Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 18

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

USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska > Part 18

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Our subject, E. Hylan Cushman, was born in Wilmington, Vt., Sept. 13, 1845. In due time he took his place upon the benches of the public school, and after he had finished there graduated from the High School. Following this important event, for the next three years he made a good record as a teacher.

In partnership with his younger brother, our subjeet purchased from his father the old homestead and farm, when he attained his majority. He con- tinued to operate the farm for four years, when he sold his interest and went to Lamoille, Ill. Here he entered into the drug business and continued for one year, when, meeting with a good purchaser for his store, he went to Urbana, Champaign County. He bought one-half interest in a drug-store in that place, and continued for nine years in a very prof- itable business. At the end of that time he sold this business and bought some imported Percheron horses, and thus laid the foundation for his stock farm. This occupation has always been very con-

genial to our subject, for even in Vermont he owned full-blooded, registered, Short-horn Durhams. After five years spent in this occupation in Illinois, the removal was made to Nebraska in the year 1887. He purchased a half-section in order to get suffi- eient room for his increasing business. Upon re- moval he shipped to the new stock farm only horses of the very highest grades and full blood. Any- thing at all questionable was sold.

Mr. Cushman is the owner of by far the largest private stable of registered horses in the county, his finest animals at present being "Gastronome," No. 7654, who was imported from France in 1887; Minnie, No. 977, and Brunette, each imported horses. Of his full-blooded American bred are Delevan, No. 5306; Royal, 8211 ; Portia, No. 2424; Queen of Nebraska, No. 8210; JJeanette, No. 4700, and full-blood filly; also twenty high-grade stal- lions and mares, coming as near to full-blood as 31 - 32. Mr. Cushman devotes all his energy and intelligence to the occupation he has chosen to make his favorite life work, and in which he is sneh an eminent success.

Our subject became the husband of Miss O. M. Knowlton, of Wardsboro, Vt., on Nov. 4. 1873, and to them has been born one son-Royal M. Miss Knowlton is the daughter of the llon. M. A. Knowlton, who for several terms has held a seat in the Vermont Legislature. Ever since he was quite a young man he was Deacon of the Baptist Church at Wardsboro, until, upon the death of his wife in the spring of 1877, he left Vermont and took up his residence with our subject, when he was elected Deacon of the church at Champaign, and continued to hold the same until his removal to Nebraska.

Concerning the political attitude of Mr. Cushman there is little to remark. as he has not been promi- nent in civic life and affairs. He has always, how- ever, been a stanch Republican and a supporter of his party, beside being a benefactor to the commu- nity and his adopted State in the manner referred to in our opening paragraph. Our subjeet commands the highest esteem of the community at large, not only by reason of his social status, but also the high character he has sustained and his keen sense of honor. He and his family are in every sense rep-

Yours Truly Truly B. E. Batchcook.

201

LANCASTER COUNTY.

resentative citizens. When he came here he pur- chased 320 acres, and within a few months sold all except fifteen acres at an average of $80 per aere. The well-known Cushman Park forms a part of his original tract. A station on the railroad bearing his name is located within twenty rods of his home.

TEPIIEN DEITCII, a very intelligent man of German birth and parentage, represents a fine property in Elk Precinct, comprising 240 acres of land on section 15. He is thorough and skillful as a farmer, and as a man and citizen possesses the elements which have secured him the esteem and confidence of all who know „him. He is an extensive reader, a gentleman of good education, and keeps himself thoroughly posted upon matters of general interest. His farm- ing operations have been carried on profitably, enabling him to provide against the winter of old age and the other vicissitudes of life.

Our subject was born in the Province of Alsace, France, but which now belongs to Germany, on the 1st of August, 1834. He was placed in school at an early age, and after completing his studies was employed on a farm three years, then commenced an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade. This he followed, however, only about eighteen months, and then, not satisfied with his condition or his prospects upon his native soil, set out for America. On the 13th of December, 1852, he bade adieu to the friends of his childhood and youth, and mak- ing his way to the city of London engaged passage on board a sailing-vessel. After a voyage of nine weeks he landed in the city of New York on the 22d of February following, and thence made his way directly to Pittsburgh, Pa. From there he mi- grated to Clarion County, where he arrived with about $10 in his pocket.

