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 97
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whom arrived at years of maturity. Of these was Joel, the father of our subject, who was the eight- eenth child born to his parents. He and three of his brothers were in the War of 1812, they serving as regimental blacksmiths under the command of Gen. Jackson, and had their full share of the hard knocks, hard fare and other hardships incidental to the biv- ouac, march and conflict.
The father of our subject after the war returned to Claiborne County, Tenn., where he was married in 1815, and whence he removed to Cascy County, Ky., where his wife died in 1828, aged forty years. She was the mother of nine children, whose names are as subjoined : Hugh, Russell L., Barthenia, An- derson, Orleany, Fidillo H., William C., Archibald and Sally. A second marriage was contracted, the name of the lady being Elizabeth Langvill, and of this union seven children were born, five of whom they were permitted to bring up. From 1829 un- til April of 1837 the family resided in Indiana, from that on in the State of Missouri. Mr. Dobbs, Sr., always worked in the blacksmith-shop, and was very successful, leaving at his death in the year 1842 an estate of about $20,000.
The date of the birth of our subject is given as the 4th of March, 1823, and his native place Casey County, Ky. At the age of six years he accom- panied his parents to Indiana. He had even at that early age begun to lay the foundation of an education, having attended one of the Kentucky schools. Educational advantages in Indiana were limited to subscription schools, and were confined to three months' teaching per annum. When young Dobbs reached the age of fourteen years the family removed to Missouri, a trip most thoroughly enjoyed by our subject, who was then at an age fully to appreciate such an expedition. He carried his rifle the entire distance, for the most part walk- ing near the wagon, unless called aside by some ob- ject of sport that brought into play his skill as a marksman.
The introduction to Missouri was to our subject also an introduction to the sterner realities of life. Under the tuition of his father he learned the black- smith trade and also farming. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" was then and still is true, and in order to escape the dread fiat of the
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proverb, the few hours that he could call his own from time to time were employed in hunting, and many a deer has fallen before his rifle muzzle. For about five or six years he devoted from per- haps three to six months in school teaching, at which he was very successful. He offered himself for service in the Mexican War, but was not ac- cepted because the ranks were already filled.
Mr. Dobbs was united in marriage, Aug. 1, 1847, with Miss Mary Jane Shullenbarger, a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Simcon) Shullenbargar, who were of German descent, but the father a native of North Carolina, and the mother of Butler County, Ohio. They were married in Indiana, from which State they removed first to Iowa, and finally to Missouri. Their family included twelve children, whose names are recorded as follows: Mary Jane, John F., Henry S., Catherine, William M., Sophia, Lucy, Daniel M., Ellen, Joseph L., Louis, and one who died in infancy unnamed. The wife of our subject was born on the 20th of August, 1831, in Randolph County, Ind. While quite small she accompanied her par- ents to Dubuque, Iowa. When she was thirteen years of age the family started for Arkansas, but stopped at Springfield, Mo., and there formed the acquaintance of our subject in 1845. The follow- ing year the daughter Mary became a pupil in the school of our subject, and in 1847 they were mar- ried.
After their marriage the young couple settled in Southern Missouri, but after five years removed to the northwestern part of the State. The occupation of our subject was that of farming, but owing to a severe sickness, which lasted four years, he could not make much progress. In 1856 he went to Kan- sas, but on account of hostilities there he soon re- turned to Missouri, remaining two years. On the 9th of August, 1858, he came into Nebraska Terri- tory, and located a claim on Mud Creek in this county. In Mareh of the following year he took up his residence there with his family, bringing with him his possessions, which, in his own expressive phrase, were "mighty little." Upon the 12th of May, 1859, Mr. Dobbs removed to his present farm. The only time he has left this home was upon the occasion of the Indian massacre of August, 1864; but he soon returned, and has since continued his
uninterrupted residence here. le homesteaded his elaim upon the 5th of August, 1863, and it was among the very first granted.
Mr. Dobbs is justly proud of his connection with the pioneer history of Nebraska, and has anxiously but gladly watched the State and county develop their resources in response to the labor of the in- coming settlers. While the State has been devel- oping, the family of our subject also grew until his children numbered eleven, who were named Will- iam J., Hugh J., Susan C. (who died at the age of thirteen months), Russell L., Sarah J., Louisa F., Joel B., Josephine, John A .. Thomas F. and Lucy A.
