brought him a wide circle of well wishers. In politics he has always been a Republican and his influence in county affairs is considerable.

JOHNNIE T. WYNNE, who is one of the enterprising and independent farmers of Ban- ner county, is a native of Nebraska, and was born in Adams county, March 22, 1885. He is one of a family of nine children born to John and Winifred ( Marn) Wynne, who came to Banner county March 22, 1886. The father homesteaded and for many years lived on his land, afterward retiring to Pine Bluffs, Wy- oming. The family has been of recognized prominence for a long period.

Johnnie F. Wynne obtained his education in the public schools of Banner county. On Oc- tober 20, 1910, he was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Gwartney, who is a daughter of Thomas and Mable (Rice) Gwartney, and they have three engaging children, namely : Elmer, Kenneth and Leon.

Mr. Wynne and his family reside on the Kin- kaid claim on which he filed in 1906, and he now owns six hundred and forty-eight acres, mostly range land. His industries are man- aged systematically and profitably. He raises from forty to fifty head of cattle yearly and thirty head of pure Duroc-Jersey hogs. He and wife are members of the Roman Catholic church. In politics he is a staunch Demo- crat but has never entertained the thought of seeking public office. Mr. Wynne like all other members of his family, is held in high regard in Banner county.

CLARENCE WYNNE, farmer and ranch- er, who belongs to one of the fine old pion- neer families of Banner county, was born in

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this county May 11, 1888, and is one of nine children born to John and Winnefred (Marn) Wynne, extended mention of whom will be found in this work. The parents of Mr. Wynne now live retired at Pine Bluffs, Wy- oming, but were residents of Banner county for many years, the father homesteading here in 1886.

Clarence Wynne was educated in the public schools of Banner county and remained with his parents until his own marriage which took place February 14, 1912, to Miss Alta Houser. The mother of Mrs. Wynne died when she was three months old but her father Nicholas Houser who was a homesteaded in Banner county, resides near Bushnell, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Wynne have three children: Ken- neth, Alta Loretta, and an infant.

Mr. Wynne owns six hundred and forty acres of land, mainly ranch land, and he puts it to good purpose. He breeds the best cattle, horses and hogs, Shorthorn, Percheron and Duroc-Jersey, and annually turns off from forty to fifty head of cattle, twenty-five head of horses and twenty head of hogs. Mr. Wynne takes a deep interest in his work and has been exceedingly successful. He and wife are members of the Roman Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat and he belongs to the Farmers Union.

EDD S. CROSS, an enterprising, indus- trious, ambitious young farmer and ranchman of Banner county, is meeting with deserved success through his well directed agricultural efforts. He was born in Jasper county, Iowa, March 1, 1884, the only child of his parents, John W. and Carrie (Scoville) Cross, the latter of whom died when he was two years old. From that time until he was eight years old, Mr. Cross lived with his grandparents.

John W. Cross, father of Edd S., was born in Iowa, grew up in that state and followed farming there until 1887. He came then to Banner county, Nebraska, and homesteaded northwest of Harrisburg and remained on that property for five years and still owns it. He went back then to Iowa but in 1909 returned to Banner county and now owns and oper- ates the Clay Springs ranch, a large estate situated seven miles west of Harrisburg. He is active to some extent in Democratic politic- al circles but has never consented to hold of- fice. His second marriage was to a Miss Hunt, who was born in eastern Nebraska, and they have had seven children, namely : Philip, Fred, John, Carrie, Lydia, Harvey and Ben- jamin.

Edd S. Cross obtained a country school edu- cation in Iowa. When eight years old he returned to his father and remained with him until his own marriage which took place October 26, 1909, to Miss Lillie M. Marshall. Her mother, like Mr. Cross's mother died when she was young, and her father, Stanley Marshall, is also now deceased. Mrs. Cross homesteaded where she and Mr. Cross now re- side and they own two hundred and forty acres of fine land. Mr. Cross leases twelve hundred and eighty acres, and does an exten- sive business in livestock, raising fifty head of cattle yearly. In commenting on changed con- ditions that have effected every industry, Mr. Cross mentions that when he was seventeen years old he worked for farmers for fifteen dollars a month and now, even when offering seventy-five dollars a month, he is unable to secure sufficient help. He has always been a hard worker himself and obtained his first financial start by working on the government ditch at Torrington, Wyoming. Both he and Mrs. Cross have a wide acquaintance in the county and they are respected and esteemed by all who know them.

