USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume II > Part 46
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In 1878 Mr. Branson, after his marriage, began farming in Stark county, Illinois, but in 1880 returned to the 'old home in Fulton county, Illinois, where he remained until 1883. In that year he came to Lancaster county, Nebraska, and purchased his present farm of two hundred and fifty acres on sections 10 and II. Yankee Hill precinct. He has made splendid improvements upon the place and now has one of the attractive farm properties of the county on which are three sets of buildings. This is known as Riverside Place and was first developed by THE Leavitt,of the Burlington Railroad. Mr. Branson began dealing in shorthorn cattle and has continued in that business for many years,
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being widely known as a breeder of shorthorn cattle and also of Poland China hogs. Ile has had on hand as many as two hundred and fifty head of fine shorthorn cattle at a time. Since taking up his abode upon his farm in 1883 he has resided continuously thereon save for a period of eight years which he spent in Lincoln to educate his children. In 1913 he was sent to Panama as revenue collector and thus served until the Adamson act came into effect in April, 1914. To his farm property he has added by further purchase until he is now the owner of over three hundred acres of finely improved land. Mr. Branson is well known in the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Lincoln Lodge, No. 19, A. F. & A. M., Lancaster Chapter, No. 6, R. A. M., and Lincoln Commandery, No. 4, K. T. He is also identified with the Mystic Shrine. IIe votes with the democratic party.
LESLIE A. HOOKHAM.
Leslie A. Hookham, an up-to-date and prosperous farmer and stock raiser of Waverly precinct, was born on the 3cth of September, 1889, on the farm which he is now operating. His parents, William A. and Nancy ( Kemble ) Hookham, were born, respectively, in England on the 22d of April, 1850, and in Illinois, on the 11th of April. 1853. When five years of age the father was brought to the United States by his parents who located first in New York and later in Illinois and in Iowa. Ile grew to manhood in the last named state and about 1870 located upon a farm near Meade, Saunders county, Nebraska. In 1886 he removed to Lancaster county and has since made his home here. For a number of years he was actively engaged in farming and stock raising, shipping cattle and hogs to the market, but he is now living retired. His farm comprises two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land and he is in excellent circumstances. To him and his wife have been born six children : Wilson A., deceased ; Edward. who lives in York county ; Charles, a farmer of that county ; Frank, who resides with his parents; Leslie A .; and Ollie, the wife of William Whitlach, who is farming in the vicinity of Greenwood.
Leslie A. Hookham is indebted to the public schools of Mill precinct for his education and to his father for his early and thorough training in agricultural work. When he had attained his majority he took charge of the home farm and has since operated two hundred and fifteen acres of that place. He is prompt and energetic in the performance of his work and his well directed labors are rewarded by good crops. However, he does not confine his attention to the production of grain but also raises stock on quite an extensive scale.
Mr. Hookham was united in marriage on the 5th of May, 1912, to Miss May Sherman, who was born near Central City, Nebraska, and is a daughter of William and Hannah ( Ringer) Sherman, both natives of England. They cmi- grated to the United States many years ago and became pioneers of Nebraska, locating near Seward, where the father engaged in farming. He is now living at Sidney. Nebraska, but the mother has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Hookham have a son, Clyde Leslie, who was born on the fAthrot AugustR1915.
Mr. Hookham is independent in politics, voting according to the dictates of
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his judgment as to the fitness of the candidates for the offices in question. Ile belongs to the Highlanders lodge at Greenwood, and is a member of the Farmers Union at Waverly. He is characterized by enterprise, progressiveness and sound judgment and has gained a measure of prosperity that many of his seniors might well envy.
WILLIAM WILSON.
William Wilson, who is living retired in Normal, has well earned the rest which he is now enjoying. He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on the 21st of July, 1846, a son of Hugh and Isabella ( Kilgore ) Wilson, both natives of Scotland. The father was a gardener and florist and served a regular apprentice- ship in Scotland. In 1843, when twenty-five years of age, he came to the United States and located on Long Island. Subsequently he lived in Brighton and in Salem, Massachusetts, locating permanently in the latter city. He erected green- houses there and devoted his time to the conduct of a florist's business. He passed away in 1899 and his wife died in April, 1881.
