History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 61

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

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Emil Johnson attended school in Sweden and before coming to the United States in 1893, had visited Norway, Scotland, and Den- mark. With his mother he took passage on the ship Iceland, sailing from Gothenburg, De- cember 12, 1893. On New Year's night trouble developed in the ship's machinery and because of the high seas the vessel almost foundered, but good seamanship saved her and the passengers were safely landed in the har- bor of New York on January 5, 1894. They joined the father in Nebraska and the mother survived until in November, 1906. Young Emil found hard times awaiting him in the new home. He worked on his father's farm and for others and managed to save a part of his small wages. His father's homestead was in an arid region and as there was no money to dig a well, which was a serious undertaking on account of the depth, water had to be haul- ed seven miles. Mr. Johnson remembers when game was plentiful and he has seen one hun- dred head of antelope at one time. After proving up on their first claim of one hundred and sixty acres improved with a large barn, Mr. Johnson sold the place for seven hundred dollars, which was considered a good price, although the same property now would bring seven thousand dollars.

From having nothing to start with, Mr. Johnson has been remarkably successful in his business operations. He owns eleven hundred acres of land suitable for farming purposes in the main, breeds Duroc-Jersey hogs and Here- ford cattle, averaging about twenty-five head yearly. He owns also a blacksmith shop and some building lots at Bushnell, Nebraska, where he formerly' owned a livery stable. For a number of years he has been land sales- man for this part of Banner county and has succeeded well in this line. He has the repu- tation of being a far-seeing business man but one whose word is as good as his bond.

Mr. Johnson was married January 14, 1906, to Miss Annie Olsen, who is a daughter of Lars Olsen, extended mention of whom will be found in this work. Five sons and five daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, as follows: Marie, Gertrude, Ivon,

Lars Frederick, Ida, Helen, Alvin, Carl, Ag- nes and Leonard.

In politics Mr. Johnson is a Republican. He has served frequently in public office, for nineteen years being a school officer and every year on the election board, and at present is road supervisor. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Union, and he belongs to the order of United Workmen. During the World War he was a very active worker on behalf of the Y. M. C. A., the Savings Stamp and the Red Cross drives.

JAMES PATTON, who was the father of one of Banner county's large and most high- ly respected families, came here thirty-one years ago, and through hard work and good management, became one of the wealthy men of this locality. He was born in Ireland, a son of John and Jane Patton, and although he never revisited his native land after coming to the United States in 1861, he never forgot it and throughout life always kept a warm place in his heart for any native of old county Down. His death occurred December 7, 1912.

At Newburgh, New York, in March, 1865, James Patton was united in marriage to Mary Carse. She was of Scotch-Irish stock and was born at Ballymacrumble, county Down, Ire- land. In May, 1861, she came to the United States and entered domestic service and until her marriage worked in private families for a wage of six dollars a month. To the above marriage eight children were born and the fol- lowing survive : Elizabeth, who lives at Dixon, Illinois, is the wife of James Bennett; Mar- garet, who also lives at Dixon, is the wife of Hugh Bennett; Isabella and John, both of whom live on the old family homestead ; Mary, who is the wife of R. N. Biggs, lives in Colo- rado; and Letitia, who resides on the home- stead, the brother and two sisters all having abundant means.

After their marriage James Patton and his wife came as far west as Dixon, Illinois, where they lived during the next six years and then moved to Fayette county, Iowa, but a few years later went to Pottawattomie county, Iowa, where Mr. Patton worked on farms and through his own industry and his wife's fru- gality, they prospered. Desiring to secure a homestead still farther west, Mr. Patton de- cided upon Banner county, Nebraska, and came here March 9, 1888, and homesteaded near where his children yet live. He was ac- companied by a brother and brought with him nine head of cattle, some hogs, six horses and six hundred dollars in money, which in those

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clays in this section represented unusual wealth. He brought also the household goods. The mother of the family, and uncle and the chil- dren, all came as far as Kimball on the rail- road and from that time until the pres- ent has been prominent in many ways and at all times useful and worthy members of the community in which they have lived.

