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 72
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The education of our subject was received in the Woodford County schools, and his knowledge of farming was largely obtained in the same county. When he became seventeen years of age he enlisted in August, 1861, in Company B, 47th Illinois In- fantry, Capt. Miles and Col. Rush commanding. The regiment was attached to the Army of the West, and in it our subject fought at New' Madrid, Island No. 10, Ft. De Russey, Pleasant Hill, Ilen- derson Hill, Clowtinsville, Marksville, Pittsburg Landing. Farmington ( where Col. Miles was killed), Iuka, Miss., and shortly afterward the battle of Cor- inth, Oct. 3, 1862, where our subject was wounded in the right arm, with which he was confined in the hospital for some time; rejoining his regiment in time for the battle of Vieksburg, he was at its sur- render. He was also at the battles of Lake Chicot (Ark.), June 6, 1864; Tupelo (Miss.), July 14 and 15, and Abbeville (Miss.), Aug. 23, 1864. In Oc- tober, 1864, he received an honorable discharge at Springfield, Ill., after serving three years and two months. Our subject still feels at times the effects of a severe sunstroke received while guarding a battery at Rienzi, Miss.
Upon return to Woodford County our subject became the husband of Margaret Miller, a native of the Buckeye State. She was born in Butler County, in the year 1840, and went to Illinois with her parents while a child. She is the daughter of Alexander and Eliza Miller. She came to this State
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in 1872 with her husband; there have been six children born to them, and to them have been given the names here appended: Emery S., Frank O., Harry O., Otto and Lora E., all of whom are at home; also Edith M., now deceased.
Mr. Ellis saw sufficient during the war to satisfy him that the only political party he could affiliate with was the one for which he fought, and he has ever since continued consistently in his adherence to the same. He is recognized as a stanch and in- fluential friend of the party and an energetic worker in its interests. By reason of his military experi- ence he is an enthusiastic member of the G. A. R. at De Witt. and is held in high regard by his com- rades of the post. His name is and has been promi- nent before the people as one having the progress and advancement of the township and county at heart, and he has done much to this end. As a man and citizen he has been true, upright and loyal ; in society at large he is received as a generous friend and gentleman, and in every relation has won for himself the respect and admiration of his compeers.
Mr. Ellis is one of the representative men of the county, and his portrait is very appropriately given in connection with this outline sketch of his life.
ENRY WAGNER, a public-spirited and wide-awake citizen of Clatonia Township, came to this section of country during the period of its early settlement, and is now in the enjoyment of a good home on section 15. His infant years were spent on the other side of the ocean, in Baden, Germany, where he was born Nov. 8, 1841. His parents were John and Catherine (Bence) Wag- ner, and they are now deceased. They emigrated to America with their family, and took up their abode in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. After a year's residence there they migrated to Dearborn County, Ind., where the father engaged in farming, and where they lived seven years. They then returned eastward as far as Lawrence County, Ohio, where our subject continued until reaching manhood. He received but a limited education, and at an early age entered the iron mines, where he labored for a
number of years, then hegan farming. Subse- quently he worked in a coal mine, and after the outbreak of the war was in the employ of the United States Government in the building of tem- porary bridges for the use of the army, mostly in Tennessee and Alabama. He thus spent two sum- mers, while in the winter he staid with his par- ents in Ohio. We next find him in Washington County, Mo., where he was employed at the Irona- del furnace two years. From there he recrossed the Father of Waters, and took up his abode in Montgomery County, Ill., where he carried on farming a period of five years.
Our subject while a resident of Missouri was married, Dec. 3, 1868, to Miss Eliza Barron, who became the mother of two children: Eliza J., now deceased, and Frederick V., a resident of Nebraska. The wife and mother departed this life in 1872. Mr. Wagner was the second time married, Dec. 24, 1874, to Miss Maggie, daughter of Robert and Mary A. (Crofford) Lowry, who are natives of Ireland, and are now residing near Cortland, this State. Of this union there were born five chil- dren, namely : Robert H., William J .; John, who died when nineteen months old; Thomas E. and Lewis F.
