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 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
The date of our subject's marriage, which has proved one of the happiest steps he ever took in life, was Feb. 5, 1868, when he was united to Mag- dalena Lehman, who was born at Polk, Ashland Co., Ohio, Ang. 9, 1846, and is a daughter of Jacob Lehman, a native of Pennsylvania. Her parents had a family of eight children. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Jerman comprises six children, whose names are recorded as follows : Oliver H., Sarah J., George A., Oland and Ollie (twins) and Perry L.
The religious sentiments of our subject and his wife led them to affiliate with the communion of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they are quite active workers. Socially, Mr. Jerman is connected with Rawlins Post No. 35, G. A. R. In his political sentiments our subject is in harmony with the principles of the Republican party, and
354
GAGE COUNTY.
has always been thoroughly consistent and active in its service. He has for one term filled the chair of Justice of the Peace in a manner that reflects in a most complimentary manner upon him. by rea- son of his patient hearing, careful weighing of evi- dence, pro and con, and the impartial justice of his judgments.
-
SA THOMPSON is successfully engaged in farming on section 10, Blakely Township, where he has 200 acres of good land in an improved condition. He came to this county in 1878, and secured his land two years later, consequently all of the improvements have been made within the past few years. He was born in Montgomery County, Va., on the 30th of May, 1836, and is one of a family of twelve children, in- cluding seven sons and five daughters. He is a son of Archibald and Rachel (Reed) Thompson, who were natives of Old Virginia, and came of English parentage. For a time after their marriage they made their home in their native State, and then they moved to Greene County, Tenn., where they remained until the time of their death, that of the father occurring when he was seventy-two years old, and the mother when she was seventy-seven years old. The father was engaged in farming, and was a Dunkard minister, holding that relation to his church for a period of fifty years, and was active and zealous in the cause of his religion. The mother had also held the same religious faith all her life.
Our subject remained under the parental roof in Eastern Tennessee, and received his education in the common schools. On the 3d of July, 1857, he was united in marriage, in Sullivan County, with Miss Catherine Bond, who was born in that county on the 12th of January, 1839. Her parents were na- tives of the same place, and were engaged in farm- ing, but both are now deceased. Mrs. Catherine Thompson lived to come with her husband to this State, but she died at her home in 1883, at the age of forty years. She was the mother of seven chil- dren, of whom Melvin and Mollie are deceased. James A. married Miss Lizzie Sparks, and they re-
side on a farm in Perkins County. this State, having been early pioneers there; R. Ellen is the wife of John Lamb, and they live in Jefferson County, where they are engaged in farming; Joshna A. mar- ried Miss Ella Reid, and they are living on a new, unbroken farm in Perkins County ; Susan A., Alice B .. Rufus E. and Hattie A. P. E. are at home.
Mr. Thompson was a second time married on the 28th of July, 1886, to Miss Anna C. Buckley, who was born in the Province of Ontario, on the 29th of November, 1856. Her father, John Buckley, was born in the South of Ireland, and came to Can- ada when he was a yonng and single man, and there engaged as a farmer. His wife was Mary Kurslen, who was also a native of the South of Ireland, and had come to Canada when she was a young woman, She had embraced the Catholic faith, and was the mother of a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, all of whom are living. She died in 1875, at her home in Canada, aged forty-nine years, and the father afterward married Catherine Stephens, who was a native of Canada. They after- ward came to Nebraska, and are now living on a farm in Blakely Township.
By his second marriage our subject is the father of one child, named John L. His farm is very nicely situated, and with its good buildings, fences, and other improvements which he has made, it pre- sents a very fine appearance, and annually produces good crops of grain. Mr. Thompson is an ardent Republican, and is a public-spirited citizen, stand- ing high in the estimation of his fellowmen.
UGH B. BILDERBACK, whose beautiful and thoroughly well-cultivated 80-acre farm is situated on section 28, Logan Township, is of German descent, and yet it were hard to find in this or any other State a more thorough American than he. His grandfather Bilderback was born in Germany, and came to the United States in the early part of the present century, and served throughout the War of 1812 as a private, and sup- plies the initial chapter of the history of the family on this side of the Atlantic.
