Portrait and biographical album of Gage County, Nebraska : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 31

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 31


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Our subject has 350 acres of his land broken, and in a first-class condition. At the time of purchase it was valued at $4,808. but now so improved has it become that it is worth $19,200, and this he would not accept. The specialty of our subject is cattle-raising, and there are seldom less than 150 head upon his premises. His income is about $2,000 per annum, and he will have about 10.000 bushels of corn in the present year, 1888. 1Ie also breeds upon his own farm, both for his own use and for sale, some of the most useful, strongest and speediest horses of the State.


Mr. Hubka became the husband of Mary Kovanda in 1867. This lady is the daughter of Albert and Fanny Kovanda, and is of pure Bohemian family. She was born in that country on the 2d of May, 1847, and came to the United States in 1867 with her parents. They settled in Pawnee County of this State, and continued to reside there. Their family includes seven children, all of whom are residents of this State. Their daughter Mary was


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the second child born to them. Our subject and wife are the parents of eight children, all of whom are at home, the sons taking an active part in the working of the farm. Their names are as here re- corded : Frank, Joseph, Anna, Fannie, James, Emil, Amelia and Julia.


It is a significant fact that at the time of his marriage Mr. Hubka was in debt just $1; to-day he is worth over $30,000. It is to be questioned if in any other country such a thing would be possible in so short a space of time. He has always been very earnest in the endeavor to make his farm the very best in the district, and to this end has la- bored most arduously, with no small amount of suc- cess. For two terms he held the office of School Director, and for five years was Treasurer of the school district. The office of Township Treasurer was pressed upon him but declined. His political position is in the ranks of the Democratic party, which for many years has numbered him with its most influential and valued adherents. Our subject is a self-made man, and has all his life been a true and honest friend and supporter of that life, char- acter and principles that will bear the most scarch- ing serntiny, and which lie back of all true, upright and honorable citizenship.


R RANK J. PRICE. In Nebraska, as in every new country, there are found not simply representatives of countries beyond the sea, but also of our own country in its various States, and of these latter there are few States better represented than Illinois; her sons are among the best citizens, ablest farmers and busi- ness men of the West. Among these few are more worthy of mention than Mr. Price, who at present resides upon the northwest corner of section 1 of Midland Township. This gentleman was born in Ogle County, of the Prairie State, upon the 3d of September, 1854.


The parents of our subject were David E. and Helen (Rowland) Price, natives respectively of Franklin County, Pa., and Virginia. They were married in Ogle County, Ill., and settled near Mt. Morris, where they resided for a period of thirty-


five years. Here their family was born and brought up, and a competency accumulated which should serve them in the day when toil and labor would be too heavy a task for them. In the spring of 1888 they moved into the town of Mt. Morris, and have since lived a quiet and retired life. There were born to them ten children, two of whom died in childhood, and their daughter Kate at the age of twenty-three years. Those living are named as follows: Frank J., Charles; Sadie, wife of John Young; Elmer, Samuel, Harvey and Nannie.


The early days of our subject were spent amid rural scenes and farm life. With his brothers and sisters he attended the schools at Mt. Morris, and there received the foundation of an education that he has since extended and broadened by his own research. At the age of twenty he left home, and until he was about twenty-three years of age served as a farm hand. On the 25th of December, 1878, he was married to Miss Katy Myers, a lady possessed of much charm and grace, both of person and character. She was born on the 1st of August, 1856, in Huntingdon County, Pa., and is the daughter of Enoch X. and Nancy (Garver) Myers. In the year 1856 Mr. Myers and family removed to Illinois, and settled in Jo Daviess County, where the mother died in the year 1877. Mr. Myers returned to Pennsylvania in the year 1886, and is now living in Huntingdon County with his second wife. By his first marriage Mr. Myers became the parent of nine children, whose names are here given : David, Wilson, Kate, Ira, Allen, Ida, Sherman, Clarence and Laura.


After his marriage our subject resided in Jo Daviess County for one year, and then came to Nebraska, his residence in Midland Township dat- ing from the 14th of February, 1879. After ten years of prosperity and success he purchased and settled upon his present property. His farm com- prises 200 acres of good, fertile, rolling prairie land. Upon his farm, in addition to his pleasant and commodious residence, he has a good and com- plete set of farm buildings, fully equipped and sup- plied with the necessary conveniences for the effective working of a stock farm.