In the spring of 1875 Mr. Wagner came to this county and made arrangements for future settle- ment, laboring here on a tract of land two years before bringing his family. He purchased a quarter- section of the Burlington & Missouri River Rail- road Company, in Clatonia Township, at $7 per acre, taking possession and commencing in earnest the cultivation of the virgin soil. Not a furrow had been turned, and there was no other sign of improvement. He labored amid many disadvan- tages after the manner of the early pioneer, and was in due time compensated in the possession of a farm and all the comforts of life. He was ap- pointed the third Postmaster of Clatonia post-office, which office, now, however, is extinct. Politically, he is an earnest supporter of Republican principles. He has labored intelligently, and been careful to encourage those enterprises which would aid in the progress and development of his adopted county. He is one of the worthiest representatives of the men who struck out boldly without other means
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than their own resources, and by a course of rigid economy and untiring industry, built up from first principles a homestead which forms a nucleus from which their posterity will reap many advantages.
HOMAS R. ZIMMERMANN. In the subject of this sketch we have an example of the progressive and aspiring qualities of man- hood which have enabled him to become one of the most successful and prosperous farmers of Logan Township, having worked his way up from a lowly position to one of wealth and influence. He is the owner of 1,560 acres of well-improved land, de- voted to the purposes of farming and stock-raising. Ile is a son of Rankin and Anne Zimmermann, who were natives of Germany, the death of the former occurring in 1842 and that of the latter in 1835. There were five children of that household, who were named Tillie, Claus, Rachael, Fannie and Thomas. Our subject, the youngest of the family, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1833, and suf- fered the loss of his mother when he was about two years old, scarcely old enough to realize what a great loss it was.
Our subject remained in his native country until he was twenty two years old, receiving but little instruction from text-books, but having an experi- ence in the world which enabled bim to cultivate shrewd and careful business habits. Thinking that in America there would be better opportunities for him to exercise his talents he embarked from Bre- merhaven in 1853, and landed in New York City after a long voyage. He made a short visit to va- rious cities, including Cleveland, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pa., and St. Louis, Mo., stopping for one year at Belleville, Ill., and at Petersburg, III., for three years. In 1861 he went to Ritzler County, Neb., and from there removed to this county and made his home on section 4, Logan Township, for eight years. He then sold his farm and bought another on section 7, consisting of 200 aeres, on which he has made very many improvements and has been more than ordi- narily prosperous, as much so perhaps as any far- mer in the county. At different times he purchased land, until now he is the owner of 1,560 acres, all
of which he rents excepting the farm on which he makes his home.
On the 28th of January, 1861, our subject was united in marriage, in Petersburg, Ill., to Miss Catherine Miller, who was born in Hanover, Ger- many, on the 6th of January, 1843. Her parents, Elliot and Abby (Johnson) Miller, were natives of Hanover, in which country the mother died, the father afterward coming to America, and departing this life in Lebanon, Ill. There were four children in their family, whom they namned Elliot. Mattie. Catharine and Albert. After their marriage our subject brought his wife to his attractive home, which she has graced by ber charming and womanly presence, and, as she shares with her husband the desire to progress and improve, they have together labored toward the same end, and are now rewarded for their industry and careful management. Their buildings are all in excellent condition, and the farm being in a fine state of cultivation yields ex- eellent harvests of grain and general farm produce.
The home of our subject and his wife has been the birthplace and shelter of five children, named Annie, Abby, Fannie. Elliot and Matilda, three of whom have already left the parental roof and are nicely established in their own homes. Annie mar- ried Herman Dorn, and with their three children, named Thomas, Rankin and Hannah, they live on a farm in Logan Township; Abby married Henry Mintz, and with their two children, named Criss and Tena, they live on a farm in Logan Township; Fannie is the wife of Edward Boughman, living in Hanover Township, also engaged in farming; they have two children deceased : Rachel, born April 10, 1865, died Aug. 28, 1865, and Rankin, born Oet. 1, 1875, died April 5, 1876.
