Portrait and biographical album of Gage County, Nebraska : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 21

Author: Chapman Brothers (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Brothers
Number of Pages: 794


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 21


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Mr. Ilooker is of substantial New England stock, his parents, Channcey und Catherine ( Wolcott) Ilooker, having been born and reared in the viein- ity of Bristol, Hartford Co., Conn. Their ances- tors were originally from Cambridge, Mass., where it is believed they settled in the Colonial days. Chauncey Hooker was a tinner by trade, and the owner of a small farm which constituted a snug and comfortable home for the family. The mother died in middle life in Farmington, Conn., at the


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age of forty-three years. Mr. Hooker survived his wife many years, and departed hence about 1843, at the age of sixty-six.


The family of Chauncey and Catherine Hooker consisted of six children, namely: William A., Levi .J., Polly W., Lydia A., Urenia, and Chauncey, Jr. William, our subject, was born Oct. 10, 1804, at Farmington, Conn., and remained at home until reaching his majority. His brothers and sisters who lived to mature years settled in Virginia and Ohio. Of these three are now living. They were all provided with a common-school education. William when sixteen years old became a student of Brighton Academy, and when leaving there com- menced an apprenticeship at the clothier's trade. This he followed for a time, and afterward worked in the mills at Bristol. He was first married, in 1828, to Miss Emeline Peck, daughter of Seth and Anna (Webster) Peck, of Burlington, Conn. Mrs. Emeline Hooker was born in Burlington Township, Hartford Co., Conn., Sept. 14, 1804, and was the second in order of birth. After marriage our sub- ject continued some time in Bristol, working in a clock factory there two or three years. Previous to this he had traveled, selling clocks and dry3 goods throughont South Carolina and Georgia.


Mr. Hooker in the latter part of 1839 emigrated with his family to Henry County, Ill., settling at Weathersfield, where he remained eighteen months engaged in farming. He next removed to Peoria County, and occupied himself at farming until start- ing for Nebraska in 1875. In the meantime his first wife had died in Connectiont, leaving two chil- dren : Franklin, who is now with his father, and Catherine, who died in early childhood. Mr. Hooker, before leaving the East, was married the second time, to Miss Malissa Gaines, who became the mother of one child only, a daughter, Emeline, who is now in Adams. Mrs. Malissa Hooker de- parted this life at her home in this county, Sept. 21, 1887, after having reached the advanced age of eighty-three years. Their daughter continues at the homestead and presides over the domestic af- fairs of her father and brother.


Our subject has effected many improvements upon his present homestead, erecting a comfortable frame dwelling and a large barn, together with the


other conveniences necessary to his comfort, and the success of his farming operations. Politically, in his youth, he was an old-line Whig, and voted for Gen. William H. Harrison for President, in 1840. He is now an ardent Republican, anxious to see the grandson of the old hero occupying the position so ably filled by his ancestor. Mr. Hooker has always been a reader, and keeps himself well informed upon the topics of the day. It is a source of both pleas- ure and profit to listen to his recital of the events of by-gone days, and the scenes of interest in which he has borne an important part. He enjoys the best wishes of hosts of friends, and will be remembered with honor and affection long after he has departed hence. His portrait may be found on an adjoining page, and will be gladly received by his many old friends.


EROME W. MATTISON is nicely situated on his farm of eighty acres in Island Grove Township, and is the owner of 320 acres of land in Sherman Township. His parents, James and Eliza A. (Loomis) Mattison, were na- tives of Vermont, both having been born in Ben- nington County, the former in the year 1818. After their marriage they began life together in their na- tive county, and remained there until the time of their death, having lived within two miles of the place in which they were born. The mother died in 1865, and the father survived her until the year 1884, the three children of their family then being bereaved of both their parents.


Our subject was the oldest of the children, and was born in Bennington County, Vt., on the 22d of November, 1842, where he remained for thirty years. He came to Nebraska in 1872, and in 1876 entered into partnership with Mr. R. L. Gumaer, which was continued for nine years, at the end of which time, in the year 1884, our subject bought out the interest of his partner. He now owns 400 acres of land, eighty acres of which are situated on section 4, Island Grove Township, and the remain- der in Sherman Township. The first eighty acres were bought for $150, and the half-section for $8 per acre.


