USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume II > Part 64
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he began practice at Smith Center, Kansas, where he practiced from 1887 until 1893. In the latter year he returned to Lincoln, where he has since been in active practice. For nearly thirty years he has followed his profession and while at Smith Center, Kansas, served as city attorney and since locating in Lincoln has spent seven years in the county attorney's office, acting in the position of deputy for three years and as county attorney for four years. He is a repub- lican in politics but has never been a candidate for political preferment. Aside from his profession he is a director of the Lincoln Terminal Company, which has recently erected on the southwest corner of Tenth and O streets a fine, new, modern ten-story office building of reinforced steel construction at a cost of half a million dollars, this being one of the best office buildings of the city. It is known as the Terminal building.
In 1886 Mr. Tyrrell was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Rockey, a native of McConnell's Grove, Stephenson county, Illinois. Mr. Tyrrell has a handsome home on the corner of Thirteenth and K streets, which be built in 1902. He is a Knights Templar Mason and Shriner. His maternal grandfather, Abel Bixby, was a prominent member of the order in Vermont and Mr. Tyrrell now has in his possession several Masonic relics that belonged to his grandfather, including a beautifully engraved silver jewel which bears the date 1811. Mr. Tyrrell is also an Elk and a member of the Lincoln Commercial Club, the Lay- men's Club, the Lincoln Bar Association and the State Bar Association. While he is a broad-minded man and his interests are varied, his attention is confined chiefly to his law practice and his devotion to his clients' interests in proverbial.
ROBERT M. CASEY.
Robert M. Casey is now operating the family homestead of two hundred and forty acres on section 15. North Bluff precinct, on which his birth occurred February 26, 1884. His parents, Michael Henry and Mary Jane ( Kearns) Casey, were born respectively in Binghamton, New York, on the 17th of April, 1853, and Glasgow, Scotland, on the 15th of August, 1860. In early life the father worked for others in various occupations but in the '70s came to Nebraska and was for a time employed on the construction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. He then farmed in partnership with his brother in Cass county and several years later purchased land in Lancaster county, Nebraska, but afterward disposed of it. He next bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 10, North Bluff precinct, where he resided until the last three years of his life with the exception of the years from 1893 to 1805, during which time he was engaged in construction work, using a number of teams. About three years before his death he retired from active life and removed to Havelock, where he filled the office of street commissioner. He passed away there in 1912 but his wife is still residing in that town.
Robert M. Casey, who is one of a family of five children, remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age and then went to South Omaha, where he became foreman for Crosby Kopiet2 Casey. Company, a large lumber concern of that city. After spending two years with that firm he
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returned to Lancaster county and for a year operated the home place. He was then for several years engaged in farming elsewhere in the county but is now again living on the home farm. It comprises two hundred and forty acres of highly improved land and he derives therefrom a gratifying income, raising both stock and grain. He devotes the greater part of his energies to agricultural pursuits but as a side line writes insurance.
Mr. Casey was married on the 25th of April, 1906, to Miss Kathryn Kane, who was born in Vail, lowa, and is a daughter of Patrick and Rose (Carey) Kane, both natives of Wisconsin. The father, who was a farmer and railroad man, passed away in Iowa and the mother and children subsequently removed to South Omaha. Mrs. Kane is now a resident of Seattle, Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Casey have been born three children, Robert Francis, Edward Emmett and Kathryn Rose, all attending district school No. 93.
Mr. Casey is an independent republican and is now serving his fourth year as assessor of North Bluff precinct, in which capacity he has made an excellent record. Ilis religious faith is indicated by the fact that he is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus at Lincoln.
SAMUEL V. ROGERS.
Among the successful farmers of Lancaster county is Samuel V. Rogers, who owns eighty acres of good land near Waverly. He was born in Jefferson county, New York, on the 15th of August, 1831, a son of Samuel and Emily ( Marble) Rogers, also natives of that county. They became residents of Knox county, Illinois, locating upon a farm near Galesburg, and there both passed away. The father served for several years as justice of the peace and as a member of the school board and was highly esteemed in the community.
