USA > Nebraska > Gage County > Portrait and biographical album of Gage County, Nebraska : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 20
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Jacob Gehman was reared to manhood in his na- live State, and although receiving but limited edu- cational advantages, trained himself by a course of reading and study for the duties of a teacher, which profession he followed for a period of four years in Bucks County, beginning at the age of twenty. Ile had likewise become thoroughly familiar with farm pursuits, and at the age of twenty-two was prepared to establish a home of his own. On Oct. 2, 1849, he was united in marriage with Miss Bar- bara Angeney, a native of his own county, and born Aug. 29, 1831.
Mr. and Mrs. Gehman after their marriage set- tled on the farm belonging to the father of our subject, where they lived and labored until 1861. In the meantime they became the parents of six children, and in the spring of that year Mr. G., re- solving upon a change of location, disposed of his interests in the Keystone State and removed with his little family to Northern Iowa, where in due time he became an extensive land-owner. From Fayette County, Iowa, he removed to Mahaska County, that State, thence to Jefferson, and later to Jefferson County, residing in the latter until 1882. In the spring of that year he took up his residence in Atchison County, Mo., and from there came to Nebraska in 1887. He was at once recognized as a valuable addition to the commu- nity of Hanover Township, where he is numbered among its most highly esteemed citizens. Wide- awake, liberal and public-spirited, he is ever ready to aid in those enterprises set on foot for the best good of the people.
The household of Mr. and Mrs. Gehman was
completed by the birth of twelve children, namely : Abraham; Jacob and Elizabeth, who died when eight and six years old; Meno, Fanny, Rachel, San- uel, Sally, Leah, Emma, Benjamin and Mary. Fanny became the wife of Samuel Horning, a well-to-do farmer of Hanover Township, and is the mother of five children-Benjamin, Lee, Eddy, Jennie and Alice; Mrs. Henry Smith is a resident of Atchison Connty, Mo., and the mother of one child, a son, Ottia; Abraham is a professor of music at Fremont, Iowa; Meno and Samuel are operating a cattie ranch in Wyoming Territory; Sally married Will- iam Geber, a resident of Atchison County, Mo., and is the mother of three children ; Leah is in Nor- thumberland County, Pa .; Emma, also a teacher, is at present with her parents, as are also Benjamin and Mary.
In the operations of his farm Mr. Gehman gives employment to two men, and two teams are almost constantly required for the transaction of his bnsi- ness. Politically, he votes the straight Republican ticket, and with his excellent wife, is a devoted member of the Mennonite Church. The family is one of the most prominent in the county, where their intelligence and worth are estimated at their true value.
OMER J. MERRICK. We seldom visit a section of county without encountering those closely allied to persons prominent in his- tory, poetry, politics or law. The subject of this sketchi is one of those springing from hon- ored antecedents, tracing his origin from the same source which gave to the world such persons as Jolin G. Whittier, R. W. Emerson, and Frances Meriam Whitcher, the author of the "Widow Bedott Papers.",
Austin and Sylvia (Whitcher) Merrick, the par- ents of our subject, were natives respectively of Connecticut and Vermont. Grandfather Merrick was accidentally killed on the Erie Canal, while making his way to Western Pennsylvania. The Merricks were of English origin, and the first rep- resentative of the family in this country came over with the Pilgrim Fathers in the "Mayflower." The maternal grandparents of our subject, Stephen and
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Esther M. (Emerson) Whitcher, were unele and aunt to the poet. John G. Whittier. Grandmother Whitcher was also closely related to that other American poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Frances Meriam Whitcher, above spoken of, was own sister to the mother of our subject.
Austin Merrick, after his marriage, located in Pleasantville, Pa., where he carried on merchandis- ing and farming the remainder of his life. He ac- cumulated a good property, and departed hence in 1875, at the age of seventy-four years. The mother of our subject was his second wife; of the first there had been born one child: of the second mar- riage there were seven children, namely: Ellen, Austin W., Anna M., Francis S., Adeline A., Ho- mer J. and Julia. Mrs. Sylvia Merrick died in July, 1849, at the age of forty years. Mr. Mer- rick was married the third time, and there was born one child, a son Herman, who is now in Kansas City, Mo.
