Portrait and biographical album of Gage County, Nebraska : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 81

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 81


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The land of our subject's farm is among the very best of the county; the soil is rich and tillable,. prettily undulating, and therefore well adapted for stock farming, and is, moreover, well watered by the Indian Creek, which, being a living stream, is a comparatively sure source of supply. These natural ailvantages, which have been supplemented by the constant, arduous and intelligent labor of Mr. Jones, have made his property quite valuable, and it is certainly to be valued at not less than $50 per acre.


Our subject is more interested in the moral and religious welfare of the community than the mere political. Wherever there are issues at stake he is as anxions and uses his privilege as intelli- gently as any citizen, but he is of those who believe it a wise thing to attend to making the citizens, es- pecially the young who will soon enter that most desirable position, true to the higher nature and life. This explains the fact that while never anx- ions to seek political office, he is very energetic in all Sunday-school work, and has so continued from his youth up, and is among the most devout mem- bers of the Evangelical Association. Such men may sometimes be misunderstood, but character, intelli- gence and uprightness such as that of our subject


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always receive the admiration and regard of the community, and to Mr. Jones are accorded heartily these sentiments. He is one of whom it is true that the better they are known the more they are esteemed.


R EV. GEORGE H. ALBRIGHT. pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Beatrice, was born near Martinsburg, Blair Co., Pa., Jan. 22, 1852. He continued with his par- ents a resident of his native county until a lad of fifteen years, then removed with them to the vicin- ity of Polo, Ogle Co., Ill.


The parents of our subject, Jolin and Sarah (Hamm) Albright, were also natives of the Key- stone State, and the father a farmer by occupation. He was born in 1818, and departed this life at his home in Polo, Ill., in 1875. The mother is still living, and now a resident of Beatrice, making her home with her son Jeremiah. She was born in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1823, and is the daughter of Daniel Hamm, who spent his last years in Penn- sylvania.


'The family of John and Sarah Albright consisted of seven children, one daughter and six sons, who with one exception are all living, the five besides our subject and his brother Robert S. being resi- dents of Beatrice. George H. was the second child of the family, and after emerging from the district school spent five years in the college at Carthage, Ill., from which he was graduated in 1877. He subsequently entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1880. He began his ministerial labors as pastor of the church at Mt Carmel, Ill., where he officiated for a period of four years. In the spring of 1884 he came to Beatrice, this State, and organized Trinity Lutheran Church, of which he has since been pastor. This was started with seven- teen members, and such has been the efficiency of the faithful pastor that the congregation now numbers seventy-six souls. There is every reason to suppose that there will be a steady increase both in the numbers and influence of this society.


The marriage of Rev. George H. Albright and Miss Almira J. Acker was celebrated at the home


of the bride in Polo, III., Nov. 4, 1880, Mrs. Al- bright is the daughter of Abraham B. and Sarah ( Shenefelt ) Acker, who were natives of Blair County, Pa. Her father is dead; the mother still resides in Polo, III. Of this union there have been born two daughters-Buela May and Edna. Mr. Albright is prominent in all good works, being Presi- dent of the Beatrice Christian Benevolent Associa- tion, and wherever his labors or influence will avail he is ever ready to contribute them to the service of the Master. He is also member of the Board of Trustees of the Chautauqua Assembly at Crete. He has a third interest in the Wittenburg Addition to Beatrice, which comprises 160 acres of valuable land.


OHN MULLER. Among the representative general farmers and stock raisers of Gage County, few are more successful or thor- oughly practical in their undertakings than the gentleman whose biography is sketched in this writing. His property is situated in Highland Township, section 19, where he owns 160 acres. The place of the nativity of our subject was Han- over. Germany, where he was born on the 6th of January, 1848. At the age of nine months he suf- fered the irreparable loss of his mother. He was reared and educated in his native place, and in the German language is quite a good scholar. As soon as he became conversant with the English language his education was at his command, and could be utilized in both.


