Portrait and biographical album of Gage County, Nebraska : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 48

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 48


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reared a family of eleven children. With but one exception the children were spared to become use- ful men and women, bearing the names of Elizabethi. Charlotte, Nancy; William, who died when he was seven years old; Eliza, Joseph, Isaac, Louis, Mel- vina, Clinton and Benoni.


Mrs. Naylor, the fifth child in her father's family, was born on the 25th of October, 1829, and was a babe when her parents moved to Indiana. She en- joyed good advantages from attending the common schools, but as they were conducted on the rate or subscription system she could not attend until she acquired a thorough education. She went to visit her uncle and some relatives in Macoupin County, Ill., and there our subject made her acquaintance which resulted in their marriage. Mr. Naylor has resided in Maconpin County over thirty years, for twenty-seven years of which time Mrs. Naylor has been his faithful companion and devoted wife. They had a family of thirteen children, eight of whom died in infancy, and the names of the sur- viving members we mention as follows: Malissa, Emily, Cassandra, Allen and Martha.


Malissa, the eldest daughter of our subject and his wife, was married to Mr. A. West, and they re- side in Red Willow County, this State, the parents of one child, named Johnny ; Emily married M. F. Shores, and they with their four children, Roy, Freddie, Louis and Adelbert, reside in Nemaha Township; Cassandra married Thomas Windle, but after becoming the mother of one child, named Zelma, she died in the year 1886; Martha married Thomas West, and they also reside in Red Willow County, this State; Allen has charge of the home- stead.


Mr. and Mrs. Naylor came to Nebraska in 1881. and have been very successful in their business, our subject now being the owner of one and a half sec- tions of land in Nemaha Township, besides having given each of his first children forty acres of land as a marriage portion. They are members of the United Baptist Church, and are among the influ- ential society people of this section. Mr. Naylor is a Democrat and a thoroughly good man, possess- ing excellent traits of character and enjoying the confidence and esteein of his fellowmen. Ilis wife possesses many personal charms, and is a talented


and estimable lady, who has proved herself a devoted wife and mother, and a worthy eopartner in the accumulation of his wealth, having many times aided him in his business transactions by hier sym- pathy and advice given with sound judgment. Together they are enjoying the fruits of their in- dustry, and take rank among the influential families of this community.


HOMAS M. MARTIN is widely and favor- ably known as the enterprising and success- ful farmer whose property is situated on section 19 of Sherman Township. Thomas Martin, his father, was born in Scotland in the year 1809. When fifteen years of age he left his native hills and braes, and with his father and two brothers came to the United States and settled in Louis- ville, Ky., being the youngest of the family. Later his father removed to Indiana, purchased a tract of land and divided it among the boys, thus giv- ing each a small start. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Miller, a daughter of Peter and Kate (Hafford) Miller. This lady was born in Pennsylvania in 1812, and went to Indiana soon after the close of the war of that date. Her death occurred in 1876; that of her husband in the year 1838. They were the parents of seven children, only one of that number being a daughter. Our subject is the sole surviving child, and was born in Union County, Ind., on the 20th of December, 1835.


The first twelve years of the life of our subject were spent at home, and to its pure and elevating influences and surroundings is doubtless due the character which is to-day possessed by him. He was but three years of age when his father died. Some time after her bereavement his mother removed to . Madison County of the same State, where she made her home for some years, and then went to Union County, where our subject worked for three years in connection with farming. From there he went to Clinton County., Ind., being occupied in the same line. In 1858 he came to Nebraska, and remained one summer prospecting, and in the fall returned to Indiana and rented a farm. During


Thomas M martin


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these years he had been slowly but surely making provision for the opportunity he felt sure would come of making a start toward better things.


In the year following the trip to Nebraska (1859) Mr. Martin became the husband of Mary Dailey, a daughter of James Dailey. This lady was born in Washington County, Ind., on the 4th of Septem- ber. 1841, and made her home with her parents until her marriage. From that on her life has, of course, been spent in the home of herself and hus- band, which has been rendered more completely happy by the birth of nine children, whose names are here recorded: Mary E., now the wife of Thomas Richards, of Rockford Township; James W., a prosperous farmer of Sherman Township; Charles W., Thomas M., John M., Lennie, Jessie D., Lillian A. and Iria J., all of whom are still at home.


