History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 64

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

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ADOLF F. GOOS. - More than thirty years ago, when Scottsbluff county was still a part of Cheyenne county, Mr. Goos here established his residence. A young man of energy and determination, he was well equipped for meeting the labors that fell to the lot of the pioneer farmers in this section of the state, and the passing years brought to him a generous measure of prosperity, the while he gave his liberal support to measures and under- takings that promoted the social and material advancement of the community. He developed a valuable landed estate and is today one of the substantial and popular citizens of his adopted country.

Mr. Goos was born in the province of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on the 27th of October, 1861, and there he was reared and educated, his youthful experience giving him close association with earnest toil and en- deavor, for which he has retained the deepest respect. In 1883, shortly after reaching his legal majority, Mr. Goos severed the home ties and set forth to seek his fortunes in America. He arrived at Lincoln, Nebraska, on the 14th of March of that year, and thence he made his way to Syracuse, Otoe county, in which part of the state he was employed at farm work for three years. In the spring of 1886 he made his way westward to Cheyenne county, the trip having been made overland with team and wagon, and he became a resident of that part of the county that is now included in Scotts- bluff county. On the 18th of May of the same year he filed entry on a homestead - the south- west quarter of section 14, township 22, range 55, besides which he later took up a tree claim, to both of which properties he duly perfected his title. With characteristic vigor he began the work of developing and improving his land, and abundant success eventually rewarded his efforts. He has retained possession of both of his claims and has developed the tract into one of the well improved and valuable farin prop- erties of the county. He was one of the early advocates and supporters of irrigation enter- prise in the county, assisted in the organization of Enterprise ditch, in the construction of which waterway he was associated, and he held sixteen shares of the stock, besides being a director of the original organization. For his share he received bonds at the time when the ditch was transferred to the district. Mr. Goos has shown loyal interest in community affairs, is a Democrat in politics and is a communicant of the Lutheran church.

ROLLA W. ALUMBAUGH, who is one of the enterprising, progressive and successful farmers of Banner county, operating a large

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body of land in association with Arthur J. Trowbridge, is a native of Kansas, born in Crawford county, October 27, 1883.

The parents of Mr. Alumbaugh were John W. and Rebecca (Baysinger) Alumbaugh, the former of whom was born at Bowling Green, Indiana, and died in California, November 24, 1905, and the latter in Illinois. Her death occurred at San Diego, California. The fath- er engaged in farming and stock raising in Kansas and Missouri until 1887, then drove across the country and brought with him from Crawford county, Kansas, to Banner county, Nebraska, his household goods and thirty head of cattle. He homesteaded near Harrisburg and continued on his land there until 1905, when he went to California, where he died soon afterward. He was a Republi- can in politics and both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had the following children: James, who lives in California, married Blanche Price ; Elmer and John, both of whom live in Cali- fornia ; Rolla A., who belongs to Banner coun- ty; Myrtle, who lives in California, is the wife of Elmo Carpenter; and Pearl, whose home is in Oregon, is the wife of Barton Ir- win.

Rolla W. Alumbaugh attended the Twin Tree district school and remained at home as- sisting his father until he was twenty years old. In 1908 he homesteaded where he now lives, a Kinkaid claim, and in partnership with Mr. Trowbridge operates nine hundred acres, breed- ing White Face cattle, turning off about fifty head annually. Farm operations are carried on here according to modern methods and with modern farm machinery. Threshing is done on the farm with the use of wheat headers and farm tractors and the entire year round this is a busy place.

Mr. Alumbaugh was married August 3, 1918, to Miss May Timm, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of Claus and Mary (Hoeck) Timm, the latter of whom survives and lives in Banner county. Mr. Alumbaugh is serving as road overseer and also is treasurer of school district number one. Politically he has always been identified with the Republican party.

ARTHUR J. TROWBRIDGE, who is a prosperous farmer of Banner county, belongs to one of the old pioneer families that have been well and favorably known in other counties as well as Banner. He was born in Berrien coun- ty, Michigan, May 2, 1872 and is the only sur- vivor of four children born to John and Emma

(De Long) Trowbridge. The father was born in Portage county, Ohio, and the mother in Berrien county, Michigan, is now Mrs. Cochrane living in Michigan. The father is living at Minatare, Nebraska.