James Bilderback, the father of our subject, was
353
GAGE COUNTY.
born in Monroe County, Tenn .. in 1824. His chosen occupation in life was that of husbandry. In 1862 he removed to Greene County, Ill., and con- tinued for many years one of the recognized, pros- perous and wealthy farmers of the county. He is at present living at Greenfield, Greene County. Ilis wife, the mother of our subject, was Miss Mary Moore, who was born in Tennessee in the year 1824, and after a happy wedded life died upon the home- stead in Greene County, in 1854. She became the mother of five children, whose names are as follows: Nancy ; Hugh B., our subject; Mary, Lee and Har- vey ; both the latter are deceased.
At the old Tennessean farmhouse, upon the 4th of March, 1849, the subject of this sketch was born, and there also remained until his father removed to Illinois, and from that time until he attained his majority he still made his home with his parents. In addition to the education supplied by the common schools, it was the privilege of our subject to take the High School course for three years. In 1873 he purchased a farm in Greene County, Ill., which he continued successfully to work for about six years, when, in 1879, he sold out and removed to this county, settling in Logan Township. and pur- chasing his present property.
While residing in Greene County, our subject became acquainted with a beautiful Illinoisan, a lady possessing in no small measure those attributes and qualitics that have given to her sex the scepter of well-nigh unlimited sway, and places in her hands the power to make complete or utterly devastate the lives of those who come within the confines of the circle of her ascendancy. To this lady he was united in marriage on the 18th of September, 1873, and the subsequent history has shown that no hap- pier step was ever taken by him. They have be- come the parents of three children-Adella, Mary (deceased) and Truman F.
Miss Charlotte Wilkinson, the wife of our sub- ject, was born in Illinois, on the 26th of March, 1850. Her father, Thompson Wilkinson, was born in En- gland, May 7, 1817. His trade was that of a tinsmith, but for many years he has been ever in- creasingly successful in farming, and at present makes his home in this county. Her mother, Mary A. Gardner, was born in Vermont, in 1824, and is
still living. Six children are the fruit of this union. These are Jane A., Mary, John, Charlotte, George and Arthur.
For three years our subject has filled the office of School Treasurer, but rather avoids the acceptance of any ofllee, whatever its character. In the Meth- odist Episcopal Church both our subject and wife find that which is in harmony with their religious be- lief, and for many years they have taken their places among those deeply interested in the work. In political matters Mr. Bilderback is whole-hearted in favor of the Republican party, and is active in its interest. In every circle. whether within or with- out the home, our subject impresses one with the idea of his manly character, his uprightness and honor, and he is accorded, as is also his wife, the unqualified respect and esteem of the community at large.
H. WICKERSHAM is an adherent of that religious sect which bears a world-wide reputation for its principles of nprightness, and its strict adherence to the teachings of the Bible, carrying its religions zeal into the every- day business transactions, and exhorting its mem- bers to live lives of purity and holiness. Perhaps no other sect embraces a membership composed so largely of cultured and cultivated Christian people, successful in business life, uniformly charitable, and in harmony with the world, as that to which we refer-the Quakers-who had their earliest and ablest advocate in this country in the person of William Penn. The parents of our subject were connected with the Society of Friends, and the father, Abner, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, and the mother, Leah, near Lynchburg, Va. The father lived on his farm in Grant County, Ind .. for fifteen years, and in 1855 he moved to Marshall County, lowa, where he became very well situated, and was the owner of 800 acres of land in that county, besides $15,000 in personal property. In the winter of 1887-88 he made a visit to Florida, and was taken violently ill, and died very suddenly on the 8th of March, 1888, in his seventieth year. The mother resides in Marshall County, and is seventy-one years old, having lived to see her five
356
GAGE COUNTY.
children grown to manhood and well established. They are: Samuel, Thomas, Asaph H., Enoch H. and Benjamin Franklin.
