Portrait and biographical album of Gage County, Nebraska : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 79

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 79


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Mr. Kerr was the first man conducting a train of supplies to the Black Hills, and was renowned for his courage and daring. In this manner he traveled over a large portion of Utah, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming and Western Nebraska. The average value of a cargo thus transported was $50,000, a great responsibility, but Mr. Kerr proved equal to the task of conveying his goods without loss, and therefore was given a generous salary of $2,400 per year and expenses.


Mr. Kerr, in 1878, having accumulated a snug sum from his operations in the farther West, made his way to this county and prepared to establish a permanent home. He was married, on the 26th of February of that year, to Miss Carrie. daughter of Harvey and Rebecca Giddings, who were natives of Pennsylvania, but came to this State in 1874. Of this union there was born one child, a son, Ralph, who died Dec. 7, 1885. Mrs. Carrie Kerr departed this life April 22, 1882, at the age of twenty-four.


Our subject, in 1883, was the second time mar- ried, to Miss Jennie Giddings, a sister of his first wife. This lady was born in Warren County, Ill., April 9, 1860, and lived there with her parents un- til fourteen years of age. Mr. Kerr upon coming to Nebraska operated on rented land for a period of three years. In 1881 he purchased 320 acres on section 22, which was then but partly improved. He has completed its cultivation, put up fine build- ings, including a $4,000 residence, and added the other appliances essential to the complete country estate. In 1885 he added 160 acres to his first pur- chase, this latter lying on section 27. Herents out 200 acres and his stock operations occupy the bal- ance.


Each year Mr. Kerr seeks his old haunts in the


Western country. In imagination he lives over again the wild scenes of his earlier days, his adventures with the savage tribes, who are becoming subjugated by the advance of civilization, and the perils which none but a brave man would have the courage to undertake. He meddles very little with political matters, but his sympathies are with the Republican party, and to it he gives his support.


There are in Gage County some splendid rural residences and well-improved farms. Foremost among the number is the place owned by Mr. Kerr. A view of it accompanies this brief sketch of the owner, one of the most enterprising and highly re- pected citizens of this county.


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LEXANDER GRAHAM, who is connected with the real-estate office of I. N. Mc- Connell, of Beatrice, was born near the town of Utica, Licking Co., Ohio, Aug. 25, 1845. Ile was the sixth in a family of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, the offspring of Henry and Piety (Larue) Graham, who were of French Huguenot and Scotch-Irish stock, the father a native of Ireland, and the mother born near Win- chester, Va. David, one of the brothers of our subject, fell on the battle-field at Chickamauga, dur- ing the late war. Six of the other children are still living, and residing, one in Kansas, two in Ne- braska, and three in Ohio.


The father of our subject was in early life a weaver, but afterward abandoned his trade and took up farming. He emigrated to America when a youth of seventeen years, and settled among the early pioneers of Licking County, Ohio. There he owned and operated a farm, and was married in 1832. Later in life he removed to Logan County, where he spent his last days, his death taking place at Bellefontaine, in 1857, when fifty-seven years of age, his birth having occurred in February, 1800. The mother died Dec. 4, 1864.


The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent under the parental roof, and he was a little lad of seven years when his parents removed from Licking to Logan County, Ohio. Within the con- fines of the latter he developed into manhood, and


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upon emerging from the district school became a student at Geneva College, at Northwood, where he remained two years and until the outbreak of the Civil War. Shortly after the first call for troops he enlisted in Company D. 45the Ohio Infantry, as a private, and was sent to the West, being assigned to duty under the command of Gen. Buell. He was subsequently under Gens. Gordon, Granger and Burnside. He saw much of active warfare, be- ing present at the seige of Knoxville, and in all the battles of the Georgia campaign. He assisted in harrassing the enemy at Buzzard's Roost, during the siege of Atlanta, was at Resaca, Altoona, and in many of the important engagements which followed. On the 4th of July, 1864, he was shot through the right leg by a minie ball, which confined him in the hospital for four months. After being wounded he did clerical dnty at the headquarters of Gen. Ewing for a time, then rejoined his regiment at Nashville, and took part in that hattle. To his great satisfaction he was permitted to remain with the army until the great conflict was ended, and he was mustered ont on the 12th of June, 1865, at Camp Harker, Tenn.


