USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume II > Part 74
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
713
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
took up evangelistie work and for twenty-one years was an evangelist under the direction of the bishop, going wherever assigned to help pastors with revival services. During that time he also preached in other states, traveling from Cali- fornia to New York, through Canada and the south, but working especially in the middle states. For the past two years he has had charge of the churches at Johnson and Graff, Nebraska, and during that time he has gained recognition as a leader in all of the movements making for righteousness in those communities. He resides in a beautiful home at No. 2014 R street, University Place.
Rev. Powers was married at Tekamah, Nebraska, to Miss Belle Hopewell, who was born in Missouri, and they have three living children : Pearl Edna, who is the wife of O. J. Fee, manager of the Evans Laundry in Lincoln ; May Max- field, the wife of T. O. Canada, of Massillon, Ohio; and Junia Gertrude, who graduated with the degree of B. A. in June, 1916, from Wesleyan University. Another daughter, Carrie Belle, died at the age of four years.
Rev. Powers is a stanch advocate of prohibition and always votes for candi- dates who are opposed to the liquor traffic. For many years he was constantly associated with the well known Dr. D. W. C. Huntington, formerly chancellor of the university in Lincoln. Their individuality and tastes drew them very closely together and it is doubtful which had the greater influence on the other. Throughout the many years of his ministry Rev. Powers has given himself unsparingly to the work of the church and his sole purpose has been to advance the cause of Christianity. He is a fine speaker and this, coupled with his sincerity and zeal, has made him a power for good in all of the communities in which he has labored. He is also a man of fine physique and many a man his junior might well envy his physical and mental vigor. He is greatly beloved by all regardless of denominational connections, for he has that ready sympathy and broad charity which transcends all denominationalism, prompting him at all times to extend a helping hand where aid is needed and to speak a word of en- couragement, counsel or good cheer.
R. L. BENTLEY, M. D.
Dr. R. L. Bentley is one of the leading physicians of Lincoln in point of years of practice and throughout the entire period of his professional connec- tion with the city he has kept in touch with the latest scientific researches and discoveries that have to do with the laws of health. A native son of Michigan, he was born in Constantine, January 13, 1855. his parents being Wheeler and Miranda ( Loomis) Bentley. The father was a lumberman and removed to Nebraska in the fall of 1880, after which he became prominently identified with the development and upbuilding of the capital city. In addition to carrying on business along the line indicated he built the Bentley & Leming block at Nos. 229-31 South Ninth street, a three story brick structure, which is still standing.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof. Dr. Bentley pursued his education in public and high schools of Indiana and in 1876 took up the study of medicine, reading for a year and a half under the direction of Dr. Hankenson at Valparaiso, Indiana. During that period he also pursued a course in anatomy,
714
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
physiology and chemistry in Brown's Normal School at Valparaiso and in the fall of 1875 matriculated in the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. After attending one term he entered upon the active practice of medicine at Tollestou, Indiana, this antedating the period when the law required a practitioner to be the graduate of some standard school of medi- cine and compelled him to pass a required examination. Dr. Bentley continued in active practice in Tolleston until the fall of 1880, when, desiring to promote his knowledge and efficiency, he entered the Bennett Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1881. Immediately afterward he came to Lincoln, opened an office and for thirty-five years has been actively and successfully engaged in practice in this city. He was president of the com- mittee that organized Cotner University and from its establishment he was for ten years prominently identified with the affairs of that instituion, serving as a member of the executive committee of the medical department for several years and also as a member of the faculty, lecturing on the diseases of women and children. Ile was likewise president of the board of directors, and in 1901 he was made emeritus professor of diseases of women and children. In 1915 he was proffered the deanship of the college but refused the honor.