The father of our subject is an Elder of the Dunkard or German Baptist Church, and is, in fact,


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one of the most prominent members, which, per- haps, would account for the fact that our subject also is a member of the same communion. Ilis father was called upon in the year 1886 to serve as Moderator of the Assembly at the National Con- ference of the church. Mr. Myers, father-in-law of our subject, was for several years one of the leading citizens of Jo Daviess County, and was fre- quently called upon to fill various public offices. Mr. Price is one devoted to his church, and enthu- siastic in its mission work in the different States, although still leaving him much opportunity for home work. Mrs. Price is also connected with the Dunkard Church, and is held in high estecm by all who know her.


C HARLES ELLIOTT. In the present sketch will be presented succinctly some of the more prominent features of the life of the first Supervisor of Riverside Township, a selection on the part of the electors that was so wise as to lead them to repeat their action at the subsequent election. This gentleman was born in Troy, Ohio, on the 11th of July, 1840. There he made his home until 1856, and in that time received a good, practical common- school education, and was fully initiated into the various departments of farming work. When six- teen years of age he removed to Winnebago County, Ill., and there continued engaged in farming for twenty-four years, a period filled with the usual difficulties, viscissitudes of fortune, successes and reverses, but for the greater part he was prosperous during this time.


In the spring of 1880 Mr. Elliott came to this county and located upon his present property, which is situated on section 12 of Riverside Town- ship, where he owns a very excellent farm, some 160 acres in extent. This property is operated partly in grain farming and the remainder in stock- raising, and in both departments our subject has usually been rewarded with unqualified success. He uses and raises only the best stoek and high- grade Short-horns, and by an intimate knowledge of his work, and his assiduous labor, he to-day occupies a position in the community aud a repu-


tation in the markets that is unquestionably grati- fying.


In Cumberland County, Pa., upon the 8th of June, 1870, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Anna Montgomery, of Franklin County, Pa. This. lady was born at Fannettshurg, Dec. 7, 1846, and until her marriage resided with her parents. She has become the mother of three children, to whom the names appended have been given : Marthin M., who was born Aug. 14, 1871; Carrie M. C., Aug. 27, 1872; and Edwin M., May 29, 1876.


During the Civil War our subject sought to serve in the defense of his country, and enlisted upon three different occasions, but was rejected each time, owing to his being subject to inflammatory rheumatism. The father of our subject, Mitchell Elliott, is a native of Perry County, Pa., and now lives in Rockford, Ill. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our subject, was Mary A. Lynn. She was a native of the same State and county as her husband, and after a happy wedded life of about forty-two years, she died at Rockford, in the year 1874, having reached the ripe age of sixty-four years.


Of the above family there were born eight chil- dren; seven of these lived to attain years of maturity, six of whom survive: Edwin M. died in prison at Andersonville, where, after suffering all the horrors of that place for a somewhat lengthy period, he was, it is believed, poisoned. He was a member of Company B, of the 92d Illinois Mounted Infantry. This family in company with thousands both sides of Mason and Dixon's line must forever bear the scar of the late war.


Our subject bought his farm in 1878; it was then slightly improved, but the labor he has since put into it, and the money he has expended upon it. have resulted in making him the owner of a really beautiful, fertile and highly productive prop- erty. It is well supplied as regards the usual and necessary farm buildings; his fields and pastures are well fenced, and there is an abundance of good water. His house, while not, perhaps, remarkable for any uniqueness of designer's art, presents every feature of comfort and convenience to our subject. and to him affords what many more pretentious residences never could to any man, the true home.


