USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume II > Part 14
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Joseph V. Travis was reared under the parental roof and received his edu- cation in the public schools. When eighteen years of age he began his inde- pendent career and went to Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand for a time, after which he engaged in farming on his own account in Fulton county for two years. Subsequently he followed agricultural pursuits in McDonough county for three years but in 1874 he removed to Saunders county, Nebraska, where he operated rented land for two years. At the expiration of that period he returned to Illinois but after remaining there for one season went to Missouri, whence in 1878 he came to Nebraska. He lived in Ashland until 1889, when he went to Lincoln, Lancaster county, where he engaged in the well drilling business, owning a well drilling machine. He was fully equipped for doing rapid and high class work and was given many contracts, meeting with gratifying success in that business. In April, 1905, feeling that he had accumulated a competence. he retired and purchased five acres of land adjoining the town of Bethany, on which he has since lived. He has made many improvements upon the place and takes justifiable pride in keeping everything in excellent condition.
Mr. Travis was married on the 26th of September, 1867, to Miss Laura Beckelhymer, a daughter of Alexander and Sarah ( Brown) Beckelhymer. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania but removed to Illinois and there the father farmed until called by death in 1899, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty years, as his natal year was 1819. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Travis have three children : Leonidas, who was born November 23, (868; Charles, who was born May+ 23, 1871, and is living in
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Bethany; and Clarissa P., who was born June 12, 1878, and is now the wife of W. F. Lintt of University Place.
Mr. Travis is an adherent of the democratic party and supports its candi- dates at the polls. He served as police judge, as justice of the peace and as constable at Ashland, Nebraska, and made an excellent record as an official. Hle is identified with the Christian church and can be depended upon to further move- ments seeking the moral advancement of his community. Ile possesses many excellent qualities and is held in high esteem wherever known and especially where best known.
WILMER BEECHER COMSTOCK.
Wilmer Beecher Comstock is engaged in the practice of law in Lincoln, where he has resided since 1887. He was born at White Pigeon, Michigan, October 20, 1867, and was therefore a young man of twenty years when he came to the capital. His father, Richard Emerson Comstock, also a lawyer by profession, was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1830, a son of Jonathan and Rhoda ( Emerson ) Comstock, the latter a member of the Emerson family to which Ralph Waldo Emerson, New England's most distinguished philosopher, belonged. One of her brothers became an eminent lawyer of New York, and served as United States minister to England during President Buchanan's administration. Richard Emerson Comstock was twice married, the mother of Wilmer B. Comstock being his second wife. She bore the maiden name of Jennie Haviland, and was born near Adrian, Michigan, September 1, 1840, a daughter of Charles Haviland. When their son Wilmer was ten years of age the parents removed with their family to Adair county, Iowa, where they settled on a farm which Mr. Comstock continued to develop and cultivate from 1878 until 1887. In that year he removed to Cheyenne county, Kansas, and studied law in the town of St. Francis. He was then admitted to the bar and practiced law there for several years, but his last years were passed in Lincoln, where he died in 1910. His wife survived him until 1914 and the remains of both were interred in the Wyuka cemetery. W. B. Comstock has two full brothers : Allen Wells, now a lawyer of Ponca, Oklahoma ; and Charles Emerson, residing in Lincoln. W. B. Comstock is the youngest of the three. He has a half sister, Mrs. Idella Jones, formerly of Lincoln, but now of Cali- fornia. His mother was a member of the Haviland family of France, that has become famous as manufacturers of the Haviland china.
From the age of eleven years Wilmer B. Comstock spent his youth upon a farm in Adair county, Fowa, and at eighteen took up the profession of teach- ing, which he followed for some time in Adair county. He had acquired a good common school education and he also attended the high school at Fontanelle, Iowa. In 1886 he went to St. Francis, Kansas, where his elder brother, Allen WV., was then practicing law. For six months he studied law in his brother's office, and in October, 1887, came to Lincoln, where he continued his law studies until November He has
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since practiced in Lincoln and a liberal clientage is accorded him, his name figuring in connection with much important litigation.
