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 22
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The marriage of our subject was celebrated on the 5th of March, 1876, in Logan Township, the lady of his choice being Sarah E. Mumford, who is the daughter of John B. Mumford, a sketch of whose life will be found in this volume, to which we would refer the reader for further information. Their marriage has proved for both a most happy union, and it has been blessed by the birth of three children-Ernest M., Walter W. and Arthur A. .
Upon his farm our subject gives attention to the raising of grain, but is more interested in stock, and is the owner of some very fine animals. Perhaps the best of these in every regard is a beau- tiful Clydesdale stallion, "Duke of Devonshire," sired by " Devonshire." This splendid creature stands about sixteen and a half hands in height, and is one of the finest horses in the county for draft purposes.
Mr. Foreman takes deep interest in political mat- ters, and endeavors to keep himself thoroughly posted on all matters of civic and governmental in- terest. Ile was nominated by the labor party, and indorsed by the Democratic party, for the office of Superintendent of Schools, but Gage being a very strong Republican county, he was defeated by M. D. Horham, the Republican candidate. He has been Assessor in Logan for two years, in 1881-82, and is at present a Justice of the Peace. It will be no- ticed from the above that the political creed of our subject is that of the Democratic party, and he will doubtless continue, as in the past, an active sup- porter of the same. Mrs. Foreman is a member of the Latter-Day Saints' Church, and is a lady whom
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to know is to admire and respect, as is patent to those whose privilege it is to meet her. Although her husband is not connected with any church or- ganization, he is a gentleman who entertains the most punctilious regard for all the proprieties of society, and is a constant friend of good morals and a higher plane of living, and, with his wife, enjoys the confidence and esteem of the community at large.
ENRY H. JONES, a representative farmer and stock-raiser of Highland Township, is the owner of 160 acres on section 30, and eighty acres on section 31, and is looked upon as one of the most reliable men of this region. Ilis early home was in far New England, in Penob- scot County, Me., where his birth took place Ang. 27, 1853. His parents, Cyrus and Sarah (Mc- Laughlin) Jones, were also of New England birth and parentage. This branch of the Jones family is believed to have been of Scotch ancestry, while the mother of our subject traced her forefathers back to England.
Our subject when a little lad of seven years was brought by his parents to Lee County, Ill., where the father died a few months later. The family was left with little means, and Henry H. was early in life thrown upon his own resources. He remained with his mother until a lad of thirteen, then com- menced working out on a farm, and was thus occu- pied until reaching his majority. In the spring of 1871 he left Illinois, and crossing the Mississippi, stopped in Adams County, Iowa, where he was em- ployed in breaking prairie until in October follow- ing, and then came to this county. In Highland Township he homesteaded eighty acres of land on section 30, which he still retains, and which at that time was in its virgin state. He endured in com- mon with the pioneers about him the hardships, toils and privations of the early settler, but like most of them his labors met with their legitimate reward. In addition to carrying on the cultiva- tion of his land, he added to its area, and has now one of the finest homesteads in his township, and which indicates in a substantial manner the perse- verance and industry with which he has labored.
Among the self-made men of this county there are none who have made a worthier record.
Three years following his arrival in this county Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Miss Jennie E. Fender, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in Dixon. Lee County, Jan. 1, 1874. Mrs. Jones was born in Lee County, Ill., Feb. 25, 1857, and is the daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth (Hall) Fender, who were natives of North Carolina and Kentucky respectively, and are both now de- ceased. Of this union there are two children living : Myrtie E., born July 17, 1876, and Mayfield L., June 7, 1886. Bertha M. is deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members in good standing of the Church of God, and in social circles of their community occupy a leading position. Our subject is a strict Republican, politically, and has been quite promi- nent in local affairs. In June, 1887, he was appointed to fill an unexpired term as Township Supervisor, and in November following was duly elected to the same office. He has served as Treasurer of the School Board in his district for a period of ten years. As one of the pioneer settlers of his town- ship he has been closely identified with its business and agricultural interests, and has noted with that satisfaction which every intelligent citizen feels its progress and welfare.
