History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 78

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

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

stone quarry owned by that corporation at Hot Springs, South Dakota, where he remain- ed a year then returned to Nebraska and took up a homestead of two hundred and forty acres in Dawes county, twenty-five miles southwest of Chadron. He was already a good farmer and studied agricultural subjects with the idea of becoming a still better one and succeeded to a marked degree, due to his diligence, executive ability and hard work. In addition to the home farm, Mr. Smith rented five quarter sections, raised cattle, hogs, and grains. He made a good living and for five years kept, as he expresses it, "bachelor hall." In 1916, having a good offer for his ranch Mr. Smith leased to advantage and came to Antioch to join his brother in the owner- ship and management of a general mercantile establishment, the first store in the town. As- sociated with him was his brother Frederick V. This partnership continued two years when Fenner sold his interest to his brother. About this time he concluded not to return to his ranch and sold his holdings near Chadron and formed a new partnership, this time with his brother Gerald. They built the Potash Garage, a brick and tile structure fifty by a hundred feet which is equipped with every modern convenience for service, repair work and sales. Three skilled mechanics are em- ployed in the repair department, while the brothers themselves handle the sales depart- ment as they are agents for Ford cars and Re- public trucks in the towns of Birsell, Hofland, Antioch, Lake Side and Ellsworth, also the contributing territory thereto. In addition to the above business they handle a fine line of ac- cessories and tires, having a very valuable stock.

On October 20, 1917, Mr. Smith was mar- ried at Chadron, to Miss Alice Jackson, the daughter of Thomas W. and Anna L. ( Haken- son) Jackson, the former a native of Iowa, while the mother was born in Sweden. Two children have been born to this union: Otis Cecil and Aldrich F. St. Clair. The family are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Smith is one of the second generation of pioneers in business in the Panhandle where he has surely "made good," for he has been successful in every line of endeavor in which he has been engaged. He still owns a four hundred acre ranch not far from Chadron which is a money making investment, while he is at the same time enjoying a most gratifying return for the money invested in his business in Antioch.

JESSE W. WILSON, one of the younger generation of successful farmers of the Pan- handle has for many years been familiar with conditions here and has not, therefore, been called upon to change the manner and methods of his business. He has been successful and no further voucher is needed than the fact that he himself owns twenty-five hundred acres of fine land and in connection with his partner, who is his uncle, controls about twenty thousand acres of fine grazing and farm land in this vicinity. Mr. Wilson was, born in Madison county, Iowa, February 2, 1882, the son of James E. and Dora ( Windon) Wilson, the former born in Lucas county, Iowa, while the mother was a native of West Virginia. Jesse was the second in a family of seven children; he attended the district school near his home in Iowa until his twelfth year when the family came to Nebraska, locating on a homestead north of the present site of Antioch, which is located on three of the for- ties owned by Mr. Wilson. Jesse early be- gan to assist his father in the work about the farm, learned the practical business of agri- culture under his father during the summer vacations, while going to school during term time. After completing the local schools he attended the Chadron Academy for two years and as he had decided upon a business career, entered the Broken Bow Business College, to take a special course for three years. Upon finishing his education he accepted a position under his uncle J. O. Wilson in Custer county, remaining there for a year. On November 25, 1905, Mr. Wilson was married at Alliance to Miss Ada E. Harrell, born in Madison county, Iowa, the daughter of Edgar and Etta (Han- cock) Harrell. She was the third in a good old fashioned family of ten children. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Dorothy E., a student in the Antioch schools. After his marriage Mr. Wilson engaged in farming for a year before he and his brother Ray Wilson formed a partnership and open- ed a men's furnishing store in Merna, Ne- braska. Receiving a good offer for the stock and business good-will sometime later, the brothers traded for a farm near Anselmo, then bought another farm on West Table making a fine ranch of the two tracts. Working the land for a year to put it under good cultiva- tion they were offered and accepted a satisfac- tory price for the two farms and the next year were engaged in running a steam plow break- ing land along the North Platte river. The following season Mr. Wilson decided to give

