Portrait and biographical album of Gage County, Nebraska : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 36

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 36


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Our subject received his education in Racine County, and lived there until he attained the estate of manhood, and from the close of school days was a farmer. Not very long after he came to this State he made the acquaintance of Miss Araminta Claybourn, a native of Michigan, and daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Kinzie) Claybourn. One of the sad events in the early history of the town- ship was the death of her father, which occurred in 1866. During the afternoon he had gone over to see a neighbor, and started about sundown to re- turn; he was caught in a blizzard, lost his way and wandered hither and thither, and was finally found three miles from home, but frozen to death. He died while in the full vigor and prime of manhood. His wife, who is now over seventy years of age, is still a resident of Grant Township, making her home with her children.


After his marriage our subject began life as a farmer, and has so continued ever since. During the late Civil War, and previous to coming to Ne- braska, he enlisted in Company G, 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, and went with his regiment to the South and Southwest. The regiment suffered very much while in Texas, where they were compelled to


RESIDENCE OF ROBERT G. GILMORE , SEC.28. HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.


RESIDENCE OF R. F. HENDERSON , SEC. 21. NEMAHA TOWNSHIP.


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RESIDENCE OF H. H. SILVER , SEC . 6. HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.


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march and fight on half rations and could obtain only very poor water. The regiment was chicfly used to chase bushwhackers, and our subject es- caped in every combat unhurt, and at the close of his term of service was honorably discharged and returned home.


Mr. and Mrs. Burgess are members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, and in it are held in high re- gard. In his political sentiments our subject is a Republican, and has so continued since he was old enough to vote. He has always been a friend of good morals, giving his hearty support to move- ments that were calculated to help the township or county, and is generally recognized as a much- valned citizen. Mrs. Burgess' family came and settled in Nebraska in the summer of 1860, when there were only three families within eight miles.


ORACE C. BARMORE. In January, 1865. the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch homesteaded 160 acres of land on section 33, Adamns Township, and since that time has made this place continu- ously his home. At the time he took possession it had little resemblance to its present state, there being then not even a shelter for his family, and none of the comforts and conveniences for which it is now so conspicuous. Mr. and Mrs. Barmore came to Nebraska from Berrien County, Mich., making the journey overland in the fall of the year, with a wagon and horses, and bringing with them their two children. They started out on the 20th of October, and landed in Nemaha Township on the 23d of December following. They lived with the father of Mrs. Barmore that winter, and as soon as the season had moderated sufficiently, our subject set about the establishment of their future home in a new and untried region.


The first business of Mr. Barmore, after securing a claim to a portion of the soil of Nebraska, was to provide suitable quarters for his family. Their first dwelling on their own land was a log house, and they were beset with the difficulties common to the people of a new settlement. They had "come to stay," however, and were not to be


turned from their purpose by any ordinary event. Mr. B. commenced to till the soil and to surround himself gradually with those comforts and con- veniences essential to a well-ordered homestead and the health and happiness of the family. In this lahor of love he was most earnestly seconded by the hearty co-operation of one of the best and most intelligent of women, and the result has been that which one would most naturally expect. They have now one of the most desirable homes in the township, are honored and respected by their neigh- bors, and have yielded no small measure of assist- ance in the building up of their adopted county and assuring its reputation as one of the most in- telligent communities of the West.


Mr. Barmore is the offspring of a good family, his father having been Adna, and his mother Abi- gail (Dart) Barmore, natives of Genesee County, N. Y., where they were reared and married. They resided there afterward for a time, and then re- moved to Cattaraugus County, where they lived for a period of twenty years. In 1844 they removed to LaPorte County, Ind., and thence, in 1847, to Berrien County, Mich., where they spent the re- mainder of their lives, the father dying in 1876, at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother in 1883, aged eighty-two. They were the parents of three children, who lived to mature years, viz : Elfinda; Horace C., of our sketch, and Edwin C. The brother resides in Cortland. and the sister is now in Berrien County, Mich.


