USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume II > Part 79
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Soon after coming to Lincoln he formed a partnership with Amasa Cobb, and they continued in the practice of law until 1878 under the firm name of Cobb & Marquett, while later they were joined by a third partner and the practice was then conducted under the firm style of Cobb, Marquett & Moore. At a subsequent date Mr. Cobb was appointed judge of the supreme court and Mr. Marquett continued practice, spending much of the time alone. However, for a period he was senior partner in the firmof Marquett. Deweese & llall and remained in active connection with the work of the courts until his demise.
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In November, 1861, Mr. Marquett was married to Miss Harriet Border, a native of Illinois, who died in June, 1883, leaving four children. Belle is the wife of Clifford Teft. Ilarriet married George H. Fawell. Gertrude M. became the wife of F. J. W. Stoney, an English army officer, who was killed in Egypt, and later married J. L. McAfee, her home being now at No. 1801 C street in Lincoln. John, the only son, completes the family. In 1885 Mr. Marquett again married, his second union being with Mrs. Asenath Stetson, and for a long period they made their home at the corner of P and Eighteenth streets.
In politics Mr. Marquett was a stalwart republican and did not a little toward shaping the policy and guiding the activities of the party in his state. However, he regarded the pursuits of private life as in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts and found keen pleasure in solving intricate problems of jurisprudence. He was a very successful lawyer, a close student and wide reader. He was attorney for the Burlington Railroad west of the Mississippi river for many years up to the time of his death. Hle displayed pronounced ability and in the trial of his cases there was no straining after effect but a precision and clearness in his statement, an acuteness and strength in his argu- ment, which spoke a mind trained in the severest school of investigation and to which the closest reasoning was habitual and easy. Ilis wonderful oratory, clothing the sound logic of truth, carried conviction to the minds of judge and jury, and merit enabled him to mount the ladder of fame.
HON. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
Although thrice defeated for the presidency. William Jennings Bryan has the unique distinction of being today one of the most popular Americans. Party leaders may deem him unsafe, but the people believe in him and it is the con- sensus of public opinion and not the voice of the few that establishes the position of the individual. Mere policy has never weighed with him in politics and the most bitter of his political opponents have never questioned the integrity of his political position. He still maintains his old home, Fairview, near Lincoln, and Nebraska honors him as perhaps her most gifted son.
One of the nine children of Silas Lillard and Maria Elizabeth ( Jennings) Bryan, he was born March 19, 1860. Ile is described in boyhood as "sturdy, round-limbed and fond of play." His desire to become a minister gave way to a wish to take up farming, but later he decided upon the law, and his education was directed toward that end. He was reared upon his father's farm and his mother was his teacher until he reached the age of ten years, when he beecame a public-school pupil in Salem. There he became interested in the work of literary and debating societies, and his interest in politics was first aroused in 1872, when his father was a candidate for congress. At fourteen years of age he joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church, but later united with the Presbyterian church at Jacksonville, Illinois, and is still a communicant of that denomination. Hle was a lad of fifteen when he entered Whipple Academy and eight years thereafter were devoted to Studyz Gis years being Ispennantjacksonville, where
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he lived in the home of Dr. Hiram K. Jones, a relative, the atmosphere there being one of broad intelligence, very stimulating to the young man. He studied Latin and Greek but preferred mathematics and political economy. His early efforts to win prizes in oratory failed, but he persevered until the result was accomplished. His winning of the junior prize entitled him to represent Illinois College in the intercollegiate oratorical contest in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1880, where his oration on Justice won him second prize, fifty dollars. The graduating exercises of Illinois College occurred in June, 1881. The following autumn he entered the Union College of Law in Chicago and out of school hours spent his time in the office of Senator Lyman Trumbull. He made an excellem record in the law school, taking an especial interest in constitutional law, and he was also active in the debating society. A defense of the jury system constituted his graduating thesis. His first fee was earned in the county court at Salem and on the 4th day of July, 1883, he located for the practice of law in Jackson- ville. He shared the usual experience of the new lawyer for a few months but afterward clients became more numerous and he believed it possible to establish a home of his own and bring to it as his bride, Miss Mary Baird. They were married October 1, 1884, and through the three succeeding years Mr. Bryan practiced law in Jacksonville.