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both himself and his wife a vacation and spent a year in California in travel and pleasure. Mr. Wilson's wife died October 26, 1918, and on September 6, 1919, he was married at Kan- sas City, Missouri to Miss Lavinda Cochran, born in New Canton, Illinois, the daughter of Ellis L. and Ora I. (Shipman) Cochran, both born at New Canton, Illinois. Mrs. Wilson is the younger of two girls in the family. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are Presbyterians On his return to Nebraska, Mr. Wilson operat- ed his father's farm, situated west of Alliance, for about a year but was able to purchase about the kind of land he wanted a mile west of Antioch, and now makes his home there. Since locating in Sheridan county he has be- come one of the heavy stock raisers of this section, as he has been far sighted enough to see that the meat industry of the future is to be in the hands of the small operators now that the day of the open range is over. For some time Mr. Wilson has been associated in this enterprise with his uncle, W. G. Wilson. As stated they own and control over twenty thous- and acres of land in this part of the Panhandle, annually run close to a thousand head of stock and raise the necessary fodder and grain for maintaining this herd and the horses they raise and sell. Yearly they ship by carload lots to the eastern markets and are meeting with assured success. In addition to his ranch interests, Mr. Wilson holds stock in the Pio- neer Potash Company of Antioch, the plant being located on his land and at the present prices and prospects the company will make much money. Mr. Wilson is one of the in- fluential men of his section, is progressive in his ideas and methods, and supports most liberally all movements for the upbuilding of the county and town. He is a member of the Elks club and takes an active part in commun- al and civic affairs.

EDSON GERING. - There are few resi- dents of Gering, Nebraska, better known than Edson Gering, who has witnessed the growth of this city from earliest days to its present im- portance. It was founded by his father, the late Martin Gering, who gave it his name. Ed- son Gering has lived here for over thirty years and has done his part as a good citizen. For sixteen years he was a trusted employe of the United States government as a mail carrier be- tween Gering and Scottsbluff, with the remark- able record of never missing but one train in all that time. Mr. Gering owns valuable real estate at Gering, where he conducts a private cab service.

Edson Gering was born September 20, 1861,

in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, the only son of Martin and Sarah Jane ( Slote) Gering, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in New Jersey, and they were mar- ried in Pennsylvania. In 1879 they moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where Martin Gering first conducted bottling works and later a saloon. In 1882 he moved to Custer county and oper- ated a restaurant at Westerville for a time and then opened a hardware and implement store. In 1888 he came to Scottsbluff county, invested in land, established the town that bears his name and afterward was a hardware dealer and general merchant here for years. He was a man of great business enterprise. He was a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served four years as a soldier and to the day of his death, which occurred in the city of Washing- ton, he bore the marks of his wounds. In pol- itics a Republican, he was always influential in party councils. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Edson Gering obtained his education in the schools of his native state, and afterward learned the ironmolder's trade. In 1887 he came to Scottsbluff county on a prospecting tour, which resulted in his returning as a per- manent resident, with his father, in 1888. Dur- ing early years here he engaged in hauling and freighting, and with reference to pioneer ex- periences in this section, Mr. Gering is a re- pository of knowledge.

In the fall of 1888 Edson Gering was united in marriage to Miss Nellie M. Winner, who was born near Rochester, Minnesota. They have children as follows: Ralph W., a sailor on the United States battleship Yankton, has been in the naval service over. two years and is now with his vessel in Cola Bay, Siberia ; Clara, the wife of Ora Martindale, a farmer in Banner county, Nebraska; Harry, a cattle feeder in Scottsbluff county; Charles, who operates a draying business in Scottsbluff ; Ivis, the wife of Reuben Lobdell, a carpenter at Gering ; Sidney, is in the vulcanizing business at Lusk, Wyoming, and Gladys, who remains with her parents. The family attends the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Gering has followed his father's example. As one of Gering's first citizens he has always been mindful of her best interests and has served usefully as a member of the town board. Both he and wife belong to the Royal Neighbors and he is a member of the Modern Woodmen.