In 1881 Arthur J. Trowbridge accompanied his parents from Michigan to Colfax county, Nebraska, and during the seven years they lived there attended the public schools. In 1889 his father homesteaded in Banner county on sections 6-17-54, near Heath, and resided there until 1897, then sold to George N. Ben- nett. During the next two years the family home was near Lone Pine Springs and then the parents of Mr. Trowbridge retired to Minatare. In 1888 Arthur J. Trowbridge filed on a Kinkaid claim of a full section of land and still owns this property. Since he has been associated with Rolla W. Alumbaugh in an extensive farming enterprise that is proving very profitable. Both partners are held in great esteem in Banner county, being good business men and trustworthy citizens. Mr. Trowbridge belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias.

STEPHEN W. TROWBRIDGE, who was born in Berien county, Michigan, November 1, 1857 has been a resident of Banner county since 1888, and now lives in his comfortable residence at Kimball. At times he has owned a number of tracts of land in the county but in recent years has sold the greater part of his property.

The parents of Mr. Trowbridge were Henry and Loretta (Hanchett) Trowbridge, the former of whom was born in Connecticut and the latter in Vermont. They were married in Ohio and from there moved to Michigan in 1850, and the father died there in 1881. The mother then came to Nebraska and resided with her son Stephen W. until her death, in the fall of 1896. Of the eight children in the family but two survive, John and Stephen W., the former being a resident of Minatare, Ne- braska.

In boyhood Mr. Trowbridge attended school until he was fourteen years old, then began to take care of himself and during the rest of his active life engaged in agricultural pur- suits. In 1877 he bought railroad land in Colfax county, Nebraska, but soon sold it and returned to Michigan. In 1879 he came back to Colfax county and from there, in March, 1888, to Banner county, homesteading and taking a tree claim in Lone Pine precinct, section four, range fifty-four, town seventeen. Although Mr. Trowbridge had some capital

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when he came to the county, he, like others of that time, went through some hardships. His first home and all the buildings on his *farm were made of logs hauled from the nearby canyon.

On June 17, 1877, Mr. Trowbridge was married to Miss Emma Sherman, who died October 10, 1889. Her parents were Harry and Marion (Tubbs) Sherman, residents of Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge became the parents of five children, the following sur- viving: Lora, who is the wife of L. W. Cox, of Barclay, California ; Stella, who is the wife of Frederick Gillman, of Reddington, Ne- braska; Blanche, who is the wife of William Thienhardt, of Banner county; and Grace, who is the wife of John Bybee, lives in Kim- ball. Mr. Trowbridge has been somewhat ac- tive in local politics and has served in precinct offices.

G. LEE BASYE. the popular and efficient county attorney of Box Butte county is a na- tive son of Nebraska and almost one of the county as he came here when only six months old and belongs to the younger generation of professional men in the Panhandle who are carrying responsibilities and honors that used only to be accorded to the greybeards.

Mr. Basye was born near Minden, Nebras- ka. December 1, 1886, the son of George S. and Cora (Rhodes) Basye, the former a na- tive of Ohio, while the mother was born in Illinois. Lee was the elder of the two children in the family as he had one sister, Lenna. George Basye was a ranchman who came to the Panhandle when his son was an infant, and took a pre-emption and homestead north- west of Alliance, where he became a well-to- do farmer and cattle-raiser. On this farm the family lived for some ten years during which time the boy attended the country school two miles from his home, walking back and forth each day so that he grew up sturdy and healthy. Mr. Basye well remembers the first money he earned when only eleven years of age, taking care of cattle for a neighbor a month in the summer, for which he received five dollars, a sum that looked very big to him then and it was, for money was not plentiful on the prairies. The next winter a heavy snow fell throughout this section of the coun- try and . cattle perished by the thousands all over the plains and the boy went out when the storm had passed to skin the dead car- casses. He sold the hides and thus secured enough money to buy himself a cowboy saddle and a pair of high heeled boots and when a

