History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 79

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

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CURTIS O. LYDA

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

In October, 1883, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Ella B. Brown, at Axtell, Kansas. She is a daughter of Nathan L. and Johanna (Brown), who reside at Kimball, Ne- braska. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had four children : Harry, who is with the Great West- ern Sugar Company, at Sterling, Colorado; Roger, who has returned from France ; Frank, who is at home ; and Robert, who died in Feb- ruary, 1918.

Mr. Wilson is prominent as a Mason, Knight of Pythiias and Odd Fellow, has been through all local offices and helped to organize two lodges of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Wilson belongs to the Eastern Star, Degree of Honor, and the Rebekahs. In November, 1918, Mr. Wilson was elected county clerk and is one of the county's efficient and popular officials.

CURTIS O. LYDA. - To establish one's self firmly in professional practice in a strange community is no easy task, and a young law- yer sometimes meets with many difficulties, especially when the field he has chosen already has many older and well known practitioners. Fortunately, however, the thoroughly trained collegian of modern schooling has courage as well as education and is apt to enter the race with confidence that is subsequently justified, for court records show that cases are not al- ways won by experience, the vigor and enthusi- asm of youth when combined with legal ability often carrying everything before it. Attention may thus be directed to one of the youngest members of the bar at Gering, Curtis O. Lyda, who has but recently doffed khaki for civilian costume, in 1918 having put aside his profes- sional prospects to enter military service at the call of his country.

Curtis O. Lyda was born at Atlanta, Macon county, Missouri, January 17, 1891. He is the only son of Thomas B. and Sarah ( Williams) Lyda. His father was born in Virginia in 1846 and died in Missouri in 1911, and his mother, born in 1863, died in 1891. They were married in Missouri, having made the journey from Virginia by water. The father of Mr. Lyda followed farming all his life. He was thrice married.

After a thorough course in the public schools, Curtis Owen Lyda entered the Normal school at Spearfish, South Dakota, from which he was graduated in 1912, when he entered the University of Nebraska, securing his A.B. de- gree in 1915, and was graduated from the law department in 1917. He opened an office for the practice of law at Gering in September, 1917, and had made satisfactory progress when a crisis arose in public affairs and loyal young

men all over the country hastened to put aside all personal ambitions in order to enter mili- tary training. Mr. Lyda entered service in July, 1918, and was located at Camp Dodge but was unassigned and was honorably dis- charged in the following December. He has resumed practice at Gering and was appointed city attorney in 1919. He has made many pro- fessional and personal friends in this pleasant city.

In August, 1917, Mr. Lyda was united in marriage to Miss Iva Irene Eastman, who was born in Iowa. Her father, John Eastman, who now resides in South Dakota, is a veteran of the Civil War, having served throughout its length in a New York regiment. On several occasions he was wounded. Mr. and Mrs. Lyda are affiliated members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Gering, and they also take part in the quiet social life of the city, Mrs. Lyda being also greatly interested in Red Cross and other benevolent activities. Mr. Lyda is a Democrat in politics. He continues to be in- terested in his fraternity of his law school days, the Phi Alpha Delta.

LARS OLSON. - Seemingly thirty-four years is but a short period in which to climb from the old-time wage of fifty cents for a day's labor, to the ownership of thousands of acres of well stocked land, and the presidency of one of the important financial institutions of a sovereign state of the Union. In Lars Olson, who is president of the Banner county Bank at Harrisburg, Nebraska, and whose interests cover many additional enterprises, is found one who has achieved such results and has done so with such honorable methods that he finds him- self universally trusted and esteemed by his fellow citizens.

Lars Olson was born in Denmark, March 14, 1857, a son of Ole Hansen and Anna (Larsen) Olson. They were natives of Denmark who came to the United States in 1880, joining their son who had settled three years previously in Cloud county, Kansas. The mother died in Cloud county and in 1898, the father came to Banner county, Nebraska, homesteaded, and lived on his land until the time of his death, which occurred January 10, 1904, before he had succeeded in proving up on his farm. He had been a farmer all his life. Of his twelve children all died in Denmark except the two survivors, Lars and Hans, who live in Kansas.