BERT WARNER, who was born in Henry county, Missouri, January 7, 1882, has spent the greater part of his life in Nebraska, and few native sons are more devoted to the best interests of this state. Mr. Warner and his people have grown prosperous here, while they, in turn, have been most worthy citizens.

The parents of Mr. Warner, Isaiah and Aletha (Smith) Warner, now live retired at Mitchell, Nebraska. The father was born in Michigan, in June, 1852, and the mother in Virginia, in 1851. From the time the father homesteaded in Banner county in the fall of 1887, he has been a man of prominence in this section. The family settled on the home- stead in March, 1888, and that remained the family home until 1912, when the father and mother moved to Mitchell. The father still owns two thousand acres of land in Banner county and has property also in Michigan. Always a Republican in politics, while living in this county he frequently served in local offices and at all times was a man to be de- pended upon. He is a member of the Farm- ers Union and belongs to the fraternal order of Modern Woodmen of America. Both par- ents of Mr. Warner are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. When Mr. and Mrs. Warner came to Banner county they were in better financial circumstances than many of the early settlers. They brought with

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them four milch cows and six head of horses, had wagons, farm implements and household goods, and had the forethought to bring along seventy-five bushels of shelled corn. Later, however, Mr. Warner rode on horseback to Wyoming in order to secure work in the hay flelds as at that time there was nothing in this section with which an active man might con- nect himself and thereby earn even a small wage. Industry, resourcefulness and good management, finally brought adequate reward.

Of the ten children born to his parents, Bert Warner was the second in order, the others being as follows: Vernie, who met death some twenty-five years ago from a stroke of lightning ; Roland, who lives in Ban- ner county ; Bertha, who is the wife of Ches- ter Cronn, of Kimball, Nebraska; Lawrence, who lives in Banner county, married Mabel Walker ; William, who lives in Banner coun- ty, married Minnie Palm; Jay, who lives in Baker City, Oregon, married Hazel Parker; Arthur, who lives in Banner county, married Vina Mitchell ; Mollie, who died in childhood ; and Alice, who is the wife of Roy Hamilton.

Bert Warner attended the public schools in Banner county until he was sixteen years old, then spent one year in Mitchell valley and two years at Gering. After teaching one term of school at Gabe Rock, he worked on his fath- er's farm near Gering for a year. Then, in association with a brother, he leased and op- erated the home farm for a year. In 1904 he homesteaded the one hundred and sixty acre tract on which he lives and took a Kin- Kaid claim in 1906. Mr. Warner now owns and operates sixteen hundred and twenty acres, all of which is good, arable land suitable for farm purposes, but he only farms a small por- tion as he desires an extended range, being greatly interested in his fine stock. He breeds Aberdeen Angus cattle, the only breeder of this variety in this section. He finds them profit- able and has about one hundred head the year round. He keeps fifteen head of horses and has a fine flock of handsome Rhode Island Red chickens. His industries are all attended to in a careful way, Mr. Warner approving of regular discipline and routine on the farm just as in any other business.

Mr. Warner was married May 15, 1905, to Miss Lela Huffman, who is a daughter of Miles J. and Julia (Armor) Human, the former of whom died at Gering, where he was a very prominent attorney. The mother of Mrs. Warner still resides there. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have two children, namely: Al- bert J., who was born June 16, 1906; and

Rowena, who was born September 9, 1913. They maintain a hospitable home and have a wide social circle. Mr. Warner has always been dentified politically with the Republican party.

WILLIAM E. DUNN, who came as a homesteader to Banner county in the fall of 1888, did not live long enough afterward to fully realize how wise he had been in the choice of a permanent home for his wife and children. His original homestead and tree claim have become valuable property. Mr. Dunn was born in Jasper county, Iowa, Janu- ary 31, 1850, and died in Banner county, Ne- braska, December 28, 1894.

The parents of Mr. Dunn were Philip G. and Rachel (Culver) Dunn, the latter of whom died in February, 1899. The father died October 7, 1899. He was born in Ire- land and in early life was a sailor. He came to the United States and served in the Mexi- can War from beginning to end. Afterward he went to Iowa and followed farming there, was married in that state and died there. Three of his sons and one of his daughters are living, Sarah Plumer died in 1914.

William E. Dunn had good educational op- portunities in Iowa, for his father was an in- telligent, well read man, and he remained on the home farm until his marriage, which took place December 6, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth Owens. She is a daughter of Ryan and Eliza- beth (Huff) Owens, who were natives of In- diana. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dunn, as follows: Othello M., who re- sides in Banner county ; John H., who also lives in Banner county ; Mary E., who is the wife of Emerson Faden, of Banner county ; Philip, who is a resident of Banner County ; Nellie G., who is the wife of Frank Faden, of Banner county. all of whom were born in Iowa except the two youngest.

