USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume II > Part 77
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In politics Rev. Harper supports the republican party but has never been active as a political worker, although he is deeply interested in everything that pertains to the welfare and progress of the community in which he lives. He has passed the Psalmist's three score years and ten and the record of his long and honorable service in the ministry fully entitles him to the esteem and warm regard in which he is generally held.
PETER HOFFMAN.
l'eter Hoffman, one of the excellent citizens which Denmark has given Nebraska, is successfully engaged in general farming in Waverly precinct, Lan- caster county. His birth occurred at Nysted, on the 11th of May, 1851. and he is a son of Carl and Anna ( Holck) Hoffman, who passed their entire lives in Denmark, where the father followed the mason's trade.
Peter Hoffman, who is the older in a family of two children, received his education in the public schools of his native land. His boyhood and youth were passed in a number of places as his father died when he was four years of age and he made his home thereafter first with one family and then with another. When about sixteen years old he began earning his own living and after working in Denmark for some time came to America and located at Greenwood, Nebraska. He was employed as a farm hand until 1876, when he went to Lincoln, where he worked for six months. At the expiration of that period he removed to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and secured a position with the Northwestern Railroad, with which he was connected for ten years. He next took up a homestead in Colorado, in which state he had previously lived for seven years, having conducted a butcher shop at Aurelia. Having proved up on his claim he returned to Council Bluffs but after living there a year farmed in Iowa for seven years. He then removed to his present farm, which com- prises eighty acres of highly improved land in Waverly township, Lancaster county, Nebraska, and he has brought the place to a high state of development. In addition to raising grain he raises stock and specializes in chickens.
Mr. Hoffman was united in marriage on the 27th of February. 1875, to Miss Cliristina Bosen, who was also born in Denmark, Her parents, Hans and Helen (Ebson) Bosen, emigrated with their family to the United States in 1872 and
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settled at Council Bluffs, lowa. The father engaged in farming for a number of years but is now deceased, as is also the mother. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have two children: Carl August, at home; and Frank John, who is working in Council Bluffs.
Mr. Hoffman casts his ballot in support of the measures and candidates of the republican party, and his religions faith is that of the Lutheran church. He has gained many friends in Lancaster county and is recognized as one of its valued citizens.
WALTER A. LAW.
Walter A. Law, who is concentrating his energies upon the operation of his father's fine farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres in North Bluff precinct, was born in Lincoln on the IIth of March, 1881, and is a son of Oscar and Augusta ( Wing) Law, who were among the carly settlers of this county. They traveled by rail from Pennsylvania to Council Bluffs, by stage to a point on the river opposite Nebraska City, thence by ferry to Nebraska City, and then by wagon to Salt Basin, the present site of Lincoln. Mr. Law purchased a quarter section of land in what is now Lancaster precinct and on which the town of University Place has grown up, paying therefor five dollars per acre. His first house was a one-story structure, fourteen by twenty feet in dimensions, built of cottonwood lumber, which was all that could be obtained here at that time. After eighteen years he sold his land for one hundred dollars per acre, the advance in price indicating the rapid development of the county and the value of the improve- ments which he had placed upon the farm. He then purchased one hundred and sixty-three acres in North Bluff precinct, where he resided until seven years ago, when he located in College View. Three years later he removed to Lincoln, where he now makes his home. He held a number of offices while on the farm and was influential in advancing the interests of his community in many different ways. He has an excellent memory and his reminiscences of pioneer condi- tions and events are not only interesting but also valuable from a historical point of view. A full account of his life appears elsewhere in this work.
Walter A. Law is the fourth in order of birth of a family of six children and in 1887. when six years of age, began his education, attending school in a district then comprising Cotner. Havelock and University Place. Later the school which he attended was located upon the south end of his father's farm and subsequently the district was again divided. Even as a boy much of his time was devoted to farm work as there was much to be done in the develop- ment of the place. At an early age he was a capable agriculturist and when only fourteen years old he rented land, which he operated on his own account, so continuing until he was married. He then went into the Burlington shops and learned the boilermaker's trade, which he followed there for eight years. At the end of that time he returned to his father's farm in North Bluff precinct. where he has since resided, and finds that its cultivation leaves little time for outside interests./HTetdevotes the/ greater/part of the farm to the raising of corn but also breeds some stock, which he sells on the market.
