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 42
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By this marriage our subject and his wife were the parents of seven children, named Rufus, Orlando, John (deceased). Thomas. Orr, James E. (deceased ) and George, but the mother did not live to see them start out in life for themselves, her death oc- eurring in 1871. Rufus married Miss Edith Lash, and with their five children. named Maude, Frank, Robert, Harry and Hollis, they are residing in Logan Township; Orlando married Miss Lydia Lash, and is making his home in Filley; he is a school teacher by profession but at present is the book- keeper in J. W. Wright's store in that place, and in his family he has one child, named Edward.
On the 24th of April, 1872, our subject was married a second time in Marshall County. Ind .. to Miss Mary R. Lash, who was born in Miami County, Ind., in 1852, and was a daughter of Jacob and Phæbe (Bigsby) Lash, natives of Ohio. Mr. Lash has been engaged in farming near Filley. His family numbered four children, named Mary. Lydia, Morton and Charles. By this marriage our sub- jeet and his wife were the parents of two children, named Nellie and Chester, but their mother died on the 23d of November, 1878, and Chester now makes his home with his grandfather, and Nellie divides her time between her father's home and that of her grandfather at Filley.
Our subject was united in marriage, on the 26th of December, 1880, with Mrs. Adaline Barnard, the widow of Edghill Barnard. Her maiden name was Macy. and she is a granddaughter of the Mr. Macy with whom our subject made his home when he was a little child. By her first marriage she is the mother of six children, named Julia. Ella, Carson, Addie, Dellia and Barton Barnard. Mr. and Mrs. Swain are well-known and leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Filley, and are highly esteemed in the society in which they move. Ilis reputation for integrity and enterprise lias caused the election of our subject to the office of School Treasurer, in which capacity he has served with eredit for eleven years, being now the incumbent of that office. He affiliates with the Republican political party, and for twelve years has been prom- inently identified with the work of public improve- ment which is rapidly bringing the county to the front rank in the State. His fine property and his
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well-stocked farm are the results of patient industry, self-reliance and good management, which are quali- ties to be admired wherever they are met. A view of the Swain homestead is given on an accompanying page of this volume.
OHN B. GRANT is one of the energetic. en- terprising and enthusiastic farmers of Grant Township, and in addition to the tillage and cultivation of the soil takes great interest in the breeding of high-grade stock. He resides upon section 30, owning land also on section 31, in all about 200 acres. His property is well adapted to stock-raising; the ground is undulating and of rich soil, providing succulent grasses and pasture in abundance. It is also well wooded, affording shel- ter and shade, while there is water without limit from the many springs that supply the creek near by. IIe has been the owner of this property since he be- came of age.
Our subject is the second son of George Grant. after whom the township was named, and was born in Sauk County, Wis., on the 18th of November, 1847. His father was a native of Somersetshire, England. He came of a good old English family, and exhibited all the admirable traits characteristic of his people. He learned the trades of a wheel- wright and carpenter, and followed the same until he came to this country. He was first married to Margaret Avery, a native of the same shire, and came almost immediately after this happy event to the United States, locating in the Empire State until after the birth of their first child, when they went to Wisconsin, took np land and made their home in Sauk County. Thence he removed to this county, and became the first settler in what is now Grant Township, so named in his honor. About three years after arriving, his wife, the mother of our subject, died, which trial was sustained by him in the year 1863. He was married a second time, to Annie Masters, a native of the beautiful, southern English county of Devonshire. She came to the United States while still a single lady. She still survives her husband and is living on the old home- stead, where her husband died on the 2d of Janu-
ary, 1882, at the age of sixty-two years. We would refer the reader to the biography of this gentleman, which will be found upon another page in this volume.
Our subject was quite young when he accom- panied his parents, and has been brought up and educated in this county. He was united in mar- riage with Miss Amelia Carey, at the old home of his father in Grant Township, June 7, 1870. This lady was born in England on the 18th of Angust, 1849, and came to America in 1867 when about nineteen years of age with her uncle, her husband's father, she having lost her father about one year previous. Her mother came four years later. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Grant has been rendered more completely happy by the birth of four chil- dren, three of whom still survive. They have been named as follows : Ernest A., Daisy Maude, George W., and Eddie, deceased.