Mr. Martin and his wife pursued the even tenor of their way until the year 1862, when our subject was impelled by loyalty, conscience and desire to step forth in defense of the country whose wel- fare was a part of his life's interest. Accordingly. on the 8th of August of that year he enlisted in Company K, 72d Indiana Infantry, and was soon sent to Louisville, Ky., and thence to Stone River. Here the regiment was mounted, and served in the Army of the Cumberland. He was one of the act- ive combatants in the battles of Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Salina, Okolona, Miss., and Selma. Besides the above engagements, he was engaged quite extensively in skirmishing, and was also present, and engaged in, a large number of conflicts of lesser importance. His record is remarkable on two accounts. First, in that, although so extensively and actively en- gaged in such a large number of battles, of both major and minor mention, and in the service such a length of time, he was never wounded; and sec- ondly, despite all the hardships, privations, dele- terious infinences and unsanitary surroundings, he was unfit for service only about two months of the entire period. He received an honorable dis- charge at the city of Indianapolis, upon the 4th of July, 1865, and returned home.


For about two years after his return Mr. Martin


continned farming as before, but in 1867 he came to this county, and took up a homestead claim of 160 acres. Upon the ground he found a small honse that had been left by a "squatter" some time previous; this place he fixed up and utilized until he should find time to put up a better and more substantial dwelling. The journey from In- diana, which was performed in the then usual manner, with wagon and team, although slow, tedi- ons, and somewhat plentifully sprinkled with dis- comforts, was withont special interest, and ended with the safety and health of all. The arrival at the new home was necessarily the signal for an ex- hibition of that inherent love of labor and hard work that should be a part of every person's indi- viduality, but occasionally is conspicuous by its absence. This, however, was not the case in the present instance, and each was given, or found, something to do for the common weal. Being un- able to commence his farming right away, owing to a lack of implements, he began by working out by the month wherever opportunity presented. This he followed for about two years, and then com- meneed the improvement of his own property, with the gratifying result that by 1879 he not only had his original property in a high state of cultivation, a comfortable and commodious residence, but his farm was supplied with the divers buildings and mul- tifarious machines and implements which the proper working of the farm rendered indispensable. In the above year he was enabled to purchase forty acres additional, for which he paid $119. In 1882 another eighty acres was purchased, at the rate of $10 per acre, so that to-day he is operating 280 aeres in all, along the line of grain and stock farm- ing. In the earlier years, and even now, in a large measure, wheat formed the staple article of grain produce, and he had to haul it a distance of seven- ty-five miles to Brownsville, which was then the nearest market.


In his political sympathies Mr. Martin is with the Democratic party, and is usually found voting its ticket; at the same time he is not prominent in political circles, although he has been called upon to hold quite a number of township offices. and has always done so in a most creditable and satisfactory manner. Socially, he is connected with


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the G. A. R., and is a member of Scott Post No. 37, meeting at Blue Spring. There are few farms, taken in their entirety, that surpass in general ef- ficiency, fertility and productiveness that of our subject, nor are there many in that exceptionally fine body of men-the Nebraska farmers-who sur- pass Mr. Martin in practical intelligence, sound judgment, genial affability, hospitality and integ- rity. He is a man highly respected, a sentiment and feeling which are extended to every member of his family.


HOMAS G. WHEELER. Among the num- ber of bright, hard-working, plucky, practi- cal Englishmen who came to Grant Town- ship, and helped to develop its resources in the early days of its history, was the subject of this epitome. Here he has succeeded in building up a very nice property and home, and also in laying by a competency sufficient to remove the dread of the future, when work and labor are beyond his strength. He began life a poor man, and it is therefore more complimentary to him and more satisfactory in every regard. His farm is 160 acres in extent, and is situated on section 30, the entry of which dates from 1869. He owns also eighty acres in Blakely Township, partly im- proved.