The subject of this biography was born Nov. 18, 1846, in Pleasantville, Pa., and attended school from the age of seven years until he was fourteen. Afterward he only attended in the winter season. After the outbreak of the late Civil War, when but a youth of seventeen, he determined to assist in the preservation of the Union, and accordingly enlisted in Company B, 111th Pennsylvania Infantry, in Feb- ruary, 1864, for three years, or during the war. His regiment was detailed to Bridgeport, Ala., where they arrived in time to join the Atlanta campaign, and participated in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, the siege of Atlanta, and wound up by going with Sherman on the march to the sea. Subsequently they went up through the Carolinas, and were present at the last grand review in Washington.
Mr. Merrick was mustered out of service at Pitts- burgh, Pa., and after returning home became a stu- dent of the State Normal School at Edinboro. where he attended one year. Thence he went to Cleveland, Ohio, entering there upon a course of study in Bryant's Business College. This com- pleted he returned to his native State, and engaged as clerk in a store of general merchandise at Pleas- antville, where he continued until setting out for Nebraska in August, 1869. From Nebraska City
he made his way to Vesta by stage, and from there on foot to Adams Township, this county. Ile homesteaded 160 acres on the banks of the Nemaha, fashioned a dng-out for his first habitation, and thus began in earnest and alone the life of the pio- neer. Some years later, at the time of the construc- tion of the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad, this dugout being overgrown with brush and weeds, a Mr. Wyatt, the chief engineer, fell down the chimney of this primitive dwelling, much to the merriment of the rest of his party.
The year after his arrival in this section, young Merrick, having made some headway toward the establishment of a home, completed his arrangements by bringing to his humble dwelling a young wife, having been married, Dec. 21, 1870, to Miss Lucy A .. daughter of John Lyons, a well-known and highly respected resident of this county, and whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume, Mrs. Merrick was the younger of the two children born to her parents. Her mother was in her girlhood Miss Almira Shaw. Mrs. M. was born in March, 1853, in Kenosha, Wis., and was a little girl four years of age when her parents came to Nebraska. and settled in the Nemaba Valley, where they were among the earliest pioneers.
Mr. and Mrs. Merrick throve and prospered, and by their united industry soon began to realize many comforts in the pioneer home, while their land un- derwent the process of careful cultivation, and de- veloped an admirable and generons fertility. Their union was also blessed by the birth of four bright children. The eldest, however, a son, Frank, died at the age of ten years; those surviving are Julia and Ethel A. John is deceased. The homestead now embraces 400 acres of land, upon which in 1877 there was reared a handsome and commodious dwelling, and a good barn, corn cribs, sheds, and all the other essentials of the country estate have been added by degrees, as the means and necessi- ties of the proprietor suggested. Not the least among the embellishments and comforts of the place is an apple orchard of 300 trees, planted by the land of our subject, and now in fine bearing condition. A lovely grove of maples and cotton- wood adds to the beauty and value of the property. Mr. Merrick, in addition to general farming, has
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given much of his time and attention to stock-rais- ing, handling large numbers of thoroughbred Short- horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. Of the former he has a herd of fifty high-grades, including the bull "Ides," famous as a breeder throughout this section. It will thus readily be seen that his time has been fully occupied, but notwithstanding the multiplicity of his private affairs Mr. Merrick has ever signalized himself as the public-spirited citi- zen, willing and anxious to assist the prosperity of his adopted county. To this end he has been the encourager of its various worthy enterprises, its schools and churches, assisting by his labors and in- finence in their establishment and prosperity. He raised the large sum required in the erection of the Methodist Episcopal Church building, and, with his estimable wife, has been one of the most devoted members of the society. He cast his first Presiden- tial vote for Gen. Grant, and has always been a stanch adherent of the Republican party. He has never sought office, but in the school district has served as a Director for many years.
OHN O. SAVAGE is in the front rank of general farmers of Grant Township in enter- prise, practical knowledge, western vim and prosperity. His farm and residence are situ- ated on section 20, where he is the owner of eighty acres of finely improved land, admirably adapted to agriculture, upon which he has lived since 1882. Previous to this he owned and operated another farm on section 11, comprising 320 acres, one-half of which was taken up in 1867, and settled on the following, spring, the remainder soon after.