Horace C. Barmore was born in Randolph Town- ship, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Dec. 23, 1829. His home being among the timber regions, the schools were few and far between, he having to travel one and one-half miles to the temple of learning to se- cure the rudiments of his education. He was n lad fifteen years of age when his parents went to Indi- ana, and eighteen when they left there for Michi- gan. Our subject developed into manhood in Berrien County, the latter State, and there also met and married his present wife. The maiden name of this lady was Mary I. Curtiss, and she was the daughter of William and Lanra ( Merrick) Curtiss, both natives of Willington, Tolland Co., Conn. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Curtiss removed to Chautauqua County, N. Y., where the father, who


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was a teacher by profession, followed his vocation in the city schools of Buffalo. He was also in- terested in other business, and more than ordina- rily capable and intelligent.


The parents of Mrs. Barmore about 1843 re- moved to Indiana, but the health of the father becoming greatly impaired, he went to California in 1851, returning sixteen months afterward greatly improved. In 1861 the family came to this State, then a Territory, and settled upon a homestead tract, the patent of which was No. 14, and signed by Abraham Lincoln. That document, now in possession of Benjamin Hornby, could not be pur- chased for scarcely any sum of money. Mr. Cur- tiss was at once recognized as a valued addition to the community and the county, and in 1878 was elected to the Nebraska Legislature. His serious illness, however, prevented his ever taking his seat, and he passed away on the 17th of March, 1879, at the age of seventy-seven years. Mrs. Curtiss sur- vived her husband seven years, dying at the home of her daughter in 1885, when eighty-two years old.


To the parents of Mrs. Barmore there were born six children, two sons and four daughters. Three only are now living: Mary Irena, Austin William and Harriet E. Mrs. B. was born at Barcelona, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., on the shores of Lake Eric, Dec. 22, 1831. She pursued her first studies in the excellent schools of Westfield, in her native county, but when a little girl ten years of age they removed to Indiana. The mother then being in- capacitated for continuing the charge of the house- hold, this duty fell upon her daughter Mary, and the studies of the latter thereafter were pursued at home by the light of the evening lamp after the duties of the day were over. So thoroughi, how- ever, had been the previous training of the child, that with the assistance and encouragement of her father she made good headway, and a few years later taught in the district schools of LaPorte County.


After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Barmore set- tled in Berrien County, Mich., where our subject carried on farming, and where they remained until coming to Nebraska. Among the other improve- ments effected around their homestead is a fine


orchard of 100 apple trees in good bearing condi- tion, and a grove of cottonwood trees which affords shade in summer and protection from the blasts of winter. Mr. and Mrs. B. have kept pace with the growth of the country, interesting themselves in its welfare, and giving their hearty support and en- couragement to the enterprises set on foot for the general good of the community. The warm friends of temperance, they have labored for its advance- ment many years, and are members in good stand- ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bar- more politically is a progressive Republican, but on account of the cause of temperance is now identi- fied with the Prohibitionists. He has been School Treasurer in his district for the long period of twenty years. He voted for the adoption of the State Constitution, and has served on the Petit Jury.


The household circle of our subject and his wife includes the following children: The eldest daughter, Carrie, a bright and intelligent young lady, is teaching in the schools in this county ; Frank married Miss Mary Bryson, and is farming in Logan County, Col .; Adna W. is engaged on a stock ranch near Greeley, Col .; Charles L. resides in Phillips County, Kan .; Walter H. and Florence are at home with their parents. These children have inherited the good qualities of both parents, and the latter may be pardoned for the pride with which they naturally regard them.


REDERICK BINTZ is a worthy citizen of Highland Township, residing on section 23, where he is actively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was born on the 10th of April, 1857, in Hessen, Germany, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Bintz, who are natives of the same country. Our subject was reared in his native country until he reached his eighteenth year, and received a fairly good education in both the En- glish and German languages. In the spring of 1874, having decided to come to America, he took passage on a steamer which left the port of Ant- werp, and after a voyage of twelve days arrived in the harbor of New York City. His parents are


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now residing in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and of the seven children who comprised their family six are now living, and make their homes in the following places: Elizabeth is the wife of Adolph Sass, of Livingston County, Ill .; Philip, George and Julia are in Iowa, and Frederick and John in Highland Township, this county. Catherine is the name of the daughter now deceased.


