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 80
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Mr. Graves is a native of Ross County, Ohio, his birth taking place in Liberty Township, March 18, 1844. He was there reared to manhood, becoming familiar with the employments of country life at an
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early age, and acquiring his education in the dis- trict school. When twenty years of age his father came westward to Peoria County, Ill., and settled in Princeville Township, where he engaged in farm- ing, and where he still lives. Simon S came also, and continued with his parents until nearly twenty- four years old, when, deciding to establish a home of his own, he was married, March 1, 1868, to Miss Martha Drummond, the wedding being celebrated in Ross County. Ohio, and the young people set- tling first in Princeville Township, Peoria Co., Ill.
William Graves, the father of our subject, was born in North Carolina, of English ancestry. His paternal grandfather emigrated to America in Colo- nial days with William Penn. The Graves family have always been a sturdy race, possessing in a marked degree those substantial English attributes which have made of them reliable citizens and honest men. The wife of William Graves was in her girlhood Miss Ann Rateliff. She was born in Ross County, Ohio, where also her death took place when she was comparatively a young woman, in 1856. Their family consisted of seven children, all of whom are living.
The parents of Mrs. Graves were William and Ruth (Cox) Drummond, who are still living in Ross County, Ohio. Their household included seven children, six of whom are now living. To our subject and his wife there have been born seven children, namely : Elba, Quincy; Pearl, who died when one and one-half years old ; Florence, Alına, Miley and Charles. They are a promising and in- telligent group, blessed with the advantages of a practical education, and there is every reason to suppose will do honor to their parents in future years.
No man in this part of Gage County takes a livelier interest in the matters pertaining to the general welfare and progress of the people, and to the enterprises tending to this result he gives his uniform and cheerful support. To such men as he is this county indebted for her moral and financial growth, and the standing she has attained among the other intelligent communities of the Great West. In the building up of a creditable homestead, the cultivation of the soil, the introduction of modern methods, both of life and labor, every man thus
contributes to the value of landed property, and to his section of country as a desirable dwelling-place. Too much credit cannot be given him who has thus improved his time and opportunities, and as the Scripture says, "his works do follow him" long after he shall have been gathered to his fathers. In politics Mr. Graves is a stanch Democrat.
A fine view of the farms of Mr. Graves appears in this work.
OHN B. NICHOLLS, a leading and wealthy farmer of Filley Township, is the owner of a valuable estate, including 320 acres of land in this township and a valuable farm in Peter- boro, Province of Ontario, Canada. He is a native of the Dominion, having been born in Peterboro, July 20, 1838, and is the son of W. D. and Ann Nicholls, a sketch of whom will be found on another page in this volume. It will be seen that he is of excellent ancestry. and naturally endowed with those traits of character which have constituted him successful in life. and a man recognized every where as possess- ing more than ordinary ability.
Mr. Nicholls was reared and educated in his na- tive town, attending school quite steadily until a lad of eleven years, and afterward working on a farm in summer. while in the winter he resumed his books. About 1847 his father purchased a farm, among whose employments the youth was thereafter steadily occupied until ready to establish a home of his own. On the 26th of February, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Ann Nelson, danghter of John and Margaretta (Johnson) Nelson, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in Smith Township, Canada. Mr. Nelson was a native of County Cavan, Ireland, and born about 1798. He emigrated to America in 1820, settling at Port Hope in the Province of Ontario, Canada, where he remained two years with his family, his wife having been a native of his own county in Ireland, and born in the same year as her husband.
From Port Hope the Nelson family removed to North Peterboro, where the death of Mr. Nelson took place in 1842, at the early age of forty-seven years. The wife and mother survived her husband
RESIDENCE OF J. B. NICHOLLS , SEC. 7. FILLEY TOWNSHIP.
RESIDENCE OF H. P. CROCKER, SEC. 16. FILLEY TOWNSHIP.
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a period of forty years. remaining a widow, and died at the same place at the advanced age of eighty-seven. They had a family of twelve chil- dren, six sons and six daughters, only five of whom are living. These are: Sarah, the wife of Thomas Casement, a farmer living near Grand Forks, Dak .; Samuel, a produce dealer of North Peterboro, On- tario, Canada; Martha, the wife of Joseph Fitzger- ald. of Lakefield. Canada; Margaret; Mrs. Braden, a widow, living in the town of Smith P. O .; and Ann. the wife of our subjeet.