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On the 27th of August, 1904, Mr. Law was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Bishop, who was born in southern Illinois and is a daughter of Alferd and Harriet Bishop, natives respectively of Ohio and of Illinois. The father served in the Civil war as a member of an Illinois regiment. He afterward engaged in farming in the Prairie state, where he died when Mrs. Law was but an infant. Her mother subsequently removed with her family to Fremont, Nebraska, and is now living at Leshara, Saunders county. Mrs. Law is the youngest of four living children and is a graduate of the Fremont high school. To Mr. and Mrs. Law have been born four children, Wurl Allen, Leland, Helen Ruth and Harley Woodrow Wilson. The last named was born on the day on which Mr. Wilson was inaugurated president.
Mr. Law is an advocate of republican principles but has not sought to hold public office. He is, however, serving at present as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America and his wife is identified with the Royal Neighbors. He is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family.
W. E. HARDY.
W. E. Hardy, president of the Hardy Furniture Company, one of the fore- most business concerns of Lincoln, has not only gained individual success but has also been a factor in the commercial advancement of his community. For two years he was president of the Commercial Club, and he has given a great deal of thought and energy to the promotion of various projects seeking the upbuilding of Lincoln. He was born in Gainesville, New York, on the 5th of August, 1863, and is a son of Harvey Wesley Hardy, who was the founder of the Hardy Furniture Company and of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
W. E. Hardy was brought to Lincoln when a child, the family arriving here on the Ist of April, 1871, and he has since resided in this city. He completed a high school course with the class of 1880 and subsequently attended the State University. He became associated with his father in business when quite young and in 1887 bought out his father and has since been president of the Hardy Furniture Company. Ile studies carefully the needs of his community and his constant endeavor is to improve the service given his patrons, recognizing that success in merchandising can only be gained by giving satisfaction to customers. The company carries furniture and house furnishings of all kinds, is thoroughly up-to-date in its methods and is the largest establishment in its line in Lincoln.
Mr. Hardy was married in 1895 to Miss Gertrude Laws, who was born in Wisconsin and is a daughter of Gilbert L. and Josephine ( Lawrence ) Laws. Her father became one of the leading public men of Nebraska, serving as sec- retary of state and also holding the office of congressman from the fifth dis- trict. He has passed away, but the mother survives and resides with Mr. and Mrs. Hardy.
Mr. Hardy is a republican in politics and for two years was alderman, mak- ing an excellent record in that capacity. His religious faith is that of the Uni-
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tarian church. Ile is one of the most active members of the Commercial Club and for two years served as president of that organization. Energetic, sound of judgment and public-spirited, he is one of the most prominent and most valued citizens of Lincoln.
HARVEY WESLEY HARDY.
Harvey Wesley Hardy was one of the pioneer merchants of Lincoln, Nebraska, and not only built up his own business to gratifying proportions but also aided in the general development of the city. He was born in Perry, Wyom- ing county, New York, on the 29th of October, 1825, a son of Samuel Hardy and a grandson of Francis Hardy. The last named was a native of Massachu- setts and fought in the Revolutionary war, taking part, among other engagements, in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was a tanner and currier by trade. His son, Samuel Hardy, passed his boyhood in Massachusetts but became a resident of Rutland, Vermont, where he remained for ten years. In 1805 he started west- ward with his wife and two children and after a journey of forty-two days in a two-wheel cart drawn by oxen, the family reached what is now Wyoming county, New York. There the father purchased land which became the town site of Perry and there he built the log house in which our subject was born. In about 1830 the family went to Gainesville township, Wyoming county, which was still a frontier region and for a number of years the nearest market was Albany, two hundred miles distant. Samuel Hardy manifested the same patri- otic spirit which characterized his father and was a soldier in the American army during the War of 1812, fighting in the battles of Lundy's Lane, Chip- pewa and Black Rock. He married Miss Polly Parker, a daughter of Stephen Parker and a native of Massachusetts. She passed away in Wyoming county, New York, in 1855.
