USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume II > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
229
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
to the age of fifteen years and then entered Waynesburg College in Greene county, Pennsylvania, devoting three years to study in that institution. In 1864, when seventeen years of age, he left college to become a member of General Buell's personal bodyguard at Nashville, Tennessee. The complete bodyguard of the general numbered about two hundred members and had been recruited from several Pennsylvania colleges. Mr. Lindly was chosen from Waynesburg College and it was his great desire to go, but when the mustering officer learned that he was not yet eighteen years of age, he advised the youth to go home to his mother. The young man went home and tried to get his mother's consent to go, but failed. In a few days, however, she noticed his keen disappointment and told him she had decided to give her consent if he still wished to go to the front. Within a few days he proceeded to Nashville to join General Buell's bodyguard, but to his astonishment, upon his arrival at Nashville, he found the entire bodyguard locked in the penitentiary, having been put there by General Thomas, who meanwhile had succeeded General Buell in command at Nashville. It had been the latter's plan to surround himself with as fine a bodyguard as he could get, hence the two hundred or more of the young Pennsylvania collegians had been recruited into the service for that express purpose. They had all been provided with fine black steeds and special uniforms. However, when General Thomas took command he was opposed to all this show and ordered the hand- some bodyguard of his predecessor to become a cavalry company and upon their refusal he had thrust them into prison for insubordination. When Mr. Lindly arrived and learned what had happened, he found service in the quartermaster's department at Nashville, spending one year and three months in that way. He then returned to Waynesburg College and resumed his studies, continuing in school for a year.
In 1866 Mr. Lindly came to the middle west and for a period of twenty years was a resident of Oskaloosa, Iowa. For there years he engaged in mer- chandising there and afterward served as cashier of the National State Bank from 1869 until 1875 and as cashier of the Oskaloosa Bank from 1875 until 1886. His younger brother Elidor D. Lindly also lived in Oskaloosa at that time and succeeded William A. as cashier of the National State Bank. In 1886 the latter concluded his banking interests at Oskaloosa and removed to Lincoln. In 1887 he became one of the organizers of the Bankers Life Insurance Company of Lincoln, now a well known institution of the city, and maintained an official connection therewith for twelve years, during five years of which time he was its president. Finally in 1899 he withdrew from the Bankers Life and he and others took over the management of the Security Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany, which then had its headquarters at Fremont, Nebraska. The business was at once removed to Lincoln and reorganized. S. 11. Burnham became president at that time and Mr. Lindly secretary. The Security Mutual Life Insurance Company practically underwent the process of being born again. It was put on a firm basis and was changed from the assessment to the legal reserve plan. In 1903 Mr. Lindly succeeded to the presidency and still holds that office. Under his excellent management this has become one of the most prosperous of Nebraska's well known life insurance companies and on the northwest corner of O and Twelfth streets in Lincoln has just been completed a handsome, new, ten story building, of steel and stone construction KaffeD is Gren as the Security
230
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
Mutual Life Building and is the company's permanent home. They occupy the entire tenth floor of the new building while the other floors are devoted to office purposes except the first floor, which is now the home of the Central National Bank.
On the 20th of September, 1870, Mr. Lindly was married at Oskaloosa, lowa, to Eliza Wray, who died January 2, 1909, leaving three children: Mabel, who resides with her father and presides over his home ; Henry .1., a well known business man of Lincoln ; and Wray A., who is assistant secretary of the Security Mutual Life Insurance Company.
In politics Mr. Lindly is a republican and while in Oskaloosa served for six years as city treasurer. In Lincoln he has been school director, but is not a politician in the sense of office seeking. although deeply interested in the vital and significant problems of the day. Fraternally he is a Master and Royal Arch Mason and he belongs also to the Lincoln Commercial Club. He stands for all those things which are most worth while in the life of the city and the individual. Ilis standards are high, his business integrity is above question, and his ability and enterprise have placed him at the head of one of the foremost financial con- cerns of the state, making him a central figure in the business circles of Nebraska.
PERRY EZRA WESTON.
