History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 92

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

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

ents moved to Nebraska, locating in Banner county, then he continued his studies in the frontier schools afforded at that period. The father made a study of crops and grains best suited to the new country and as a result of this was well rewarded by ample crops in the good years, though as other pioneer settlers did, he fought drought and pest, but at last rewarded with marked success. He died No- vember 22, 1913, being survived by his wife until October 11, 1916.

While his father was not among the earliest settlers of our great commonwealth, he came while the country was still but thinly settled and Thomas recalls herding cattle on the prairies and sharing all the hardships, hopes and joys of a youth in a new country. His alert mentality, fine powers of observation and keen intellect make his reminiscenses of those days especially graphic and interesting. As soon as his age permitted the youth became a cowboy, thus gaining invaluable knowledge of cattle, feeding, buying and marketing. Mr. Everett is a self made man as he had no help from anyone in establishing himself in busi- ness. Cowboy life did not appeal greatly to him after reaching maturity and he decided to locate permanently as an agriculturist. Ne- braska was his choice; having known the un- certainty of crops in a semi-arid region he with great foresight determined not to be de- pendent on rainfall so located in Scottsbluff, purchasing land which would be under water rights. He had been frugal, made moncy and this was invested in a large tract of land, one hundred and thirty acres of which he disposed of some time ago. Today he is the manager of some two hundred acres, well irrigated and has become a successful and progressive ex- ponent of live-stock and agricultural enter- prises in Scottsbluff county.

November 22, 1905, Mr. Everett married Miss Anna Shire, a native daughter of the Sunflower state, born in Crawford county, Kansas, where she was reared and educated. Three children have come to make this a hap- py home: Thelma, Ivan and Opal. Mr. Ever- ett is one of the valued member of the com- munity in which he lives, is ever ready to take part in any movement for the development or improvement of its welfare but has never sought public office, as political life in no way appeals to him. In politics he is an In- dependent, while his fraternal affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

EARNEST G. ROUSE, one of the well known and progressive farmers of the Bridge-

port district who has made a success of his business and is today recognized as a sub- stantial agriculturist, was born in St. Clair county, Missouri, March 24, 1871, the son of George Rouse, who lives with his son Earnest, and Nancy Elizabeth ( Smith) Rouse, The father was born and reared in Canada while the mother was a native of Battle coun- ty, Pennsylvania, born in 1844, and died in 1896. George Rouse was a farmer and horse- man; he served four and a half years during the Civil War in Company A, First Iowa Cavalry. At one time Mr. Rouse had his horse shot from under him which crippled him. He owned land in Missouri and later in Iowa but subsequently homesteaded near Litchfield, where he proved up and farmed for a number of years. At one time he was the owner of a livery barn at Litchfield and was one of the well known business men of that town. There were four children in the Rouse family : Eva, the wife of Charles D. Logan, a farmer near Huntly, Montana ; Earnest, of this review; Harry, deceased, and a child that died in infancy. Mrs. Rouse was a member of the Methodist church while Mr. Rouse was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a Republican.

Earnest Rouse was reared in Missouri and Iowa, and received his education in the public schools. He came to Cheyenne county in June, 1900, and took up a quarter section homestead and began to farm. He placed good improvements on his place and later bought more land. Today, Mr. Rouse has eight hundred acres in his ranch, where he carrier on general farming and stock raising, breeding a good grade of animals, especially hogs. His duroc Jerseys have proved very lucrative in years past. Mr. Rouse has set out a fine young orchard on his place which is doing well.

July 5, 1900, Mr. Rouse married Miss Mary A. Stevens, a native of Iowa, the daughter of the Reverend A. Stevens and Demaris (Blum) Stevens. They were pioneer home- steaders of Litchfield, as the father came to central Nebraska as a Methodist missionary. Later he homsteaded near Court House Rock, both are deceased.

Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rouse : Georgia, deceased ; John and Joe, twins, the latter deceased; Laura and Louis, twins, deceased; Mary at home ; Eva and Nel- lie, twins, at home : and Phillip, also at home. Mr. Rouse is a Presbyterian and an Indepen- dent voter.

