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 62
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
James N. Tobyne, the father of our subject, was born near Toronto, Canada, on the 21st of April, 1820, in which place he lived until he was twenty- one years old. In 1841 he left his native country for Winnebago County, Ill., whence after ten years' residence he moved to Ogle County. There he re- mained engaged in farming until 1868, when he came to this county with his family, and made his home on section 10, Bine Spring Township, near the home of his son Samuel. He married Mrs. Caroline Zeitz, who was a native of Germany, and had come to the United States when she was six years old.
By her former marriage, with Mr. Strokey, she was the mother of three children, two of whom, named Frederick A. and George R. Strokey, are now liv- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Tobyne were the parents of seven children, five of whom are now living, and make their homes in the following places : Henrietta, in Gage County ; Samuel N. and Seth E., in Blue Springs Township; Permelia C. and Ida A., in Gage County. One son, the oldest of the family, died at the age of seventeen years, and the other, William II., died when a child. The parents of this family of children were well known as early pioneers of this county, and as such, and as an honorable man and woman, they possessed the esteem and friend- ship of the people of the community. The death of the father occurred on the 6th of April, 1882, at the age of sixty-two years, and that of the mother occurred in December, 188I, at the age of sixty- two years, the death of both being greatly regretted by their many friends and acquaintances.
Seth E. Tobyne, a son of James N. and a brother of Samuel N., above mentioned, makes his home on section 10, Blue Springs Township, where he has lived for many years. He was born in Ogle County. Ill., on the 27th of Jannary, 1862, and with his father and the remainder of the family he came to this county in the spring of 1868. He has grown to manhood and has constantly been surrounded with the scenes adjacent to his present home, though there have been vast changes since his arrival when a young boy. Ile has always lived on a farm, and when he was a boy he herded cattle on an exten- sive range, the business at that time being largely engaged in and very lucrative. To describe the scenes and events of his life is but to repeat the description given in the sketch devoted to his brother, for in common they shared the trials and hardships of the pioneer life. On the 25th of Feb- ruary, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Ettie Early, a daughter of Marshall Early, who was FOR born in Mercer County, Ohio, on the 28th of March, 1861. Her parents were from Ohio, and she made her home with them until the time of her marriage, receiving her education in the common schools of her native county, and perfecting herself in the graces and accomplishments of a true womanly sphere. By their marriage they are the parents of
500
GAGE COUNTY.
four children, bearing the names Rolla, Ethel, Della and an infant daughter, Jessie.
Mr. Tobyne is the owner of 120 acres of good and well-improved farming land in Blue Springs Township, and 160 acres in the State of Colorado. On his home farm he has made many valuable im- provements, having a good house, barn and other farm buildings, which are well kept and in good condition. By giving close attention to his occu- pation he has brought his land to a very fine state of cultivation, which makes it the source of a lucra- tive income to him. He affiliates with the Repub- lican party, but does not take an active part in politics, and both he and his wife are well-known and highly respected members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, sustaining the reputation which they bear of being honest, industrious and iutelli- gent citizens.
RANKLIN WALKER is a farmer, stock- raiser and banker, residing on section 25, Elm Township. He is a son of George P. and Polly (Countryman) Walker, his father having been born in Somerset County, Pa., where he died in the year 1876, at the age of seventy-nine years. The mother was also a native of the same county, and is still living. They were the parents of nine children, our subject being the fifth child, and his birth occurring on the 9th of November, 1828, in Somerset County. At that time the schools were conducted by subscription, or paying members, and it was in a school of this kind that our subject re- ceived his education. At the age of eighteen years he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter trade, and having learned the business he followed it until the year 1865.