G EORGE CAMBRIDGE is a successful and thrifty general farmer residing on section 36, Lincoln Township, where he has 160 acres mostly in a well-improved condition and supplied with good farm buildings. He has made his home on his present farm since 1880, having in that time brought it to its present fine state of cultivation. He had previously made his home in Atchison County, Mo., for ten years, having come to this country from Norfolk, England, where he was born on the 26th of August, 1845, and is of pure English ancestry. His father, William Cambridge, was a native of the same county, and spent all his life there engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Elizabeth Brown, who was born in the same county, and was also of English ancestry, and together the parents of our subject have arrived at a good old
RESIDENCE OF G. E. BENTLEY , SEC , 29, RIVERSIDE TP.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN. O . SAMSEL , SEC , 12, ELM TP.
RESIDENCE OF C . K . HIGGINS, SEC. 35 . MIDLAND TP.
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age. that of the father being eighty-five years, and of the mother eighty-four years. They are mem- bers of the Church of England, and are esteemed and honored people wherever they are known.
Our subject is the youngest but one of a family of six sons and five daughters, of whom four sons and all the daughters are living; three of the sons are residents of the United States. Joseph Cam- bridge, a brother of our subject, is a resident of Lincoln Township, this county, and is further men- tioned in this collection of sketches. Our subject remained in his native county until he was nineteen years old, having received an English common- school education, which is a very thorough one in all the elementary branches of learning, and at the age of nineteen he started out alone for America. After the long voyage, which must have seemed very tiresome to him in his condition without friends and compelled to supply their places by making acquaintance with the companions of the voyage, he landed in New York City, and thence went to Michigan. He made his home in Saline, Washtenaw County, at which place he began to earn his livelihood as a farm laborer, and continued there for three years.
When our subject left Saline he moved to Mis- souri and there was married, in Atchison County, on the 27th of December, 1875, to Miss Susanna Ward, who was born in Woodford County, Ill., on the 21st of March, 1853. She grew to womanhood in her na- tive county under the shelter of her father's roof- tree, and received a good common-school education, at the age of twenty-two years moving to Missouri, where a little later she was married to our subject. Her father, Charles Ward, is a native of Lincoln- shire, England, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Catherine Bainbridge, also a native of Lincolnshire, and together they came to the United States about the time when the forties were ready to give place to the fifties. They are now living in Jefferson County, this State, engaged in farming, having come in the spring of 1885.
After our subject was married he located on a farm in Atchison County, Mo., which was their home until they came to this county in 1880, since which time they have proved themselves valuable members of society, and are warmly esteemed by
the people of their community. They have not yet identified themselves with any religions denomi- nation, but are consistent Christian people, and bear unblemished reputations. Mr. Cambridge is an ardent Republican, and has held some of the offices in the gift of the people of his township. Hle and his wife are the happy and indulgent parents of five children, named Albert, Eliza E .. Minnie O., George F. and Grace, who have brought much sunshine to the household, it having been darkened by but one cloud, which was caused by the death of Charles W. when only a few months old.
ACOB BACHILE has been a resident of this county since 1875, and as he has always been engaged in agriculture, he has success- fully managed his farm on section 16, Lin- coln Township, and has brought it to a splendid state of improvement. Ile has lived on his present place since 1881, and previous to his residence in this county he lived for four years in Logan County, Ill., where he was engaged for two years in farming and two years in general labor. Ile was born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 16th of August. 1842, and when he was about twenty-eight years old he left his native country to try his fortunes in Amer- ica, immediately upon his arrival locating in Logan County, Ill. His father, Bartel Bachle, was a Ba- varian farmer, and spent the whole time of his life in his native country, his death occurring in 1881, when he was seventy-two years old. Ile had mar- ried a German lady named Mary Ulrich, and she died Sept. 7, 1888, in Bavaria, aged seventy-seven years. Our subject is the sixth 'child of a family of eight, three sons and five daughters, one of the latter now deceased.