On the 4th of March, 1901, Mr. Comstock was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Benton Spurck, of Lincoln, the daughter of the late Adam E. Spurck. Mrs. Comstock is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and at the time of her marriage was a teacher in the Lincoln public schools. By her marriage she has become the mother of five children, two sons and three daughters, namely : Ruth, John, Edison, Mary and Louise.
Mr. Comstock has always supported the republican party since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise and for four years he was police judge and for two years a member of the city council of Lincoln. While in the latter office he took the initiative in the investigation of all the city officials of Lincoln and served as chairman of the investigating committee which had been created according to his resolution. He is a member of the Lincoln and State Bar Associations and of the Lincoln Commercial Club. Fraternally he is an Elk and in religious faith a Unitarian. In a word, he is a broad-minded man and progressive citizen, interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the community and the commonwealth. He gives active aid and cooperation to many plans for the public good and he stands at all times for those things which feature largely in bringing about higher standards of civic con- duct and civic progress.
CHARLES M. KNOWLTON.
Charles M. Knowlton, of College View, who is one of the best known stock dealers in Lancaster county, was born on the 12th of May, 1855, in Connecticut. His parents, William J. and Anna (Kinney) Knowlton, were born respectively in Maine and in Scotland. In his youth the father sailed before the mast and at the time of the Mexican war he served in the army of the United States, proving a valiant and loyal soldier. In 1858 he removed westward, settling at Cowper, Johnson county, Iowa. He purchased land but after operating it for two years had to give it up as the title was not good. He then removed to the vicinity of Iowa City and for ten years engaged in farming there but in 1867 decided to try his fortune still farther west and drove across the country to Lancaster county, Nebraska. He rented a farm, which he operated for a number of years, but at length, having accumulated a competence, he put aside the cares of active life and removed to Lincoln, where he lived in honorable retirement until his death on the 17th of December, 1897, when he was seventy-five years old. His wife sur- vived until the 2d of May, 1905, and reached the advanced age of eighty-four years.
Charles M. Knowlton was reared and educated in Johnson county, Iowa, and Lancaster county, Nebraska. He remained with his parents, giving them the benefit of his labors until he was twenty-five years of age, when he began farming on his own account. After renting land for two years he purchased eighty acres in Grant township from the Burlington & Missouri Railroad and for three years he concentrated his energies upon the development and improvement of that
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CHARLES M. KNOWLTON AND FAMILY
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place. He then sold to advantage and after renting for two years bought eighty acres in Lancaster township which was already well improved. For twenty years he resided upon that farm and brought the land to a still higher state of culti- vation and added various improvements, making his farm one of the most valuable in his locality. At the end of that time he came to College View and engaged in the livery business, with which he was connected for five years and ten months. Sub- sequently he became identified with general merchandising and for a year and a half operated a store in College View. He then disposed of that enterprise and has since engaged in the buying and shipping of horses, cattle and hogs. He is an excellent judge of stock, is widely acquainted throughout the county and understands how to market stock to the best advantage and has found his present business very profitable. He owns a fine modern home at the corner of Seventh and L streets, holds title to four acres in Burnham's addition to Lincoln and also owns a well improved ranch of eight hundred acres in Cherry county, Ne- braska. Ile at one time held title to twenty-five acres of land inside the corpora- tion limits of College View but has since disposed of that property.
Mr. Knowlton was married on the 28th of October, 1880, to Miss Anna Schenk, a daughter of Fred and Mary A. ( Mckeown) Schenk, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ireland. The father emigrated to the United States many years ago and located at Philadelphia, where he passed away in 1865 at the early age of twenty-eight years. His wife survived him for a long period, dying on the 17th of February, 1893, when sixty-three years old. Mrs. Knowlton was born in Philadelphia on the 27th of December. 1858. By her marriage she has become the mother of a daughter, Gertrude, now the wife of Fred R. Stanley. who is engaged in the plumbing and heating business at Lincoln. On the 11th of June, 1916, a daughter, Alyse Mildred, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley.
The republican party has a stalwart supporter in Mr. Knowlton, who does all in his power to secure its success at the polls. Fraternally he is well known. belonging to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Neighbors, the Masonic order and the Eastern Star. Ile is loyal in friendship, public-spirited in matters of citizenship, and all who have been brought in contact with him hokl him in high esteem.
