USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume II > Part 15
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HENRY SHERMAN LOWER.
llenry Sherman Lower, deputy county attorney of Lancaster county, was born on a farm in Hamilton county, Nebraska, February 29. 1888. His father, John T. Lower, who devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, was born near Akron, Ohio, January 14, 1854, and having arrived at years of maturity he married Josephine Hiatt, who was born near Des Moines, Iowa, June 10, 1863. Both are still living and now make their home at Bison, Oklahoma, to which state they removed from Hamilton county, Nebraska, in 1900.
Henry S. Lower was reared on the old farm in Hamilton county to the age of twelve years, and during that period attended the public schools of Mar- quette. He then accompanied his parents to Oklahoma, where he continued his education, being graduated from the high school at llennessey in 1906. In the fall of the same year he entered the University of Nebraska, where he studied for four years, spending one year in the academic department and three years in the law department. He was graduated in 1910 and since then has been a member of the Lincoln bar. He was appointed deputy county attorney Septem- ber 1, 1915, and is now serving in that position under County Attorney George E. Hager. He belongs to the Lincoln and to the Nebraska State Bar Asso- ciations.
On the 16th of October, 1915, Mr. Lower was united in marriage to Miss Alice Augusta Fish, of New Albin, Iowa. Mr. Lower has an interesting mili- tary chapter in his life record, having been for three years a member of Com- pany G of the Oklahoma National Guard. He belongs to the Lincoln
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Commercial Club and cooperates in all of its plans and purposes to promote the welfare and advance the interests of the capital city. In Masonry he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is active in promoting its welfare and successes, but is not a politician in the usually accepted sense of office seeking.
JAMES B. AUSTIN.
During the later years of his life James B. Austin lived retired in Lincoln, but had previously been identified with the grain trade in that city and had become well known as a grain merchant and dealer in live stock in other sections of Nebraska. New England claimed him as a native son, for his birth occurred in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, May 5, 1854, his parents being James S. and Lucy ( Allen) Austin, who were also natives of that state. He was one of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, ten of whom grew to maturity and six of whom survived Mr. Austin. The father was a farmer by occupation and on leaving the cast removed to Grundy county, Illinois, in 1855. Later he established his home in Livingston county, that state, where he carried on farming for many years, but finally retired and removed to Dwight, Illinois, where he remained until his death, which occurred in April, 1890, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-four years. For several years he had survived his wife, who passed away in September, 1804.
James B. Austin was reared and educated in Livingston county, Illinois, spending much of his youth in Dwight, and when old enough he began farm- ing on his own account in that locality. Ile afterward returned to Dwight, where for five years he engaged in the business of importing horses. In Sep- tember, 1891, he came to Nebraska, settling in Furnas county, and for twelve years he was engaged in the grain trade at Wilsonville. He later removed to Orleans, where he continued in the grain business for three years, and in 1906 he came to Lincoln, where he was well known as a grain merchant until 1909, when he retired from active business. He passed away December 24, 19EL, after a short illness. All through the period of his residence in Lincoln he engaged in the real estate business to a greater or less extent. Since his demise Mrs. Austin has erected a fine residence at No. 1041 South Twenty- third street.
On the 18th of March, 1879. Mr. Austin was united in marriage to Miss Annetta Boyer, who was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania. a daughter of George W. and Mary A. (Turnbaugh) Boyer, also natives of that state. In 1867 the father removed to Illinois. He had previously followed farming in the east until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted as a mem- ber of Company G, One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. with which he served for about a year. On making his way to the middle west he settled in Livingston county, Illinois, where he purchased land and for many years carried on farming, after which he removed to Dwight, where he spent his remaining days in honorable reifemedCfiosGber His death there
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occurring June 27, 1911, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty- four. His wife was but seventy-one years of age when she was called to her final rest in January, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Austin became the parents of five children, as follows: George S., who was born March 31, 1880, and is president of the Orleans State Bank at Orleans, Nebraska; Alfred A., who was born in January, 1882, and died on the 15th of the following month : Effie M., whose birth occurred April 3, 1883, and who is the wife of Ralph W. Thacker, ath- letic director in the college at Lake Forest, Illinois; Blanche M., who was born March 9, 1886, and is at home; and Maude G., born September 27, 1899, who is attending school.