In 1870 Mr. Bachle landed in New York City, having just completed the long ocean voyage, and three years later he was married in the county in which he had taken up his residence to Miss Kate Raeder. She was born in France, on the 7th of November, 1849, and when she was twenty-one years old she had come with her parents to Amer- iea. They first settled in Logan County, IN., but since the marriage of their daughter with our sub-
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ject the parents have come to Nebraska, and now make their home in Lincoln Township, where they have made many warm friends, By their marriage our subject and his wife are parents of five children, all of whom are yet living at home, enjoying the solicitous care of their parents, and bear the fol- lowing names: Albert, Fred, John, Edward and Charles.
Since his residence on his present farm our sub- jeet has made many noticeable improvements, which add to the appearance as well as the utility of the place, among which may be noted the attractive and substantial house, and the commodious barns and general farm buildings, fences, etc., all of which speak of the industry and thrift of a well- informed and careful manager. Our subject is non-partisan in politics, preferring to lend his in- fluence to the election of honest and honorable men, irrespective of party, rather than uphold an organi- zation of whose principles he cannot approve. He is well known as a man of strict integrity and hon- orable business principles, and is well liked for his social qualifications Mrs. Bachle is a member of the Catholic Church, at Beatrice. In religions be- lief-Mr. Bachle is liberal.
BADIAH B. ALLINGTON. The subject of this sketch is another link in the chain of evidence of the fact that the West is largely the offspring of the East, that its progress and de- velopment are due to Eastern energies, intelligence and indomitable perseverance. He was born in Bellona, Yates Co., N. Y., Feb. 26, 1859, and is the son of Daniel K. and Emma E. (Coffin) Allington. He was the only child born to his parents, who upon their marriage settled in New York, and there brought up the little one given them. The father died there on the 2d of December, 1859, and the mother came to Gage County with our subject on the 8th of March, 1879, and still resides with him.
The burden of the family falling upon the shoul- ders of the widowed mother, was taken up with all the heroic bravery with which womanhood, and more especially motherhood, is endowed, and the fact that our subject has attained to the success-he has,
demonstrates the manner in which the mother bore the burden and met the obligation. Our subject received a fair English education, and afterward engaged in farming in New York State. In March of 1879 he came to Nebraska and located on the Big Blue River. about one mile east of his present farm, to which he removed in 1882. It will have heen noted that he attained his twentieth birthday only a few weeks prior to his coming to Nebraska, and is still quite a young man. In view of the past, and the possibilities of the present outlook, it were safe to predicate that the biography of our subject will contain after a few years a record of success most brilliant and satisfactory.
On the 19th of January, 1882, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mary Roderick, the estimable daughter of John M. and Susannah Rod- erick, of Gage County, Neb., but natives of Penn- sylvania. Their daughter Mary was born in Green County, Wis., Jan. 22, 1866, and until her mar- riage her home was with her parents. For further details regarding this interesting family the reader is referred to the sketch of Mr. Roderick, which appears upon another page. There have been born to our subject and wife two children, viz: Susie E., who was born on the 23d of April, 1884, and Frank D., on the 20th of March, 1886.
The farm of Mr. Allington comprises 160 acres, and is situated on section 25 of Riverside Township. When he took possession of the land in 1882 it was in nowise distinguishable, excepting by the stakes that marked it out from the surrounding prairie, but our subject went to work, bringing into requi- sition every particle of knowledge or experience ever obtained by him, and backed it with all the restless energy and magnificent strength of his young manhood. His mistakes he made stepping- stones to ultimate success; his failures he examined until he found their fcanse, with the determination that they should find no repetition. Thus he has struggled manfully on, and every succeeding year has found him stronger and better able to cope with the exigencies of life in a new country. The en- tire farm is either in a good state of cultivation or in pasture. He has provided substantially built granary, barn, eorn crib, stabling, etc., and his resi- dence would do credit to a much older, more
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experienced and wealthier man. Our subject con- templates the erection in the near future of a new barn, which has been rendered necessary by various extensions in other departments, and from the preparations made to effect this, it is certain to be accomplished, and he will then be the owner of one of the finest and most complete in its adaptability and convenience in the county.