For ten years previous to the settlement of our subject in this State he had been a resident of Lee County, Ill., during the greater part of that time being engaged in farming, in which he was very successful. The place of his nativity is LaPorte Township, Sullivan Co., Pa., and he was born on the 22d of March, 1834, to Daniel and Nancy Savage. His father was born in New York State, of Irish parentage, and when he was a boy five years of age his parents removed to the adjoining State, where he grew up to manhood, was married, and continued
to make his home until 1858. Then, with his family. Daniel Savage, the father of our subject, removed to Illinois and took up the Lee County property.
In 1861, when the cry of rebellion rent the air, and the stars and bars were waved over against the only flag of liberty, unity and peace, both Daniel Savage and bis son, our subjert, enlisted among the boys of blue in Company E, 37th Illinois Infantry, under command of Capt. Rust and Col. White. The regiment became part of the Army of the West and part of Maj. Gen. Black's command. Among the many engagements in which they were actively en- gaged may be mentioned those of Warrensburg and Springfield, Mo., and Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove, Ark., which were fought in December, 1862. At one point in the battle the father of our subject was in the front rank, and the notes of the bugle rang out the command to charge. This was the last com- mand heard, and the last cheerfully responded to by Daniel Savage. In the rush forward a bullet pierced his body and he fell like the brave soldier he was, with his face to the foe, in the execution of his duty.
Not long after the death of his father, our sub- jeet, who had been fighting by his side, was taken severely ill, and in consequence thereof he received an honorable discharge from further service, and returned to Illinois to support and, perchance, com- fort his widowed mother. In 1868 he brought her with him to Nebraska, and until her death, in 1874, smoothed as far as possible every ruggedness from the path of her declining years, bestrewing it daily with the perfumed blossoms of affectionate, dutiful and attentive care. She went to her last rest after spending sixty-two years of life, and, like her hus- band, had been all her days a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
While a resident of Lee County our subject was happily united in marriage, the lady of his choice being Cynthia Carpenter. The union was celebrated on the 11th of May, 1867. Miss Carpenter was born in Albany, N. Y., in the year 1843, and ac- companied her parents to Illinois in 1861. She is a daughter of . James and Julia (Foster) Carpenter, both of whom died at their home in Lee County, the father about eighty and the mother about sixty years of age. For many years previous to her de-
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mise Mrs. Carpenter was a member of the Baptist communion.
The wife of our subject was brought up at the house of her parents, where she made her home un- til her marriage. Her education was received in the common school of her native place, and was as complete as was usual at that time. IIer married life has been brightened and the current of its joys deepened by the birth of two children : one, how- ever, of these she was only permitted to retain for two years, when she was removed by death. The name given to her was Julia. That of her living child is Frank, who has entered upon an honorable career and has developed a manly character that is the pride of his parents.
The religious home of Mr. and Mrs. Savage is in the church of the Latter-Day Saints, to which they have been attached for many years, our subjeet having been ordained a priest of his church while residing in Illinois, in which office he has continued ever since. He has been called upon at different times to fill township offices, and is at present serv- ing as Clerk of the township. He is devoted to the interests of the political party under which he and his father served in days gone by, and has always remained its stanch friend and faithful adherent.
Their son, Frank M., was married, Oct. 29, 1887, to Miss Hattie Kindell, who was born in Illinois, in July, 1867. They have one son, John Walter, born July 20, 1888. They reside in Grant Township and are farming.
LFRED CONINE. Among those who have come from the older and more established Eastern settlements, bringing with them the wealth of their experience wherewith to endow the newer country of Nebraska, is the sub- ject of this writing, whose farm occupies the north- east quarter of section 14. Midland Township, which is worked along the line of general mixed farming. His residence in this State dates from the year 1867, and in this county from 1870.
