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 83
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This branch of the King family is of excellent old Pennsylvanian stock, the father of our subject, Samuel King, Sr., having been born in Chester County, that State, in 1774. He was reared to manhood among his native hills, where he carried on farming for himself a few years, and then changing his loeation to the city of Baltimore, Md., changed also his occupation somewhat, and tried the experiment of keeping hotel. The venture proved
a success, and he followed the business for fifteen years, conducting one of the largest houses there. In 1824, however, he went back to Pennsylvania and purchased a large traet of land, erected tene- ment houses, and engaged extensively in general farming, including stock-raising, and making a specialty of the latter, dealing in stock, and feeding and shipping. He was thus occupied until his death, which took place June 11, 1841.
The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Ann Phillips, and was also born in Chester County, Pa., in 1783. The parents were married Oct. 4, 1804. The Phillips family were of English extraction. Mrs. Ann King survived her husband a number of years, and died at the old homestead in Pennsylvania, Dec. 12, 1858. The household circle included nine children, six sons and three daughters, six of whom are now living : The eldest, William S., is medical director in a department of one of the Philadelphia colleges; Samuel, of our sketeh, is next to the eldest living; Israel D. is a minister of the Baptist Church, in the Quaker City ; Benjamin F. is engaged in the lumber trade at Chester, Pa .; Louise B. is the wife of Philip R. Davis (deceased), of Kingman County, Kan. ; Amanda R. is the wife of a retired merchant, Ellis Adams. of Fairmount, Ill.
Our subject was the seventh child of the parental family, and was born in Baltimore, Md., on St. Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 1821. Three years later his father returned to Chester County, Pa., and he continued a member of the parental household until the death of his father, acquiring his education in the common school, and assisting in the labors of the farm. Afterward the family was broken up, and our subject spent some time thereafter travel- ing, going through the States of Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, and also westward through Illinois, Iowa and Michigan. At Ft. Atchi- son, Iowa, he visited his brother William, who had been sent by the Government to that point as Medi- cal Director. The military post organized there at that time was for the purpose of protecting the Winnebago Indians, and was guarded by United States troops.
Mr. King spent some time in this portion of the West, hunting and fishing, and then returned to his
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mother and her family in Philadelphia. He re- mained with them a year, then going into Spottsyl- vania County, Va., commenced farming, and a year later, in 1844, was married to Miss Eliza Adams. This lady was the daughter of Joseph and Martha (Post) Adams, and was born in New York about 1822. Her parents were natives of New Jersey, and spent their last days in Virginia. Our subjeet followed farming in the Old Dominion until the outbreak of the Rebellion. He had been born in a peaceable Quaker community and did not believe in fighting, much less in fighting against the Union, and suffered all sorts of persecution. He was finally ordered into the Confederate army, but refused to serve, but as the means of saving his life took an oath to countenance the Rebellion. He was then allowed to return home, and was left in peace for a year.
At the expiration of this time there was a general conscription into the rebel army, and Mr. King was again chosen as a victim, but through the interven- tion of friends his release was again secured. Later he was arrested on the charge of disloyalty, and thrust into Libby Prison, where he was confined five months, and suffered in common with the other unfortunates there all the cruel outrages and pri- vations which have become a matter of history. Three out of every four succumbed to their sufferings in that terrible place during the sojourn of Mr. King there, and he barely escaped with his life. He was finally summoned before Judge Baxter of the Con- federate Court, and his release again effected through the intervention of influential friends.
Mr. King, after reaching his home onee more, to which he had been transported in a publie con- veyance, remained with his family a month, and then determined to escape the surveillance to which he was subjected by the rebel authorities. 'Taking one of his blooded horses, remarkable for its speed and enduranee, he set forth one night, and, swim- ming the Rappahannock, managed to escape the rebel guards and pass in safety through the Union lines into Alexandria. There he told his story, and was summoned before the Provost Marshal and ex- amined as to his allegiance to the United States Government. The result being satisfactory he was sent on to Washington, and shortly afterward his
knowledge of the face of the country South was util- ized in the mapping out of that section for the benefit of the Union Army. He was thus engaged about three months, and in the meantime his property in Vir- ginia was being destroyed by the rebels, and his family suffering all the indignities which the Con- federates dared to heap upon them. His mill building was razed to the ground, the household furniture and piano broken up, and the whole prem- ises laid waste. IIis farm had been very productive, his crops of melons alone sometimes realizing for him the sum of $5,000.