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

M. A. LONGAN, well known farmer, live- stock man and popular auctioneer of the Broadwater district, who has found irrigated land a profitable investment, was born in Kan- sas, April 5, 1886, the son of John and Sarah (Howe) Longan, to whom were born nine children: M. A. of this review; Iva, the wife of Bert Fraser, of Kansas; Addied, the wife of Earl Dougles, of Garden county ; Frank, liv- ing at Gilman, Kansas; Bessie, who married Oran McNerlan; Everett, living in Garden county ; Bert, also of Garden county ; Ernest, living at home at Galena, Kansas, and Charles, also at home.

The father of the family was a successful farmer in Kansas, where he carried on general farming and did some stock-raising. He be- longs to the Baptist church.

Mr. Longan was reared on his father's farm and obtained his education in the public schools. After finishing his education he be- gan to farm and was so engaged until he came to the Panhandle in 1909; locating in Box Butte county he established himself as a farmer and stockman, meeting with success. Already Mr. Longon had gained an excellent reputation as an auctioneer, a vocation which he he follows along with his farming business. Five years ago the Longan family moved down to the Broadwater section, and Mr. Longan bought a quarter-section of irrigated land which he finds is profitable to farm. He breeds a high grade of stock and has all his extra time filled by his professional work as an auctioneer. He has gained the confidence of the people as a square man of business and is considered one of the most successful auc- tioneers in the Panhandle where he has con- ducted many large sales.

In 1907, Mr. Longan married Miss Maude Reed, of Kansas, and one child was born to them, Marion, who lives with her grandpar- ents in Missouri. Mrs. Longan died April 8, 1911, Mr. Longan married Miss Lula Browning, a native of Iowa. They have had four children: Loraine, Gerald, Olive Judith and one that died in infancy. Mr. Longen takes an active part in civic and public mat- ters of his locality and is a Democrat.

OLMSTEAD BISHEY BROWN .- No better illustration of the value of industry, per- severence and the intelligent management of one's resources can be found than in the ca- reer of Olmstead Brown, now one of the rep- resentative farmers of Sioux county. Driv- ing up the valley of the Platte with little capi- tal but his team, wagon and native ability, he

has made the most of his opportunities and has so directed his activities that today he is in a position of independence, being respected and esteemed as a prosperous and substantial citizen.

Mr. Brown was born in Lake county, Illi- nois, in 1854 ; he was reared in his native state, received excellent educational training in the public schools and after his school days were over studied photography, a business which he followed in Kenosha, Wisconsin, before re- moving to Chicago. Later Mr. Brown went south, locating in Atlanta, Georgia, and from there went to New Orleans, Louisiana. Dur- ing this period he had heard of the fine land to be taken up in the prairie states under the homstead acts and determined to own a farm of his own. Coming to Sidney in 1886, he took a pre-emption near the present locality of the town of Scottsbluff, proved up on the land, placed the required improvements on it and lived there for some time, but the late eighties and early nineties were hard years on the pioneers and as money was scarce, the crops having been ruined by the droughts and insect pests, Mr. Brown turned to his profes- sion for a livelihood and opened a photograph gallery at Oceola, Nebraska, and by this means tided over the period of financial stringency, but he still longed for property of his own and returned again to Scottsbluff county in 1893, driving up the valley to Gering in a wagon, true pioneer style. This time he filed on a homestead of a quarter section in Sioux coun- ty, in the Morrill valley, where he has since resided. Mr. Brown soon had his land under cultivation, made good and permanent im- provements in the way of farm buildings and a comfortable home and began again his busi- ness career of diversified farming and stock- raising. Being a man of intelligence, Mr. Brown gave considerable study to agricul- tural subjects, was willing to take the advice of farm experts, both state and national, and from the first has specialized in high bred stock, as he raises pure blooded Duroc Jersey hogs and Jersey cattle, finding that there is a greater return from these than from grades. Every year he makes large shipments of stock to the packing centers in the eastern part of the state. Mr. Brown is a Republican in poli- tics, has taken a prominent part in the affairs of his district, as he has been school director and also school commissioner, he is progressive in his ideas and has advocated the latest and most modern methods in the schools.

Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Cartha G. Marker, a native of Wiscon-

CHARLES H. SIMMONS AND FAMILY

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

sin, where she was reared and educated. To them ten children were born: seven of whom survive : Frank, deceased : Homer, deceased ; Harlie, at home; Hattie, a school teacher of foreign languages in the high school at Colum- bus; Chester, who has charge of the manage- ment of the home farm; Beatrice, a trained nurse in Seattle, Washington ; Rush D., a mechanician in a garage; Royal, at home and Florence M., who lives in Seattle.

Mr. Brown has lived through many experi- ences in the Panhandle, from sod houses and prairie fires to the present day prosperity and now that the sunset years have come and the shadows are lengthening from the west, he has given up active participation in busi- ness, leaving such affairs to the capable hands of his sons, to whom he has handed the torch or progress, which he with the other early settlers, carried forward for so many years, and today in looking back across more than three decades in Nebraska, can feel with pride that he played no unimportant part in the growth of this favored section.

CHARLES H. SIMMONS. - To facilitate the important work of presenting to her citi- zens a reliable history of Scottsbluff county, it is helpful indeed to be favored with the remi- niscences of such men as Charles H. Simmons, an honored, retired resident of Scottsbluff. An early settler in the county, and one of the first residents and business men of Scottsbluff, for years he was prominent in the development of the town, served a decade as postmaster, and gave encouragement and substantial aid to business, educational and religious enterprises. The first Sunday school in Scottsbluff county was organized in Mr. Simmons's home.

Charles H. Simmons was born March 28, 1858, at Hamilton, in Madison county, New York, being the son of G. M. L. and Mary Ann Jane (Plumbly) Simmons, who were married at Hamilton, New York. Mr. Sim- mons' father was born in Madison County, May 22, 1825, and died in Nebraska, June 6, 1915. He was a son of Otis Simmons, born at Little Compton, Rhode Island, January 13, 1796 and served several months as a soldier during the war of 1812. The mother was born in England, in October, 1832, and resides at Scottsbluff, one of the city's most venerable residents. Her father, Charles H. Plumly, a shoemaker by trade, brought his family to the United States in 1832 and settled au Hamilton, New York. There were three sons in the Simmons family : William L., who died at Buffalo, New York, at the age of thirty-six

years; Otis Thomas, a train inspector for the Santa Fe railroad at Los Angeles, and Charles H., who was born March 28, 1858. The father of the above family was a carpenter by trade. In 1881 he came to Nebraska and settled in Dodge county, purchasing a tract of land on which he lived four years, in 1886 bringing his family to Cheyenne county, where he proved up on a pre-emption claim in one year. The parents returned then to Buffalo, New York, where they resided until 1896, and then came to Scottsbluff county, where they lived two years, removing then to Dodge county. In 1907 they returned to Scottsbluff and here the father died. In many ways he was a re- markable man. When over eighty-five years of age he assisted in the building of three houses. In early manhood he was a strong Whig and later became active in the Republi- can party. He was a man of sterling integrity and a member of the Congregational church.

Charles H. Simmons attended school at Hamilton, New York, then went to work on a farm, afterward employed in an insurance of- fice for two years, following which he was a clerk in a store for four years. Mr. Simmons came to Scottsbluff county in 1886 and located land and has been a permanent resident since 1887. Until 1898 he lived on his. farm but in that year moved to Gering and conducted a grocery store there for two years. In 1900 he came to Scottsbluff and went into the grocery business, moving two log houses from Gering across the river and setting them up in a corn- field on the present site of the town, Mrs. Simmons being the first woman to have her home on this town site. On March 28, 1900, Mr. Simmons was appointed postmaster of Scottsbluff, an office he continuously filled un- til July 1, 1910. For some years Mr. Simmons was also a justice of the peace.

