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 96
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During the past autumn our subject has attended the National Encampment at Columbus, Ohio, and visited his old home, from which he had been ab- sent thirty-three years.
ILAS W. WADSWORTH, the oldest rep- resentative of the jewelry business in the city of Beatrice, established himself here in the fall of 1869, and now owns and occu- pies his own store, while in the central part of the city he has a tasteful brick residence, which, with its surroundings, forms a very pleasant and attract- ive home. His career has been distinguished by a close application to business, which has brought its legitimate reward in the shape of a competency.
Our subject was born in Columbia County, N. Y., the modest home of his parents being in the town of New Lebanon, where he first opened his eyes to the light June 19, 1835. His father, Eben- ezer S. Wadsworth, was a farmer in comfortable circumstances, and with his estimable wife, Jerusha (Vincent) Wadsworth, was also a native of the Em- pire State. Col. Ebenezer was born in New Leba- non, Columbia Co., N. Y., on the old Wadsworth homestead, now owned by his children. It was bought by his grandfather 117 years ago (1771), first by John Wadsworth, then by his son, John Wadsworth, and in 1836 Ebenezer S. came in pos- session of it and owned it until he died, June 17,
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1880. He was appointed Lieutenant in the 73d Infantry, in 1831, and May 5, 1832, Captain. In 1836 he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the same regiment. He was a zealous Christian; in 1838 he planned and built a church upon one cor- ner of his farm, which still stands and is in good repair. Ile was for many years the magistrate of the community, and was looked upon as a safe counselor. ever ready to advise with his neighbors and friends, who eagerly sought his counsel.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Wadsworth by name, was born April 1, 1762, in New Lebanon, N. Y., and in early manhood mar- ried Miss Rachel Wheeler, whose birth took place June 18, 1766. They became the parents of twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, and Ebene- zer S., the father of our subject, was born Dec. 12, 1802. He spent his entire life in his native State, and departed hence on the 17th of June, 1880. The wife and mother was born April 24, 1808, and passed away a number of years before the decease of her husband, Dee. 11, 1871.
To the parents of our subject there were born twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, of whom the following survive: John G., George K., Constant W., Silas W. (our subject), Jane Ann, Dow V., Elbert E., William P. and Joseph G. F. Maria A. died Dec. 4, 1865; Rachel R., June 6, 1869, and Andrew W., June 11, 1861. Silas W., like his brothers and sisters, passed his life quietly and uneventfully upon the farm, acquiring his edu- cation in the district school. When twenty years old he left home, and going to Fulton, Oswego Co., N. Y., began an apprenticeship at the jeweler's trade under the instruction of S. S. Morrell, brother of Senator Justin Morrell, of Vermont, serving four years.
At the expiration of his apprenticeship young Wadsworth established in business for himself in East Chatham, N. Y., where he manufactured and dealt in jewelry until 1868. Then, desirous of a change of location, he sought the country west of the Mississippi, locating first in Tecumseh, Johnson County, this State. He only remained there, how- ever, until the fall of 1869, when he changed his residence to Beatrice, where he has since lived. Dur- ing the period of nearly twenty years which he
has spent among the people of this city he has made for himself a good record as a business man and a citizen, and has watched the growth of Southern Nebraska with the warm interest which is felt by every enterprising and public-spirited man.
Mr. Wadsworth was married in Fulton, Oswego County, N. Y., Feb. 27, 1859, to Miss M. Celia Perry, who was born in that city Jan. 12, 1837, and is the daughter of Jarvis and Sarah Maria Perry, who were natives of New York, and are now deceased. Of this nnion there are no children, but Mr. and Mrs. W. some years ago adopted a boy, whom they called Frank, and who is now a promising boy nine years old. Mr. Wadsworth built his store in 1874, and his residence in 1886. The former occupies an area of 22x56 feet, is two stories in height, the lower part occupied by his own business, and the halance by W. A. Watson, his watchmaker, and by W. H. Striker, dentist.
Mr. Wadsworth is rather conservative in his political ideas, but supports the Republican tieket. He identified himself with the Masonic fraternity about 1860, and is at present a member and Treas- urer of Beatrice Lodge No. 26, and Livingston Chapter No. 10, besides Mt. Vernon Commandery No. 7.