William Wilson grew to manhood in his native town and attended the public schools in the acquirement of his education. After putting aside his textbooks he worked for his father for three years and was then employed on an estate for two years. Later he was for one year in the employ of Peter Henderson, the well known seedsman, after which he went to Cambridge City, Indiana, and accepted a position as foreman for a florist. After leaving that place he spent five months in Detroit, Michigan, and was then for a year gardener on a large estate at Lake Forest, Illinois. He next worked in Chicago for six months but in March, 1871, removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, and bought forty acres on the outskirts of the town. He engaged in market gardening for a number of years and also for a time followed general farming, but in 1001 he sold ten acres of his holdings to William Jennings Bryan and for thirteen months resided with his son in Lincoln. At the end of that time he purchased a number of lots at Normal, where he built a fine residence which has since been his home.
Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Olive McClintock on the 29th of March, 1873. Her parents, William and Mary MeClintock, were born respectively in Ohio and West Virginia but in 1865 removed to Lancaster county, Nebraska, and purchased eighty acres in what is now the heart of Lincoln, Mr. Mcclintock's holdings extending from O to Vine streets and from Thirtieth to Thirty-third street. He purchased this land for a dollar and a quarter per acre and the fol- lowing spring bought the site of the state farm and Agricultural College from the government, paying four hundred dollars in agricultural college serip, which he bought for seventy-five cents on the dollar, amounting to three hundred dollars for a half section. Soon after the capital was located at Lincoln he sold that place for twelve hundred dollars and in 1874 the state purchased it for seventeen thousand five hundred dollars. Hle engaged in farming in this county until 1873, when he removed with his family to Illinois and later went to Kansas, where he farmed until his demise in the spring of 1879, His wife died in the following October. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have become the parents of five
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children : William, who died on the 27th of May, 1906, when thirty-two years of age ; Hugh, who is a graduate of the State University of Nebraska of the class of 1897 and is now superintendent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, with residence at Grafton, West Virginia; Isabella, who died in June, 1879, when seven months old; Jessie, who died in early infancy in September, 1880; and Isabella, who died in August, 1883, when eleven months old.
Mr. Wilson is a republican in politics and has served as treasurer of his school district for seventeen years, doing much in that time to further the educational advancement of his community. He is a member of the Masonic order and also of the Methodist Episcopal church, these associations indicating the prin- ciples which govern his life. He has resided in Lancaster county for forty-five years and during that time has seen a great change in conditions as this district was a pioneer region on his arrival here. He is widely known and his ability and sterling qualities have gained him the respect of all who have come in contact with him.
FRANK MORGAN.
An excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres situated in North Bluff precinct pays tribute to the care and labor of its owner, Frank Morgan, who from the age of sixteen years has carried on farming on his own account in the precinct where he still resides. He was born October 1, 1876, within the borders of this precinct, and is a son of John and Anna ( McGuire) Morgan, both of whom were natives of Ireland, although they were married in the United States. The father came to the new world when a lad of six years, having lost his parents in Ireland. He removed from Iowa to Nebraska about the time the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was built through to Lincoln and he worked on the road at grading and in other ways. He afterward homesteaded land in North Bluff precinct and thereafter continued farming upon his place until death ended his labors in November, 1911. Ilis widow survives and still resides upon the old homestead, being numbered among the well known pioneer women of her part of the county.
Frank Morgan was the third in order of birth in a family of six children and in his youthful days he attended school in district No. 132, North Bluff precinct, but from an early age has depended upon his own resources for a living and when a youth of sixteen he began farming for himself. Ile has one hundred and sixty acres of land in his home place, where he resides, and he also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Spink county, South Dakota. He is engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock raising and his farm presents a neat and attractive appearance, because of his earnest labor, careful supervision and progressive methods.
