History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 60

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

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and wife both being interested in its many avenues of good influence and giving them financial support.

LEMUEL M. HOPKINS, farmer and ranchman in Banner county, is well and fa- vorably known here. For many years he has been a large landowner and responsible citi- zen, and in many ways has been identified with the substantial development of this section. For a period of eight years, from 1906 to 1914, he carried the mail from Hull to Harrisburg, and during that time through faithful service made many friends. Lemuel M. Hopkins was born in Fulton county, Illinois, March 20, 1875, the youngest of three children born to Warren and Elizabeth (Barnes) Hopkins, the latter of whom was a native of Indiana. The father spent the greater part of his life as a general farmer in Illinois and he died there in 1882. He was a Republican in his political faith but never accepted a public office. Both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died in 1887 but the three sons survive: Frank, who lives in Kan- sas City, Missouri ; George, who lives at Den- ver, Colorado; and Lemuel, who belongs to Banner county.

When Mr. Hopkins losts his mother he came to his brother in Banner county and while here attended school, later accompanying his broth- er to Missouri and had further school privi- leges there. He remained in Missouri until 1896 and was married there on September 3 of that year to Miss Myrtle Spear, a daughter of Clarence and Sadie (Spear) Spear, then resident of Missouri. The father of Mrs. Hop- kins was born in Vermont and now lives retired at Mitchell. The mother was born in Pennsyl- vania. Her death occurred December 3, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins have had ten children and the following survive: Lyndon, who lives in New Mexico; and Beth, Floy, Byrle Ken- neth and Hester, all of whom live at home, a well educated, interesting family.

Mr. Hopkins homesteaded the place on which he lives on April 9, 1902, and now owns and operates eight hundred and eighty acres, all well improved, divided evenly between farm and ranch land. He is profitably raising good cattle and general farm produce. Mrs. Hopkins is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and the other members of the family attend. For a number of years Mr. Hopkins has been a member of the order of Knights of Pythias at Harrisburg. He has never felt that he could afford the time to

serve in a public office but he is a staunch Re- publican in his vote as a citizen in ranks.

EARL HARVEY, who is one of Banner county's enterprising and successful farmers and ranchmen, has had much experience in this line of work, to which he has been accus- tomed since boyhood and engaged in since his school days ended. Almost all his life had been spent in Nebraska, but his birth took place March 19, 1881, in Jones county, Iowa.

The parents of Mr. Harvey, George W. and Cora A. (Williams) Harvey now reside at Kimball, Nebraska. The father was a farmer and stockman in Iowa for many years. In 1885 he moved to Nebraska and three years later came to Banner county, where he home- steaded and secured a tree claim and pre-emp- tion. He maintained the home there thirty years, then sold, bought property in Kimball and has lived retired ever since. He votes the Republican ticket but has never accepted a political office. Both parents of Earl Harvey are members of the Baptist church. Of their seven children the following survive: Lillian, who is the wife of John McKennon, of Mer- ced, California; Charles, who lives in Mon- tana; Ella, who is the wife of F. O. Baker, a banker at Bushnell, Nebraska; Arthur, who owns a garage at Gillette, Wyoming, married Mries Ricke; Earl, who belongs to Banner county ; Nina, who is the wife of W. Deacon, who is employed in the post office at Omaha.

Earl Harvey learned many lessons of thrift from his practical father in his youth. Dur- ing the first ten years after the family came here, the father worked out every summer and left Earl and his brother to care for the homestead. They herded cattle on the home ranch and for the neighbors, and in that way, all of them, for the times, earned quite a sum of money. Mr. Harvey encouraged the boys to save their money and buy calves, and with a small herd secured in this way, they gained their start. In recalling those days Mr. Har- vey tells many interesting things. He remem- bers when oxen were used in this section, and when a load of pine wood hauled many miles to town would bring two dollars, and a sack of flour could be bought for two dollars. Frank Baker had the first horse cart in this neighbor- hood, and William Silvus was envied by every- body when his well was completed, operated by windlass and horse power, the well bucket holding a half barrel of water. There have been many and wonderful developments since those days, and the present, when the public

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prints tell of Nebraska farmers being so pro- gressive that on occasion, they do their thresh- ing with electric motors not only in daytime but equally as well at night. Speaking of the portable motors brings the fact to mind that it was the father of Mr. Harvey's wife who brought the first portable sawmill into Ban- ner county. Afterward he went into partner- ship with Solomon Langmaid and it was in this first portable sawmill that the lumber was prepared for the building of the first bridge and the first buildings at Gering.