Our subject, however, although a stranger in a strange land, soon procured friends and employ- ment, and followed his trade in that region three months, and then via the Alleghany and Ohio Rivers proceeded to Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade probably eighteen months. He then went into Johnson County, Ind., but returned to the

Queen City in about a year and a half, and from there migrated to Kentucky. Two years later, re- turning to Indiana, he decided to locate in Greens- boro, and opened a shop on his own account.

Mr. Deitch carried on the business above men- tioned until 1882, then disposing of his property in the Hoosier State, came to Southern Nebraska, and purchased 240 acres of his present farm. lIere he commenced at the beginning to build up a home- stead from the primitive soil, and it needs but a glance at his property to realize how well he has improved his time and the manner in which he has been rewarded. There are few rural homes more attractive than the Deitch farm, with its neat and substantial buildings, its generous quantity of frui and shade trees, the well-kept fences, stock and machinery, and all the appurtenanees which aid in forming the complete whole.

About twenty-seven years ago, Jan. 1, 1861, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Rickert, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in Greensboro, Hlenry Co., Ind. Mrs. Deitch was born in Lebanon County, Pa., Feh. 14, 1835, and is the daughter of Frederick and Rebecca Rickert, who were natives of Germany and of pure German stock. They spent their last years in Henry County, Ind., and Pennsylvania, respect- ively. Of her union with our subject there have been born five children, namely : Edmund, Freder- ick, Cora M., Hattie and Mabel. The eldest is twenty-two years of age and the youngest nine.

Mr. Deitch, soon after coming to this country. began to apply himself to the study of English, in which he made good headway and became thor- oughly Americanized, and in accord with the insti- tutions of this country. He usually gives his support to the Democratic party. although meddling very little with political matters.

P ROF. HENRY E. HITCHCOCK, who is oc- cupying the chair of mathematics in the Nebraska State University. at Lincoln, is a splendid representative of the educators of this State. He is a man eminently fitted, by reason of his superior mental endowments and strength

202

LANCASTER COUNTY.

and purity of character, for the high position to which he has been called. He is of good old New England ancestry, and was born in Vergennes, Vt., May 3, 1822. His parents, Alured and Sarah W. (Stevens) Ilitchcock, were natives of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, respectively, and both of pure English descent. His father was a farmer by oc- cupation, and after marriage settled in Vermont, where he remained until his death, which occurred in his fifty-seventh year. In 1836 his mother re- moved to Galesburg, Ill., where she died in 1881, at the ripe old age of ninety-one years.

The subject of this brief biographical sketch was next to the youngest of the eight children born to his parents. His rudimentary education was re- ceived in his native State, and he afterward attended the academy at Whitestown, Oneida Co., N. Y. Removing to Galesburg with his mother our sub- ject entered the preparatory department of Knox College in 1839, and was identified with that insti- tution of learning for many years, first as student, then as tutor, and lastly as Professor. He severed his relations with Knox College in 1872, in order to accept the position which he now holds in the Nebraska State University, removing at that time with his family to Lincoln. His active connection with the university began in the second year of its organization, and when he first became one of the faculty he taught physics in addition to mathe- matics. He is the only remaining member of the original faculty appointed by the first Board of Regents.

The marriage of Prof. Ilitchcock with Miss Mar- garet Gale was solemnized at Galesburg in 1851. She is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., and a daughter of Dr. George W. Gale, founder of Knox College, and also of the city of Galesburg, III. This estimable lady was educated in Knox College, hav- ing been graduated in the class of '50. Prof. Hitchcock. who was graduated from the same col- lege in 1846, was a member of the first graduating class of the college. To our subject and his wife have been born eight children, of whom the follow- ing is the record: llenry S., born Sept. 8, 1852, died Sept. 19, 1887; Harriet died in infancy ; Margaret G. is the wife of Charles E. Bennett. Principal of the Latin School of Nebraska Univer-

sity ; Sarah died at the age of three years; George G., a graduate of the Nebraska State University, is Professor of Greek in Pierre University, D. T .; Louisa J., Mary and Martha L. are at home with their parents.

