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 85
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also became the proprietor of a freight and stage route. It fell to his lot to take the celebrated In- dian chiefs White Cloud and Tecumseh to Illinois, where they took the railroad train to Washington, on their first trip, or mission, to settle affairs in regard to their lands. Both Mr. and Mrs. McCord were very generous; at times the latter cooked for 500 Indians, and as long as they had provisions they shared with them. The father was the leading man in several gigantie enterprises, and was "up and down" in the financial world several times. In 1871 be moved to South Lancaster County, where he made his liome, and after a long and busy life he spent a few years in retirement at Bennet. He died there on the 13th of September, 1886, when he was seventy-seven years old, and his remains now rest in Panama, where a handsome monument marks his grave. Mrs. McCord still makes her liome in Ben- net, and is seventy-five years old; she is the mother of nine children-William J., Joseph, Josephine, Henry, Cassey, Carlton, Amazetta, and two un- named.
Mrs. Moore was born at Madison, Wis., on the 3d of February, 1849, where she passed her early days, and she was nine years old when she came to Nebraska, her parents moving across country with one carriage and one wagon. She and her mother rode on the first passenger train which left Madison for Louisville, Ky., and while living in the former place her sister attended the academy. After her removal to Nebraska she attended a select school in Richardson County, taught by a young lady named Miss Cooper, in a private house, there being no public schools and no churches there at that time. While her father was keeping hotel in Brownville, she made the acquaintance of our subject, and after a brief courtship, at the age of twenty years, she was married, and left her father's roof to grace the home of her husband, which she has done to perfection, combining with her personal charms and fascinat- ing manner the refinement of a true womanly heart. She is the mother of three children, named : Frank V., Thomas W. and Julia J., of whom the first is an engineer in the elevator at Adams. and the two last named are at home attending school.
Our subject owns eighty -five acres of good farming land, and a house and lot in town. IIe is independent
in political views, sufficiently non-partisan to vote for men rather than for the upholding of any party. lle was elected almost unanimously for Supervisor in 1888, which office he is now filling, and has been Constable and a member of the School Board. Frank V. Moore was the first white child born in the Nemaha Valley, our subject having been an early resident, and prominently identified with public affairs since that early day. Mrs. Moore owns a millinery store in Adams, and her taste, ability and affable ways have built up a fair trade for her. In regard to the family of which our subject is a mein- ber we elip the following interesting account from the Sterling News: "The city of Sterling is the home of many members of one of the most remarkable families that America has produced-we refer to the Moore family. Eight stalwart brothers of the said family were in the War of the Rebellion at one time, fighting for the defense of American liberties and the perpetnation of American institutions. This family will hold a reunion at the residence of Mrs. H. L. Kennedy, one of the sisters, next Friday, the occasion being the seventieth birthday of Judge K. A. Moore, the oldest member of the family. There will be present at this reunion, Judge K. A. Moore; Hon. John C. Moore, of Harrisburg, Pa .; Dr. C. W. Moore, James M. Moore, B. F. Moore, W. H. Moore, C. E. Moore, and two sisters, Mrs. W. A. Gray and Mrs. HI L. Kennedy. One sister, Mrs. Alexander, and one brother, Capt, J. A. Moore, who is Principal of the Whitehall Soldiers' Orphans' Home, at Harrisburg, Pa., will not be present."
A writer in the National Tribune in speaking of this family says: "I hope you will allow me to offer a tribute to the memory of the mother of these eight heroes. When the war broke out she was more than threeseore years old, and in April, 1861, the writer saw her approach five of her stal- wart sons, every man of whom afterward distin- guished himself and came home only when the war was ended, as they stood in the ranks ready to leave the home of their childhood for the bloody fray, and giving each a mother's kiss and a mother's parting blessing, told them to acquit themselves like men, and if the charge of cowardice ever was attached to any one of them he must never intrude
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himself upon his mother again. The dear old lady was a most devoted Christian, and thanked God for honoring her by making her the mother of eight soldiers for the Union. She had an unwavering faith that God would return all of her sons to her alive. In this she was not disappointed; her sons all came home, but when they came the grand old Spartan mother, whose prayers and benedictions had made them strong in the hour of trial, had gone to receive the crown of immortality."