Our subject is following the admirable example of his much respected father as a public-spirited citizen, and is energetic in those plans and projects which are for the benefit of the community, and especially the younger members thereof. He is an efficient member of the School Board, and has always been a most reliable member of the Repub- lican party. Should it be his good fortune to be blessed with as long life as his father, it is not too much to expect that the pages of his history un- written will record a brilliant career.
C N. BRYANT is successfully engaged in farming on section 1, Island Grove Town- ship, where he has a well-improved farm of 160 acres. His father, Zenas Bryant, was born in Maine, in the same house in which his father was born, the old homestead having been in the family for a great many years. He left his native State for Cortland County, N. Y., where he was one of the first settlers, and made his home in that place until the time of his death, at the age of eighty- eight years. He had been a farmer but also owned and had charge of a carriage factory. The mother of our subject was Deborah (Babcock) Bryant, who was born in Connecticut and died in Wisconsin.
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She was a daughter of Col. Babcock, and was the mother of nine children, eight sons and one daugh- ter.
Our subject was the sixth child of his father's family, and was born on the 21st of May, 1820, in Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y. Ile remained in his native town until he was twenty-one years of age, and in 1842 he went to Jefferson County, Wis., in which place he made his home until the year 1859. He then went to Minnesota and remained a few years, after which, in 1869, he came to Plattsmouth, this State, and for three years had charge of a hotel. Disposing of it he came to this county and bought 160 acres of Government land at $3.50 per acre, which he improved and had under cultivation until 1883, when he sold it for $4,500. He then bought 160 acres on section I for $3,000, which was partly improved and on which he has since resided.
In the year 1849 Mr. Bryant was united in mar- riage with Miss Louisa M. Chase, who is the dangh- ter of Alden and Phæbe (Sterns) Chase. Her parents were natives of Vermont, who had after- ward made their home in New York, and Louisa was born on the 15th of November, 1825, in St. Lawrence County. She spent the early years of her life in her native county, and was well edu- cated in the schools, remaining at home with her parents until the time of her marriage with our sub- ject. By this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have gathered about them a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, and have extended their fostering care to an adopted daughter, named Win- nie. Their own children answer to the names of Alden S., Estella M., Arvilla L., Charles A., Eva and Henry.
Mr. Bryant is happily situated in his home, and has reached the age when he can resign the more arduous duties of the management of his farin into the hands of renters, and enjoy in comparative ease the fruits of his early industry. Having devoted himself exclusively to his occupation he has not cared to seek public office, but he is interested in the improvement of the country and the welfare of the public in general. He affiliates with the Repub- lican party in political matters, and is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church. While living in Wisconsin he was elected to the office of Deputy
Sheriff, to serve a term of six months, and filled that oflice with so much credit that at the expiration of that period he was elected Sheriff, in which capacity he served for three years. He was also Assessor for three years, which proves his ability for filling public offices, and also testifies to the appreciation of the public in electing him to these offlees. Ile brought up a young man named Henry Doty, who enlisted in the 1st Minnesota Battery of Heavy Artillery, and had served for nearly three years when he was killed in the battle of Vicksburg.
G EORGE L. SHARP is one of the rising young men of whom Nebraska has so many, and may be justly proud of the vim and the manly, ambitions, intelligent efforts made by them to advance not simply their own interests but those of the State. Our subject was born in Clai- borne County, Tenn., on the 27th of March, 1862, and is the son of Jonathan Sharp, also n native of Claiborne County, now resident of Liberty, hav- ing purchased a farm here in 1865.
Our subject, who was a mere infant when his parents removed to Nebraska, was educated in the common schools of Beatrice and afterward in the graded school, which instruction was supplemented by a course at the State Normal School at Peru, in this State. Upon graduating from the latter in- stitution, our subject taught school for twenty-one terms, or in other words, about seven years. For two years he taught in Liberty, and gave much satisfaction by his efficiency and general manage- ment to all parties concerned.