Samuel V. Rogers, who is the fourth in order of birth in a family of nine children, attended school in Knox county, Illinois, and as a boy also assisted his father with the farm work. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-two years of age when he engaged in farming in Mercer county, Illinois, following agricultural pursuits there until 1878 when he came to Lancaster county and located upon a farm on Salt Creek, three miles north- west of Waverly. After operating that place for six years he went to Kansas, but three years later returned to Lancaster county and bought his present farm, which comprises eighty acres on section 36, Waverly precinct. He engages in general farming and, as he is both practical and progressive in his methods, obtains a good annual income from his land.
Mr. Rogers was married, on the 25th of September, 1852, to Miss Lucy A. Pond, who was born at Castleton, Vermont, on the 8th of January, 1835. and was a daughter of Iloratio Nelson and Hannah B. ( Hitchcock ) Pond, also natives of the Green Mountain state. They were among the early settlers of lola, Mercer county, Illinois, and there the father farmed for some time but later engaged in merchandising. Following his death the mother removed to Shenandoah, Iowa, and spent her last years with a son. Mrs. Rogers passed
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to her final rest on the 17th of December, 1912. She was the mother of six children, as follows: Lucy Evelyn, the wife of William McMurray, a carpen- ter living in Omaha; Orrin Francis, who died in infancy; Olive Milton, who is assisting his father with the farm work; Ella Jane, also at home; Horatio Nelson, who is a carpenter and is married; and Etta Florence, who died in Illinois when six years old.
Mr. Rogers is a progressive republican but confines his political activity to the exercise of his right of franchise. He holds membership in the Congrega- tional church and in all relations of life conforms his conduct to high standards.
HENRY BOLDT.
Among the highly esteemed residents of Nemaha precinct is Henry Boldt, who is still residing upon his farm in section 25, although he has now retired from active life. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on the 27th of December, 1850, a son of Peter Christian and Thea (l'eterson) Boldt, both natives of Denmark. The father's birth occurred on the 18th of March, 1809, and he passed his active life in Denmark, where he worked as a farm laborer. In 1880, when seventy-one years of age, he came to America and from that time until his death, in February, 1889, made his home with his son. He is buried in Bennet. His wife passed away in Denmark in February, 1874, and is buried in that country.
Henry Boldt was reared near Copenhagen and received a common school education. He was engaged in farm work in his native country until 1869, but in that year came to the United States as he desired to take advantage of the opportunities which this country offered. He worked as a farm hand in the vicinity of Sheffield, Bureau county, Illinois, for about three years, and at the end of that time came to Nebraska, proceeding by rail to Council Bluffs, and thence by wagon to Nemaha precinct, Lancaster county. He bought eighty acres of raw land on section 25 from the Burlington & Missouri Railroad, and there built a house, twelve by twenty feet. He broke the land and devoted his time to its cultivation. In 1877 he leased a forty acre tract of school land on section 36, Nemaha precinct, which he purchased in 1884. In 1889 he erected a commodious residence on section 25. and there he still resides, although he has now retired from the active work of the farm. He has since remodeled the residence, which is one of the most attractive farm homes of the precinct. In 1912 he purchased eighty acres on section 26, Nemaha precinct, and he derives a good income from his land, which totals two hundred acres. He engaged in raising both grain and stock until 1915, when he turned the opera- tion of his farms over to his sons.
Mr. Boldt was married at Lincoln, on the 17th of March, 1875, to Miss Tina Hansen, whose birth occurred in the vicinity of Copenhagen. Denmark, on the 7th of June. 1852. She grew to womanhood there. but in 1874 came to America, and for a year resided in, Bureau, county, Illinois. In 1875 she became a resident of Lancaster county, where she has since made her home. Mr. and Mrs. Boldt are the parents of seven children: Thea, the wife of Ira
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Hedges, a merchant of Panama; Rosa, deceased; Laura, the wife of Thomas Dickson, a farmer of Lancaster county; Clara, the deceased wife of Clinton Dickson, a merchant of Panama; Emil, who operates the home farm; Mattie, at home; and Harold, who is associated with his brother Emil in the opera- tion of the homestead.