Part of the land belonging to our subject lies in Hanover and parc in Logan Township, and from its abundant harvests he receives a large income, which enables him to rank with the wealthy farmers of the township. He takes an active interest in the pub- lic welfare, and has been for one year Road Over- seer, discharging the duties of that position with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. Politically, he favors the Democratic party, and his religious sympathies are with the Evangelical Lu- theran Church, both he and his wife being esteemed
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members of that church in Hanover. By their affa- ble and pleasing manners and kindly courtesy they have won a large circle of admiring friends and acquaintances, who speak of them in terms of the highest respect, and they are well worthy of an honorable mention among the best citizens.
AMES RATHBUN, a well-to-do citizen of Glenwood Township, and the owner of 320 acres of fine farming land, comprising the greater portion of section 12, is pursuing the even tenor of his way as a peaceable and law-abid- ing citizen, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits and making a specialty of stock-raising. He came to this State from Henry County, Ill., in the fall of 1881, settling where he now lives, and where he has effected many improvements and is contributing his share toward advancing the inter- ests of one of the most progressive communities of the West.
The Rathbun family have for several generations traced their ancestry among the people of New England, and the father of our subject, Ebenezer Rathbun by name, was born in Vermont, where he was reared to manhood, and whence he migrated to Washington County, Ohio; thence he removed to LaSalle County, Ill., settling in Ottawa; afterward he lived in both Peoria and Henry Counties, and with his excellent wife spent his last days in the lat- ter, passing away about 1874. The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Martha Hall; she was born in Ireland and crossed the Atlantic in her youth, settling with her parents in Ohio. She be- came the mother of ten children, and accompanied her family in their various removals until their final settlement in Henry County, Ill., where her death took place Oct. 5, 1878.
Four of the brothers and sisters of our subject are yet living, mostly in Nebraska. James was born in Washington County, Ohio, Dec. 28, 1830, and was the seventh child of the family. He was reared to farm pursuits, educated in the district school, and continued under the home roof until twenty-six years of age; then, crossing the Mississippi in quest of a location for a home of his own, he selected
Southern Nebraska as his abiding-place, locating upon his present farm in Glenwood Township. Here he has erected a good house and effected other improvements, indicating him to be a man of per- severance and industry, one who has a proper appreciation of those things which shall be for the comfort of his family and his own reputation as a member of the community. In addition to other pioneer labor he has set out a goodly assortment of fruit and other trees, cultivated the soil in a judi- cions manner, and lives independently and in a manner befitting a lord of the soil.
Mr. Rathbun assumed matrimonial ties Feb. 25, 1858, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Ann Wolf, born in Knox County, Ohio, June 24, 1836. Peter and Jane (Biggs) Wolf, the parents of Mrs. Rathbun, were natives of the same county as their daughter. They left the Buckeye State about 1839, and are now residents of Washington Territory, where the father carried on farming. Their family consisted of ten children, all of whom are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun there have born eleven children, eight of whom are living, namely : Frank, George, Lewis, Charles, John, Alice, Carrie and Lizzie. The deceased children died in infancy.
Mr. Rathbun cast his first vote in his native State for Pierce, and has since given his support to the Democratic party.
NDREW WALKER. The northwest quar- ter of section 24 in Clatonia Township, which is owned and operated by the sub- ject of this sketch, is noticeable on account of the thoroughness with which it has been cul- tivated, its comfortable buildings, and the gen- eral air of thrift and industry which surrounds it. Mr. Walker was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 8, 1859, and is the son of Herman and Sarah (Blum) Walker, the father deceased and the mother a resi- dent of Lincoln, Neb.
Herman Walker was a native of Germany, whence he emigrated in early life, and his wife, Sarah, was born in Dayton, Ohio. Andrew was their only child, and in 1868 came with his parents to this county, they settling among the earliest pioneers
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of Clatonia Township. The father only lived a few years thereafter, dying when comparatively a young man, in 1859 or 1860. The mother subse- quently married Lewis Drewing, and was again left a widow, Mr. D. passing away on the 3d of May, 1884.
