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 33
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Upon coming to this State our subject was quite a poor man, and was swayed alternately by hope and fear regarding the final outcome. But bending all his energies to the task, allowing neither hardship nor difficulty to daunt him, or any natural adverse ยท circumstance to baffle him, his experience of pio- neer life has developed within him those traits and characteristics that have brought him the respect and admiration of his fellows, and his material pros- perity and success are the reward of his labor. IIe resided upon his farm, and was ever engaged in the various duties connected therewith until 1887, when he removed to Cortland. The latter years of his life lie devoted chiefly to stock-raising and feeding, and he still gives considerable time and attention to stock bnying and shipping, the chief point of con- signment being Omaha.
A red-letter day in the history of our subject was the 16th of September, 1877, the day whereon he was united in marriage with Amelia Meserve, of Nemaha Township. This estimable lady was born on the 4th of December, 1855, in Livingston County, Ill. She is the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Call) Meserve, natives of Maine and
New York respectively. There have been four children born of this union, whose names are here appended : Freda B., who was born on the 29th of September, 1878; Jeanette, Jan. 16. 1880; Phehe, Sept. 28, 1885, and J. L., Dec. 3, 1887. One is de- ceased, F. J.
The father of Mrs. Bailey was by occupation a potter, and is a descendant of an old English fam- ily. When their daughter Amelia was about seven years of age, her parents removed from Illinois, where they settled prior to their marriage, to Powe- shiek County, Iowa, in 1863, and there took land and engaged in farming, making it their home until 1877. Then they removed to this county and set- tled in Nemaha Township, where they still reside upon the land originally taken by them at that time. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living, whose names are recorded as follows: Joseph M., William II., Harriet L., Charles C., Min- nie C. and Amelia. Mr. and Mrs. Meserve have for many years been members of the Christian Church. They are still practically in their prime, and fully appreciate the start in life they have been enabled to give their children, and also the many comforts that are for them to enjoy.
Our subject is in political matters a strong Demo- crat. and has so continued the greater part of his life. Although he has now retired from his farm, he is still actively engaged, indeed, idleness to one of his disposition would be a misery. He has large real-estate interests in Highland Township, which make large demands upon his time and attention. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey move in the best circles of so- ciety in Cortland, and are highly estecmned by all.
OEL DOBBS. One of the enterprising, pro- gressive and prosperous mercantile houses of the growing town of Rockford, in the town- ship of that name, is that of Messrs. Dobbs & Willis, and in this epitome is briefly sketched the life of the popular senior partner of the firm, a man of education and ability, who owes his present po- sition almost entirely to his own ambition. He is the son of Russell L. and Cynthia (Hurst) Dobbs, natives respectively of Tennessee and Indiana. The
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loyal patriotism of his grandfather led him to take up arms in his country's defense in the War of 1812, and fire from the same altar still burns in the breast of our subject.
The Dobbs family came to America over 150 years since, and settled in Tennessee among the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the days when the State was just being opened up. In this district the family grew and flourished ; generation followed generation in their life among these beautiful hills. The parents of our subject were married in Put- namn County, Ind., in 1837, and the father remained following the chosen calling of his life until 1844, when he removed to Andrew County, Mo., and was among the carly pioneers of that district, and still lives upon the old farm. He has attained the ad- vanced age of seventy-one years, but does not seem to feel their weight pressing so heavily as many do at a lesser number. He still enjoys good health and is active, still able to perform a great deal of work on and about the farm. In his time he has held many important offices, and has been an active politician. The mother of our subject died in the year 1867, aged forty-eight years. They were the parents of nine children, whose names are recorded as follows: Emeline, Abraham, John, Amelia Jane, Martha, Sarah, Julia, William F. and Joel. By a former marriage there were born to the father of our subject two children, who received the names respectively of Mary and Susan.