ENRY REIMUND, of Blakely Township, came to this county in 1870, as a proposed settler, although he had visited Nebraska two years previously. For a period of over twenty years his chief interests have centered here. He established himself in the spring of the year mentioned on a tract of 160 acres occupying the southwest quarter of section 36, and to the improve- ment and cultivation of this has since given most of his time and attention. In the meantime he visited California, but even in the Golden State found nothing more desirable than the country of Southern Nebraska.
Mr. Reimund came to this county from the vicin- ity of Urbana, Ill., where he had been engaged as a merchant tailor, and located first in Beatrice, es- tablishing a tailor shop, and pursuing the trade with which he had become familiar in early manhood. He operated thus until 1884, then changed bis lo-
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cation and occupation for the more congenial pur- suits of farm life. Like most men he has met with reverses, and at one time, through the rascality of a partner, suffered the loss of a small fortune. He has, however, been fortunate in recovering from this, having now a good property and a competence for his old age.
Mr. Reimund was born near Bedford Springs, Bedford Co., Pa., Sept. 8, 1822, and is the son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Hessiger) Reimund. The father was born in Virginia, and was a wheelwright by trade, and also an adept at chairmaking. After marriage he settled in Pennsylvania, in which State he spent the remainder of his days, his death taking place in Bedford County, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. The mother preceded her hus- band to the silent land, passing away at the old homestead in Bedford County, when fifty-five years old. They were the parents of three children only, of whom our subject is the sole survivor. He was the youngest, and was but twelve years of age when he was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade, to which he applied himself diligently for a period of seven and a half years, under the instruction of a paternal uncle, George Reimund. After being re- leased from his apprenticeship, young Reimund operated as a journeyman tailor for a time, then es- tablished a shop of his owu in his native town, about 1842, continning there a number of years. In the meantime he was married, March 27, 1851, to Miss Mary A. Radebaugh, who is a native of his own county, and born Jan. 5, 1831. Her par- ents. Peter and Eliza (Waters) Radebaugh, were also natives of the Keystone State; the latter is of Scotch ancestry. The father was a gardener hy pro- fession ; he spent his entire life in his native county of Bedford, dying there after he had reached his threescore and ten years. The mother, in 1887, joined her children in this county, and now makes her home with them; she is about seventy-seven years old.
Mrs. Reimund was reared to womanhood in her native county, receiving, like her husband, an or- dinary education in the common school. She was trained by a careful mother in all needful house- hold duties, and thus became amply fitted for her position as the wife of a good man and the mother
of a family. Of her union with our subject there have been born four children, one of whom, a daughter, Eliza, died in infancy. Those surviving are: Ambrose B., who married Miss Mary Avey, of this county, and is carrying on his own farm in Lincoln Township; William O., who is unmarried, and operates the home farm with his father; Al- phonso W., a tailor by trade, and carrying on busi- ness successfully for himself in Beatrice; he married Miss Josephine Dobbs, who was born and reared in this county. Henry Reimund changed his location from McConnellstown, Pa., to Princeton, Ill., and from the Prairie State migrated north to Min- nesota. In the latter State he opened up a new farm, which he carried on seven years. Then re- turning to Illinois, he settled on a farm in the vicin- ity of Urbana, Champaign County. He finally abandoned farming for business in that city, and from there, in 1870, came to this county. Our sub- ject and his excellent lady are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Beatrice. Mr. Reimund for many years was a firm supporter of the Republican party, but his warm interest in the temperance movement led him in 1884 to cast his influence with the Prohibitionists. A view of his pleasant homestead will be found on another page in this ALBUM.
Le YMAN DART, one of the older residents of Holt Township, is a fine illustration of the self-made man, who has worked his way from the difficulties surrounding his early life, the disadvantages of ill-health and other adverse cir- cumstances, to a good position socially and finan- cially. His farm lies on section 10, and with its fertile soil and comfortable buildings forms one of the landmarks in the history of the county.
James Dart, the father of our subject, was born in Addison County, Vt., while the mother, Sarah by name, was a native of Essex County, N. Y. The elder Dart was a carpenter and ship builder, and took up his residence in the Empire State at an early day, living in Essex County until 1831. Later he removed to Wayne County, where his death took place after a two-months residence there,
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leaving his wife and children in limited circun- stances.