After attending the common schools, Lars Olson worked as a farmer in Denmark until the spring of 1877, when he came to the United States, in this move showing courage and enter-

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prise for whatever may be the hoped reward, it is not easy for a youth of twenty years to break home ties and seek fortune alone in an alien land. He located in Cloud county, Kan- sas, and lived there for eight years, mainly en- gaged in farm work. He then came to Ban- ner county and on October 10, 1885, home- steaded on section four, where he now lives. He worked hard in order to get a start, during that time spending six months in Wyoming, and through his industry and frugality made rapid headway. Mr. Olson now owns seven thousand acres of fine land. He breeds White Face cattle, is a large raiser of both cattle horses and mules, making a specialty of Shire horses. His finely improved land has been de- veloped from virgin prairie and Mr. Olson de- voted close attention to his farm for many years. When he came here first the Bay State Cattle Company had over ninety thousand head ranging from Pumpkin creek to Kimball, as this section at that time was a great cow coun- try.

On April 2, 1877, in Denmark, Mr. Olson was united in marriage with Miss Marie Han- sen, who was born in Denmark and her par- ents, Christian and Marian Hansen, always lived there. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have six children: Christen, who married Netta Deck- er : Oloff, who remains with his father; Arthur, who married Myrtle Bixby; Al- bert, who married Doris Spize; Annie, who is the wife of Emil Johnson ; and Sadie, who is the wife of John Nelson, all of whom live in Banner county except the youngest daughter, who resides at Omaha.

For a number of years Mr. Olson has been identified with banking interests in Banner county and since 1910, has been president of the Banner County Bank at Harrisburg, which undoubtedly has prospered through his careful, conservative policies. He is a stockholder in the American State Bank at Kimball. For three years. he served on the board of county commissioners and at present is president of the board of regents of the county high school. Mr. Olson is also chairman of the Farmers Union.

MILTON E. SHAFTO, county judge of Banner county, Nebraska, a high office that he has filled continuously with the exception of one term, for twelve years, is an honor to the bench and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. Judge Shafto came into the Wild Horseshoe valley in the summer of 1886, and few of the old pio-

neers he found there are yet living. He was born in Clinton county, Iowa, December 23, 1859, the son of Thomas and Anna B. (For- man) Shafto, both of whom were born in Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, the mother in De- cember, 1822. The father died in 1904, but the venerable mother survives and is tenderly cared for by Judge Shafto and his family. Of her two children he alone remains. She may be the most aged lady in Banner county and still takes an active interest in home affairs and in the Congregational church, to which she has belonged since girlhood. Judge Shaf- to's parents came to Banner county in 1892, and the father secured a homestead on section three and proved up. In New Jersey he was a contractor and builder. While never active in the political field, he was a staunch Republican.

Milton E. Shafto attended the public schools and also a private school in Iowa. He started to provide for his future by learning the jewel- er's trade and worked through a short appren- ticeship but never engaged in the business. In June, 1886, he came to what is now Banner county and pre-empted land and later home- steaded on section three, township nineteen, range fifty-five, and was living on his ranch at the time Harrisburg was established as the county seat and soon became interested in poli- tics and public affairs and has been more or less identified with county development ever since. In 1896, he was elected county clerk and served continuously until 1900, and in 1907, was elected to the county bench. Judge Shafto in this position and in others of pub- licity and responsibility, has proved worthy of the confidence reposed in him. He has been prominent in the journalistic field, from 1908 to 1917. being editor, proprietor and publisher of the Banner County News. In addition to performing his judicial duties, Judge Shafto includes abstracting.

On April 16, 1896, Judge Shafto was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Dillon, at Cozad, Dawson county, Nebraska. Mrs. Shafto is a daughter of former well known residents of Dawson county, George D. and Lucy Dillon. Judge and Mrs. Shafto have two sons: Clar- ence and Paul, both of whom reside at home. Mrs. Shafto is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. For over thirty years the Judge has been on the school board and is re- gent of the county high school. During the World War he was on the county war board and served as county food administrator from the time of appointment until September, 1918, when the pressure of other work made his

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resignation necessary. He has likewise been interested and useful in the progressive move- ments that have been of substantial advantage to Banner county.

ALFRED G. DOWNER, who for thirty years was one of Banner county's well known and highly esteemed residents, was a native of Il- linois, born at Aurora, November 13, 1840, and died on his homestead near Harrisburg, Ne- braska, August 5, 1919, aged seventy-eight years. He was a worthy man in every rela- tion of life and his death removed from Ban- ner county not only a pioneer, but one whose efforts had always been given to advancing the best interests of the county, and whose quiet influence lent itself to the maintenance of law and order. The honorable record of such a life is a precious legacy to his descend- ants.