JOHN E. COOK.
For twenty-two years John E. Cook was a resident of Lincoln. During that period he lived retired, although previously he had been active in business as both a machinist and farmer. A native son of New England, he was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, May 6, 1838. a son of William and Alice Cook, who were natives of New York. The father was a teamster and spent the greater part of his life in Boston, where he was also a member of the police force for thirty years. He died in 1889, having long survived his wife, who passed away in 1851.
John E. Cook was reared and educated in Roxbury. Massachusetts, and at the age of twenty-three years enlisted for servicelash menhet @ the Thirteenth Massachusetts Infantry, with which he remained for three years, or during
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the war. For three days he was incarcerated in Libby prison and he experi- enced all of the different phases of military life, including the long, hard marches and hotly contested campaigns.
With the close of his military service, Mr. Cook returned to Boston, where he worked at the machinist's trade, which he had learned previous to the time when he went to the front. He was thus employed in the east until 1875. when he came to Nebraska, settling in Butler county, where he engaged in work as a machinist but later secured a homestead in Knox county and was thus identi- fied with farming until 1889. In that year he came to Lincoln and retired, spending his remaining days in rest from labor, the competence which he had acquired in his former business activity supplying him with all the comforts of life.
In December, 1875, Mr. Cook was united in marriage to Miss Almira M. Marsh, a daughter of Edward and Caroline ( Beach) Marsh, who were natives of Ohio and New York respectively. The father removed with his family to Illinois and engaged in farming near Freeport until 1874, when he came to Nebraska, purchasing land in Butler county. His remaining days were given to the cultivation of that tract and thereon he passed away in 1885, while his wife died in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Cook were the parents of three children : Winifred, at home; Ralph, residing in Lincoln; and Juanita, who is teaching school in Valley, Nebraska. The death of the husband and father occurred Jannary 10, 1911. He was a loyal member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political belief was that of the republican party and in religious faith he was a Methodist. His life was actuated by high and honorable principles and in every relation he was loyal to duty and appreciative of the rights of his fellowmen.
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F. E. GILLEN.
F. E. Gillen is proprietor of the Gillen & Boney Manufacturing Company. makers of all kinds of confectionery, in Lincoln, and, moreover, he has the distinction of being the only candy manufacturer west of the Mississippi river on the executive board of the National Confectioners' Association. He was born in South Bend. Indiana, January 18, 1869. and is a son of Edward and Ann (Smith) Gillen, both of whom have passed away. The father was a native of New York, while the mother was born in Ireland. They became residents, however, of South Bend, Indiana, and it was there that F. E. Gillen was born and reared. Hle spent a year in work as a farm hand in north- western Minnesota, but in his native city he learned the candy maker's trade and since 1889 has been identified with that line of business in Nebraska. He first located at Omaha, where he worked at his trade until 1893, when he came to Lincoln and engaged in the manufacture of candy for two years, and then established a factory of his own, organizing the Gillen & Boney Manufac- turing Company, Mr. Boney being associated with him as a partner until 1912. since which time /Mr.[ Gillen/has been /sole proprietor. In 1906 he erected a three story brick factory. Something of the substantial growth of his business
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is indicated in the fact that he now has nine salesmen on the road, while from seventy-five to one hundred people are employed in the factory. The manit- factured product finds a ready sale upon the market because of its excellence and also by reason of the straightforward business methods and reasonable prices of the firm. In addition to his interests along that line Mr. Gillen is vice president of the German Building & Loan Association and in all business affairs he displays sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise.
In early manhood Mr. Gillen was united in marriage to Miss Emma A. Shindel, a native of Indiana, by whom he has three sons, namely : Frank and Ronald, who are associated with their father in business; and Irven, a law student in the University of Nebraska.
Fraternally Mr. Gillen is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World, and he is also a life member of the Commercial Club. For more than twenty years he has been recognized as one of Lincoln's leading business men and a most prominent representative of its manufacturing interests. Ile enjoys and merits the esteem and goodwill of all with whom he has been brought in contact and his life demonstrates what can be accomplished when determination and ambition lead the way.
