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 90
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upon which he has made all the improvements that we behold to-day. Later he added forty acres to his first purchase and has now 200 acres, which is steadily increasing in value.
In the family of our subject there have been seven children, namely : Willie E., George T., Sam- nel, Charles, Annie, Nathan and Katie. Willie E. married Miss Elizabeth Mathias, and is residing in Elm Township, being the father of two children- Ray W. and Muriel. Samuel R., living in Elm Township. married Miss Elizabeth Bevins. The remainder of the children are at home with their parents. Mr. Mudge has been a School Director for eight years. He belongs to the 1. O. G. T., and politically, is a very ardent Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church.
In the summer of 1888 Mr. Mudge visited his boyhood home and other places of interest in En- gland, returning after an absence of about two months. As a man enjoying the esteem and confi- cence of his fellow-citizens, he is entitled to honora- ble mention among the worthy pioneers of Gage County.
OHN W. ISLEY. Upon section 33 of Ne- maha Township is situated the residence and farm of the gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch, and it were hard to find a more hospitable, genial man, or enterprising, in- dustrious and successful farmer. The grandfather of our subject, after whom he was named, was born in Pennsylvania, of German parents, who had emi- grated and settled in that State. His father, the great-grandfather of our subject, served through the Revolutionary War. The father of onr sub- ject was a native of Guilford County, N. C., as was also his wife. He removed to Missouri in 1837, taking with him his family and becoming one of its earliest pioneers, entering with zest into all the experiences of that new life. Until about one year after his marriage he had continued to reside in North Carolina. He purchased a farm of 160 acres in Missouri, and there accumulated considera- ble property. In 1868 he sold his farm there, and came to this State, where he purchased a farm of the same size as his Missouri property. He died
in 1885, aged seventy-four years. His wife. the mother of our subject, survived him about one year, and died at the home of our subject in 1886. at the advanced age of seventy-one years. Their fam- ily included seven children, whose names are as follows: John W. (our subject), Hannah J., Mary E., Richard W., James O. K., Dica A., and one who died in infancy.
Our subject was born Ang. 9, 1838, in Knox- ville Township, Ray Co., Mo., which at that time was nearly all covered with heavy timber growth. The school system of the State at the time was after a very primitive fashion, and the school-houses were situated at such distances as to render attend- ance exceedingly precarious work. The education of our subjeet was, therefore, very limited upon the line of school topics, but diametrically reverse re- garding the work of the farm, whether in the line of general farm work or among the stock.
Until Mr. Isley had almost reached the age of twenty-two years he remained working upon his father's farm, but Sept. 15, 1860, he became the husband of Miss Melinda C. Albright, and they then started life for themselves. This lady was the educated and beautiful daughter of Joshna and Jane (Patton) Albright, both natives of North Car- olina, and like Mr. and Mrs. Isley were of German ancestry, of whom members had emigrated to Amer- ica in anti-Revolutionary days, and had become planters in Carolina, and helped to settle the ques- tion of independence by taking a full share in the Revolution, fighting for freedom. Her father died at the age of sixty-eight years, in 1874. Her mother still resides npon the homestead in Ray County, Mo., whither they had removed in 1840; she is seventy-six years of age, and is the mother of five children, whose names are here given, viz: Cornelia A., William, Melinda C., Delilah J. and Eliza M.
The wife of our subject was born on the 11th of August, 1839, in Ray County, Mo. After her mar- riage she resided with her husband at the old Isley homestead in Missouri, and there were born five of their children. In 1868 the family removed to Nebraska, prosecuting the whole journey, which occupied eighteen days, by the means of a wagon and team. 'They were accompanied by his father
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and family, who also had his own wagon and team. If the incidents of that journey, with its hopes and fears, its possibilities and actual happenings, could be given, the modern method of journeying would be insufferably dull and prosy, albeit so far in ad- vance in point of comfort and rapidity. They lo- eated in the northwestern corner of Gage County, and were soon happily settled in their first dug-out, where many of their happiest moments were spent, and which will ever be remembered as their haven of rest and refuge after their toilsome journey from the southeast. One of the chief reasons for this change was that a man of Northern sympathies could not enjoy his right of citizenship, owing to the excitement of the times.
