Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 17

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 812

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fession for ten years'in that vicinity. He then associated himself with Platt R. Spencer, for the purpose of perfecting his penmanship, and after- ward taught that branch in the winter, when he also commenced to read medicine with Dr. James Wheeler, of Andover, Ashtabula County. After that he attended a course of lectures at Ann Arbor University, Mich., and from there went to Castle- ton, Vt., in 1853, where he finished a complete course of study, and became a full-fledged physi- cian. He commenced the practice of his profession in Harrisville, Pa., and for twenty-eight years actively pursued his high calling, becoming one of the leading physicians in that part of the country. He became particularly noted for his rare skill in diagnosing a case, seeming to know by intuition and without asking questions what ailed his patient, and scarcely ever making a mistake as to the cause or seat of the disease. He came to Lincoln in March, 1884, and is now living in retirement from active practice, in a home of luxury and ease, and in the enjoyment of an ample income,

Dr. Cooke married, March 8, 1855, Miss Har- riet M. Mossman, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Gillispie) Mossman, and to this alliance he owes much of his success and happiness in life. Her father was born in Fayette County, Pa., May 20, 1799, and became an early settler of Mercer County, in that State, where he suffered all the hardships of pioneer life. He died on the same farm where most of his days were spent. Mrs. Cooke's mother was born March 26, 1812, in Westmoreland County, Pa., and she now lives in Greenville, Mercer Co., Pa., where Mrs. Cooke's great-grandfather and grand- father on the maternal side settled, and all died in the same county; her parents were natives of Maryland. Mrs. Cooke's mother, notwithstanding her advanced years, possesses in a remarkable de- gree much of her youthful vigor, and in 1887 made her friends in Lincoln a most enjoyable visit. Mrs. Cooke is the mother of three daugliters, all of whom are now living. She was born in Mercer County, Pa., March 16, 1836. She is a lady of marked culture. receiving the benefit of a superior ednca- tion, and was engaged in the profession of teach- ing until her marriage, making her home until that time with her parents.

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Dr. Cooke and his amiable wife are the parents of five talented children, of whom they are exceed- ingly proud. The following is their record: Min- nie V .. born Feb. 22, 1856; Sadie E., born March 6, 1862, married Adolph Weber, born in Freidberg, Germany, and a teacher of music, in Lincoln ; they have one daughter, named Lieschen Bianca. Thomas M., born June 4, 1863, lives with his parents; Eliza- beth R .. born Oct. 26, 1865, married Edward L. Baker, a publisher, of Chicago, Ill .; Hattie M., born Dec. 12, 1878, is at home with her father and mother. The only son of this household is a promis- ing young lawyer of Lincoln. He is very finely educated, being a graduate of the class of '83, of Thiel College, Pennsylvania. He then studied law in Lincoln, was admitted to the bar of Nebraska, and now holds the position of Deputy Register of Deeds, of Lancaster County. The Doctor's daugh- ters, Mrs. Weber and Mrs. Baker. are gifted singers, with highly cultivated voices of rare power and compass, and they are becoming famous throughout the country.

OHN CROPSEY. The gentleman who is the subject of the present writing resides on seetion 26, Yankee Hill Precinct, and is one of the representative citizens. He is a na- tive of Niagara County, N. Y., in which place his parents were also born, His natal day was Feb. 5, 1828, and his parents were Daniel W. and Elizabeth Cropsey. His paternal ancestors were from the land of dykes and windmills, and the sturdiness of character and persevering effort which are so charac- teristic of the Hollander may be traced in trans- mitted tendencies to several generations. Anyone who has given thought to the earlier history of Manhattan, will readily perceive, not simply the cause of this national characteristic, but its marked effect on this country, from its formative period to the present.

Our subject continued with his parents at their home in New York State until he was seventeen years of age. There was nothing unusual about his boyhood and youth; his life was spent in the occupations incident to childhood, afterward varied

by the introduction of school life, with its lessons, and what is often called a trivial round of common tasks, interspersed here and there with the recrea- tion of a holiday or picnic, followed by promotion to the onerous duties which followed the day when he first "went to work."