Harvey Wesley Hardy was reared upon the home farm and in the acquire- ment of his education attended the country schools and Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, New York, where he remained for two years, and Genesee College which he attended for one year. After completing his education he engaged in teach- ing for eight years and was elected first superintendent of Wyoming county, New York, having under his charge two hundred and six schools. He filled the office so acceptably that he was offered the nomination for a second term but refused to again become a candidate. In 1868 he took up his residence in Aurora, Illinois, and for two years conducted a furniture store there but in 1870 estab- lished himself in the same line of business in Lincoln, Nebraska. As the city grew in size and importance his trade increased correspondingly, and in his methods and in the stock carried he kept pace with the needs of his customers. lle was active in the management of the store until his death and his sons are still continuing the business.
Mr. Hardy was united in marriage on the 6th of June, 1855. to Charlotte Abbott, a native of Churchville. Monroe county, New York, and a daughter of Calvin Abbott, who Grundved from Vermont do New York in 1815 and located in Ogden, Monroe county. There he purchased a tract of timber land, on which
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he built a log cabin, and his remaining days were passed upon his homestead. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Charlotte Clement, was born in Dan- ville. Caledonia county, New York, and passed away in Monroe county, New York, in 1854. To Mr. and Mrs. Hardy were born four children, namely : Clement .A., Emory C., William E. and Cora Belle.
Mr. Hardy was a whig in early manhood and later supported the abolition, free soil. and republican parties, becoming identified with the last named at its organization and adhering thereto until 1884, when he became a prohibitionist. In 1806 he became a stanch advocate of the policies of William Jennings Bryan and from that time until his death voted the democratic ticket. In 1877 and 1878 he served as mayor of Lincoln and gave the city a businesslike adminis- tration, managing its 'affairs so wisely that at the end of his term there was a surplus of five thousand dollars in the treasury. He was the originator of the high license city ordinance in 1877, which was the means of reducing the saloons in the city from twenty-five to five and which was the basis of the state license law passed in 1879. He served for several terms as a member of the Lincoln school board and was enthusiastic in his support of movements for educational advancement. In 1886 he was the prohibition candidate for governor of Nebraska. His keen interest in everything relating to the development of the intellectual life of his community found expression in his support of the public library which he aided in founding. Ile contributed the first three hundred dollars of his salary as mayor to the library fund and did much to make possible the establishment of the institution. For many years he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and throughout his life he was an ardent worker in the cause of temperance. As a business man, a public official and a private citizen he made a record creditable alike to his ability and integrity, and his memory is still honored by all who knew him.
BYRON J. MOREY.
Since opening his undertaking parlors at College View in 1915 Byron J. Morey has become recognized as one of the successful business men of the town and has gained an enviable reputation for excellent service and reasonable prices. He was born in Orion, Henry county, Illinois, September 25, 1867, a son of George M. and Louisa E. (Wright ) Morey, natives of Ohio and Vir- ginia respectively. The father, who was a Methodist minister, removed to Illinois in the early days of that state. grew to manhood there and assisted his father in farming until he became of age, when he began studying for the min- istry. He preached in Illinois and Nebraska for fifty years but is now living retired at No. 843 North Twenty-third street, in Lincoln. He has reached the advanced age of eighty-two years, but his wife died June 5, 1916, at the age of eighty years.
Byron J. Morey is indebted to the common schools of Nebraska for his early education and for his college training to the Nebraska Wesleyan University at University Place. On leaving there he zes went to Miller, Buffalo county, Nebraska, where he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business for eight years.