JOSEPH E. WARREN, manager of the American and Western Potash Company and mayor of Antioch, is one of the younger busi- ness men in the Panhandle who has had varied

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

experiences in commercial life and today is well and favorably known in Sheridan coun- ty where his rise in financial circles has been rapid, but demonstrates that when the right man and the right position come together noth- ing can follow but brilliant success. Joseph E. Warren was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 25, 1882, the son of Fritz H. and Mary A. (Cress) Warren, the former a native of Pawnee City, Nebraska, while the mother was born in the city of Milwaukee. Joseph was next to the youngest in a family of five chil- dren born to his parents. His father was manager of the New York Plumbing Company for eight years and also held office as county clerk of Pottawatomie county, Iowa, for two terms. Later he was appointed clerk of the United States District Court for the district including Iowa, serving in that capacity for a term, so that the children were reared in Coun- cil Bluffs, attended the public schools there, laying the foundation for good educations. Joseph graduated from the high school in 1897 ; he had already earned money for him- self by working in the Nonpareil Printing Of- fice helping feed the press, so had tasted the sweets of independence as well as learned what it was to work for his money. Soon after finishing school Mr. Warren came to Nebras- ka, locating with his grandfather, Colonel J. E. West, at Rushville, and together they en- gaged in running the Commercial Hotel until 1899, when Joseph went to Omaha to accept a position as time-keeper, then worked in the stock yards until 1909. That year he returned to Rushville to help his grandfather in the management of a general mercantile establish- ment of the town, which the colonel owned. The next year the young man purchased a con- fectionery store in Rushville which he operated for two years. Being a natural musician Mr. Warren realized the great lack of musical fa- cilities in the town and was the prime mover in the organization of an orchestra which toured the western part of Nebraska, playing for con- certs and dances until 1917. when they came to Antioch to play at a barbecue, which was given when the city was selling off lots in the newly platted town. This was in September, and Warren liked the town so well he decided to stay for a time. He began to work for the American Potash Company as a common la- borer, but true ability will not stay down and at the expiration of a month he was put in charge of the evaporation department. He began to devote time and energy to studying the business and within a short time his sal- ary jumped from twenty-five cents an hour to

more than a hundred and fifty dollars a month. For eight months he had supervision of his department, then in June, 1918, entered the office of the company as time-keeper, but a month later was promoted to the office of bill and cost clerk. One month in this position and he was advanced to chief clerk of the office and when, in the fall of 1919, the Western Potash Company consolidated with the Ameri- can Company, Mr. Warren was offered and accepted the management of the new concern. This but shows what western energy, super- imposed upon natural ability and the deter- mination to get ahead and succeed may ac- complish when there is the will to do so, and a man is not afraid to work. Big concerns are ever on the outlook for men of ability and Mr. Warren was chosen from a large number who could not quite measure up to the job.

On February 11, 1918, Mr. Warren was married in Antioch to Miss Reneta C. Bahler, a native daughter of Nebraska, born in In- dianola. One child has been born to them, ar- riving early in the morning of Armistice day, November 11, 1918, and the parents are very proud of young Joseph Blumer, who is named in honor of F. L. Blumer of Lake Side, who is the general manager of the Hord Potash Com- pany of that village. Mr. Warren has made a host of warm business associations and friends since he located in Sheridan county and it was a fine tribute to his citizenship when he was elected mayor of Antioch in the spring of 1919, with only four dissenting votes cast against him. He is one of the young, energet- ic, progressive business men who are making, not alone writing the history of finance and commerce in this new field in the Panhandle and the country at large. The Warrens are members of the Episcopal church, while Mr. Warren is also a member of the Elks.

JOHN L. JENNY, a native son of Ne- braska who by his western "push," ability and hard work has built up a fine business along two lines in Antioch, is one of the younger generation who has had varied experience in business and financial circles since he entered upon an independent career. Mr. Jenny was born near Columbus, Nebraska, May 8, 1887, the son of John L. and Amelia ( Becker) Jen- ny, both natives of that little mountain country Switzerland, known for its population of thrifty, industrious inhabitants. The father came from his native land to the United States in 1873, and Mrs. Jenny followed the next year. John senior was a farmer by vocation and after landing in America came west, lo-