Upon his release from military duty, Mr. Graham returned to his old haunts in Bellefontaine, Ohio, where he secured the position of clerk, but not long afterward re-established himself in the shoe trade at Huntsville, Ohio. He sold out in 1870 and ac- cepted a position with David Torrence, a shoe mer- chant of New York City, as traveling salesman, and visited all the important points in Ohio and Ken- tucky at intervals until 1872. Ile then withdrew from this house to accept a position with the Wapakoneta Spoke and Wheel Factory, and again in the capacity of salesman traveled through the States of Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Ne- braska, Iowa, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mis- sissippi and Louisiana. This route occupied six months, and he continued with this house until 1877.


In August of 1877 Mr. Graham located in Clay Center, Kan., where, departing somewhat from his former line of business, lie opened a cigar and tobacco store. From this he withdrew in 1879. and coming to Nebraska, located in Nebraska City,


and 1880 found him settled in Beatrice and en- gaged in the hardware trade for the following five years, operating with the firms of G. F. King and C. G. Dorsey, two and one-half years with each. In 1885 he entered the employ of the house with which he is now connected.


Mr. Graham after becoming a resident of Beatrice, was united in marriage with Miss Florence Merrill, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride, Oct. 3!, 1881. This lady is the daughter of Chaplin H. and J. M. Merrill, who were natives of New Hampshire and New York. Mr. Merrill is deceased ; Mrs. M. is a resident of Monticello, Iowa. Mrs. G. was born near Dundee, Ill., June 18, 1858. Of this union there is one child only, a son, Herbert Eldon. Mr. Graham is a stanch Republican, and Secretary of the Republican County Central Com- mittee, and did efficient service during the late Presidential campaign. He was then elected a member of the Board of County Supervisors, of Gage County. Ile was exceedingly popular, and in fact, so assured were the opponent party of his election, that they placed no candidate on their ticket against him, he therefore receiving a unani- mous election.


AMES PACKER is the son of Capt. James Packer, Sr., who was born in 1812, in Gro- ton, Conn., on the Mystic River. The father of our subject was the son of Capt. Packer, and the grandson of Capt. Eldridge Packer, who figured conspicuously in the War of 1812. Ile ac- companied his father on his voyages on the water when he was very young, and at the age of fifteen years he was placed in command of a Southern ves- sel. He was prosperous in his voyages, and accu- mulated a large fortune. In 1837 he was united in marriage with Mary Ann Appleman, a daughter of Capt. John Appleman, and after his marriage he removed to New York City, and in company with his brother Eldridge kept the City Hotel on Broad- way. In that enterprise misfortune attended him, and his hard-earned wealth was swept away.


Two years after he had suffered this loss the father of our subject returned to his native place,


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and took command of a vessel coasting between New York and New Orleans, piloting. among the reefs of Florida in the effort to save lives and wrecked cargoes. In the winter of 1856, with none but his son James, our subject, on board his vessel, while going from Mystie to New York City, he en- countered head winds and severely cold weather. From their exposure they both suffered exceed- ingly, and both barely escaped with their lives from death by freezing ; and the father's hand being permanently injured, he paid his friends in Iowa a visit the following summer.


Capt. Packer, Sr., was so enraptured with the country during his visit to Iowa, that he removed with his family to Clermont the next year. He engaged in the flouring-mill with Messrs. Larrabee & Appleman, but soon left the mill and removed to his farm in Clayton County, on which he had built a fine residence. He was ambitious, and his posses- sions falling a little short of what he desired, and being unable to place his farm in the condition he wished, he resolved to again try his fortune on the sea in the endeavor to replenish his purse. Misfort- une fell upon him, but nothing daunted he still kept persevering, making an occasional visit to his family during the summer. On his last voyage, while in port at New Orleans, he was taken sick with the dysentery, but urged on by will force he continued across the Gulf and arrived at Key West, where he was obliged to go to the hospital. He did not rally from this illness, and died in a far-off land, surrounded only by strangers. He was noted for his wonderful energy and perseverance, and his efforts to place his family in affluence, to do which he left his home, and was stricken in death before he reached the goal for which he was striv- ing. His wife, the mother of our subject, is living in Iowa, having reached the age of seventy-seven years. They had a family of five children, whose names are: James, Gustavus, Ella, Maggie and Frederica.