Our subject's wife is connected with the Baptist Church, while his mother is a member of the Meth- odist communion. This lady is a daughter of Alva and Elizabeth (Fowle) Coffin, who were natives of New York. Her mother died in Yates County, N. Y., in 1836; the father married Harriet Allington the following year, who proved a second mother to his child. Both our subject and wife receive the heartiest respect of the community. which admires the manly pluck, energy and go- aheaditiveness of Mr. Allington, no less than the many estimable womanly qualities of his wife. In questions connected with the political economy of the country, and the various issues arising from the same, our subject stands with the Democratic party. and has done so since he has been a voter.
M RS. FANNY HARDY is an estimable and exemplary Christian lady, who has twice suffered the bereavement of an affectionate and devoted companion, and is now making her home in Island Grove Township. She was born in Nottinghamshire, England, Dec. 21, 1826, and is a daughter of Thomas Wilkenson. His wife's maiden name was Cosens; both were born in Not- tinghamshire, England. In the year 1851 she was united in marriage with Mr. Thomas Wakefield, who was also born in Nottinghamshire, and whose an- cestors were residents of England. They came to America, and for a time made their home in New York, and in 1852 they moved to Chicago, where they lived but one month, when Mr. Wakefield died. Of this marriage there were five children, but two of whom are now living: Caroline, the wife of John Thompson, resides in Iowa; Mary Ann, the wife of Chambers Adams, resides in Illinois.
In 1854 our subject was united in marriage with
Mr. Richard Hardy, who was born in Lincolnshire. England, in June, 1826. He lived in his native coun- try for twenty-five years, after which he came to America and made his home in New York, where he remained two years. He then went to White- side County, Ill., where he lived for twenty-five years, and in 1874 he came to this county, making his home in Island Grove Township until the time of his death, in 1875. By this marriage they had a family of eleven children, six of whom are now liv- ing, and are mentioned as follows : George G, resides in Logan County, Kan .; Isaac W. is in Island Grove Township; Fannie M. married William Reed. and resides in Island Grove Township; Jane A. is the wife of George Gallagher, of whom a sketch is appended : Arabella E. is the wife of Henry Woo- key, of Rawlins County, Kan .; Richard D. remains unmarried, and resides in Island Grove Township. Mrs. Hardy is an esteemed member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church at Blue Springs, and is leading a life of patient resignation, devoting herself to her children and their happiness.
The second daughter of our subject, Jane A., is the wife of George Gallagher, a well-known farmer residing on section 7 of the same township in which our subject resides. His father, Patrick Gallagher, was born in Ireland, and his mother, Ann (Ilarris) Gallagher, was a native of England. Both the father and mother came to America while single, and their marriage occurred in this country. They have a family of eight children, of whom Mr. Gal- lagher is the fourth child, and was born in St. Claire, Mich., on the 22d of March, 1850. When he was fourteen years old he began to work on a farm near Kingston, DeKalb Co., Ill., where he remained for eight years, and at times engaged in work as a carpenter. In 1871 he came to this State and made his home in Johnson County, where he was married to Elizabeth F. Bates. She was a native of England, and after her marriage became the mother of one child, who died in 1879, her own death occurring in the following year, 1880.
In 1883 Mr. Gallagher married the daughter of Richard and Fanny Hardy, who was born in White- side County, Ill., Aug. 22, 1865. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., of Blue Springs Lodge No. 84, and has served as a member of the School Board
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for some time. He is a Republican in politics, and is interested in the political as well as the educa- tional affairs of his township. During the first years of his residence here he experienced some hard- ships and met with some misfortunes, but now those trying times are past, and he is well and comfortably situated on his farm, enjoying the confidence and esteem of the residents of the community.
