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 56
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Before coming to this State Mr. Langworthy was a resident of Woodford County, Ill., where he had carried on farming for a period of sixteen years. He had removed from Peoria County to that section in 1861, and came to Nebraska in 1876. In Peoria, Ill., he had carried on carpentering, at which he had served a regular apprenticeship, and had operated considerably in the South, largely in Alabama. In Illinois he was a contractor, and as the result of his labors handled a large amount of money, and was very successful.
Mr. Langworthy is a native of Devonshire, En- gland, where his birth took place July 1, 1812. He came to the United States in 1836, when a young man twenty-four years of age, and soon went South, traveling over a large portion of that region both for pleasure and recreation and in pursuit of his business. His father, Robert Langworthy, was born and spent his entire life in Devonshire, where he, too, carried on the trade of carpenter in connection
with undertaking. The mother, Mrs. Sarah (Oldrey) Langworthy, was born and reared not far from the home of her husband, and there passed away some years after the death of her husband. They were people of the highest respectability and worth, and members in good standing of the Church of England. Their family consisted of ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom William, our subject, is the sole survivor.
In his native England Mr. Langworthy received a good education, and was reared in a manner be- fitting the son of worthy and intelligent parents. He learned the carpenter trade under the instruction of his father, and was well qualified upon coming to this country to make his own way in the world. Upon taking up his abode in Woodford County, Ill., he abandoned the bench for farming. He had met and married in New York City Miss Caroline Oldrey, who was also of English birth and parentage, and who first opened her eyes to the light among the Devonshire hills, on the 10th of March, 1813. Mrs. Langworthy is the only daughter of her father, Samuel Oldrey, by his last marriage, her mother in her girlhood having been Miss Ann Furneanx. The Oldrey family was an old and highly respected one in Devonshire, and generally well-to-do, aceumulat- ing a large amount of property.
The parents of Mrs. Langworthy lived to a ripe old age, maintaining that consistent Christian ehar- acter in keeping with their almost lifelong connec- tion with the Church of England. Their family consisted of five children, three of whom are living in England. Miss Caroline received the advantages of the best local schools, and was taught by a careful mother those household duties which are so important to the comfort and happiness of a home. Being bright and ambitious to do for her- self, she went to the city of London when quite young, and after the manner of those times applied herself to domestic employments, and also became a skilled seamstress. She finally became a lady's maid, and thenee advanced to the position of trusted honsekeeper. Subsequently she was raised to the post of companion, and in this capacity traveled over the whole of the English Empire, including Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France. Being pos- sessed of more than usual intelligence, this oppor-
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tunity for instruction and observation was improved by her to the utmost, and she retains to this day a clear recollection of the cities she visited and the incidents connected therewith. In addition to this she has been an exhaustive reader of English and Scotch history. It is seldom there is met with a lady of brighter intellect, or one who has made such good use of her time and opportunities.
Mrs. Langworthy made the acquaintance of our subject in England, having been born in the same parish, and by previous arrangement joined him in the United States, May 4, 1853. They were married in New York City, on the 16th of May, 1853, and commenced the journey of life together in a snug home at Peoria, Ill. Mrs. L. has been the efficient helper of her husband in all his under- takings, being equally interested with bim in the building up of their homestead. Their union has been blessed by the birth of six children, two of whom, Sarah O. and Sarah J., died in early childhood ; John owns a farm in Jefferson County, but lives with his parents; William R. owns and operates a farm in Chase County ; he married Miss Florence Stansbury, of Jefferson County. Lewis manages the home farm; and Carrie is the wife of W. N. Sparks, a well-to-do farmer of Lincoln Township.
Mr. Langworthy, upon becoming a naturalized citizen, identified himself with the Republican party, of which he has since been a cordial sup- porter. Both he and his wife belong to the Episco- pal Church, but they give liberal contributions to other churches. They occupy a good position among the better element of Gage County, and have contributed materially to its moral and intel- lectual advancement.
E LIAS C. WILCOX. The father of our sub- ject, Levi V. Wilcox, was born about the year 1797 at New Providence, Essex Co., N. J., fifteen miles from New York City. There Le received a common-school education, after which he moved to Ohio, settling near New Lebanon.