In September, 1880, Dr. Bentley was united in marriage to Miss Julia L. Leming, of Union Mills, Indiana, and they have become the parents of two children, Mabel and Bessie, both of whom are deceased. The Doctor belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Highlanders, the Fraternal Union and the Lincoln Commercial Club. He is also a member of the Lancaster County Medical Society, the Nebraska State Eclectic Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He has been honored with the presidency of the Nebraska State Eclectic Medical Society, serving in 1800-91. He is one of the best known practitioners of Lincoln, and his work has been of the greatest possible value to his fellowmen. In 1908 he built the Central Hospital, which he conducted for six years, at the end of which time he sold the equipment and rented the huilding to Dr. Lewellyn. His professional service has always conformed to the highest possible standard, and he has ever manifested the keenest interest in those things which tend to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life. Aside from broad scientific knowledge he has marked sympathy and a keen understanding which enables him to correctly solve many an intricate and involved professional problem.
REV. JOHN E. BAUMGARTNER.
Rev. John E. Baumgartner was for many years actively identified with the work of the ministry until failing health necessitated his retirement, and he passed away in Lincoln, January 21. 1912. after a long illness. His life had been fraught with great good for the benefit of his fellowmen, his labors being a potent force in the moral progress of the communities in which he lived. Ile was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 24 ,1841, a son of John and Margaret Digitized by Microsoft ®
715
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
Baumgartner, who were also natives of that country, in which they spent their entire lives.
John E. Baumgartner began his education in the schools of his native coun- try and continued his studies after coming to America, spending some time as a pupil in Dubuque, Iowa, and Strawberry Point, that state. He had made the voyage to the new world when a young man of twenty years and after his graduation at Dubuque he began preaching as a minister of the Lutheran church at Fort Madison, Iowa, where he continued for a short time. Later he went to Illinois, where he devoted fifteen years to preaching the gospel, and at the end of that time he became actively connected with missionary work in Buffalo county, Nebraska, where he remained for five years. Later he located at Mur- dock, Nebraska, where he engaged in preaching for eighteen years and subse- quently was obliged to retire on account of his health. His labors had been a most potent force in advancing the work of the church and extending its influence. His teachings proved a potent force in the lives of many with whom he came into contact, influencing them to adopt higher ideals and loftier stan- dards. Upon his retirement he removed to Lincoln, where he passed away, his death terminating a career of marked usefulness.
In August, 1872, Rev. Baumgartner was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Goppelt, a daughter of Andreas and Kunigunda Goppelt, who spent their entire lives in Germany. Rev. and Mrs. Baumgartner had six children, as follows: John E., who is a minister residing in Chicago, Illinois; Conrad, a farmer living near Murdock, Nebraska : Louie, a minister who makes his home at Huntley, Illinois ; Charles, a merchant of Chicago; Annie, the wife of Ernest Schroeder, of Chicago; and Bertha M., at home.
Rev. Baumgartner had always given his political allegiance to the republican party and was interested in the vital questions and issues of the day, for he recognized the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship. His talents were ever wisely used for the benefit of others and in his ministerial labors he was not denied the full harvest nor the aftermath.
JOHN G. HORNUNG.
John G. Hornung of College View, has gained gratifying success as a real estate and insurance agent and his enterprise and good judgment are generally recognized. Ilis birth occurred in La Salle county, Illinois, in May, 1800, and his parents were John G. and Magdalena (Ott) Hornung, natives of Germany. They came to the United States in early life. The father, who was a farmer and blacksmith, located in La Salle county, Illinois, where he purchased land and devoted his time to its cultivation until his demise, which occurred in August, 1899. He was survived by his wife for many years, as she passed away in January, 1913.
John G. Hornung grew to manhood in his native county and acquired his education in the public schools. When he had attained his majority he rented land in La Salle county, but after farming there for a year removed to Gage Digitized by microsoft w
716
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
county, Nebraska, where he worked by the month as a farm hand and also followed the carpenter's trade. Subsequently he purchased land in that county which he operated for eighteen years, but in 1906 he took up his residence in College View, where he still lives. He has since engaged in the real estate and insurance business and has negotiated many realty transfers and written a large number of policies. Although he gives the greater part of his time to his business in College View. he still owns his farm in Gage county, Nebraska. Ile has erected a fine, modern, double store building. in College View, on the first floor of which his office and a hardware and book store are located, while the second story is used for offices. He owns stock in the Bank of College View and the College View Lumber Company, in both of which he is also a director, and he is vice president of the Nebraska Farmers Mutual Fire & Lightning Com- pany, of Lincoln.