Alfred Galen Downer was reared on the old Downer homestead in Kane county, Illi- 'nois, and his schooling was obtained in the same county, where a brother, Abel Downer, yet lives. He entered into business as a meat dealer, in the city of Aurora, and continued there until 1899. In that year he came with his family to Nebraska and bought at first a relin- quishment claim, to which, as years passed, he added until at the time of death, he owned more than two thousand acres. For his first quarter section of land, which had twenty-five acres broken and buildings standing, he paid three hundred dollars, another section without improvements, he secured for a hundred and fifty dollars, and for the remaining section and a half, without improvements, he paid fifteen hundred dollars. He was careful about his in- vestments as he was in relation to all his under- takings. About 1890, he embarked in a general mercantile business at Harrisburg, but contin- ued the operation of his farm adjacent to the city. For several years he was alone and then admitted J. M. Wilson as a partner, and the firm of Downer & Wilson continued in the business field until 1907, when Mr. Downer sold his interest to Mr. Wilson and retired, during the rest of his life looking after his ranch. He was a Republican in politics but never sought public office, serving, however, for several terms when elected, as a justice of the peace.

On July 11, 1881, in Illinois, Mr. Downer married Welthy Walker, who died June 29, 1918. Five children survive them, as follows : Mamie, who is the wife of John A. Brewer of Chicago, Illinois; Weltha L., who lives at

home ; Stella, who is the wife of J. N. Wyatt, has one child, Helen Marie, and they live at Elkhorn, Nebraska; Herbert A., who is a resi- dent of East Harrisburg, married Mary Schaf- fer and they have three children ; Marguerite E., Marine L., and Allerton G .; and Winfred, who lives on the Downer homestead, married Florence Wynne, and they have two children, Robert W. and Helen Eldora.

A man of generous instincts and kind and helpful to all who appealed to his sympathy, Mr. Downer left many to mourn his loss, but perhaps none will miss him more than his be- loved grandchildren to whom he was particu- larly devoted. He rejoiced to have his family gather round him in the old homestead and he was ever contented when he believed them hap- py. For many years he had been a supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church at Harris- burg, and there his funeral was held, Rev. C. K. Shackleford of Minatare conducting the services, and he was laid to rest by the side of his wife, in the beautiful cemetery at Harris- burg, to which many of his pioneer neighbors and friends had preceded him.

ELMER S. ZORN .- Perhaps Banner coun- ty has few better known citizens than Elmer Scott Zorn, a leading business man of Harris- burg, for he has been identified with the de- velopment of this section almost continuously since he came here thirty-two years ago. Mr. Zorn was born in Logan county, Ohio, Janu- ary 14, 1868, the son of Joseph and Amy J. (Richards) Zorn, the former was born in Vir- ginia, March 29, 1827, and the latter July 10, 1829. It was in the spring of 1870, that they left Ohio, in a prairie schooner, on the long overland journey to Nebraska. Fortunately they carried with them enough necessities to last them for five months, for it took them that length of time to cover the distance. They traveled over land where the roads were mere wagon tracks at times and where unbridged rivers could only be crossed by ferry, but finally reached Fremont safely and the father invested in land in Dodge county. He operated his farm and raised some stock but as soon as he considered Elmer old and capable enough, turned the farm industries over to the latter and went into the business of selling fruit trees for the Stephens Nursery Company of North Bend, Nebraska, in which he continued for five years. He decided then to make another change, moving to Kimball on April 11, 1887, but lived there only until May 3, following, coming then to land in Banner county which he

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had pre-empted on sections 34-17-58. It was an unkind welcome that the elements gave the Zorn family, for one of the justly cele- brated Nebraska blizzards set in that very day. Before they could reach their claim the storm compelled them to seek shelter, and for three days of its continuance, four horses be- sides the family of twelve persons, existed in a little shack eight by ten feet in dimensions. When the Zorns finally reached their claim they found no improvements had been made and they had to live temporarily in a tent. Money was scarce and conditions were very hard. Elmer S. Zorn remembers how he supplied the larder with meat during the first two years by hunting antelope. The family lived on the place until 1900, but the father never proved up, and in that year moved to Harrisburg where he bought a livery barn, which he conducted until 1912, when illness fell upon him and he disposed of it to Martin- dale and Lewis, and his death followed in May, 1913. He had been active to some ex- tent in Republican politics and had served at times in local offices. The mother of Mr. Zorn survived until October, 1914. They had five children and besides Elmer Scott, the following survive: John, who lives at North Bend, Nebraska; William H., who is a resi- dent of Harrisburg ; and Belle, who is the wife of Henry Thomas, of Bushnell, Nebraska. The oldest child, Zora, now deceased, was the wife of H. L. Braucht. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

