Portrait and biographical album of Gage County, Nebraska : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 88

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 88


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The marriage of our subject with Miss Sarah E. Bain was celebrated at the home of the bride, in Albia, Iowa, Feb. 14, 1866. Mrs. Kerr was born near Zanesville, Ohio, and is the daughter of James and May (Sterett) Bain, who were also natives of the Buckeye State, and are now dead. Of this union there have been born six children, three sons and three daughters-Ida M., George W., Frank, Wilbur A., Laura and Pearl. Mr. Kerr has been quite prominent in local affairs, having served as School Director for a period of thirteen years, and filled the various township offices, including that of Supervisor. He gives his undivided support, politically, to the Republican party, and for a period of sixteen years has been chosen as the delegate from his township to the county convention. His


whole career illustrates in a marked manner that of a self-made man, who has arisen through many dif- ficulties to an enviable position, socially and finan- cially, among his fellow-citizens.


The parents of our subject, James and Sarah (Gamble) Kerr, were most excellent and worthy people, the father of excellent Scotch ancestry and born in the "land of the thistle." His ancestors were driven from Scotland to the North of Ireland on account of their religious views during that hegira which has become a matter of history. James Kerr emigrated from Ireland to Canada and later to Illi- nois. Ilis wife, the mother of our subject, died when the latter was quite small. Andrew received only the advantages of a limited education, but has made the most of his opportunities all through life, and there are few men who have a better knowl- edge of general business, or who are better posted upon matters of interest to every intelligent citizen.


R EV. DAVID EDWARDS. The principal events in the history of the present pastor of Wymore Presbyterian Church are mainly as follows. He was born in 1861 at Bangor, a city of Carnarvonshire, North Wales, at the head of Beaumaris Bay, and in the midst of a romantic val- ley. The town is traversed mainly by one narrow street, nearly a mile in length, and has a cathedral, an Episcopal palace, and a deanery founded in the reign of Elizabeth. The town is a popular resort for sea bathing. The first years of Mr. Edwards were spent at home and in attendance at the British schools and the grammar school.


When a lad of fourteen years Mr. Edwards was deprived by death of his mother, which melancholy occurrence left a deep impression upon his mind, and seemed to prove a turning point in his life. Three years later he left home and was employed as clerk in a woolen warehouse at Liverpool, En- gland, where he staid nearly three years. He had always been a lad thoughtful and serious beyond his years, liking to be in the company of ministers, and conceived the idea that he would like to be a preacher. As be approached manbood this matter took a strong hold upon him, and he talked it over


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with some of his friends, who advised him to speak in the pulpit as he had opportunity, to also enter a private school, and prepare himself for college. With this end in view young Edwards left Liver- pool and entered a private school at Oswestry, in Shropshire, and during his stay there was admitted a regular member of the presbytery in 1882. Two years later he became a student of Edinburgh Uni- versity, Scotland, where he pursued his studies faithfully for a period of three years, and then was advised to cross the Atlantic and visit America, before taking charge of any church.


In June, 1887, Mr. Edwards sailed from his na- tive shores, arriving in New York City the latter part of the month, anticipating a stay of four months in the United States. The climate, how- ever, proving greatly beneficial to his health, and the further fact that he received a unanimous call to become the pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Wymore, this county, were ready indneements for him to remain. Although having been but eighteen months in America he is becoming thor- oughly accustomed to the ways of her people, and by his upright and Christian course has drawn around him many friends. He presides over a large congregation, and in connection with the church, through the efforts of Mr. Edwards, there has been built up a flourishing. Sunday-school, which is con- dueted in the morning and mostly attended by children, while the afternoon is given to a sermon; there are also occasional week-day services, besides the ordinary meetings of the church, thus keeping the pastor fully employed.