Lyman Dart was born July 17, 1818, in Essex County, N. Y., and spent his boyhood mostly on the banks of Lake Champlain. He began to work out when a lad of twelve or thirteen years, acquir- ing his education during the short term of the winter school. Upon reaching manhood he was married, in 1841, to Miss Jane P. Monroe, of Brown County, N. Y. They settled upon a farm, where Mr. L. operated as a renter until 1845. He then changed his residence to Hillsdale County, Mich., where he also rented land, and in connection with this carried on threshing. He became the father of two daughters: Harriet and Ilelen L., and met his first great affliction in the death of his wife, which occurred in December, 1845.
Mr. Lyman removed to Illinois in 1860, and lived for a time in Will and Iroquois Connties. He had been married the second time, in llillsdale County, Mich., to Miss Clarissa Monroe, a sister of his first wife, and who was also a native of Brown County, N. Y. In 1867 they returned to Michi- gan, and thence in May, 1870, came to Nebraska. Mr. Dart made his headquarters at Dry Creek, and spent some time looking over the country. He finally leased a tract of school land, his present farm, the location of which pleased him, and in 1873 it became his property.
To our subject and his present wife there have been born four children, namely : Philmelia, Mar- tha, Emma and Frank W. Mr. Dart was the first Moderator in his school district, in the organiza- tion of which he assisted, and has been active in those enterprises calculated for the general good. He was Township Assessor seven years, and in pol- ities votes with the Democratic party.
OHN A. McMURRAY resides on section 15, Liberty Township, where he has a very fine farm of 320 acres devoted to the purposes of farming and stock-raising. But few years have passed since this section of the country was claimed for the habitation of white men, its natural resources being recognized by the Government.
There is an abundant water supply furnished by the numerons streams and creeks which traverse it, and the soil is of such a character that it will bear cultivation withont lessening materially the qualitles necessary to produce abundant harvests. The great- est need of this section seems to be occasioned by the scarcity of trees, they being rarely found ex- cept along the banks of the creeks, and in the groves planted by a few enterprising farmers who recognized the need of them. No more fruitful country could be imagined, and no more perfect could be desired, unless by some one who is habit- ually discontented with all the gifts of the Creator.
To this county our subject came in March, 1883, when the labors of the earliest settlers had made a marked improvement, and he lived for one summer in Liberty, after which he settled on his present farm in November. Ile was born on the 14th of February, 1841, in Washington County, N. Y., and is a son of William McMurray, a native of the same . county and State. He was early acquainted with the duties of farm life, and the instruction which he received from his father having been well received and remembered, has enabled him to bring his farm to its present fine condition. It has occasionally been said that a man withont education can success- fully follow the pursuit of agriculture, but if that saying has been proved true in a few instances, it is not true as a rule, for on the farm as well as in any of the learned professions knowledge is power. A scientifie farmer is able to analyze the soil which he means to cultivate, and he is able to tell sufficient of its character to know which seeds will receive most nourishment from it, and what kinds of crops to plant. He knows the best season for sowing and reaping the various grains, and if he has fruit trees, he understands the pruning of them as well as the mulching of his vines and shrubbery.
In order then to become a successful farmer, our subject received first the instruction from the com- mon schools, and then attended the Argyle Academy in his native county, receiving thereby a good prep- aration for business life. In March, 1868, he left his county and moved to Jasper County, Iowa, where he lived until he came to his present farm. Ile was married, on the 12th of February, 1862, to Mary J. McFadden, a daughter of Isaiah McFad-
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den (deceased), and they have reared a family of six children, William J. being called from them in his sixteenth year, just as he was bordering on early manhood. The surviving members of the family are: Margaret T., Lawrence N., Frankie M., George and Arthur. Margaret married Eugene Abbott, of Humboldt, Kan., and has one child named Hal; Frankie M. married J. R. Spicer.
Mr. and Mrs. McMurray are leading members of the United Presbyterian Church, the former hav- ing acted in the capacity of Deacon in that church for several years. As a successful farmer, and as a Christian man and enterprising citizen, he is worthy the esteem which is accorded him by his friends and neighbors.