Mr. Joel Dobbs was born July 23, 1857, upon the old homestead in Missouri. His first great trouble came with the death of his mother when he was ten years of age. At eleven he started to do battle with the world on his own account, and has from that time continued to do so. After the death of his wife the father of our subject was un- able to attend to business on account of sickness caused by his wife's death, for two years, owing to the severe strain caused by that trouble. This was the immediate cause of our subject and the rest of the family being thrown upon their own resources. Until he was eighteen years of age our subject con- tinned to work upon a farm, and it was his prac- tice during winter especially to work for his board in order that he might attend school. At eighteen years of age he began teaching school in Andrew
and Nodaway Counties, and continued successfully in this profession for nine years, interspersing it, however, during his vacations with work in con- nection with mercantile life, and by farming upon rented land, and although he was compelled from the nature of his other engagements to employ hired help in its cultivation, he realized quite a good profit.
The sentiments of Miss Alice E. Perkins and our subject being found upon inquiry to be in perfect accord, they became husband and wife March 17, 1878. This lady is the daughter of Avery A. and Martha (Abbott) Perkins, natives of Kentucky and Ohio. As the name intimates, the Perkins family are of English extraction; they settled in this country in an early day. Upon their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Perkins settled in Hancock County, Ill., in 1840, where he followed the occupation of agricultural pursuits until 1872, when he removed to Nodaway County, Mo. Of this union there were born ten children, whose names were recorded as follows: John S., Ephraim. Lucina. Jane, Edith, Alice E., Nancy, Annie, Avery A., and George, deceased. By a former wife there were born four other children.
Mrs. Dobbs was born in Hancock County, in the State of Illinois, in April. 1858, and continued to live with her parents until her marriage. She was fifteen years of age when she accompanied her par- ents to Missouri, and there she made the acquaint- ance of our subject while he was engaged in teach- ing. Until the year 1883 they continued to live in Missouri, then came to Nebraska and settled upon a farm four miles north of Blue Springs, where our subject continued engaged in farming for two years. Then he came to Rockford and established the business which still engages his at- tention; from that time on there has been a contin- nous and steady increase in the business, so that other help was required and a larger stock de- manded. He has, however, been enabled to keep pace with this most desirable and happy growth, and will doubtless contrive to do so, however far it may extend in the future.
Our subject has erected a very pretty and com- modious residence in Rockford, and has supplied it with numberless conveniences that are a daily ap-
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preciation. Although no pains have been spared to make this home bright and pleasant, its chief adornment to our subjeet is his wife and children. There have been horn of this union six children, three of whom died in childhood. Their names are as follows: William S .; Annie, who died aged nine months: Bernice; Russell L., who died when three years of age; Elmer, and an infant who died unnamed.
To Mr. Dobbs came the honor of being appointed the first Postmaster of Rockford, a position which he filled with universal satisfaction within the sphere of operation. He was elected Justice of the Peace in the year 1887, and there won fresh laurels. 'This was, doubtless, one reason why he was made a delegate to the Republican County Convention of 1888. It will be seen, therefore, that the current of his political principles and sentiments is with the "grand old party," of which for many years he has been a stanch friend. These things are but effects; the cause must he sought in the character of the man, who has achieved such success and gathered around him so many friends, who hold him in their high regard.
ARVEY W. GIDDINGS is an intelligent and industrious farmer residing on section 36, Midland Township, who has accumulated his present fine and valuable property by his force of will, perseverance and industry, having successfully combated reverses which would have caused a less energetic man to despair. He is a son of John W. and Hannah (Stafford) Giddings, the former of whom was born in Massachusetts, and the latter in the southwestern part of New York. The Giddings family are of Scotch descent, the great-grandfather of our subject coming to New York from Scotland, and making a matrimonial alli- ance in that State. The Staffords are of English descent. The father of our subject followed the pursuit of agriculture, and was a hard-working man, his sympathy in political matters always strongly in favor of the Whig and Republican parties. He died at the age of seventy-seven years in 1881, and his wife died at the age of seventy-six
years in 1885, after having gathered about them a family of eleven children, on whom were bestowed the following names: Harvey W., Elmira A., Sarah L., Robey S., Miron A., Clinton and Caroline (the former of whom died when a boy of thirteen years), Francis, Emily. Augusta (deceased at the age of four years), and John C.