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cating on a homestead eighteen miles north of Columbus, being one of the earliest settlers of that region. He made good and permanent improvements on his land, erected a comfort- able home for himself and wife, and was one of the hardy, determined pioneers who had great faith in the future of Nebraska and was not discouraged and driven out of the state by the hard, dry years of the late eighties and early nineties but held on, and lived to see his faith in his land justified. John Jr., was the fourth in the family of six children. When he was old enough his parents sent him to the school nearest the farm and there he laid the foundation for his practical education. When he was yet a lad of fifteen John went to Du- buque, Iowa, to live with a relative and learn the machinist trade as well as novelty iron working. He was paid while learning this business, but not much, and of that sum had to pay four dollars a month for his board and laundry. For three years the boy remained in the city tending strictly to his business and had the satisfaction of knowing that he had thoroughly mastered the trade. Following this he went to Stillwater, Minnesota, to work for his uncle August Becker, being engaged in put- ting up saw mills in that locality for two years. During this time Mr. Jenny realized that a knowledge of electricity would be of value to him and to gain this went to Chicago to take a position where he worked on general elec- tric equipment, learning the practical side of that line of business. Feeling that he had a working knowledge of this business he return- ed to the middle west, locating in Omaha, where he was employed in various garages as he could put to good use his knowledge of metal work and electricity at the same time when repairing cars, and also learn the auto- mobile business from the ground up. On June 12, 1911, Mr. Jenny was married at Omaha to Miss Dorothy M. Garlich, born at Mineola, Iowa, the daughter of Fred and Odalite (O1- linwinkl) Garlich, both natives of Germany. Two children have been born of this union: Adaline Emma, eight years old and Myrtle May, just past three. In the spring of 1918, Mr. Jenny come to Antioch to assist in the construction of the Western Potash Company's factory and when it was opened for operation he was given the position of night foreman, which he held until the concern ceased to op- erate in July 1919. He then accepted a posi- tion at the Standard Potash Works, where he remained until November. In the meantime he had kept his eyes open for business oppor- tunities and soon saw that there was a great

demand in the town for an European hotel, so with his wife's hearty approval and co-opera- tion he invested in such an enterprise opening up a first class rooming hotel in the Burr Block where he and his wife have from the first met with great success. On February 1, 1920, he leased a building and opened an up- to-date garage, where he is well equipped for repair work and is the agent for the Sells antomobile, carries a fine line of supplies and accessories, and maintains a good service sta- tion. The Jenny family are members of the German Lutheran church and Mr. Jenny is one of the young men who is becoming recognized as a leading business man of Sheridan county.

SEWARD E. CROSS, formerly county judge, has been a resident of Banner county, Nebraska, for more than thirty-two years and has long been one of the county's representa- tive citizens and most substantial residents. He has been identified with much that has served to develop and build up this section of the state, and his name not only represents financial importance but personal worthiness as well. Judge Cross was born in Jasper coun- ty, Iowa, March 30, 1875, the son of Benjamin D. and Alice (Geist) Cross, the former born in Muskingum county, Ohio, May 29, 1954, and the latter in Jasper county, Iowa. Mrs. Cross died in 1883. The seven children of the family all survive, Seward E. being the eldest. The others are: John, Pearl D., Ethel, Frank S., Mabel and Benjamin D., Jr. Ethel is the wife of Earl Harvey, of Hull, Nebraska ; Mabel is the wife of Earl Callahan, and they live on her father's ranch in Banner county. This ranch, known as the Bay State ranch, is one of the oldest in Banner county. Benjamin D. Cross located there in 1885, and carried on an extensive stock business until recent years when he retired. He has twenty-nine hundred and sixty acres in his ranch, all fine hay land. When he came here Indians were numerous, but he knew how to keep them friendly and never had any particular trouble with them. He now resides near Harrisburg, Nebraska.

Seward E. Cross attended School at New- ton, Iowa, and from there came to Banner county, March 30, 1887. He assisted his fath- er until ready to enter ranch life on his own account. He purchased a section of land for a dollar and eighty cents an acre, and added to this land until he now owns nearly five thousand acres, six hundred in alfalfa. After starting to operate his ranch he found himself with some spare time and was led to engage in a general mercantile business at the same

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time ; in this enterprise he continued for eleven years. In March, 1919, he disposed of his store to Icheberger and Graves, also of Har- risburg, and then retired to his farm to resume its active management. In the meanwhile he had become a leading factor in county politics and in 1913 was elected county judge on the Republican ticket, an office he filled with dig- nity and efficiency. Since then he has served four years as county assessor. Since June 1, 1919, Judge Cross has been one of the stockholders of the Harrisburg State Bank.