On the 12th of April, 1904, Mr. Morgan was married to Miss Catherine Quinn, a daughter of Michael Quinn, mentioned elsewhere in this work. They have become the parents of five children, Frances Irene, Laverne Cecelia, Cath- erine Theresa, Anna Grace and Millie Rosby Microsoft ®
The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church at llavelock
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and Mr. Morgan is independent in politics, having never sought or desired office, while in the exercise of his right of franchise he votes according to the dictates of his judgment. His entire life has been spent in the locality where he lives and those who know him speak of him in terms of warm regard.
ANDREW J. SAWYER.
Andrew J. Sawyer, who has figured prominently at the bar of Lincoln since 1875, recognized as one of its leading representatives, has also left the impress of his individuality upon the history of the state in other connections. He has been identified with various financial interests and has done not a little to mold public thought and action along political lines. He was born at Ottawa, Illinois, October 5, 1844, a son of George W. and Hannah ( Bukley) Sawyer, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of County Cork, Ireland. On the paternal side the family comes of English ancestry. The father devoted his life to the occupa- tion of farming and after leaving New England became a resident of the middle west. After living for a time in Illinois they removed to a farm in Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1856, and there both passed away.
After completing his more specifically literary education in Minnesota at Chatfield Academy, from which he was graduated with the class of 1863, Andrew J. Sawyer took up the study of law in his native city and was admitted to the Illinois bar upon examination before the supreme court in 1867. He afterward engaged in teaching for a year as principal of the schools of Ottawa, and then accepted the superintendency of the public schools at Sandwich, Illinois, where he remained in that connection for four years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until he felt the sum sufficient to enable him to meet his expenses while attempting to build up a law practice. Advance- ment at the bar is proverbially slow and he felt that he must provide for a period of waiting. He removed to Mendota, Illinois, with the intention of there opening a law office, but his fame as an educator had preceded him, and he was solicited to accept the superintendency of the schools there. Acceding to this request, he remained in that position for four years.
In 1875 Mr. Sawyer removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he opened a law office and has since remained in the active practice of his profession. In 1887 he was appointed United States district attorney for the district of Nebraska and occupied that position for nearly five years. He was appointed master in chancery 'of the United States circuit court in 1908 and is still acting in that connection. In the general practice of law he won for himself very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he followed. He has remarkable powers of concentration and application and his retentive mind has often excited the surprise of his professional colleagues. As an orator he stands high, espe- cially in the discussion of legal matters before the court, where his comprehensive knowledge of the law is manifest, and his application of legal principles demon- strates the wide range of his professional acquirements, Aside from his activity at the bar he has figured prominently in financial circles of Lincoln as the vice
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president of the First National Bank, First Savings Bank, First Trust Company, and as secretary of the Mid-west Life Insurance Company of Nebraska.
On the 2d of June, 1875, in Mendota, Illinois, Mr. Sawyer was married to Miss Winona S. Branch, a daughter of Rev. William Branch, a Baptist minister. They have had no children of their own but have reared several. Fraternally Mr. Sawyer is a Mason, connected with both the York and Scottish Rites and with the Mystic Shrine. He also has membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in religious faith is a Unitarian, having for a number of years been president of the board of trustees of All Souls Church of Lincoln. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party, and in 1887 he was elected mayor of Lincoln for a two years' term, although the city has a large normal republican majority, his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen, however, winning him a vote of five hundred and thirty-seven in excess of that given his opponents. He served as president of the Law and Order League from 1885 until 1887, and in that connection gave prac- tical demonstration of his interest in the city and his advocacy of measures and movements tended to promote the public welfare and advance municipal progress. Soon after coming to Lincoln he assisted in organizing the Lincoln Humane Society and later in extending the jurisdiction over the county by having the society incorporated as the Lancaster County Human Society. He points with pride to the good work it has accomplished throughout all these years. He has ever been a man of action rather than theory, and his efforts have been attended by practical and beneficial results.