kindly neighbor gave him a pair of spurs he felt himself to be a full fledged cowboy though only twelve years old, for he was an excellent rider and quite able to ride with the best of the boys on round-up and herd. The first school he attended was the typical "soddy" of the plains, furnished with home made benches and desks, but there was a good teacher so the children really gained excellent knowledge. In 1901 Mrs. Basye moved into Alliance and Lee entered the city schools, finished the gram- mar grades then graduated from the high school. He had early decided upon a profes- sional career and though he would have to help himself to secure a higher education, was nothing daunted by this prospect. He worked in the shops of the railroad company during the summer vacations and during the school year spent his afternoons in a shoe house, thus making a goodly sum of money. In the fall of 1908, Mr. Basye matriculated in the arts and science course at the State University, Lincoln. He specialized in public speaking and oratory, in addition to the general arts course and had the honor in his junior year of winning the Hastings prize in the State University Oratory Contest. June 13, 1912, Mr. Basye received his A.B. degree from the college of letters and science and the fol- lowing fall entered the law school ; pursued a two year course there and on June 11, 1914, garduated with the degree of LL.B. and was admitted to practice. During his senior year in the law school he was elected Ivy Day ora- tor of the class of 1914 and took his part in the Class Day exercises and the planting of the class ivy. Immediately after commence- ment he returned to Alliance and opened an office. Prior to graduation Mr. Basye had filed as candidate for county attorney on the Republican ticket and was elected by a sub- stantial majority at the general elections in November, 1914. He proved so efficient a county official that he was re-elected in 1916, and again for a third term in 1918, which proves not only his personal and political popu- larity, but testifies to his standing as a lawyer in the community. During the first eighteen months Mr. Basye was in office he tried more cases under the prohibition law than in any other county in the state excepting Douglas county in which Omaha is located. When war was declared against Germany Mr. Basye be- came a member of the Box Butte County coun- cil of Defense and chairman of the Box Butte Legal Council of Defense. He was called in the first draft on October 22, 1918, to entrain for Fort Kearney, San Diego, California, but

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the call was cancelled on account of the Span- ish influenza. He was called again on No- vember 12, but as the armistice was signed November 11, this call was also cancelled.

June 16, 1915, Mr. Bayse was married at Lincoln, to Miss Alta M. Kates, who was born near Hickman, Lancaster county, Ne- braska, the daughter of Morris and Katharine (Stein) Kates, the former a native of New Jersey as was also the mother, On November 19, 1919, a son, Wendall Morris Basye was born to them, and who will possibly be a partner with his father in after years. Mr. Basye has great faith in the future of this sec- tion of Nebraska which he has demonstrated by becoming a land owner, for he bought a hundred and sixty acre tract four miles north of Alliance, all of which is under cultivation. He is forced to be a farmer by proxy as his duties keep him in the city, but he is pro- gressive in his ideas and methods and keeps abreast of the development of agricultural in- dustry and finds that his land is a paying proposition. Mr. and Mrs. Bayse are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Basye is a staunch adherent of the priciples of the Republican party, while his fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He owns a fine modern resi- dence in Alliance at 614 Big Horn Avenue, where he and his wife and son dispense a cor- dial hospitality to their many friends.

JAMES W. MILLER, the present efficient and popular sheriff of Box Butte county came to Nebraska with his parents in the late seven- ties and thus must be accorded pioneer honors. During his tenure of office Mr. Miller has es- tablished and maintained a record for loyalty, fidelity to duty and courageous and diplomatic handling of the important work that has been assigned to him, with the result that he has gained a secure place in the confidence of the citizens.

Mr. Miller was born in the heavily timbered country adjoining Toledo, Ohio, November 23. 1866, the son of William and Tabitha ( Jeffers) Miller, the former a native of that land of hills and heather, who brought the rugged Scotch characteristics of his race to America when he immigrated to this country and in turn transmitted them to his son. Mrs. Miller was a native of the Keystone state, be- ing reared and educated in Pennsylvania. There were two children in the family, Anna, who married a man named Jeffers and James WV. William Miller was one of the gallant

adopted sons of the Union who responded to President Lincoln's call for men to preserve the country at the opening of the Civil War, as he enlisted in Company I, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry in 1861. He participated in some of the most severe engagements of that memor- able conflict and saw service under General Thomas. His horse was shot from under him and he was wounded at the battle of Mission Ridge and he was again wounded, being shot through the neck at the Battle of Shiloh. In the fall of 1865 there was an Indian uprising on the plains and Mr. Miller with the members of his company started for the seat of disturb- ance but by the time they reached Omaha, the affair was over and being returned to Wash- ington, D. C., the company was mustered out of the service.