At this period the family, with our subject, re- moved to Will County. Ill., where they were among the earliest settlers. There was little in their life to mark them as different from their neighbors; the home was one of those plain but substantial pioneer homes which have from time to time sprung up throughont all the great West, and if distin- guished from the homes of our cities, it would be upon the line of simplicity and more natural en- vironment. Until manhood was reached John Crop- sey lived the life of the pioneer, and perhaps, unknown to himself, but none the less really, was he being tutored in the school of hardship and in- dustry for the time when he should stand ont. alone at first, and afterward as the head of a family, to fight the battle of life.

In Marcella F. Chilson, a native of Vermont, Mr. Cropsey found the lady with whom he conceived he could make life a success if united to her according to the design of the Great Creator, when he established that closest of all relationships. They were accord- ingly married Nov. 28, 1863. Their home has been brightened by the advent of four children : Frank K., Nettie, Gilbert, and one other, who, after a short sojourn, returned to the home of the Great Father.

Mr. Cropsey came to Nebraska in 1875, locating in Cass County, where he remained four years, when he removed to Thayer County. A beautiful farm comprising 640 acres, in a high state of culti- vation, is still owned by him in that county. In 1887 he removed to the land then purchased, the place of his present residence, as described above. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cropsey are earnest, consistent and active members of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Cropsey having for several years filled the office of Elder of the Belvidere Church in Thayer County. He earnestly advocates and upholds the principles of Republicanism. Any enterprise worthy. laudable and practicable, for the advancement of the interests of the people, the elevation of society, the protection

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of the home, the throwing of safeguards around the youth, never fails to find in him a warm friend, and to receive such ungrudging support as his strong character and manliness dietate.

Frank K. Cropsey, son of our subject, is the owner of a splendid farm of 205 acres of land in this vicinity. He came to Lancaster County in the fall of 1884, from which time on he has met with the success which rightly belongs to the earnest, true and faithful worker in any part in life. In politics he is an Independent, being swayed by the principles of the undying right in preference to any party platform.

ENRY BOLDT. Among the most daring. enterprising, and most ancient of the Norse- men to push out into the great unknown seas of the Northern hemisphere in quest of adventure, plunder or conquest, were those from Denmark, and if their legends speak truly, they were among the first, whether by accident it matters not, to tread the shores of our great continent.

Among those immigrants from other lands who throng our shores and overflow to our broad prai- ries, we question if there are any more appreciative of the institutions of their adopted country, more resolved to build up themselves and the country, than the descendants of those old Norse kings from the fiords of Denmark. In our subject we have one of these; he was born in Denmark, Dec. 27, 1850, in which country he lived until nineteen years of age, and wherein he received the founda- tion and groundwork of his education and gen- eral adaptability for the multifarious duties and responsibilities of life. About the year 1869 or 1870, having left his old home and country, he landed in New York, and went direct to Brown County, Ill., where he engaged in farming, and continued to live for about three years, when he came to Nebraska. After careful inspection of the surrounding country he finally settled in Nemaha Precinct, upon the farm which is still his home. The reward of former training and assiduous appli- cation is his, and to-day he is the owner of 120 acres of good land in a high state of cultivation, and

yielding more than the average crop. He has spent much time and thought, and not a little capital, npon various improvements from time to time deemed advisable or requisite. He has erected convenient and substantial barns, stables and other farm buildings, and, in addition, possesses a home in which the requirements of our modern civiliza- tion are by no means overlooked.

March 17, 1876, at Lincoln, Neb., Mr. Boldt was united in marriage with Thene Hanson, a native of Denmark, in which country she was born in 1852. There have been born to them five children, in order of birth as follows: Thea Christina, Rosa, Laura, Clara and Emile.

Mr. and Mrs. Boldt are stanch and consistent members of the Lutheran Church. In this com- munion they have been reared, and have continued from that time. Although taking no active or specially prominent part in politics, Mr. Boldt has formed his own intelligent opinions, affiliates with the Republican party and votes its ticket.

ENRY C. RELLER is a prominent citizen of Buda Precinct, and one of the number who can boast of an honorable war record. He was born on the 5th of July, 1837, in Ilanover, Germany, and is the son of John H and Elzebine (Sieck) Reller, who were both natives of the same country. He was the only son born to his parents, though they had several daughters. His father died when he was but three years old, and in the year 1848, when he was eleven years old, in company with his mother and three sisters he came to America. Two of the sisters had preceded them in their journey across the water, and the five re- maining members of the family left Bremen and arrived in Baltimore, Md., after a tiresome voyage of seven weeks and one day on a sailing-vessel.