Our subject, the oldest of his father's family, was born in MeKran Township, Erie Co., Pa., on the 11th of January, 1830, and when he was but four years old he began his attendance on the com- mon schools. Ile has a very retentive memory, and the early scenes having made a vivid impres- sion on his childish mind, he can describe them with great precision, and is able to place every maple, beech and chestnut tree on the way to the old school-house. His parents were in moderate cir- cumstanees, and he was early taught to apply him- self diligently to work in order to assist in the maintenance of the large family. In June. 1840, the family removed to Warren County, Ill., where they were among the early pioneers.
Our subject remained at home until he was twenty-five years old, when he returned to l'enn- sylvania to claim the companionship of the lady of his choice, Miss Rebecca E. McClure, a daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Shirer) MeClure. Her father was born in Ireland and her mother in Hol- land, and they moved to Illinois from Pennsylvania in 1865. The father died in 1883 at the age of seventy-six years, and the mother still lives, having reached the age of eighty years, and seen her ten children, eight girls and two boys, become useful men and women. Mrs. Giddings is the fifth child of the family, and was born on the 16th of October, 1836, and after reaching the years of girlhood slie attended school in the same old school-house under the chestnut tree that is so dear to the memory of her husband.
After their marriage our subject and his wife came to Illinois, the former rejoicing with gratified pride that he had prepared a pleasant home for his bride. having a comfortable home and 120 acres of land to share with her. lle was financially suc- cessful, and became the owner of 9,000 acres of land in Illinois, but by going security for other parties, and they proving unable or unwilling to
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pay off the amount of their indebtedness for which our subject had gone security, he met with reverses, and was virtually bankrupt. This word originally had a deeper significance than it now bears, being derived from the Italian words "banco rotto," which means literally "broken bench," and originated from the custom of the ancient Italian merchants and business men of transacting business behind stands or benches on the street; when one of them became insolvent or unable to pay his debts, his bench was literally broken to pieces, and he was no longer permitted to transact business. But that meaning does not now attach to the word, ample op- portunity now being afforded an unfortunate man to redeem his fortune, and our subject having lost all he had through the lack of honor in others, was constrained to begin anew, and again rise to a po- sition of wealth.
Our subject determined to take advantage of the inducements offered by our State to regain his lost footing, and in the spring of 1871 he came to Buffalo County, where he rented some land. Here he again passed through a pioneer experience, and after much hard labor in sowing his first crop it was destroyed by the grasshoppers, and he was almost in despair. In 1873 he came to this county, and leased a section of land for two years' time, but his lessee sold the farm in 1875. He then moved on the Kansas & Missouri Stage Company's farm, which consisted of 1,200 acres, of which he broke 475 acres, and fenced it all with wire. He prospered exceedingly well, and remained on that farm for seven years, in the meantime (1879) buying his present farm of 240 acres, and when he moved on to it in 1882 it was virtually paid for, he having built np a reputation as one of the best farmers in the county.
Our subject and his wife have become the par- ents of ten children, of whom Flora E. died March 3, 1883; Carrie, April 22, 1882, and Edwin W., Nov. 16, 1884 ; the remaining members of the family bear the names of Jennie, S. E., Harry, Carl, Susie, Ralph, and an infant, Rebecca E. When the family were living on the Kansas & Missouri Stage Com- pany's farm the father built on his own farm a handsome and commodions full two-story house at a cost of $1,750, containing all modern improve-
ments and conveniences. The children possess great musical talents, and when they get together the handsome parlors resound with strains of sweet- est music. The mother is inclined to the Presby- terian Church, and her husband has for his motto the Golden Rule, his neighbors testifying that his principles are in strictest accord with its teaching.