For two years he was engaged in filling a contract on the Miami Canal, building several sections, his part of it being in the vicinity known as Shaker Swamps. When he was about forty years old he moved to Fountain County, Ind., on the Wabash River, in which place he bought a farm and spent some time in making improvements on it. Then selling this land, he crossed the Wabash River into Warren County, and there improved 400 acres of land, on which he resided until the time of his death in 1854.
As to his birth our subject cannot tell positively, but in the year 1856, while tramping across a field in New Jersey, in the neighborhood of his late father's home, he found a turtle with the name of his father and the date 1815 ent on it. About the year 1816 the father of our subject married Miss Hulda Crane, of New Jersey. They were the par- ents of eight children, of whom four are still living, all having arrived at the age of maturity save one, whose death ocenrred at the age of nineteen, and a sister at fourteen years of age. Those who are sur- viving are Col. Frank Wilcox, of Champaign, Ill. ; Mrs. Annie Adkison, of Winterset, Iowa; John Wilcox, a farmer at Storm Lake, and our subject.
Hulda Crane was the daughter of John Crane, of New Jersey, her death occurring in Indiana in the year 1837, at about thirty-seven years of age. Her father was a farmer in New Jersey, his land lying along the Passaic River one mile from New Provi- dence. He belonged to Capt. Wood's minute men of Revolutionary War fame. He was born about the year 1762, and died on the 4th of March, 1844. His wife was Miss Betsey Mulfurd, who died in 1828.
Levi Wilcox, the grandfather of our subject, was born in New Jersey about the year 1760. He was a farmer in Essex County (now known as Union County), and he also belonged to Capt. Wood's minute men. lle married Miss Esther Valentine, and to them were born four children, as follows: Daniel M. Wilcox; Rachel, who married William Van Blarkam, of Paterson, N. J. ; Betsey, who married Capt. Joseph Doly. of the same section, and for her second husband Joseph Wilson. of Morristown. N. J .; and Levi V., the father of our subject. Levi Wilcox died in 1843, aged about fourscore years.
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His wife died in 1836, our subject living with her at the time.
William Wilcox was born in New Jersey, and died at the age of sixty-six years, having lived on the same tract of land as that occupied by his family, his death occurring before the memory of our subject. He had four sons, one of whom fol- lowed Daniel Boone to Kentucky, and soon lost his life there. Peter Wilcox, the father of William, arrived from England in 1736, and the Elizabeth- town Association surveyed to him 400 acres of land in New Jersey. This is shown by the records in the Presbyterian Church at Westfield, N. J. Levi V. Wilcox served as Deputy Sheriff in his native State. All of these ancestors of our subject were members of the Methodist Church, and with his grandfather Wilcox, Lorenzo Dow used frequently to stop. The descendants are still living on the family farm, the only living brother of Hulda Crane now residing near Vallisca, lowa, aged eighty- six years.
Elias C. Wilcox, our subject, was born on the 4th of February, 1822, in Essex County, N. J. He re- ceived a good common-school education, after which he worked on the farm of his grandfather, living with him until seventeen years of age. He then clerked for two years for Woodruff & Co., of Elizabethtown, and in 1841 he went to Indiana and joined his parents. For awhile he worked on a farm, after which he clerked in a store until 1847, when he was appointed Collector of Tolls on the Wabash Canal, at Covington, Ind. He received his appointment from Stearns Fisher, well known as the Superintendent of the State Public Works, and held his position until the fall of 1854, when he was elected Clerk of the Court for Fountain County on the Republican ticket, or rather Whig, the Re- publican party hardly being then born. He was re- elected in 1858 for the same office, and beld his position until November. 1862.
From that date until the close of the war our sub- ject occupied the position of Provost Marshal for Fountain County, having his headquarters in Cov- ington, the place of his home. He spent the summer of 1866 in traveling over the State of Ar- kansas in behalf of the Western Stage Company. He was there opening mail routes and appointing
Postmasters, for which he had a commission from the Government already signed, our subject taking bond and returning to the Government. The next year he moved to Champaign County, Ill., where he raised a very large crop of grain and 160 acres of corn, the latter selling at eighty cents per bushel.