On the arrival of our subject in America he came west to Illinois, making his home in Livingston County for one year, and engaged in working on a farm, after which he went to Cass County, Jowa. where he remained for a time engaged in his former occupation. He then changed his residence to Pottawattamie County, of the same State, where he lived for several years, and during the last four years of his residence there he rented a farm and assumed the management of it. By this time he had accumulated a sufficient amount of money to enable him to start in business for himself, so in the spring of 1885 he came to this county, and pur- chased eighty acres of land in Highland Township, on which he has since made his home. Ile has made most of the improvements on his farm, has erected a good house, barn, and the necessary farm buildings, and in various ways, by his industry, perseverance and good management, has he in- creased the value as well as the appearance of his land.


On the Ist of September, 1885, the gentleman of whom we write was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Fotsch, a daughter of John C. Fotsch, of Muscatine, Iowa. She was born in Switzerland, in the month of April, 1860, and made her home with her parents, in Illinois, until the time of her mar- riage. Her mother died in the year 1887. To Mr. and Mrs. Bintz has been born one child, named Jacob, whose birth occurred on the 12tli of Janu- ary, 1887. They are well and comfortably situated in their pleasant home, and are rapidly becoming known as successful farmers, paying close attention to their agricultural labors, which are facilitated by the use of new and improved styles of implements.


Our subject and his wife are esteemed members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, of Cortland, and are active and highly respected mem- bers of society. The former is a Republican in


polities, but in local matters he generally lends his influence toward the election of competent men, irrespective of party, believing that the Govern- ment can be better intrusted to men of ability and honor than to the administration of any one party. Ile is now serving his second year as Overseer of Highways, and is the present Treasurer of his school district, eoming prominently to the front in matters of education and general improvement. In the short time of his residence here he has proved himself a loyal citizen, and has taken an active interest in the elevation of society and the advance- ment of the public institutions.


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C IIRISTIAN HAFERLAND is one of the representative Germans who came to Amer- iea with comparatively little means, but by perseverance and self-reliance has gathered about him many of the comforts and luxuries which pertain to this life, and by his manly bearing has won the approval and esteem of his friends and neighbors. Our subject was born in Germany, on the 22d of June, 1836, and he remained in his na- tive country until he was about thirty-three years old. He received his education and was married in that country to Miss Dora T. Brower, on the 26th of December, 1855. One daughter, Emma, and one son, William, were born to them there, and in 1869 they decided to come to America, making the voyage on the steamship "Germany" in four- teen days.


Our subject and his family reached the harbor of New York on the 10th of June, and immediately after their arrival they started for Illinois, arriving in Woodford County on the 15th of the same month. During the first year he worked by the month on a railroad, and engaged in whatever occupation he could secure lucrative remuneration. lle then rented a farm, and began the occupation of tilling the soil, at which he continued until in the spring of 1881, when he came to this county, and began making improvements on a farm which he purchased.


When Mr. Haferland reached America he had left about $150, and by his industry and good


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management he has become the owner of a fine, well-improved farm of 160 acres, on which he has a very nice home, and is otherwise situated to en- joy in comparative ease his possessions. But while he has been successful in this county, and has accu- mulated quite a fine property, he is not so well pleased with the climate, and therefore thinks of removing to Oregon at some future time.


The lady whom our subject married in Germany departed this life in the month of November, 1874, while they were living in Illinois, and on the 22d of December, 1875, he was married to Elizabeth Scherling. Besides the children Emma and Will- iam, born to their parents in Germany, there was a son Louis by the first marriage born in Illinois. There are three children of the second marriage- Herman, Minnie and Frederick.