Our subject was one of the men who voted for the adoption of the State Constitution in 1860, and also in 1866. He has served as County Commis- sioner and in a number of other offices, educational and political, and has conscientiously labored for the best interests of his fellow-citizens. It is his belief that every citizen should fully inform himself regarding the political issues and reform measures of the age, then with that knowledge to exercise bis right of ballot. He is a Republican, and in 1844 voted for Henry Clay, in 1848 for Taylor; from that time until 1864 he voted the Democratic ticket, but since then has in every instant handed in a straight Republican ballot. Mr. Dobbs still owns the old homestead of 160 acres, and looks upon it with both pride and affection. He regards it as a gift from his country, and says " I always thought more of a present than anything else I owned." His log cabin, built in 1865, still stands, and this too has a place in his affections, being held in that peculiar respect accorded the relics that are part of the life of former days. The benevolence of Mr. and Mrs. Dobbs is proverbial, and those needing rest and refreshments have seldom been turned empty- handed from their door. They are widely and favorably known for the beauty of their lives, the consistency of their actions, and their liberal hospi- tality.
Mr. and Mrs. Dobbs have for a long period been members of the Baptist Church, at Beatriec, and for twenty years our subject has served as Deacon. He has also been prominently identified with Sunday- school work, having organized the first Baptist Sunday-school in the county, of which he was Super-
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intendent for ten years, and with his wife is still numbered among the most efficient and devoted Christians and workers in the community.
In the view of the homestead of Mr. Dobbs, and which will be found on another page, is perhaps illustrated better than any words which we can employ the skill and industry of the proprietor as an agriculturist, and his good judgment in the in- vestment of the capital he acquired by his perse- vering toil.
RANCIS M. BARNES, whose home and farm are situated on section 36, Barneston Town- ship, is one who has been upon the frontier for many years, and has watched with satisfaction and pride the phenomenal development and growth of the State. He was born in the city of Baltimore, Md., upon the 1st of May, 1832, and is the son of William and Linda Barnes, natives of Carroll County, of the same State. His father, now de- ceased, was by trade a millwright, and was consid- ered a thoroughly competent and skilled workman. He removed to St. Louis, Mo., in 1842, and there followed his calling until his death, which occurred in the year 1855.
Our subject attended the St. Lonis city schools, and there laid the foundation upon which he has since been building his life interests. He devel- oped an aptitnde for study, and made fairly rapid progress. Upon leaving school he worked for three years at ship carpentering, and in 1854 went to Kansas City, where he engaged in transfer bnsi- ness. Four years later he came to this State, and settled in Richardson County. There he followed freighting and general farming until about 1870, when he came to this county and settled upon his present property.
The land purchased by our subject belonged to the Otoe (Missonri) Confederate hand of Indians, who occupied the land here for twenty-five miles east and west, and ten north and south. They sold a portion in 1876-77. The reservation then extended two miles into Kansas, being ten miles north and south, and six and three-quarters east and west. For eleven years he lived here among
the Indians, engaged in farming and mercantile transactions at the Otoe Agency, where Barneston now stands, and for over ten years enjoyed quite a large and lucrative trade, mostly from the Indians, all the time carrying on his farming, and at differ- ent times giving attention to stock-raising. He owns 240 acres on Mission Creek. mostly excellent bottom land, well adapted to his purpose.
Upon the 16th of November, 1856, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Jane Dripps, daughter of Andrew and Mary Dripps. The former is deceased. She was born at Bellevue, in this State, upon the 15th of November, 1829. Their family circle included seven children, five of whom are living. The names given them are as follows: William, Charles G., Emmett F., Frederick H. and Katie. Emmett was united in marriage to Nannie Kirkendall, of Barneston, and resides in Barneston ; they are the parents of one child, to whom has been given the name Harold; Katie is happily married to Charles Warren, of Barneston.