On the 27th of January, 1885, Mr. Mattison mar-


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ried Miss Susan D. Barton, a daughter of Eli and Eunice Barton, who were natives of Grafton, Vt. She was born in the afore-mentioned village on the 2d of February, 1843, and remained in her native State until the year 1845. She received her edu- cation in the village schools, and is an intelligent and estimable lady.


Our subject is well known among the leading men of his township, having taken an active part in public affairs and shared the honors of the of- fices within the gift of his fellowmen. Ile has held the office of Clerk of the township for two years and Assessor for one year, and has been an honor- able member of the School Board for some time. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the social order of F. & A. M. His business has been carried on with gratifying results, and he has put up a handsome house which adds greatly to the value of his fine farm.


AVID C. QUACKENBUSH, one of the pioneer settlers of Grant Township, and still occupying the tract of land which he pur- chased upon coming here. in 1867, is num- bered among the most highly respected residents of the county, with whose development and progress he has been intimately connected. He is the pos- sessor of a fine homestead, the land of which has been bronght to a good state of cultivation and upon which he has erected neat and substantial frame buildings. He has a goodly assortment of live stock and the modern machinery necessary for the carrying on of agriculture in a profitable and successful manner. A period of twenty-one years embraces the time which he has spent among the people of Gage County, during which time he has thoroughly established himself in their confidence and esteem. He had formerly, since a little lad of seven years, lived in Racine County, Wis., where he acquired his education and was reared to man- hood.


Our subject was born at the modest farm home- stead of his parents, in Cicero Township, Onon- daga Co., N. Y.,.May 12, 1837. His parents were Lambert and Emily (Catherine) Quackenbush, also


natives of the Empire State, and he was their eklest child. The father traced his ancestry back to the substantial old Dutch settlers of the Mohawk Val- ley, while the mother descended from a Vermont family who were first represented in the Green Mountain State probably during the Colonial days. Lambert Quackenbush was a farmer by occupation until a few years after his marriage, when he turned his attention to coopering. After the birth of two children he left New York State with his little family, and located among the pioneer settlers of Racine County, Wis., where from the uncultivated land he developed a comfortable homestead, and where they lived until coming to this State, in the spring of 1878. They settled upon a farm in Grant Township, this county, where the death of the father took place in February, 1885, when he was about sixty-four years old. He was a man of much force of character, and a member of the old Democracy of the Andrew Jackson stripe. The mother is yet living, and makes her home with her children in Grant Township, having now arrived at her three- score and ten years. She is in excellent health and ber mind is still bright and active.


Our subject was educated in the primitive schools of Racine County, Wis., and upou reaching man- hood began the serious business of life by taking unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Charlotte Wytt, who was born and reared there, and who died about eighteen months after her wedding, of diph- theria, at the age of about twenty-two years. Of this union there was born one child, a son, Albert, who married Miss Atla Adams, and is operating a farm in Hitchcock County, this State. The parents of Mrs. Q. were of English birth and parentage. and were among the early settlers of Wisconsin, where the father followed farming during the active years of his life, and where his death took place in 1879. when he was well advanced in years. The mother is still living, and a resident of Logan County, Iowa.


Our subject contracted a second marriage, Dee. 30, 1863, in Racine Connty, Wis., with Miss Esther Burgess, who was born in that county, Sept. 10, 1848. She was there reared to womanhood and educated in the common schools. Her parents were Nehemiah and Sophia ( Woodman) Burgess, the for-


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mer of whom is deceased. The mother is yet liv- ing, and makes her home with her children, mostly in Grant Township. She is now sixty-eight years old.


Of this marriage of our subject there have been born six children, namely : Edmond B., pursuing his studies in the business college at Lincoln. Neb., a very bright and promising young man who has been employed as a book-keeper with a firm in De- Witt, and is also a stenographer. Minnie M. is the wife of William Nettleton. a well-to-do farmer of Hitchcock County, this State; the younger children -- William M., John D., Ruben L. and Myrtle V. continue under the home roof. Mr. Q., politically, is an uncompromising Democrat, and takes a lively interest in local affairs.