On the 9th of November, 1851, our subject was married, in Ohio, to Miss Anna M. La Boiteaux. Her father was Samuel La Boiteaux, who was born at Mt. Pleasant, Hamilton Co., Ohio, where he fol- lowed the trade of a cooper, and where he d'ed in 1887, at the age of eighty-one years. Her mother was Maria Louisa (Wright) La Boiteaux, who was born at Batavia, Ohio, on the 8th of February,
1811. They were the parents of nine children, Mrs. Walker being the third child.
To our subject and his wife have been given a family of five children, whose names we mention: Mary Louisa, Eliza Jane, George W., Lillian M. and Ella L. Mary L. was married to Aubert Z. Dennis, and is now living at Walker, Iowa; they have two children, Luella M. and Jay L. Eliza Jane was married to Edgar Bigsby, and is now liv- ing at Kirksville, Mo .; they have four children- Emma L. (deceased), Frank L., Aura and Glen. George W. was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Bevins, and is living in Sicily Township, where he is engaged in farming; they have two children- Grace M. and Mary G. Lillian May was married to Dexter S. Lilly, residing at Gladstone, Kan., and has three children-Walter E., Lina P. and Golda I .; Ella is married to J. P. Squire, residing in Red Willow County, Neb., and has two children-Guy and Roy.
Besides carrying on the farm which he owns, our subject has an interest in the First Commercial Bank at Odell, of which he is the Vice President and one of the Directors. The bank was organized in 1884, and re-organized in March, 1888. He was elected Treasurer of Elm Township in 1886, which office he still holds, and is also the Collector for the town- ship. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., having his membership in the Woodbine Lodge No. 126, at Mt. Healthy, Hamilton Co., Ohio. He is a prom- inent and active business man, and takes a great in- terest in the advancement of his community, and the fostering of those institutions by which the social, educational and business interests can be improved. He is a member of the Democratic organization, and firmly believes that the prosperity of the country can be secured under its control and government.
ESSE COZINE. Among the honorable citi- zens of Paddock Township, Gage County, no one more worthily represents its farming interests than the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He is a native of Indiana, born in Dearborn County, Dec. 11, 1822. When he was but six years old he had the
501
GAGE COUNTY.
misfortune to lose his father, John Cozine, an hon- orable, intelligent and upright man. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Abigail Bruce, after the death of her first husband became the wife of Edmund Chisman. After his father's death our subject was reared in the home of his grandmother, Tabitha Bruce, with whom he lived until he grew to manhood. Ile was an active, enterprising young man, and at an early age was en- abled to establish a comfortable home of his own, and June 30, 1845, was married to Miss Martha Clarke. She was to him indeed a helpmate in the truest sense of the word, and to her cheerful assist- ance and kind counsel he was much indebted for his success in life.
Mrs. Cozine was a devoted and valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and her earnest- ness and sterling worth secured her many warm friends, and her death April 23, 1876, at the age of forty-seven years, was felt to be a per- sonal loss by many besides the bereaved family. To her and her husband were born eleven children, five of whom survive, and the following is their record: Samuel, born June 13, 1846; Nancy Q., born May 21, 1848, died Nov. 10, 1864; Abigail, born Oct. 19, 1850; William R., born March 29, 1853, died Nov. 17, 1879; John A., born July 27. 1856; Jacob C., born Feb. 28, 1858, died March 11. 1861 ; Chaney C., born May 11, 1861 ; Robert D., May 10, 1863; Elizabeth R., born June 23, 1865, died Oct. 4, 1879; Henry A. Newton, born March 7, 1867, died Sept. 17, 1879; Mary M., born April 17, 1869. Samuel Cozine married Emma MeVicker, and they live at Iowa Falls; John mar- ried Eliza Smith, and they live in Barber County, Kan .; Robert married Elfa Bunnell, and they live in Washington County, Kan .; Abigail married Francis Parrott, and they live near lowa City.
The paternal grandparents of our subject were Martin Cozine and Elizabeth Smith, of Indiana and Ohio respectively, the grandfather of Scotch ances- try and the grandmother of English. Mr. Cozine lost his life by the blowing up of a steamer on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and St. Louis. The grandmother died in Dearborn County, Ind.
In 1850 our subject removed with his family to lowa, and they staid there until 1879, when they
came to Nebraska. Mr. Cozine purchased 160 acres of unbroken prairie land on section 24, Pad- dock Township, from the Government, paying $3.50 an acre therefor. By persistent energy and well- directed toil he has reclaimed this wild bit of prairie, and improved it into one of the finest farms in this vicinity, its present value being $25 an acre, and he has it all under good cultivation and well fenced. le has erected a substantial, commodious dwelling, stable, and other necessary farm build- ings.