Mr. Austin gave his political support to the republican party and he was a member of the Lincoln Commercial Club, indorsing and cooperating in all the movements which were instituted by that organization. His religious faith was that of the Methodist church and he ever endeavored to guide his life by its teachings, being straightforward and honorable in all his dealings and rela- tions with his fellowmen, so that the genuine worth of his character established him firmly in the warm regard of those with whom he was brought in contact.
JOHN GETTIER.
John Gettier was for many years proprietor of one of the leading meat markets of Lincoln, although his last days were spent in well earned re- tirement from business. He was born in Gettysburg. Pennsylvania, February 6, 1853, a decade before the memorable battle there occurred-one of the most decisive and most hotly contested of all engagements of the Civil war. While spending his youthful days in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Gettier, he pursued his education in the public schools of his native town and there resided until 1876, when at the age of twenty-three years he removed westward to Lincoln, Nebraska, and formed a partnership with his brother, S. William, in the meat business. For years they conducted the Gettier Market and the business is still carried on under that name. They built up a large and profitable business which developed with the growth of the city, remaining ever one of the foremost enterprises of this character in Lincoln. At length Mr. Gettier retired from active business and spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest. purchasing and occupying a fine residence at No. 1432 R street. There he passed away August 9, 1912.
In January, 1901, Mr. Gettier was married to Miss Ella Nutting, a daughter of Merrick and Minerva ( Metcalf ) Nutting, who were native of Massachusetts and Vermont, respectively. Her father engaged in the oil business in the east and in 1885 removed westward to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he engaged in the con- tracting and building business until 1897. In that year he removed to Houston, Texas, where his remaining days were spent, his death there occurring in March, 1903. 1Iis widow has since returned to Lincoln and now makes her home with Mrs. Gettier at the age of seventy-five years. By a former marriage Mr. Gettier had one daughter, Gail! Gow/the wife of Jesse Williams, a resident of Lincoln. Since her husband's death Mrs. Gettier has sold the residence at No. 1432 R street
JOHN GETTIER
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and has purchased a beautiful home at No. 1926 Cherry street. She is a woman of excellent business ability and discernment and carefully manages her prop- erty interests. Mr. Gettier was the owner of a considerable amount of real estate in Lincoln, together with farm land in Nebraska, and was very successful in all he undertook. His political indorsement was given to the republican party, while his religious faith was that of the Lutheran church. He had a wide acquaintance and all who knew him respected him because his life was characterized by sterling principles and actuated by high purposes. Mrs. Gettier is also well known in Lincoln and is numbered among the members of the Methodist church.
ROBERT McDEVITT.
Robert McDevitt, one of the earliest settlers in Lancaster county, is now living retired in Havelock. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, November 12, 1842. His father, James McDevitt, also a native of the Emerald isle, died when his son Robert was but five years of age, after which his widow, who bore the maiden name of Mary Arnold, became the wife of John McClusky, and in the year 1854 they came to the United States, landing in New York City on the 27th of April of that year. They proceeded thence to Middletown, Con- necticut, and in 1858 arrived in Nebraska, settling at Plattsmouth, Cass county. In 1865 the mother and son came to Lancaster county, where Robert McDevitt homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, while his mother purchased a soldier's claim of one hundred and twenty acres, and thus the family became identified with agricultural interests in this county. By her first marriage Mrs. McClusky had three children, but two had died in infancy in Ireland. By her second marriage she had but one child, also deceased.