Immediately upon their arrival in this country our subject and his family went to Scioto County. Ohio, which place they reached on the 26th of May, 1848. After awhile the mother of this family of children was also taken from them, and they were left alone to battle with the world as best they could. For five years our subject worked as a

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farm hand, and then he went to the iron works of his brother-in-law, Henry Spellman, in Harrison Township. of the same county. The establishment was then known by the name of "Harrison's Fur- nace," and in it our subject was employed for some six years. after which he engaged in farming for a short time until the beginning of the late war.

In October, 1861, our subject enlisted as a pri- vate in Company B, 56th Ohio Infantry. and on the 16th of February, 1862, he participated in the battle at Ft. Donelson. being attached to the divis- ion under command of Gen. Lew Wallace. When the never-to-be-forgotten battle of Pittsburg Land- ing occurred-well meriting the title of "Shiloh's dark and bloody ground"-the division to which our subject belonged had been held in reserve at Krumm's Landing in order to take charge of the provisions, etc., and he did not participate in the battle until on Monday morning, it having com- menced on the Sunday morning preceding. Sub- sequently he participated in the siege of Corinth, Miss., until it was evacuated by Beauregard, and was one among the number who occupied the city of Memphis after its capture.

From Memphis, the regiment to which our suh- ject belonged was ordered to Wilson's Creek, Tenn., to assist in the building of a railroad bridge and protect the workmen, but on the day following their arrival a number of the men, including our subject, were captured and taken as prisoners to Byhalia, Miss. There were in all about seventy men confined for about two weeks, when our sub- ject was paroled, and permitted to return to Sher- man's headquarters in Tennessee. Thence he was sent to Columbus, Ohio, to camp parole, to await the proper exchange, after which, and while still at Columbus, he was taken ill, and being incapaci- tated for service, he was discharged by the hospital physician in April, 1863.

After the honorable discharge of our subject from the service of his country, he returned to his home in Ohio, and was again employed in the iron works until the year 1869. In that year he came to Lancaster County, and settled on his present farm, on seetion 5, Buda Preeinet, in 1872. He is the owner of 320 acres of land on section 5, and 80 acres on section 16. so that altogether he has the

entire control of 400 acres of land, which he has secured hy hard work and economy. as he had practically no means when he came here.

Mr. Reller was married, in Ohio, in April, 1858, to Catherine Ketter, and they had a family of eight children. four of whom are now living: Dr. Will- iam E. Reller is a physician and druggist, residing at West Point, this State, and the names of the other three surviving members of the family are: John F., Charles II. and Mary E. Mr. and Mrs. Reller are prominent members of society, and are among the leaders in all movements for reform and improvement, both also being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Our subject is a Republican in politics, and has taken an active part in public affairs, having been first elected in the fall of 1881 as County Commis- sioner, and, having served one term of three years, received the renomination by acclamation, and served a second term of the same duration. an indication of his popularity with the public. When the question of building the conrt-house was being agitated, our subject was really the prime mover in keeping it before the public, and it was finally car- ried to a successful issue. During his administra- tion the county bonds had been drawing 10 per cent interest, and after quite an important negotia- tion he succeeded in reducing the interest to half that amount, making them 5 per cent interest bear- ing bonds, thus securing the saving of a large amount to the county. Ile has filled this office faithfully and conscientiously, and with credit to himself and his constituents. He has also served in some of the important precinct offices, always favoring everything by which he thought the county could be improved and society elevated.

OHN P. LANTZ, EsQ., is one of the leading citizens of Lincoln and one of its early set- tlers, to whom she is greatly indebted for her growth and material prosperity. He came here in the spring of 1868, and in company with D. A. Sherwood, opened in a small frame building on the northwest corner of Eleventh and O streets the first real-estate office ever established in Lincoln,

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and much of the landed property of Laneaster County has passed through the hands of himself and his partner, and it is in part owing to their assiduous labors that it has become so well settled. When he first located here there were about 300 inhabitants in the city, which had been laid out the year before, and the surrounding country was wild, open prairie, with Government land in sight, awaiting the coming of the " homesteaders," and deer, elk and antelopes were plenty. From this humble beginning he has with great pleasure witnessed the growth of the little prairie hamlet to one of the largest and most prosperous cities west of the Mississippi, with a population of nearly 50,000 inhabitants, with ma- jestic brick and stone blocks and elegant residences on the site of the unpretentious frame and log build- ings of twenty years ago.