In boyhood Elmer S. Zorn attended school at Fremont and gave his father assistance as far as he was able. He accompanied his par- ents to Banner county and well remembers some of the discouraging conditions that faced settlers at that time. The lack of water for stock and even home use was, at times so acute that the men of the family were forced to se- cure it even when they had to travel a dis- tance of fourteen miles as was the case with the Zorns. On one such trip, when within three miles of home, with their brimming bar- rels, Mr. Zorn and his father were over taken by such a downfall of rain combined with hail, that the wagon sunk so deep in the loos- ened ground that the horses could not move it, but, as Mr. Zorn philosophically remarks, there was no necessity to haul water any far- ther.

In 1890, Mr. Zorn went to work in Chey- enne, Wyoming, for Governor Warren and remained there for two years and then came back to Banner county where he has resided

ever since. For two years he conducted a retail furniture store and was also in the un- dertaking business and subsequently for sev- eral years was county coroner. He then em- barked in a general mercantile business at Harrisburg, which the conducted until Janu- ary 1, 1917, when he went into the garage busi- ness and since then has enlarged his business, at the present time operating a grocery and a very popular feature in this connection is a first class lunch counter. In these enterprises he has the hearty and competent assistance of his son and daughter.

On October 19, 1901, Mr. Zorn was united in marriage with Miss Ella Wynn, a daughter of John and Winnifred (Marn) Wynn, na- tives of Ireland, who were early settlers in Banner county, west of Harrisburg. In 1917, they removed from their homestead to Pine Bluffs. Mr. and Mrs. Zorn have two chil- dren: Raymond and Georgia. In 1901, Mr. Zorn served as deputy county clerk, and in many ways, officially and otherwise, has become known to the people of Banner county, by whom he is universally esteemed.

HARVEY L. WYATT, who is a progress- ive farmer and ranchman of Banner county, has lived here ever since he was five years old and resides on the place he filed on as a home- stead when he started out for himself. He is a member of one of the substantial families of the county. He was born in Wayne coun- ty, Iowa, January 5, 1884, the son of William and Susan (Duncan) Wyatt, the latter of whom was born in Iowa and resides at Harris- burg, Nebraska. The father of Mr. Wyatt died in 1896. Of their eight children, Harvey L. was the fifth in order of birth, the others being as follows: John, who lives at Elkhorn, Nebraska ; Clyde, who lives in the eastern part of Banner county; Essie, who is the wife of Charles Dick, living in the state of Washing- ton; Edna, who is the wife of Harvey Har- mon, living at Portland, Oregon ; Calvin, who lives in Banner county ; Jessie, who is the wife of Pearl Cross of Harrisburg; and Alice, who is the wife of Owen Brodhead, living near Harrisburg. Prior to coming to Banner county in 1889, Mr. Wyatt's father was a farmer in Iowa. After reaching here he pre-empted and secured a tree claim and lived on that land un- til 1904, then sold and bought six hundred and forty acres of and one mile northeast of Har- risburg and also leased a school section. He - continued in the cattle and stock business until the close of his life. The Wyatts reached

EUGENE T. WESTERVELT

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

this section at a time when conditions were particularly hard, little money being in circula- tion because of crop failures from dry weath- er. William Wyatt was an industrious and resourceful man and came successfully through that time of hardship, but only by hard work and the exercise of great frugality. During this early time, for two years he accepted and completed hay contracts on the Hereford ranch, at Cheyenne, Wyoming, and each year put up about three hundred tons of hay. In politics he was a Democrat, and he served six years on the board of county commissioners. For many years he was connected with the orders of Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America.

Harvey L. Wyatt obtained his education in the public schools and gave his father assist- ance until he was eighteen years of age. He then started out for himsef and has greatly prospered. At the present time he owns twenty-six hundred and eighty acres of land, four hundred of which he devotes to diversi- fied farming, the rest being ranch land. He raises Hereford cattle, shipping from fifty to sixty head annually, and breeds Shire horses and Poland-China hogs. Mr. Wyatt carries on his farm industries according to modern methods and his well improved farm reflects credit upon this section of Banner county.