On February 22, 1905, Mr. Harvey was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Cross, a daughter of Benjamin and Cora A. (Williams) Cross, early pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey have children as follows: Inez, born September 13, 1906; Helen, born Febru- ary 10, 1908; Elma, born August 25, 1909; Asa, born September 9, 1912 ; Darrel, born Oc- tober 23, 1914; Vernon, born April 14, 1917 ; and Elsie, born February 6, 1919.

With his homestead and Kinkaid claim, Mr. Harvey now owns and operates seventeen hun- dred and forty acres of land, devoting one thousand acres to farm purposes and the rest to ranching. He breeds thoroughbred Here- ford cattle and ships a car load annually. He has a good set of farm buildings and very comfortable home. He is industrious and progressive in the management of his ranch and enjoys the respect and regard of his neigh- bors. He belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias at Harrisburg, and in politics is a Republican.

ROLLAND B. BIGSBY, who is one of Banner county's substantial farmers, belongs to a pioneer family that came to this section in the spring of 1887. He was born at Omaha, Nebraska, July 14, 1879. His father, William Bigsby, was a veteran of the Civil War. Fur- ther mention of the family will be found in the sketch of Everett Bigsby.

Rolland B. Bigsby obtained his education in Buffalo county, near Kearney. His father homesteaded in Cheyenne, now Banner county, in 1887, thirty miles northwest of Kimball, pre- empted and secured a tree claim, the latter property now being owned by his daughter, Mrs. John Heintz. When the family came here in a covered wagon, they brought with them two cows, a calf and six chickens. Mr. Bigsby remembers that while on the way a windstorm came up that prevented their going forward for a whole day. The father ex- pended all the money he had while they stop-

ped at Kimball, for something to eat, and Mr. Bigsby remembers how lean the larder was for a long time after they were settled on the homestead. Two meals a day was the rule and in summer time the choke cherry trees gave them their only fruit. Money was scarce and the father was no longer a strong, able man, who could labor hard and continu- ously like many others. Mr. Bigsby tells of one occasion when he was returning from Sid- ney to which place he had gone to attend to some legal papers, and coming back on foot, was overtaken by exhaustion on the way, ow- ing to his age and the long distance he had traveled. In those days there were no settlers living near together, many miles intervening between the homesteads. Had it not been that two women of the neighborhood happened to find him where he had fallen, as they passed picking berries, Father Bigsby might never have been revived. With the water they gave him he was able to get within calling distance of his home and he was cared for by his fam- ily, but they were never willing for him to attempt such a journey again.

In recalling those early days, fortunately so different in many ways from the present, Mr. Bigsby tells of herding his father's cattle, fear- lessly running barefooted through the cactus that grew thickly over the range, and his recre- ation was catching skunks, badgers and rattle- snakes, with the help of his dog. His duties were only those of the majority of boys in that section at that time, but in recognition of the dangers and discomforts to which he was subjected, Mr. Bigsby feels very thankful that his own children have not been through the same experience, that there has never been any such necessity.

Mr. Bigsby was married August 20, 1909, to Miss Clara Fuller, who is a daughter of Will- iam D. and Elizabeth (Kimberly) Fuller, pio- neers of the county who now reside at Bush- nell. Mr. and Mrs. Bigsby have six children as follows: Clifford, Myrtle, Edyth, Ethel, Ruby, and an infant.

In spite of many hindrances and discourage- ment, Mr. Bigsby has prospered. He has always been careful and industrious and pos- sessed of good judgment. He homesteaded under the Kinkaid law and now owns and operates four hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Bigsby is a well informed, practical man and good citizen. He votes with the Republican patry and performs every political duty in- cumbent upon him, but he has never desired public office of any kind.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

THOMAS W. G. COX, who is a repre- sentative citizen of Banner county, prominent both in public affairs and business enterprises, is satisfactorily proving today the fertility of Nebraska soil under proper cultivation, and illustrating also the sure reward that follows persistent and well directed industry. Coming to Banner county thirty-one years ago, a young man practically without capital, he now owns farm, ranches and stock, and is accounted one of the leading breeders of Holstein cattle and Shire horses in this part of the state.