Mr. Hornung was married, in October, 1885. to Miss Matilda M. Sutter and they have two children: Frank W., who is an electrical engineer residing in College View, and Elsie B., the wife of Dr. B. L. Hooper, a dentist of this place.
Dr. Hornung is a republican and served for six years as a member of the town council and as mayor for one term. He proved very capable in the dis- charge of his official duties and at all times sought to further the public welfare. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he is a member of the Union church. His business ability and carefulness have not only enabled him to manage his individual affairs ably but have also made his influence of value in the conduct of the concerns of which he is director.
ARTHUR W. LANE.
Arthur W. Lane is a native of Ohio. He was born at Parma, then a suburb but now incorporated in the city of Cleveland, December 12, 1860, and was the only son of Dexter and Caroline (Chamberlin) Lane. His father enlisted as a soldier in the Union army at the beginning of the Civil war and served until its close. At the close of the war he moved his family to the then new state of Minnesota, settling in Steele county.
The subject of this sketch obtained his early education in the proverbial log school house of pioneer days and afterward attended the Minnesota (later Pillsbury ) Academy at Owatonna, being graduated therefrom in 1880. While pursuing his studies at the academy he taught one term of district school and after graduation was principal of the schools at Flandreau, South Dakota, for one year. He then became principal at Clearwater, Minnesota, where he remained for two years, but in the meantime had taken up the study of law and in the spring of 1885 was admitted to the bar at Owatonna, Minnesota. Immediately thereafter lie came to Lincoln, where he has since been constantly engaged in the active and successful practice of his profession. For the first five years he was the law partner of W. A. Selleck, under the firm name of Selleck & Lane. In 1890 N. C. Abbott became /a member of the firin and its business was continued in the
717
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
name of Abbott, Selleck & Lane. In 1898 Mr. Selleck retired from the firm, which then became Abbott & Lane and so continued until 1901, when Mr. Abbott removed to Texas. Since that date Mr. Lane has continued in practice alone. In April, 1905, he was appointed assistant United States attorney for the dis- trict of Nebraska and has since occupied that position, covering a period of eleven years.
On the 7th day of March, 1885. Mr. Lane was married to Miss Adele Town- send of Clearwater, Minnesota. In addition to his professional interests Mr. Lane is vice president and one of the directors of the National Accident Insurance Com- pany, of Lincoln, which he aided in organizing in 1907. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and a member of Lincoln Lodge No. 8o, B. P. O. E.
In 1890 and again in 1901, he was elected to the lower house of the state legislature from Lancaster county. Aside from this and the position of assistant United States attorney he has never sought nor held public office.
JEROME SHAMP.
Jerome Shamp, president of the Shamp Implement Company, was born at Georgetown, Defiance county, Ohio, May 14, 1847, a son of N. B. T. and Matilda (Wilby) Shamp, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Muskin- gum county, Ohio. The mother died when her son Jerome was but six years of age and he was a little lad of but eight years when he lost his father, at which time. thrown upon the mercies of a cold world, he was bound out and at the age of fourteen years he ran away. He first went to Toledo, Ohio, and later to South Bend, Indiana, and there, when not yet sixteen years of age, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company H of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry in December, 1862. He participated in all the raids between Atlanta and Nash- ville and at the latter place his horse fell upon him, injuring his knee so seriously that he was discharged for disability in July, 1865. With the exception of four years when he was first married he has always been obliged to use a crutch and cane in order to assist him in getting around, so badly was he injured.