Upon the 12th of November, 1885, Mr. Sharp was united in marriage to Miss Louisa M. Beeler, a lady whose education, inherent refinement and tastes were eminently congenial, and with her most excellent disposition, promised a union more in- timate and happy than is usually found, and in this, it is safe to remark, they have not been dis- appointed. This lady is the daughter of Jamies and Elizabeth Sharp, natives of Tennessee, but now resident in this township. She was born in Union County, Tenn., April 15, 1868, was brought up and educated at Liberty, Neb., being reared by
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Mrs. Nancy Mutchmore, until her marriage. Their union has been blessed by the birth of one child, to whom has been given the name of Lou Burton, and who was born May 31, 1887.
The farm of the subject of this sketch is situ- ated upon section 31, Liberty Township, and com- prises eighty aeres of excellent land for agricultural purposes, which he has greatly improved, and cul- tivates assiduously. He operates it upon the line of general farming, and, given a fair season, his harvests are large. The greater part of his life has been spent upon his father's farm, where he became intimately conversant with the operation and work- ing of the same, so that when he came to take charge of his own, he had no difficulty whatever in working it. He is deserving of every success, and is accorded the fullest regard and confidence of his neighbors, who recognize in him a man of charac- ter and sterling qualities. -
Le EANDER M. PEMBERTON is a native of Illinois, and was born near Paris, the county seat of Edgar County, on Nov. 12, 1845. The father of our subject, Harvey G. Pember- ton, was a native of Washington County, Va., where he was born in February, 1808. He fol- lowed the joint occupation of carpenter and far- mer. In September of the year 1833 he became the husband of Caroline C. King, a native of Sulli- van County, Tenn., who from that time presided in a most happy manner over his home. Shortly after marriage they settled in Coles County, Ill., where, owing to the new condition of the country, considerable suffering was experienced from ague and its kindred ills. In 1854 the family removed to Iowa, and settled at Homer, Hamilton County. In this place the mother of our subject died, in 1864, aged fifty-three years. Her husband sur- vived her only until October of the following year.
The family of which our subject was a member included nine children, of whom Leander M. was the seventh. His youthful years were occupied in attendance at the common schools. When sixteen years of age he made some efforts to enter the army, but failed; then for a time he attended
school during the winter and worked on the farm during the summer. This program was varied after a time by his becoming a teacher.
In the year 1863 Mr. Pemberton entered Albion College, and after spending some time there, be- eame a student at the Iowa State University. Upon reaching his sophomore year, he was obliged to leave his studies. He next went to Webster City, and studied law with Judge D. D. Chase. After passing the required examination, he was ad- mitted to the bar at Boone, in that State, in the year 1870. Almost immediately he went to Clay County, and began the practice of his profession. The following year he was elected County Auditor, in which office he continued for three consecutive terms. He continued to practice in that place until October, 1879, when he came to Beatrice, which has since continued to be the place of his residence. In 1885 he formed the present copartnership with Mr. Bush in the practice of his profession.
Our subject was married in Spencer, Iowa, on the 30th of April, 1879, to Miss Ida M. Harris, of that place, who was born in New York. She is the daughter of E. E. and Maria L. Harris. Four chil- dren have been born to them, to whom have been been given the names here appended: Zulu L., Paulina A., Louise M. and Fred King.
Mr. Pemberton was appointed City Attorney for two years, and is now serving a second term. He has always been Republican in politics, Mr. Pem- berton is a lawyer of acknowledged ability, strong character and unquestioned reputation. He stands in the front rank of his profession, and is one of the valned citizens of Beatricec.
R® EV. WILLIAM SCHRAMM. Among the most healthful and prosperous of clergymen are those who seek recreation from their pulpit duties in the garden and the fields, and, it would seem, should have the truest appreci- ation of the works of Nature and of God. The sub- ject of this sketch, one of the most efficient and worthy of his joint ealling, minister and farmer, owns a fine tract of land in Clatonia Township, com- prising 160 acres on section 13. In addition to
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general agriculture he is largely interested in stock- raising. and has been very successful in his labors.