EBBE G. CARSTENS, brother of the well- known and highly esteemed citizen, John Carstens, of Clatonia Township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, has a good farm on section 9, and has distinguished himself as a worthy representative of this family. He was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, March 4, 1846, being three years younger than his brother John. He emigrated to America the year following the coming of the latter to the United States, tak- ing passage on a sailing-vessel, and arriving safely in New York City after an ocean voyage of about seventy-nine days.


For about two years after coming to this country Mr. Carstens lived in Sehuyler County, Ill., and from there moved to Livingston County, of which he was a resident a number of years. He crossed . the Mississippi in the fall of 1876, and was located for a time on a farm on seetion 10 in Clatonia Town- ship. This was rented land. In the spring of 1880 he purchased the farm which he now owns and occupies. The improvements which we behold to- day are the result of his own industry and good management, as he had purchased an uncultivated tract of eighty acres from the Burlington & Mis- souri River Railroad Company. He, too, landed upon American soil without other resources than the willing hands and quality of industry which had


been handed down to him from his excellent Ger- man ancestry. He battled with difficulties and drawbacks successfully, enduring many hardships and privations, but has been amply rewarded for his toil and sacrifices.


The marriage of our subject with Miss Scente Gerdes occurred on the 2d of March, 1870, at the home of the bride in Rushville, Ill. Mrs. Carstens is also a native of Germany, and of her union with our subject there have been born five children, namely: Gesiene. Feb. 8, 1871; Joachin, March 5, 1875; John, Oct. 18, 1877; Anna, June 5, 1880, and William, in December, 1881. Mr. Carstens is a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church in Germany, and politically, differs some what from his brother, being a supporter of the Democratic party. IIe, however, is not confined to party lines, but reserves to himself the right of the free Ameri- can citizen to support the man whom he considers best qualified for office. He believes in the educa- tion of the young, and is the cordial supporter of all the enterprises tending to the moral and intel- lectual elevation of the people.


M RS. HANNAH NOXON, Postmistress of Adams, is a member of the well-known Shaw family, who in this region are every- where recognized as among its earliest pioneers and most prominent citizens. Her parents were Stephen P. and Hannah (Hicks) Shaw, the for- mer a native of Saratoga County, N.Y., and who with luis estimable wife is written of elsewhere.


The Shaw family, who traced their ancestry back to England, crossed the Atlantic in the Colonial days, and there is no doubt participated in the great struggle for American liberty. The paternal great- grandfather of Mrs. Noxon made his first settle- ment at Sharon, Conn., whence he removed later with his family to the Wyoming Valley in Penn- sylvania, about the time of the breaking out of the Revolutionary War. Both he and his elder sons enlisted in the army. while the mother and four younger ones remained at home, laboring, and waiting as best they could the issues of the struggle. The region of their home was over-run with law-


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less soldiers, and the mother, with two of her boys, William and Benjamin, saved their lives by fleeing to the mountains. The boy Benjamin was the grandfather of Mrs. Noxon.


Benjamin Shaw remained with his mother, it is supposed, until the Colonists had achieved their in- dependence, and until the return of the father from the field. He was later married to Miss Margaret Tripp, and they became the parents of six children -Egbert, Wyllis, Anise, Israel, Lyman and Stephen P. After the Wyoming massacre the father of Benjamin Shaw, unable to endure the scene where two of his boys had been murdered, joined his family in Dutchess County, N. Y., to which region the mother finally made her escape, and where they both spent the remainder of their days, passing away about the years 1808 and 1826, respectively.


Stephen P. Shaw soon after reaching manhood became a resident of Dutchess County, N. Y .. and there met his future wife, Miss Hannah Hicks, a daughter of one of the most prominent and highly respected families. In the biography of Stephen V. Shaw, on another page in this volume, will be found a partial history of the Hicks family, not as extended, it is true, as their importance merits, but enough to give an idea of their standing among the New England families of that period. They had their coat of arms, adopted by their English ancestors, and preserved their pride of birth with all the natural chivalry of the race. The Ilicks coat of arms was in the form of a shield, sur- mounted by the head of a unicorn, and underneath on a scroll banner the words, " Liberty and Friend- ship."