In the fall of 1888 Mr. and Mrs. Dunn came to Banner county and homesteaded on the place now owned by Mrs. Dunn. The original holdings consisted of a homestead and tree claim. She now has several sections well stocked and well improved. Her ranch is operated by her sons and she spends her summers here and her winters with her mar- ried daughters. When Mr. Dunn died she found herself at first in hard circumstances with little children to rear alone, but in her older sons she had strong, willing, industrious helpers. Mr. Dunn was a great believer in the value of churches in a community and he and Mrs. Dunn assisted greatly in building up

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the Pleasant Hill Christian church, near Hull. He was interested also in the public schools and at all times used his influence to forward movements that would be of permanent bene- fit to the community. Mr. Dunn was a Demo- crat in politics. He was never a seeker for office but served as assessor and for many years was a school director. He was a man whose hearty good will toward everyone, brought him many friends and his death was considered a loss to his community.

Othello M. Dunn, the eldest son of the late William E. Dunn, was born March 28, 1876, in Iowa, and was educated in the schools of Burt and Banner counties. He accompanied his parents to Nebraska and homesteaded on the land he lives on, and in partnership with his brothers is operatings his mother's ranch as well as his own land. On November 25, 1908, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Craton, who is a daughter of James and Al- mira (Sterns) Craton. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have one daughter, Elva, who was born Au- gust 5, 1915. Mrs. Dunn is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Dunn is a Republican. Like all other mem- bers of his family, he is a man of sterling character and has the respect and esteems of his neighbors.

John H. Dunn, the second son of the late William E. Dunn, was born in Mills county, Iowa, May 28, 1879. He was educated in the country schools in Nebraska and remained at home until fifteen years old, then adventured forth for himself, and during some years work- ed in Wyoming, Montana, and in North and South Dakota. In 1907 he homesteaded in Banner county but lives on the homestead ad- joining, which belongs to his wife. He is interested with his two brothers in operating his mother's ranch of over thirty-six hundred acres. On April 3, 1912, he was married to Cecil Ogg, at Kimball, Nebraska, but her home was at Geneva. Her people still live there. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have three chil- dren, namely: Willam, born November 15, 1914; Mildred, born July 8, 1916; Warren, born August 22. 1918. In politics John H. Dunn is a staunch Republican. He is con- sidered a man of solid worth like his father.

Philip G. Dunn, the youngest son of the late William E. Dunn, was born in Burt coun- ty, Nebraska, August 23, 1882. He attended school in Banner county and in the city of Scottsbluff, and lived at home with his par- ents until his marriage, on April 28, 1910, to Miss Nora Adcock, who is a daughter of George and Ida (Evans) Adcock, very early

settlers in their section of Wyoming, where they still live. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have one daughter Helen, who was born September 5, 1914. Mr. Dunn homesteaded where he now lives, in 1906, and in partnership with his brothers, operates about six sections of land, raising annually many cattle. He recalls the journey in the covered wagon from Burt to Banner county across the unfenced prairie. Although his admirable mother tried to be courageous, there was much in the surround- ings to discourage her, although by that time the dangerous wild horses had been mainly driven off the range. She found the sand storms and the high winds hard to get accus- tomed to, but finally, in helping others, she ap- parently forgot her own annoyances. The sons revere the memory of their father, and they tenderly cherish one of whom they speak as "the best of mothers." Like his brothers, Mr. Dunn is an industrious, competent business man and good citizen.

WILLIAM C. SPAHR, whose personal recollections of Nebraska reach back thirty- three years, is one of Banner county's repre- sentative citizens and substantial farmers and ranchers. He is widely known for he has been active in public development in many ways and has been a useful factor in bringing about the acknowledged high standard of Banner coun- ty's citizenship. He is a native of Indiana, born at Portland, in Jay county, September 14. 1854.