The family of Mr. King finally joined him in Washington, and, broken in health and spirits, without means and far from his friends, Mr. King commeneed as best he could the desperate struggle before him. He finally returned to his native city of Baltimore, and engaged in life insurance, but this proving a failure he next tried farming. He finally effected an exchange of his land for property in Tennessee, to which he repaired after the elose of the war, as even then he did not dare to return to his old home in Virginia. The Tennessee land, how- ever, was unproductive, and in 1875 he left that section of country for Vermilion County, III., where he followed farming a year, then moved to Dakota, and engaged in wheat-raising quite successfully, having fine crops. He still owns the forty acres he filed there, and which was about the last of the land subject to pre-emption in that region.
Mr. King came to this State in 1887, and pur- chased his present farm of 160 acres on seetion 2, in Filley Township. He is now upon his feet again and prospering, making a specialty of corn and stock. The wife of his youth departed this life at their home in Virginia, Sept. 17, 1857. Of this union there had been born four children: Frank M., who was born Dee. 22, 1856, is farming in Pembina County, Dak .; Anna L., born March 23, 1847, is living in Westport, Conn .; Laura M., born April 20, 1849, is in Illinois; and Kate E., Mrs. Booker, born July 16, 1851, is a resident of Dakota.
The second marriage of Mr. King occurred May 19, 1859, with Miss Ann Elizabeth, daughter of James P. and Susan (Phillips) Chartters, who spent the last years of their lives in Virginia. Mr. Chart- ters was born on the Atlantic Ocean during the
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passage of his parents from Scotland, and his wife was a native of the Old Dominion. Mr. C. was a farmer by occupation, and lived to a good old age, his death taking place in Virginia, Jan. 4, 1886. The mother passed away Aug. 29, 1885.
Mrs. Ann Elizabeth King was born in Spottsylva- . nia, Va., March 15, 1838, and of her marriage with our subject there were born the children whose record is as follows: Lillie, now Mrs. Emmons Davis, was married twice; her first husband was Robert E. Lucas, who was drowned while trying to cross a river in April, 1882; Mr. Davis is occupied in farming in Filley. James W. is farming in Dakota ; Mary P. is the wife of Henry R. Haines, of Wash- ington, D. C .: David F., Harry M., Edgar II. and Lelia M. are at home with their parents. It is hardly necessary to say that Mr. King is a member of the Republican party, and in religious matters he and his family belong to the Baptist Church.
The homestead, a view of which accompanies this sketch, is pleasantly situated, the dwelling sur- rounded with fruit and shade trees, and is without question the abode of plenty and comfort. Mr. King enjoys the confidence and respect of his neigh- bors, and is contributing his quota toward the de- velopment of the resources of this part of Nebraska.
S TEPHEN A. SMITH. Old pioneers and settlers of Nebraska have often remarked upon the change of climate. difference of rainfall, and consequent improvement of soil, since throughout the State so much attention bas been given to the planting of all kinds of fruit, shade and other trees. If, as is stated, Nebraska has been so largely benefited by forestry, men who, like our subject, devote their time, attention and skill to raising trees and bringing them to a con- dition where they may be safe to set out in the open with every reasonable expectation of their flourishing, are much-to-be-prized members of a community.
The subject of this sketch, proprietor of the Blue Springs and Wymore Nurseries, which are situated on section 15 of Blue Springs Township, has brought to this work an intimate knowledge of trees and
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soils, the various advantageous and deleterions in- fluences affecting favorably or otherwise the tender life of the young tree. To this is owing the large measure of success it is his pleasure to enjoy in his business. Ile was born on the 17th of March, 1845, in McMinn County, Tenn .. and is the son of Elijah S. and Mary J. Smith, of MeDonough County, Ill. Ilis father is a native of South Carolina, who migrated to Illinois about the year 1848.