Mrs. Nicholls was born in North Peterboro, Canada, Jan. 30, 1841, and reared not far from the early home of her husband. She enjoyed the ad- vantages of the common sehool, and remained a member of the parental household until her mar- riage. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholls commenced the journey of life together on a farm in their native Province. which had been purchased by our subjeet about that time, but four years later Mr. Nicholls sold this property and purchased land in an adjoining township. This also he disposed of a year later, and operated rented land four years. At the expiration of this time he again invested in farm property, in Smith Township, which he owned and cultivated for sixteen years. In 1882 he left the Dominion, and making his way to the region west of the Mis- sissippi, resolved to cast his lot among the people of Southern Nebraska. Being pleased with the out- look in this eounty he purchased the west half of seetion 7, Filley Township, and renting his farm in Canada, has here since centered the main portion of his interests.
In the spring of 1883 Mr. Nicholls commenced breaking the prairie of his new purchase, and a few months later had 105 acres of his estate in this eounty under cultivation. He employed men to stir the soil of this, and put fifty acres in flax, fol- lowed later by the same acreage in wheat. He then returned to Canada, remaining there until midsum- mer of 1884. He then revisited Nebraska, to see about his erops, harvested 1,000 bushels of wheat, 1.600 bushels of eorn and 1,500 bushels of oats. In November he went to Canada for his family, and the winter following commenced the erection of the dwelling which he now occupies. It was completed in the following February, and the family took pos-
session of one of the most tasteful and attractive residenees in this part of the county.
Mr. Nicholls, besides the thorough cultivation of the greater portion of his land, which has been no small task, has planted several thousand forest and shade trees, an apple orchard and the smaller fruits. His pleasant and intelligent family consists of his wife and three sons: William J., Raymond and Warden, at home, and a daughter, the wife of W. A. Waddington, Postmaster of Filley, member of the hardware firm of Waddington Bros., and also a railroad engineer. Our subjeet and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, of Filley. of which Mr. N. is a Trustee. He maintains a lively interest in the temperance movement, and votes with the Prohibition party. He makes periodical visits to his old home in the Dominion, to see his friends and look after his property. No man stands higher in his community, or enjoys in a greater measure the esteein and confidence of its people than he.
Among the rural homesteads shown among the illustrations given in this work may be found that belonging to Mr. Nicholls, which is essentially rep- resentative of the excellent community in which it is situated.
IRAM P. CROCKER. The homestead be- longing to this gentleman, which is pleas- antly situated amidst the delightful farming community of Filley Township, and a view of which the publishers present in this connection, oceupies the west part of section 16, and bears fair comparison with anything of the kind in this re- gion. The fields evince careful and judicious till- age, the buildings are tasteful and substantial, and the general appearance of the premises indicates the exercise of cultivated tastes and ample means.
The main points in the family history of the subject of this sketeh are substantially as follows : His father, Oscar F. C. Crocker, was born in New York State, July 10, 1810, was reared to farming pursuits, and followed these during all the years of his active life. The paternal grandfather was of German descent, but born also in the Empire State, where with his excellent wife he spent his entire
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life. The latter was of ancestry similar to that of her husband. Grandfather Crocker was a tanner by trade. but preferring agriculture left the tannery for the farm, and with his wife died at their rural homestead in the same year.
Oscar F. Crocker upon attaining manhood was married to Miss Abigail Weatherlow, in Sardinia Township, Erie Co., N. Y., about 1815. Her par- ents, like his own, were of German descent, and were early settlers of the Empire State. The father of our subject became a very successful farmer and accumulated a very fine property. He settled first in the vicinity of Waterloo, N. Y., but later re- moved to Erie County, where the death of both parents occurred. Their family consisted of five children, one of whom died in childhood, and two sons and two daughters are now living. Of these, Hiram P., the subject of our sketch, is the eldest; Helen is the wife of Gaylord Sherwood, of Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y., a pump dealer and farmer; Leland D. is farming in the vicinity of Ceylon, Erie Co., Ohio; Merey R. is unmarried, and lives in Sardinia, N. Y.