Mr. Boldt supports the republican party at the polls and has served acceptably as road boss. He has made an unusual record as a member of the school board of district No. 27, as he has served on that board for twenty years, during which time he has done much to promote educational advance- ment in that district. He has belonged to the Danish Brotherhood lodge at Bennet since 1906, and has served through all of the chairs in that organiza- tion, and he has likewise held a number of offices in Panama Camp, No. 2227, M. W. A. Both he and his wife belong to the Danish Lutheran church and seek to conform their conduct to its teachings. They have gained a wide acquaint- ance throughout the county and are highly respected.
F. B. YOUNG.
F. B. Young has been agent for the Burlington Railroad Company at Have- lock since 1802 and has been in the employ of the company since 1888. This period of twenty-eight years stands in incontrovertible evidence of the fact that he has been a most trustworthy, capable and reliable employe and in his present position he is popular, being ever courteous and obliging. He was born in Lake county, Illinois, March 21, 1871, and is a son of Curtis and Rhoda ( Biddlecom) Young, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. Follow- ing his removal to the west, the father engaged in merchandising at Friend and at Hampton, Nebraska, for many years but is now living retired in Havelock, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. His wife has long since passed away, her death having occurred in 1876.
F. B. Young spent the first ten years of his life in the county of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Nebraska, after which he continued his education, begun in the public schools of Illinois, by study in the public schools of Hampton and of York, Nebraska. He was apprenticed to learn the milling business at Algernon, Nebraska, where he worked for two years and he also occupied the position of assistant postmaster at that place for a year. He next turned his attention to railroading at Ansley, Nebraska, where he acted as assistant around the depot until he learned telegraphy and became an operator, after which he was employed as extra agent at various points along the line. In 1892 he came to Havelock, the year following the founding of the town, and throughout the intervening period, covering almost a quarter of a century, he lias remained as station agent and telegraph operator at this point. He is never neglectful of his duty in the slightest degree, puts forth every effort to assist patrons of the road. and by his willingness, his capability and fidelity has won a most enviable reputation with the company.
Mr. Young Was fujited in /marriagecto Miss fAlta) E. Bennett, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of D. L. and Martha E. (Bryant) Bennett. Her father
F. B. YOUNG
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is now deceased, but the mother survives and is living in Havelock. Mr. and Mrs. Young have become the parents of five children: Fern O., who is teaching in the Havelock schools; Glenn B., who is assistant cashier of the First National Bank at Havelock ; Koa, who is attending high school at Havelock : Don, also in school; and Zoa, who completes the family.
Mr. Young exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and meas- ures of the republican party and for two years he served as city councilman of Havelock in the 'gos. He was also city clerk for three years and for twelve con- secutive years was a member of the school board, discharging every public duty with the same promptness and fidelity that has characterized his service with the railroad company. He is a charter member of George Washington Lodge, No. 250, A. F. & A. M. and is most loyal to the teachings of the craft which has as its basic principles a recognition of the brotherhood of man.
EDWARD D. DAVIS.
Edward D. Davis, deceased, who was an honored veteran of the Civil war and for ten years was the efficient warden of the state penitentiary of Nebraska, possessed many substantial qualities that gave him firm hold upon the affection- ate regard of those with whom he was associated. He was a man of high purposes, of undaunted courage and of loyalty to every cause which he believed to be right. His birth occurred in North Wales, November 16, 1846, a son of David and Elizabeth (Hughes) Davis, who were also natives of Wales. On coming to America they settled near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where the father died in 1883. while the mother survived until 1889, when she became one of the victims of the terrible Johnstown flood.
Edward D. Davis was reared and educated in the Keystone state, being but a young lad when the family crossed the Atlantic. He acquired a common school education and in 1878, when a young man of thirty-two years, came to Nebraska, first settling at Glenville, Clay county, where he followed black- smithing until the fall of 1887. At that date he was elected sheriff of Clay county, a position which he acceptably filled for eight years, proving an able and efficient officer, a man of courage and good judgment. In 1902 he was appointed warden of the state penitentiary at Lincoln and occupied that position two years. In 1911 he was made deputy warden and met death while in that position, being killed by a negro convict on the 14th of February, 1912, when he was sixty-six years of age. At the time of the Civil war he had mani- fested his loyalty to his country by enlisting for one hundred days' service, and when that time had expired he reenlisted in 1864 as a member of Company H, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained until the close of hostilities.