The year 1869 is somewhat memorable to Mr. Muller, as that in which he severed his connection with the old home and its associations, and emi- grated to the New World, his heart filled with ambitious hopes and high resolves. The present success presents in fact what was then but in thought. He took passage on a Hamburg steamer, and after an ocean voyage of fifteen days landed in New York City. From this time he resided for about eighteen months on Long Island ; at the end of that time he came to Otoe Connty, Neb., arriving in the month of April, 1871. It was not long before he obtained work as a farm hand, and soon he was en-


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abled to rent laud and to operate it in his own in- terest.


"Nothing succeeds like success," and in 1880 Mr. Muller with his family came to this county, pur- chasing 160 acres of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad land, for which he paid at the rate of $5 per acre. Its condition was in nowise differ- eut from the surrounding unclaimed prairie, and the change that has passed over these acres, like that which has changed the aspect of his position and condition in life, is the effectual working of hidden causes. namely ambition, illustrious hopes, and intelligent effort.


One of the most potent factors in the prosperity that has come to our subject is that which entered into his life from the day he was united in marriage with the lady who has since been the lode star of his life and the brightness of his home. The lady of his choice was Lena Struckmeyer, and their nuptials were celebrated in Nebraska City on the 16th of March, 1872. Miss Struekmeyer was born on the 26th of August, 1851, and is the daughter of Henry and Sophia Struckmeyer, natives of Germany. In 1871 she accompanied her brother August to this country, and they resided in Otoe County until her marriage. The happiness of the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Muller has been augmented by the birth of their six children, four of whom are living : Louisa S., who was born on the 17th of December, 1873; John F., Dec. 16. 1875; Robert, Nov. 17, 1877; Ernest, Ang. 12, 1885. August is deceased, and one child died in infancy.'


Mr. and Mrs. Muller are among the most active and devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are deeply interested in Sunday-school and church work. In religious circles, and every other of society at large, there is accorded to them the highest regard of the people. Our subject is now serving his first term as School Director, and being one who greatly enjoys such work, and in fact anything that is for the upbuilding and advance- ment of the interests of the future citizens, their wives and mothers, his every sympathy and atten- tion are sure to be engaged. It is not surprising, therefore, that the manner in which he discharges the duties arising from this office gives pleasure to all parties concerned. In political relations our


subjeet affiliates with the Republican party, of which he has been a member ever since he became a citizen, and which looks upon him as one of its active supporters, tried adherents, and stanch, un- wavering friends. Upon another page of this vol- ume will be found a view of the farm of our subject, which, faithfully delineating the general features of interest, will without doubt be fully ap- preciated by the interested reader.


AMES R. BURKS, who may usually be found at his business place, corner of Court and Sixth street, deals quite extensively in farm machinery and road vehicles. He is a fair representative of the solid element of the commu- nity, and no unimportant factor among its business interests. A native of Boone County, Mo., he was born near Columbia, the county seat, Jan. 22, 1836. and is the son of James P'. and Martha (Newman) Burks, who were natives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia. The father of our subject was of Scotch and English descent, and his paternal grand- father, Isam Burks, was one of the earliest settlers of the Blue Grass State.


The parents of our subject emigrated to Missouri during its Territorial days, and there speut the re- mainder of their lives. the father dying when his son James R. was a little lad nine years of age. The family being in straightened circumstances our subject was thus early in life thrown upon his own resources, and at the age of fifteen years began in earnest the coming struggle. He managed to secure a common-school education, and was mostly employed upon a farm during the mild seasons of the year. At the age of twenty-five, in order to inerease his store of learning, he employed a private teacher to instruct him evenings, and this he kept up for a period of three years. This action, so commendable, was most beneficial in its results.


In July, 1865, Mr. Burks established himself at Ashland, Boone Co., Mo., and began the manufact- ure of wagons and plows, while at the same time dealing in all kinds of farm machinery. This busi- ness he continued there uninterruptedly for a period of sixteen years, and built up a lucrative patronage.


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In the fall of 1879 he changed his residence to Beatrice, Neb., and the following spring established the business in which he is now engaged at this point. He carries a full line of everything per- taining to this department of agriculture, including the J. I. Case steam threshers, which are so popular among the progressive farmers of the West. The well-known reliability of Mr. Burks, his integrity, and his straightforward methods of doing business, have secured for him a large patronage throughout Southern Nebraska, where his word is considered as good as his bond.