James grew up on his father's farm, early learned the practical side of farm business and during the winters attended the district school which was conducted in a log building two miles from his home. While yet a young boy he began to earn money by riding a horse around on the barn floor for his uncle in order to thresh flax, later it was further threshed by men with wooden flails. For this service he received a twenty-five cent "shin-plaster" note, the paper money of the war days, and spent it when his father took him to Toledo to buy a cap. James remained on the farm with his parents, and when old enough assumed many of the responsibilities and duties of farming to aid his father. The boy helped clear land for his father; hauled the rocks, stumps and brush away from the clearing when William Miller would break the sod, plant and sow the crops. In 1879, the Miller family came to Nebraska, locating on a homestead near Phil- lips, in Hamilton county, where James con- tinued to attend school during the winter time. His father became an invalid soon after this and the whole burden of running the frontier farm and supporting the family fell on the slim shoulders of the son, but he was a stout heart- ed man and willingly put his strength to the task which would have daunted many an older person. James remained on the farm taking care of his parents until his father died in 1895. He had been out to look the country in Box Butte county over four years previous- ly, and when it became possible for him to inove he sold the old place and with his moth- er came here permanently, locating in Alliance. Almost at once he accepted a position in the railroad shops of the Burlington Railroad where he entered as an apprentice to the boiler maker's trade, served his time at it and became

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a master boiler maker. For eighteen years he was connected with the company in various branches of construction work, then resigned to take up carpenter work, that he might be out doors more and not so confined as in the shops. Mr. Miller was a skillful mechanic and it was not long before he was a success in the new vocation from which he gained a very good income. He bought land and erect- ed a good comfortable home in Alliance and in 1918 was elected sheriff of Box Butte coun- ty on the Republican ticket. His early train- ing specially fitted him for such a position of responsibility which he has filled in a meri- torious manner to the entire satisfaction of the citizens.

On September 2, 1900, Mr. Miller was mar- ried at Kearney, Nebraska, to Miss Esther Crowell, a native of that city, the daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Cassaday) Crowell, both natives of Pennsylvania. One child has been born to this union, Herbert, a student in the Alliance high school. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Methodist church, while Mr. Miller is a Thirty-second degree Mason and a Republican in politics.

CALVIN L. HASHMAN, one of the popu- lar and efficient commissioners of Box Butte county who is serving a third term in this responsible office was born near Mercer, Mis- souri, April 25, 1866, the son of William and Ruth ( Mobley) Hashman, the former a native of Ohio. Calvin was next to the young- est in a family of eleven children and grew up self reliant and strong. William Hashman was a farmer, so his children were reared in the strict discipline demanded by farm life and each and every one of them began to as- sume duties around the home place when their age and strength permitted. Calvin was sent to the district school near his home, and there laid the foundation of a good practical educa- tion that has been of value to him in his busi- ness life. While yet a boy he was an ex- perienced and practical farmer, having learned the business from his father. While yet a small lad he began to earn money, a habit which he has kept through life. The first work con- sisted of riding a horse and hauling hay to the stack. A rope was attached to the saddle and the other end was looped around a hundle of hay and then pulled to the desired location. and for the work the boy received thirty cents a day. Calvin remained at home until he was eighteen, then decided to establish himself in- dependently as a farmer for he had chosen the vocation of husbandman for a life work, as it