Perry Ezra Weston, who is living retired in Panama, has gained a competence through his well directed labors as an agriculturist in former years. He has always manifested a sincere interest in the public welfare, and at the time of the Civil war his patriotism led to his enlistment in the Union army with which he served for three years. His birth occurred at Manlius, Onondaga county, New York, on the 17th of September, 1841, and he is a son of Bela and Amanda (Jobes) Weston. The father was also born in that place, in May, 1806, and was reared and educated in his native town. He learned the harnessmakers' trade and conducted a shop at Manlius until 1845 when, with his wife and children, he went to Kendall county, Illinois, renting land near the town of Oswego. Later he purchased two hundred and forty acres of partly improved land in De Kalb county, that state, and devoted his time and attention to further developing his farm until 1872 when he sold out and came to Lancaster county. Ile acquired title to an improved place of eighty acres on section 24, Nemaha precinct, and for two decades operated that farm. He then retired and removed to Bennet, Nebraska, where he resided for a time. He later made his home with his sons and passed away on our subject's farm in Nemaha precinct on the 6th of January, 1897. He is buried at Bennet, as is his wife. She was born in Manlius, New York, in November, 1805, grew to womanhood there, and her demise occurred on the 26th of September, 1900, upon the farm of P. E. Weston in Nemaha township.
Perry Ezra Weston was but four years of age when he was taken by his parents to Illinois and his education was received in the schools of Kendall and De Kalb counties He carly began assisting his father with the farm work, so continuing until 1860 when he entered the employ of others as a farm hand. In
231
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
September of the following year he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and remained with his company until the toth of September, 1864. He participated in thirty-four engagements and his record as a soldier is one of which he has just cause to be proud. After receiving his honorable discharge from the army in 1864, he returned to Illinois and rented land there until 1868. In that year he became a resident of Vernon county, Wisconsin, where he worked in the sawmills for a time after which he rented a sawmill at Trippville, that state, which he operated for six years. In 1878 he arrived in Lancaster county, and purchased eighty acres of railroad land on section 35. Nemaha precinct. This was raw prairie when it came into his possession but in a comparatively short time he had it under cultivation and as the years passed he continued to make many improvements thereon. At length he purchased an adjoining eighty acres, also on section 35, and his time and energy were taken up with the operation of his quarter section until 1904 when he retired from active life and removed to Panama, where he purchased a good residence. He also owns other town property and still holds title to his farm, which he rents.
Mr. Weston was united in marriage at De Kalb, Illinois, on the 28th of October, 1865, to Miss Josephine Callson, who was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on the 25th of September, 1845, but in 1850 was brought to America by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Callson, both also natives of Stockholm. They first located in De Kalb county, Illinois, but later removed to Chicago, where the mother died. The father went to Minnesota to buy land when his daughter, Mrs. Weston, was about thirteen years of age. From that time she worked for others until her marriage. She passed away on the 26th of September, 1904, on the home farm in Nemaha precinct and is buried at Bennet. She was the mother of six children, namely : Eva Belle, the wife of Arthur Frank Hitchcock, a butcher of Panama ; Minnie Alice, the wife of Henry R. Frye, a farmer of Lancaster county : Irving J., who is farming in Buffalo county, this state ; Stella May, who married Luther I. Hamilton, principal of schools at York, Nebraska ; Addie Nebraska, the wife of James A. DePell, a farmer of Antelope county, Nebraska ; and Ella Ethel, who married William G. Bullock, a banker at Cheney. On the 25th of September, 1907, Mr. Weston was again married. Mrs. Mary Sophia Stookey Ewing becoming his wife. She was born in Peoria county, Illinois. on the ist of September, 1848, a daughter of David B. and Mary Sophia (Rittenhouse ) Stookey, the former born in Newark, New Jersey, and the latter in the vicinity of that city. Both were reared in their native state, but they sub- sequently settled in Peoria county, Illinois, where Mr. Stookey engaged in farm- ing. Both passed away on the farm. Their daughter, Mrs. Weston, grew to womanhood in Peoria county and received her education in the district schools. In 1868 she married Johnson Alexander. Ewing, who passed away in Lancaster county, Nebraska, in 1894, and is buried at Roca.