THERON A. HOGUE.
During the last twenty-three years of his life Theron A. Hogue was a resident of Lincoln, but he had made his home in Nebraska from 1882. He was born in Butler Center, Indiana, June 23, 1857, a son of Henry and Effa Hogue, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation and upon removing westward settled in Dekalb county. Indiana, where he purchased a tract of wild land from which he cleared the timber and then developed and improved a farm, continuing its cultivation throughout his remaining days, his life's labors being ended in 1868. His widow still survives and is now living in Auburn, Indiana, at the advanced age of ninety years.
Theron A. Hogue was reared in his native state and engaged in farming on the old homestead until he went upon the road as a member of an opera com- pany, devoting three years to the profession. In 1882 he arrived in Nebraska, settling in Kearney, Buffalo county, and there he engaged in the lumber busi- ness, conducting a yard at that point for four years. He next became a resident of Edgar, Nebraska, where he carried on a lumber business for two years, after which he removed to Dorchester, Nebraska, continuing in the lumber business at that place until 1890. Seeking a still broader field of labor. he removed to Lincoln, where for a time he continued in the lumber business and afterward turned his attention to the milling business. Still later he accepted a position with the gas company and was so occupied to the time of his death.
On the 17th of October. 1883. Mr. Hogue was married to Miss Ella M. Shoaff, a daughter of Peter and Sarah ( Tyner) Shoaff, who were natives of Indiana. The father wasa chargese maker by frade but fergard turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and is still operating a farmi in Dekalb county.
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Indiana, where his wife passed away in 1867. To Mr. and Mrs. Hogue were born four children, as follows: Florence M., whose birth occurred March 30, 1885, and who is the wife of Orville Young, of Springfield, Missouri; Grace J., who was born February 15, 1887, and died on the 20th of November, 1914; Mabel C., born November 29, 1888, who is employed as a stenographer by the Pioneer Insurance Company at No. 1411 O street in Lincoln; and Earl S., who was born April 2, 1891, and is employed as billing clerk by the J. I. Case Company of Lincoln. Mr. Ilogue erected a nice residence at No. 3220 W street, where the family still reside. Mrs. Hogue is agent for the Missouri Pacific Railway Company at the Pucks Grove station of Lincoln, having occu- pied that position for twenty-three years.
Mr. Hogue departed this life October 20, 1913. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and gave his political allegiance to the repub- lican party. His religious faith was that of the Methodist church and through- out his entire life he endeavored to follow the golden rule. He possessed notable musical talent and his skill in that direction made him very popular in musical circles. He could play any kind of a musical instrument and he contributed to the public enjoyment upon many a social occasion. His daughter Grace possessed marked artistic talent in another direction, doing fine work in oil and china painting. Another daughter, Mabel, was formerly a successful school teacher of Lancaster county and is now proving of notable worth in business circles, being connected with the Pioneer Insurance Company.
THEODORE JACOBS.
Theodore Jacobs, who since 1903 has been one of Havelock's successful business men, carrying a complete line of clothing, shoes and men's furnishing goods, was born in Chicago, September 9, 1871, a son of J. W. and Josena (Brahren) Jacobs, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was a sailor on the ocean for twenty-five years and later settled in Chicago, while subsequently he became a resident of Staplehurst, Nebraska, where his death occurred.
Theodore Jacobs had somewhat limited educational opportunities. His youth- ful days were spent in Chicago, in Michigan and in Nebraska and when but a boy in years he worked around the telegraph office at Staplehurst. It was in this knocking up against the world that he obtained much of his knowledge of life, learning many valuable lessons in the school of experience. After starting out in the business world he clerked in Lincoln for twelve years for the firm of Fred Schmidt & Brother and afterward came to Havelock, where in 1903 he purchased a small stock of goods. He has since engaged in business on his own account and in 1911 removed to his present location at No. 1422 O street. He has gradually increased his stock to meet the growing demands of his trade and now carries a large and attractive line of men's clothing. shoes and furnish- ings. His reasonable prices, his fair dealing and his progressive methods have secured to him a fliberal patronage, so that his trade has now reached gratifying and profitable proportions.