During the late war our subject expressed the patriotism and love of the old flag and the Union that burned within him by helping to raise two com- panies of well-drilled men for the United States service. Among the various fraternities our sub- ject is quite well known, being a member of the A. O. U. W., the I. O. O. F., and also the Masonic fraternity. In each he is received as a true and worthy brother, and is held in respect and high re- gard. The political sentiments of our subject are in harmony with those of the Democratic party, of which for many years he has been a member.
ACOB LEWIS is successfully engaged in the pursuit of agriculture and stock-raising on his farm on section 23, Blne Springs Town- ship. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, on the 15th of August, 1847, and is a son of Daniel and Catharine Lewis, the former of whom was a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. The father was taken by his parents to Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married the mother of our subject, and engaged in farmning. Our sub- ject spent his early life on his father's farm, and in
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the years devoted to the acquisition of an educa- tion he attended the common schools and diligently applied himself that he might be prepared for a suc- cessful future. When the time came for him to devote himself entirely to labor his hands performed the routine tasks of the farm life, while his mind developed and strengthened and absorbed the teach- ings in common with those of all loyal citizens, and thus the time passed until the breaking out of the Civil War.
Filled with the fire and enthusiasm of healthy young manhood, and sympathizing with his country in the time of her great necd, our subject wished to give evidence of his loyalty and courage, and went to enlist in the service. But what a disappointment to him to find his willing offer rejected because he was under age and had not yet attained the full meas- ure of manhood's stature. Ile recovered from the disappointment as best he could, and continned his vocation, in which he was successful. In February, 1885, he came to this county, making his home in Blue Springs Township, where he now owns eighty acres of good farming land, on which he has made many improvements, and is giving his attention to farming and stock-raising. He is well and com- fortably situated, his house and farm buildings in good order and supplied with many of the modern conveniences which so facilitate the labor of the farm, and his surroundings of a pleasing and at- tractive nature.
On the 29th of Jannary, 1873, our subject was nnited in marriage with Miss Mary E. Fetty, who is a daughter of Nimrod and Harriet Fetty, and was born in Fayette County, Ohio, on the 18th of April, 1855. Her parents were natives of Ohio and Maryland, and she grew to womanhood under the shelter of their roof, perfecting herself in womanly accomplishments and virtues that she might fill a useful station in life. She is the mother of five children, named Pliny R., Clinton, Roy B., Glenn and Laura, the oldest of whom are already begin- ning to lift some of the smaller burdens from the shoulders of their kind and considerate parents. Our subject is well known and respected as a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, his life and conduct being in accordance with the principles advocated by that honorable order, and he and his wife are
consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Blue Springs. Ile is a member of the Republican party in politics, but is not aggressive and does not seek office from the hand of party or power, preferring to lead a more retired life in the shelter and seclusion of his own home rather than endure the trials and animosities consequent upon a political life.
W M. OSTENDORF, one of the most popu- lar men of Gage County, operates the Doug- las Ranch of 640 acres, owned by Smith Bros., of Beatrice. He is a self-made man in the strictest sense of the term. Through the disadvan- tages surrounding his early life, he struggled man- fully upward, and occupies a good position among his fellow-citizens. Although of limited education, he has kept his eyes open to what was going on around him in the world, and is thoroughly well informed, especially in regard to the interests with which he is at present connected.
The Ostendorfs are noted for their physical strength and symmetry, being large and handsome, and invariably attracting attention wherever found. Our subject was born in Germany, Sept. 8, 1854, and was the second in a family of four children. His father came with his family to America in 1858, and followed farming as before in his native coun- try. He settled in Nebraska in 1887, and is now, with his estimable wife, a resident of Ilolt County, this State. They are aged sixty and fifty-seven ycars, respectively.
Mr. Ostendorf entered upon the serious business of life at the early age of fifteen years. Upon reach- ing manhood he was married, June 17, 1876, to Miss Belle Parker, who was born in Brown County, Ill., Oet. 24, 1858, and is the fifth in a family of nine children. Mr. and Mrs. O. lived in Illinois about six years, then moved to Washington County, Kan., where they lived one winter. In the spring of 1882 they became residents of this county. They lived in Logan Township several years, and until Mr. Ostendorf was proffered his present posi- tion.