ONATHAN SHARP is the owner of a very fine farm, some 200 acres in extent, situated on sections 1 and 2, Liberty Township, and containing some of the best agricultural land in the county. It is devoted to the raising of all kinds of cereals, and also stock. He was born in Claiborne County, Tenn., June 13, 1826, and is the son of George and Agnes (Kirk) Sharp, who were natives of Vermont and Virginia respectively. His father served throughout the War of 1812 in com- pany with a brother. He is now deceased.
Our subject was reared and educated in his native county. He went to Christian County, Ill., in the fall of 1864, and in the spring of the following year came to this county and bought his present farm, and has since continued to reside upon it. At the time of settlement our subject was almost alone, as there were but two other families in the county. The nearest place of supply and post-office was Paw- nee, a distance of twenty miles. Our subject paid the expense of establishing a post-office at Liberty in the fall of 1866, and Pleasant Johnson was appointed to take charge of the same. Indians were numer- ous and not always honest; at one time our subject almost precipitated trouble among them in his anx- iety to recapture a horse they had stolen.
The conveniences of residence under such cir- cumstances as the above can be appreciated when it is remembered that in later days, when the country was better settled, our subject when he desired to
go to mill went either to Marysville, Kan., or Table Rock, Neb., a distance of twenty-two miles in the one case and twenty-seven in the other. He became the owner of a small grocery store at Beatrice, ca- pable of containing, perhaps, one wagon-load of stock, sufficient, however, for the new cabins of that place.
Our subject was married, on the 8th of January, 1846, to Margaret E. Lynch, a daughter of Aaron Lynch (deceased), and there have been given to them twelve children, of whom eleven live, whose names are given as follows: Martha, Susan, Sarah, Cordelia, Ella, Lizzie. William, Nicholas. Lewis, Nathaniel and George. For about two years our subject held the office of Assessor, and filled the chair of Justice of the Peace for eleven years. He is a very earnest member of the Baptist Church. Usually Mr. Sharp votes the Republican ticket, and is active in behalf of that party, but at the same time is very careful, especially in local matters, to aid in the election only of good men, being swayed in his decision by what appears to be the people's interest.
Lewis B. Sharp, son of the above, was born in Claiborne County. Tenn., on the 20th of Novem- ber, 1855, and came to this place with his father in the year 1865, and has resided here ever since. He is at present engaged as a clerk in the mercantile bus- iness in Liberty, where he has been for about seven years. Previous to that time he had been engaged in farming. He is the owner of 240 acres of valu- able land, and possesses character and personal qualities that would warrant the assumption that the future has greater things in store for this enter- prising and able young man.
ON. NATHAN K. GRIGGS, senior mem- ber of the law firm of Griggs & Rinaker, stands among the prominent men of this county, who have made their mark not only in the profession, but as business men and citizens, without whose enterprise and public spirit the city of Beatrice would by no means have attained its present importance. Mr. Griggs is in the prime of life, a native of Indiana, and was born in Frank-
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fort, the county seat of Clinton County, Oct. 25, 1844. The second in a family of four children, he is the son of Lucien D. and Mary T. (Kirk) Griggs, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Ohio. The parents were married in Clinton County, Ind .. and were among the pioneers of that State. The father was one of the most prominent attorneys of Indiana, and continued in his profes- sion until his death at Frankfort, in 1848. The mother is still a widow. lives in Beatrice, and is still seemingly quite a young woman.
The boyhood of our subject was passed at the old homestead in Indiana, and at an early age he evineed a disposition for study, and more than ordinary mental capacities. After emerging from the district school, where he had made so good a use of his time and opportunities, that he was able to take charge of several advanced schools, he en- tered the law department of the University of In- diana, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1867. Immediately after leaving the university. in the early spring of 1867, he came to Pawnee County, this State, and in the month of June fol- lowing selected the city of Beatrice as his future scene of operations. Opening a law office he com- menced the practice of his profession, combining with it the duties again of a pedagogue and also a collector. In due time he established himself in the banking business, associating himself with a part- ner. Mr. Webb, the latter atttending mostly to the duties of the bank, while Mr. Griggs pursued his law practice.