F6 RANKLIN L. CIIAMBERLIN is a success- ful farmer and stock-raiser residing on sec- tion 26, BIne Springs Township, where he has a fine farm of eighty acres. He was born in Macomb, Ill., on the 14th of February, 1857, his father, Isaac G. Chamberlin, having moved to that place from his native State. Ile was born on the 24th of October, 1817, in Adams County, Pa .. near Gettysburg, and his earliest recollections were of the scenes and events of his home near the foot of the Alleghany Mountains. He married Miss Mary J. Adair, who was also a native of Adams County, Pa. They were married in Illinois, in December, 1851. The father came to Nebraska with his fam- ily in 1878, but owing to ill-health returned to his son in McDonough County, Ill., where he died soon after in 1881, at the age of sixty-three. The mother died at the home of her son, the subject of this sketch, in Gage County, Neb., in May, 1880, aged sixty-two years. Our subject spent the first fourteen years of his life in his native city, after which he moved with his parents to a farm about eight miles distant, and engaged in the labors of agricultural life. He received many valuable les- sons from his father, which have been of much benefit to him in conducting his own well-improved and lucrative farm.
In September, 1878, our subject came to this county, the next spring settling on his present farm, on which he has since resided, although five years of the time he has engaged in business in Blue Springs. He now gives his whole attention to his farm, making a specialty of breeding graded stock. His house, barns and other buildings are in good
order, and the general appearance of the place, with its well-kept fences and largely productive fields, shows him to be a man of thrift and industry. He was married, on the 9th of May, 1883, to Miss Mary Sandritter, a daughter of Henry and Mar- garet (Yelter) Sandritter, of Blue Springs, who were natives of Germany, and came to this county in the year 1867. Mrs. Chamberlin was born in Peoria, Ill., on the 20th of October, 1860, and came to this county with her parents when she was seven years old. She has been a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband, and has often assisted him in the management of his labor by her kindly ad- vice and sympathy, bearing her share of the house- hold labors.
Our subject devotes his time so closely to the necessary work of his farm-than which there is no occupation more confining, and at the same time affording so wide and broad a scope for the de- velopment of physical strength and Christian prin- ciples-that he does not engage prominently in the political field, and does not care to seek office, but has well-defined views of the same, and affiliates with the Republican party. He is a well-known member of the I. O. O. F., in which order he lias passed all the degrees and chairs, and was the dele- gate to the Grand Lodge of the State, held in Omaha, in October, 1888. He and his wife are es- teemed members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Blue Springs, and are well respected by the peo- ple of their community.
E DGAR C. SALISBURY, manager of the Beatrice Ice Company, is well known among the business men of the city, and possesses the enterprise necessary for the superintendence of the industry with which he is connected. He was born in Georgetown, Madison Co., N. Y., March 8, 1849, and is the only son of Eber and Mary (Atwood) Salisbury, who were also natives of the Empire State. Mitchell Atwood, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was one of the earliest settlers of Madison County, to which he removed with an ox-team from Connecticut during its pio-
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neer days. On the other side of the house Grand- father Richard Salisbury was a pioneer in Rensselaer County, N. Y., and there speut the remainder of his days.
The parents of our subject settled in Madison County, N. Y., after their marriage, where the father pursued his trade as wheelwright many years. Later he became interested in milling and the lum- ber trade. He still resides at Georgetown, N. Y. The mother passed away in 1882, at the age of fifty-eight. Edgar B., after taking a course of study in the common school near his early home, became a student of Cazenovia Seminary. from which he was graduated in 1868. He then began teaching, which, however, he followed but a brief time, then went into the flouring-mill with his father, where he remained until 1874.
We next find Mr. Salisbury in New York City, engaged as clerk with the Wells Tea Company, his residence in New York City extending over a pe- riod of four years. In the spring of 1878 he came to this State, and at Beatrice engaged as clerk with the firm of H. A. LaSelle, who were carrying on general merchandising. His capabilities were such that he soon attracted the commendable attention of his fellow-citizens, and received the appointment of Deputy Sheriff, under Eugene Mack. Subse- quently he returned to mercantile business, becom- ing the clerk of George II. Clark & Co., with whom he continued four years. Next he was with J. E. Hill, a grocer. He then entered the real-estate office of I. N. McConnell, but six months later pur- chased the interest of O. N. Wheelock, grocer, of the firm of Wheelock & Richards, continuing in partnership with Mr. Richards from the fall of 1883 until the spring of 1887, since which time he has been settling up the business of the old firm.