Our subject established family and domestic ties in November, 1872, when he was united in mar- riage with Mrs. Nettie Dozier, daughter of Jacob and Frances Strode, of Boone County, Mo. Mrs. Burks was born there in October, 1840, and is now the mother of two bright children-James R., Jr., and Mattie F.


Besides these there are three children of Mrs. B. by a former marriage : Lizzie, a resident of Sedalia, Mo., and the wife of Orvis Wilcox; William, of Beatrice, and Ida, who remains at home with her mother. The family residence, a neat and tasteful structure, handsomely furnished, is situated on the corner of Fourth and Ella streets, and is the fre- quent resort of the most cultivated people. Mr. Burks is of that peculiar genial temperament which attaches to him hosts of friends. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party. He has been connected with many of the moving enterprises of Beatrice, and served four years as President of the Board of Trade. The mother of Mr. B. continued a resident of Boone County, Mo., until her death, which occurred in 1877.


G ABRIEL JEFFRIES. This highly esteemed citizen of Glenwood Township came to this county in the spring of 1881, and purchased 160 acres of land on section 28, where he has since resided, and effected the improvements which have conduced to the comfort of himself and his family, and enabled him to carry on agriculture in a profita- ble manner. He has good buildings, a fair assortment of live stock, and the farm machinery suitable for the


proper cultivation of the soil and the harvesting of his crops. An apple orchard and a goodly assortment of the finer fruits administer further to the comforts of the family, who in their home surroundings pre- sent that picture of contentment and peace whichi is so pleasant to contemplate and comparatively so seldom seen.


The branch of the Jeffries family to which our subject owes his origin is traced to Monmouthshire, England, where his father, George Jeffries, was born and reared. The mother, Mrs. Esther (Dando) Jeffries, was born near the city of Bristol, and after marriage the parents settled in Monmouthshire, where the father engaged in mining, and where they lived until the year 1852, when they decided to seek their fortunes in the United States, Soon after setting foot on American soil they made their way to Alleghany County, Md., where the father engaged in mining, and where both parents re- mained until called hence. George Jeffries departed this life in June, 1883, and his estimable wife in 1864. Their family consisted of ten sons and two daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth child. Ten lived to mature years.


Gabriel Jeffries was born March 3, 1844, in Mon- mouthshire, England, not far from the childhood home of his father, and there received the rudiments of his early education. He was a lad nine years of age when his parents emigrated to America, and remembers many of the incidents of the ocean voyage and their arrival upon the soil of a strange land. He settled with his parents in Maryland, and remained with them until reaching his majority, assisting his father in the maintenance of the family. Upon approaching manhood he entered the coal mines of Maryland, and followed the occupation of a miner until removing to Lee County, Ill., in 1869. There he rented a farm two years, but the results not being entirely satisfactory, he crossed the Mis- sissippi into Carroll County, Iowa, and purchased a tract of land, the soil of which he cultivated until 1881, when he sold out and came to his present home.


While a resident of the Prairie State Mr. Jeffries was united in marmage with Miss Urith U. William- son, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in Dixon, 111., Oct. 11, 1870. Mr. and Mrs.


non


William Blakely


GAGE COUNTY.


Jeffries spent the first two years of their wedded life in Lec, and thence went to Iowa. They are now the parents of four children-Howard J., Ross W., Esther and Urith, the eldest sixteen years of age and the youngest two. Our subject with his estimable wife is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which they became identified in 1856 and 1868. In politics Mr. Jeffries votes the straight Republican ticket, and is in favor of everything tending to improve and elevate the people. lle has been connected with the School Board of this district, and is a man in whom his neighbors have confidence, and whose esteem he enjoys in an unlimited degree.


Mrs. Jeffries is the daughter of John and Mar- garet (Uhl) Williamson, the former a native of Ire- land and the latter of Maryland. Her father died a prisoner of war in Libby Prison, being starved to death by the rebels; the mother died in Carroll County, Iowa, Jan. 29, 1887. Notice will be found of them in the sketches of her brothers, Henry and George Williamson, on another page in this work. Mrs. J. was born in Frostburg, Md., Sept. 29, 1848, and spent her childhood and youth under the pa- rental roof, remaining with the household circle until her marriage. She received the advantages of the common school, and was trained to those house- wifely duties so essential to the happiness of the home.