Mr. and Mrs. Haferland are active and esteemed members of the Lutheran Church, of which church our subject's first wife was also a member. Mr. Haferland is interested in the political government and welfare of the country, but he is not sufficiently partisan to join himself to any of the organizations, and generally casts his vote for the man whom he thinks is the best qualified for the position, regard- less of the party to which he belongs. As a man who has worked his way upward to success from a small beginning, our subject has proved himself to be the possessor of those sterling qualities of man- hood which never fail to bring distinction to the owner.


OHN C. BOYD. Among the citizens of Cortland, few are more worthy of the name representative citizen, or are more enter- prising, progressive or successful than our subject, who was born upon the 9th of April, 1820, in County Tyrone, in the North of Ireland. He is a son of Robert and Elizabeth Boyd, natives of the same district. Their ancestors were Scottish, but the family had been settled in Ulster for many years. When about two years of age our subject was taken by his parents to Ayrshire, Scotland, and was a resident there till he reached his seventeenth year. Scotland has always been remarkable for the at- tention given to the education of the young, and


our subject received a good education, which he has since found occasion to utilize continuously.


In the fall of 1843 our subject emigrated to America, taking passage in the Glasgow sailing-ship "New York." For five weeks following he was "rocked in the cradle of the deep," but in no very gentle manner. Dame Atlantic seemed to be in no pleasant mood, and gave the good ship and those aboard her quite a rough handling, but the discom- forts of the voyage were speedily forgotten upon landing in New York. Having learned the busi- ness of painter and glazier in the old country, he in New York found work as a painter, and con- tinued in the city for some time. Subsequently he for three years followed his trade in Haverstraw on the Hudson; thence he removed to Astoria, L. I., and went to work in a woolen factory. This he followed for about three or four years from that time. He subsequently removed to Little Falls, N. J., and for a number of years worked at both these trades.


From New Jersey our subject went to Ogle County, Ill., and there resumed his painting, re- maining there for twenty-five years, doing both city and country work. His family resided on his farm, which was situated six miles north of Dixon. All these years he has been gradually progressing, be- coming more and more prosperous, until he was quite fairly well-to-do.


Upon the 13th of August, 1862, Mr. Boyd en- listed in Company K, 92d Illinois Mounted Infantry, which became a part of the Army of the Cum- berland, and took active part in the battles at Chickamauga. Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mount- ain, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, siege of Atlanta, and also in Sherman's march to the sea. They then went to Savannah, through the Carolinas, and finished their active service at Greensboro, where Johnson surrendered. He received an hon- orable discharge in June, 1865, and returned to his Illinois home. He has been in many hard battles and close conflicts, and has had many narrow escapes, but has not been wounded at all seriously.


While residing in Haverstraw our subject was united in marriage, on the 11th of October, 1849, with Ann J. Hawthorne, a native of North Ireland, where she was born on the 27th of August, 1828.


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This lady is the daughter of Robert and Mary Haw- thorne, likewise natives of the same place, but of English family. She was brought to this country by her parents when but nine months old. The family landed in Montreal, and then came on to New York City, and there resided for about three years. They next removed to Thompsonville, Conn., which was their home for seven years. From Connecticut they went to Chenango County, N. Y .. which was their home for ten years, and from there removed to Haverstraw. Here she met and married our subject as above noted. Her father was an ingrain carpet weaver, but later in life fol- lowed farming in preference. Ile was the father of eight children, five of whom are living, whose names are as follows: Ann J., the wife of our snb- ject; James R., David, Thomas and Samuel.


One of the most strong of home's welding forces, and at the same time its perennial source of happi- ness, is the children who grace it, filling its halls and rooms with merry chatter and mirthful glee. Our subject has what the wise man calls " his quiver- ful," and is happy in such possession. There have been seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Boyd, six of whom are still living, viz: Mary E., the wife of Joseph Stevens, of Ogle County, Ill. ; Robert, a prosperous farmer in Ilitchcock County, Neb .; Isa- bella, the wife of Samuel Gull, of the same county ; David, whose home is in the same neighborhood; the two youngest, Ella and Mattie, are still at home with their parents.