On July 25, 1899, the judge was united in marriage with Miss Rachel M. Grubbs, a daughter of August B and Jennie (Axford) Grubbs. Mrs. Cross' father is deceased but her mother survives and lives at Flowerfield, Nebraska. Judge and Mrs. Cross have four children : John, Gladys, Alice and Dale. The family is socially prominent. Judge Cross has seen wonderful changes take place in this section since he first came here and perhaps might modestly deny that his constant good citizenship, his energy and enterprise and his hearty co-operation with others in sustaining progressive movements that had a substantial basis, had any large measure of influence in the county's evident advancement, but his many friends and admirers think otherwise.

ROY D. WILSON. - No medium of infor- mation is so complete as the newspaper, and in modern days no agency is more educating. Consistent readers of newspapers have right at hand, whole libraries of travel and histories of scientific achievement, also have the ripened opinion of men learned in every profession and line of business, and in addition may keep in touch with local happenings that are generally interesting because of familiarity. The com- munity in which live newspapers are support- ed, is a progressive one. Attention may thus be called to the Banner County News, an eight page, six column journal, published at Harris- burg, Nebraska, which is owned and published by Roy D. Wilson, the present county clerk of Banner county, Mrs. Roy D. Wilson, and their son Roger Wilson, a recently returned overseas soldier of the World War.

He was born December 20, 1871, at Tolona, Champaign county, Illinois, a son of Samuel L. and Mary M. (Crane) Wilson. He has an older sister, Estella, who is the wife of Herbert W. Royal, of Rocky Ford, Colorado. The mother, a native of Pennsylvania, died in 1909. The father, who was born in Ohio, was a veteran officer of the Civil War, died in March, 1904. He served five years in the

cavalry regiment during the war, and was a first lieutenant and until the close of his life maintained his membership in the Loyal Leg- ion, an organization of officers of the Civil War. After retiring from military life he taught school, but in 1881 entered the news- paper field and organized, published and edited journals in different sections of the country until the close of his life. He was prominent in the Republican party and for many years was postmaster at Beattie, Kansas, but otherwise accepted no political honors, preferring the congenial, if not altogether remunerative work of the newspaper. He founded a newspaper at Manning, Iowa, was in the newspaper business at Cherokee, Iowa, at Wallace, Axtell and Beattie, Kansas, edited a mining journal at one time at Denver, and in association with his son Roy D., conducted a paper at Ponca, Oklahoma.

Roy D. Wilson attended school in lowa and later in Kansas, but a large part of his educa- tion was secured in his father's printing office, where he became a practical student when only nine years old. His beginning was made in the Monitor office, at Manning, Iowa. He learned the trade in the old time way, long before lino- type machines were introduced, and he says he has set type on all the large daily news- papers from Chicago to the Pacific coast.

After his father's death, Mr. Wilson was in- terested in a publishing business at Vermillion, Kansas, but in 1906 he bought the Observer, at Kimball, Nebraska, which he conducted for eight years. He then started the Pine Bluffs Post, at Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, which he con- tinued for six months, then bought the Review at Potter, Nebraska, and operated it for a few months. In November, 1917, he bought the Banner County News, a paper with a circula- tion of three hundred and fifty copies at that time. The business has been so developed and expanded since then that it has become one of the leading papers of the state. Its main cir- culation is in Banner county, the interests of which are carefully looked after in its columns, its circulation also has been doubled, making it one of the best advertising mediums in the county. Since Mr. Wilson was elected county clerk, the business has been managed by Mrs. Wilson, who is a woman of great newspaper ability herself, and their son, since his return from war service. The office has been thor- oughly renovated and a power cylinder press installed, new type bought, and the latest ideas in producing a first-class newspaper adopted. In its political policy the paper is Republican.

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 78

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