Our subject was born near Marion, Grant Co .. Ind., on the 6th of November. 1848, and was past six years old when he came to Iowa. He had just begun to attend school in Indiana, and when he reached Iowa the educational advantages were so limited that it was not until the third winter that our subject was near any school which he could attend. He grew up to young manhood, and re- mained at home until he was eighteen years old, when he went to Michigan, and engaged in the pine woods for which that State is so noted. He after- ward went to St. Louis, and engaged in teaming. continuing that occupation for one and a half years. and then returned to his home, and worked for his father during one season. He then obtained permission to open up a farm of 160 acres in Mitchell County, which his father owned, and after- ward, in 1871, he went to Kansas, and pre-empted 160 acres, and also homesteaded 160 acres, which was quite a large amount to be under the supervis- ion of so young a man. But our subject was enter- prising and industrious, and managed with great success until the fall of 1874, when he sold his homestead, and returned to Marshall County, Iowa.
In the fall of the year 1873 our subject was mar- ried to Miss Lydia E. Wickersham, a daughter of Tryon and Elizabeth Wickersham, who was a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, and he remained in Marshall County until 1877, after which he rented a farm, on which he remained for two and a half years, in Page County. In 1879 he moved to Atch- ison County, Mo .. where he purchased 160 acres of land, and engaged in farming for four and a half years, meeting with much success. The large num- ber of cmigrants coming from foreign countries at that time and flocking to the Great West, caused an advance in the price of land, and our subject sold his farm at a good price, and came to Nebraska in the fall of 1883, having previously purchased 440 acres in this county. He has set out an orchard containing fifty fruit trees, and also a grove of hardwood trees, containing ash, maple, etc. On the 1st of July, 1888, he purchased 160 acres on
the northwest quarter of section 3, Hooker Town- ship, making him the owner of 600 acres.
Our subject adopted Harry Wickersham, for whom lie has cared, and in whose welfare he is interested as if he were his own child. He has been prosperous, and has built a very good and conven- ient house and farm buildings, and in various other ways he has improved and added to the value of his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Wickersham are well- known members of society, and enjoy the friend- ship and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances.
AVID LITTLEJOHN. To the citizens of Hanover Township and Gage County gen- erally this gentleman needs no introduc- tion. His extensive business relations as a farmer and ranchman, his prominence in po- litical circles, and the influential position he has come to occupy since his settlement in the State. all render such introduction unnecessary. Without further remark, therefore, it will be endeavored briefly to sketch the salient features of his history. He is a descendant of a wealthy Scotch family of influence and position, and was born in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland. His father, William Littlejohn, was a large land-owner, and an influential man in the community and district in which his property was situated. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Jeantte Fife, is the descendant of a long line of ancestry who bore that honored name, their record covering a period of over 700 years, and mingling always in honorable record through the stirring scenes of the history of the " uncon- querable country." In later times, when society had become more settled and its pursuits of a more peaceful nature, the representatives of this family came to occupy important positions in society and . commercial circles as the proprietors and operators of extended factory interests. The father of the mother of our subject was superintendent of a large herring net factory, while on the paternal side the family represented extensive coal and iron interests.
Owing to the unfortunate hold that intemperate habits obtained over the grandfather of our sub-
RESIDENCE OF CYRUS SWAIN, SEC. 13. LOGAN TOWNSHIP.
RESIDENCE OF DAVID LITTLEJOHN , SEC.10. HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
359
GAGE COUNTY.
jeet, circumstances were such that William Lit- tlejohn emigrated with his family. and settled in Illinois in 1855, and after a residence of eleven years emigrated to Nebraska, where Mr. Littlejohn. Sr., died at the age of fifty-one years. Ilis wife, the mother of our subject, is still living on the homestead in Hanover Township, and although sixty years of age, enjoys the full use of her facul- ties and as a rule excellent health. She is the mother of fourteen children, and of these our sub- jeet is the eldest, and was born upon the 25th of January, 1850, of which fact as a Scotebman he is justly proud because it is also the aniversary of the birthday of Robert Burns, the immortal poet of Scotland.