Our subject has been engaged in the dairy busi- ness, for which purpose he has eighteen good milch cows, and his milk-house is cool, sweet and clean. He operates 600 acres of land, leasing 320 acres, and has 200 acres devoted to the growth of flax, 100 to oats, seventy-five to corn, and eighty acres to meadow land. He has ten teams of horses, sixty hogs, and raises about a carload of beef cattle an- nually, feeding all the grain that he raises. His formier reverses seem only to have incited him to still greater effort, the results of which are his present abundant means and influential standing among his fellowmen.
Our subject has taken great interest in the edn- cational advancement of his township, having been instrumental in building the school-houses in the district, since which time the young people have enjoyed the advantage of a nine-months school every year. Of his reputation we might say with old John Brown of "marching on" fame, that one good, industrious, true and believing man in a com- munity is worth a thousand who have no religion and no fixed principles. He has served with credit on the Grand and Petit Juries, and is foremost among the advocates of law and order. In politics Mr. Giddings affiliates with the Republican party.
HADDEUS GREEN was born in Ross County, Ohio, on the 18th of April, 1837, and when he was about two years old his parents, Thomas W. and Eleanor (Moser) Green, removed to McLean County, Ill. There he grew up to man- hood, receiving his education in the district schools, and there he was married, on the 2d of November, 1864, to Miss Mary Hall. He engaged in farming, and remained in Illinois until the Ist of March, 1883, when he came to Nebraska and located on the farm on which he still lives.
Our subject is a great admirer and sympathizer
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with the beauties and resources of Nature, and he takes a natural delight in developing them, prefer- ring a peaceful, happy life on his farm engaged in the various duties incident to a rural life rather than any other life which the busy, bustling world can offer. He has a very good farm of 200 acres on section 17, Sicily Township, and gives attention to the raising of both grain and live stock. His farm is well watered, having an inexhanstible supply from a well, and Sicily Creek, which passes through his farm, furnishes plenty of water for his stock. The creek never dries in the summer or freezes in the winter, so that his stock has free access to it at all times and in all seasons.
Mr. Green has improved his farm by building a good house and barn. with good fencing to serve as the dividing line between the various fields, which adds very much to the fine appearance of the place. He has a good orchard of fine young trees just beginning to bear nicely, and he takes great interest in keeping them well pruned and in a good bearing condition. For his reward and painstaking he will enjoy seeing the branches loaded with a supply of delicious fruits, for when Nature is well wooed she does not fail to respond.
Our subject and his wife have a family of six children, all of whom are living. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Blue Springs. The mother of our subject was a native of Berks County, Pa., and she died on the 27th of January, 1871, while his father was born in Philadelphia, and died on the 25th of April, 1879, the death of both the parents occurring in McLean County, Ill. They were members of the Methodist Church, esteemed and active Christian people, and in that faith they died.
The father of Mrs. Green, Prior, and ber mother, Mary (Thomas) Hall, were natives of Ohio, but both removed to Illinois when young. When the inhabitants of the country became so excited over the discovery of gold in California. there were vast trains of emigrant wagons stretched across the prairies and along the monntain roads. These vast trains of emigrants were really pioneers in the part of the country through which they passed, in some places having to fell trees, build rude bridges, and otherwise prepare the way before they could reach
the end of their journey. The father of Mrs. Green was one among the large number who hastened to the gold mines, making the journey to California in 1849, but after enduring many hardships and privations he sickened and died in that distant State, in the year 1851. The mother died in Illinois in October, 1862, having been the mother of seven children, of whom the wife of our subject is the sixth one.
Our subject has two brothers and three sisters, all of whom are living except one sister, Margaret E., who died in Illinois, and all married except Mary D. His brother John M. was in Company F, 116th Illinois Infantry, and served in the capac- ity of a soldier for three years, coming home with- out having received a wound, though his health was impaired by the exposure. Our subject is earnestly in favor of the administration of the Re- publican party.