Mr. Weston is a stanch republican in politics and has been called to a number of positions of trust. For three terms, or six years, he was a member of the school board of district No. 27 and he has also served on the town board of Panama. While living in Vernon county, Wisconsin, he was township tax assessor and he also held the office of member of the town board of Forrest, that county. He is a leading member of Elizabetly Upright Post, So. 62, G. A. R .. Hutuzed' TICLOSOn A He is no less
at Bennet and has served as commander of that organization.
232
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
patriotic now than when he went to the defense of the Union in the '6os and he would willingly fight in the army of his country a second time. His many excellent qualities have gained him the high esteem and the unqualified respect of his fellow citizens and he is recognized as one of the prominent residents of Panama.
ROBERT G. DICKSON.
Robert G. Dickson is now living retired in Panama but was for many years actively engaged in farming and still holds title to his valuable place in Panama precinct. He was born near Colesburg, Delaware county, Iowa, on the 10th of September, 1855, and is a son of Thomas and Hannah ( Fleming ) Dickson, an account of whose lives appears elsewhere in this work. He attended the common schools in his native county and as a boy and youth also assisted his father with the farm work. In 1873 he accompanied his father to Lancaster county, the journey from Iowa to this state having been with team and wagon. In 1875 he began his independent career, renting land in Panama precinct, which he operated until 1878, when he rented another farm. Two years later, or in 1880, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres, eighty acres of school land on section 16, township 7, range 8, and eighty acres of railroad land on section 17. The entire quarter section was raw land and it was necessary to break it before it could be planted to crops, which he did as soon as possible. He erected a frame house, sixteen by twenty-four feet, and put up a straw shed which served as a barn until he could build a more substantial structure. He concentrated his energies upon the operation of his farm and raised both grain and stock, finding that course more profitable than specializing in either. As the years passed his resources increased, for he was practical and progressive in his methods and careful in the management of his business affairs. In 1888 he had added to his holdings, buying eighty acres of improved land on section 17, adjoining his home place, and in that year he built a commodious residence and good barns upon his farm. He still holds title to his land, which his sons farm. In 1900 he removed to Panama, where he purchased lots and built a fine two story home. in which he now lives. Although he has lived largely retired since his removal to Panama, for five years, or from 1910 to 1915, he was employed in the L. R. Conn hardware store. He aided in organizing the Bank of Panama and for a number of years owned stock in that institution but has now disposed of his interest therein.
On the 12th of December. 1878, at Panama, Mr. Dickson was united in marriage to Miss Clara Elizabeth Clay. Her birth occurred in Shiawassee county, Michigan, on the 23d of January, 1857, and her parents were William Drakard and Maria ( Huson) Clay, both natives of England. Her father was born in the parish of Gedney, Lincolnshire, on the ioth of July, 1826, and after completing his education, which was acquired in the common schools, began farming. He was married in December, 1847, and five years later came with his family to America, locating at Albion, Orleans county, New York. He worked there for three years in the employ of others but at the end of that time
233
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
emigrated west and purchased a farm in Shiawassee county, Michigan. After operating that place for nine years he went to Mitchell county, lowa, where he engaged in farming for some time and where his wife passed away in 1868. At length he removed by wagon with his family from lowa to Lancaster county. He came with a party which numbered sixteen families and was known as the Iowa colony and which was four weeks on the road. He homesteaded land on section 8. Panama precinct, and his first residence was a dugout, which later was replaced by a more commodious dwelling. He operated his farm until his death, on the roth of September, 1894, and he is buried at Panama. Ilis parents, George and Catherine ( Drakard ) Clay, passed their entire lives in England.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dickson have been born three children, all natives of Lancaster county : Agnes Ann, who for a time clerked in a store at Panama, but is now the wife of Henry C. Johnson, a farmer of this county ; Thomas G., who is operating the family homestead in Panama precinct : and Ethel May, the wife of Perey Blasser, a farmer of this county.