The home, both in the building, internal ar- rangement and embellishment; our subject's farm, both in its fields and buildings, its machinery and implements, all testify to the fact that he is by no means fossilized; per contra, he is one of the most progressive men in the county, and in enter- prise is second to none. He came to this place direct from his English home, when he was but twenty years of age, and he has from that time grown up with the country, imbibed freely the principles of its government, the glories of its institutions and the perfection of its citizenship, and has learned fully to appreciate, admire and loyally love them.


Our subject was born in Wiltshire, England, upon the 7th of April, 1849. His father, Charles Wheeler, as a young man learned the trade of tailoring, which


he continued to follow. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our subject, was Ann Pierce, a native of Wiltshire. During her married life she helped to support the family, which included six children, and died in August, 1888, at the age of seventy-six years. She was a most estimable lady, of noble character, and a devout member of the State Church (of England) for the whole of her life. Her father had fought under one of the British Generals in the Revolutionary War in this country, and at its close returned to England, where he lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years. The father of our subject is yet living, and has reached the good old age of eighty-six years. He still continues his devotion to the Episcopal Church. where he is a regular attendant.


Our subject is the fourth child and second son of six children, three of them being daughters. 'The family circle has been broken by the death of one of the sons, Joseph, who met his death in London, when at the age of thirty-three years, owing to a fall in winter on an icy walk. Our subject, his sis- ter Ann, now Mrs. Barrett, and a brother Charles, are residents of this State; the remaining two sis- ters, Elizabeth and Sarah, still reside in England. The latter is happily married to Mr. Thomas Cor- born.


Our subject was brought up and educated in his native shire, and afterward served a three-years apprenticeship to learning the trade of whitesmith, as the finisher of iron work is called, as distinguished from the forger or blacksmith. Upon finishing this department of his education, and having the knowledge of his trade at his command, he came at once to this country, and located as above men- tioned. Upon the 27th of March, 1873, he was united in marriage with Miss Florence J. Banks, who was born in Page County, Iowa, on the 15th of March, 1856, to Philip and Keziah (Farnes) Banks, natives of Indiana, who now reside in Linn County, Kan. The wife of our subject was brought up in Page County, Iowa, until she reached the age of seventeen years. She received the best education the times afforded, and developed graces and qualities that have made her life and home continuously bright. Upon reaching her seven- teenth year her life in Iowa was finished, and


Baker


M. E. Baker


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shortly after the family removed to this State. Three children have been born of her marriage, but it is their misfortune to have lost two of them by death, viz: Maud E. and Marvin L. The surviv- ing child is their son, Claude T. Our subject and wife are very highly respected by the entire com- munity, not so much because of their success in life as their personal sterling characters, and admirable disposition as friends and neighbors. Mr. Wheeler has been a Republican from principle ever since he has made a study of the political economy of the country, and is one of the firmest adherents of that cause.


G EORGE W. BAKER. Among the most val- ued and respected citizens of Holt Town- ship, and at the same time one of the most successful from a business standpoint, is the gentle- man whose biography is herein somewhat tersely presented. Mr. Baker is the son of Gibson and Anna (Hook) Baker, natives respectively of Mary- land and Virginia, and of Scotch-Irish descent. In Revolutionary times the male representatives of the family played no mean part in the struggle for lib- erty. Grandfather Hook was throughout the war aid-de-camp to George Washington.


The parents of our subject settled in Kentucky when they were children, and were married there. The father was by trade a millwright, and found considerable opportunity for a profitable prosecu- tion of his business. From Kentucky he removed to Ohio, and from the latter State, with wife and chil- dren, migrated to Illinois. He settled at Metamora, and there continued to reside for about twenty years, when he died at the age of eighty. He was survived about three years by his wife, whose demise occurred in the year 1873, at the ripe age of eighty-four years. The family circle included the following children, viz: William G., Sarah Jane, Eliza, George Washington, Margaret, Andrew Jackson, Clarissa, Ellen and Lucinda. William and Eliza are deceased.