At Hamilton, New York, in 1880, Mr. Sim- mons was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Sheldon, who was born in Madison county, and died at Scottsbluff, Nebraska, March 1, 1918. Her parents were William P. and Mary A. (Beebe) Sheldon, who died on their farm in Madison county, New York. To this mar- riage the following children were born: Will- iam Lafayette, a carpenter-contractor at Scottsbluff ; Otis William, a contractor, with other interests; Charles Sheldon, a sign pain- ter at Scottsbluff; Edith J., the wife of Elmo L. Harrison, a carpenter at Scottsbluff ; Rob- ert G., whose individual sketch appears in this work, who was the first baby under a year old to live in this town ; Adah May and Ida Alice, both of the unmarried daughters reside at

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

home. In politics Mr. Simmons is a Republi- can. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has not been very active in business since retiring as postmaster, and mainly occupies himself look- ing after his Scottsbluff property and invest- ments.

Shortly after locating in Scottsbluff, the late Mrs. Simmons began to concern herself in the building of a church. She was of deeply re- ligious nature and felt a great sense of re- sponsibility in this matter. With Mr. Sim- mons and six others, a few rough boards were secured and a shack built that served for a Presbyterian church for a time, and as long as she lived she continued active in promoting church work. In every relation of life she was an admirable woman and when she was called away the loss was not to her family alone. In 1910 Mr. and Mrs. Simmons made a most enjoyable visit to New York and their friends in Madison county.

EDWARD STEWART .- One of the younger generation of farmers and stockmen carrying on operations in Sioux county, is to- day a representative of what new, young blood can accomplish. He comes of an old, well known and honored family of this county, be- in the son of H. G. and Marie (Clites) Stew- art. Edward Stewart is a native of the Sun- flower state, born in Pawnee county, Kansas in 1878. He accompanied his parents to Ne- braska upon their removal from the south to this section of the Panhandle and received his educational advantages in the common schools of Sioux County, thus laying the foun- dation for his subsequent business career. Af- ter Edward Stewart's school days were over he remained on his father's farm, working for him and at the same time learning the prac- tical side of farm industries and assumed many of the responsibilities until he was twenty-four years old. Mr. Stewart began his life as a cattle man while living at home as he worked for Wallace Merchant, a man of extensive cattle interests in this section. During the win- ter season the men Mr. Merchant employed were engaged in feeding but with warm weath- er they were out on the range branding and attending the various round ups, where the cattle of the wide feeding grounds were gath- ered, for the sorting of the calves and their branding. Mr. Stewart was one of the men who early realized that the day of the open range was over and he determined to settle down and have a farm of his own. With this end in view he filed on a homestead near

Mitchell in 1900, proved up on the eighty acre tract and was able to dispose of it to advan- tage, so sold out and then came to Sioux coun- ty where he filed on five hundred and sixty acres near Sheep creek. On this tract Mr. Stewart made the required improvements, built a comfortable house for his family and when the ground was broken engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising, handling only a good grade of animals. As returns began to come in from the ranch he invested his extra capital in other tracts of land adjoining the homestead until today he is one of the larg- est landholders in the sourthern part of the county, holding five sections and an additional forty acres. The range riding of his early days has given him a fine constitution and Mr. Stewart is a man who can turn out an as- tounding amount of work in the busy season, and personally supervises all the work of the ranch also riding over his wide range. Mr. Stewart is progressive in methods and uses modern machinery to carry on all the farm work and today is accounted one of the best managers of farm property in the valley.

In 1904, Mr. Stewart married Miss Daisy Tvariegek, the daughter of James Tvariegek, of England, where Mrs. Stewart was born. Her parents were early settlers of the Pan- handle both of them passing away in 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have two children: Gordon and Agnes, both at home.

Mr. Stewart is an independent in his po- litical views, voting for the man he believes will best serve the people, whether it be in county, state or national office. His fraternal affiliations are with the Modern Woodmen.

A. J. HAMPTON .- As the final test of every man lies in performance rather than promise, there is full justification in the scrip- tural statement that, "by their works ye shall know them." In this publication the various sketches that are presented offer a gallant record of worthy performance - of achieve- ment that means character and ability. He whose name introduces this paragrph is not only a representative of one of the prominent pioneer families of what is now Scottsbluff county but he has also made for himself a secure place as a man who gained substantial success through his well ordered operations as an agriculturist and stock-grower. He de- veloped one of the excellent farms of the county and since disposing of the same he has lived practically retired, at Gering. In the very prime of life, he is able to enjoy fully the rewards of his former years of earnest

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

endeavor, and he is a citizen whose course has been so directed as to commend him to the fullest measure of popular esteem.