Mr. Cox was born in Peoria county, Illinois, February 17, 1866, a son of Jacob and Her- minia (Humphrey ) Cox, the former of whom was born in Rose County, Ohio, February 18, 1830, and died in Nebraska, August 18, 1904; and the latter was born in Dallas county, Mis- souri, December 25, 1836, and died in Nebras- ka. Of their eleven children, Thomas W. G. was the fifth in order of birth, the others be- ing as follows: Elizabeth A., who lives on the old home place in Nebraska; John, who died June 26, 1916; Rastus, who resides with his sister on the old homestead ; Margaret A., who is married, lives at Forest River, North Da- kota; Charles H., who lives with his family lives in Banner county ; Edwin, married, who lives in South Dakota; Jacob, married, who lives at Bushnell, Nebraska ; and two who died in infancy. The father of the above family worked as a carpenter and blacksmith in Ohio, Missouri, and later in Illinois. From the lat- ter state in March, 1880, he moved to Ne- braska and for about ten years was engaged in farming in Cass county. In the fall of 1889. he came to Banner county, pre-empted and homesteaded and resided here until his death. He was a man of great enterprise and possessed the sound common sense that mark- ed many of the sturdy, early settlers. He en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising, and surprised his neighbors by his farm suc- cess, as it was the general opinion at that time, that the soil here could not be made to produce crops on account of lack of moisture. He did more than prove they were mistaken, for he set out one of the first orchards and carefully cared for it, with the result that the trees are still bearing fine fruit. In these di- rections he was really a public benefactor. He was a staunch Republican and enjoyed taking part in political campaigns but declined to ac- cept public offiice, but served in official po- sitions in the Masonic order to which he be- longed many years. At the time of his death he owned eight hundred acres of land.

Thomas W. G. Cox attended school in Illi-

nois and later in Cass county, Nebraska, and remained at home until over twenty-two years of age. On May 6, 1888, he came to Kimball, Banner county, and homesteaded in what was locally known as Bachelor's Bend, at the head of Bull canyon, so designated because all the homesteaders had been unmarried. His near- est neighbor was three miles away. After one year a brother joined him and secured a claim and they made a bargain by which the brother should take care of both claims and each should have half the crop, while Thomas W. should accept work in Colorado and give his brother half of his wages. With the money he earned in Colorado, Mr. Cox bought three horses and two cows, and that was the nu- cleus of his present extensive horse and cattle industry. At one time later he borrowed the sum of three hundred dollars and gave thirty horses as security.

Mr. Cox lived on his homestead and looked after his own domestic affairs for the next eight years, during this time hauling all water a distance of eight miles, a task indeed when contrasted to present rapid methods of trans- portation. Between 1891 and 1899 he raised wheat, about twenty bushels to the acre. Again comparison is suggested because then Mr. Cox had to pay ten cents a bushel for threshing, take his own time to assist the owner of the thresher to haul his machine back and forth, then wagon the wheat thirty-five miles to Kim- ball and sell it for twenty-five cents a bushel. In 1897 he bought one hundred and sixty acres for one hundred dollars and his ability as a farmer has been shown by the production of twenty-eight bushels to the acre on that land, year after year. When he was ready to sell that land he received thirty-five dollars an acre for it. Mr. Cox has proved his knowledge of land and has bought and sold numerous tracts advantageously. He now owns nine hundred and sixty acres of land in Banner county, three hundred and twenty acres in Wyoming, leases one and one-half sections and breeds Holstein and Jersey cows, Shire horses and standard hogs. Probably Mr. Cox has the best im- proved property in Banner county. He is mak- ing preparation to follow the example of his father and set out a fruit orchard and also a grove of shade trees, expecting to make a cer- tain success of his venture, because he will use the same care and scientific knowledge with his trees that have proved so satisfactory in the growing of grain. Progressive and enter- prising men like Mr. Cox are very valuable in a community.