Always interested in politics, he took an active part locally in supporting and furthering the interests of the democratic party. In the summer of 1887 he spent a Sunday at the home of Hon. A. R. Talbot, formerly a classmate in the law school, and was so well pleased with the city and its prospects that he soon entered upon arrangements for removing to the Nebraska capital. This he did on the Ist of October, 1887, and became a law partner of Mr. Talbot. It was not long before he won a good clientage and, although he was twenty-three when he entered upon the practice of law and left it at the age of thirty-one, he had gained distinction as a member of the Nebraska bar. He was frequently called upon for public addresses and used the opportunity to discuss vital political questions of the day. He became connected with the democratic organization of Nebraska soon after his arrival in the state and was a delegate to the state convention, from which time forward he became more and more prominent as a party leader. In 1890 he was nominated for congress and entered upon a series of joint debates with his opponent. Hon. W. J. Connell, of Omaha. The debates attracted wide attention throughout the state and resulted in Mr. Bryan's election by a plurality of six thousand, seven hundred and thirteen. Wishing to give his entire time to his congressional work, he then retired from the active practice of law. After entering congress Mr. Bryan, largely through the influence of his friend Mr. Springer, who was made chairman of the committee on ways and means, was appointed a member of that committee, an unusual honor for a new member. llis first speech of consequence was upon the tariff and it created wide and favorable comment from the press of the country.
Upon returning to Nebraska, Mr. Bryan was reelected and in the fifty-third congress was reappointed upon the ways and means committee and assisted in the preparation of the Wilson bill. He became a member of the subcommittee which drafted the income tax portion of the bill. His principal work of that term, however, wasint lconnection/ with Monetaryf legislation. His speech in opposition to the unconditional repeal of the Sherman law called forth more
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hearty commendation than even his first tariff speech. It was the result of three years of study upon the money question. In the spring of 1894 Mr. Bryan concluded not to become a candidate for reelection to congress, but after- ward decided to stand as a candidate for the United States senate and received unanimous support at the democratic state convention. A republican landslide followed and, like others of the party, he was defeated, although he received the votes of all the democrats and of nearly half of the populist members. ( Ile had received his party's support for the office in the spring of 1893, but with- drew in favor of Senator Allen, a populist, recognizing that no democrat could be elected. )
On the Ist of September, 1894. Mr. Bryan became chief of the editorial staff of the Omaha World-Herald and devoted a portion of his time to jour- nalism until the national convention of 1806. It was after the adjournment of congress that he entered the lecture field, in which he remains today an eminent figure despite the important political duties which devolve upon him. The announcement that he will appear upon any program sounds the note for an immense gathering. It was his intention following his retirement from congress to resume the practice of law, but at this period the money question became a paramount one before the people and he entered heartily into its discussion as a lecturer and political leader. As the time for the nomination of presidential candidates drew near there were many political leaders in dif- ferent parts of the country whose thought and attention were riveted upon Mr. Bryan, although popular opinion did not regard him as a possible candidate. The result, however, is a matter of history, well known to all readers of recent years. Many of the leaders were already indorsing him and the speech which he delivered in the convention fired the fuse of popular opinion leading to his nomination. Hotly contested was the campaign of 1896. No other man had made so many addresses to so many people or traveled so great a distance in the same length of time. The result was that western states largely went demo- cratic for the first time, although republican majorities were returned in the east where democratic strongholds had previously been. It is well known that while the electoral college gave Mr. Mckinley a majority of ninety-five there was a great increase in the popular democratic vote. Following the campaign Mr. Bryan decided to continue in politics, acceding to the wish of his many able coworkers in the field, but he depended for an income upon his lectures and his writings, deriving little from his political speeches. ITis book, The First Battle, published soon after the election, had a large sale.
With the outbreak of the Spanish-American war Mr. Bryan wrote the fol- lowing letter:
"Hon. William McKinley, President.
April 25. 1898.
"My Dear Sir :
"I hereby place my services at your command during the war with Spain and assure you of my willingness to perform, to the best of my ability, any duty. to which you, as the commander-in-chief of the army and navy, may see fit to assign me.
"Respectfully yours,
AV. J. Bryan."
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Governor Holcomb asked him to raise a regiment in Nebraska, which he did in a short time and was commissioned colonel of the Third Nebraska infantry. With his command he reported to General Fitzhugh Lee at Panama Park, near Jacksonville, Florida, spending there five months, which taught him that even camp life calls for sacrifice from the soldiers. With the close of the war and the acceptance of his resignation he entered actively upon the work of opposing the colonial policy of government. llis popularity through all the years was growing and at the national democratic nomination in 1900 he was renominated by acclamation. The democratic party made gains in the east, although the party lost some of its former support in the west. Mr. Bryan's speech of acceptance of the nomination, dealing with imperialism and other fundamental questions, he regards as one of the most, if not the most, important of his political speeches. Following the election Mr. Bryan established The Commoner, a weekly paper devoted to political science, political economy and sociology, and through its publication has kept in touch with the political thought of the country. The more important editorials are reported to the dailies by wire on the morning the paper reaches its subscribers. In December, 1903, he made his first trip to Europe, visiting ten of the principal capitals. Mr. Bryan did not become a candidate in 1904 but at the St. Louis convention was a member of the com- mittee on resolutions and took an active part in the sixteen hours' session that resulted in the presentation of a harmonious platform. The election of 1904 showed that there was a reaction in favor of the progressive element of the democratic party. It has been with this progressive element that Mr. Bryan has always been allied. He believes in the onward march of the country just as fully as he believes in the advancement of the individual, and it has been this that has led party leaders to fear him, while the thinking people of his party have stood by him and indorsed many of the measures which he has advocated.