HARRY H. LEAVITT.
Harry H. Leavitt is one of the most prosperous men of Lancaster precinct, owning three hundred and sixty acres of fine land and operating six hundred and eighty acres. His birth occurred in Red Wing, Minnesota, on the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1867, and he is a son of Lorenzo and Amelia (White) Leavitt, natives of Ohio, where the father followed agricultural pursuits for some time. Subse- quently he removed to Minnesota and bought land in Goodhue county which he operated for twelve years. In 1874 he arrived in Lancaster county, Nebraska, and purchased a tract of land in Lancaster precinct which he improved and operated until called by death in September, 1894. The mother survived for almost nineteen years, dying in February, 1913.
Harry H. Leavitt was seven years of age when he accompanied his parents to this county and in its public schools received his education. He assisted his father until he attained his majority and then rented land, which he operated until he had accumulated sufficient capital to purchase one hundred and twenty acres on section 26, Lancaster precinct. He then took up his residence upon that place and began its improvement. He prospered and at length bought an addi- tional eighty acres on section 27, upon which he now lives, and another quarter section on section 26. He not only operates the three hundred and sixty acres of land which he owns but also farms three hundred and twenty acres of rented land, making six hundred and eighty acres in all. He raises abundant crops and Vol. II-23
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also raises a large number of thoroughbred Holstein cattle. He derives a sub- stantial addition to his income from the sale of milk and spares no pains in insuring absolute cleanliness in every stage of its handling. He is recognized as one of the up-to-date farmers and dairymen of his precinct and is a stock- holder in the Lancaster County Milk Producers Association.
Mr. Leavitt was married, on the 19th of March, 1890, to Miss Emma Malone, a daughter of Newman and Lucy ( Rusher) Malone, natives of Indiana, who in an early day went to Missouri, where the father farmed until 1881. In that year he came to Lancaster county and resided here until his death in November, 1902. The mother died on the 12th of May, 1908. To Mr. and Mrs. Leavitt have been born four children, namely: Maude, the wife of Lester Geis, a resident of Lancaster county ; Guy C., who died on the 27th of May, 1916, at the age of twenty-four years and seventeen days ; and Ralph L. and Madge, at home.
Mr. Leavitt indorses the principles of the democratic party, whose candidates he loyally supports at the polls, but he has never aspired to political preferment. He belongs to the Christian church and to the Modern Woodmen of America and gives his influence on the side of moral advancement. He began his career without capital but believed firmly that it was possible to succeed through enter- prise and good judgment and the years have justified him in that faith, for he has gained financial independence solely through his own efforts.
JOHN MARTIN.
John Martin has retired from active life but is still living upon his farm, pre- ferring life in the country to that in the town. He was born in Hesse Darmstadt. Germany, February 4. 1842. His parents, Louis and Annie Elizabeth ( Warner) Martin, were also natives of that country, as were the paternal grandparents, Adam and Kate Martin, who emigrated to America with their son Louis and his family. Both Mr. and Mrs. Adam Martin passed away in Allegany county, Maryland. The maternal grandparents, Henry and Annie ( Deahl ) Warner, were also of German nativity and likewise became residents of Allegany county, Maryland, where Mr. Warner engaged in farming for a time, although he had been a miller in Germany. He made his home with his son Henry in Maryland and passed away there, as did his wife. Louis Martin received a good common- school education in Germany and on reaching maturity decided to follow agricul- tural pursuits. He held the position of overseer of the government farm and also cultivated land which he owned, raising the usual crops and also sheep and other live stock. In 1846 he decided to try his fortune in the new world and emigrated to America with his family, settling in Allegany county, Maryland, where he purchased land, which he cultivated for a considerable period. How- ever, the man from whom he bought the place could not give him a good deed to the property and at length he removed to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he resided on a farm belonging to his eldest son. He passed away there in 1859 and was buried in Cove, Garrett county, Maryland. During the unsettled years just before the Civil war, when the issues between the north and south were becoming more clearly defined, his sympathies were altogether with the north
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as he believed in the maintenance of the Union and the checking of the spread of slavery. His wife survived him until 1873, passing away at the age of sixty- six years.