Mr. Lantz was born March 26, 1823, in Sandusky City, Ohio, being a son of George Lantz, one of the pioneers of Ohio, where he located in 1800, while it was under Territorial government. The latter was reared in Newton, Sussex Co., N. J., and his father, also named George, was a native of Germany, and was, it is thought, the first mem- ber of the family to come to this country. He set- tled in New Jersey, and there spent the last years of his life. The father of our subject was a young man when he went to Ohio to seek his fortunes, and he married, in the town of Athens, Miss Mary Perkins, who greatly aided him in building up a home. Mr. Lantz subsequently moved to Ross County, in the same State, and from there to San- dusky City. In 1823 he made still another mnove, and located in Williams County as one of the early settlers of Ft. Defiance, building there the first frame house, he being a carpenter by trade. He followed his calling there until 1833, when he became a resi- dent of Beaver (now Pulaski) Precinct. where he bought a heavily timbered tract of land. He had to cut a road through the wildnerness to his land, and he then built a hewed log house, which was con- sidered quite a fine dwelling as compared with the humble cabins of his fellow-pioneers. In those days Indians were numerous, and deer, bears and wild turkeys were plenty ; wild game furnished the prin- cipal dish at their meals. There was no railway, and Ft. Defiance was the nearest market and depot for

supplies in all the country around for many miles. Mr. Lantz was very industrious, and he became quite prosperous, clearing a good farm from the forest-covered land, and residing on it until his death. He was a wise, far-seeing man, and took an active part in local affairs, serving as Justice of the Peace for twenty years. The worthy wife of this good man, who was a native of Maryland, died in Lincoln in 1875, at the age of eighty-three years.

John P. Lantz was but a few weeks old when his parents took him to Williams County, where he grew to be a manly, vigorous man. Ilis education was mostly conducted under the careful super- intendenee of his father and mother, as the settle- ment of the county was so slow that schools were not established for several years. At the age of fifteen he did, however, attend school for three months. By careful attention to his books, at the age of eighteen he had amply qualified himself for the position of teacher, and he taught with success for eleven terms, but being naturally of a keen. bright intellect, the study of jurisprudence had a strong fascination for him, and he devoted all of his spare time to reading law, and was finally ad- mitted to the bar at Ft. Defiance. He established himself in the practice of his profession at Bryan, and by his careful attention to business and his good, practical knowledge of law, he gained a large and remunerative clientage. In March. 1868, he decided to take up his abode in Lincoln, as he shrewdly foresaw the future that lay before the little town, transforming it into a thriving metropolis. He came by rail to Pacific Junction, from there was ferried across the Missouri to Plattsmouth, and there took the stage for Lincoln. His intentions had been to open a law office here, but there seemed to be no clients, and he saw that there was a good open- ing for a live business man as a real-estate agent, be- ing convinced that with its marvelous advantages of soil, climate and location. Lancaster County had within itself the possibilities of a great future if its resources could be developed by a thrifty, honest and energetie people. Accordingly he earnestly set himself to work, aided by his able partner, to induce emigration to this favored land, and many settlers have been attracted hither by his practical repre- sentation and intelligent descriptions of the country.

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lle has continued in the real-estate business here ever since. and has placed himself among the mon- eyed, substantial citizens of Lincoln.

For the coziness and comfort of a very pleasant home our subject is under obligation to his esti- mable wife, to whom he was united in marriage Aug. 12, 1849. She was formerly Miss Hannah Aubrey, and is a native of Ohio. Clara, the only child born of their marriage, became the wife of Oscar Parker, and died at her home in Colorado Springs, in June, 1888.

Mr. Lantz takes much interest in politics, and has always been true to the Republican party. He has efficiently served the muneipality as Notary Public ever since his appointment a few months after his settlement here.