Mr. Cozine is a man whose integrity is above re- proach ; his neighbors find in him a true and oblig- ing friend. and to his family, of whom he has reason to be proud, he is the kindest and most indulgent of fathers. In his political views our subject is a strong adherent of the Republican party, and he has reared his sons to be stalwart Republicans.
G EORGE E. EMERY, County Clerk of Gage County, has been a resident of this State since 1862, having moved to Nebraska from Kansas with his parents when only three years old. He was born in the city of Lawrence, Kan., March 17, 1859, and is the ekler of two children of Charles N. and Mary M. (Benson) Emery, the former a native of Maine, and the latter born in the city of Limerick, Ireland.
The mother of our subject crossed the Atlantic with two brothers early in life, and after living for some time in Brooklyn and Chicago, moved to Law- renee, Kan., where she met Mr. Emery, whom she married May 4, 1858. In 1864 the parents of our sub- ject moved to Liberty Farm, in this State, where, on August , they were burned out by the Indians. The family then moved to Kearney. Neb., residing there a year or more, and in July, 1867, moved to Beatrice, where they have since lived.
The subject of this sketch was a little lad eight years of age when his parents took up their abode in Beatrice, and he obtained his early education in the imperfect public schools of the rising young town. About 1867 the family repaired to Shaw- nee County, Kan .. settling in its capital city. To- peka. George E. there completed his education.
502
GAGE COUNTY.
A year later, upon the return of the parents to Bea- trice, he accompanied them, and when seventeen years old entered the office of the Beatrice Express to learn the printer's trade, a good knowledge of which he gained in the course of his three-years apprenticeship. He was, however, destined to a different sphere, and about 1878 received the ap- pointment of Deputy Postmaster, first under Al- bert Towle and later under Jacob Drum, serving in this capacity a period of three years.
Mr. Emery entered the Clerk's office as a Deputy in 1881, and after the satisfactory performance of the duties therewith connected for a period of four years, he was elected County Clerk, in 1885, and re-elected in 1887. He has excellent business capac- ities, is conscientious in the performance of his official duties, and has made a record altogether creditable to himself and satisfactory to the people at large. In July, 1884, he was united in mar- riage with one of the most estimable young ladies of this county, Miss Julia A. McGee, who was born in Bolton, Vt., and is the daughter of Andrew H. and Mary McGee, who were natives of Vermont, and are still residents of the Green Mountain State. Of this union there is one child, a son, Calvin A., who was born March 14, 1886. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Emery is pleasantly located in the north- ern part of the city of Beatrice, and they enjoy the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances, com- posed of its choicest people. Mr. Emery cast his first Presidential vote for Garfield, and in his political views is a decided Republican.
HOMAS J. RILE, of Blue Springs Township, is numbered among the solid men of this county, and is a good citizen, who has made for himself an enviable record and hosts of friends. A native of McDonough County, Ill., he was born at his father's rural homestead, five miles from the then village of Macomb, May 22, 1854, and is the son of William H. Rile. The latter was born in Montgomery County, Pa., April 26, 1811, and leaving the Keystone State when a young man twenty-seven years of age, emigrated to Warren County, Ohio, settling there in 1838. Five years
later he changed his residence to Jersey County, Ill., and in 1849 to MeDonough County, where he carried on farming and remained until 1882.
The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Eliza Plowman, and the parental family con- sisted of six children, four sons and two daughters, three of whom are living. Elizabeth is single and at home; Georgia married W. S. Bourne, and is a resident of Beatrice, Neb .; they have two children -- Fanny and Etsel. The parents came to this. county in the spring of 1882, and make their home with our subject. The property of Mr. Rile lies two miles east of the city of Blue Springs, and con- prises a well-cultivated farm 160 acres in extent. The buildings are neat and substantial, the barns and other outhouses all that are required for com- fort and convenience, and the homestead in all respects has about it the air of peace and plenty, which is one of the most attractive features of rural life.
Mr. Rile was married, Sept. 20, 1883, to Miss Mary McMillan, who was born in McDonough County, Ill., March 26, 1863, and is the daughter of John and Catherine (Kelly) McMillan, who were natives of Scotland; the father is deceased, and the mother is living in McDonough County, Ill. Of this union there have been born three chil- dren, two living, Frederick and Everett B. The deceased child, Alta, died when two and a half months old.