AMES H. JOHNSON. Prominent among the pioneers of this county stands the name of James H. Johnson, late of Blue Springs Township, and although he has passed away to enjoy the recompense due his long and useful life, his memory still lives, and his honorable and successful career stands forth as a fitting example of what can be done by earnest and constant effort. He was a man of upright, honest character, who abhorred trickery and deceit, and in looking abont


over the long and useful life which he passed, he might well feel gratified at the position he had won in the esteem and confidence of honest men, and the respect of all good citizens. IIe was ever kind and hospitable in his home, to all new comers his house was open and a hearty welcome extended, free from cold formality. He was born in Logan County, Ohio, in March, 1818, and was a son of Larkin and Mary Johnson, who were natives of Ohio and North Carolina. The former is deceased.


In 1838 our subject moved to Iowa, whence he came to this county about thirty years ago, the same time that Nathan Blakely and other early set- lers came. Throughout his life he had been engagd in the occupation of farming, and when he settled on his land on section 9, Blue Springs Township, the Indians lived all through this section. The early settlers had to go to St. Joseph. Mo., over 100 miles distant, to trade and get their provisions, and in making those long journeys they had neces- sarily to undergo many hardships. The post-office from which they received their mail was on Turkey Creek in Pawnee County, about fifteen miles away, and after making the long journey to the post-office how glad they were to receive a letter from some of their distant friends. The Indians seemed very quarrelsome and threatening, and the settlers were often obliged to run for their lives to the fort at Blue Springs. The men would take their guns and scour through the country to drive off the intruders who had committed depredations and murder on the adjoining settlements.


At one time during the residence of our subject here the notorious rebel guerrilla, McCandless. planned an attack on the settlers, in which he and his allies expected to blot out from existence the thriving little colony, but the noted Wild Bill heard of it, and went to his house and shot the leader, when the band of McCandless' men being without a leader, disbanded and gave up their murderous in- tention, the lives of many of the Blue Springs set- tlers being saved by the courageous action of that one brave man. But Indians and guerrillas were not the only enemies with whom those early settlers had to contend, there being wild animals and serpents ever ready to increase the dangers, snakes being very plentiful and very troublesome. They often


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crawled into the house, and even the deadly rattle- snakes would sometimes creep in unnoticed. The various hardships which were endured by those stout-hearted pioneers with so much fortitude can- not help but inspire others with a great respect for them. The wife of our subject grated corn on a grater in order to make bread, mills being then quite an unknown convenience in this part of the coun- try, and sometimes she ground it on a hand-mill, often working at it all day out of doors in the rain.


In 1842 our subject was united in marriage with Martha M. Robinson, a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Robinson, who also came to this country at an early day. The former is deccased. They were the parents of seven children, the five surviving members bearing the names of Mary. Thomas, James, Richard and Martha. One son named Allen R. was drowned in the Blue River, when he had lived here but one month. He was in his tenth ycar, and his death was the first one which occurred in this community, and a very sad one, Mrs. Johnson was the first white woman who made her home in this county, and the trials which she had to undergo have been various and many, but with true womanly courage and steadfastness of purpose she has passed through them all, and is now enjoying more comfortable surroundings.


Our subject was called from the scenes of his early labors in the fall of 1865, and in his death the family lost an affectionate husband and a tender parent, and the community a valuable member of society. He was a licensed minister, and cxhorted in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is an esteemed member, and was loved and respected by all and spent his life largely in doing good. He was always ready to comfort and help the widow and orphans in their affliction, and went about from place to place trying to lighten, the burdens of his fellowmen and bring sunshine into lives that were otherwise dreary and desolate. When administering to the sick he contracted the typhoid fever, from which he never recovered, and we might say of him what was said long ago, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." He saved many wayward and dissolute men from going down to drunkards' graves, and countless other acts of love


and charity marked his pathway through life. The reward which he receives shall be in proportion to his labor, and the crown of immortality which he is called to wear is surely a bright one.


R OBERT PRETZER. one of the early pioneers of Clatonia Township, came to this section of country as early as 1870, and home- steaded eighty acres of land in Highland Township, this county. He lived there but a short time, however, thence coming to Clatonia Township, and on section 5 purchased 160 acres at $7 per acre. This he settled upon and operated until the spring of 1887, bringing about the improvements which enabled him to sell it at a good figure. With the proceeds he secured his present farm, which lies on section 36. Here he has 240 acres of fertile land, which under his careful management yields in abundance. Ile is a thorough and skillful agricult- urist, and as a member of the community is num- bered among its most reliable citizens.