In the spring of 1868 our subject moved to Union County, Iowa, where he bought a new farm of 160 acres, and improved it with a house, barn and other farm buildings He remained there two years. and in the fall of 1869 he was selected by the people without any effort on his part, and was nominated for County Auditor. The nomination resulted in his election, and after occupying the position for two years he was re-elected in 1871, and held the office until 1873. To the end of the year during this term he lived at Afton, Iowa. In 1874 he moved to Sheridan in the same State, and engaged in the lumber business, which he continned for three years, and thence went to Farragut, where he had charge of a stock of goods until 1881. after- ward, selling, and coming to Wymore when the city had just been platted.
In June, 1882, the Blue Valley Bank was organ- ized, and our subject became its cashier, serving in that capacity for five years. In the meantime he was elected City Treasurer, to which position he has successively been elected until the present time. He is also the Treasurer of the School Board, and is engaged in the real-estate and insurance business. Our subject attended the convention held at Phila- delphia in 1856, which nominated John C. Fremont, and he has since been with the Republican party. He is also a Chapter member and Master of the Blue Lodge, of Wymore.
On the 8th of February, 1848, Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage with Miss Rachael V. Fields, at Covington, Ind., which union has been blessed with four children, of whom three are living, viz: Albert C., Kate L. and Frank. The wife of our subject was born at Clarksburg, Va., in 1828, and is a daughter of John Fields, who was born in Pennsyl- vania about the year 1802. He lived for awhile at Clarksburg, Va., then moved to Covington, Ind., in which place he was Postmaster and Justice of the Peace, and died there in 1876. Mrs. Wilcox re-
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ceived a common-school education, and lived with her parents until the time of her marriage. Her mother was Miss Harris, a native of Virginia, her death occurring about 1856.
Albert C. Wilcox married Miss Carrie Wallace, of Sheridan, Iowa, and they are the parents of two chil- dren-Anna and Laird E; they live in McPherson County, Kan., the husband having charge of the Mckinley Hellicker Investment Company for the State of Kansas. Frank is engaged in the loan business in Horace, Greeley Co., Kan. Our subject has been a resident of Wymore from the time it was platted out through the corn fields to its present enterprising state, and has done very much to help bring about its improvements.
E DWARD ARNOLD is a public-spirited far- mer residing on section 16, Glenwood Town- ship. His father, George Arnold, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, and his mother. Catherine (Bishop) Arnold, was a native of Switzerland. They were married, and continued to make their home in Switzerland until about the year 1845, when they came to America. On their arrival in this country they settled in Essex County, N. J., and afterward moved to Ohio, and the mother died in Licking County, Ohio, on the 6th of August, 1854. The father is now a resident of Columbus of the above- named State. They were the parents of four chil- dren, whose names are: Edward, Margaret, Louisa and George.
Our subject was born in Switzerland on the 7th of May, 1844, and was but eighteen months old when his parents emigrated to this country. He spent his early life in New Jersey and Ohio, coming from the latter State to Nebraska in 1867. IFis father carried on the coopering business in the small village of Etna, Ohio, in which place our subject was reared to manhood. He received a common- school education, and lived at home until he came to this State, with the exception of three years and eight months spent in the service of his country as a soldier.
On the 29th of October, 1861, Mr. Arnold en- listed as a private in Company E, 76th Ohio In-
fantry, and was afterward promoted to the rank of Sergeant. During his connection with the army he participated in thirty-three general engagements, to- gether with battles of lesser note. At the battle of Ringgold, Ga., he was wounded in the right arm and side, and was incapacitated for service for about two months, which time he spent in the hospital. For his loyalty in the service of the country, and because of the wound which he received, he is al- lowed a pension by the Government. Although a stated amount of money at intervals can hardly be said to be a fair exchange for the health and com- fort of any man, it is yet his just duc, and a mark of appreciation which should never be withheld from those who gave much in so good a cause.
At the expiration of his term of service our sul- ject returned to Ohio, and after remaining in that State for one year, he came to Falls City, Richard- son Co., Neb. He then engaged in farming, and after a residence there of three years he came to this county, in the spring of 1870. He settled in Midland Township, where he lived for thirteen years, and in 1883 he moved to Glenwood Town- ship, in which he owns a farm of 200 acres on sec- tions 9 and 16. He has erected a good house and buildings, and has made many noticeable improve- ments on his land.