Mr. Diekson is a stanch republican in his political belief and for six years he has been a member of the town board of Panama. For eleven years he served as school director in district No. 17. He belongs to Panama Lodge, No. 220, I. O. O. F., in which he has held all of the offices and which he has rep- resented as a delegate to the Grand Lodge. Ile is likewise connected with Panama Camp, No. 2227, M. W. A., to which he has belonged for fourteen years and in which he has served as banker during that entire period. In 1883, when the Presbyterian church was established in Panama, he became identified with that organization and for about eighteen years has served as elder. His wife is also prominent in the work of the church and is an active member of the ladies' society. Although he has always given careful attention to his private business affairs and by so doing has gained financial independence, he has never forgotten that he has obligations to his community and has always been willing to do his part in promoting the public welfare.
CHARLES ANDREW PERKINS.
Among the well-to-do residents of Lancaster county who have found farming and stock raising both profitable and congenial is Charles Andrew Perkins, of Centerville precinet. He was born near Bonaparte, Van Buren county, Iowa, on the 24th of October, 1854, and is a son of William and Mary Perkins, the former a native of Ohio, in which state his parents settled in early days. William Perkins was one of the pioneers of Van Buren county. Jowa, and engaged in farming there until his death in 1880. He is buried in that county.
Charles A. Perkins was reared under the parental roof and is indebted to the public schools of his native county for his education. After putting aside his textbooks he farmed with his father for a number of years but in 1874. when about twenty years of age, he came to Centerville precinct, Lancaster county, Nebraska, where he operated rented land for eleven years. At the end of that time he purchased two hundred and forty aeres on section 12, Center- ville precinct, which was partly improved when it Came intoThis possession. He
234
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
has brought the farm to a still higher state of development and has been very successful as an agriculturist. He annually harvests good crops and also raises shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, for which he finds a ready sale. In addition to his home farm he owns eighty acres, also on section 12, and the entire three hundred and twenty acres is under cultivation.
Mr. Perkins was married in Centerville precinct on New Year's day of 1889, to Miss Kitty Ritter, whose birth occurred in Michigan City, Indiana, on the 2Ist of February, 1859. When she was still a child, however, her parents, John and Melvina (Cheney) Ritter, removed with their family to Wheeler, Indiana. Her father passed his entire life in the Hoosier state and kept the tollgate in Michigan City for some time. He there died in 1881 and his widow subse- quently married John Chapman, a minister, who is still living at the age of eighty-two years and is now a resident of Seward county, Nebraska. Mirs. Perkins accompanied her mother and stepfather on their removal to Lancaster county, Nebraska, in 1869, and for seven years lived in the sod house which Rev. Chapman erected upon his homestead in Centerville precinct. She received the greater part of her education in this county and remained with her mother until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins are the parents of four children. namely : Grace Amanda, who was born on the 9th of November. 1890, and is now the wife of Henry Johnson, of Lincoln, Nebraska ; Byron Charles, who was born March 7, 1892, and is now farming in Lancaster county; Russell James, who was born July 21, 1896, and is assisting with the operation of the home farm ; and Floyd Andrew, born February 18, 1901, now attending school.
Mr. Perkins casts his ballot in support of the candidates and measures of the democratic party and fraternally is connected with Jamaica Lodge, No. 292, A. O. U. W., of which he is a charter member and past recorder. The principles which govern his conduct are indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a man of ability, enterprise and integrity and is justly held in high esteem.
WILLIAM B. KNIGHT.
William B. Knight, mayor of Bethany, has made an excellent record in that office, working effectively for the advancement of the interests of the town, and has gained the commendation of all good citizens. He owns a good farm four miles east of Bethany and personally supervises its operation. His birth occurred in Johnson county, Indiana, August 12, 1861, and he is a son of Isaac and Emily ( Bryant ) Knight, natives of Virginia and Indiana respectively. When two years of age the father was taken by his parents to the Hoosier state and there grew to manhood. He turned his attention to farming and followed agricultural pur- suits in Indiana until some twenty years previous to his demise which occurred March 3, 1910. His wife died on the 8th of June, 1900.