On the 27th of September, 1905, Mr. Bryan accompanied by his wife and two children sailed from San Francisco for a trip around the world, visiting Japan, Korea, China, the Philippines, Java, India, Egypt, the Holy Land and most of the European countries. He studied the customs and social conditions of the people, forms of government and systems of religion and stored up a fund of information from which he has since largely drawn in both his lecture and political work.
Mr. Bryan's third nomination for the presidency came in 1908, the roll call in the convention showing about nine to one in his favor. Following the election he resumed his editorial duties and his place on the lecture platform. advocating leforms which he deemed of essential value to the country. The progressive element in democracy found in him its leader and the Baltimore convention of 1912 listened to his words of wisdom as he mokled the democratic policy. It was a universally recognized fact that he was the leader of public thought and action in that convention, which resulted in the nomination, followed by the election of President Wilson. The opinion that he should be secretary of state was practically unanimous and met the approval not only of democratic but of republican leaders throughout the country.
Mr. and Mrs. Bryan have three children : Ruth Baird, now Mrs. Reginald A. Owen, who was born October 2, 1885,William Jennings, Jr., born June 24, 1889, married in 1900 to Helen Scholes Berger; and Grace Dexter, now Mrs.
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Richard L. Hargreaves, born March 17, 1891. On the ist of October, 1901, the seventeenth anniversary of their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan occupied their new home near Lincoln, called Fairview. That place has always been regarded as the family home, yet a winter residence is maintained at Miami, Florida, and the people of that state are proud to claim him as one of its residents. Mr. Bryan has long occupied a position as one of the most eminent orators that America, throughout her entire history, has produced. Thinking along con- stantly broadening lines upon the questions of vital interest to the great majority, he has become a leader of the people and among the nation's eminent men it is a recognized fact that none is more fearless in conduet, more faultless in honor and stainless in reputation than William Jennings Bryan.
DAVID C. WILSON.
David C. Wilson has gained gratifying success as an agriculturist and is also recognized as one of the public-spirited residents of Grant precinct. He was born in Perry county, Ohio, on the 21st of May, 1855, a son of Horace and Mary .A. (Grimes ) Wilson, natives respectively of Maryland and Perry county, Ohio. The father, who devoted his life to farming, purchased land in Perry county, Ohio, at an early day in the history of that state and at once began to clear and improve his farin. Ile operated that place until his death, which occurred in 1900 when he was seventy-five years old. His wife died at the age of sixty-five years, in 1896.
David C. Wilson was reared upon the home farm in Ohio and is indebted for his education to the public schools of that state. When about twenty-three years old he came west and for about four years farmed in Mills county, Iowa, but in 1882 located in Cass county, Nebraska, where he bought two hundred and forty acres of land. For six years he operated that farm but at the end of that time went to Saunders county and bought a similar tract. Ile followed agricultural pursuits there until 1904 but in that year came to Lancaster county and purchased two hundred acres, a part of which he has since sold. He still retains title, however, to eighty acres on section 7, Grant precinct, one mile south of College View. He has made a number of improvements upon the place and has brought the land to a high state of development. He is now engaged in general farming, raising both grain and stock, but while living in Saunders county concentrated his attention largely upon the raising of Hereford cattle.
In 1879 Mr. Wilson married Miss Sarah Anderson Holland, and they became the parents of five children, four of whom are living, namely : Walter A., D. Clarence, Mabel and Gertrude. Horace died in infancy. On the 24th of June. 1902, the wife and mother was called to her reward. Mr. Wilson was again married in September, 1904. Miss Flora Jenks becoming his wife, and they have two children and are also rearing a niece of Mrs. Wilson. The children are: Olive Gould. Theodore Jenks and Hazel Louise.
Mr. Wilson supports the republican party at the polls and fraternally is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Pythias. Ile was reared in the Methodist Church and is now a member of the
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Union church at College View. He has a wide acquaintance throughout the county and his many admirable qualities have gained him the friendship of all who have been closely associated with him.
CLARENCE H. FREY.
Clarence H. Frey, the leading florist of Lincoln, conducting a large and profitable business, was born at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of July, 1865, a son of Henry II. and Sarah ( Jackson ) Frey, who were natives of the Keystone state. The father, a farmer by occupation, removed westward to Lancaster county in 1879 and after three years' residence in Lincoln made his way west- ward to Oregon, where he spent three years and then returned to this state. Here he embarked in business as a florist and has since continued in that line. having greenhouses at Twenty-second and G streets, with a store at No. 1338 O street. His long connection with the trade and the importance of the business which he has developed places him among the most prominent florists of the state. He has now reached the age of seventy-four years but still continues active in the business. His wife passed away March 12, 1910.