Mr. Salisbury is one of the original stockholders of the Beatrice Ice Company, which was organized in 1885, and is now in possession of two-thirds the stock, the balance being owned by Mr. L. F. La- Selle. They handle immense quantities of ice annu- ally, having four good houses, in which they stored last winter 2,000 tons. Our subject has served on the Board of Education, of which he was at one time the Secretary, and is a member of Beatrice Lodge No. 26, A. F. & A. M., also of Chapter No.
10 and Commandery No. 7, in the latter of which he is Grand Senior Warden. Politically, he votes the straight Republican ticket.
The marriage of Edgar C. Salisbury and Miss Ellen D. LaSelle, of Lebanon, N. Y., was celebrated at the home of the bride in Lebanon, March 11, 1874. Mrs. Salisbury has fine artistic talent, as can be seen from her many paintings in oil. The wife of our subject is a sister of II. A. LaSelle, a well-known and highly respected citizen of Beatrice. Of this union there have been born three children- Clayton L., Mary Corinne and G. Marion.
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R ICHARD CLEVELAND HOYT is senior member of the firm of Hoyt Bros. & Co., dealers in lumber at Beatrice, and com- manding a large and lucrative trade. A native of New York State, he was born near the city of Utica, in Oneida County, Aug. 9, 1855, and was the eldest of a family of three children, the off- spring of William E. and Mary (Cleveland) Hoyt, the latter a sister of the President of the United States, and the daughter of Richard F. and Ann (Allen) Cleveland.
William E. Hoyt, the father of our subject, em- barked in business as a dry-goods merchant of Theresa, N. Y., and later was an assistant in the Paymaster's department of the army for a period of ten years, during which time he was a resident of Onondaga County, N. Y. The parental family included two children, sons: William E. resides at Fayetteville, N. Y., and his brother in New Orleans.
Richard C. passed his boyhood in Onondaga County, and when a youth of sixteen years left home and moved to Rock Island, Ill., where he entered the office of Keater & Wilson, lumber deal- ers, filling the position of book-keeper for that firm for a period of seven years. Upon leaving this house he became book-keeper in the Rock Island National Bank, which position he occupied one year. In the spring of 1879 he came to Nebraska and lo- cated in Steele City, where he remained four years. acting as agent for the lumber firm of J. S. Keator & Co., of Moline, with which he continued four years. The month of June, 1883, found him in Bea-
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trice, this State, as a member of the firm of his former employers, and in this firm continnes. Sub- sequently the firm of Hoyt Bros. & Co. came into existence, and has now become one of the indispen- sable institutions of this part of the county. They handle all grades of Inmber, both soft and hard, be- sides plasterers' material, lime, cement, hair, etc. Their large and commodious office is conveniently arranged and well fitted up for the proper trans- action of an extensive business. The fittings and furnishings are especially noticeable, the paneling containing forty kinds of wood, both native and foreign, the products of South America.
The marriage of Richard C. Hoytand Miss Susan Upson, of this county, was celebrated at the home of the bride, June 4, 1884. Mrs. Hoyt is the danghter of Lyman Upson; both her parents are deceased. The latter were natives of New York, and went to Rockford, III., subsequently coming to this county. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt occupy a song home in the northern part of the city. Both are members of the Congregational Church, in which Mr. Hoyt is an active worker and a Trustee.
Charles G. Hoyt, the younger brother, and junior member of the firm of Hoyt Bros. & Co., was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Ang. 19, 1860, and completed his education in Onondaga and Oneida County, near Utica, to which his parents sub- sequently removed. He also early in life started out for himself, his first venture after leaving the home roof being in the capacity of clerk in the office of the Rock Island Railroad Company at Rock Island, III. Later he entered a wholesale hardware establishment as book-keeper, but desirous of a more active life started out on the road for the same firm, and continued as a traveling salesman until the spring of 1881.