In the spring of 1879 our subject came to Gage County, and purchased 160 acres of railroad land in Clatonia Township, from the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company, for which he paid $7.50 per acre. Subsequently he purchased eighty acres of adjoining land, and having improved it to his liking he made it one of the finest farms in the entire township. Besides this 240 acres he owns 160 in Hitchcock County. Ever since coming to this State he has followed farming and stock-rais- ing exclusively, and the large measure of success he has enjoyed is due to his arduous labor, the re- sult of his irrepressible will power. This was in- spired by his self-respecting ambition, which was born of the unselfish desire to do the best possible good for and bring the largest amount of happiness


into the lives of those near and dear to him. In all the period of their companionship he has been assisted and enthused by the most excellent manage- ment and wise counsels of his estimable wife, who has continuously, and with unflagging zeal, been to him all she promised when their mutual nuptial vows were made. In this it is positively certain our subject most heartily concurs, and would be the first to admit its truth, if not indeed to suggest it, after a happy companionship of about forty years.


Although not members of any particular church denomination, Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are not without serions religious convietions, and are most highly respected because of the irreproachableness of their lives. They are always prepared to do their part, either by contribution or actual effort, to aid in be- half of any enterprise connected with the churches or otherwise, if only it be worthy. They are active members of society, and move in its best circles. They are still in the prime of life, and in their home at Cortland, whither they removed in the fall of 1887, enjoying as is their right and privilege the fruit of previous years of toil and labor. While resident in Illinois our subject held several of the minor offices in the gift of the people with much satisfaction to all concerned. In his political prin- ciples and sympathies he is entirely with the Re- publican party, and has so continued for many years.


E NOS BARKEY, Sn. On section 32 in High- land Township lies one of the best appointed farms in this county, the property of the subject of this sketch, who was born in Montgomery County, Pa., Oct. 20, 1815. He is consequently quite well advanced in years, and has made for himself a good record as a man and citizen.


Abraham and Catherine (Bornaman) Barkey, the parents of our subject, were natives of Pennsylva- nia, and traced their ancestry back to an excellent old German family which stood well among the noted families of Switzerland. The paternal great- grandfather of our subject crossed the Atlantic prior to the Revolutionary War, and his father was a Mennonite in religion and transmitted his relig- jons faith in a marked degree to his offspring. The


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maternal great-grandfather, Daniel Bornaman by name, was also of German birth and parentage, and emigrated to America at a still earlier date than the first representative of the Barkeys, the date being 1721. He established himself in Mont- gomery County, Pa., abont thirty-five miles west of the present city of Philadelphia, and his de- scendants are still in possession of the property which he there accumulated.


The subject of this sketch was the fourth of ten children born to his parents, and wlien a lad of six- teen years removed with them from Montgomery to Butler County, where he was reared to man's estate. His early education was exceedingly lim- ited, but being a bright and observant lad he made the most of his opportunities, and at an early age gave evidence of the strength of character which has marked his later years. A year after the re- moval to Butler County the mother passed away, and the father followed in less than two years there- after. Enos commenced working on a farm at the age of ten years, and when fourteen began learning the trade of shoemaker, which, however, he fol- lowed but a short time. At the age of twenty years he was married. Aug. 23, 1835, to Miss Eve Ziegler, also a native of the Keystone State. Of this union there were born seven children, five of whom are living, namely : Susan, Mrs. Benjamin Book- walter, of Grundy County, Ill .; Judy, the wife of Francis McGirr, of Holt Township, this county; Ziegler, of Highland Township; John, a minister of the Church of God, and a resident of Cortland, and Enos, who resides with his father on the homestead. Those deceased are Daniel and Mary, who died when three months and three years old respect- ively.


Mr. and Mrs. Barkey, after their marriage, con- tinned residents of their native State for a period of ten years, our subject engaging in general farm- ing. In the spring of 1845 they migrated to Ohio, settling in Defiance County, whence they removed three years later to Elkhart County, Ind. We next find them in Grundy County, Ill., where Mr. Bar- key purchased land, and with his family took up his abode among its pioneer settlers. He occupied the same farm there for a period of nearly twenty-five years, and in 1873 once more changed his residence,




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