These gentlemen continued together until 1874, when our subject withdrew from the bank. In 1871 he formed a law partnership with Capt. W. H. Ashby, the late candidate of the Democratic party of Gage County for Senator, which partner- ship continued until 1875. Mr. Griggs then con- tinued his law business alone until 1876, when he was appointed by Gen. Grant Consul to Germany. The duties of this office occupied his time until the fall of 1882, at which time he recrossed the Atlantic homeward, and returning to Beatrice formed a partnership with H. J. Dobbs, and continued the practice of law with him until 1884, when the latter was appointed Register of the United States Land Office. In August, 1885, he associated himself
with his present partner. Samuel Rinaker, son of the well-known Gen. Rinaker, of Macoupin County, Ill., and the firm has already a good proportion of the choice legal business of the county. The firm is a strong one, both members being men of more than ordinary legal talent.
The marriage of Hon. Nathan K. Griggs and Miss Epsic E. Saunders, of Delhi, Iowa, was cok- brated at the bride's home, Dec. 21, 1869. Mrs. Griggs was born in Rochester, N. Y., and is the daughter of Charles and Eliza Saunders, who were natives of England. and later became residents of Ohio. Both are now dead. Of this union there have been born three children, two daughters and a son-Nelly K .. Era E. and Dora M. The family residence is located on the corner of Fifth and Elk streets, in the business part of the city, and with its surroundings forms a home in every way suitable to the means and standing of the proprietor.
In 1871 Mr. Griggs was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention from the Twelfth Sena- torial District. Two years later he was elected State Senator from the same district, and at the expiration of this term of office was re-elected, his district extending from the eastern line of Gage County to the western line of the State. During the last session of the Senate he was unanimously elected its President. While holding this position be was unanimously chosen by the Legislature as a member of the Board of the Deaf and Dumb In- stitution at Omaha, and then received the unani- mous vote for President of the institution, only withdrawing upon his appointment as Consul to Germany. He has been five times elceted Presi- dent of State Republican Conventions, and thus his party politics are sufficiently indicated. In 1883 he was a candidate for the nomination of Judge of the Supreme Court, but was defeated by Judge Reese.
Mr. Griggs has for many years been warmly in- terested in the principles of Masonry, and for a period of five years was Master of the lodge at Beatrice, being its first presiding officer, and deliv- cred two addresses before the Grand Lodge of Ne- braska, which were highly commended by the brethren. A man of extraordinarily fine tastes and a great lover of music, he has evinced more than
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ordinary devotion to this art. As a composer he has published a large number of songs in sheet music, both in New York and Chicago, and has at the present time quite an extended composition in the hands of the publishers, which his friends an- ticipate will be a little beyond the ordinary.
Our subject was one of the original appraisers of the school lands of this county, in connection with William Blakely and Luther P. Chandler, the latter then Sheriff of Gage County, but now a resi- dent of Roseburg, Ore. Mr. Chandler, during the late war, participated in the conflict as a soldier of the Union army, was captured by the rebels, and at different times confined in every Southern prison, from each of which he made his escape in spite of bloodhounds and the vigilance of his captors. At one time he spent weeks hiding in the marshes at Charleston, S. C., and finally escaped by swimming to a United States gunboat. During the associa- tion of our subject with Mr. Chandler there sprang up between them a warm friendship, which has continued to this day.
IDILLO H. DOBBS. Among the families identified with the pioneer history of Ne- braska, and of those who have been constant, . earnest and active throughout the period of its devel- opment, so far as their district was concerned, is that of the gentleman whose biography is here sketched. His home is situated upon section 14 of Rockford Township, and forms a beautiful, well- cultivated, and very fertile farm.
Our subject is the son of Joel and Sally Dobbs. They were both born in Buncombe County, N. C. The family ancestry is clearly and directly traced back to pre-Revolutionary times, to Scotch emigrants who settled in North Carolina generations ago, and from the first became identified with the country, its interests and institutions. Chensey Dobbs, the paternal grandfather of our subject, served seven years in the Revolutionary War, and when this was over settled in East Tennessee, where he became the father of a family of nineteen children, fourteen of
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