To our subject and wife there were born seven
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children, viz. : Isaac, Oliver, Johnnie, Maggie, Will- iam, Fred and Eddie. Mr. O., politically, is for the most part an advocate of Democratic doctrines, al- though he votes independently. He has always been a reader, and at one period in his life obtained quite a local reputation as a debater. He possesses considerable skill as a machinist, and in former years operated a threshing-machine fourteen sum- mers. Douglas Ranch gives employment to five men, two two-horse teams and three three-horse teams. It requires no small amount of tact and ability to carry it on successfully, but Superintendent Ostendorf has proved himself equal to the emer- gency.
R. DODDS, editor and publisher of the Wy- more Democrat, is proprietor of the oldest paper in this part of Gage County. It is Democratic in politics, and is conducted in that business-like manner which has made it popo- lar and placed its editor among the front ranks of journalists in Southern Nebraska.
The branch of the Dodds family to , which our subject belongs emigrated from Scotland to the North of Ireland, and from there to the United States, locating in the Abbeville District, near Charleston, S. C., where James Dodds married Miss Marietta Craig. The male members of the family took an active part in the Revolutionary War under the direct command of Gen. Washington, and Mrs. Dodds, remaining on the plantation, had a full view of Cornwallis and his army.
In 1795 the plantation was sold, and the Dodds family started for Caldwell County, Ky., where Mrs. Margaret Dodds arrived some time later, her journey having been sadly interrupted by the death of her husband and only daughter, who died before passing the State line in South Carolina. The mother was accompanied by her five sons, and after a comparatively brief sojourn in Kentucky changed her location to Sangamon County, Ill., where two of her sons, Joseph and Rev. Gilbert Dodds, were already located. She died in Illinois, Jan. 17, 1846, aged ninety-seven.
Joseph Dodds, the paternal grandfather of our
subject, was born May 28, 1785, in Abbeville Dis- triet, S. C., and was married to Mattie Drennan, May 3, 1810. They had eleven children, three born in Kentucky and the others in Illinois. Among these children was William Drennan Dodds, the father of our subject, and the eldest of the family. He was born Sept. 18, 1811, in Cald- well County, Ky., and married Miss Mary Eads, in Sangamon County, III., Sept. 18, 1834. In the fall of that year he, in company with his father-in-law, William D. Eads, crossed the Mississippi at Old Flint Hills, where the city of Burlington, Iowa, now stands. He was the leading pioneer of that region, blazing his track along the banks of Flint River, and his eldest son, William E., is the okdlest native citizen of the State of Iowa. Here sixteen children were born to William and Mary Dodds, nine sons and seven daughters.
Joseph R. Dodds, the fourth child of his parents, was born Jan. 1, 1841, and was married to Sarah E. Mains, Feb. 7, 1861. They became the parents of five children, the eldest of whom, a son, died when thirteen months old. Mary L., the eldest daughter, was born Sept. 18, 1865, and married Charles T. Taylor, of Corning, Mo. : they have two children, Guy D. and Beach B., and are now resi- dents of Wymore, this county. Carrie R. was mar- ried at Wymore to J. N. Howland, and they are residents of Plattsmouth, being the parents of two children-Harry L. and Jessie C. Lulu A. was married to Arthur W. Fischer, of Wymore, and became the mother of one child, whom they named Vistani L., and died when the latter was one week old; the little girl and her father reside with Mr. Dodds. Cyrene E., the youngest daughter, is the wife of James Murphy, of Wymore, a young man who has held the responsible position of private secretary to C. D. Rodgers, Superintendent of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad at this place.
The second year of the war Mr. Dodds enlisted in the Union Army at Burlington, Iowa, Sept. 21, 1862, and served three years and one day. After resuming the duties of citizenship he became a railroad agent and telegraph operator, and was thus occupied thirteen years. He came to Wymore in May, 1881. interested himself at once in the up- building of the city, and on the 12th of May, 1882,
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issued the first number of the Wymore Eagle from the basement of the Citizens' Bank building. which was erected by him, and was the first brick structure in the city. In the fall of that year he purchased the old Gage County Leader, consolidated it with the Eagle, and later merged the two into the Wy- more Democrat. then as now the leading paper of Southern Nebraska. He took an active part in opening up the Otoe Reservation adjoining the city, and which for years had been controlled by a syn- dicate of plunderers. The mother of our subject died June 1, 1886, and the father April 30, 1888.