Our subject was born in New York City (in the City Hotel kept by his father), on the 10th of May, 1840, and his' youth was spent in Mystic, Conn. At the age of nine years he accompanied his father on his voyages, and began his duties on board the vessel as cook, gradually working his way up to


the position of Captain. He followed sailing, off and on, for ten years, having taken charge of ships as Captain for five or six years, and he understands a mariner's life "to a T." His experience has been varied, sometimes participating in the enjoyment of a "jolly time," and sometimes barely escaping with his life from the perils of the sea. In 1867 he went to Clayton County. Iowa, where he fol- lowed the oceupation of farming until 1881, in which year he removed to Elm Township, this county, and bought his present farm of 127 acres on section 21. He broke and cultivated all the land, set out orchards and fruit trees, and groves of shade trees, and in various other ways made fine improvements.


Mr. Packer was married in Clermont, Iowa, to Miss Julia Goodrich, who was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 1844. Her great-grandfather, Benjamin Goodrich, was of English descent, and was born in 1715, while his wife, Hannah (Olmstad) Goodrich, was born in 1714. Mrs. Packer's grand- father was Enoch Goodrich, who was born in Rens- selaer County, N. Y., in 1764. He was a physician. and as a soldier participated in the engagements of the War of 1812. His wife was Rebecca Gall, who was born in the same county in 1769. The parents of Mrs. Packer were Charles and Rebecca (Brownell) Goodrich, the tormer of whom was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., in 1799, and the lat- ter in 1803. The father was a farmer, and the fam- ily moved to Clermont, Iowa, but his health being very poor, he and his wife went East for a visit, and he died in Chautauqua County in 1869. His wife returned to Clermont, in which place she died in 1872. They had seven children, whose names were as follows: D. G., Charles H. and Araminta (both deceased), Caroline, Cynthia P., Henrietta and Julia F.


Our subject and his wife have a family of nine children, whose names are mentioned with the date of their births, as follows: Charles J., born Nov. 11, 1865; Hiram A., March 19, 1869; James G., Nov. 26, 1871; William H., Aug. 26, 1874; Julius F., Feb. 2, 1876; Caroline C., April 4, 1878; Edda F., born Oct. 4, 1879, and died Aug. 12, 1880, in Clermont; Walter C., born May 21, 1882, and died March 18, 1884; Maggie Ella May, born June 13,


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1884. Charles married Miss Minnie Brat, and they live in Elm Township, the parents of one child, William C.


Since our subject abandoned the life of a sailor he has given bis whole attention to farming, at which he has been unusually successful, and has everything in very excellent shape. He has been a member of the School Board for five years, and for one year he acted as Road Overseer. In matters of polities he favors the Republican party. Mrs. Packer is an admirable woman and possesses rare qualifications as a wife and mother, and the manner in which she presides over her well-ordered and happy home is the outgrowth of a truly refined and Christian spirit. The family is one of intelligence, and ranks high in the community. A view of Mr. Packer's place is presented in this volume.


n ELSON S. SPENCER. To the intelligent individual there is a certain pleasure in fol- lowing the career of the self-made man, noting his struggles and conflicts, and his final victory over the difficulties which beset life's way- farers. These, although they may be diversified in their character, are seldom absent from the life of any one person. The subject of this sketch, a lead- ing architect of the city of Beatrice, has attained to a good position among his fellowmen solely through his own personal efforts, having begun at the foot of the ladder, dependent upon his own re- sources. He is now in the enjoyment of a com- petency, a handsome and comfortable home, and hosts of friends, whom he made simply by the exer- cise of those traits of character which have com- mended themselves to their admiration.


The eldest of five children comprising the fam- ily of Aquilla and Mary (Hetler) Spencer, our subject was born at Dixon, Lee Co., Ill., Dec. 3, 1857. His parents were natives of Center County, Pa., and removed from .the Keystone State at an early period, pitching their tent among the early pioneers of Illinois. Aquilla Spencer was a farmer by occupation and is still living, making his home in Beatrice. The mother entered upon her final rest at the homestead in September, 1882. The


other children of the family, all of whom are liv- ing, are residents of Nebraska and Illinois.