Andrew Walker was reared to manhood in this county and educated in the common schools. On the 13th of November, 1883, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Louisa Keller, who was born in Iowa, Aug. 20, 1857. Her parents were natives of Germany. The father is deceased and the mother lives with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the parents of two children : Waldo W., born Feb. 16, 1885, and Margaret S., Feb. 15, 1888. They are members in good standing of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Walker, politically. is a Republican with Prohibition tendencies. He is serving as Moderator in his school district, was elected the first Clerk of' Clatonia Township after its organization, and re-elected twice since. Dur- ing his younger years he attended school at Mt. Pleasant, lowa, a year, and by the reading of the current literature of the day keeps himself well posted upon matters of general interest. He is a man intelligent to converse with, straightforward and prompt in his business transactions, and in all respects a valued citizen.
S ILAS S. SPIER is a well-known and repre- sentative farmer residing on section 36, Paddock Township. His father, Isaac Spier, was born in Columbia County, N. Y., and his mother, Laura (Spaulding) Spier, was born in Chester, Mass. After their marriage they settled in Canaan, Columbia Co., N. Y., in which place the husband died on the 26th of August, 1867. The wife died at the residence of her son, onr subject, in Paddock Township, on the 8th of January, 1887. They had a family of three children, of whom Sarah A. became the wife of Joseph Bunnell, and Edith M. became the wife of W. R. Kirk.
The only son, our subject, was born in Canaan, Columbia Co., N. Y., on the 27th of April, 1846. Ile spent the early years of his life on a farm, and
received the principal part of his education in the common schools. He lived at home until he was eighteen¡years old, when he came to Nebraska, and spent six months of the year 1866 in Omaha. Hle afterward went to LaCrosse, Wis., at which place he remained about one and a half years, being em- ployed as a book-keeper in a fruit store. He then went to LaGrange County, Ind., and was engaged in farming from the fall of 1868 until the spring of 1877, when he went to Black Hawk County, Iowa, and remained for one year. In the spring of 1878 he came to Nebraska, and settled in Paddock Township, in which he bought 200 acres of land.
Our subject has made improvements on his farm and has erected a number of necessary and con- venient buildings. He gives his attention to general farming, and makes a specialty of raising sheep and horses, keeping considerable live stock. He was married in Alden, Erie Co., N. Y., on the 9th of November, 1870, to Miss Lucinda L. Oaks, a daugh- ter of Samuel G. and Luana (Lewis) Oaks. The father of Mrs. Spier was born in Bridgewater, Oneida Co., N. Y., on the 1st of January, 1800, and her mother was born in Herkimer County, of the same State, on the 18th of January, 1808. By that marriage they had a family of five children-Sa- mantha L., Abraham, Mary E., William G. and Lu- cinda L. The father died in the city of his birth on the 24th of April, 1851, and the mother died in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, on the 25th of September, 1884.
Mrs. Spier was born in Clarendon, Orleans Co., N. Y., on the 31st of May, 1847. She is an ac- complished and excellent woman, a sympathizing wife, and a devoted mother to her children, of whom she has three, their names, Anna L., Marion W. and Isaac. They have enjoyed the advantages of re- ceiving a good education, making excellent use there- of, and are distinguished for their intelligence, genial dispositions and pleasing manners, and are ornaments to their home and the young society of the neighborhood.
Our subject has taken an important part in the public affairs of his township, having served in nn office most of the time since his removal to this county. He has been Assessor for two ternis, Treas- urer for the same length of time, and is now the in-
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cumbent of the latter office. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is a Republican in politics. He and his family are attendants on the services of the Presbyterian Church, and are well known as an estimable family.
W ILLIAM H. STOCKTON, who is operating a livery and sale stable at Beatrice, has his headquarters on West Conrt street, and is in the enjoyment of a generous patronage from the people of the city. He keeps a goodly assort- ment of horses and road vehicles, and conducts his business in that straightforward manner which com- mends him to his fellow-citizens as a man worthy to be numbered among those who by their enterprise are contributing to the general advancement of its interests. This stable was established by Mr. Stockton in March, 1881, and is now numbered among the leading enterprises of the city.
Our subject was born near the town of Green- bush, Warren Co., Ill., April 14, 1850, and is the second child of James and Jane (White) Stockton, who were natives of Indiana and early settlers of Warren County. The father was a farmer by occu- pation, and after many years' residence in Warren County, removed across the line into Fulton, where his death took place in May, 1865. The mother survived her husband but little over twelve months, passing away in June of the following year. Their other children are residents of Nebraska and Iowa.