Our subject is possessed of a memory that is re- markable in its strength, clearness and tenacity, and is enabled to recall distinctly the old Scotch home and incidents connected therewith; the family, especially his grandfather, also the more noteworthy events connected with his coming to this country, and the early life in Morgan and Madison Counties, Ill. At the age of seven years our subject began to work as a trapper in the coal mines, and after working hours would devote his evenings to study and schooling, by which means he obtained almost all his education. The father of our subject at first put by a large part of his earnings, and then in- vested in buildings and city property, and before long succeeded in becoming the owner of a very handsome home besides other possessions. A small in- cumbrance on his property and a mortgage held by Southern sympathisers led to a litigation, in which he became discouraged and let all his property go. Recovering somewhat, with energy characteristic of his family throughout its history, he began again and for the third time to climb the ladder of fort- une, this time putting all his money into "Western lands, chiefly in Gage County; in this example he was followed by his sons, and it was not long before he became the owner of two sections of land.
The family of which our subject was a member came to' Nebraska in 1869, and the boys went to work upon the land. Until the death of the father they continued to operate the property together, but shortly after his death it was divided as his last wishes had directed. This removal was in many
regards very beneficial to the family and gave to each a new start in a new country ; at the same time it is indicative of the uncompromising energy and strength of character which are characteristic of this interesting family.
In 1876 the subject of our sketch was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Smith, of Sangamon County, Ill. They had lived in close proximity to each other in that State, and it was with pleasure that Mr. L. at last fulfilled his many hopes, and returned to this State to elaim his bride. Our sub- ject was careful to make every provision for the proposed change prior to taking this journey, so that nothing might be wanting upon their arrival at their Nebraska home. They have become parents of one child, whom they have named William S. Mrs. Littlejohn is the daughter of David and Eliza- beth (Simpson) Smith, natives of Scotland, and born not far from the city of Glasgow. Her family is one of the very old Scotch families of the district, and they are allied to the once powerful and noble Stewarts and McDonalds.
Mrs. Littlejohn was born in LaSalle County. Ill .. Nov. 3, 1857, and was twelve years of age when she went to Sangamon County. Her mother died in the year 1871, aged forty-two years. She was the mother of sixteen children, the wife of our sub- ject being the seventh born. After the death of her mother she was thrown almost entirely upon her own resources, and although but twelve years of age, made a noble stand and gathered her strength to battle her way through the world. She continued in the conflict until she became the wife of our sub- ject, and formed a union so true that it is almost impossible to find one more complete and happy. In the relations of this new life, the relations of wife and mother, she has presented the most beauti- ful disposition, faithfulness and devotedness, which have been strengthened and enhanced by the firm- ness of her Christian faith and character. She is one of the most consistent and active members of the Free Will Baptist Church, of Nemaha, where she is always remembered as one who at all times has been equal to the many demands necessarily made, and in every " work of faith and labor of love " has risen to the opportunity presented and the responsibility of her Christian calling. The
360
GAGE COUNTY.
effect upon her life is such that no one can be in her presence long without the realization of some- thing of a higher life in its motives, aspirations and purity.
The farm operated by our subject is situated on section 10, in Hanover Township, and 27 of Nemaha Township, and includes the eastern half of both, also two and three-quarter sections in Hanover Township, a total of 2,080 acres. thus making him, perhaps, the largest farmer and ranchman in the county. Not only is this true, but he is the most successful, for his energy, his intimate know- ledge of the business, his shrewd sagacity, natural ability. and reserve force, are such as to bring him to the front in almost any work he might undertake, but more especially in that which is his chosen oc- cupation, and therefore most congenial to him. Not that he has been entirely free from reverses, for of these he has had his full quota, but that he has been enabled in spite of them to continually strengthen his position, and add to his possessions. As a sample of the adverse circumstances he has had to meet, we might mention that wherein lightning destroyed at one time all his horses. upon another occasion three horses and seventy-five hogs, while yet again, it destroyed fifteen hogs and five horses, so that it would seem that if, according to the old adage, " lightning never strikes twice in one place," it may still strike repeatedly the same person through his property.