In the matter of education our subject is better off than many of his fellows, for. in addition to re- ceiving the usual instruction in the classes of the common school, he took the full course in the Bur- lington Collegiate Institute, in the city of that name in lowa. After this he gave his attention to farming until the year 1870, when he came to this county and settled in Sicily Township, six miles west of Blue Springs and seven miles south of Beatrice.
In 1870 our subject settled upon the property he occupies at present, which includes 160 acres, all of which is devoted to his special line of business. It is his successful endeavor to keep on hand every stage of developing perfection, every variety of bndded fruit, and the large miscellany of standard trees for which there is always a demand. Those of the Russian species, which are more adapted to this climate, receive from him special attention. His business has grown steadily and rapidly, it being his reputation to be in all points strictly hon- orable, and in all matters of business of unquestion- able integrity.
Our subject was united in marriage, on the 11th of November, 1874, with Ettie Tobyne, who was born in Ogle County, Ill., July 19. 1855, and is the daughter of James and Caroline Tobyne. natives of Canada and Germany respectively, and the former of whom is deceased. To our subject have been born three children, whose names are as follows: Allen, Elton and Estelle.
Mr. Smith and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and enjoy the entire confidence and regard of not sim- ply their fellow-members, but of the community at large. Alive to his responsibility as a citizen, and ever ready to take his part in the same, he is, how- ever, not enamored of office, and has never sought
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any of these public trusts, Political questions are by him carefully studied, and he is well posted upon the issues before the country and State. He usually votes with the Prohibition party, but re- serves for himself the privilege of voting rather ac- cording to principle than party.
G EORGE BLACHART. In Adams Town- ship no man is more highly respected than the subject of the following narrative, who, the only unmarried child of his aged parents, is giving to them his tender, filial care, and smoothing their pathway down the decline of life. With them he occupies a good farm in Adams Township, and in his agricultural and business operations is meet- ing with deserved success.
William and Catherine (Fuller) Blachart, the par- ents of our subjeet. are natives of Fulton County, Pa. The father engaged in keeping hotel at Blairs- ville, Indiana Co., Pa., until being burned out in 1856. This involved the loss of all his earthly pos- sessions, and left him a poor man with a family of five children on his hands. Believing that he could do better in the young and rapidly growing State of Illinois, he repaired thither with his family, set- tling in Henderson County, where he engaged in farming several years, and until coming to Ne- braska.
The father of our subject upon coming to this seetion secured 320 acres of land in Adams Town- ship, and here he has since continued to reside. He has now reached the advanced age of eighty years, and the mother is seventy years old. Their son William B. married Miss Anna Grund; J. E. married Miss Jennie Helems. and has two chil- dren-Katie M. and Fayette E .; Mary hecame the wife of J. O. Morris, and is the mother of three children-Lily, Myrtle and Darley; Anna, Mrs. D. H. Moore, resides in Adams Townshlp, and is the mother of seven children, namely: Guy W., Ray I., Fred, Leon, Ernest and Burnus (twins), and Hugh.
George Blachart was born in the native county of his parents, Fulton, Pa., Oct. 9, 1842, and re- ceived a good education in the schools of Indi-
ana County, that State, to which his parents re- moved when he was a child. As the oldest boy he was at an early age invested with serious responsi- bilities, especially after his father lost so much prop- erty by the burning of his hotel. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, however, he devised a way by which he could be spared from home to go and as- sist in the subjugation of the enemies of freedom and union. He enlisted in Company H, 156th Illi- nois Infantry, for one year or during the war, and with his company was most of the time engaged in the reconstruction of railroads, guarding rebel pris- oners, and such other duties as were inseparably connected with the success and well-being of the Union forees. At the time of Lee's surrender Com- pany H was stationed at Memphis, Tenn., and there Mr. Blachart received his honorable discharge. Our subject after leaving the army hastened home, and since that time has been the mainstay of those now dependent upon him. He has little time to devote to matters ontside, but keeps himself well posted upon current events, and uniformly votes the Republican ticket.