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Mr. Elliott was appointed Supervisor of the township in 1886. The township was formed in 1885; in the fall of 1886 at the election he re- ceived the suffrage of the people and served a see- ond term. His service gave every satisfaction to the people, and they have shown their appreciation in various ways. In addition to the above office he has filled that of Elder of the First Presbyterian Church, of Beatrice, for a period of eight years. His membership with the communion dates from the year 1857, and he united with the local con- gregation upon first coming to the county. He is one of its active members and most able sup- porters,


The father of Mrs. Elliott, Dr. James Montgom- ery, is a native of Pennsylvania, and there settled, and married Martha S. Elliott. His wife died in that State on the 22d of February, 1863. There were eleven children born of this family, and of these the wife of our subject, who was born on the 7th of December, 1846, is the sixth child. After the death of his wife Dr. Montgomery continned his residence in Pennsylvania until the year 1879. He then removed to Nebraska and took up his resi- dence with his son-in-law, our subject, and has since continued to make his home here.


It is hardly necessary to remark that our sub- ject is a straight Republican, and that he is a recognized supporter of the eanse. His reputation in politieal matters and as a man and citizen is be- youd question, and he enjoys the esteem of his fellows. He is regarded as being one of the sub- stantial members of the community aud eminently successful farmers.


W ILLIAM H. JEWELL. In the front rank of successful farmers and stock-raisers stands the gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch, whose farm comprises the whole of section 26 (640 aeres). His life is a record of what may finally be the outgrowth from small be- ginnings by a wide-awake, tireless energy, persever- ance and intelligent labor.


The parents of our subject, Jacob and Julia Ann (Brooks) Jewell, were born respectively in -New


York and Kentucky. His mother is a second consin of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Upon their mar- riage his parents settled in Warren County, Ill., in 1838, and are still living, aged seventy-five years. They are the parents of seven children, whose names are as recorded: William H., Charles (de- ceased), Henry L., Olive, Dudley, Emma J. and Decatur (dereased).


William H. Jewell was born on the 12th of April 1844, in Lennox Township, Warren Co., Ill., and his first recollections are cast among the scenes of the prairies of Illinois in the days before it was crossed by any railroads. He grew up upon his father's farm, which included 540 acres of excellent farm land. Our subject distinctly remembers the erection of the first common school in their district, that was put up at Windy Ridge, and has also a clear recollection of the three miles' walk to school from his home. So great were the difficulties of obtaining an education that but for his own deter- mination and toil he would have been largely in ignorance. After finishing the course at the com- mon school he entered the school at Monmouth, Ill., and continued there as a student for about one and a half years.


At the breaking out of the war our subjeet was living upon the farm, but with enthusiasm he loyally answered his country's call, and enlisted in the 138th Illinois Infantry, and was mustered in at Quiney, in 1864, for a term of 100 days. The preparatory drilling took place at Quincy, and he was stationed at Ft. Leavenworth, serving the greater part of the time in Eastern Kansas and Missouri, and for abont ten days doing guard duty on the Iron Mountain Railroad. He was mustered out at Springfield, Ill., and honorably discharged in the fall of 1864, when he returned home.


The one step in life that as a rule either makes or breaks the life of the contracting parties is that which was taken by our subject npon Dec. 6, 1866, when he was united in marriage with Miss Emma C. Wonderly, who has since that time brought into his life and home such influences as have resulted in the happiest possible manner, and rendered their union most unregretable. They continued in Illi- nois until 1877, but in the spring of that year re- moved with their family to Beatrice, aud rented a


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farm for four years, and then in 1882 purchased 160 acres in Nemaha Township, residing upon it about four years, removing in 1887 to their present home. Their family comprises ten children, whose names are as follows: Charles, Archie (deceased), Edwin, Laura, Clara, Cora, Trinda, Chester, Guy and Oliver, who are all still at home.


Mrs. Jewell is the daughter of John and Mar- garet Wonderly, natives of Pennsylvania, who upon their marriage settled in the same State. They now reside at Monmouth, Ill., her father having reached the good old age of seventy years, her mother that of sixty-eight. Their family included nine chil- dren, whose names are recorded as here appended : Mary, Emma, Daniel, Anna and George N. (de- ceased), John W., Martha, Clara (deceased) and Charles. Mrs. Jewell was born on the 21st of May, 1847, near Carlisle and Harrisburg, in Cumberland County, Pa. She was about seven years of age when her parents removed to Indiana, and there the rudiments of her education were obtained, this im- portant process of development being completed in Warren County, Ill., whither her parents removed after staying in Indiana about nine months.