At the date above mentioned Mr. Hoyt made his way to this State, locating first in Diller, and officiating as agent for J. S. Keator & Co., Inmber dealers, with whom he remained two years. At the expiration of this time, coming to Beatrice he be- came the partner of his brother Richard C. and the Keator Lumber Company. Mr. Hoyt was married, in May of 1882, to Miss Rebecca Diller, of Diller, Neb., and they are now the parents of two bright children-Willet C. and Mary Catherine.
Mrs. Hoyt is the granddaughter of Samuel Diller, who is among the early residents of Jefferson County, this State, and in honor of which family the town was named. Charles G. is prominently connected with the Presbyterian Church, and greatly interested in the train ing of the young, officiating as Superin- tendent of the Sunday-school and otherwise fur- thering the Master's cause. He is a Director of the Chautauqua Society at Crete. In 1883 he identi- fied himself with the Masonic fraternity, and is at present a member of Beatrice Lodge No. 26. Liv- ingston Chapter No. 7, and Mt. Hermon Command- ery. The brothers, politically, are Democrats.
G EORGE W. PHILLIPS, a well-known and highly respected citizen of Paddock Town- ship, is a prominent grower of fine blooded stock, paying special attention to rearing Clydes- dale and Percheron-Norman horses. and also mules. Mr. Phillips is a native of Ogle County, III., Sept. 15, 1853, being the date of his birth. His parents, Jacob and Mary E. (Brantner) Phillips, were na- tives respectively of Maryland and Pennsylvania. His father died in Illinois in July, 1887, aged sixty- five years, and his death was felt to be a loss to the community in which he had lived, as he was a man of rare stability of character, honest and upright in his dealings, and none knew him but to respect him. The mother of our subject, a lady of great worth, still makes her home in Illinois.
The subject of this sketch was reared in his na- tive county, and received a substantial education in its public schools. He remained a resident of Illinois until 1879, and in the meantime married, Jan. 2, 1876, being his wedding day, and established a home of his own. Miss Catherine Pyfer was the maiden name of his wife, and she is a daughter of George and Mary (Swagart) Pyfer. Her father lives in Ogle County, Ill., where her mother died Jan. 17, 1874. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have been born four children, all of whom are living.
Mr. Phillips was reared on a farm, and has fol- lowed agricultural pursuits all his life. In 1879 he decided to try farming in Iowa, and on the Ist of January moved with his family to that State, and
Very Respectfully William Grace
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settled in Marshall County. lle did very well there, but conceiving that he could do still better in Nebraska. the 1st of March, 1885, found him in this State, accompanied by his wife and children. He purchased his present farm of eighty acres on section 27. This is well improved, and is amply provided with all the necessary farm buildings. in- cluding a commodious house, stable, etc., and every- thing about the place indicates the master hand of a thrifty, practical, methodical man. Mr. Phillips is making a great success in his stock-raising vent- ures. Ile keeps several brood mares, and his thor- oughbred Norman-Percheron stallion and Clydes- dale stallion are the finest in the township. Ile also makes a specialty of raising mules, and has a fine jack and ass.
Although Mr. Phillips has been a resident of Pad- dock Township but little more than three years, yet he has gained the confidence and esteem of the en- tire community, and by his genial and ever courte- ous manner he has won many warm friends. His ability and business tact have received due recog- nition at their hands, as they elected him to the office of Justice of the Peace for this township in the fall of 1887, despite his reiterated protests at having the office thrust upon him, as it were. He still holds the position, and is discharging its duties with fairness and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow-citizens. He takes an intelligent interest in politics, and uses his influence in an honorable way to promote the interests of the Republican party.
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W ILLIAM CRAIG, Mayor of Blue Springs, and largely identified with its business af- fairs, represents considerable real estate in which he is largely interested, the greater portion being city property. He is also conducting a flour- ishing stove and hardware business, and as a man and a citizen ranks among the most highly respected residents of this county, and we are pleased to pre- sent his portrait on the opposite page.