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Ile then became manager of the lumber yard of the Gilchrist Company at Kearney, where he remained for six years, and later spent two years as auditor for the F. M. Spanking Lumber Company of Lincoln. On severing that con- nection he came to College View and invested in the College View Lumber & Coal Company, of which he was manager for three years. On selling out he again turned his attention to undertaking, opening well equipped parlors at Tenth and L streets. He has spared no trouble nor expense in providing the best possible service and the building has an attractively furnished chapel and a rest room for the private use of his patrons and he can furnish either a team hearse and carriages or a funeral motor car of the most up-to-date type. The casket room is well lighted and there is always a complete stock of caskets of varying designs and prices on hand.
Mr. Morey was married, on the 24th of April, 1891, to Miss Addie B. McClain and they have become the parents of two children: Louisa W., who was born February 7, 1893, and is teaching school; and Clarice B., who was born on the 20th of September, 1894, and is now a student in the State University at Lincoln.
Mr. Morey is a stanch advocate of the republican party and is now serving as a member of the school board and of the public library board, in which capacities he is doing much to promote the educational interests of the town. He is identified with the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen of America and is a member of the Union church, now serving on its board. He has given careful attention to his business affairs but has never forgotten that every citizen has duties toward his community which he cannot delegate to anyone else and his public spirit has been one of his salient characteristics.
WALTER NEYMAN RAMEY, M. D.
Dr. Walter Neyman Ramey has been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Lincoln for many years and is the owner of the Lincoln Hospital, a modern institution which reflects credit upon the city. His birth occurred in Georgetown, Brown county, Ohio, on the 17th of February. 1866, and he is a son of William Neyman and Abigail (West) Ramey. The father was born on the 14th of December, 1822, in Brown county, Ohio, and after completing the course offered in district school, he farmed with his father and still later was connected with the management of the woolen mills at Georgetown. of which he was part owner. On the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861 he entered the Union army and after serving as a recruiting officer for a time he went to the front, where he saw much hard fighting. When peace had been restored he returned to Georgetown and again turned his attenton to the conduct of the woolen mills but in 1868 removed to Edina, Knox county, Missouri. In the following spring, however, he was taken ill with typhoid fever and died on the rst of March. He was buried in the graveyard at Decatur, Ohio, and the monu- ment which marks his resting place, and that of other veterans of the Civil war, is inscribed with thechins fla DDof the soldiers from that section. He married Miss Abigail West, who was born in Brown county, Ohio, of the marriage of
An. Ramey
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Jolın and Vina ( Stewart) West, pioneers of that county. Her father was a successful farmer and was also famous in that region for his physical prowess. He died in Decatur, Ohio, at the age of ninety-four years, and his wife also passed away there. Following the death of her husband Mrs. Ramey came with her children to Otoe county, Nebraska, making the journey from Missouri by wagon. In the spring of 1871 she purchased a farm near Syracuse, and there the children grew to manhood and womanhood. At length she disposed of that place and took up her residence in Unadilla, Otoe county, Nebraska, where her death occurred in March, 1904, and where she is buried.
Walter Neyman Ramey was five years of age when the family removed to the farm in Otoe county and as soon as he was old and strong enough he began assisting in its operation. His education was not neglected, however, and after leaving the district schools he was a student in the State Normal School at Peru, Nebraska. Subsequently he taught school for two years in Otoe county and then matriculated in Christian College at Fairfield, Nebraska, which is now Cotner University at Lincoln. Ile remained in that institution for two years and then again turned his attention to educational work, teaching for two years. During one of these years he was principal of the schools at Unadilla and in that time brought about many improvements in the school system. Having decided upon the practice of medicine as a life work he attended the medical department of Cotner University at Lincoln for one term and was for two terms a student in the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated on the 6th of June, 1893. He has never ceased to be a student of his profession and in 1901 took a post graduate course in the West Side Clinic of Chicago and received a diploma from that institution on the completion of his work there. He practiced in Adams, Nebraska, for several years, but since the Ist of August, 1902, has been located in Lincoln and has built up a splendid practice here. In 1904 he bought the palatial residence built by J. D. McFarland and transformed it into a hospital, which is known as the Lincoln Hospital. The institution has a capacity of twenty-five beds and is provided with every modern appliance and equipment to aid in the successful treatment of disease, whether the treatment required is of a medical or surgical nature. Dr. Ramey was also identified with the Lincoln Medical College for fourteen years, having taught at different times obstetrics, gynecology and surgery and having served for several years as dean of the faculty and as president. His early experience in teaching, combined with his thorough knowledge of medicine and surgery, admirably fitted him for his work as member of the faculty and as president of that school, and he gained recognition as one of the leading men in the field of medical education.