F6 RED KRACKE is the owner of a beauti- ful and highly cultivated farming property of 210 acres, which is situated partly in Grant and partly in Clatonia Township, on sections 31 and 6. This property became our subject's in the spring of 1879, since when he has continued most in- dustriously engaged in the work of its improvement, working assiduously and constantly. He has sup- plied his farm with a very fine set of farm buildings, such as are usual, and for a property of this de- scription, a daily necessity. These are substantially built, well arranged, and excellent in their adapta- tion to the various requirements for which they were built. -
Our subject obtained his land by purchase at dif- ferent times, and from a small beginning has worked his way gradually-some might even think, slowly -but nevertheless surely, from a sphere limited and circumseribed in possession and opportunity, to that it is his pleasure to-day to occupy. His pre- vious home had been in Jackson County, Iowa, for the nine years immediately preceding. To that place he had come from his German home, having been born in Hanover, in the German Empire, upon the 23d of December, 1853.
In his native country the subject of our sketch was educated and brought up. He continued to live with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, then, leaving his parents (they consenting to the change), he, with heart though sad in taking what might prove the last farewell, yet fired by the high hope and inspiring ambition which is the very soul of young manhood, took ship for the New World, in due time set foot upon American soil, and began life for himself. Going to Jackson County, Iowa, he speedily found work upon a farm and began
his labor, with which he was fully familiar, although in some details work was performed differently from what he had been used.
The marriage of our subject was observed with eclat and amid most pleasurable congratulations in Clatonia Township, March 12, 1884. The maiden of his choice, who has so completed the happiness of his life, Ellen Meyer, was born in Hanover, in Germany, in the year 1866. She came to this country and State directly from her Hanoverian home in the year 1882, and has since continued to make it her place of residence. She is now the happy mother of three bright, healthy little ones. who have received the names: Benjamin, Lena and Fred.
In the Lutheran Church, in which they were early brought by baptism and confirmation, Mr. and Mrs. Kracke have always made their religious home, continuing devotedly attached to its creed and services. In matters political our subject has es- poused the cause of the Republican party, and usually votes its ticket. He has drunk deeply at the spring of American liberty and independence, and is thoroughly imbued with the spirit of her citi- zens. He is progressive, wide-awake and enter- prising, of strict honor and upright character, a worthy representative of a worthy people, the Ger- man-American citizen.
OSIAH A. SPEER is an energetic young farmer residing on section 34, Island Grove Township, and although he has been a resi- dent of this county but three years he is building up a splendid home and gaining a repu- tation for industry and integrity. His father, John Speer, was born in County Monaghan, Ireland. He was quite a small boy when he came to America, and made his home in Jo Daviess County, Ill. There he met Miss Mary Moore, whom he afterward made his wife. Both are now living in the same county in which they began life together, and they have reared a family of eight children, seven of whom are now living. The father has been en- gaged in farming and dealing in stock.
Our subject was born in Jo Daviess County, Ill.
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on the 7th of April. 1862, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, receiv- ing his education in his earlier years from the Hanover schools. In 1885 he took the shaping of his future course in life into his own hands, and aware of the inducements held forth by this State for active and industrious young men, he came to this county and bought a quarter-section of land in Island Grove Township. At the time of his pur- chase the land was worth $4,350, being partly im- proved. He now has 115 acres under cultivation, from which be realizes abundant crops of grain and general farin produce, and gives special attention to the raising of live stock. The buildings, including a good house and commodious barns, are in good condition, and the farm presents an attractive ap- pearance.
On the Ist of September, 1887, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mattie McKeagne, who was born on the 25th of December, 1861, in Carroll County, Ill. She is a danghter of Andrew and Bessie McKeagne, who were natives of Ireland, and had come to the United States in the year 1850. There is a family of seven children in their household, of whom the wife of our subject was the fourth born. Mr. and Mrs. Speer are esteemed members of the United Presbyterian Church, of Liberty, and in the short time of their residence here they have won a bost of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Speer affiliates with the Republican party in politics, and is interested in the general improvement and ad- vancement of the public welfare.
C HENRY KLIPPER, one of the oldest liv- ing settlers of this connty, is comfortably located on section 28 in Clatonia Township. He came to the Great West during the period of its earliest settlement, and has been no unimportant factor in the development of Gage County, build- ing up one of its most creditable homesteads.
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