On the 10th of May, 1871, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Elizabeth Rees, a native of Wales and a daughter of Lewis and Sarah ( Morris) Rees, who were also natives of that country and in 18 o camestofthe United States, settling at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The father was a miner and later turned his attention to general merchandising, which he followed at Johnstown, Penn-
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sylvania. Finally he retired from active business life and in 1885 passed away in Colorado, whither he had gone for the benefit of his health. His widow survived until January, 1906, when her death occurred. Their daughter, Mrs. Davis, was born in Wales, in May, 1848. By her marriage she never had any children, but she reared her sister's daughter from the time the girl was a year and a half old. She is now the wife of G. E. Hager, county attorney of Lan- caster county. Mrs. Davis resides in a beautiful home at No. 1445 A street. In politics Mr. Davis was a republican and in religious faith was a Presby- terian. He belonged also to several fraternal organizations, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he had crossed the sands of the desert. lle belonged also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Work- men and the Grand Army of the Republic, always manifesting the same loyalty to his country that he displayed when he followed the stars and stripes on southern battlefiells. He was regarded as one of Lancaster county's most prominent and valued citizens and his death brought sorrow into many homes.
HENRY F. MITCHELL.
Henry F. Mitchell, who was one of the honored pioneers of Centerville precinct, Lancaster county, was born on the 25th of October. 1845, in Licking county. Ohio, of the marriage of John and Maria Mitchell, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Virginia. The father engaged in farming in Licking county during his active life and both he and the mother passed away there.
Henry F. Mitchell received his education in the early schools of his native county and there grew to manhood. He began assisting his father with the farm work when a boy and by the time that he attained his majority was a practical and efficient agriculturist. Following his marriage he and his wife went to Cherokee county, Kansas, where they resided for five years, but in the fall of 1873 came to Lancaster county, and Mr. Mitchell purchased eighty acres of land in Centerville precinct, with borrowed capital. He at once began the improvement and operation of his farm and as the years passed paid off all his indebtedness. He engaged in farming and stock raising and was a factor in the development of his county along those lines. Ilis death occurred upon his home farm on the 21st of February, 1902.
Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage on the Ist of January, 1868, to Miss Alice Buel, who was born in Hartford township, Licking county, Ohio, on the 29th of April. 1849. An account of the life of her father, Edwin Buel, appears in the sketch of her brother, Friend Buel, Sr. She is still living and makes her home upon the Mitchell homestead in Centerville precinet. Following the death of Mr. Mitchell she became the wife of Ransom Jacobus, of Ohio, but he is also now deceased. She is one of the few pioneer settlers of Lancaster county still living, is yet active and in good health, and remembers vividly the early conditions in theZcounty and the eventsCoffpioneer days. She has had
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three children, but one, Sailey B., died in infancy. Those who survive are: Clyde E. and Clinton J.
Mr. Mitchell cast his ballot in favor of the candidates of the republican party, but was not otherwise active in politics. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons and Knights of Pythias, and in his daily life exemplified the beneficient principles upon which those organizations are based. He was a man of determination, enterprise and self-reliance, and these qualities enabled him to overcome the obstacles which had to be encountered in the early days, and at the time of his death he was one of the substantial men of his precinct. He gained many friends in the county and his demise was widely and deeply regretted.
CHARLES E. DAFT.
Charles E. Daft is successfully operating one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Waverly precinct and is also recognized as a public-spirted citizen, ready to cooperate in movements seeking the general good. He was born in Fulton county, Illinois, on the 11th of July, 1855, the youngest of the seven children born to Thomas and Millicent ( Penistone) Daft, both natives of Lan- caster, England. About 1846 the father came to this country and for a short time worked near Canton, Fulton county, Ilinois, as a butcher. About 1856 he purchased a farm east of Canton and there remained until his death, which occurred in the spring of 1866. The mother survived until October, 1875.