In this home were born the remainder of the family of our subject, which included in all eleven children, whose names are recorded as follows: James M., who died in Missouri; Wilber C., Mary J., Charles C., Dica A., Flora A., Rosa L., Peter, Johnnie, Hardy E. and Gracie. Wilber C. mar- ried Miss Mary Littlejolm, and resides at Hanover; Mary J. is the wife of Thomas Duncan, of Hooker Township, and is the mother of one daughter, to whom has been given the name of Bertha; Dica A. is happily married to John Hannibal, of Hooker Township; the other children are still at home. In addition to the home farm, of which a faithful rep- resentation will be found on another page, our sub- ject is operating 320 acres of Kincaid land, and 320 of Scully land, and also owns another farm of 160 acres. His chief attention is given to general farm- ing, to raising wheat, corn, flax and oats, although considerable attention is devoted to cattle-raising. Our subject seldom has less than about seventy-five head of cattle, and a third of that number of horses upon his farm. He ships to the Eastern market probably about thirty-five head of each per annum. He has constant employment for seven teams of horses and one span of mules. 1
Mr. and Mrs. Isley are both members in good standing of the Grand View Baptist Church, and are considered among the most attached and earn- est of its members. They are justly held in the highest esteem, for there are few who endeavor to put into practice their profession more successful in the same than they. Their residence presents all
those marks of refinement and beauty of arrange- ment and detail that go to make home a place of strongest attraction ; that makes the members of the domestic circle feel it is the best place of any to them, and the stranger and visitor within the gates to retain lingering memories ever after of the most delightfully restful and felicitous description. This influence is, as it always must be. that of the wife and mother. Our subject has for some years held . the office of School Treasurer, and discharged its duties faithfully. His political sympathies are with the Democratic party, but his manliness, high char- aeter, enterprise, loyalty and success, are such that his friends are not limited by the difference of po- litical opinion. The entire community hold our subject and family in highest regard.
The military experience of our subject was not lengthy, and yet not without its dangers and loyal, heroic effort. He enlisted in Company A. 5th Mis- souri Cavalry, and was mustered in at Richmond, of that State, for a term of three years. He took part in a number of engagements, among others, at Richmond, Lexington and Chillicothe. During his service he engaged in several desperate skirmishes and hand-to-hand fights with Quantrell's men, and in one pursuit remained three days and three nights in the saddle, but finally succeeded in the capture of seventy-five of that notorious gang. Our sub- ject was honorably discharged at Lexington in 1864, his term having expired, and returned home to the duties of the farm, but while thus engaged was captured and carried off by members of the same band, although he succeeded a short time after in making his escape by strategy.
OHIN L. DAVIS is widely and favorably known as a stock-raiser and shipper. His farm is situated on section 27 of Blue Springs Township. Ile was born on the 6th of March, 1860, in Cambria County, Pa., and is the son of William Davis, now deceased, a native of the same county, who was a blacksmith by trade. and considered a skilled worker. Ilis home was in Ebensburg. the county seat of Cambria County, where he had quite a large patronage and business.
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In the above city the early years of our subject were spent; in its schools he was educated, and afterward engaged in general work, in which he continued until he was about twenty-two years of age. In 1883 he came to this State, stopping for five months to work in Red Cloud. Upon reaching Blue Springs he began to work for the Na- tional Lumber Company, and continued to do so for about three and a half years, and then began farming.
The farm of our subject is 250 acres in extent, and is utilized chiefly as a stock farm, although considerable attention is given to grain; at the same time large quantities of feed are required for his stock, which is never less than 1,500 bushels of oats, the same of corn, and fifty tons of hay, be- sides straw, etc., per annum. He has supplied his farm with substantial, commodious barns, stables, and other necessary buildings. Everything. how- ever, indicates the practical. rather than the fancy farmer, and although beauty is not lost sight of, it is rendered subservient to utility.