was one to which his tastes turned and already a business with which he was well acquainted. In 1884 he came to Boone county, Nebraska, one of the pioneers of this state and the next year located in Dawes county on a homestead S. E. one-quarter, section fifteen, township twenty-five, range forty-nine, ten miles north- west of the present city of Alliance. Later a part of Dawes was erected at Box Butte coun- ty and Mr. Hashman found himself a resident of the new division. He put his new land un- der cultivation, built good and permanent buildings for his stock and erected a good frontier home for his family. As fortune fa- vored and he was able to dispose of his crops Mr. Hashman demonstrated his belief in the future of this section of the Panhandle by buying more property until today he is the owner of a landed estate of two thousand acres of "good Nebraska land," all of which can be cultivated. This magnificient fortune has been made by the unaided efforts of Mr. Hashman himself who is the architect of his own prosperity and can look with well de- served pride upon the accomplishment. He has been engaged in general farming and stockraising since first locating here. In the early days when money was not so plentiful and his farm smaller, Mr. Hashman employed his spare time as a freighter, moving immi- grants from Hay Springs, the end of the railroad, to their new homes on claims taken by them in the new country south and west. When the railroad was being constructed he freighted for the contractors, bringing sup- plies to the construction camps established be- yond the rail-head and at one time brought in all the necessities required when the tunnel was drilled through Pine Ridge. He followed the building of the road as far west as New Castle, Wyoming.

On November 29, 1883, Mr. Hashman mar- ried Miss Cora Jay, in Mercer county, Mis- souri, and two children were born to them: Bessie, who married Frank Vaughn, a farmer and stockraiser of Box Butte county, and Ar- thur C., who married Myrtle Heartley and has six children. They live on a farm near Al- liance where the father is engaged in general farming and stockraising. Mrs. Hashman died and in the early nineties Mr. Hashman married Miss Ella M. Lapham. They raised a family of seven children; Amy, the wife of Floyd Tryne, a farmer near Hemingford and they have two children; J. Leo, also married and now a farmer near Alliance ; Ada, at home with her father; Frank C., Lester A., G. Wes- ley and A. Roy, all at home. Mrs. Hashman

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died February 16, 1916 and for his third wife Mr. Hashman choose Mrs. Jennie M. Con- don nee Erickson, and one boy, Cecil B., has been born to the union.

Mr. Hashman was elected county commis- sioner in 1911, on the Republican ticket and at the present time is serving his third term in this office, which demonstrates his efficient service. He is a man of modern ideas and methods, is progressive in his ideas and takes and earnest and active part in all affairs of the county as well as civic and communal movements for the development of local en- terprise. He supports with money and time every movement that will develop the county and Alliance. He was a member of the board when the Box Butte county court house was erected and it was due to his business sagacity and the fact that he was constantly supervising the work that the building was completed with- out a dollar's worth of graft, though he had many an uplesant encounter with the grafters to accomplish his end. On agricultural sub- jects the commissioner is an authority, es- pecially alfalfa, and has contributed a valuable monograph on the raising of this valuable crop in Nebraska. He has one hundred and eighty acres himself in the county, runs an av- erage of a hundred and fifty to two hundred head of cattle yearly and cuts about two hun- dred tons of alfalfa in addition to general farm produce, and two hundred tons of wild hay. Mr. Hashman is a true type of American farmer, the greatest producer on earth.

JAMES H. H. HEWETT, chief clerk in the United States Land Office at Alliance has filled this and many other public offices of the county with marked efficiency, honesty and loyalty that is unusual in this day of haste and hurry, when most men are chasing dol- lars rather than devoting themselves to the welfare of others.

Mr. Hewett was born in Brownville, Ne- braska, July 23, 1862, the son of Obadiah B. and Mary W. (Turner) Hewett. The father was a native of Hope, Maine, and transmitted some of his sturdy New England qualities to his son. Mr. Hewett's one brother lives in Ar- kansas, where he has a thousand acre rice farm, while his sister, Mrs. Catherine L. Dav- is has for many years been a teacher in the schools of Los Angeles, California. Obediah Hewett was a lawyer and served as district attorney. When Nebraska was divided into three districts he was given charge of the southeastern district where he gained an en- viable reputation as a jurist. He took an ac-

tive part in the affairs of his county and the community where he became a man of promi- nence. Mr. Hewett was a member of the state normal board for years, was first president of the Nebraska State Teachers' Association and was one of the prime movers in the organiza- tion and building of Hastings College. He was one of the country's gallant sons who served during the Civil War to help preserve the integrity of the Union as a member of Company M, Second Nebraska Cavalry. He was commissioned first lieutenant but as the captain was disabled Mr. Hewett filled his place as first officer of the company.

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 64

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