In addition to his farming interests our subject has been so placed as to bring him into the real- estate business, which has thus become a part of his regular work. He is the owner of the Rock Island Hotel in Beatrice, and a number of business and resident blocks in different parts of the city. In addition to these he has a fine business lot at Crab Orchard, two in Liberty, two in Odell and four in Topeka, Kan. His dealings in stock have grown to be quite extensive, and he ships upon an average 100 head per annum. Upon his farm he keeps about fifty head of cattle and 100 head of hogs, and has constant work for two teams. In the associa- tion known as the Farmer's Alliance he is one of the prominent members, and takes delight in the work of the society.


For several years Mr. Jewell has been School Director for his district, and has always performed the duties incidental thereto in a manner that must be gratifying to those by whom he was placed in the position, as reflecting most favorably upon their judgment. It has been his habit, dictated by his political sentiments, to vote uniformly and consist-


ently with the Democratic party, being an ardent admirer of its principles. He is a member in good standing of the Baptist Church, as his wife is also of the United Brethren Church. In every circle, whether religious or otherwise, they are received with those sentiments which make their life and home in the community the most pleasant. Our subject served as Constable and Treasurer for a number of years in Illinois before coming to this State.


W ILLETT B. SYKES. The fine farm of 280 aeres which occupies the southwest quarter of section 14 in Clatonia Township, and also a portion of the northeast quarter, attracts the universal admiration of the passerby, and exhibits in a forcible manner the industry and enterprise of the proprietor. This gentleman, the subject of our sketch, began in life a poor man, and has worked his way up through the difficulties which are the common lot of all. Ile is now numbered among the independent farmers of the county, and one who, by his straightforward course in life, has earned in a marked degree the esteem and confidence of his neighbors. Comparatively young in years, having been born Dec. 21, 1850, he is a native of Tioga County, Pa., and the son of Charles and Susan (Black) Sykes, the father now deceased, and the mother a resident of Lake County, Ind.


The parents of our subject were natives respect- ively of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and to them were born a family of twelve children, eight of whom survive, namely: Jasper, of Clatonia Township, this county ; Mary, the wife of George Hayward, of Lake County, Ind .; John, a resident of Weld County, Col .; George, of Lake County, Ind .; Willett B., our subject; Sarah, the wife of John Zeigler, of Macon City, Mo .; Henry and William, of Lake County, Ind. Those deceased are Rebecca, Hattie, Charles and Melissa.


When about two years old our subject was taken by his parents to Lake County, Ind .. where he was reared to manhood and began his apprenticeship at farin life, which he has since followed so success- fully. llis studies were completed in the Ilight School at Crown Point, Ind., and having been a


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reader all his life, he is well posted upon the gen- eral topics of the day. While a resident of Indi- ana he was married, March 25, 1878, to Miss Mary A. Weiler. who was born in Lake County, that State, Aug. 28, 1857, and is the daughter of Chris- tian and Anne C. (Reicker) Weiler, who are na- tives of Germany, and are now residents of Lake County, Ind., where they settled many years ago, soon after their emigration to the United States.


To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born three children: Susie A., May 14, 1880 ; Jennie E., June 27, 1885, and Ervin, Oct. 3, 1887. In the spring of 1878 Mr. Sykes came with his family to this county and purchased the land which he now occupies in Clatonia Township. He first secured 160 acres, and subsequently added to his original purchase, while at the same time he ef- fected those improvements which have rendered it one of the most valuable estates in this section. His property is the accumulation of his own indus- try, as for six or seven years after becoming of age he worked on the farm by the monthi, saving what he could of his earnings, and thus made his start in life. He was particularly fortunate in the selection of a wife and helpmate, Mrs. Sykes having been the assistant of her husband in all his labors, sharing his toils and struggles, and being willing with him to forego many luxuries for the sake of an unin- cumbered home.


The parents of Mr. Sykes upon emigrating to America were in limited circumstances, but their career as pioneers of Lake County, Ind., was very successful, and in their declining years they are surrounded by all the comforts of life, while at the same time enjoying the friendship of all who know them.