W ILLIAM BLAKELY, Supervisor of Blakely Township, and one of the best known and most prominent men of Gage County, also one of its oldest actual settlers, is still located on his original homestead in Blakely Township, which was named in his honor, and where he has a good farm of 160 acres on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 20. Adjoining this he has a similar amount on section 29, which was secured from the Govern- ment by pre-emption before the Homestead Law went into effect. His possessions all together ag- gregate 520 acres, situated on sections 19, 20, 29 and 30.


Mr. Blakely has been a resident of this county since 1857, a period of over thirty years, having landed July 17th of that year, with his brother


Nathan, upon the present site of the city of Bea- trice. It is hardly necessary to say that the "city" at that date bore little resemblance to its present state, being then a bleak prairie. The land selected by Mr. Blakely lies along Cub Creek, which was formerly called Minnehaha Creek, the finding of two bear cubs in this vicinity inducing the change of name. This proved a most fortunate invest- ment, the land being exceedingly fertile, owing largely, of course, to the judicious treatment it has undergone at the liands of its owner. The creek has proved valuable, not only in furnishing ample water facilities. but as a means of drainage, and has also fed a stretch of fine walnut timber, besides oak and hackberry.


The original log house built on his first pre- emption elaim is still occupied by our subject, al- though having been transferred some distance from its original site and being subjected to the repairs and additions required for the comfort and con- venience of the modern household. In front of the Blakely residence is a fine grove of trees, planted by the hand of our subject many years ago, and now yielding a most grateful protection from the heat of summer and the storms of winter. In 1841 Mr. Blakely commenced as a clerk with S. & G. Smith in South Britton, Conn., in a general country store, they dealing in about everything that could be handled in a store, and received the sum of $50 with board for two years' services. In 1843 he was with Edwin Marble in the largest dry- goods store in New Ilaven. His business was large and the elerks were confined to the building twenty- two hours out of twenty-four, and all for $100 per year, including board. The close confinement and change from country to city living was more than his constitution could withstand, and before the close of the year he was carried home upon a bed, his friends claimed, with the same fatal disease which had taken away more of the family, viz: consumption. He was placed in the care of an old family physician, and in a few months was able to buffet with mankind for a living.


In 1844 Mr. Blakely went to Middletown, N. J., and commenced teaching a district school, and re- mained in the school eighteen months. In 1846 he removed to Long Branch, and was teaching three


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years in one district, averaging fifty scholars most of the time. He, however. became tired of teaching, and therefore went back to Connecticut, clerking for Packerd Swift, in the old town of Derby, ten miles from New Haven. In 1852 he was offered the position of chief clerk and good pay by Lucius Blackman, of the city of Birmingham, Conn., which Mr. Blakely accepted, and here found plenty of work, as Mr. Blackman not only carried a large as- sortment of all kinds of goods usually carried, but in addition dealt heavily in carpets, oil-cloths and paper-hangings, which occupied eight different rooms, and in less than two years Mr. B. once more returned home to rest.


At home Mr. Blakely had an opportunity of studying upon what he was to do in the future, and soon made up his mind to follow the lamented Greeley's advice, and started for the Western coun- try. In 1855, Mr. Blakely, together with J. E. Barnes, who was soon after Superintendent of Schools in Henderson County, Ill., and his brother, purchased a section of university land in Hardin County, on the Iowa River, and attempted to open up a new farm, but as this was hard work he soon concluded to start with an ox-team for an ex- płoring trip in the northern and western part of the State. In July he went to Dubuque with two yoke of oxen, and bought a full load of everything which would be useful to them while in the wilder- ness.