On the 20th of February, 1870, Mr. Arnold was united in marriage, in Falls City, with Miss Kate M. Paxton, who is a daughter of William and Lucinda (Moss) Paxton. She was born in Barren County, Ky., on the 17th of March, 1848, and came to this State in 1865. To their home has come a family of ten children, all of whom were born in this county. and their names are mentioned as follows: George P., Charles W., Alice M., Edward L., Ernest J., Archie. Arthur G., May B., Maggie E., and an in- fant son unnamed. Mrs. Arnold is a member of the Christian Church. The older members of the family were afforded the advantages for receiving good educations, and are fitting themselves to adorn the stations in life in which they may be placed, and are an honor to their parents, while the younger members are still in the enjoyment of their child- hood days, and are happy and free from care.
While our subject has given careful attention to his occupation, and has made very fair improve-
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ments on his farm, he has not forgotten that it is the duty of every man to take a certain share of the responsibilities of public affairs, and during the year 1887 he served as Supervisor of Glenwood Township. While living in Midland Township he held the office of School Director for ten years, be- ing amply qualified by education and general exec- utive ability to fill that office. He is an advocate of the policy of the Democratic organization, and is a highly esteemed member of the Reserve Post of the G. A. R., at Odell. Under the manage- ment of just such men as our subject will the county continue to improve, until finally it will reach the rank of the older settled counties, and its advan- tages for educational and religions growth be un- excelled.
ACOB FEESE, widely and favorably known throughout the southwestern part of this county, has been a member of the community of Glenwood Township since the fall of 1883, when he settled upon his present farm, which com- prises 153 acres of productive land on section 1. During the five years of his residence here he has established himself in the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens by his energy, enterprise, and his qualities as a desirable and useful member of society. He is making good improvements on his farm, bringing the land to a fine state of cultiva- tion, and in all respects contributing his quota to the upbuilding of the rich territory of Southern Nebraska.
The Feese family is believed to be of German ancestry, settling in the South after coming to this country. David Feese, the father of our subject, was born in Ashe County, N. C., and upon reaching manhood was married to Miss Lucinda Hill, who was a native of Hardin County, Ky. They first settled in McDonough County, Ill., and from there in 1834 removed to Des Moines County, Iowa, settling among the earliest pioneers of the Hawkeye State. Mr. Feese took up a tract of Government land in what is now Flint River Township, and there with his estimable wife carried on farming and spent the remainder of his days, passing away
March 10, 1888, at the advanced age of eighty years. He was a good man in the best sense of the term. industrions, honest and public-spirited. He was affectionately known throughont that region as "Father Feese," and is kindly remembered by hosts of friends. A consistent member of the Christian Church, he took an active part in its deliberations, and contributed liberally to its support from the abundance of means with which Providence had blessed him. .
The hospitable roof of David Feese was ever ready to shelter the destitute and needy, and his hand ever ready to assist the deserving poor. As a bright exponent of the Christian virtues, the father of our subject fulfilled conscientiously every known duty. He set before his children the example of thrift, industry, economy, and those moral traits of character which won their confidence when young, and which, now they are further advanced in years, shines brighter as memory holds them within its most sacred precincts. The mother, too, was amply fitted for her position as the wife of such a man, being in all good works his sympathizer and helper. They lived congenially together for a period of forty-four years, and then the mother passed to her rest at the homestead in Iowa, Oct. 7, 1879. They differed somewhat in religious views, the mother being a Baptist, and belonging to the Baptist Church at Danville. They were married in 1827, and became the parents of fifteen children, four sons and eleven daughters, twelve of whom survive.