OHN W. WAGNER, of Midland Township, is numbered among the early citizens of this county, his residence here dating from July, 1867. He is the owner of a whole seetion of land, the accumulation of a life of industry and economy. A native of County Cork, Ireland, he was born on the 28th of March, 1816, and about the year 1819 his parents, William and Barbara (Patterson) Wagner, left their native country and came to America, locating on a farm embraced in the parish of Westfield, near St. Johns, New Bruns- wick. The mother died about 1852, and the father ten years later, in 1862. They left a family of eight children, of whom our subject is the eldest and the only one born in Ireland. Of the sisters and brothers two are deceased, their names being Sarah and Jane; the latter departed this life on the 1st of September, 1839. Mary, the wife of Thomas Seeley, and Ann, Mrs. John McCluskey, are resi- dents of New Brunswick; Margaret is the wife of Joseph Burden, of Chelsea, Mass. ; Richard remains
RESIDENCE OF THOMAS LE POIDEVIN , 5EC. 13 , MIDLAND TP.
RESIDENCE OF J.W. WAGNER , SEC. 22 , MIDLAND TP.
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in the country of his birth, and Henry is a resident of this county.
At the time of his journey across the ocean Mr. Wagner was too small to be impressed with any of the incidents of the voyage. He spent his early youth on his father's farm, and attended school at St. Johns, making his home with his parents until he grew to manhood. In August, 1841, he was nnited in marriage with the present companion and sharer of his joys, who in her girlhood was Miss Eleanor Lane. Mrs. Wagner is also a native of County Cork, Ireland, the daughter of William and Margaret (Daily) Lane, and was born on the 2d of May. 1822. About the time of the great famine in Ireland (1847-48), the family emigrated to Amer- ica, also choosing New Brunswick as a place of resi- dence, and settled near St. Johns. The mother died in that place, and after Miss Eleanor's marriage with our subject her father came to Nebraska and made his home with her, living to the age of one hundred and six years and three months. The follow- ing is the record so far as known of the nine children who comprised the family of Mr. and Mrs. Lane: Henry and Eliza died in Wisconsin; William died in Rochester, N. Y., leaving a large family ; John resides in New Brunswick, and of the remaining members of the family all are deceased except the wife of our subject.
After their marriage our subject and his wife re- sided in New Brunswick until 1858, when they re- moved to Kenosha County, Wis., where they were engaged in farming until their removal to this State. The estate embraces 480 acres of land on section 22, Midland Township, and 160 acres on sections 10, 15, 4 and 6. The homestead is noticeable for its good improvements, which include a substantial dwelling and the necessary barns and stock buildings. Mr. Wagner gives attention to the growing of cereals and general farm products and the raising of cattle. He and his estimable wife have reason to feel grati- fied with the result of their labors, surrounded as they are by all the comforts of life.
The Wagner family includes eight bright, intelli- gent children (three others, named Ilenry L., War- ren C. and Ella A., having been called from the happy fold), and to them have been given the names of Frank T., William A., John P., Richard W.,
Sarah Jane, George A., Abel E. and Margaret E. The ancestors of our subject were adherents of the Episcopal faith, and Mr. and Mrs. Wagner are men- bers of the same church. Among his fellowmen he bears an unblemished reputation, and has received from their hands the election to the office of Town- ship Treasurer, which proves to what an extent he enjoys their esteem. Where political matters are discussed, our subject speaks heartily in favor of the Republican party.
A view of the Wagner homestead and its sur- roundings, which will be found on another page, indicates perhaps better than any words which we might use to what good purpose the time and talents of the proprietor have been employed.
HOMAS LEPOIDEVIN is one of the pio- neers of the year 1866, and one of the large land-owners and substantial farmers of this county, residing on section 13, Midland Township, where he is very pleasantly located. He was born on the Island of Guernsey, one of the beantiful little islands in the English Channel, on the 25th of March, 1840. His parents, Job and Rachael Le- Poidevin, were also natives of Guernsey, and had cared for a family of seven children, whose names are appended : Thomas, Rachael, Amelia, Alice, John, Joseph and Alfred. All of the sons came to the United States, Joseph and Alfred being resi- dents of New York City. John and Thomas of this county.