On the 6th of June, 1866, Mr. Shamp arrived in Lancaster county, Nebraska, where lived his two uncles, P. S. Shamp and Peter Pickle. He secured a home- stead claim in what became Centerville precinct and with characteristic energy began the improvement of his eighty-acre tract of land, to which he afterward added forty acres. Thereon he engaged in general farming until 1876, when he removed to Lincoln and turned his attention to the implement business, becoming a member of the firm of Dawson, Shamp & Company. Various changes in the partnership have led to the adoption successively of the firm names of Walling- ford. Shamp & Company, Doolittle, Shamp & Company and Wallingford & Shamp. At length the business was incorporated under the name of the Shamp Implement Company, with Jerome Shamp as the president, and for forty years he has been continuously engaged in business in Lincoln, one of its oldest, most Digitized by Microsoft ®
718
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
prominent and most highly respected merchants, his name becoming a synonym in trade circles of this city for integrity and enterprise. In addition to his inter- ests as president of the Shamp Implement Company, Mr. Shamp became one of the organizers of the Lancaster Milk Producers Association and is chairman of its board of directors.
In 1870, in Lancaster county, Mr. Shamp was united in marriage to Miss Jane Wallingford, a native of Shelby county, Ohio, and a daughter of Richard and Eliza ( Allen ) Wallingford, who were also born in the Buckeye state. In 1855 they removed to Decatur county, lowa, and three years later came to Lan- caster county, Nebraska, settling on a farm six miles southeast of the present site of Lincoln, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Richard Walling- ford died at the age of sixty-seven years, while his wife passed away twenty- eight years ago, the county thus losing two of its honored early settlers. Mr. Wallingford was prominently connected with business affairs here in early times and became well-to-do. His daughter, Mrs. Shamp, has probably been a resident of this county for a longer period than any other of its citizens and there is no phase of its history or its development with which she is not familiar, and her reminiscences of the early days are most interesting. By her marriage she has become the mother of seven children, namely: Bertwell, of Lincoln, who is married and has seven children; Eliza May, the wife of Adolf Wein- berger, a merchant of Lincoln, by whom she has one child; Maude M., who is the wife of E. T. Peters of Lincoln and the mother of one child ; Claude, who is married and is a member of the Lincoln fire department ; Malvin, a resident of Lincoln, who is married and has one child; Ole, of Lincoln, who is married and has one child ; and Arthur, at home. Theirs is a most notable family record, for among the seven children and eleven grandchildren there has been not a single death in forty-six years.
From the time of his arrival in this county Mr. Shamp has taken a most active and helpful part in promoting all the interests which have been of vital signifi- cance to the community. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, have called him to various positions of honor and trust and in 1887 the republican party, of which he has long been a stalwart advocate, elected him to the state legislature. During his term as a member of the general assembly he served on the railroad committee and was chairman of the committee of the whole, having charge of the railroad committee between the house and the senate. He was also chairman of the appropriations committee. He fought hard to secure the location of the Armour packing plant in Lincoln but it was taken to South Omaha. In 1892 he was a candidate for congress against William Jennings Bryan. Until coming to Lancaster county Mr. Shamp had had no opportunity to attend school and his education has all been self-acquired, but he has been a close student of men and events, watching the signs of the times and giving deep and earnest consideration to civic and industrial questions. He has thoroughly informed himself upon many vital problems and has become a very able speaker and writer. He is opposed to graft and "competitivism" of any kind and he applies these rules in the conduct of his own business, giving one price to all. For seven consecutive years he was president of the Western Implement Dealers association, which fiidicates his high standing in trade circles,
719
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
and he was highly complimented for the addresses which he made at the annual meetings of that organization, showing that he was acquainted with every branch of the trade and possessed an initiative spirit that wrought along new and progressive lines for the benefit of the business. His commercial and public interests have brought him a personal acquaintance with many men of prom- inence in the country. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Grand Army of the Republic, proudly wearing the little bronze button that proclaims him a representative of the latter organization and indicates the fact that he was loyal to the country during the darkest hour in her history. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. In business he has prospered, becoming a well to do man, and he now occupies a beautiful home at No. 1636 South Seventeenth street, surrounded by all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, all of which have come to him as the legitimate outcome of well defined effort intelligently directed.