On December 25, 1898, Mr. Cox was united

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in marriage to Miss Eula V. Cronn, a daughter of Clarkson and Mary Runyon Cronn, pioneers of 1888 in Banner county, who homesteaded at Flowerfield, near Wild Horse corral. They retired in 1908 and resided at Kimball until 1918, removing then to California, and now re- siding in Oregon. They became the parents of thirteen children, of which family Mrs. Cox is the youngest. The others were as follows : Margaret, who lives near Harrisburg, is the wife of John V. Brodhead ; Charlotte, who is deceased, was the wife of Jacob Kishpaugh; George, who lives in Washington, married Anna Campbell; William, who lives at Kim- ball, married Hattie Longworth; Sadie, who lives in Wisconsin, is the wife of Charles Park; Abraham, who died in Pennsylvania when eighteen years old; Scott and Wesley, both of whom died in infancy; Edwin, who lives in Wyoming; Carrie, who lives in Cali- fornia, is the wife of Edgar Morford; Flor- ence, who lives in Oregon, is the wife of Harold Parker; and Chester, who lives at Kimball, married Bertha Warnor. Mrs. Cox says that when her father landed in Banner county with wife and five children, he brought with them a cow, a calf and five dollars in cash, and that when he retired he owned his homestead, one hundred head of cattle, thirty head of horses and other stock. Like others who have done well here, he lived a busy, frugal life for many years, but he brought up a large family in comfort and has the satisfaction of seeing them all well settled in life.

Mr. and Mrs. Cox have children as follows : Violet, born January 3, 1900; Florence, born January 21, 1901; Archie, born August 3, 1903 ; Doris, born August 28, 1904 ; Edna, born January 23, 1905; Ethel, born January 25, 1907 ; Una, born June 8, 1908; Josephine, born March 22, 1910; Edith, born August 16, 1913; Velma, born January 16, 1916; Gladys, born January 17, 1917; and Glenn, born June 10, 1919. This large and interesting family living in happy concord and unbroken ranks in their beautiful home, in the banner section of Banner county, under the wise and loving protection of father and mother, promise well for the next active generation that will push still further the car of progress in this section.

In his public attitude, Mr. Cox is an out- spoken American and his influence in county and community matters is marked. He is a Republican in political affiliation and has fre- quently served on election boards and in other capacities and offices of responsibility, and for many years has been a useful member of the school board. He belongs to the Farmers

Union organization, and both he and wife are members of the order of American Yeomen.

ERASTUS W. COX, a prosperous general farmer and stockraiser in Banner county, be- longs to an old pioneer family of Nebraska, and accompanied his parents to the state when five years old. He was born in Stark county, Illinois, January 10, 1863, and is a son of Ja- cob and Hermonie (Humphrey) Cox, both of whom died in Nebraska. The father was a native of Ohio and the mother of Missouri.

The parents of Mr. Cox came from Illinois to Nebraska in March, 1880, lived in Cass county until 1889, came then to Banner county and pre-empted and homesteaded. The pre- emption is now owned by Mr. Cox and his sister, Miss Elizabeth, and they reside on it. The father was a man of considerable conse- quence in the county and the entire family has always been held in high regard. Extend- ed mention will be found in this work.

Erastus W. Cox attended the country schools in boyhood and lived at home until twenty-one years old, mainly occupied with farm work. In those days a farm of two acres was considered quite a grain field and when it was ready to thresh the neighbors all came to help, and as a harvester, Mr. Cox has travelled all over the country and at one time every face he saw was friendly and familiar. With the passing of years he often feels as if he only meets strang- ers now. At that time the farmers raised hogs only for their own use, often dressing as high as six hundred pounds, which, if sold, would not have brought more than six or seven cents a pound. Growers of hogs at the present day do not do business on any such basis. Mr. Cox had many head of Duroc-Jer- seys on his one hundred and sixty acre farm and is making plans to breed more extensively in the future.

In the fall of 1892 Mr. Cox came to Banner county and homesteaded on section 20-18-58, Flowerfield precinct, now called Epworth pre- cinct, and lived on that place for six years. He then became traveling representative of a threshing machine company of Oklahoma City, with which he continued six years, his territory reaching as far north as Winnepeg, Canada. He returned then and settled on his father's old homestead in Banner county and has re- sided here with his sister ever since. A year after his return, his old company made a flat- tering offer to him that would have taken him to Argentine Republic, South America, but he declined it, having tried commercial traveling and being well satisfied with his agricultural

MR. AND MRS. FRED EHRMAN AND RESIDENCE

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prospects in Banner county. Mr. Cox is a Re- publican in his political views but has never ac- cepted any office except membership on the school board. He belongs to the order of Odd Fellows. Miss Elizabeth A. Cox is very well known all through this section. For a num- ber of years she was the accommodating and efficient postmistress at Epworth. She belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Epworth, in which she is a devoted worker.