The subject of our sketch, like many of-the well- to-do farmers about him, was born in Germany, Jan. 30, 1844. His parents, Christian and Caroline Pretzer, were also of German birth and parentage, and continue upon their native soil. Robert was the eldest in the family, and, as is common with most of the German youth, acquired a good educa- tion in his native tongue. From the time he was seventeen until twenty-three years old, he was em- ployed as a boat hand on one of the inland rivers. In the fall of 1867, determining to seek his fortune on another continent, he secured passage on a steamer at Hamburg, and after an ocean voyage of about two weeks landed safely in New York City. Thence he soon migrated to Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent his first winter.


Young Pretzer in the spring following made his way to Wabasha County, Minn., where he was em- ployed for a time as a farın laborer, then took up the trade of carpenter, which he followed a number of months. About 1869 he crossed the Mississippi, and coming into Lancaster County, this State, so- journed there a brief time, then made his way to this county. Ile homesteaded in Highland Town-


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ship eighty acres of land. and his subsequent course we have already indieated. In 1874 he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Struckmeier. This union resulted in the birth of six children, namely : Lena. Robert, Gustave, George, Albert and Louisa. They are all living and at home with their parents. Mr. Pretzer votes the straight Republican ticket, and is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being prominent in its confer- enee and one of its most liberal supporters. He has served as School Director in his district for the last two years, and is a man who seeks to make himself useful in his community. All his neighbors are his friends, and his record is one of which his children need never be ashamed.


G RAY WARNER, well known among the lead- ing business interests of Beatrice, represents the dry-goods and millinery trade, and com- mands a lucrative and steadily increasing patronage. A native of Illinois, he was born near Ottawa, the county seat of LaSalle County, Nov. 28, 1857, and is the seventh of a family of eight children, the offspring of Francis and Juliet P. (Back) Warner, who were natives respectively of Massachusetts and Vermont, and were of English ancestry.


The father of our subject followed farming dur- ing his early manhood in the Bay State, not far from the town of Waltham. About 1840 he re- solved to emigrate, and starting for the West located in LaSalle County, Ill., and there carried on farm- ing until 1852. In the meantime his intelligence and good business eapaeities brought him promi- nently before the publie, and in the year mentioned he was elected Sheriff of LaSalle County, when he left the farm and removed to Ottawa to enter the duties of his office. Upon his retirement from the Sheriff's officee he was for ten years engaged in the lumber business at Ottawa; then he moved to the eity of Chicago, where, with his estimable wife, he still resides, and is now General Superintend- ent of the American Express Company, a position he has held for a period of five years.


Our subjeet in his boyhood attended the publie schools of Ottawa, and upon the removal of bis


parents to Chicago he accompanied them, and se- cured a position with the late well-known firm of Field, Leiter & Co., as clerk in their wholesale house. With this he was connected until reaching his ma- jority. Then going West he opened up a store in Georgetown, Col., where, during a period of seven years, he built up a successful trade in dry-goods and notions. In the fall of 1883, coming to Ben- triee, he spent the winter preparing for his spring opening of dry-goods in this eity, and associated himself with his brother-in-law, Henry B. Gates, which firm continued eighteen months under the style of Warner & Gates. Mr. W. then purchased the interest of his partner, and has since conducted the business alone. This store occupies No. 412 Court street, and embraces an area of 25x125 feet, being two stories in height. Here may be seen a full line of everything pertaining to the dry-goods and millinery trade, and the establishment gives employ- ment to both young men and young women, and presents one of the busiest hives of industry in the city.


March 25, 1880, Mr. Warner led to the altar Miss Carrie L. Griswold, of Chicago. Mrs. Warner was born in Janesville, Wis .; her parents subse- quently moved to Chicago; the latter, Lucien P. and Maria L. (Sweet) Griswold, were natives of New York. Of this union there are two children, both daughters-Ella and Isabelle. The family residence is a neat and substantial structure, located in the eastern portion of the city, with homelike surroundings and everything conducive to the eom- fort and happiness of the inmates. Our subject and his estimable lady number among their friends and acquaintances the cultivated people of Beatrice, for which their attractive home forms a pleasant and hospitable resort.