Our subject is the son of Richard and Mary (Iler- ron) Conine, who are natives of New Jersey and Ohio respectively. Upon their marriage they set-
tled in Ohio, and followed agricultural pursuits. The mother of our subject died when he was quite a small boy, leaving three children, who had re- ceived the names of Alfred, Elizabeth and Harmon. llarmon enlisted in Company C, 27th Ohio Regi- ment, and fell while serving his country, in 1864, at the battle of Atlanta, Ga .; Elizabeth married E. O. Arrison, of Ohio. The father of our subject married a second time, tnking as his wife Hester A. Boylan, and by this union became the parent of one son. Richard, who is living upon the homestead.
Upon the 14th of April, 1839, our subject was ushered into life, in Licking County, Ohio. In due time he was a candidate for the instruction of the common school, and entered upon the duties in- cident to that institution. The time thus occupied was spent in such employment on the farm as made him thoroughly acquainted with its varied tasks amd responsibilities, fitting him for the life in the future. He continued to make his home with his parents until 1861. when he enlisted with his brother in Company C, 27th Ohio Infantry, and served for a term of three years as a private. Ile was one of the command of Gen. Sherman, and wns with him throughout his campaign. The first part of his army experience was that incidental to the army teamster, but it was not long before he was pro- moted to the position of wagonmaster, and given charge of a train of wagons. Hle wus mustered out of the service, and honorably discharge.l in Au- gust, 1864.
After his term of service expired our subject re- turned to Ohio, and assisted in the farm work until 1867; that year was doubly eventful to him. First, because it was wherein he moved West, and laid the foundation of his present prosperity ; secondly and chiefly, because it brought to him the life com- panionship and inspiration of Miss Mary Palmer- ton, to whom he was united in marriage on Octo- ber 2 of that year. She also was born in Ohio, and was educated and brought up at Etna, Licking County, and made her home with her parents, Ben- jamin and Susan Palmerton. They are the happy parents of four children, whose names are here ap- pended-Elmer, Elizabeth, Alfred and Grace.
In the new State of Nebraska Mr. Conine first settled in Richardson County, remaining there for
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three years apon rented land. Thence he came to this county, and purchased the 160 acres of unim- proved land he to-day occupies, but which has passed long since from its original condition to one of almost perfect agricultural efficiency, and he has upon it some excellent farm buildings, besides the pretty and comfortable farm dwelling. Besides the grain interest, our subject is every year increasing his reputation as a stock-raiser, comprising draft and road horses, and high-grade cattle.
Mrs. Conine is devotedly attached to the com- munion of the Presbyterian Church, in which she is an untiring worker when opportunity presents. IIer husband, although not connected with the church, is a true friend of higher morality, and sym- pathizes with every movement, religious or other- wise, that will assist in its attainment and progress. He takes much pleasure in all matters of education, and is a member of the School Board. His political connections are with the Republican party, and he is regarded as a strong supporter and constant friend by the members of his party.
OHN MAGUIRE is a son of John and Jane (McMalle) Maguire, who were natives of Ireland, and there spent the whole time of their lives. They had a family of ten chil- dren, of whom our subject is the sixth, and was born on the green and lovely "Emerald Isle" on the 22d of March, 1819. He remained in his native country until he was twenty-six years of age, and had grown to be a strong and healthy man, receiving his edu- cation during his younger years from the parochial schools. He had long possessed a desire to visit America, and in June, 1845, with the expectation of gratifying his desire, he embarked on a vessel sailing from the port of Liverpool, and after an ocean voyage of twenty-eight days he reached the harbor of New York.
Our subject remained for ten years in that city, during which period he was engaged in Cooper's glue factory. He then went to DeKalb County, Ill., where he remained for a like period of time, and then went to Boone County. During the time of his residence in Illinois, he was engaged in farming,
and in 1868, thinking that he would accept the gen- erous offer of the Government to supply him with a farm of his own, he came to this county and took a homestead of 160 acres. He was then one of the early settlers of this county, and in common with them he experienced the hardships and difficulties necessary in the transforming of a piece of wild, unbroken prairie land into a smiling and cultivated landscape farm. He now has it all well improved, with neat and attractive buildings, and has been in the main successful. although he has experienced some misfortunes from the failures in crops.