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E DWARD ROBERTS is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 28, Barneston Township, where he has a fine farm of 360 acres, a view of which is shown in this work. He is a native of Wales, and was born on the 26th of May. 1833, in the town of Mioneth, where he remained until he was about thirty-one years old. In March, 1868, he left his native country with the intention of seeking a home in the United States, and after a long voyage on the water he arrived safely on American soil. Ile first made his home in Dodge County, Wis., thence went to Iowa County, Iowa, in the following year, in which latter place he remained for about eleven years. In March, 1880, he came to this county and made his home where he now lives, having become the owner of 360 acres of well-improved land in Barneston Town- ship, besides some property in Blue Springs. Ile has been extensively engaged in farming and stock- raising, in which business he has been very pros- perous, having improved his land by the exercise of much diligence and hard labor from the primi- tive condition of wild prairie land.
Our subject is the son of Robert E. and Jane Roberts, who were the parents of seven children, named as follows: Robert J., deceased, and buried in the churchyard in Barneston Township; Catha- rine resides in Wales; Edward, our subject; Guan and Richard, also in Wales; John and Ellen, in Barneston Township. All were born in Wales. Robert and Catharine are only half brother and sister; their father's name was Robert Jones.
In the year 1858 our subject was united in mar- riage with Miss Jane Roberts, who was a daughter of Ellis Roberts, and was born in Wales. She be- came the mother of one child, a danghter, Ellen, but onr subject was soon bereft of her companion- ship, her death occurring while he was a resident of his native country, and he came to the United States, bringing his motherless daughter Ellen. His daughter married Robert J. Jones, of Marshall County, Kan., and has one child, named Edward R. Our subject was a second time married, in the fall of 1873, to Mrs. Mary Jones, who was born in Wales, in 1841. Her parents, William and Eliza- beth Jones, were natives of Wales, and died in their native land.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of five children, on whom they have bestowed the names Robert, Edward, Jane, Lizzie and Evan. Mrs. Roberts is the mother of a son by her first mar- riage, John P. Jones, a native of Wales. Besides giving close attention to the improvement of his farm and the raising of stock, our subject has taken an important part in the public affairs of his town- ship, and has borne a share of the public honors. In the fall of 1887 he was elected Supervisor of the township, and had previously been Road Supervisor for two years. He is widely known as an industri- ous and enterprising business man, who has made a success of his vocation and has won the esteem and confidence of liis fellowmen. Ile is a prominent member of the Welsh Presbyterian Church, and both he and his wife are popular in society circles.
R OBERT LITTLEJOHN, a well-to-do farmer of Hanover Township, who is comfortably located on section 10, was born in the town
of Kilburnie, Ayıshire, Scotland, Nov. 10, 1857. When a child three years of age he came to America with his parents and his brother David. Of the latter a sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume.
The parents of our subject settled in Morgan County, Ill .. and the latter when a boy was em- ployed in the coal mines at Alton. Ile grew to man's estate in that county, and was married, in
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1882, to Miss Jennie, daughter of William Schultz. Mrs. Littlejohn was born in Wisconsin, Oct. 4, 1854, and is the youngest of a family of seven children. Her mother died when she was but one year old, and her father died when she was a little girl of seven. She was reared by her grandparents in Rock Island, Ill., and came to Nebraska with Mr. T. B. Essex. of Rockford Township, with whose family she remained until her marriage. Of this union there are two children-Bertha M. and an infant.
The farm of our subject embraces 320 acres of valuable land, which, with its buildings, its live stock and its machinery, forms one of the most valu- able estates in this part of the county. Mr. Little- john possesses in a marked degree all the reliable qualities of a nationality which is reverted to with pardonable pride by every son of "bonnie" Scotland. He is a man of strict integrity, one whose word is considered as good as his bond. Mrs. Littlejohn is in every respect the suitable companion of such a man as her husband, a lady of more than ordinary intelligence, possessing all the womanly virtues, and a member in good standing of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Politically, Mr. L. is a stanch Re- publican.
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