William H. Rile, the father of our subject, is a well-educated man, and during the early history of his section of Illinois was an important factor in its growth and development. Endowed with more than an ordinary degree of common sense, he was one of the most enterprising and useful pioneers of McDonough County. He lived there during an important period of its development, and during the construction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, which resulted in the establish- ment of new towns along its line. Mr. Rile being the County Surveyor, was efficient in the laying out of these places, some of which have grown to importance, among them the little city of Bushnell. He located on a tract of land which is now five miles east from the present city of Macomb, being among the very first to venture out upon the fertile
503
GAGE COUNTY.
prairie, the settlers having previously clung to the timber under the erroneous impression that the prairie was valueless. Mr. Rile became widely known in that region, and was numbered among its most highly respected farmers. He reared a family, the members of which do him honor in their stand- ing as citizens, and their usefulness in promoting the moral well-being of society. Thomas J., the subject of this sketch, especially, is a man in whom everybody has confidence, and who is held in uni- versal respect.
W ILLIAM P. YULE. The water supply of Gage County is one of which many might be envious, and of which it must be proud. because its facilities are largely increased thereby. its grain and stock farms are of far greater valne than they otherwise could be, its crops surer, even in drouth years, and the cattle upon its broad aeres are not called upon to suffer as in other places in similar seasons. Grant Township has its full quota of this and the other natural advantages bestowed with such lavish hand by good Dame Nature in this part of her domain. The farm of the gentleman whose life is here succinctly traced, located upon section 15 of Grant Township, possesses its full share of these. Soap Creek, a stream fed by springs innumerable, gives a good supply of fresh water to all the pastures on this property, which to a stock farmer such as our subject is invaluable. The farm, in addition to this, is well and admirably situated, and the face of the country in this district is such as makes it especially desirable for stock purposes, its rich soil amply rewarding the husbandman also for his toil.
Since his coming to the county in 1882 the sub- ject of this writing has devoted himself to the improvement of his property by the erection of barns, stabling, granary, cattle sheds and pens, and all the divers buildings needed upon a stock and grain farm ; also the putting up of a dwelling that should be in keeping with his social position and demands of his family. He has now a most thor- ouglily equipped ranch and pleasant, comfortable
home. His particular care is given to the raising of stock.
Our subject came to Nebraska from Mercer County, Ill., where he had a farm of 160 acres, which he had owned for about twenty years, and had brought to a very advanced state of fertility and productiveness, supplying it with all the neces- sary buildings for his purpose, as he has also done for his present property. Mr. Yule was born Feb. 6, 1826, in Cayuga County, N. Y. His fam- ily is of Scotch ancestry. His father was a native of the above State, and followed the occupation of a shoemaker. Later in life he became a farmer in Livingston County, N. Y., where he died at the age of fifty-two years. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our subject, was Permelia Guyle. She survived her husband several years, and after his death went to Illinois, thence removed to Ana- mosa, Jones Co., Iowa, where she died at about sev- enty years of age.
Of nine children born to his parents, most of whom are now deceased, our subject was the first- born. He was about six years of age when his par- ents removed to Livingston County. N. Y., and continued to reside there until he had attained his majority. He obtained a fair education (at that time it would have been called good) in that county. and subsequently began teaching school, occupied at the same time in reading law, which, upon being admitted to the bar, he began to practice at Mt. Morris. It was not long before he had built up a remunerative practice and represented an extensive clientage, but his assiduous labors began to tell upon his health, and he was finally compelled to quit his practice, and removed to Ogle County, Ill. Thence he went to Henderson County, and finally settled in Mercer County, of the same State.
While thus pleasantly engaged our subject em- braced the opportunity of bringing into his life a completer and fuller felicity by taking as his wife Miss Esther Harsha. This interesting event was celebrated Feb. 4, 1857. 'The lady of his choice was born May 24, 1830, in Washington County, N. Y. Her parents were David and Nancy (Harsha) Ilarsha, who, although bearing the same name, were not previously related. The husband was a native of Ireland, his wife of Washington County, where
504
GAGE COUNTY.
they were married and settled to farming life. Both died at an advanced age upon the old homestead. They were the parents of eleven children, their daughter Esther being the ninth. The youngest child bad attained thirty-three years of age before the first member of this interesting family was re- moved by death; all but one were married, and all but three are now living; the youngest of the sur- viving members is fifty-two years of age.