Mr. Crocker, our subject, was born in Sardinia, N. Y., July 22, 1839, and lived there with his par- ents until a lad of thirteen years, attending school and assisting his parents on the farm. Afterward he made his home with his grandfather Weatherlow in the same town, and lived with him seven years, attending school and working on the farm. His studies were completed in the academy at York- shire, and he then commenced working by the month for two uncles, being thus employed three years.
Young Crocker, at this time anxious to be more his own man, now returned home and assumed charge of his father's farm, which he conducted un- til his marriage. This very important event in his life was celebrated Oct. 6, 1864, his bride being Miss Ella L., daughter of Joseph and Sylvia E. (Pickard) Cheney, old and well-known residents of that section. Mr. Cheney was born in Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., June 28, 1819, and his wife Sylvia, March 5, 1824, in Springfield, Otsego Co., N. Y. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cheney settled in Holland, Erie County, whence in 1853 they removed to Protection, where the father car-
ried on farming and blacksmithing, and spent the remainder of his days, passing away June 9, 1884. Mrs. C. is still living, making her home on the old homestead with her son.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cheney there were born six children, only two of whom are now living : George E., of Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., and Ella L., the wife of our subject. The former is a farmer and flour manufacturer. Mrs. Crocker was born March 20, 1846, at Holland, Erie Co., N. Y., and remained at home with her parents until her mar- riage. Soon afterward our subject assumed partial charge of the farm of his father-in-law. where he remained until the spring of 1869. Then remov- ing with his family to Warren County, Ill., he oper- ated there as a farmer until migrating to Nebraska in the spring of 1874. Soon after landing in this county he purchased a tract of land on section 16, in Filley Township, then designated Mud Creek. He did not locate here then, however, but returned to Illinois, and remained there until the spring of 1876. He then came to the vicinity of Beatrice, and lived on a renterl farm until he could prepare a portion of his own land for the raising of crops. He broke 130 acres that year, and in the spring of 1877 put up a small house, of which he soon took possession with his family, and upon this place has since remained.
The farm of Mr. Crocker, however, bears little resemblance to the tract of land which he purchased upon first coming to Nebraska. Then there was nothing to indicate that the eye of man had rested upon it. Now there is the complete modern home- stead, with its well-appointed buildings and latest approved machinery, a fair assortment of live stock, a valuable apple orchard of 300 trees, at least sixty trees of cherries, and all kinds of the smaller fruits. The farm is largely devoted to the raising of grain and stock. He has met with losses, like most men, but, spending no time in lamentation, went about repairing them in the most manly and sensible man- ner. He added to his first purchase, but in 1877 sold eighty acres, and in 1884 sold twenty-four, so that he now has 320 acres, the whole of which he superintends himself. Besides the fruit trees al- ready mentioned he has planted 1,000 catalpas, 200 box elders and 100 maple trees, besides willows
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and others. It will thus be seen that he has spent few idle hours. He has in this manner proved a valuable acquisition to a section of country whose development has been so largely dependent upon the enterprise and industry of its pioneers.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Crocker includes three children, all sons. namely : Frank C., Lloyd O. and Dorr C., all at home with their parents, and aged eleven, eight and six respectively. Mr. Crocker cast his first Presidential vote for A. Lincoln, and has uniformly supported Republican principles. Al- though repeatedly solicited to accept office, he has steadily declined, preferring to give his attention to his farm and his family. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being identified with the lodge at Filley.
OHN YOHE, the present Treasurer of Hooker Township, is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising on section 27. It may well be said of him that he has risen to his present position of affluence by his own energy and perseverance, and the exercise of excellent judgment in his business transactions. His grand- father, Adam Yohe, came from Germany and set- tled in the State of Pennsylvania, and his father, Henry Yohe, was born in 1825 or 1826, in Mifflin County, Pa. His mother, Mary (Dick) Yohe, was a native of Switzerland, who came to America in the year 1824, and was united in marriage with the father of our subject in 1848, after which they settled in Jefferson County, Pa. The father was engaged in the lumbering business at Reynolds- ville, and at one time was the owner of hundreds of acres of land in his native State, which have be- come very valuable, owing to the discovery of the coal fields buried beneath the surface.