Robert McDevitt was a lad of twelve years when the family crossed the Atlantic and was a young man of twenty-three years when he came with his mother to Lancaster county. His first home in this county was a log house, which he occupied for three years, and in 1868 he erected a frame dwelling on his farm. Year after year he carefully tilled the soil, conducting his farm along progressive lines, adding many modern improvements thereto and secur- ing all the machinery which facilitates the work of the fields. Ile had charge of his mother's as well as his own land, and he cared for his mother until her demise, which occurred in 1893, when she had reached the advanced age of seventy-five years. Mr. McDevitt continued to engage actively in farming until about nine years ago and was very successful, so that when he retired he was the owner of four hundred and forty acres of rich and valuable land in North Bluff precinct. He has since sokl that property, but still owns five residences in Havelock, from which he derives a good rental that provides him with an excellent annual income. The Indians were numerous in the county when he arrived here, and he had to face all the usual conditions and experiences of pioneer life. He frightened and chased away a band of more than five hundred Indians who had camped too long near his place. There were few experiences of frontier life with, which he did not become familiar, and in the Vol. II- 8 Digitized by Microsoft ®)
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conduct of his private interests he promoted the agricultural development of the district.
Mr. McDevitt was united in marriage to Catherine Dailey, who was born in Lafayette, Indiana, December 20, 1852, a daughter of James Dailey, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, and who married Ann Scott, a native of County Mayo, Ireland. In 1854 they arrived in Nebraska, and Mr. Dailey built the second house in Omaha. He also became an early settler of Lincoln, while his last days were spent in Wheatland, Wyoming. Mrs. McDevitt has ever proved a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband on life's journey. She acted as hostess to Governor Butler, T. P. Kennard and Colonel Packard, who were commissioners to locate the capital and whom she entertained at many a meal. In 1871 when President Grant was touring the country before his second election, he and his party were entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. McDevitt, although they did not know who their distinguished visitor was until the following morning, when the stage driver told them. It was Mr. McDevitt who purchased the first mower and the first reaper ever brought into Lancaster county. . His wife sometimes assisted him in the work of the fields and on one occasion she dropped forty acres of corn in five days, with a horse ahead mak- ing the rows and a horse behind to cover the seed. The family is Catholic in religious faith and has been most active in promoting the work of the church in Havelock. The first mass celebrated in Omaha was held in her father's house and the first mass in Lincoln was also held in her father's house. In his political views Mr. McDevitt was for many years a republican, but now supports the democratic party. For three years he was a member of the county board of supervisors and for twenty years served on the school board. For fifteen years he traveled for his health, which, however, is now improved. He is a pleasant, genial companion, his mind stored with many interesting incidents and with reminisences of the early days. He possesses an excellent memory and there are few features of Lancaster county's pioneer development with which he is not familiar.
WILLIAM WISEMAN.
William Wiseman, who formerly engaged in farming, is now living retired in College View, enjoying a rest that is well deserved. Ile was born in Ireland on the 14th of April, 1839, a son of John and Charlotte ( Nagle) Wiseman, natives respectively of Scotland and Ireland. They came to America in 1845 and located at St. Louis, Missouri. Although John Wiseman was a pawnbroker in his native country he turned his attention to farming after removing to the United States and in 1847 settled in Wisconsin, where he purchased a tract of good land. He operated that place until his demise in 1896. He had survived his wife for two decades as she passed away in 1876.
William Wiseman was reared and educated in Wisconsin and remained at home until he was twenty-four years old, when, early in 1864, he enlisted in Company K, SeventhitWisconsin Infantry with which he served at the front until the close of the war. He then went to Iowa and settled in Sac county,
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where he purchased and improved a farm, concentrating his energies upon its cultivation and development until 1904. During that time he saw a great change in conditions as when he arrived in that county it was still on the frontier and his farm was thirty-five miles from a railroad. He had a part in the agricultural development and advancement of his locality and, moreover, could be depended upon to further the civic interests of his community. In 1904 he retired from active life and took up his home in College View, where he purchased a good residence.