On January 22, 1908, Mr. Wyatt was united in marriage with Miss Bessie Wartman, the daughter of Price P. and Minnie (Kelty) Wartman, who are the parents of ten children, eight of whom live in Morrill county, and Mrs. Wyatt and her sister Grace in Banner county. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have three children : Leo, Norma and Susan. While Mr. Wyatt votes the Democratic ticket, he has never felt that good citizenship required his acceptance of tendered local office and he gives his support to measures that seem to him beneficial with- out any desire for political reward. Mr. Wyatt is looked upon as a representative and trustworthy citizen of Banner county.

EUGENE T. WESTERVELT, founder, editor. and proprietor of the Republican at Scottsbluff, has been a molder of public opinion and a vigorous, constructive citizen for many years. He has served effectively in numerous public capacities. In the close confidence of the Republican party, he has been an influential disseminator of its principles, but his loyalty and patriotism have not been bound by party ties at any time in his career. During the World War he stood bravely by his beliefs and parted with three stalwart sons to fight in an-

other land for human liberty. Mr. Westervelt is the pioneer builder of Scottsbluff, in the sense that he erected the first permanent home here in April, 1900, at the corner of Sixteenth street and Second avenue, where his present fine residence now stands.

Eugene T. Westervelt was born at Green- field. Franklin county, Massachusetts, January 16. 1865. His parents were James H. and Loraina (Day) Westervelt, the former of whom was born January 6, 1840, at Patterson, New Jersey, and the latter at Stamford. Ver- mont, May 4, 1848. They were married in Vermont, and five children were born to them. Of the four survivors Eugene T. is the eldest, the others being James P., a merchant at Ger- ing : Claude H., a general blacksmith at Scotts- bluff, and Mrs. Parvin Gilbert, who resides at Scottsbluff. The parents of the above family were members of the Baptist church. The mother died in 1912 and the father in 1908. He served three years as a member of the Six- ty-ninth New York infantry in the Civil War. In 1868 James Westervelt moved with his fam- ily to Michigan, where he followed the trade of a general blacksmith, and in 1877 came on to Nebraska. He homesteaded in Custer county, on the site of the present town of Westerville. and from there came to Scottsbluff county to take up a claim on which he proved up. He belonged to one of the first Masonic lodges established here.

Eugene T. Westervelt attended school in Custer county and his first important work in the newspaper line was the operation for one and a half years of the Westeren Echo, at Westerville. After leaving the newspaper office he engaged in farming for eight years, retiring then to assume the duties of sheriff of Scottsbluff county, to which office he was elected in 1896, serving until 1900. Mr. Wes- tervelt then returned to the newspaper field, on May 4, 1900, starting the publication of the Republican, which was issued first as a weekly but later, to satisfy the public demand, was made a semi-weekly. The paper has a wide distribution, with an actual subscription list of 1800. Additionally, Mr. Westervelt operates a large job printing office. The political com- plexion of the Republican is as its name indi- cates. Mr. Westervelt has long been accept- able in all party councils. He served many years as county central committeeman and at present is state central committeeman. During the administration of President Taft, he was postmaster of Scottsbluff.

In 1886 Mr. Westervelt was united in mar- riage with Miss Laura B. Amos, who was born at Carlton, Ohio, and they have children as

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follows : James William, who is associated with A. J. Shumway in the abstract business; Murial, who resides at home ; John Mckinley, who assists his father in the newspaper busi- ness, received military training at Camp Dodge from June to August, 1918, then, as a member of Battery A, Eighty-eighth Division, Three Hundred Thirty-eighth Field Artillery accom- panied the American Expeditionary Forces to France, returned to his home in January, 1919; Lawrence Eugene, who is still in the service of the United States, enlisted with the Naval Re- serves, spent four months at Great Lakes and three months at the Minneapolis naval training school, and was then assigned to duty on the transport Arizona ; Mendel Eli, who enlisted in October, 1918, in the United States Marine Corps, spent three months in training at Mare Island, was discharged in February, 1919, and now is employed on government building works north of Mitchell, Nebraska, and Cath- erine, who attends school. Mrs. Westervelt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but from boyhood Mr. Westervelt has belonged to the Baptist church. Fraternally he is a Ma- son, a Woodman, and a Knight of Pythias and was the first chancellor commander of Han- nibal lodge No. 40, Scottsbluff.

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 79

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