The parents of Mr. Spahr were John and Exie (Hildreth) Spahr, both of whom were born near Xenia, Ohio. Of their nine children William C. and his sister Catherine are the only ones in Nebraska, the latter being the wife of William Louck of Loup City. Early in their married life the parents of Mrs. Spahr accompanied the Hildreth family when they removed to Indiana from Ohio because the latter state had become thickly .settled and land had increased in price. They found cheap land in Jay county, Indiana, and seemingly none of the family would ever have need to go farther west to find either land or oppor- tunity. The father became a farmer and stockman there, prospered and developed into a citizen of prominence. On the Republican ticket he was elected county commissioner, county assessor and county treasurer, and was held trustworthy in both public and private life. He and wife were earnest and willing workers in the Methodist Episcopal church. He, assisted by his son William C., cut and hewed the logs from which the first church

OLD FARM RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. GREEN Twenty-five miles south of Morrill, in Banner County, Nebraska

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edifice was built in their neighborhood and the old structure stood until some twelve years ago when it came down to be replaced by a more pretentious building. The mother of Mr. Spahr died in 1869 but the father sur- vived until 1889.

William C. Spahr attended the district schools and remained at home until eighteen years of age. By that time Indiana like Ohio had become so closely settled that the young and ambitious man began to look westward, as had his father, for opportunity to expand. It was this spirit that settled Nebraska. Mr. Spahr did not get father west than Illinois for the next six years, in the meanwhile work- ing on farms in different sections of that state, then went to Nebraska and lived in Burt coun- ty until April, 1886, when he filed on a tree claim in Banner county, returning then to Fremont where he lived until the following spring, when with team and covered wagon he drove back to Banner county and here he has lived continuously ever since. In spring of 1887 he took a pre-emption and lived there three years, then bought a relinquishment and on this land still makes his home.

Mr. Spahr did not find either comfortable or encouraging conditions when he first came to Banner county, but he was more resource- ful and courageous than many of the early settlers and finally weathered the storm. Lack of money as a circulating medium was a great hardship in the earlier days and Mr. Spahr tells of working in the hayfield from sunup to sundown, for seventy cents a day. When he looks at his own and his neighbor's trucks and tractors and other modern means of trans- portation, he remembered the long time it took him to cover sixty-five miles to Kimball, with his heavy load of wood that had to be sold for what it would bring in order to be ex- changed for flour and needful groceries. He frequently drove to Cheyenne in order to get long delayed mail. There was no starvation in this section for deer and antelope were plen- tiful and every settler knew how to use a gun. During the first winter Mr. Spahr killed. five deer and in the next spring when William Dunn, another early settler, visited with him while selecting a location, he gave Mr. Dunn the hides. The latter took them back with him to Iowa and had them tanned. At the pres- ent price of hides, there are many the country over, who today would welcome such a valu- able gift. Mr. Spahr now owns and farms almost five sections of land, and raises eighty calves and two carloads of White Face cat- tle annually. With the help of his capable and

industrious son and daughter, Mr. Spahr con- tinues to operate the ranch himself.

On August 14, 1892, Mr. Spahr was mar- ried to Miss Nellie Montgomery, who died in May, 1910, leaving two children : Onno L. and Vida. In politics Mr. Spahr is a staunch Re- publican. He served one term as assessor and as long as he would consent to fill the office,. was school director in his district. Mr. Spalır can relate many interesting incidents of early life here and has had business or social ac- quaintance with the most of the other early settlers.

MILTON M. GREEN, who was born in Pike county, Ohio, October 9, 1854, and died May 18, 1910, highly respected by all who knew him. He was a son of Isaac and Martha (Waltz) Green, both of whom died when he was young. He attended school in boyhood at Piketon, Ohio, and had a home with his two uncles until he was grown. Afterward, until his marriage, he was employed as a farmer in dif- ferent sections, but finding little opportunity to establish himself in Ohio, where land was dear, decided to go west and grow up with the country. On October 1, 1878, Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Louise A. Ar- ledge, of Circleville, Ohio, where her mother yet resides. Her father died November 11, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Green left Ohio and moved to Missouri, locating near Sedalia on a farm for which they paid a comparatively large cash rent. Conditions were such that they could raise practically no crops and then it was that they determined to make another change that brought them to Banner county. They then sold their best team of horses, as it was considered too good for traveling over such unbroken country as they knew their road lay. They had five children by that time and and thus, after reaching their new home they had an extension built on the covered wagon, and thus after reaching their new home they had some semblence of a dwelling and made use of it for some time. With the friendliness that very generally prevailed among the early settlers, a neighbor ploughed a small tract and Mrs. Green set about planting a garden. In recalling that time Mrs. Green says she was better able to see the bright side than was Mr. Green. He felt particularly discouraged on the day above mentioned as he had lost his best horse on the way, and seeing her ac- tively preparing for the future by putting in garden seeds, asked her if she felt as if she really could stand living in so desolate a place as the homestead proved to be. With a cheer-

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 58

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