Charles E. Daft attended district school in Illinois but when fifteen years old began working as a farm hand. He was so employed until 1890, when he began operating rented land. He followed agricultural pursuits in Fulton county for a number of years but in 1907 came to Lancaster county, Nebraska, where he had purchased land in 1906. He owns one hundred and sixty acres in Waverly precinct and has improved his farm with buildings and fences, and keeps every- thing in good condition. He raises grain and stock and his annual income is a gratifying one.
Mr. Daft was married on the 27th of April, 1881, to Miss Martha Harvey, who was born in Plainfield, Illinois, and is a daughter of Levi and Eliza ( Platt ) Harvey, the former born on the 6th of April, 1832, in Canada, just across the line from Vermont, and the latter in England on the 13th of June, 1838. For a number of years the father was a salesman in the stone business but later turned his attention to other lines, at length engaging in the cigar business in Farm- ington, Illinois. He is now living retired in that place. He has taken an active part in public affairs, for three years held the office of alderman in Farmington and has also served as mayor. His wife passed away in 1894. Mrs. Daft, who is the oldest in a family of nine children, received her education in the schools of Farmington. She has become the mother of four children, as follows : Lawrence H., born March 20, 1882, is a resident of Lincoln and credit man for the Herpolsheimer department store. He married Miss Nellie Mason, of Yates City, Ilinois, and they have three children. Dorothy. Stanley Charles and Char- lotte Martha. Edward Lloyd, who was born on the 23d of June, 1885, died
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at the age of eighteen months. Ralph Lester was born December 1, 1889, and is now farming in Lancaster county. He married Miss Gladys Landis and they have a son, Benjamin Charles. William T. was born September 1, 1891, and is still at home.
Mr. Dait is a republican in politics but has never aspired to office. He belongs to the Baptist church and fraternally is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Farmers Union at Waverly. His wife is a member of the Camp Creek Circle. He has gained financial success through his work as a farmer and has also contributed to the agricultural development of his locality.
WILLIAM L. MEYER.
William L. Meyer has gained a gratifying measure of success as a farmer and stock raiser and is one of the substantial residents of Nemaha precinct. A native of Germany, he was born in Hanover, on the 10th of October, 1860, and is a son of Conrad Meyer, who was born in that province on the 17th of November, 1834. The grandparents were Henry and Louisa ( Kersal) Meyer, also natives of Germany. Henry Meyer passed away when his son Conrad was but two and a half years old, but the mother kept the children together and gave them a good education. At an early age Conrad Meyer began farming and continued to follow that pursuit in Germany until 1864, when he came to America, landing in New York. He at once made his way to Illi- nois, and after working for a railroad for six years, came to Lancaster county, in 1870. He purchased a relinquishment on an eighty acre homestead on sec- tion 24, Stockton precinct, and farmed that place until a few years ago, when he retired from active life. He still resides, however, upon his farm. It was there that the old postoffice of Rebecca was located, which was the office for the town of Sod City, an early settlement forty miles west of Nebraska City and seventeen miles east of Lincoln on the old freighting road, which was popularly known as the steam wagon road, as in the early days an attempt had been made to haul freight by a steam wagon, which, however, broke down after making one trip from Nebraska City to Lincoln.
William L. Meyer was brought to America by his parents when but a child and attended school in Downers Grove, Illinois, where the family remained until 1870, when removal was made to this state. He continued his education in the schools of Lancaster county and also devoted much of his time to assisting his father in the development of the homestead. When he was twenty-four years of age he was married and entered into a contract with his father-in-law, Fred Nolte, to care for him and his wife throughout the remainder of their lives, and in consideration for this service and for the pay- ment of one hundred dollars a year as long as they lived and one thousand dollars cash at the time of the making of the contract, Mr. Meyer was to receive title to the Nolte farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section I, Nemaha precinct. / The terms of this agreementfivere faithfully carried out and Mr. Meyer made many additional improvements upon the farm, including
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