The subject of our sketch was born on the 20th of July, 1820, in Brown County, Ohio, and it is with laudable pride that he is enabled to look back to the days of boyhood, and remember the pleasant


school acquaintance and youthful friendship with the illustrious hero, Ulysses S. Grant. No one can be associated with men who have been honored as was the late General aud President, without the reflex of their nobility insensibly affecting, to a greater or less degree, the associate.


The days of schooling completed, our subject was busy about the home farm, and gave his atten- tion to learning the trade of his father, giving. perhaps, more attention to the finer carpenter work than the millwrighting. His apprenticeship began when he was seventeen years of age. He continued working in this business with an increasing finan- eial success until he reached the age of about thirty years, and then removed to Illinois, where a larger field was opened to him, and where he would be nearer his family.


The 28th of November, 1852, was a memorable day in our subjeet's history, one from which the radiations of happiness have never ceased to brighten his pathway ; upou it he was united in mar- riage with Mary E. Poole, the amiable daughter of Hiram A. and Miranda C. (Niles) Poole. Her father was born at Keene, N. H .; her mother in Covington of the same State. Her early life and young womanhood were spent upon her father's farm. The family went to Illinois in 1843, and thence emigrated to Nebraska in the year 1873, set- tling at Table Rock, Pawnee County. There the mother died in 1875, at the good old age of sixty- six years. The father, who survived about ten years, died in 1885, aged seventy-five years. Their family included five children, whose names are re- corded as follows: Mary E., Sarah II., Iliram II., Myra and Milo R.


Mary. the wife of our subject, was born on the 19th of August, 1835, the place of her birth being Haverhill, Grafton Co., N. H. She was about eight years of age when the family removed to Illinois, and at an early age began to attend the public school. Here she developed an unusual aptitude for study, and was the scholar of her class to whom the teacher looked to save the reputation of the school when upon special occasions questions might be asked to which others failed to respond. She was indefatigable in her efforts, and seemed early to grasp the idea that "knowledge is power."


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The effect of this upon her home life has been most happy, both as regards her companionship with her husband, and her ability to teach and instruct the little ones that have been given her. Upon leaving school she taught for three terms in Woodford County, Ill., with a success that was only equaled by that which had preceded while she was a scholar.


Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Baker in marriage there have been born nine children, of whom, how- ever, it has been their privilege to bring to years of inan and womanhood only four. The names of the children are as follows: William G., Sarah E., Albert L., each of whom is deceased; Alva; Clarence E., now deceased; Lillie M .; James Lin- coln, also deceased; Hiram G. and Cassius A. Alva is happily married to William A. Griffing, who is prosperous in his business, which is that of a plasterer and bricklayer at Table Rock, Pawnee .County, where they reside. They are the parents of three children, who are named Lillie, Mary A. and Frank R. Lillie Baker is the wife of Marion Fellers, a resident of the same place, engaged in the merchandising business.


Our subject was one who stepped forward loyally in response to the call for defenders of the Union. He enlisted at Peoria, in Company G, of the 16th Illinois Infantry, and served for a period of one year, taking part in the grand review at Washington. From a business point of view our subject has been wonderfully successful; he has built in different parts of the Prairie State twenty-seven sawmills, thoroughly equipped with every modern appliance, including steam-engine and machinery. The date of his removal to this State was 1873; from that time he has been engaged chiefly in agriculture.


The home and farm of our subject are situated upon sections 33 and 34 of Holt Township. and the property inelndes 320 acres of excellent agri- cultural land, which is thoroughly improved and highly cultivated; upon it he has erected a very pleasant and commodious farm dwelling, and the nsual farm buildings. He has also set out an ex- tensive orchard of choice, thrifty fruit trees of diverse kinds and select variety, and may be justi- fied if a feeling of manly pride should fill his heart as he looks over the property he has acquired, which is all the result of his own labor and toil, in which he


has ever been cheered, counseled and supported by the faithful companion of his life, than whom there are few more beautiful in character, more highly endowed by nature with those parts and qualities that have made woman the chiefest and best work of Creative hands. It goes without saying that our subject and his family are highly respected by the community at large. Mr. Baker is an active and earnest advocate of such things as will benefit the people, especially the young, and will advance the interests of the district or county. In political matters he is a Republican, a stanch friend and cheerful supporter of the party.