During the first years after locating in Ban- ner county the crops were poor but that did not mean to James Patton that his family should want for anything. On the other hand, he hastened to Cheyenne and secured work in the railroad shops. In the meanwhile his fam- ily carried on the home affairs well and wise- ly under the capable management of the moth- er and when Mr. Patton returned and resumed farm work, he found conditions much improv- ed and from that time on prospered in his agricultural industries. As his children grew older they gave their parents dutiful assistance, and the mother for many years was as his right hand. In early days both Mr. and Mrs. Pat- ton would haul the produce of the farm to Cheyenne, sixty-five miles distant, where they would find ready sale. Finally, however, the mother had a stroke of paralysis. The fam- ily planned a trip for her to New York on a visit but before she could start she became so ill that the journey had to be abandoned. She lived ten years longer, her death occurring June 21, 1909, But she had been an invalid add that time. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian church when early meet- ings were held in the home of David Mckee, who had been a neighbor in county Down, Ire- land.

Mr. Patton was not only an industrious man but was able in business and when he died left a large estate, at that time owning four- teen hundred and twenty acres of land. In early days almost all the settlers at one time or another put mortgages on their property and on one occasion Mr. Patton mortgaged a horse and cow for twenty-five dollars in order to lay in seed corn, a temporary loan that was immediately paid back. While the Pattons came up with such hardships as having to haul water a long distance, they never lacked suffi- cient food, nor did the children fail having educational opportunities. Mr. Patton was one of others in the neighborhood to put up a schoolhouse, a structure twelve by sixteen feet in dimensions. The twenty-one children who attended that school had none of the helpful appliances of modern school children, few books, and had only boxes for seats. The

first teacher was a resident of Kimball, who was a little dramatic as she dashed up to the little school house every morning, riding her pony without a saddle, but she evidently im- parted knowledge to the children as their later progress showed. Still later Miss Nettie Mc- Kinnon taught the school for two terms, driv- ing back and forth a distance of nine miles every school day. The Pattons have always been hospitable people and from the first have taken part in the neighborhood social life. In politics Mr. Patton was a Republican as is his son John, but neither desired political office.

WILLIAM P. MILLER. - A truly inter- esting story is that of the Miller family of Banner county, which lost in the death of Will- iam P. Miller, on September 23, 1908, not only its honored head, but one who, after fighting valorously in his country's battles, so faith- fully turned his attention to the arts of peace, that no name in this community is mentioned years afterward, in terms of greater respect.

William Palmer Miller was born September 18, 1831, at Alburgh, Grand Isle county, Ver- mont, a son of Duncan and Laura (Wiles) Miller, natives of Vermont. The parents mov- ed to Brookfield, Illinois, near Ottawa, in the great Illinois corn belt, and there the father and his eight sons cultivated a great expanse of land and became wealthy and influential. He died in 1870, and his eight sons have passed away also. Their mother lived until 1877. William P. Miller was educated at Al- burgh and at Plattsburg, New York, and after- ward he assisted his father until he enlisted for service in the Civil War, on August 13, 1862. He served in the One hundred and fourth Illinois volunteer infantry until July 12, 1865, following which was a long hospital ill- ness from which he never really recovered.

On October 12, 1869. Mr. Miller was mar- ried at Duquoin, Illinois, to Anna M. Bur- bank, a daughter of George W. and Mary J. (Hatch) Burbank, the former of whom was born in New Hampshire and the latter in New York. To the above marriage the fol-

lowing children were born: Charles P., who is in the furniture business at Gibbon, Ne- braska, was the first barber in Kimball coun- ty and for two years taught school at Flower- field, married Nellie Henline; Mary A., who is the wife of J. W. Hoke, lives in Colorado; Harry I., who lives in Banner county, married Grace Reynolds; Walter A., who is survived by his wife, Myrtle Bigsby, died near Har- risburg, Nebraska, when aged twenty-three years, George P., who died aged twelve years ;

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one who died in infancy; Benjamin L., who lives near Stoneham, Colorado, married Mary Pennington; and Ward E., who lives with his mother.