Although dealing in raising and shipping stock of all kinds, our subject makes a specialty of horse- raising, and at the same time gives much attention to the breeding of Poland-China hogs. In this re- gard he has made a considerable reputation as rais- ing and supplying only the best grades. In his stables are to be found at all times a number of very fine horses; this department of his farm receives his chief attention, and of this section of his business his chief delight is in raising fast trotting horses. One especially fine creature is named "Rebel Me- dium," who was sired by "Happy Medium ;" an- other is "Lycurgus," who was sired by "Aberdeen." The above and several other horses that might be mentioned are pedigreed. standard thoroughbreds. There is, perhaps, one other deserving mention here, whose record is 2:40, "Shakespeare," sired by "Abdallah." Each of the above are Kentucky horses, of which the owner is justly proud.
The business interests of our subject engross his attention and demand the greater part of his time. He does not, therefore, take so prominent a place in political and other outside matters as he might otherwise do. He is neither a seeker after, nor holder of office, but whenever occasion demands is
quick to respond to any demand that may be made upon him as a loyal and patriotic citizen. Usually he votes with the Republican party. Socially, he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of Blue Springs Lodge No. 85, which meets at Blue Springs. As a man of business he is respected as being honorable in his transactions, as a friend and citizen highly esteemed as a man of high character, and welcomed as a genial, clever and affable companion.
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RANCIS E. CROCKER. Upon the banks of the Hudson River, whose beauties have been told on both sides of the Atlantic, in sober prose, or the more moving cadences of the poet-the home of the Storm King; historic Sleepy Hollow, and numerous other points of all-absorb- ing interest-in a quiet homestead not far from Ft. Edward was born, upon the 1st of April, 1832, the subject of this biographical sketch. His father, John Crocker, now deceased, and likewise several generations had been born in that same dwelling. His mother was a native of the same town.
Our subject spent his early years in and around the old homestead, and continued to do so until the year 1853, when he went to California, and for two years tried his fortune at the gold mines. In this he was somewhat favored, and before his return had amassed sufficient dust and nuggets to give him a fairly good start in life. With this he proceeded in 1856 to Ashland County, Ohio, and engaged in mercantile business. Two years later he returned to York State, and at the close of a like period set- tled in Cumberland County, Ill., removing after another two years to Champaign County, in the same State, in 1863, and engaged in farming, with an annually increasing prosperity, until the year 1882, with the exception of the last three years, during which time he was engaged in transactions of a general mercantile character at Bondville. In 1882 he established himself in business in Liberty, and has manifested large business capacity, enter- prise and push, with the result that his business has continuously increased until the present time. He usually carries a stock of not less than $6,000 value,
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his annual sales amounting in the gross to not less than $12,000, exclusive of his dealings in grain and cattle.
Upon the 1st of January, 1857, our subject en- tered into "the better state and completer life," by his marriage with Mary A. Huston. This lady is the daughter of Samuel and Jane ( McMurray) Huston, the former of whom is deceased, and was born in the State of New York. She has presented her husband with three children, two of whom are still living, aud are named Charles and Hattie. The former is now the husband of Miss Alma Bickett, and resides about seven miles northeast of Liberty, in this county, and his sister is the wife of J. New- ton Lytle, also of this county, and is the mother of three children, whose names are as follows: Mamie, Frances and John.
While at Bondville, in Illinois, our subject was for several years Postmaster, and by his prompt- ness. exactitude and geniality, was both efficient and highly esteemed in that office. Both our subject and wife had been members of the Methodist Church for many years until 1886, when they joined the United Presbyterian Church, and are regarded as among the most stanch and devout members of that communion, and by their uniform consistency and interest in matters pertaining thereto are ac- corded the confidence and respect of the entire community.
R ICHARD J. MILLER, one of the most enter- prising young farmers and business men of Adams Township, deserves more than a passing notice among the solid citizens of this part of the county. He began the struggle for his maintenance at an early age, and has fought his way through many obstacles unaided and alone. That he has met with the legitimate reward of his perseverance is a source of satisfaction, not only to himself, but to the many friends whom he has made by the exercise of those principles which form the basis of all true manhood. Mr. Miller has now a comfortable home on section . 17, and the prospect of a competeney in his old age.