Mr. Hampton was born in Jasper county, Iowa, in 1872, and is a son of Wililam R. and Sarah M. (Deeter) Hampton. William R. Hampton was for some time engaged in the practice of law in Iowa, where also he be- came identified with the development of a coal mine. He encountered an appreciable financial loss in this connection, as water made it impossible to operate the mine successfully. Under these conditions he sought a new field of activity, and in 1886, he came with his family to the present Scottsbluff county, which was then a part of Cheyenne county. He became a pioneer member of the bar of this section of the state and wielded much influence in public affairs here. He built up a good law practice, served one time as county attorney of Banner county, and was prominently iden- tified with the movement which brought about the division of Cheyenne county and the crea- tion of Banner and Scottsbluff counties, be- sides which he filed entry and duly perfected his title to a homestead and a timber claim in Scottsbluff county. He was a supporter of the cause of the Greenback party during the period of its maximum potency, and after its decadence he was found aligned with the Democratic party. Both he and his wife held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Of their fine family of eleven children the subject of the review is the youngest, and con- cerning the other the following brief record may consistently be entered: Theodore is a resident of Hastings, this state; Cornelia lives in Banner county; Caroline and Dora are deceased ; Ida is a resident of Iowa ; Huldah, is deceased; Jennie L. maintains her home in Oklahoma ; Commodore and William live in Scottsbluff county ; and Russell is a resident of Iowa.

A. J. Hampton gained his early education in the public school of Iowa and was fourteen years old when the family home was establish- ed in old Cheyenne county, Nebraska, where he continued his studies in the public schools, besides which he had the advantages of a home of superior culture. In Scottsbluff coun- ty he finally took up a homestead of a hundred and sixty acre, and eventually he here became the owner of considerable property, upon which he made good improvements and which he made the stage of successful agricultural and live-stock enterprise. He sold the prop- erty some years ago, and since that time has lived retired at Gering. His political allegi-

ance is given to the Democratic party and while he is liberal and public-spirited he has had no desire for the honors or emoluments of political office.

February 22, 1901, recorded the marriage of Mr. Hampton to Miss Edna Smith, who was born in the state of Illinois, and the su- preme loss and bereavement came when this devoted wife and mother died in March, 1918. She is survived by four children, all of whom remain with their father: Jefferson, Raymond D., Inda and Audrey.

L. P. WELLS is a. venerable and honored citizen who had the will to dare and to do as a pioneer, his experiences have been wide „and varied, as he has been a resident of Ne- braska for forty years, and in 1900, came to Scottsbluff county, where he purchased half a section of land, as did also his son. There he has since given active attention to the im- provement and general supervision of this val- uable property, comprising section thirteen of township 16 and lying near Gering, the county seat, which is his postoffice address.

Mr. Wells was born in Madison county, New York, in 1848, and is a son of Harrison and Lavina (Stone) Wells, both likewise na- tives of the old Empire state and representa- tives of families established there many gen- erations ago. Harrison Wells was a black- smith by trade and was a specially skillful me- chanic For six years he was chief agent for the celebrated Walter Wood farm machinery in Europe, and he was manager of the con- cern's exhibit which took first premium at the Paris exposition. He eventually came to the west and engaged in farm enterprise in Sac county, Iowa, whence he and his wife later came to Elm Creek. Buffalo county, Nebras- ka, where they passed the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of six chil- dren : George and Estes are deceased; L P., of this review, was the next in order of birth; D. H., resides at Mitchell, Nebraska: H. L. is deceased, and Florence E. became the wife of Munson Brown, both being now deceased.

L. P. Wells acquired his early education in the schools of his native state, where he con- tinued to reside until 1879. He then came to Nebraska and established his: residence at Kearney, where he taught school and also worked as his trade, that of carpenter. Final- ly he took a homestead claim north of Elm Creek, Buffalo county, and later he obtained land on Buffalo creek, that county, where he developed a good farm, upon which he made the best of improvements and engaged in rais-

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

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History of western Nebraska and its people, Vol. III, Part 92

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