William B. Knight was reared in his native state and attended its public schools in the acquirement of his education. In the fall of 1883 he went to Platte county, Nebraska, but/four months later, on the. 27tl mudezth of: February, 1884. arrived in Lincoln. He, with his father and brothers, purchased three hundred and twenty
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM B. KNIGHT
Digitized by Microsoft ®
Digitized by Microsoft ®
237
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
acres in Stevens Creek precinct from J. Z. Briscoe and at once turned his atten- tion to the operation and further development of that place, residing thereon for twenty-five years. In December, 1910, however, he removed to Bethany in order to afford his children better educational advantages and still resides there although he continues to farm his place. He has a fine residence at the corner of Ilofridge and Butler streets, which he erected in 1910, and is one of the most substantial citizens of the town. For twelve years he served as a director of the Lancaster County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company and his sound judgment was a factor in the growth of the organization during that period.
MIr. Knight was married January 14. 1886, to Miss Mary B. Sprague, a daughter of James W. and Amanda MI. (Patterson) Sprague, the former a native of Marietta, Ohio, and the latter of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1862 her father enlisted in the Sixty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry and served at the front until the close of the war. Ile held the rank of corporal and made an excellent record as a soldier, being prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties. Ile was in General Grant's army, participated in thirteen engagements, was once wounded in the shoulder and at another time was taken prisoner and marched seventy-five miles, after which he was incarcerated at Alexandria, Georgia, but was later exchanged. After returning from the front he farmed for some time and subsequently engaged in merchandising. After devoting five years to that business he purchased land in Morgan county, Indiana, and again concen- trated his energies upon agricultural pursuits. At length, having accumulated a competence, he retired and removed to Morgantown, where he resided for ten years, or until his demise March 12, 1912. He had survived his wife since January 30, 1887.
Mr. and Mrs. Knight have three children. Doris A., who was born Febru- ary 18, 1887, is a teacher of violin and piano in Lincoln and Bethany. Blanche E., born November 15. 1891, is attending Cotner University and is specializing in languages and history. William Alonzo, born on the 12th of September, 1894. studied for the ministry in Cotner University and is preaching at Wymore, Nebraska.
Mr. Knight is a stanch democrat in politics and has been active in public affairs. While living in Stevens Creek precinct he was assessor for five years, was a director of the school board there for ten years and for the last three years has served as mayor of Bethany. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen and for fifteen years served as clerk of the camp at Walton. His religious faith is that of the Christian church. In all that he has undertaken he has been successful, and he holds to an unusual degree the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.
S. J. QUANTOCK.
S. J. Quantock, who is the cashier of the Bank of College View, has mani- fested excellent business ability in the management of the affairs of that institution and during his administration its business has doubled in value. Ilis UZEO DV. IVIGLASQUE ized as a leader advice is often sought on matters of investment and
238
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
in local financial circles. His birth occurred in December, 1879. in Livingston county, Illinois, where his parents, Henry and Martha (Ville ) Quantock, first settled on their removal from England to the United States in 1874. During the childhood of our subject the family removed to Howard county, Missouri, where the father purchased land which he cultivated until his death, which occurred in 1904. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1889.
S. J. Quantock grew to manhood in Fayette, Missouri, and received his general education there, graduating from the high school. He then went to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he took a course in the Battle Creek College, and subsequently was a student in a business college at Kansas City, Missouri. After completing his work there he held a position in Kansas City for a year and a half, after which he resigned and went to Springfield, Illinois, where he was manager of an office until 1907. He then removed to Scotts Bluff county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead which he improved and oper- ated for two years. At the end of that time he sold the property and accepted the position of cashier of the Bank of College View, in which capacity he has since served. The bank is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars, and has a surplus fund of fifteen hundred dollars and deposits of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. James Schee is the president and J. H. Morrison the vice president. The business of the institution has more than doubled since Mr. Quantock became cashier, which is evidence of the confidence which is placed in his ability and his integrity. He has made it his first care to secure the funds of depositors and stockholders against loss but has also made the bank a factor in the legitimate business development of the town through the judicious exten- sion of credit.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.