In the year 1846 our subject was united in mar- riage with Miss Alice Salleen, who was born in Ire- land on the 19th of May, 1824. She is a daughter of Jolın Tebon and Jane (Linchey) Salleen, who were also natives of Ireland, and were the parents of eight children. She came to America in the year 1843, and made her home in New York until the time of her marriage with our subject. By this marriage they have gathered about them a family of seven children, all of whom have been blessed with health and spared to the present time, and are married and established in homes of their own. The names of the members of this family are: John, William, Thomas (of whom a sketch appears in this ALBUM), James, Albert, Frances and Charles. Thomas and Charles have their homes in this county.
While our subject and his wife are entitled to a share of the honors which are willingly bestowed npon and justly deserved by the early settlers of this county, his natural reticence has prevented him from seeking public honors, and he has not been the incumbent of any of the offices of the township. He bears an excellent reputation among his fellow- men, and is well and favorably spoken of by them. He is a member of the Democratic party.
B ENJAMIN F. PITTENGER, a representa- tive farmer of Blakely Township, owns and occupies the southwest quarter of section 32, which he has transformed into a good farm, and effected the improvements naturally brought about by the intelligent and progressive
When AHooker
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agriculturist. He came to this county in 1874, and in the fall of that year secured the land upon which there had been only a slight attempt at improve- ment. He has now the greater portion under a good state of cultivation. the land is fertile, and well watered by a branch of Cub Creek, and besides a comfortable dwelling there are the various other buildings required by the modern farmer. Fences, live stock and machinery, in their character speak well for the enterprise of the proprietor.
Mr. Pittinger came to this State from Woodford County, IN., where he had owned and operated a farm for a period of fourteen years. He had emi- grated from Ohio to the Prairie State in the fall of 1856. Hle was born in Frederick County, Md., Dec. 1, 1823, of parents who were natives of the same State. His father, James Pittinger, removed with his family to Ohio quite late in life, and there spent the remainder of his days, dying in Brown County, where the mother also passed away; both lived to a ripe old age. They were healthy and active to the last, the result of their temperate lives and correct habits, and were highly respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. They had been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. and the father was originally a mem- ber of the old Whig party.
The subject of this sketeli was the fourth child of his parents, and the third son in a family of five boys and six girls. Three sons and four daughters are still living. Benjamin F. was a child two years of age when his parents left his native State and settled in Ohio. Ile was reared and educated in Brown County, and was there first married to Miss Nancy J. Evans, born and reared there. She be- came the mother of three children, and died in Ross County, Ohio, when a young woman only twenty- three years of age. Their two eldest sons are Will- iam and James Harvey : the former is in Western Nebraska, and the latter is married and farming in Jefferson County, this State; Jolin is unmarried and in the Indian Territory.
Mr. Pittinger was married the second time, in Brown County. Ohio, to Miss Jane Sidwell, also a native of that county, where she was reared to womanhood and received a common-school educa- tion. She came to Illinois with her husband after the
birth of one child, they locating in Woodford County. She passed away in 1857 at the age of forty years. ller son George is now married, and lives with his father on the home farm.
The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Woodford County, Ill., May 10, 1859, was formerly Miss Amanda Holmon, a native of Orange County, Ind., and who came to Illinois with her parents when a young woman. She is a daughter of Tandy and Laura (Parker) Holmon, who were natives of Virginia and New York, and are now deceased. Of this union there have been born three children, namely : Eugenia, the wife of Samuel Pheasant, of Jefferson Township; Carrie, Mrs. Henry Stoll, living on a farm in Beatrice Town- ship, this county; and Charles W., at home with his parents. Mr. Pittinger, politically, has always been a solid Republican, while in religions matters he clings to the doctrines of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which he has been a member for the last thirty-five years. His estimable wife be- longs to the Baptist Church.
ILLIAM A. HOOKER, a very intelligent and highly respected farmer of Adams Township, has a well-ordered homestead on section 32, consisting of 160 acres of good land with suitable buildings, and the other appurtenances conducing to his comfort and the general enjoy- ment of life. Ile came to this section of country from Peoria County, Ill., in 1875, secured soon afterward the land comprising his present farm, and has watched with the interest which is manifested by every true citizen the growth and development of his adopted State.
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