Mr. Warner purchased his first stock of goods from Field, Leiter & Co., who, on account of the fidelity with which he had discharged his duties while in their employ, became his personal friends. The business traits which were developed in him at an early age have continued to enlarge, and the fine trade which he now commands is due to his systematic methods of dealing with his patrons and his promptness in meeting his obligations. Although having little time to give to politics, le uniformly


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supports the Republican party, and takes a genuine interest in the enterprises set on foot to increase the standing and importance of his adopted city. He was elected a member of the Common Council in 1886, serving with such acceptability that he was continued in the office by the election of 1888. Socially, he belongs to Beatrice Lodge No. 26, A. F. & A. M., and to Livingston Chapter No. 10, be- ing Secretary of the latter. He is also Secretary of the Beatrice Flaxseed Company. He is recog- nized as one of the most public-spirited citizens of his time, a representative man of inestimable value in his community.


R. CHARLES S. BOGGS, a graduate of the medical department of the Nebraska State University, and a son of one of the well-known early settlers of this county, is worthily filling his niche in the busy world of men and in his community. He has been located at Filley as a physician since the spring of 1884, and by his reliable qualities and faithful devo- tion to the duties of his profession, is fast as- suming that place in the confidence of the people of this section which was so long and so worthily filled by his honored father.


From the sketch of the Boggs family found on another page in this volume, it will be found that nature endowed them with those qualities natur- ally leading to a worthy and successful career, among thetn being the self-reliance and persever- ance especially needed by the settlers in a new country. Dr. Boggs, Sr., the father of our subject, a citizen as useful as he has been a physician, came to Southern Nebraska when spirits such as he were most needed, and met right admirably the demands made upon him. There was a new town to be built up, together with the reputation of this sec- tion as a desirable place of residence, and to these things Dr. Boggs, Sr., bent his energies, in common with the other intelligent men around him, con- tributing his full quota to the development of this part of Gage County.


The subject of this sketch was born in North Manchester, Ind., June 19, 1857, and began his


education in the public schools of Bureau and Mar- shall Counties, Illinois and Indiana respectively. When a lad of thirteen years of age his parents came to Southern Nebraska, and from 1872 Charles assisted in the labors of the farm, and attended school at Beatrice alternately for a period of four years. Afterward he entered the High School in that eity, and devoted his whole time to his books for a year, then commenced teaching, which pro- fession he followed four years in succession in this county. At the expiration of this time he turned his attention serionsly to the study of medicine under the instruction of his father three years, and in the latter part of 1882 became a student of the Iowa State University, leaving this institution a year later to enter the Nebraska State University. After receiving his diploma he practiced with his father two years, and since that time has gradually assumed the business of the latter as the elder phy- sician retired.


Dr. Charles Boggs has inherited much of his father's natural adaptation to this important de- partment of the professions, and has met with uni- form success, building up for himself an enviable reputation, both among the people of this county, and among his professional brethren. He makes a specialty of surgery, and holds the position of Ex- aminer for the Union Central Life Insurance Com- pany of New York City, in this town. When twenty-five years of age he was married to a very estimable lady, Miss Mary C., daughter of David S. and Elizabeth (Snyder) Faulder, of Hanover, this county. Mr. Faulder is a native of Beaver Creek, Md., and was born Jan. 9, 1832. He con- tinued a resident of his native place until 1875, then removed to Ogle County, Ill. From there three years later he migrated across the Mississippi into this State, and is now following farming in Hanover Township, this county. He had learned the cooper trade when a young man, but later abandoned this for the more congenial pursuits of agriculture.


Mrs. Elizabeth Fanlder, the mother of Mrs. Boggs, was born in Washington County, Md., June 22, 1833, and is still living. The parental family in- cluded eleven children, six sons and five daughters. Nine of these are still living, namely : Jerome,


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Charles E. and Ira E., farmers of Hanover; Irvin E .. at home: Samuel R., farming in Hanover; Laura E .. the wife of James F. Boggs, a farmer of Filley ; Mary C., the wife of our subject; Anna M., the wife of M. H. Blackburn, who is studying medi- cine in Filley, and Luey E., who is at home with her parents.