The wife of our subject was educated at Argyle, N. Y., and knew no home other than that of her parents until our subject took her to grace his own. They are the parents of two children, viz: Maggie J., who is now happily married to Frank Boggess, a photographic artist at Astoria, Fulton Co., Ill., and Henry L., who remains at home, and is his father's chief assistant in the operation of his extensive farm. .
Our subject is identified, in political matters, with the Republican party ; he has filled with much credit to himself and satisfaction to the people the office of Justice of the Peace, in which his fine sense of justice, his law experience and clear intellect, greatly assisted him in rendering right and impar- tial judgment. The religious connections of Mr. and Mrs. Yule are with the United Presbyterian Church, and their membership was in the local con- gregation of Norwood, Ill. They are held in the highest possible regard by all their fellow-members, and in society at large none are more esteemed. Their home is such as one might well envy, and their personal character is worthy of all emulation.
R DIBBLE. In Blakely Township, and upon section 12, is an exceptionally fine farm some 520 acres in extent, known through- out the State as the Blue Mound farm. It were very difficult to find in Nebraska a more de- lightful situation; the house is situated upon one of the higher points of ground, not far from where the Big Blue River winds its way, broad, deep, bright and silent, throughout the entire length of the farm. Along its banks for a considerable dis- tance are heavy timber growths of walnut, ash, maple, elm, cottonwood, willow and mulberry
trees, affording in summer luxuriant, cooling shade, and in winter, a most grateful shelter from wind and storm. Beyond and around the ground bil- lows away in gentle undulation or heavier rolling prairie, and yet so considerable is the altitude that from the house, looking away to the southeastward, can be plainly seen the spires, towers, and to some extent, the buildings of the city of Beatrice, and the reflection of the electric lights can be seen in the mirror from the bed which Mr. and Mrs. Dib- ble occupy. The intervening space is filled, as is all the country round, with well-cultivated farms and long stretches of pastoral ranch land. Such are the surroundings of the home of our subject, and the above may serve as a "hint," at least, of the beauties with which nature has lavishly endowed this delightful spot.
The homestead of our subject upon the above land dates from the year 1865; since that time Mr. Dibble has made a well-nigh national reputation as a sheep-farmer and breeder of the higher grades and thoroughbred stock. As noted above, his land, and in fact that of the entire district, is peculiarly adapted to stock-raising, the climate also being propitious. The presence of the Blue River, which affords an inexhaustible supply of pure living water, coupled with the beautiful and immense groves, and the abundance of succulent, nutritious grasses, all combine to make the ranch of our sub- ject exceptionally available for his purpose. To those who know the rigors of winter in that lati- tude and the opposite extreme of summer, it would be a matter of surprise to learn that large numbers of stock of all kinds can winter without any shelter than that supplied by the woods upon the ranch, and that without any considerable discomfort, and a loss of less than one per cent.
In the matter of stock-raising Mr. Dibble is by no means a tyro; his whole life has been a constant accumulation of intellectual power to this end, and Nebraska has received from him very much as the one who has largely helped to bring it into promi- nence as a stock-raising country. Along the line of his business he is very enterprising, and possesses a full quota of Western go-aheaditiveness. In quite a number of instances he has exhibited stock, and in the large majority of cases has carried off
505
GAGE COUNTY.
the best of the awards. Ile indulges in the pleasure of devoting special attention to raising a high grade of Poland-China hogs, Merino sheep, Durham cattle and Norman and Percheron horses.
The reputation of our subject has been made, perhaps, more along the line of sheep-raising than any other, and he has identified himself with the raising exclusively of Merinos, having become one of the largest feeders and shippers of the State, and has the honor of having shipped the first $1,000 worth of wool out of Southern Nebraska. He commenced this branch of the business in the year 1871, having then one ewe, and from that beginning has gone on year by year, ever increasingly successful. He has owned and man- aged flocks of 1,500 head but usually averages about 1,000. Some idea of the value of the prod- uce may perhaps be gained from the fact that our subject has shipped from his ranch to Boston a car- load of wool, receiving for the same the sum of $2.000.
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.