J. E. Barnes, Nathan Blakely (our subject's brother) and himself started from Eldora, the county seat of Hardin County, Iowa, in August, 1855, with the two yoke of oxen and a fine cow, which not only followed with the two dogs with- out any care or attention, but also afforded them plenty of both milk and butter. They first went north through Franklin and Cerro Gordo to Mason City, which contained six log cabins; then to Clear Lake, where they remained three days near a band of the Winnebago Indians. They ap- peared to be very hospitable, always appearing about meal time, and soon devoured everything either eatable or drinkable after they left the mess box. There were only four families living around the lake, but they had true Western cheek, and claimed all the timber and all the water front


around the lake, ritlier for themselves or some imaginary persons. Mr. Blakely and party left for the West through Hancock and Kossuth, and there found the county seat on the East Fork of the Des Moines, called Algona, and occupied by a man named Call. Starting West from here, they did not see either a sign of an inhabitant or a white person for six weeks, and in that time passed through the county of Palo Alto, up the West Branch of the Des Moines to the six lakes, called the Six Sisters, in Emmet County, township 98 north, range 33 west. They were obliged to follow the Des Moines across the State line into Minnesota before attempt- ing to cross, and kept up along the east bank for five days, then, in crossing, became fast in the mud and unloaded for the first time. Mr. Barnes had been sick with the ague for three weeks, and Nathan Blakely one week. Besides this trouble a band of In- dians annoyed them by attempting to steal anything they wanted, and would not give them the name of their tribe. Our subject and party would not allow them to take the least thing, although they knew they were entirely at their mercy, if an Indian has any, but showed them that they proposed to main- tain their own rights, and they finally left them. They then turned south, and found the corner of ranges 35 and 36 west, township 100 north, on the north line of Dickinson, and soon found Spirit Lake and Okoboji, and explored them for nearly a week. The Sioux paid them a visit here, but gave them no trouble. From the lakes they went to Oceola, O'Brien, Clay, Buena Vista, Pocahontas and Hum- boldt, where they once more found white people; thence to Webster, at Ft. Dodge to attend the sale of Government lands at the opening of the land- office at that place, and there encountered the first snowstorm, on the 22d of October, 1855. They soon went back to Eldora, after an absence of three months, and immediately began selling goods for J. W. Jones, and remained with him until leaving for Nebraska, iu May, 1857.


Mr. Blakely looks back to those early daysas one of the happiest periods of his life. He was a great lover of Nature in her wild solitudes, enjoying noth- ing better than to travel over the quiet country, · which in many sections lay yet undisturbed by the hand of man. When making settlement here Mr.


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Blakely found that his nearest neighbor was two and one-half miles away. It was no uncommon occur- rence to travel thirty miles to visit a neighbor, the journey usually occupying from five to six days. The people at that time were each interested in the welfare of the other, and such was the confidence a man had in his neighbor that it was seldom the for- mality of a note was given for the loan of money. Their religion was the maxim of the Golden Rule, each man striving to do unto his neighbor as he would be done by. With the influx of a mixed population, however, more stringent measures be- came necessary.


The Blakely family traces its later origin to New England, where the subject of our sketch was born in Litchfield County, Conn., July 3. 1821. His father and his paternal grandfather, who both bore the name of Daniel, were also natives of the same State, and followed farming all their lives, the latter spending his wholly upon the soil of Connecticut, where his bones were laid to their final repose. Daniel, Jr., was reared in his native county, fol- lowed farming like his forefathers, and was married first to Miss Chatfield, a lady of ancestry similar to his own. William and his brother Nathan contin- ued in the "land of steady habits" until after the death of the mother, which took place in 1839, to- gether with the death of a daughter, Sophia. Will- iam L., the eldest son, died when a lad. Daniel Blakely left his native State in 1856 and joined his sons in Iowa. Our subject and his brother Nathan had left Connecticut in the spring of 1854, and com- ing to the West, located first in Hardin County, Iowa, near the embryo town of Eldora, among the early pioneers. At this place Daniel Blakely, Jr., looked his last upon the things of earth, passing away in February, 1861.


William Blakely came to this county a single man, but after determining upon his future course in life, took to himself a wife and helpmate in the person of Miss Cornelia D. Bailey, who was born in Racine County, Wis., Oct. 24, 1843. Her parents, Asa F. and Janet (Ford) Bailey, were natives of New Hampshire and New York, and came to Ne- braska in the spring of 1863. They endured the common lot of pioneer life, its struggles, hard- ships and privations, and are still living at an




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