William H. Stockton early in life became familiar with the varions employments of the farm, and ac- quired his education mostly in the district school. He remained under the parental roof until a youth of nineteen years, then with very little capital started out on his own account. In 1873 he began operations as a stock-dealer, and six years later crossed the Mississippi into Warren County. Iowa, and continued the shipping of cattle and swine to Chicago. He was thus ocenpied in that region nntil 1881, when he came to Beatrice and began trading in horses, soon afterward establishing his stables. In August, 1887, he put up the building which he now occupies, and which covers an area of 32x120 feet. He gives employment to four men.
Mr. Stockton while a resident of Warren County, Iowa, was united in marriage with Miss Mattie Evans, the wedding taking place in December, 1879. This lady is the daughter of Charles and Bettie Evans, natives of Indiana, and now of Kansas. Their family consisted of five children. Of this union there has been born one child, a daughter, Mabel, who is now eight years old. Mr. Stockton is conservative in politics, usually giving his support to the Democratic party.
The parents of our subject had each been married before uniting their fortunes, and the mother had three children by her first husband, Mr. White, one son and two daughters-Thomas, Sarah and Eliza. The father by his first marriage had two sons- Thomas and Aaron. These are now mostly resi- dents of Missouri. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Stockton by name, was a native of Indiana, and spent the last years of his life in Illinois.
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SAAC N. YOTHER has been a resident of this county since the year 1872, and in the time of his residence here he has built up an enviable reputation for integrity and enterprise, and has taken an active interest in the public affairs of his township. His father is Henry Yother, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1809, and has been a clergyman all his life, combining with that noble profession the occupation of a farmer. He married Miss Catherine Myers, the mother of our subject, who died in Pennsylvania in the year 1861, and in 1864 he left his native State, and moved to Living- ston County, Ill. In 1871 he came to this county, and still makes his home here.
Our subject is the fourth child of a family of twelve, eiglit sons and four daughters, and was born in Fayette County. Pa., on the 29th of September, 1842. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-one years, receiving his education from the schools of his native town, after which he was engaged in farming. In 1872 he came to this county, and made his home near Blue Springs, re- maining there until 1883, at which time he bought a farm of 120 acres on section 13, Island Grove Township. The farm is now iu a fine state of cul-
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tivation, and presents an attractive appearance, with its nicely arranged cluster of convenient farm buildings, and its fields of waving green, separated by rows of substantial and well-kept fences.
On the 15th of December. 1870, Mr. Yother was united in marriage with Miss Mary Loucks, a daugh- ter of Henry and Barbary Loucks, who were natives of Pennsylvania. She was born on the 18th of July, 1835, in Westmoreland, Pa., and remained in her native State until the year 1870. By her mar- riage with our subject she has become the mother of three children, one son and two daughters, to whom have been given the names of Henry L .. Carrie Elizabeth and Annie Winnifred. These chil- dren are now verging on young manhood and womanhood, and are fitting themselves to relieve their kind parents of many of the burdens of domestic duties, and to become useful and honor- able members of society. Mr. Yother warmly advo- cates the policy of the Republican party in politics, and is gratified to hear of the public improvements in educational and religious matters, as well as of those relating to the government of the country. For five years he has been an honorable member of the School Board, and has proved himself an enter- prising and loyal citizen.
AMES KINZIE. Of Grant Township's vet- eran pioneer settlers, the subject of this sketeh is one of the most worthy of intro- duction to the readers of this volume. Since his establishment in the county he has been unre- mitting in his efforts and most unwearied in his en- deavors to advance the interests thereof in every possible manner. His first entry of land dates from the year 1861. He is the owner of 280 acres of most excellently improved and cultivated land, and is certainly to be numbered among the best farmers of the county. His property and residence are situated upon section 8, his home being beautifully located, and affording the necessaries of comfort and convenience, and not a few luxuries of life. His property is well stocked with timber and well supplied with water.
The father of our subject, William Kinzie, wel-
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