Mr. Wiseman was married in September, 1866, to Miss Olivia Goodman, a daughter of Stephen and Phoebe ( Shuett ) Goodman, the former of whom was born in Vermont and the latter in Ohio. In 18Jo her father went to Wisconsin and there he farmed for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Wiseman became the parents of two children : Charles R., an educator, who is residing in College View : and Maude J., who died in June, 1868. The wife and mother passed away in March, 1905, and her demise was sincerely regretted by her many friends.
Mr. Wiseman is a republican in politics and has served as trustee of College View and as a member of the school board. In religious faith he is a Methodist and through his connection with the Grand Army of the Republic he continues his association with his former comrades in arms. His life has been one of well directed activity and of fidelity to duty and he is justly held in high esteem by all who know him.
MARTIN LUTHER EASTERDAY.
July 26, 1876, Martin Luther Easterday arrived in Lincoln. He was then twenty-seven years of age. lle was born on a farm in Harrison county, Ohio. February 9, 1849. His father, Daniel Easterday, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, October 19, 1813, and was a son of Christian and Maria ( Stemple ) Easterday. On the 19th of January, 1837. Daniel Easterday wedded Jane Robertson, who was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, August 8, 1810. They became the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom Martin L. was the sixth in order of birth. AAll reached adult age and seven are now living. In order of birth, the members of the family are: Rev. Thomas Robertson Easterday, now of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, a Presbyterian minister ; Levi F. M .. who died in Lincoln a few years ago : Annie, who became the wife of Benajah Mundy, both now deceased ; Amos W., who is deputy city treasurer of Lincoln : Ilannah M., the wife of William A. Pike, of Pacific Beach, California : Martin L. ; Oscar M., a merchant of Palo Alto, California; David F., a music teacher of Lincoln ; and Laura J., living in San Diego, California. In October, 1851. the parents moved from Ohio to Montgomery county, Illinois, and in 1871 became residents of Carthage, that state. In 1883 they arrived in Lincoln where they spent their remaining days happily surrounded by many of their children and grandchildren. On the roth of January, 1887, they celebrated their golden wedding, on which occasion all nine of their children were present. At the time of Mrs. Easterday's death. December 31, 1895, they had been married nearly fifty-nine years. Daniel Easterday died The Grosoft ®
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Martin L. Easterday spent his boyhood on a farm in Montgomery county, Illinois. Ile entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and was graduated from there in 1876. Having thus prepared for a professional career, he came to Lincoln in July of that same year and has since engaged in law practice in this city, being now one of the oldest members of the Lincoln bar. The court records bear testimony to many favorable verdicts which he has won for his clients.
On the 22nd of May, 1884, Mr. Easterday was married to Miss Nettie Hall, of Watertown, Wisconsin, who was born there November 17, 1858. They became the parents of three daughters and one son; Helen A., who is the assistant cashier of the American Savings Bank of this city ; Ruth J., who is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and is now a teacher in the Lincoln public schools ; and Donald A. and Irene J., both of whom died in infancy.
Mr. Easterday is a democrat in his political views but has never been an office seeker. He belongs to the Lincoln Bar Association and is an elder in the Presbyterian church. His activities outside of his profession have been varied and of a helpful character, touching the general interests of society. A resident of Lincoln for forty years, he is widely known here and the many excellent traits of his character have brought to him the warm and enduring regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
BERT E. WILLIAMS.
Bert E. Williams, an attorney of Lincoln, was born in Johnstown, Brown county, Nebraska, October 18, 1886, a son of Jolin R. and Mary A. ( Stevenson ) Williams, who were natives of Ohio. In 1878 the father removed from that state to Nebraska and for a time engaged in business in Lincoln, but later removed to Johnstown, where he conducted business for a few years. He then purchased land in Brown county, becoming the owner of twelve hundred acres, to the development and improvement of which he devoted his energies until 1902. when his wife died and he sold out. lle then went to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he began the cultivation of oranges, grape fruit and pineapples, giving his further attention to his interests in that state until his death, which occurred in May, 1915, when he was sixty-seven years of age.