A native of Nassau, Germany, our subject was born on the 10th of May, 1823, and is the third son of Peter and Elizabeth Schramm, whose family consisted of eight children, four sons and four daughters. In common with most children of the Fatherland young William received an excellent education in his native tongue, besides careful home training in those habits of industry to which he is indebted for his position to-day. When a youth of sixteen years he began learning the trade of a carpenter, which he followed for some time, then entered the Prussian army, to which he gave his services for eight years. During this period occurred the Baden Revolution of 1848, and he saw considerable active fighting, participating in one severe engagement but escaping unhurt.
Mr. Schramm received his discharge from the regular army in 1850, and in December of the year following was united in marriage with Miss Margaretta Schaab, a native of his own Province, and born Feb. 5, 1829. Mrs. Schramm is the daughter of Jacob and Margaret Schaab, and of her union with our subject there have been born nine children, eight of whom are living, namely : Henry, at home; Phillip is a minister of the Ger- man Methodist Episcopal Church, in Oregon, Mo .; George, William; Mary, the wife of John Unland; Theresa, Mrs. Daniel Roser, Eliza and Lilly : Albert died when one year old. All the children were born in Illinois.
In the spring of 1852 our subject with his little family embarked on a sailing-vessel at Bremen for the New World. After a stormy voyage of fifty- six days they landed in New York City, and thence proceeded directly to Schuyler County, Ill., where our subject began farming. He was a resident there until 1872, then came to this county, and lo- cated on the farm in Clatonia Township, which he has since occupied. Hfe purchased at the time a half-section of land from the Burlington & Mis- souri River Railroad Company, paying therefor $8 per acre. Several years ago he sold half of this but still owns 160 acres, which is fairly well de- veloped.
The property of our subject is the result of his
own industry and economy, ably assisted by an intelligent and devoted wife, who has ever been his cheerful helpmate and counselor. Both are mem- bers of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, and by their quiet and well-ordered lives they have earned the friendship and confidence of all who know them. Since 1862 Mr. Schramm has given much of his time to ministerial labor. He was one of the founders of the church in Clatonia Township, and to it has always given a cordial and liberal support. He and his estimable wife, now in their declining years, are surrounded by the comforts which they have so justly earned. Their children rise up to call them blessed, and their neighbors and friends bear testimony to the good influence which they have exerted upon those around them.
SAAC HUYCK. In contemplating the biog- raphy of this gentleman, the mind reverts to the aphorism, "like causes produce like effects," whether as the boy at school, the young man fight- ing in defense of his country, or the husband and father, laboring day in and day out upon the farm in order to sustain his family, in each and every instance the whole-souled, thorough, persistent ef- fort and manner of working, though not marked by meteor-like brilliancy, won the day. Our sub- ject, whose present home is upon section 36 of Sherman Township, was the third cbild born to John and Miriam (Herrick) Huyck, both natives of Jeffer- son County. N. Y. Their family included six chil- dren; only four, however, survive: Andrew, of Sparta, Wis .; Ximena, wife of Isaac Johnson, of Lincolu; our subject, and John H , of Chamberlain, Dak.
Our subject was born on the 20th of March, 1841, in Jefferson County, N. Y. Until he was about nine years of age he remained at home, and obtained also some rudimentary education. At that age he began to work in the employ of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad as a cast boy. The same year he began to work in a woolen factory at Watertown, Wis., but continued only until 1861, and then went to work on a farm in Dane County,
A. FUNKHOUSER
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the next season, and followed farming until April, 1861, when he enlisted.
Upon entering the army our subject became one of the 1st Illinois Militia, enlisting for a term of three months. They proceeded to Chicago, but at no time left the State, and were finally sent back. Hle then re-enlisted, in Company A, 13th United States Infantry, August 13, and proceeded to Jeffer- son Barracks, Mo., and saw active service in the States of Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisi- ana and Georgia. He was present at the sieges of Vicksburg and Jackson, and was an active partici- pant in the battles of Ft. Hindmer, Collersville, Missionary Ridge and Black Bayou, besides quite a number of lesser fights. He was taken prisoner by guerrillas at Memphis, and held as such for some time, which furnished him an experience hard to forget but far harder to endure. He received an honorable discharge in August, 1864, and again ' enlisted, in Company K, 2d Regiment, the Hancock Veteran Corps from Wisconsin, and continued to serve until the close of the war, when he received a final discharge.