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On June 9. 1897, Mr. Jacobs was united in marriage to Miss Edith L. Morgan, a native of Utah, by whom he has four children, namely : Harry T., Melvin W., Helen and John P. Mr. Jacobs was reared in the Lutheran church but now attends and contributes to the support of the Congregational church. He belongs to the George Washington Lodge, F. & A. M., of Havelock, and to the Knights of Pythias lodge of Havelock, in which he is keeper of the record and seals. His political support is given to the democratic party but he does not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs.
JUDGE JOHN SCOTT McCARTY.
Judge John Scott McCarty has been a member of the Lancaster County bar only since October, 1913, but for many years previous had practiced his profession at Auburn, Nebraska, and had become well known throughout the state as an able lawyer. He was born at Mason, Illinois, June 10, 1869, and since 1878 has lived in Nebraska. His father, Dr. Milburn MeCarty, who was a practicing physician throughout his entire active career, was born in Kentucky, June 5, 1828. He met with an accident which nearly severed the right leg, rendering the foot almost useless. This prevented him from becom- ing a soldier in the Civil war, but he was a strong Union man and when General N. B. Forrest and his Confederate cavalry started to make a raid up through Kentucky, Dr. McCarty, who was practicing medicine in Kentucky, left that state and crossed the Ohio River to Illinois, establishing an office in Mason. In 1878 he came to Nebraska, settling in Auburn, and in 1890 he removed to Granger, Texas, where he died in May, 1907. On May 7. 1853. in Fayette county, Illinois, he married Mary A. Wilborn, who survived him a few months, dying February, 1908. They traveled life's journey happily together for fifty- four years, celebrating their golden wedding in 1903. Two sons survive, John S. and Milburn, the latter being a practicing attorney at San Angelo, Texas, and now district attorney of that judicial district.
Justin McCarty was born in Maryland in 1762, teaching school there when a young man. He then emigrated to Virginia and from there to Kentucky, where he died in 1822, leaving surviving among other children, Milburn, who was born in 1798, and who married Katherine Kinnett, whose father and mother were both born in New Jersey in 1754. and after their marriage emi- grated to Kentucky. Milburn and Katherine were the parents of Dr. McCarty.
William Burks and wife Frances emigrated from Raleigh Court House, North Carolina, to Cumberland county, Kentucky, in 1794. Owing to an upris- ing of the Indians they, with other neighbors, took refuge in the fort at Boons- boro, where they were compelled to stay for nearly two years. While there in 1797 their daughter Kitty married Willis Wilborn, Sr., and among their children was Willis Wilborn, Jr., who married Frances Reese, whose father came to Kentucky from Alamance county, North Carolina. in 1997. Willis Wilborn, Jr., and Frances were the parents of Mary A. Wilborn, the wife of Dr. McCarty. Burksville, the county-seat of Cumberland founded by and named after William Burks.
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Judge John Scott MeCarty, when a young man, taught school for four years and then took up the study of law. For seventeen years he practiced law at Auburn and during that period served for two terms as county judge of Nemaha county, and was also for two terms mayor of Auburn. In October, 1913, he removed to Lincoln and formed a partnership with the Hon. G. W. Berge under the firm style of Berge & McCarty, a connection that has since been maintained and which has notable rank at the Lincoln bar. Mr. McCarty belongs to both the Lancaster County and Nebraska State Bar Associations.
On the 8th of March, 1893, Mr. McCarty was married to Miss Jeanette Opal llarmon, of Nemaha county, Nebraska, a daughter of Henry Harmon, who located in that county in 1853 upon land where he resided for forty years, when he moved into Auburn. She is a member of the First Christian church of Lincoln, of which her brother, the Rev. H. H. Harmon, is pastor. Judge McCarty belongs to the Country Club and the Commercial Club of Lincoln, and fraternally is a Mason, Elk and Knight of Pythias. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. In fact, he is known as a broad-minded man, interested in everything that has to do with public progress in civic affairs. At the same time he is an able lawyer, giving close attention to his practice, and his ability has kept him prominently before the public as one of the ablest advocates at the Lincoln bar.
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