The subject of this sketch was the seventh child of the parental family, and was born in Flint River Township, Des Moines Co., Iowa, Nov. 26, 1842. He was reared as a farmer's boy and edu- cated in the district school, remaining under the home roof until reaching his majority. He then commenced working for himself, continuing in his native county two years longer. He then pur- chased a farm in Henry County, Iowa, but in less then a year returned to his early tramping ground. He engaged in mercantile pursuits in Danville a few months, then sold out and invested his capital in another farm, this time in Flint River Township. and upon which he continued three years. Thence he changed his residence to Fremont County, Iowa, purchasing another farm, and living there until
RESIDENCE OF JOHN MULLER , SEC . 19. HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.
Y
RESIDENCE OF J. W. ISLEY, SEC. 33. NEMAHA TOWNSHIP.
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STOCK-DALE FARM, RESIDENCE OF O. R. DEMING, SEC. 9. HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.
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September, 1883, when he decided to cast his lot among the people of Southern Nebraska.
The marriage of Jacob Feese and Miss Mary Abbie Mains was celebrated March 23, 1863, at the home of the bride in Pleasant Grove Township, Des Moines Co., Iowa. Mrs. Feese is the daughter of Philip and Sarah ( Eggleston) Mains, who were born and reared in the Buckeye State. They were mar- ried in Indiana, and were residents of Des Moines County, lowa, for sixteen years, also residents of Fremont County for the same length of time. From there they came to Nebraska, settling in Pad- dock Township, this county, in February, 1887, where they now live. They have been the parents of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living.
Mrs. Feese was the fifth child of the parental household, and was born in Clermont County, Ohio, March 23, 1846. She grew up amid the surround- ings of a comfortable home, and acquired her edu- cation in the common school. She was carefully trained by an excellent mother to habits of industry and economy. and remained under the home shel- ter until her marriage. Of her union with onr sub- ject there have been born for children: Cora E., the wife of Simeon Hogrefe, of Wymore, this State; Ida L., Mrs. Jacob Young, of Sicily Township, this county ; Philip Jean and Edwin L., at home with their parents. While a resident of lowa Mr. Feese held the various township offices, and has always been recognized as a public-spirited citizen wherever his lot in life has been cast. Both he and his esti- mable wife are members in good standing of the Baptist Church. Mr. F. cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln, but is independent in politics, re- serving the right of the free American citizen to support the men whom he considers best qualified to serve the interests of the people.
W ILLIAM CRAIG, Mayor of Blue Springs, and largely identified with its business affairs, represents considerable real estate in which he is largely interested, the greater por- tion being city property. He is also conducting a flourishing hardware business, and as a man and a citizen ranks among the most highly respected resi-
dents of this county, and we are pleased to present his portrait on the opposite page.
Our subject is of stanch Pennsylvania stock, his father. Thomas Craig, having been born in Carbon County, that State, in 1800. Ile received a com- mon-school education, and upon reaching manhood engaged in farming for a time, and later for nearly a half-century occupied himself as a hotel-keeper successfully at Lehigh. Water Gap. He was also owner of the stage line running between Manch Chunk and Easton, from which he derived a hand- some income. In addition to this he was extensively engaged in rafting lumber from the Upper Lehigh to Easton, Mauch Chunk and other points, having his own boat and making considerable money in this enterprise. During the memorable freshet of 1841 he lost heavily in boats and lumber. He con- tinued as a hotel-keeper until the time of his death. For a number of years he dealt largely in general merchandise.
The father of our subject was married in early manhood to Miss Kuntz, who died young. leaving two children. Subsequently, in 1828, he was mar- ried to Miss Catherine Hagenbuch, and they be- came the parents of six children, five of whom lived to mature years. The father died in 1859. at the hotel which had been his home for so many years. Mrs. Catherine Craig, the mother of our subject, also a native of the Keystone State, was a daughter of a hotel-keeper at Lehighton, where he spent many years of his life, and where he entered upon his final rest. Mrs. Craig remained with her par- ents until her marriage, and survived her husband twelve years. her death taking place at Lehigh Gap, in 1871.
The parents of our subject were members in good standing of the Lutheran Church, and the father was especially prominent and active in all those matters pertaining to moral and religions education. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, Thomas Craig, Sr., a native of Northampton County, Pa., served as a General in the Revolution- ary War, and after the independence of the Colo- nies had been established, returned to his native place, where he engaged in farming, and lived to the ripe old age of ninety years. He was a lifelong Democrat, and the father of six children.
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