Mrs. Mary C. Boggs was born in Beaver Creek, Md., Dee. 28, 1860, under the same roof where her father first opened his eyes to the light twenty- eight years before, in 1832. She received a com- mon-school education and excellent home training, and lived with her parents until her marriage, which occurred Sept. 28, 1882. Of her union with our subject there has been born one child, a daughter, Mabel M., Nov. 15, 1885. The Doctor and his little family have a pleasant home in the southeastern part of the village, and number among their friends and acquaintances the best people of the township. Mrs. Boggs is a member of the Christian Church, while the Doctor finds religious consolation in the doctrines of the Methodist faith. Socially, he be- longs to the Masonic fraternity, and the I. O. G. T. He is popular among his fellow-townsmen, and a useful factor in his community, both as a physician and a citizen.


E DWIN B. HINDS is one of the leading mer- chants of Odell, where he is doing an ex- tensive business as a dealer in hardware. He owns the fine building in which he conducts his business, and also the commodious house in which he dwells; and besides these he owns valuable farm property, one farm of forty acres on section 19, adjoining Odell, in Paddock Township, and another of eighty acres within a mile of Lanham, this connty. He is well and favorably known in busi- ness cireles throughout Gage County, having a good reputation both financially and as a gentleman.


Mr. Hinds is a native of Vermont, horn amid the pleasant scenery of Windham County, Nov. 21, 1842. His parents, Charles C. and Lorena (Burke) Hinds, natives of Vermont, left their New England home in 1855 to take up their abode in Clayton County, Iowa. The father died in that


State March 21, 1877. having rounded out sixty- eight years of a busy and honorable life, Ilis esti- mable wife did not long survive the shock of lis death, her own occurring on the 14th of the fol- lowing August, at the age of sixty-two. These good people had but two children, our subject and his brother Charles. The latter heroically gave up his life for his country during the late war, dying May 14, 1863, at Grand Gulf, Miss., he having been a member of Company B, 21st Iowa Infantry. : Edwin Hinds, of whom we write, was a lad of thirteen years when he accompanied his parents from his native place to their new home in Iowa, and there he was reared to manhood, continuing his education begun in his native State in the Iowa public schools. When the war broke out he watched the course of events with intense interest and longed with ardent patriotism to join the "boys in blue" and march forth to fight for his country. At length liis wish was granted, and he was permitted to enlist, although he had not attained his majority, and in August, 1862, he enrolled his name as a member of Company M. 1st Iowa Cavalry, and during the remainder of the war he faithfully served the Union cause on many a hard-fonglit battle-field. his military record as a brave and ef- ficient soldier being one of which he may well be proud. He took part in the battles of Prairie Grove, Little Rock, Camden, and many others. He was through Texas with the gallant Gen. Custer, and received his discharge from the army in March, 1866, returning to his home without a scar, although he had taken an active part in every battle in which his regiment was engaged.


After his retirement from the service Mr. Ilinds returned to his father's residence in Clayton County, Iowa, and subsequently made his home in that county until 1881. Wishing to supplement his edneation, he entered Eastman's College, Chicago, Ill., where he remained a student for one term, re- ceiving a fine business training. He then engaged as a elerk in a store of general merchandise, but he afterward turned his attention to farming, and was very successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits for nine years. Ile began life without money, but by enterprise and close attention to business he se- cured a competeney, and decided to wind up his


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affairs in lowa and make his home for the future in this part of the country. Accordingly, in May, 1881, he visited Washington County, Kan., and after staying there about three months came to Odell in August, and shortly after established him- self in the hardware business, in which he has ever since engaged, with the exception of one year. He has a fine assortment and an extensive stock, and his trade is constantly increasing. His courteous and obliging manners win him the esteem of his patrons, and his strict attention to business and honorable dealings have gained him their full con- fidence.




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