To Stephen P. and Hannah (Hicks) Shaw there were born ten children, namely : William, Egbert. Margaret, Emily, John B., Almira, Hannah, Re- hecca, James I. and Stephen V. The parents spent their last years in Gage County, Neb. Their daugh- ter Hannah, the subject of this biography, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., Dec. 31, 1834, and was the seventh child of the family. They lived in a quiet Quaker settlement in LaGrange Township, where Hannah, in common with the younger chil- dren, attended school, and obtained the first rudi- ments of education. At the age of ten years her parents decided upon a change of location, and re-


moved to Litchfield County, Conu., settling two and one-half miles from the town of Salisbury. In the latter our subject resumed her studies, and completed a very good education. She was just blossoming into "sweet sixteen " when her parents left New England, and took up their abode among the early residents of Kenosha County, Wis., where they lived until 1857, when they came to Nebraska. They left Wisconsin on the 6th of My, and arrived at their destination on the 6th of July following, having marle the journey overland with ox-teams.


At the time of the arrival of the Shaw family in the Nemala Valley, there was but one solitary settler within its borders, John O. Adams, who had come a short time previously. Hannah Shaw, while in Wisconsin, had made the acquaintance of Mr. George Noxon. who. it transpired, was a native of her own county in New York State, and thus with mutual interests to begin with they soon found they had similar tastes, which culminated in a warm af- fection, and their marriage on the 15th of March, 1860. Mr. Noxon was born June 7, 1830, and spent the earlier part of his life in New York. He came to Nebraska with George Gale in 1858.


After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Noxon, who were one of the first couples to be made one in the Nemaha Valley, settled upon the homestead claim which Mr. Noxon had secured, and which now com- prises the farm occupied by Mr. James Shaw. About 1864, the health of Mr. Noxon failing, he repaired to the bracing climate of Colorado, where he remained for one and one-half years, and thus practi- cally forfeited his claim to his homestead, and felt bound in honor to relinquish it. He, however, resided there for four years afterward, and there looked his last upon the scenes of earth, his decease taking place Sept. 21. 1870. To Mr. and Mrs. Noxon there had been born two children only-Stephen S. and Georgia M. The latter is now the wife of David Ripley, of Adams Township.


After the death of her husband Mrs. Noxon started a small store in Leona, and soon received the appointment of Postmistress. She struggled bravely with many difficulties, and lived at that place until 1880, when she changed the scene of her labors to Adams, purchasing the store of Mr. l'atterson, and conducting for some time the only


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general merchandising in the place. She soon here also received the appointment of Postmistress, and is now serving her eighth year in that capacity, which is sufficient indication of the manner in which she has conducted both her own business and that of the public at large. Her perseverance has met with its legitimate reward, and she is now in pos- session of a competency for her declining years.


Mrs. Noxon, as a lady of more than ordinary in- telligence, has always taken a lively interest in the growth and prosperity of Nebraska, and as the wife of one of its pioneers endured all the hardships and privation inseparable from the settlement of a new country, when the facilities for communica- tion with the outer world were exceedingly limited. She has always been the friend of education and progress, and when the establishment of a Presby- terian Church society was decided upon, entered heartily into the plan, and was one of its charter members. She has since continued with this body, and has contributed of her means to its support. She has decided ideas upon the political questions of the day, and is in favor of Democratic rule, ac- cording to the theories of Jefferson. Socially, Mrs. Noxon belongs to the Pleasant Plain Lodge, I. O. G. T., and has been largely instrumental ju its prosperity.


R EV. JOHN PATTERSON. In every com- munity there are men who stand at the head of public affairs, and whose word is considered authority in public and private matters. It is impossible for a resident of a com- munity to rise to the rank of leader unless he possesses certain qualifications, by the exercise of which he can place himself in sympathy with the minds and hearts of the people at large. In edu- cated and Christian society there is a certain rank accorded by acclamation to the men who devote their lives to the cause of the church and Chris- tianity ; by common consent they are acknowledged as the criterion by which facts, principles and con- duct are tested in order to obtain a correct judgment concerning them.