Following their marriage William P. Miller and wife lived at Brookfield, where he taught school for a year, then moved to Ottawa, Illi- nois where he bought a cutlery factory and remained in business there for seven years, do- ing all the cutting himself. His health was poor, however, from the exposures endured in the army, and partly on that account, and part- ly for business reasons, he began to entertain thoughts of the great West. This resulted in his moving to Smith county, Kansas, in 1878, where he pre-empted land and during seven years of drouth, attempted to farm. In the meanwhile he taught school for one year, sup- posedly for a wage of fifteen dollars a month but had to discount all his checks. During his last year in Kansas he worked for the Ameri- can Bible Society at Columbus, and he did well as his tastes were literary and his educa- tion solid. In 1887 he was offered and accept- ed a position as school teacher in Adams coun- ty, Nebraska, hastening home from Columbus in order to make preparations for removal. He found his wife sick but in order to fulfill his contract, he secured covered wagons and has- tened on the way to his school district in the neighboring state, only to find, when he reach- ed it, that the directors had become impatient and had hired another teacher. In after years Mr. Miller could smile over such a situation but at that time it was tragic.

In this emergency the family took shelter in a sod house that had been used for the storage of broom corn for a few weeks, then moved into a frame house which they secured rent free on condition that they would keep it comfortable for its owner and cook his meals. They had plenty to eat as the owner was a great hunter, and traded off game, quail and prairie chickens for other provisions. In the general discomfort, Mrs. Miller fell ill again and her recovery was slow as there were no physicians near, but in the following spring another move was made. Mrs. Miller owned an old family heirloom, a gold watch, and this she gave to her husband and he was able to trade it for a lease on eighty acres of school land in Webster county. They moved on that land and a year later it was sold for two hun- dred and fifty dollars and they came to Kim- ball county and homesteaded seven miles west of Kimball. On that place they lived seven years, then put their children in school in Franklin county. Mrs. Miller removed with

her parents who were getting old and needed her care and then settled twelve miles north- west of Harrisburg, where Mr. Miller died. For forty years of his life he had been a school teacher and faithful to his charges. There are many who remember him with feel- ings of gratitude because of his patience in in- structing them.

After Mr. Miller died Mrs. Miller and her youngest son homesteaded in Nebraska near the Wyoming line, but when the great war called her son the homesteads were sold. She still owns four hundred and eighty acres in Banner county, is perfectly capable of looking after her own affairs and has always enjoyed social life wherever she lived. Highly educat- ed both in books and in music, it was hard for this cultured lady to leave the comforts and as- sociations of her eastern home and to bear with cheerful courage the hardships which later attended her. She has done so, however, and has, additionally, helped others with neigh- borly devices and loving sympathy, and is uni- versally held in esteem. She has not entirely buried her talents, for she has been the highly appreciated correspondent of the Nebraska Farm Journal and Banner news for the past twenty years.

HARRY I. MILLER, who is numbered with the substantial men of Banner county, owns large bodies of valuable land and is a successful breeder of the famous White Face cattle. He is one of the progressive agricultur- ists of this section, operating with the latest improved farm machinery, and not only keeps in touch with scientific farm development for his own advantage, but as a contributor to the Nebraska Farm Journal of Omaha, has been the means for a number of years, of imparting vital information, clothed in interesting lan- guage, to those who need this knowledge.

Harry 1. Miller was born at Ottawa, Illinois, April 28, 1875, and is a son of William P. and Anna M. (Burbank) Miller, extended mention of whom will be found in this work. He en- joyed excellent educational advantages, attend- ing school at Franklin, Nebraska, the Metho- dist Episcopal College at Orleans, and Frank- lin Academy, while his home environment was always of a high intellectual standard. His father gave forty years of his life to the teaching profession, and his mother enjoyed, in her youth, both literary and musical opportun- ities.

In 1895 Mr. Miller started out for himself as a farmer in Franklin county. In 1897 he was appointed park superintendent of Greeley,