We take pleasure in presenting the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Baker on an accompanying page.


M ATHIAS H. COBURN. The State of Maine has been the stage upon which have been played some of the most memorable scenes and incidents of American history ; and from the time when the forty-one men of Ply- mouth Roek signed their memorable compact of liberty; from the time of William Bradford, who received the charter of the Plymouth Colony from the "dread sovereign lord, King James," until the present era, which has produced "the man of Maine," upon whom the eyes of the civilized world have rested, the citizens of the Lumber State have always maintained a place in the front rank of American independence, liberty and progress. Among the worthy representatives of this people is M. H. Coburn, one of Nebraska's intrepid pioneers, whose farm is situated upon section 25 of Hanover Township.


Our subject was born at Parkman, Me., upon the 10th of November, 1833, and is a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Hanscom) Coburn, also natives of the same State. His father was by occupation a farmer, and continued to reside in the East until 1855, when he migrated from the old homestead to LaSalle County, Ill., and settled upon a farm which he purchased in that State. There Mr. Coburn, Sr., died in the year 1866, aged sixty-six years. His widow survived him until 1886, and departed this life in Gage County, Neb. They were the par-


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GAGE COUNTY.


ents of four children, whom it was their pleasure to see grow to years of maturity, and three enter the ranks of the honored and respected of the commu- nity. Mathias is our subject; Abigail is the wife of Cyrus Hanscom, and Sylvanius F. is happily mar- ried to Miss Sylvinia Philbrook,


Our subject, from the time of leaving the classes of the common school, where he had obtained his education, remained at home, being the only son, and assisted his father in the operation of his farm, thus naturally drifting into the working of the same, and made it his chosen occupation in life. When his parents removed to Illinois, he of course accompanied them, and continued to reside with them until he came to this State. In the year 1868 he purchased land in this county, and settled upon it in the year 1871. He is now the owner of a property of 240 acres in extent, including some of the finest undulating pastoral land in the county.


In February of 1867 Mr. Coburn entered the state of matrimony, and was united with Miss Lydia A. Denton. This lady is the daughter of James and Gemima (Vanboltenburg) Denton, natives of New York and Connecticut. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom their daughter Lydia was the eighth. She was born in New York on the 12th of March, 1842, and contin- ued to make her home with her parents until her marriage. She has become the mother of two chil- dren. who have received the names of Edward M. and Frederick H., respectively. They have also adopted a daughter, Emma E.


Mr. Coburn takes considerable interest in matters politieal, and is a stanch friend and supporter of the Republican party, and is at all times ready and anxious to do all in his power to extend its infin- ence and aid in its advancement. He is regarded as one of the most worthy, honorable and valued citizens, and respected accordingly.


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OHN SPARKS. The name of the subject of this sketch, who died a vietim to cold and exposure on the 12th of Jannary, 1888, is held in kindly remembrance by a large pro- portion of the people of this county. The story of


his decease is one of unusual sadness. On the morning of the day above mentioned he started out bright and early to Beatrice after a load of coal. Obtaining this he tarried for a time for the transac- tion of other business, and upon completing this started for his home in Lincoln Township, eight miles distant. Soon afterward the storm came on, but he pressed forward, and was within forty rods of his house when his horses were unable to proceed further, and releasing the animals from the wagon, he turned them loose, evidently with the supposition that he himself would be able to reach his own fireside in safety. Like thousands of others over- taken by a Western storm, his senses seemed to have become bewildered, and instead of going to- ward his home, he went directly away from it. The gathering darkness soon hid him from view, and he fell exhausted on the ground and expired. There he was found the following morning. Ilis team in the meantime had reached home after night came on and were discovered in the yard in the morning. It is difficult to conceive why he should have left his horses, as had he mounted one of them it would have probably taken him home in safety. His melancholy demise was the occasion of general mourning in the community, as he had been a most worthy and exemplary citizen, temperate in his habits, and one who enjoyed the confidence of all who knew him.




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