ORVEL LEWIS is one of the most enter- prising and snecessful farmers in Rockford
V Township, where he has a splendid farm of 160 acres, and another of the same size in Logan Township, devoted to the purposes of general farming and stock-raising. His father, Mills Lewis, was born in New Jersey, near Perth Amboy, and his mother, Jane (Carr) Lewis, in Indiana. Both had early come with their parents to Warren County, Ill., where they grew to manhood and womanhood, and after their marriage they made their home at that place, continuing until the present time, the father having reached the age of sixty-three years, and the mother sixty-one years. The father has been prominently identified with the political af- fairs of Warren County, and was sent by his con- stituents to the Illinois State Legislature during the term of 1880-81. He represented his county in an able manner, and served with honor to him- self and his constituents. His family numbered nine children, bearing the following names: Norvel, Mary, Henry, Jud, Emery, Sarah, Lula, Effie and Edwin C.
Our subject, the eldest in his father's family, was born on the 12th of July, 1850, in Warren County,
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Burwick Township, and spent his early life on a farm. In order to receive the advantages of edu- cation offered by the nearest school, he was obliged to go two and a half miles, but did not attend after he was sixteen years old. He remained with his father until he was twenty-two years old, when, in 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Millie Murdock., a daughter of John and Fannie (Milligan) Murdock, who were both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer, and after their marriage in Pennsylvania they went to War- ren County, Ill., where he continned the pursuit of his occupation. He died in 1887, at the age of seventy-eight years, bnt the mother still lives at her home in Illinois, and is seventy-four years old. She was Mr. Murdock's first. wife, and there was a family of eight children, whose names are: Jonas, Margaret, Mary, George (deceased), Millie, Allen, Mina and Edward.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were the parents of one child, named Henry M., who died when he was six months old, and the mother died in October, 1873. Our subject was a second time married, to Miss Rachel Dickie, of Pennsylvania, who died in No- vember, 1883. Mr. Lewis came to this county in the spring of 1881, and in the fall of the same year he purchased his present quarter-section of land, expecting to make his home here, bringing his wife in the spring of 1882. He was a third time mar- ried, on the 27th of January, 1884, to Miss Mattie Shaw, a daughter of Holcomb and Ruth Shaw. Her parents were born in Pennsylvania, and two years after their marriage they came to Illinois, where they made their home for six years, after which, in 1869, they came to this county. They are still residing here, the father at the age of fifty-eight years, and the mother fifty-three, and have cared for a family of eight children, on whom they bestowed the names Dora, Mattie, Charles, Mary and Ruth (deceased), Pearl, Herbert and Rupert.
Mrs. Lewis was born on the 6th of September, 1862, in Ogle County, Ill., and was six or seven years old wher she came to this State. She at- tended school in Cottage Hill, near Filley, the first school-house in Filley Township, and having re- ceived a very excellent education she has been identified with the educators of this county for four
or five years. She attended the first summer Nor- mal held in this county, and prepared herself to engage in the profession of teaching; but leaving the care of many little ones to others, she became the wife of our subject, and is a devoted mother to the children that have been given her. The elder, Harry E., died when he was two years and three months old, and the only remaining child is named Norvel M.
Mr. Lewis is the owner of 320 acres of fine land, half of which lies on section 5, Rockford Township, and the other half in Logan Township. He gives special attention to the breeding of Hambletonian and Bashaw horses, and is the owner of the famons Oakland stud of twenty to twenty-seven horses. In the work of his farm he uses three teams of horses, and has improved it to a very fine condi- tion; and from his uniform success he has built up a reputation as a successful agriculturist which is second to none in the connty. He is well known and influential in the management of public affairs, and in matters of politics he lends his influence to the Democratic party. Mrs. Lewis is an estimable lady, and an influential member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Beatrice.
R REDERICK GRUND. Adams Township has within its borders few better men or citizens than the subject of this sketch, who has had a wide and varied experience in life, and has made the most of his opportunities. He now owns and occupies a good farm on section 28, and while engaged in the cultivation of the soil has like- wise carefully tended the garden of his mind, and by a steady and judicious course of reading kept himself well posted upon matters of general interest. 'He is a fine scholar, both in English and German. In conversation he is interesting, and the story of his travels over a large portion of the Great West forms a narration well worth the listener's time and at- tention.
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