The parents of our subjeet lived on a farm, and he, as the eldest son, was early called to assume his share of the family burden in assisting his father to provide for their maintenance. Consequently he was permitted to attend school but a short time, and his education is the result of a business contact with many people rather than a close acquaintance with text-books. In 1863 he left his native home and came to the United States. going direct to Wisconsin, and first stopping in Racine County, where he for a time engaged as a farm hand. In 1866 he came to this State, and took advantage of the generous offer of the Government to provide him with a homestead, selecting the southwest quar- ter of section 13, Midland Township, on which he
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still resides. He now owns 240 acres of land, all in an improved condition, which is the result of his own perseverance and industry, on which he has erected an attractive and substantial dwelling, with convenient barns and farm buildings for the storage of the farm produce and the shelter of the stock. He gives attention to the raising of cattle, horses and hogs, and from a financial standpoint his voca- tion has proved successful.
On the 5th of December, 1867, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Teanna Tanner, a na- tive of Switzerland. She was born on the 14th of January, 1847, near Berne, and is a daughter of John and Catharine Tanner, who are now residing in Logan Township, this county. The family of our subject and his wife includes nine children, the older members budding into young manhood and womanhood, attractive and intelligent, on whom are bestowed the following names: Adelia, Amelia, John, Bertha, Mabel, Ezra, Charlie, Marie and Jose- phine. The parents of our subject were religious people, who did not shrink from the duty of plac- ing before their children the truths of religion and the example of Christian lives ; thus our subject was early in life taught to believe in the Scriptures, ac- cording to the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but while he is a believer in the Christian religon he lias not yet identified himself with any church.
During his residence in his native land our suh- ject was loyal to his Sovereign, and served for seven years in the militia of H. R. H. Queen Victoria. Since his removal to his adopted country he has informed himself on all topics of public interest, in order that he might be qualified to act as an intelli- gent and enterprising citizen, and in matters of polities affiliates with the Republican party.
A view of the farm property of Mr. LePoidevin is shown in this connection.
F6 REDERICK H. LOHMEYER, In February, 1883, the subject of this sketch came to Glenwood Township with his wife and one child, settling on his present farm of 160 acres on section 18. Since that time his little homestead has 1
received his entire attention, and is rising into prominence as one of the most desirable pieces of property in the locality. He understands the proper cultivation of the soil, and is effecting the im- provements consistent with his means, adding each year something to the beauty and value of the premises. He has recently completed a handsome dwelling, and has around him already inany of the comforts and conveniences suggestive of an older man and a longer residence.
The early home of our subject was on the other side of the Atlantic, he having been born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, May 7, 1849. When a lad of twenty years he emigrated to the United States alone. He first settled in the county of Iowa, in the State of that name. After occupy- ing this four years, he removed to the vicinity of Fremont, Dodge Co., Neb., and from there a year afterward changed his residence to Dawson County. They lived there three years, where he took a claim, but which he kept about three years, then went to Mitchell County, Kan. Our subject, after a sojourn of three years in the latter, moved into Washington County, that State, living there also three years, and at the expiration of this time took up his abode in this county.
In the Fatherland young Lohmeyer assisted bis father at blacksmithing, locksmithing and farming, and also worked some in the distillery owned by the latter. The father, Frederick Lohmeyer, was a native of Hanover, and married Miss Margaret En- gel, a native of his own Province. They were the parents of six children, of whom Frederick, Jr., was the eldest son and second child. Our subject is considerably interested in stock-raising, and will probably extend his operations in this direction, as he gradually gathers about him the facilities for doing so.
In Washington County, Kan., Mr. Lohmeyer was married, Nov. 9, 1880, to Miss Caroline, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Ann (Day) Gundelfinger, who were natives respectively of Germany and Illi- nois. Mr. G. emigrated to America when a young man, and is now living in Hanover, Washington Co., Kan., having settled there in June, 1860. The mother died in Hanover, Kan., Ang. 29, 1885. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom
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Mrs. L. was the second born. She first opened her eyes to the light in llanover, Washington Co., Kan., Oct. 3. 1861, and was there reared to womanhood, remaining with her parents until her marriage. She is now the mother of four children, three of whom, Maggie E. C., Anna and John G., they with sad hearts consigned to little graves in infancy. 'Their only. child, Frederick Jacob, was born Aug. 5, 1881.
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