Jefferson and Helen (Boston) Miller, the parents of our subject, were natives of Kentucky, where they
were reared to mature years. Both left the Blue Grass State and settled in Holt County, Mo., where before the war they were married, and the father engaged successfully in the drug trade and livery business. He became wealthy, but his property was swept away in the vicissitudes of that unhappy conflict. He died while still a young man, in 1863, leaving his widow and their only child, Richard J. The latter was born June 2, 1861, in Holt County, Mo., and lived there until a little lad six years of age, Ile has no recollections of his father. IIe continued with his widowed mother, coming with her in 1868 to Laneaster County, this State, of which he remained a resident until the spring of 1888. He acquired a good education in the city of Lincoln, and was graduated from the High School there in the class of '81.
Young Miller commenced his business career as a clerk in the store of II. C. Lett, with whom he remained for a period of three years. We next find him in the employ of E. C. Miller two years, and subsequently with the wholesale house of Osborn & Draper .. The experience which he had by this time gained seemed to justify him in establishing a busi- ness of his own. He hecame interested in the whole- sale woolen and dry-goods trade, and traveled considerably throughout Northern Nebraska and Kansas. Ile was fairly successful, considering his limited capital, but judged it best to close out for a time at least, and in company with a partner set up in the grocery trade at Lincoln, the firm name being Miller & Miller.
Our subject built up a good trade in the grocery line, and by his straightforward methods of doing business secured many friends. At the same time he speculated considerably in real estate. In the meantime he established a home and domestic ties by being married, July 22, 1883, to one of the most intelligent and estimable young ladies of Lincoln, namely, Miss Isadora, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Casebolt) Rhodes, of Richland County, Wis. Mrs. Miller is the fourth in a family of five children, and was born at Baraboo, Wis., June 30, 1862. She was given a good education and completed her studies at Sextonville High School, and sub- sequently taught four years in Richland County, Wis. She came to Nebraska on a visit to Lincoln,
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and formed the acquaintance of Mr. Miller, which ripened into a mutual attachment. They are now the parents of two interesting children, Earl and Leoto, the former four years old and the latter one year old.
Mr. Miller purchased his present very valuable farm of 120 acres in Adams Township in 1888, and is here building up a very attractive home. Ile keeps himself well informed in regard to matters of general interest. and usually votes independently, aiming to support the man best qualified to serve the interests of the people. In 1872 and 1874 he was a page in the Nebraska Legislature; during the Constitutional Convention he was also a page.
ARCUS LEACH. It goes without saying that every city that has ever been built has been of interest and has made its reputa- tion to a large extent because of the structural beauty and design of its buildings, whether they he simple residences, vast business blocks, eivic or State buildings, legal palaces or publie buildings for the purpose of instructing the people in seience, art, etc. It is, therefore, safe to say that a most important profession in any city is that of the architect. If he be proficient and pos- sesses an adaptability for and delight in his work, it is well; but how many important streets'in large cities have been spoiled by disfigurements of stone and brick, because, forsooth, some architect had made a mistake in the choice of professions. It is a common remark that "a doctor's mistake is buried ; a surgeon's always stares him in the face." The latter remark would be more truthful as a rule if applied to the architect who lacks an appreciation of the beauty and effeet of a perfect outline, and a care in the harmonious placing of the often eompli- cated and minor details ineident to his designs.
One of the most worthy of mention in the above profession is the subject of this writing, a resident of Wymore. Our subject was born near Lockport, N. Y., March 1, 1839. His father was a native of Canada, and became the husband of Maria Farn- ham, a native of Toronto, Canada, and in that city they had a large property. Their family included
nine sons and two daughters, of whom all but one are living, and he fell in the defense of his country. Mr. and Mrs. Leach removed with their family to Franklin Grove, near Dixon, Ill., and lived there until the death of the former in the year 1855, leaving to his family a valuable property in real estate. Mrs. Leach is still living at Red Oak, Iowa, with her youngest daughter, and is aged over sev- enty-seven years. Her mother, Mrs. Farnham, was removed by death only four years since, having reached the very advanced age of ninety-nine years and six months.