Dr. Ramey was married on the 11th of April, 1894, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Wolford, who was born in Bristol, Tennessee, of the marriage of James and Louzanna ( Deck) Wolford. Her father engaged in farming near Bristol for a considerable time but subsequently removed to Otoe county, Nebraska. He farmed near Unadilla and also followed the carpenter's trade until he retired from active life when he took up his residence in Adams, Nebraska. Later he removed to Lincoln and there he now maintains his home. His wife passed away in Adams. Mrs. Ramey was graduated from the high school at Walnut Grove, Indiana, and also attended the Southern Towa Normal (School at Bloomfield, Iowa. She taught school at Unadilla, Nebraska, for several years previous to Vol. II-38
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her marriage, which occurred at Adams, Gage county. The Doctor and his wife have had two children : Harriet Lenore, who was born in Firth, Lancaster county, on the 26th of February, 1895, was graduated from the Lincoln high school in 1912 and is now a student at the State University at Lincoln; and Warren Neyman, who died in infancy.
Dr. Ramey is an adherent of the republican party and discharges all of the duties devolving upon him as a public spirited citizen but has never sought office. He is identified with the Christian church and takes an active part in its work, having served as elder for fifteen years. Fraternally he is a member of the Royal Neighbors, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Highlanders, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also connected with the Lincoln Commercial Club, which indicates his interest in the advancement of the community along commercial and civic lines. He holds mem- bership in the Lancaster County Medical Society, the Eclectic Medical Society, of which he has been secretary and president for several years, and in the National Eclectic Medical Society, in which he has held minor offices. He has gained a high standing in his profession and his dominant characteristics are such that he has also won the personal regard of many.
JOHN J. BUTLER.
John J. Butler built up a large business as a contractor, builder and real estate dealer of Lincoln and was an important factor in the commercial and industrial development of the city. His birth occurred in Newfoundland on the 12th of March, 1839, and his parents were James and Mary ( Hogan ) Butler, both natives of County Cork, Ireland. When our subject was eighteen years of age the family removed to Toronto, Canada, and there he remained for two years but at the end of that time went to New York. Later he located in Tennessee, where he engaged in building and contracting, but at the time of the Civil war he removed to Cincinnati and not long afterward went to Nebraska City. Ile resided there until 1869, in which year he came to Lincoln, where he made his home until called by death in December, 1904. He continued active in building operations until his demise and erected many of the residences and business blocks of Lincoln and also had many contracts in the surrounding country. He did not confine his attention, however, wholly to his work as a builder as he dealt quite extensively in real estate, and was successful in that business also.
Mr. Butler married Miss Jane Kennedy in 1871 and they became the parents of three children: Ed R., a resident of Omaha, who is traveling agent for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company; Ada, who died in 1887; and John J., a resident of Denver. The wife and mother passed away in 1883 and in June, 1886, Mr. Butler was united in marriage to Miss Mary Condon, of Cincinnati, a daughter of Thomas and Ellen ( Meagher ) Condon, natives of County Cork, Ireland. On emigrating to the new world her parents located in Newfoundland, whence they removed to Toronto. Cana, where Mr. Condon was custodian of all the Dominion buildings for some time. At length, however, he
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