Upon his farm our subject keeps employed ten teams of work horses and mules, and never less than six men. Upon the ranch there are seldom found less than 170 head of cattle, and 1,200 high-grade Merino sheep, and hogs sufficient to fill completely three or four cars. In hog-raising Mr. Littlejohn has been very fortunate, and has been able to make some of his most lucrative ventures, but more at- tention is given to his Merinoes than anything else. He usually obtains about 7,200 pounds of wool, which represents a market value of not less than $1,200 to $1,400.
In politics our subject is with the Republican party, and holds firmly to its principles, though he is strongly opposed to all trusts and monopolies. He is one of the most influential men in his district, both as a farmer and politician, and in all points
relative to both these matters he is deeply interested. Socially, he is connected with the Knights of Labor. and in the Masonic fraternity has been initiated into the mysteries of the Blue Lodge and Chapter, receiving the degree of a Royal Arch Mason.
We are pleased to include among the illustrations in this volume the view of Mr. Littlejohn's resi- dence.
C YRUS SWAIN. Prominent among the self- made men who have risen to a position of wealth and influence by the exercise of zeal and industry is the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He began with but very limited means, and by constant diligence and . a judicious management of his resources he has accumulated a fine and valuable property. His father, Obed Swain, was born in Guilford County, N. C., in 1804, and after he reached the years of manhood he became a mechanical engineer, also owning a furniture establishment and carving mall, by which he made his own furniture and was very prosperous. The grandfather of our subject, Thomas Swain, was also a native of North Carolina, who moved to Wayne County, Ind., in 1812, where the father of our subject continued his business until the time of his death, in 1835. He married Miss Mahala Boggs, who was born in Ohio in 1815, and is at present living in Logan Township, this county, although she makes a visit to Indiana almost every summer. Besides our subject she is the mother of Ellen Buroughs, who is living in Marshall County, Ind.
After the death of the father of our subject Mrs. Swain was married a second time, in 1837, to Col. Sumner, who was born in Wayne County, Ind., and distinguished himself during the late war. At Plymouth, Ind., in 1863, he was mustered into serv- ice as Lieutenant Colonel of the 87th Indiana In- fantry, and was promoted to the rank of Colonel before the close of the war, serving honorably throughout the whole time of the disturbance. He died in 1883 at Plymouth, Ind., since which time his wife has made her home in Logan Township.
361
GAGE COUNTY.
Our subjeet was born in Wayne County, Ind., on the 6th of September, 1831, and was but four years old when his father died. He was given to the care of a kind Quaker family, that of Mr. William Mary, with whom he made his home until he was eighteen years old, and enjoyed the advantages for receiving a good common-school education. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter trade, and has since followed that oceu- pation for over twenty years.
In 1856 our subject moved to Bureau County, Ill., where he worked for about six years, and in the fall of 1862 he returned to Marshall County, Ind., and engaged in the occupation of farming, which he followed successfully for fourteen years, combining with it an interest in the real-estate business. In 1876 he came to this county and se- lected his present place of 240 acres in Logan Township, section 13, on which he broke the soil, made all the necessary improvements and planted groves of cottonwood and box-elder trees. In due time as he was able he ereeted a very good and at- tractive looking house, horse and cattle barns, and all necessary buildings for the successful carrying on of farming and stock-raising, and has a stream of running water supplied by a strong windmill pump.
In connection with his extensive farm work, our subject gives attention to stock-raising, and has the principal interest in six fine stallions. Hardi, an imported full-blooded Percheron, is valued at $2,500, and was just lately imported by Mr. Ell- wood, of Illinois. Commoner, a Ilambletonian standard bred trotter, sired by Capool, took the first prize at Lincoln in 1887, his time 2:40, and is valned at $2,000. Dun Donald is a full-blooded Canadian Clydesdale, sired by imported Dun Don- ald. Two three-year-old Clydesdale stallion colts, named Barnone and Exchange, each valued at $1,550, the first seven-eighths full blooded and the latter fifteen-sixteenths, both sired by Wait-for- Joe.
Our subject was united in marriage, on the 20th of October, 1853, in Marshall County, Ind., to Miss Grizzelle Gibson, who was born in that county in 1835. Her parents, John and Mary (Luney) Gibson, were natives of Ohio, and are now both deceased,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.