The father of our subject was a strong Republican in politics, and an able man, but his death unfortu- nately occurring in the year 1860, the large prop- erty which he owned was sold unreasonably cheap by the administrators of the estate, and his wife and children left in a comparatively destitute con- dition. Had the estate been disposed of according to its real value it would have left the heirs an im-
mense fortnne. There were five children in the family, of whom Barbara, Jolm and W. R. are liv- ing, and Samuel is deceased. The mother is still living, having reached the age of seventy years.
Our subject was born on the 13th of December, 1852, and was eight years old when his father died. Being the eldest son, and understanding the necessity of prompt action on his part, although a mere child he began to work out by the month, at that early age already displaying his energy and "grit." His mother married a second time, and in 1865 our subject came to Iowa with his mother and stepfather, and the family, where he engaged in breaking the prairie land until his funds became sufficient to enable him to purchase an interest in a threshing-machine. Ile made a fair profit on this investment, which encouraged him to continne his industry. In the year 1875 he was united in mar- riage, at Emerson, Mills Co., Iowa, to Miss Agnes E. Duncan, a daughter of Robert G. and Mary Duncan, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. They afterward moved to Hen- derson County, Ill., where they remained for a number of years, and thence came to Iowa in 1870. They had two children, Thomas J. and Agnes E., who suffered the loss of their mother in 1874, when she was nearly sixty years old; the father still lives on his farm in Iowa. The mother had a son, John A. Barr, by a marriage previous to that with the father of Mrs. Yohe.
Mrs. Yohe was born on the 10th of July, 1855, in Biggsville, Ill., where she attended the common schools, and received a fair education. After her marriage with our subject they continned to reside in Iowa until 1882, when they came to Nebraska. and made their home on their present farm. Onr subject now owns 240 acres of land on sections 27 and 23, and in company with his brother, Wood, he operates 320 acres on section 34. The brothers bear an unblemished reputation as business men, and their promptness in meeting financial obliga- tions, united with their energy and trne worth, has gained for them the implicit confidence of the public, which is manifested in its having elected our subject Treasurer of the township. He has 150 head of cattle on his farm, and makes a regular business of feeding a large number, hesides selling
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two carloads of hogs every year. He has invested a great deal of business capability in his farm work, which has insured his success to such an eminent degree.
Mr. and Mrs. Yohe are caring for a family of seven bright and interesting children; their names are mentioned as follows: Harry, Arthur, Laurence, Neil, Mary, Walter, and an infant unnamed. Our subject has honorably filled the office of Treasurer ever since the organization of the township, and his integrity and interest in the welfare of the public have won for him the esteem of the whole community. He affiliates with the Republican party in politics.
h ENRY C. JAYNES is a farmer, gardener and raiser of small fruits, having a fine farm, nearly all of which, with the exception of five acres, lies within the limits of the cor- poration of the city of Wymore, on section 29, - Blue Springs Township. Nathan Jaynes, the father of our subject, was born in 1786, in Brimfield, Mass. The family name was spelled "Janes" until the year 1883, when at a family reunion all the descendants of Nathan Jaynes agreed to insert the letter "y" in the name, which alters it to the present mode of spelling. This gentleman received a good common- school education, to which he added a course of in- struction at the academy, also making a specialty of surveying, so that after finishing his term at school he was deemed competent to survey a large part of the State of Vermont.
Going to Jefferson County, N. Y., the father of our subject engaged in agricultural pursuits, com- bining with it an interest in the mercantile busi- ness. He married Miss Celinda Dexter, and they became the parents of three children, who lived to the age of maturity, one daughter and two sons. The brother went West when our subject was five years old, and soon disappeared from the knowledge of his family, having written them but one letter. This leaves our subject the only representative of his family. While in Jefferson County Nathan Jaynes was elected to fill the local township offices, and he was a member of the Masonic fraternity.
The mother of our subject died in the year 1832, and the father with his family soon afterward went back to Vermont, where they lived until 1845, and then went to Winnebago County, Wis. There the father engaged in farming on a small scale, having reached the age when he was no longer able to con- tinue his arduous labors, and spent the remainder of his days with his daughter until his death, which occurred in 1869, at the advanced age of eighty- three years.