Our subject is of staunch Pennsylvania stock, his father, Thomas Craig, having been born in North- ampton (now Carbon) County, that State, in 1797. The latter upon reaching manhood engaged in farm-
ing for a time, and later for nearly a quarter-cent- ury occupied himself as a hotel-keeper success- fully at Lehigh Water Gap, and operated a large store of general merchandise at the same place. He was also owner of the stage line running between Mauch Chunk and Easton, from which he derived a handsome income. In addition to this he was ex- tensively engaged in boating or transporting lum- ber from his mills on the Upper Lehigh over the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company's canal to Easton, Mauch Chunk and other points, having his own boat and making considerable money in this enterprise. He had three sawmills and owned an immense tract of timber land. During the memora- ble freshet of 1841 he lost heavily in boats and lumber, and his entire store and contents were swept away. He continued as a hotel-keeper until within about four years of his death.
The father of our subject was married in early manhood to. Miss Kuntz, who died young, leaving two children. Subsequently, in 1828, he was mar- ried to Miss Catherine Hagenbuch and they became the parents of six children, five of whom lived to mature years. lle died in 1859, at Lehigh Water Gap, where he had his home for so many years. Mrs. Catherine Craig, the mother of our subject, also a native of the Keystone State, was a daughter of a hotel-keeper at Lehighton, where he spent many years of his life, and where he entered upon his final rest. Mrs. Craig remained with her par- ents until her marriage, and survived her husband twelve years, her death taking place at Lehigh Gap, in 1871.
The father of our subject was reared a Presby- terian, and the mother a Lutheran, and the former was especially prominent and active in all those matters pertaining to moral and religious education. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Craig, Sr., a native of Northampton County, Pa., served as a General in the Revolutionary War, and after the independence of the Colonies had been established, returned to his native place, where he engaged in farming, and lived to the ripe old age of ninety years. He was the father of six children.
The subject of this sketch was born at Lehigh Gap, Pa., April 22, 1841. Ilis primary studies were conducted in the schools of his native village.
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Later he became a student at Allentown Seminary, and completed his education in the Agricultural College in Center County, Pa. He then began teaching, but subsequently, in company with his brother, Col. John Craig, embarked in general mer- chandising at Lehigh Gap, to which he added the business of boat-builder and railroad contractor. These interests he operated extensively and suc- cessfully, and also dealt largely in lumber, railroad ties and coal at the same place, where he continued to live until the fall of 1882. Socially and politi- cally. he was prominent in the county and com- munity; and in fact the entire family was widely and favorably known throughout that region as comprising a portion of its best element. Three of his brothers were in the Pennsylvania Legisla- ture, and two were also elected to the State Senate.
Mr. Craig in 1882 disposed of his interests in the Keystone State, and coming west into Southern Nebraska located at once in Blue Springs, this county, establishing himself in his present business. Each year has added to his stock and his patronage, so that his present business building, of which he is owner, is entirely too contracted for the wants of his trade, and a more capacious building will be a necessity in the near future. His promptness and reliability in his business transactions have made him a general favorite with the men of his com- munity, while socially, together with his family, he occupies an enviable position. He takes a warm interest in the building up of the town, and does whatever lies in his power to further its moral and educational interests. He cast his first Presidential vote for McClellan, but soon changed his politics and sustained the Republican party until 1880, when his strong temperance proclivities led him to give his support to the Prohibitionists, and he voted for Neal Dow for President. He has been a member of the School Board almost from the time of com- ing here, and was elected to his present position of Mayor in the spring of 1888. The fact that the Republicans lead in this locality speaks well for his standing in the community. Religiously, he be- longs to the Evangelical Association, and is an ener- getic laborer in the Sunday-school.
Mr. Craig was married, Sept. 26, 1867, to Miss Mattie E. Gish, of Berlinsville, Pa., and they are
now the parents of five children, viz: Annie E., William A .. Frederick G., Jesse V. and Mattie F. They are all living at home with their parents, and being given the training and education which will qualify them for useful and worthy members of so- ciety. Mrs. Craig was born Jan. 29, 1844, in Berlinsville, Northampton Co., Pa., and is the daughter of Abram and Elizabeth (Hummel) Gish, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and are now de- ceased. Her father was a man of prominence, a farmer and merchant combined, and officiated as a Justice of the Peace for many years. He was a mem- ber of the Evangelical Church, and departed this life at his home in Berlinsville in 1878. His ex- cellent wife was a member of the same church, and departed this life in June, 1884.
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