FRED EHRMAN. - Fred Ehrman's birth- day is on the 12th of February, the same as that of Abraham Lincoln, greatest of American statesmen, and of Charles Darwin, greatest of English scientists ; so he should have gone into either politics or science. But he wisely per- ceived that there is more money in farming Nebraska lands than in either of those two call- ings, so here he is.

He was born in Germany in 1881, and came to the United States in 1890, settling with his father on a rented farm near Hastings, Ne- braska. In 1893 the family moved to Colorado, where the father, George Ehrman, died at the age of forty-eight years. The mother, Katlı- erine Ehrman, lives near Gering, Nebraska.

In 1897 Mr. Ehrman went to Brush, Colo- rado, where he resided until 1910, when he came to Scottsbluff county and has since made his home here. He was joined in marriage with Lola White, the daughter of W. H. White, a farmer in Idaho. Two children were born to them, both of whom died in infancy, and a further bereavement came to Mr. Ehrman when his wife was taken from him by death on May 27, 1918, at the age of thirty-five years.

The home place is a fine irrigated farm of 160 acres, all of the improvements having been put on by the owner himself. It was prairie when he took hold of it, so he is one of the builders of the country. He has fed Short- horn cattle quite extensively of late years, but one of his most important enterprises for the past fifteen years has been raising thorough- bred Percheron horses for the market. This industry has not only been profitable to him, but has been an important factor in developing the country, for it is only a few years ago that large work horses were scarce in this section, a condition which means lack of efficiency and economy in farming.

Mr. Ehrman is independent in politics. He has been a member of the irrigation district board for two terms and of the school board of his district for a number of years, and is a director of the Farmers' Union.

GUST PEARSON, who is accounted one of Banner county's prosperous and successful farmers and stockraisers, was born in Sweden, May 21, 1869. His parents were John and Christina Pearson, who spent their entire lives in Sweden, where the father was a farmer, but never on so large a scale as his son and grandsons in Banner county.

Mr. Pearson came to the United States in 1900 and located in Banner county, Nebras- ka, to assist his wife's uncle, the late Carl E. Hanson, who died in 1917. Mr. Pearson homesteaded in Banner county, just north of where he now lives, and worked on the rail- road until he had enough capital to stock his land. His first house was half sod and half log, but it had a pine roof which many of the other houses in the neighborhood did not have at that time. Mr. Pearson's first residence did not cost him more than one dollar, a for- turnate circumstance as his entire capital when he reached Banner county was twenty dollars. In contrast, Mr. Pearson has recently sold one of his farms for $47,000. He still owns three hundred and twenty-five acres, all fine produc- tive land, after giving each of his four sons a farm. Hard work and excellent judgment ex- plain his success, which has been great.

Mr. Pearson was married in Sweden on June 17, 1894, to Miss Anna Hanson, a native of Sweden, whose parents still live in that country. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson have six chil- dren, namely ; Arland, David, Joseph, Mamie, Elsie and Carl. All live at home in Banner county with the exception of Arland, who mar- ried Jennie Pearson and they live in Wyoming. Mr. Pearson is not as active as formerly as his sons relieve him of many responsibilities, all being capable farmers and they not only op- erate their own land profitably but their fath- er's also. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are members of the Swedish Lutheran church. He is an American citizen but has never taken an active part in politics, but in voting an independent ticket, he gives support to candidates that meet with the approval of his own judgment. Mr. Pearson is well known throughout the country and is highly regarded.

EMIL JOHNSON. - One of the well known residents and greatly respected citi- zens of Banner county, a successful farmer and honorable business man, is Emil Johnson, who has lived in Nebraska since he was four- teen years old. He was born in Sweden, Feb- ruary 19, 1879, a son of John F. and Bettie (Larson) Johnson.

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The father of Mr. Johnson preceded his family to the United States, reaching here April 5, 1884 and coming on to Wahoo, Ne- braska, because a brother-in-law lived there. He worked in that neighborhood until 1887 and then homesteaded until 1900, then came to live with his son Emil and his death occurred February 16, 1905. Of his six children five are living.

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 60

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