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Colorado, where he remained until 1899, when he went to Denver and worked as a railroad fireman until January 1, 1904. He came then to Banner county, having borrowed fifty dol- lars to come and get established, and home- steaded on section thirty-four, town eight, on which he still lives. To homestead was one thing but to pay for the land and provide for a family was another as Mr. Miller and many other settlers here have reason to remember. A lack of sufficient working capital embarrass- ed him for some years even though he did not have to contend with some of the disadvantages of earlier homesteaders. His credit was good, however, and he was able to borrow enough to buy his first team, after which he worked for F. O. Baker, afterward giving a note for the first well he had dug. Food, especially meat, was not plentiful in those early days. Corn bread risen by soda neutralized by vine- gar was the daily fare. Hunger has been found to overcome many prejudices, and Mr. Miller tells of several proofs that came under his own observation. On one occasion when a neigh- bor's steer was killed by lightning, there was no discussion as to the disposition of the car- cass, the neighborhood enjoying strengthening meals to which many had long been unaccus- tomed. Later, when Mr. Miller found that coyotes had invaded his poultry yard and had killed twenty-four chickens by sucking their blood, the neighborhood had another and unex- pected feast of meat. These stories illustrate not a prevailing condition but a phase of pio- neering that may well be brought forward in the way of contrast with the present. Mr. Miller has recently sold a tract of eleven hun- dred and twenty acres of land, still owns over twelve hundred acres and has no debts. He breeds White Face cattle, shipping about one hundred and twenty-five head annually, and Duroc-Jersey hogs. Additionally he owns stock in the Farmers Exchange at Omaha, is a stockholder in the Bushnell State Bank and owns considerable other property there. His is a model farm and he operates with two farm tractors and other modern equipment.

Mr. Miller as married May 15, 1895, to Miss Grace D. Reynolds, of Orleans, Nebraska, a daughter of Oliver F. and Amelia (Reynolds) Reynolds, and they have had children as fol- lows : Lucile, who died April 19, 1917, was the wife of Andrew Miller ; Hazel, who is the wife of Drew Davis, of Kimball, Nebraska ; Doro- thy A. was married December 25, 1919 to George S. Cerveny, a farmer of Banner coun- ty ; and Paul, Carl, Helen, Grace and Walter, all of whom live at home ; and Allen who died

in infancy. Mr. Miller and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and were in- strumental in its organization and in the build- ing of the parsonage. In politics he is a Demo- crat and for a number of years has been a no- tary public and a justice of the peace. He is one of the representative men of Banner coun- ty.

ARTHUR G. WARNER, who is ably up- holding Banner county's reputation for enter- prising, thorough going farmers and stock- raisers, belongs to an old and representative family here, extended mention of which will be found in this work.

Arthur G. Warner was born in Banner coun- ty, Nebraska, May 20, 1891, and is a son of Isaiah Warner. He attended school in Ban- ner and Scottsbluff counties and later took a course in a Grand Island business college. For seven years before marriage he lived by him- self on a farm he operated, then bought a half section near his home for one dollar an acre. Later he made an advantageous trade of this land for a half section near Flowerfield, on which he now resides. He has a fine place here and understands the best methods of develop- ing it. He is particularly interested in breed- ing Aberdeen Angus cattle, averaging one hundred head yearly, and Duroc-Jersey hogs, raising sixty head annually.

Mr. Warner was married September 24, 1913, to Miss Lavina Mitchell, who is a daugh- ter of Wilson and Lila Mitchell, both of whom were born in Illinois. Mr. Mitchell is a sub- stantial citizen of Banner county, to which he came in October, 1887, and operates a large ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have one son, Martin. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Warner belongs to the Farmers Union, of which he is a stock- holder. He is a Republican in politics but has never served in any public capacity except as school moderator, in which office he faithfully performed the duties incumbent for five years.

ELMER E. THOMAS, who is well known in Banner county where he has large land and stock interests, makes his home on his ranch and takes an active interest in civic affairs and general development.

Elmer E. Thomas was born at Ames. Ne- braska, July 10, 1887, and is a son of Henry and Belle (Zorn) Thomas. They came to Ban- ner county in 1887 and Elmer E. was born shortly afterward. He has an older brother, Roy Thomas, who married Cordelia McCul- lough, and they reside at Bushnell. The par-

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ents homesteaded in the neighborhood of Gary and lived there until 1898, removing then to Harrisburg. Later they went to Chicago and still later to St. Louis, Missouri.

Elmer E. Thomas attended school at Harris- burg but has been interested in farming since sixteen years of age, when he rented land near Bushnell and operated it for three years. In 1907 he moved on his brother's homestead and managed the same until 1913, when he came to Bushnell and for a year the brothers were as- sociated in a hardware business. Mr. Thomas returned then to the farm and remained until 1918, when he again took up his residence in Bushnell. He owns one section of land and leases another and has capable tenants. He breeds Shorthorn cattle and Red Jersey hogs, also a few horses, averaging very well.