David Spencer, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he spent the years of his life. Grandfather Nathan Hetler was of German ancestry, and died in Illinois at a ripe old age. Nelson S., our subject, passed his boyhood in Lee County, Ill., and commenced his education in the district school. When a youth of twenty years he entered the Illinois State Uni- versity at Champaign, and devoted the greater part of his time and attention to architecture. After a five-years course he was graduated in 1882, and then coming to Beatrice entered upon his business career hy opening an office, since which time he has adhered closely to the profession in which he takes great pride, and in which it cannot be denied that he excels. He made the plans of the majority of the finer business honses of Beatrice, notable among which are the People's Bank building, the Beatrice High School building, and others of which the city is reasonably proud.


The marriage of our subject with Miss Ida Rush, of Champaign, Ill., was celebrated at the home of the bride, in September, 1882. Mrs. Spencer com- pleted her studies likewise in the State University of Illinois, and there made the acquaintance of her future husband. She was born Oct. 20, 1862, in Ohio, and is the daughter of Clark and Catharine M. Rush, who were natives of Ohio. Mrs. Rush died Oct. 5, 1888. The father still resides in Cham- paign. Of this union there have been born two sons-Clifford R. and Charles B. The home of the Spencers is situated in the southeastern part of the city. on one of its finest streets, and indicates both within and withont cultivated tastes and ample means.


Our subject put up the Spencer Block in 1887. Few persons passing through the city of Beatrice fail to notice it. It is three stories in height above the basement, and occupies an arca of 46x80 feet. The lower rooms are occupied as stores, and the upper for offices. In one of these latter Mr. Spen- cer may generally be found during business hours, where he has around him all the paraphernalia of his profession. Ile receives orders from all parts of this and adjoining counties. Ile has invested a 1


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part of his capital in a drug-store at Beatrice. He also owns a planing-mill at Blue Springs which is devoted to the dressing of all kinds of lumber, and is one of the best equipped establishments of its kind in Southern Nebraska.


Mr. Spencer began in life entirely without capi- tal, and worked his way npward by degrees. He is a member in good standing of the Congrega- tional Church, and in politics a Prohibitionist. So- cially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of a lodge at Urbana, Ill., and is also iden- tified with the Modern Woodmen at Beatrice.


Le AKE BRIDENTHAL has for two years held the position of Cashier for the Citizens' Bank of Wymore with much credit to him- self. His father, James W. Bridenthal, living in Sicily Township, is a native of Pennsylvania. his birth occurring on the 28th of April, 1836. He removed with his parents to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1845, where he was educated in the common schools of the district. Then he moved to Hunt- ington County, Ind., thence to Marshall County, and in the spring of 1855 he again changed his residence, to Woodford County, Ill., where he re- mained for one season. After this he moved to Peoria County, Ill., where he remained until the spring of 1860, and then went to Warren County.


On the 26th of October, 1860, the father of our subject was nnited in marriage with Miss Ella L. Butler, and to them have been born six children: Kenneth D .; Lake, our subject; Maude, Mae, Char- lie and Dick. All the family are living except Maude, who departed this life on the 1st of July, 1887, aged twenty-two years. The father, mother and danghter Mae are members of the Christian Church, of Wymore. For a number of years the father held the office of County Supervisor in War- ren County, Ill., and he has also held some town- ship offices.


Lake Bridenthal, our subject, was born in Larch- land, Ill., on the 26th of August, 1864. In that city he received his early education in the common schools, and then took an elective course of two years at the Presbyterian College of Monmouth.


After that he came West with his parents, and en- gaged for two years in the profession of teaching, first at Filley, Neb., and then in the Indian Valley School, his home school. His father having bought a fine farm, our subject spent his vacations with him, and then he came into the bank as book- keeper, which position he held for one year. His marked ability and strict integrity soon secured for him the position of cashier, and he was probably the youngest cashier in the State, being only twenty-two years old when he accepted the position.


Our subject, having conducted himself in au hon- orable and exemplary manner, and given strict at- tention to business, is still the incumbent of the same responsible office, and he performs his duties in a manner satisfactory to all concerned. He affiliates with the Democratic party, is a straight- forward, honest man, and enjoys the esteem of all the citizens of Wymore.