Returning from the war our subject again took up his farming in Dane County, and continued in the same until the year 1884, when he came to this county and purchased 240 acres on section 36. This land was part of the common-school grant, and cost him $3,200 for lease and improvements. On the 27th of September, 1871, he was united in marriage with Mary Helen Jewett, daughter of HIull and Erna J. (Cornes) Jewett. Mr. Jewett was born on the 22d of March, 1829, in Oneida County, N. Y .; his wife on the 3d of December, 1830, at Waterville, in the same county. They were mar- ried on the 6th of July, 1848, and became the par- ents of five children, whose names are recorded as follows: Mary H .; George, of Dane County, Wis .; Henry C., of Turner County, Dak .; Charles W., of Petosia, Wis., and Edward H., who resides near his brother Henry. Mr. Jewett departed this life on the 16th of April, 1882, and his wife on the 20th of March, 1884.
Our subject and his wife have become the par- ents of four children, who have received the follow- ing names: Emma M., John H., Harry D. and Gilmer A. Socially, Mr. Huyck is a member of the
A. F. & A. M., and is connected with the lodge at Liberty, also of the William A. Butler Post No. 172, G. A. R., of Burchard. Religiously, he is a member of the Episcopal communion. He has held the office of Assessor for one year, and is numbered among the stanch friends and able supporters of the Republican party. The story of his life is one of a constant upward struggle and conflict against adverse circumstances, and this with very little help or aid from without; but it is the story also of a successful struggle, one that is an honor to our subject, and which has brought him the hearty esteem of the community at large.
W ILLIAM H. FUNK, whose pleasant resi- dence is upon his well-situated and fertile farm on section 28 of Holt Township, al- though not one of the pioneer settlers, is by no means behind the best in those qualities essential to a successful career and financial prosperity. He settled upon this property on the 6th of September, 1883, and is now the owner of 480 acres of very valuable, well-improved and highly cultivated land.
Mr. Funk was born on the 24th of November. 1838, in Henry County, Ind., and is the son of Jo- seph and Sarah (Rader) Funk, natives of Rocking- ham County, Va., where their ancestry have made their home for several generations. The parents of our subject were married in Virginia and migrated to Indiana in 1832, and after sojourning in Wayne County for two years settled in Henry County. In the fall of 1864 they removed to Madison County, Ind., where the mother died in January, 1883, and the father in March, 1888. They were the parents of six children, whose names are sub- joined : Parmelia, wife of Newton M. Jones, of Grant County, Ind .; George W., who died in the year 1855, in Rockingham County, Va., aged twenty-one years; John J .; Joseph N., a resident of Madison County, Ind .; our subject, and Naucy J., the wife of Mr. Henry Jones, of Grant County, Ind.
Our subject spent all his early life upon the farm, and its various duties were so intermingled with his play and school tasks that almost unconsciously
'A. FUNKHOUSER
Joseph A Meserve Elisabeth Call Meserve
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and before he was aware of it he had become capa- ble of undertaking the management of a farm for himself. lle received as good an education as was possible for him to obtain in the common school, and from the time of leaving it until he was twenty- four years of age he continued to reside at home and work upon the home farm. Upon arriving at that age he joined the army of "benedicts," being united in marriage with Barbara A. Bowers. This lady was the daughter of Andrew and Mary Bowers, and a native of Delaware County, Ind.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Funk resided for two years in Henry County, afterward in Madison County, and in the eighteen years of their residence in the latter county saw a large measure of success. At the close of that period they determined to go West, believing that a larger opportunity was ac- corded their family in that newer country. After stopping for six months in Nemaha County, they came on to Gage County. While in Madison County, Ind., he had made several investments in real estate, and was the owner of 100 acres of land, which he sold on coming to Nebraska, in order to invest upon arrival in this State. From that time to the present he has been interested in stock-farm- ing, and it has been for him a succession of success- ful years.
The family of our subject includes seven chil- dren, whose names are recorded as follows: Clem- ent E., Nora A., LaFayette L., James W., Charles N., William W. and Wade H.
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