Our subject was born on the 7th of July, 1827, near Adams, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and after the death of his mother he went with his father to Ver- mont, where he attended the common schools. He was eighteen years old when he went to Wisconsin, and continued the pursuit of his education in the academy at Racine, after which he went to Winne- bago County, and engaged in farming and mechani- cal business. Ile was also successfully engaged in the insurance business for eighteen years. After remaining in Wisconsin for thirty years, he started further west, prospecting through the Black Hills, Dak., and other mining regions, also in Colorado.
In 1876 our subject came to Sicily Township and bought a fine farm of 120 acres on the Otoe Reserva- tion, on which he made all the improvements, and remained for four years. In the place of the beau- tiful little city of Wymore there were only farm- ing lands when he came here, but after remaining for four years he sold his land and moved into the new city proper. He was elected Justice of the Peace, in which capacity he served for two terms, and Police Judge for two years, at the same time carrying on the mercantile business with his son. Then he engaged in the grocery business, which he left for the insurance business. He has been in Wymore from its earliest date, and has been inter- ested in all of its improvements. He has been con- nected with the building association, having put up a number of buildings himself, besides being the contractor for about twenty-five stores and good dwellings, some of which, however, were not in this city. For forty years our subject has been a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., having joined the order in the year 1848. In 1847 he was united in marriage with Miss Almira L. Jacobs, and they have gathered around them a family of seven children, whose
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names are: Henry S .. Orestes F., Charles L., Fre- mont N., Helen N., Jessie and Kittie E. Almira L. Jacobs was born on the 18th of July, 1827, in Washington County, Vt. She is a daughter of Deacon Silas Jacobs, with whom she lived until the time of her marriage, since which time she has been a faithful helpmate to her husband and a loving mother to her children.
Of this family, Henry S. is the Superintendent of the Nebraska Division of the Chicago & Omaha Railroad, and is residing in Omaha ; he married Miss Elma Lampher, of Kansas City, and they have three children-Herberta. Louisa and Arthur. Ores- tes F. is engaged in the real-estate business in Omaha, and married Miss Ella Brown, of Ticonde- roga, N. Y .; they have two children-Clinton B. and Henry C. Charles married Miss Ina Drake; Fremont N. is also engaged in the real-estate busi- ness in Omaha, besides being a traveling agent for the Rust Owen Lumber Company of Wisconsin ; Helen N. became the wife of J. C. Emery, of Bea- trice ; Jessie A. married Mr. L. Adams, and Kittie E. married Mr. Ed Winters, both of this city.
Solomon Jaynes, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts, and afterward moved to East Calais, Vt., where he speut his latter days as a farmer. He married Miss Bula Fisk, of Massa- chusetts, and they were the parents of three sons and three daughters. The sons were Nathan; Henry F., who was at one time State Treasurer, and a Sen- ator from Vermont, and Lorenzo; the daughters were Bula, Mary and Lucretia. Mrs. Bula (Fisk) Jaynes lived to the advanced age of ninety-four years; her death was caused by a fall, and took place at East Calais, Vt., that of her husband having oe- curred twenty years previous.
AVID H. JONES. Of the many instances continually presented in a new country such as Nebraska of men who have strug- gled upward from comparative poverty to case of circumstance if not affluence, our subject is one, and there are few more deserving, or who more appreciate the improved condition than he. He is a resident of Wymore Township, where he
owns a farm of 160 acres on section 29. He was born in South Wales upon the 10th of January. 1825, and is the son of Theophilns and Mary Jones, both of whom are deceased. He was received as a member of the Congregational Church at Trelech, Sept. 27, 1838.
The early life of our subject was spent at hard work, and he received his education in the schools of his native place. He came to the United States in April of 1851, and for one year lived in Ilerki- mer County, N. Y., where he worked as a hired man, and then went to Iowa County, Wis., where he worked as before on a farm until 1878; he then came to this county, and settled where he now re- sides. At that time there was no settlement south of him, and but one log cabin where now stands the proud and rising city of Wymore. Where the beautiful Touzalin Hotel now is our subject threshed wheat in the year 1878. There were very few houses in Blue Springs, which was just begin- ning to rise to the dignity of a village.
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