The father of our subject has a very fine farm, consisting of 320 acres two miles west of town, and on it he has made so many improvements that it is now one of the finest places in Sicily Township. Ile has several times been asked to become a can- didate for the Legislature, but he has not consented to the use of his name, though there would probably be little doubt of his election.


5


G EORGE H. DAVIS is the gentlemanly and enterprising young Telegraph Operator and Station Agent at Holmesville, and the pro- prietor of the stone quarry. He is very favorably known as a man who is interested in the advance- ment and progression of public institutions and en- terprises, to which he lends his aid as far as he is able. He is a son of Obadiah and Maria (Palmer) Davis, the former of whom was born near the cele- brated springs in Saratoga County, and the latter in Jefferson County, N. Y. His paternal ancestors were natives of Holland, and they. as well as his parents, were members of the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers. After their marriage the parents made their home in Saratoga County, of their native State, where the father was engaged in farming, and although he is now seventy-eight years


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GAGE COUNTY.


old, he still follows the vocation of his earlier years. The mother is now seventy-three years old, and has cared for a family of five children, named John H., Adelaide, Timothy (who died at the age of ten years). George H. and Anzonette.


Our subject was born on the 4th of August, 1857, at the old homestead in Saratoga County, which had been the birthplace of his father and his brothers and sisters. He spent his early years on his father's farm, and remained at home until he was twenty- one years old. in the meantime having enjoyed very good educational advantages and derived much benefit from them. When he reached the years of manhood he turned his attention to the pedagogic profession, which he adorned in his native county for two years, after which he began to study teleg- raphy, and attended the School of Telegraphy in Janesville, Wis .; he finished his instruction in that art at the school in Plover. Portage County. The first office of which he took charge was at Bancroft, on the Wisconsin Central Railroad, and in the fall of 1880 he came to Holmesville to take charge of the office in which he has since remained. On the 1st of January, 1880, the first train ran over the Omaha & Republican Valley Railroad, and our sub- ject was the first Station Agent in charge.


Our subject has become interested in property in Holmesville, now being sole proprietor of the Big Blue Valley Stone Quarry. to carry on the work of which he hires from ten to twenty men. He supplies stone to the railroad company and ships to different points in the eastern part of the State, viz. : Kearney, Fremont and Schuyler, furnishing stone to the contractors in those cities to the amount of fifteen cars per week. The stone is a good quality of mag- nesian limestone. and has been supplied for the Ma- sonic Temple at Fremont, the First National Bank buikling of Beatrice, and two mill foundations in Columbus.


On the 10th of December, 1885, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Carrie L. Sears, who resided in Monticello, Green Co., Wis. There were two children named Carrie L. and Trilla P. in the family when the father died, and the mother was married a second time, to W. F. Crangle, by whom she had six children, named Lora, Schuyler, Fred, Aurelia, Mina and Chester. The mother now lives


in Rockford Township. Mrs. Davis was born in 1863, in Green County, Wis., and came to Nebraska in 1883. By her marriage with our subject she is the mother of two children, named Lona and Carl, to whom she is loving and devoted.


Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, of Holmesville, which the for- mer helped to build, he having been a charter member and Trustee from the organization. He has also done much good work in the Sunday-school, and is now serving his second year as Superintend- ent. He is an ardent advocate of the temperance cause, which identifies him with the Prohibition party in politics, and is a highly respected and good citizen.


IMON S. GRAVES. There is probably no homestead in this county which for the length of time in which it has been insti- tuted gives better evidence of the industry and enterprise of the proprietor than that which belongs to the subject of this sketch. He is the owner of 480 broad acres, embracing the west half of section 27, Glenwood Township, and 160 acres of the northeast quarter of section 35. the whole of which is under cultivation, and presents one of the most attractive pictures in the landscape of this part of the county. 'The fences are well built, to keep the animals of the farm within bounds, or prevent the entrance of any not belonging there; the farm machinery is of good description, the buildings all that are required for comfort, convenience and profit, and the whole premises regulated after the ideas of the modern and progressive agriculturist. The land is mostly devoted to stock farming. His farm on section 35 he has rented. Mr. Graves keeps on an average a little over 100 head of cattle, and about the same number of hogs, and fifteen head of horses. The half-section that he lives on is fenced hog-tight, and all except sixty acres is in tame grass.




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