On August 10, 1914, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Mable Wilson, who is a daughter of J. M. Wilson, of Harrisburg, and they have one daughter, Theda. In politics a sound Republican, Mr. Thomas is much in- terested in political campaigns, but has never accepted any office for himself with the ex- ception of one term as assessor of his precinct.

WILLIAM W. WARNER, who is an en- terprising and progressive general farmer of Banner county, belongs to one of the fine old families of this section, extended mention of which will be found in this work. Mr. Warn- er was born at Brownington, Missouri, No- vember 12, 1887, and is a son of Isaiah War- ner, long one of the county's most substantial citizens.

William W. Warner enjoyed excellent edu- cational advantages, first attending the country schools, later the public schools of Gering and still later completing a full business course in a commercial college at Grand Island. He re- mained on his father's homestead until 1908, in which year he homesteaded on section eighteen, town seventeen, on which he still re- sides. He has three hundred and twenty acres here, all fine farm land. Mr. Warner is fol- lowing intelligent methods in his agricultural operations and no farmer in this section of the county makes use of better or more modern farm machinery.

Mr. Warner was married July 5, 1911, to Miss Minnie Palm, who is a daughter of John and Helga Palm. The parents of Mrs. Warner were born in Sweden and came to Banner county as pioneers. They now reside at Pine Bluff, Wyoming. Mr. and Mrs. Warn- er have three children, namely : Bernice, Ray- mond and Vernon.

In politics Mr. Warner is a Republican in national matters but votes independently on local affairs, his good citizenship leading him at all times to give support to movements that promise to be of permanent benefit to his own community. He has never been anxious for political preferment but has served as school treasurer. He belongs to the Farmers Union and is a stockholder in this organization, and he has been an Odd Fellow for many years. He has the respect and good will of the entire community.

WILLIAM VAN PELT, who is one of Banner county's veteran homesteaders, is well and widely known in this part of Nebraska, where he is a man of large estate. He was born in Highland county, Ohio, August 26, 1855, and is a son of Thomas C. and Nancy (Lucas) Van Pelt. His father was a soldier in the Civil War and died from exposure con- tracted in the service, in 1863. His mother, who was born in Highland county in 1825, re- sides in Banner county, venerable in years but not in fact, for she is alert both in body and mind, faithful in church attendance and enter- taining in family and social circles. Mrs. Van Pelt homesteaded in Banner county and still owns her land, and is the oldest living home- steader in Banner county.

William Van Pelt was an infant when his parents moved to Iowa and he was educated and reared there, remaining with his mother until he was thirty-eight years of age. When a decision had been made in the family to move to Banner county, Mr. Van Pelt and his sister, Mrs. Johnson, came from Des Moines to Grand Island. There he loaded a car of stock and came with it to Banner county, March 25, 1887, having in the previous fall filed on a homestead at North Platte. He lived there several years, then sold and moved on the place on which he still lives. In 1904 he filed a Kinkaid claim of three hundred and twenty acres, mainly ranch land. He raises high grade White Face cattle, about thirty head yearly, and enough horses for his own use. Mr. Van Pelt has a valuable home property, commodious residence and well kept farm buildings.

On December 27, 1893, Mr. Van Pelt was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Snyder. who is a daughter of Mack and Adelaide Snyder, natives of New Cork. They came to Banner county in 1888 and homesteaded east of Harrisburg. The father of Mrs. Van Pelt died in 1905, but the mother survives and lives in Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Van Pelt have two

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children, namely: Effie, who is the wife of Ernest W. Pickett, who operates one of Mr. Van Pelt's farms ; and Roy E., who lives with his parents. In politics Mr. Van Pelt is a Re- publican, but the only public office he has ever accepted was that of school treasurer of district number sixteen, in which he served four years. Like all members of his family, he is held in high regard in Banner county.

F. JOHN PALM, whose substantial success as a homesteader in Banner county, came about through good judgment and hard work, now lives comfortably retired at Pine Bluffs, Wy- oming, but still retains possession of large estates and heavy stock interests in Banner county.

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 61

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