Our subject was reared in Lockport until about fifteen years of age, and in the schools of that place received a good practical education. About the year 1854 his parents removed to Dixon, Ill. He continued with his father, and was initiated into the minutia of farm work until he came to the age of sixteen years. He then went to Mendota and after- ward to LaSalle, Ill., in order to study architecture undera very efficient architect, and continued with him for some time. While still a young man he began contracting sometimes for quite large works. In the year 1862 he removed to Ackley, Iowa, and was there for ten years, then went to Red Oak. At the latter place he purchased a large stock farm, and for five years was prominent as one of the most successful stock-raisers, but at the end of that period he sold his farm and stock, and took up his old profession at Beaver City, Furnas County, in this State, and after two years came to Wymore. The date of his settlement was April, 1881, before the city plats were recorded, and he erected the first house worthy the name upon the site of the present bust- ling, progressive and growing city. That house still stands where built, but is much improved, the location being the corner of Bloomfield and Nor- wieh streets.
Mr. and Mrs. Leach have lived to see the city develop from the above condition, and have watched house after house erected until the city attained its present growth. Nearly every build- ing of note in the city has been designed by and most of them contracted for by our subject. Dur- ing the last four years Mr. Leach has enjoyed a very widespread reputation, and has put up many large buildings in other cities. Among these might
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be cited those on which he is engaged at this writ- ing. These are the court-house at Beaver City, a school-honse at Arapahoe, Furnas County; he is superintending the erection of the school-house at Republican City, this State, and also at Almena and Norton, Kan., the latter school-house being under contract price of $1.300. These suffice to show that the services of Mr. Leach are in demand, and are valued throughout a large territory. Our subject is the owner of four houses and lots on Norwich street; he also owns a store and other real estate, bothi improved and unimproved. He has at present 150 men in regular employment, and is seldom able to be at home during the summer.
The wedded life of our subject must be told in two chapters; the one short and vailed in sadness, the other both longer and brighter. He was united in marriage about the year 1858, but after a brief wedded life he was left by the death of his wife with three young children, who were named Clara, Don and Homer. On the 27th day of September, 1876, he became the husband of Alice C. Detrick, of Belvidere, Ill., who is still living. This lady was born on the 11th of March, 1844, at Blooms- burg, Columbia Co., Pa. When she was nine years of age her parents removed to Illinois, and there made their home, where Mrs. Leach lived until her marriage. Her father, Benjamin Detrick, was by occupation a miller, and was born upon a farm in Columbia County, Pa. He died at Belvidere in 1860, aged forty-one years. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Leach, was a Miss Margaret Brown, a na- tive of the same State, who was born in the year 1818, daughter of Joseph Brown, who was engaged in business as a boot and shoe maker in Bloomsburg. Mrs. Detrick continued to live at home until her marriage. She is still living, having bravely strug- gled since her husband's death to give her children, of whom there were seven, a fair start in life. This she has been able to do for those who came to years of maturity, with the happiness of seeing them present those characteristics which insure an honorable and respected life and character. She has now reached her seventy-first year. and makes her home with her youngest daughter.
Our subject and wife attend the Congregational Church at Wymore, and they are numbered among
the best citizens of that place, being very highly esteemed by the whole community. Our subject is a member of both the I. O. O. F. and the A. F. & A. M. fraternities, and in both enjoys the entire confidence of his fellows. In political matters he has long been a very stanch Republican, and ener- getic in behalf of that canse.
E DGAR E. HARDEN, the gentlemanly Caslı- ier of the bank in Liberty, in that capacity does credit to his own ability, and to the confidence reposed in him by the Directors of the bank. He was born in Lee County, Ill., on the 15th of April, 1859, and is a son of Solomon Har- den (deceased), who was a native of Pennsylvania, and went to Illinois about the year 1848. Our subject spent his childhood on his father's farm, and finished his education by a course of instruction in the Illinois State University at Champaign, being graduated in June, 1880. In the time of his col- legiate course, before he had made choice of the profession which he would follow, he engaged for one year in teaching school. Deciding that in the legal profession there is much honor, and feeling assured of a successful career if he were to adopt that profession, he read law, beginning where all students must begin, with the tiresome pages of "Blackstone."
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