WILLIAM H. GOLZ.
William H. Golz, who owns a fine farm of three hundred and thirty-six acres in Waverly precinct, is one of the native sons of Lancaster county who have continued to reside here, recognizing that the county offers excellent oppor- tunities to the agriculturist. He was born upon a farm southwest of Lincoln, on the 12th of November, 1875, and his parents were Albert and China ( Calavan) Golz, who were born respectively in Germany on the 10th of March, 1854, and in Mercer county, Missouri, in December, 1858. The father emigrated to the United States when fourteen years of age and at once made his way to the middle west. He walked from Nebraska City to Lincoln, where he had a sister living, and for some time worked for others. He could not speak English when he came to this country, but in a comparatively short time became familiar with the language. He carefully saved his wages and purchased land sixteen miles south- west of Lincoln before he was old enough to take up land under the homestead law. The business ability and the energy which enabled him to become a land- owner at such an early age have always characterized him and he now holds title to more than a thousand acres of fine land in Lancaster county. The village of Prague is situated upon part of his home farm and he has seen many remark- able changes as the county has developed from a frontier region into a prosperous agricultural district. He is still actively engaged in farming and carefully super- vises the cultivation of all of his land. In 1914 he returned to Germany on a visit and was in that country when the present war began.
William H. Golz, who is the eldest of a family of four children, attended school in district No. 85, Waverly precinct, and as a boy and youth also gained practical training in agriculture through assisting his father. For a number of years after attaining his majority he engaged in farming in partnership with his father and during that time he bought his present farm, which comprises three hundred and thirty-sixjacres -in
720
LINCOLN AND LANCASTER COUNTY
residence upon that place and has since concentrated his energies upon its opera- tion and further development. He raises stock extensively and also harvests large crops of grain annually. He is always ready to adopt new methods when their superiority over the old has been proven and in the management of his financial affairs displays marked business ability.
Mr. Golz was married on the 11th of June, 1902, to Miss Emma Meyer, whose birth occurred in Roca, Nebraska, and who is a daughter of Henry and Sophia (Menke) Meyer, natives respectively of Iowa and Germany. The family came to Lancaster county in 1869 and located near Roca, where the father farmed until his death about 1900. He held several local offices. Mr. and Mrs. Golz have three children, Blanche Sophia, Sylvia Eleanor and Goldie.
Mr. Golz supports the republican party at the polls but has never desired office as a reward for his fealty. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. His dominant characteristics are such as never fail to command respect and regard and he is one of the most valued residents of his township.
ROBERT GRAHAM.
Robert Graham, who is engaged in general farming on section 23, Lan- caster precinct, was born in Carlisle, England, in November, 1851. a son of Robert and Anna Graham, who were natives of that country. The father followed farming in England and never came to the new world. His son Robert was reared and educated in England where he remained until 1881 when he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, making his way at once to Lancaster county, where for a time he was employed as a farm hand. He then began farming on his own account and has been thus engaged to the present time, owning now eighty acres of land on section 23. Lancaster precinct. He has carefully cultivated his fields from the time of early spring planting until the crops are harvested in late autumn. His methods are practical and the result of his labors is seen in the excellent crops which he annually gathers.
Mr. Graham is married and has three children : John T., who follows farm- ing in Lancaster precinct: Robert, living in Hastings, Nebraska ; and Richard, in Canada. The wife and mother passed away in 1881 and in October, 1896, Mr. Graham was again married, his second union being with Mary E. (McKnight) Parrish, a daughter of Michael and Anna MeKnight, who were natives of Ireland and in early life came to America settling in New York. After following farm- ing in that state for a time the father spent a number of years as a farmer in Canada and eventually became a resident of lowa, where he remained until his death in 1881. His wife had passed away in 1861. Their daughter Mary was first married to Levi Parrish, in 1871. and they became the parents of five children, of whom three are living: Lillian, the wife of Gene Adams; and Agatha and Francis, both of whom are residents of California. Mr. Parrish passed away in 1800.
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.