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B ENJAMIN DOLAN is a prominent farmer and land-owner of Blakely Township, now owning about 500 acres of land lying on the east side of the Big Blue River, on seetion 2. The greater part of the land is in a fine state of cultivation and produces abundant crops of a supe- rior quality of the various cereals. Our subject came to this county in 1864, and seeured a home- stead of 160 acres which he still owns. It includes


some very good timber land which is valued very highly, and taken as a whole the location of the farm is a most desirable one.


Our subject was born on the 12th of March, 1817, in Wayne County, Ky., and is a son of Edward and Anna (Burk) Dolan, who were natives of Wash- ington County, Va. The father was a farmer, and moved to Kentucky when he was a young man, where he met the lady whom he made his wife, she also liaving gone to that State when she was young. After they were married they continued to reside on a farm in Wayne County, and after both had reached the age of threescore and ten years, and had seen a large family of children well launched into manhood and womanhood, they both died in the home in which they had commenced life to- gether. There were eight sons and three daughters in their family, of whom four of the former and one of the latter are yet living.


Mr. Dolan grew to manhood's years in his native county, and was married there, on the 8th of No- vember, 1843, to Miss Nancy Chesney, who was born in Pulaski County Ky., on the 2d of November, 1819. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Elliott) Chesney, who were natives of Kentucky, but whose ancestors were from the States of Virginia and Maryland, and of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Chesney lived for a number of years in Kentucky, and later in life they inoved to Holt County, Mo., where they lived to a ripe old age, and were re- spected as worthy people. Mrs. Dolan is the eldest of nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom three of the former and three of the latter are yet living.


Our subject and his wife lived for some years in Kentucky, and then with their four children they moved to Missouri and located in Holt County, where they engaged in farming. Thence they moved to Kansas, and shortly afterward came to Nebraska and began to built up a home in the wilds of Big Blue River Valley. There were many dis- couragements, no doubt, in the carrying out of such an undertaking, but perseverance and indus- try accomplished what seemed to be almost impossi- ble tasks, and now our subject has one of the finest and most delightfully situated farms in the county. Since their residence in this Western country,


A. D. Sage


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four other children have been added to their family, but two of them have died, Anna and Benjamin, and the names of the surviving members of the family are: John, Emily, Edward, Harriet, Prather and James. John married Miss Araminta Henton, and now lives on a farm in Marshall County, Kan. ; Emily is the wife of James Benjamin, and they live on the homestead farm belonging to our subject; Edward married Miss Mary Thompson, and lives on a farm near Bailey ; Harriet is the wife of Thomas Bowen, who is engaged in farming in Holt County, this State; Prather married Miss Annie Rossiter, and lives on a farm in Blakely Township; James is at home and has charge of the farm on which our subject resides.


Mr. Dolan is an enterprising business man of sound judgment, as is evinced by the amount of wealth which he has accumulated and the success with which he has placed bis farm under cultiva- tion. He is a reliable man, and possesses the con- fidence of his fellowmen. In matters of politics he is identified with the Democratic party.


LBERT D. SAGE. If it were required to summarize in one sentence the history of this gentleman, it could not be better done, perhaps, than by employing the three words, business, enterprise and prosperity. Our subject is one of the well-to-do farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Midland Township, of which he was one of the pioneers. He is the son of Chauncey and Mary (Patterson) Sage. His parents were born in Massachusetts, and there began their married life. Our subject is a worthy descendant of the Sage fam- ily, not entirely unknown in the annals of the carly history of New England. The first representative of this family to come to the United States was David Sage, who came from England about the year 1630, and whose descendants in the Northern States so far as is now known number over 900 families.


The father of our subject followed the occupa- tion of a cloth dresser, and was skilled in his call- ing. Not long after his marriage he removed to Oneida County, N. Y., and turned his attention to


agriculture; in 1816 he went to Wisconsin, and is still living there at Delavan, and has attained the ripe age of eighty-nine years. His wife, the mother of our subject, died in the year 1876, aged seventy- six years. She was the mother of ten children, whom it was her joy to see enter honorable posi- tions in life. Their names are recorded as follows : Ilenry, Edward, Chauncey, Mary J., Cordelia, Ellen, Albert D., Frances, James and Frank.




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