E HYLAN CUSHMAN is a general farmer importer and raiser of Percheron horses, and as such holds a very important place in a new community which has not yet attained its growth. In all such communities men who will undertake the arduous work of bringing to the farmer and merchant improved cattle and horses, confer an inestimable benefit upon such a cominu- nity.

Our subject is the owner of fifteen acres of ground on section 30, Garfield Precinct, upon which he has simply his residence and home stables. Ile rents in addition a large farm for stock purposes. His home is situated three and one-half miles west of Lineoln, between O and A streets, now the Atchison & Nebraska division of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, where there is a station that bears his name-Cushman. In addition to the above he also has 160 acres one mile from Pleasant Dale, this county, and owns a farm of 160 acres in Min- nesota.

Silas Cushinan, the father of our subject, was born Aug. 10, 1795, in Wilmington, Vt., on his father's farm, upon which he continued to live for seventy-five years, and occupied a prominent posi- tion as a farmer. In November, 1822, he became the husband of Cordelia M. Haskins. At the time of his marriage he was the owner of only seven

acres of land, but by economy and indomitable en- ergy, for many years before his death he owned upward of 200 acres, and in addition to his farm- house a large and elegant town residence. Ilis wife was born in Wilmington, where she continued to reside until the death of her husband, when she went to reside with her children in Illinois, in which State she died in the year 1887, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. She was the mother of twelve children-Lester, Lorena M., Marrilla S., Alvin, Daniel, Caroline, Joseph Warren, Mary M .. Martha A. Albert W., E. Hylan (our subject) and Henry E. Lester and Daniel are both residents of Champaign, Ill., the latter being quite prominent as a raiser of horses; Lorena was first married to Will- iam llaskins, and after his death to David Stanard; both are deceased. Marrilla became the wife of George Rose, and is residing in Wilmington; Alvin and Caroline are both deceased ; Joseph is residing three miles east of Lincoln : Mary is the wife of L. B. Merrifield, President of the organ factory at Ot- tawa; Martha is now Mrs. L. W. Brown, of Lin- coln, where Henry E. also resides, and Albert died at the age of sixteen years.

The grandfather of our subject, Barnabas Cush- man, was a native of Vermont, and was born Dec. 7, 1751, in Middleboro. He was united in marriage with Deliverance Lawrenee, who was born in 1780, in Hardwick, Vt. They were residents of Wilming- ton when he died, in 1812. lle was one of the earliest settlers of Wilmington, and the only ap- proach was by bridle paths, or by a track through the woods marked by the blaze of the woodman's ax. The nearest stores were in Greenfield, Mass., and they experienced all the inconveniences and dis- comforts incidental to such a condition of pioneer- ism. Nevertheless, by well-directed energy and industry he amassed a large estate.

John Cushman, Jr., the great-grandfather of our subjeet, was born at Plympton, Mass., and was mar- ried, Feb. 17, 1746, to Deborah Raymond; they were blessed by three children-Johanna, Barnabas and Ephraim. llis father, John Cushman, Sr., and great-great-grandfather of our subject, was born Aug. 16, 1690, and was married to Johanna Pratt. Jan. 19, 1715. Their family comprised three chil- den-Jobn. Jr., Eleazur and Charles. Stepping

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back another generation we find Eleazur Cushman, the father of John Cushman, Sr., who was born at Plympton, Feb. 20, 1656, married Elizabeth Combes, Jan. 12. 1687, and continued to live in their native town, where five children were born to them : Lydia. afterward Mrs. John Waterman, of Halifax; John, Moses, James and William. Thomas Cushman, father of the above and great-great-great-great- grandfather of our subject, was born in England in February of the year 1608. 1Ie eame with his father to this country in the month of July, 1621, when at the age of fourteen years. In the year 1635 he was married to Mary Allerton, and was one to hold important office in the hierarchy in the colony of Plymouth. (See page 87 of Cushman genealogy.) Robert Cushman, the father of Thomas, is considered to be the ancestor of all bearing the name in the United States. He was born in 1580-85, and was one of the band who left their native land for the sake of freedom in religion. To him had been given the responsible task of going to London and hiring a vessel larger than the "Mayflower," of "burden about nine score," and to see that she was sent round to Southampton, there to meet their companions from Holland. (See page 25, gene- alogy.)

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Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 17

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers Number of Pages: 812

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 812