Bert E. Williams was reared and educated in Brown county and in the fall of 1902 went to Florida with his father, remaining there for about three years, during which period he completed his high school education. In 1906 he returned to this state and entered the Grand Island Normal and Business College at Grand Island, Nebraska, from which he was graduated with the class of 1907. Soon afterward he accepted a position as stenographer and assistant in the office of the county attorney at Imperial, Nebraska, serving in that capacity until the fall of 1909, when he came to Lincoln and entered the State University as a law student, completing his course by graduation with the class of June, 1912. Since that time he has been practicing in Lincoln, with offices in the Eunke/building, and has/won at thetbar a position that many an older practitioner might well envy.
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On the 22d of June, 1911, Mr. Williams was married to Miss Blanche 11. Calhoun, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah R. (Moler ) Calhoun. They have become parents of one son, Edward Calhoun, born March 4, 1913. Mr. Williams has always voted with the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and is a stanch advocate of its principles. He is prominent in Masonic circles, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, while of the Mystic Shrine he is also a member, and he and his wife are connected with the Eastern Star. He is likewise identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and attends Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member. He places correct values upon the opportunities of life and its obligations and is quick to utilize and improve the former and with equal fidelity meets the latter.
WADE H. JORDAN.
For twenty-three years Wade 11. Jordan was a resident of Lincoln and throughout the entire period commanded the respect and enjoyed the warm regard of all with whom he came in contact. He was a western man by birth, training and preference and the enterprising spirit which dominated this section of the country in its upbuilding was manifest in his career. He was born in Dubuque, Jowa, April 14, 1844, a son of Bunyan and Elizabeth ( Gilbert ) Jordan. At an early period in the development of Dubuque the father removed to that city, where his father owned and operated the first ferry across the Mississippi river, and Bunyan Jordan afterward purchased land near Dubuque and for a time engaged in farming but after the Civil war removed to Cass county, Jowa, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring when he was seventy- five years of age. His wife passed away in 1886, at the age of sixty-five years.
Wade II. Jordan was reared and educated in Dubuque county, spending his youthful days in the usual manner of farm lads. The spirit of patriotism was strong within him when Fort Sumter was fired upon and during the opening year of the Civil war he watched with interest the progress of events. In August, 1862, when a youth of but eighteen, he offered his services to the government, enlisting as a member of Company 11, Twenty-first Jowa Infantry, with which he served until July 415, 1865, when he was mustered out. He then accompanied his parents on their removal to Cass county, Iowa, where he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in Atlantic, devoting the greater part of his life to work of that character. However, for two or three years he engaged in farming in Cass county. In 1802 he removed to Lincoln and carried on carpentering in this city until his life's labors were ended in death April 28. 1915, after a week's illness, when he had reached the age of seventy-one.
It was on the foth of March, 1869, that Mr. Jordan was united in marriage to Miss Josepha A. Wilcox, a daughter of Whitman and Elizabeth Johnson ) Wilcox, who were natives of New York. The father was a farmer and upon removing westward cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Lee county, lowa, where he purchased land and engaged in farming for a time . He next removed to Audubon county, Iowa, where he carried on general farming Att Gor a number of
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years and later became a farmer of Kansas. Finally he retired from active business life and for several years traveled largely for the benefit of his health, passing away in Cleveland, Ohio, about 1910. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1853. Their daughter, Mrs. Jordan, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, December 28, 1849, and by her marriage has become the mother of two children; Ida Grace, born December 15, 1870; and Dorothy G., who was born January 7, 1873, and is the wife of F. M. Adler, a resident of Chicago.
For many years Mr. Jordan maintained pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic and proudly wore the little bronze button that proclaimed him a veteran of the Civil war. His political indorsement was given to the republican party and his life was guided in its varied relations by his affiliation with the Methodist church. He never sought to figure prominently in any public connection but his character- istics were of that sterling quality that gained for him the enduring friendship and good will of all who knew him.
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