Clarence HI. Frey was reared and educated in Pennsylvania to the age of fourteen years, when he came with his parents to Nebraska and attended the Lincoln high school. In 1879 he entered the employ of A. J. Sawyer, with whom he remained for three or four years. Ile established himself in business in 1887. In 1890 he formed a partnership with his father in the florist business, the con- nection being continued until 1895. when Clarence H. Frey removed to Thirty- fifth street to engage in business for himself. He bought forty-four acres of land, erected greenhouses and now has the largest enterprise of the kind in Nebraska, having several acres under glass. He also conducts a store at No. 1133 O street and employs twenty-five people throughout the entire year. He has been notably successful in the conduct of his business and he produces every- thing that is desired by the trade. The C. H. Frey Company are the largest growers of fine roses, carnations, smilax, violets and other cut flowers in Nebraska and can fill all orders on short notice. They sell to both the wholesale and retail trade and they have developed some fine varieties, including the Nebraska carnation, a large scarlet blossom that is unsurpassed among all the carnation bloomers. The company makes shipments all over the United States, their business extending from coast to coast. Fifty per cent of his orders come through the mail. Mr. Frey advertises extensively and judiciously and owes not a little of his success to this. ITis plant has been brought to its present state of improvement at a cost of over one hundred thousand dollars and he has every facility for producing the finest varieties of flowers and for making ship- ments in most excellent condition. Hlis store is located at No. 1133 O street and he has a large local trade aside from his shipments.
In August, 1887. Mr. Frey was united in marriage to Miss Clara Sidels, a daughter of Charles and_ Sarah ( Lower), Sidels, who were natives of Illinois and became pioneer settlers of Nebraska They arrived in Lincoln in 1881 and the father has since here resided, but the mother passed away in 1915. To Mr.
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and Mrs. Frey have been born three children: C. Elmer, who is attending the State University as a medical student; Lawrence, twenty years of age, who is working with his father; and Ernest, attending the public school.
In addition to his other business interests Mr. Frey is a stockholder in the Lincoln State Bank and also in the Nebraska Building & Loan Association and he is a member of a corporation that owns one hundred and seventy acres of land in a Minnesota summer resort kept exclusively for their own use. He is very prominent in fraternal circles, having attained the thirty-second degree in Masonry and also having membership with the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political belief is that of the republican party and his religious faith that of the Methodist church. While he is never neglectful of the duties that devolve upon him as a citizen and puts forth earnest effort to promote the political, intellectual and moral development of the community, he concentrates the greater part of his attention upon his business affairs and in that connection has built up an enterprise that is notably successful. His activities establish standards in this line of business and, passing all others, he occupies today the foremost position in the ranks of the florists of Nebraska.
ROBERT JAMES BLACK.
The name of Black has long been associated with farming interests and the live stock business in Lancaster county and to no one family is due more credit for the improvement of the grade of live stock raised in this section of the state. Moreover, this has been a source of much of Lancaster's wealth, for the county is today famous for its high grade stock not only throughout Nebraska but in other states as well.
Robert James Black, whose name introduces this review and who has become a worthy successor of his father in business, was born in Paisley, Ontario, Canada, September 25, 1876, his parents being Edward Franklin and Elizabeth Dixon (Lees) Black, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. At the usual „age he entered the public schools of Canada, continuing his studies there to the age of ten years, when he removed to Lancaster county with his parents. Here he again entered school but his privileges were somewhat limited and his more valuable lessons of life have been learned in the school of experience. He worked for his father for years and after the father's death took charge of the old Black estate of five hundred acres on sections 16 and 17, Oak precinct, where he still carries on general agricultural pursuits. He has placed all of the modern improvements upon this farm and has supplied it with most attractive equipment. The buildings are large and commodious and well adapted for the purposes used, and the latest improved machinery has been secured to facilitate the work of the fields. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climatic conditions here Mr. Black raises considerable stock, including horses, cattle, mules and hogs, and he likewise engages to some extent in the dairy business. He became associated with his father in the importation of fine stallions many years ago and made several trips to Canada bringing horses to Vol. II-39
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Lancaster county. He is also a member of the Cooperative Grain Company of Raymond, Nebraska.
Mr. Black was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Belle Carnahan, of Axtell, Kansas, who was born near Joplin, Missouri, but in her girlhood days went to Kansas with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Carnahan, after which her education was obtained in the schools of that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Black have become the parents of four children, namely: Ilelen Clara, Edward David, Thelma Roberta and Stanley Lee, all natives of Lancaster county, Nebraska.
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