John Martin was but four years old when brought to the United States by his parents and began his education in the public schools of Allegany county, Maryland. Afterward he worked as a farm laborer there but in 1864, when twenty-two years of age, went to West Virginia, where he was similarly employed until the spring of 1865. He then removed to Shipman, Macoupin county, illi- nois, where he worked for others for a year, after which he rented land for four years. In 1867 he and his brother bought eighty-six acres of land which was already under cultivation and from 1869 until 1880 he farmed that place. In the latter year he and his brother disposed of their farm and he came to Lan- caster county, Nebraska. He became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of raw land in Saltillo precinct, purchasing it from his father-in-law, who had bought it from the Burlington & Missouri Railroad. He brought his farm under cultivation as soon as possible and built a dwelling and barn on the place. Later he bought an adjoining sixty acres, also on section 21, and subsequently he pur- chased a forty acre tract, likewise on that section, and still later acquired title to forty acres on section 16. He has since disposed of the last tract but still owns two hundred and twenty acres, on section 21, highly improved. He engaged in general farming and raising Holstein cattle, and his plans were so well managed that as the years passed his capital steadily increased. In 1900 he retired from active life and turned the operation of the farm over to his son, who has since managed the place although he expects to rent it to others from this time forward.
Mr. Martin was married at Keyser, Maryland, on the 23d of October, 1863, to Miss Catherine Deahl, a daughter of Andrew and Matilda ( Schultz ) Deahl, the former born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. The year 1834 witnessed his emigration to America and he first located in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he farmed for several years, after which he removed to Allegany county, Maryland. There he cultivated land for a quarter of a century but at the end of that time went to Macoupin county, Illinois, where agricultural pursuits claimed his attention until 1870. He then came to Lancaster county, Nebraska, and from that time until his death, on the ist of September, 1886, resided in Saltillo precinct. He reached the advanced age of seventy-seven years and was held in the high esteem to which his long and honorable life entitled him. His wife was a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of Adam and Nancy (Shokey) Schultz, natives respectively of Germany and Som- erset county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Schultz settled in that county on his removal to the United States but later went with his family to Allegany county. Maryland. Ile passed away in Grantsville, Maryland, but his wife died in Illinois, where she removed following his demise. Mrs. Martin was born in Allegany county, Maryland, on the 23d of July, 1842, and there grew to womanhood. By her marriage she has become the mother of twelve children, of whom nine survive, as follows: Matilda Elizabeth became the wife of George Louis Emmerich, a rancher of Live Oak, California. Sarah Ann is at home. John Ernest resides in Johnson, Nebraska. Clare Mabel married Herbert Martin Hanson, a farmer of Lancaster county. Mary Estella is at home / Charles Elineris farming in Lancaster county. Nellie Viola married Henry Wissel. a farmer of this county.
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Maude Catherine is at home. Hilda Pearl is the wife of Levi Weibel and they reside at Hickman. All of the children received good educational advantages, attending the Hickman high school after completing the common school course.
Mr. Martin is a democrat in politics and takes a keen interest in public affairs. He served for two terms as a member of the board of school district No. 88, which includes the town of Hickman, and was re-elected the following year but refused to continue in office. He is an ardent supporter of the prohibition movement, as are all of his family, and they do all in their power to strengthen the sentiment against the liquor traffic. He is a charter member of Hickman Lodge, No. 256, A. F. & A. M., and held office in his lodge while a resident of Illinois. Ile and his daughters, Maude Catherine, Hilda and Mary, are all identified with the Order of the Eastern Star. The entire family belongs to the English Lutheran church, and their daily lives bear witness to the sincerity of their faith.
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