Among those who have aided in the spreading of


the Gospel and the elevation of the morals of so- ciety in this section and vicinity, our subject takes prominence as a man of able attainments and un- exceptionable character. Mr. Patterson was born on the 26th of October, 1836, in Licking County, Ohio, and is a son of Ephraim Patterson, who was a native of Virginia. Leaving his native State of Virginia he went to Ohio, and was numbered among the early pioneers of Licking County, afterward emigrating to Johnson County, Iowa, in the year 1849. Our subject spent his early years on his father's farm, and received a common-school edn- cation, supplementing it with a course of study at the Iowa City College, which bears a National repu- tation for its excellent system of education, and the ample opportunities afforded its students to thoroughly master any of the branches of learning.


In 1870 our subject came to Liberty Township and settled on section 23, and at that time entered the Eastern Nebraska Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For six years he conscientiously discharged the duties of a minister of the Gospel on this circuit, and was then transferred to Vesta Circuit, in which he preached for eighteen months At the end of that time he was appointed to the circuit of Pleasant Hill, in which he remained for one year, and then settled on his present farm in the spring of 1877. He owns 160 acres of good farming land on section 23, on which he makes his home, and engages in the various duties of a farmer and stock-raiser.


On the 4th of December, 1857, Mr. Patterson was united- in marriage with Rebecca A. Middleton, a daughter of Joseph Middleton, deceased. She was born in Washington County, Iowa, and to her and her husband have been born three children, their names-Sylvester, Jacob S. and Celestia. Sylvester married Miss Aurilla M. MeMains, lives in Bent County, Col., and is the father of four children- Smiley, Ethel A., John R. and Celestia I .; Jacob married Miss Nora Crusey, and they with their in- fant son make their home with our subject; Celes- tia was married to George Owens, of Liberty, and they have one child, named Frances. Our subject is very happy in the possession of the friendship and respect of the people of his community, and does not seek to exchange the title which he bears


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so honorably for that of any public office that would bring with it the cares and responsibilities of a politician. Ile is an active member of the I. O. O. F.


W ILLIAM A. FOREMAN. The reputation of the gentleman whose life is herein epito- mized, is quite widespread and favorable to him, as a man of business, stock-raiser and citi- zen. His farm and residence are situated on sec- tion 8 of Logan Township. He is the son of James H. and Frances M. (Carr) Foreman. His father was born in New York in 1828. His chosen call- ing was in the lumber trade, and he became the owner of a sawmill in Pennsylvania. In 1858 he . moved to Adams County, Wis., and purchased 120 aeres of land, which he farmed successfully, at the same time retaining his interest in the lumber trade in Wisconsin. In 1864 he removed to Mitchell County, Iowa, and began farming at Osage, leaving there in 1870 for DeWitt, Neb., where he home- steaded eighty acres of land, and farmed the same until the year 1886. He is at present living in Narka, Kan.


Mrs. Foreman was born in New York in the same year as her husband, and after a happy wedded life of many years died in 1865. They were the par- ents of eight children, whose names are here given : Phebe A., William A .; Franeis A., and James II., deceased; Daniel M., Hannah M., Agnes R. and Net- tie M. With the exception of Nettie, who makes her home with her father, all the daughters are married. Daniel is mining in Colorado. The cloud upon the family history is connected with the death of James H .; he had been to Ellsworth, Kan., and was on his way home; he had advanced beyond the Saline River, but it was found had not crossed the Smoky River. Our subject, who went out to try to discover him, found that he had been murdered in cold blood between these two rivers, it is supposed for the purpose of robbing him of what money was on his person. The murderer could never be traced.


Our subject was born in Lycoming County, Pa., on the 5th of May, 1848, and remained under the shelter of his father's roof until 1865. He had al-


ready received by that time a good common-school education. The years 1866 to 1868 were spent at Cedar Valley College, Osage, Iowa, in the work of preparation for the profession of the pedagogue. He has, with increasing popularity and more impor- tant and substantial results, been retained as teacher in huis home district, Logan, for eight successive years, a fact that speaks with no uncertain sound regarding his ability in his profession. In addition to the school duties, he is operating a farm in Logan of eighty acres in extent. All the improve- ments that are to be found thereon and the work of cultivation are the work of his own hands, for which too much credit cannot be given him.




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