As an educator Prof. Ilitchcock holds a promi- nent position among his professional brethren ; his enthusiasm and great love for his work, as well as his peculiar gift of imparting instruction, render him an invaluable acquisition to the corps of in- structors in the higher institutions of learning of the State, and he has made an indelible impress upon the minds of the youth of the present genera- tion who have been so fortunate as to sit under his teachings. In politics the Professor has always been a stanch Republican. He and his family are communicants of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a member for fifty-one years, having joined at Galesburg at the formation of the church in that place.

We are pleased to grace one of the pages of this ALBUM with the portrait of Prof. Hitchcock. Few educators in the West are more widely or favorably known and have rendered more valuable service in this important line than he.

G EORGE J. FISCHER. One of the most successful and thrifty farmers of Olive Branch Precinct is the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch, who is of one of those families that have come from another land and found in this country a success and prosperity impossible elsewhere because of the teeming, over- crowded condition of the population. His property, which comprises 240 acres of land, situated upon section 7, is one of the best situated, thoroughly cultivated and stocked farms of the district. Six years ago Mr. Fischer began with a team and $100, and to-day is worth more than $10.000.

The father of our subject, C. L. Fischer, now dead, was a native of Bavaria, Germany, and was born about the year 1826, was reared and educated in his native district. and came to the United States when about twenty-four years of age, and located in Illinois. He was twice married, first to Miss

203

LANCASTER COUNTY.

Krug, at Oswego, Ill. ; after a union marked by its true domesticity she died, and left him with two children, one of whom is still living. A second alliance was entered into, in Grundy County, in the year 1854, with Barbara Krug, a sister of his first wife. This lady was born in Bavaria, and came to this country with her parents when quite small and settled in Illinois, where they died, and where she met and married her husband. In 1874 G. L. Fiseher, wife and family, came to Nebraska and lo- cated in the Big Blue Precinct, Saline County, and there continued until his death, and was fairly pros- perons. His wife is still living upon the homestead, which comprises about 200 acres.

Our subject was born and reared in Grundy County, Ill., on the 20th of January, 1859, and was the fourth of nine children born to his mother; several of them are now dead. He there made his home until about 1874, when he came to Nebraska, where his education was finished, and in due time he married. This most important step, which time has proved to have been a right and happy one, was taken Oct. 2, 1882, in Saline County. The lady of his choice was Amelia Hollman, who was born in Clayton County, lowa, in 1865. She was less than one year old when her father and mother came to Nebraska and took up their farm at Olive Branch. Upon this she was reared, and educated at the neighboring school-house, and at that home she was married.

Our subject and his wife have been made to rec- ognize the felicitous experience of a complete home, three children having been born to them : Clara Idella, the eldest, was born Sept. 20, 1883; her sister, Alma L., was born Aug. 11, 1885; be- sides these there is an infant, Almer A., born June 8, 1888. Onr subject and wife are earnest and ener- getie members of the German Methodist Episco- pal Church, and are among the most consistent and devoted of the communion, at all times prepared to do anything in their power for the advancement of the cause.

in those religious and political, both he and his family are highly esteemed and respected, and we do not hesitate to atfirm that it is more than possi- ble that Lancaster County, and possibly the State, may yet be proud of the service that may be ren- dered by Mr. Fischer.

ENRY HANENKAMP is a public-spirited, genial farmer, residing on section 15, Cen- terville Precinct. He is a son of Henry and Mary Hanenkamp, natives of Germany, in which country he was born on the 28th of March, 1857, being the second eldest son in his father's family. While in Germany, death bereaved him of his mother in the year 1864, and in 1872, with his father and other members of the family, he emi- grated to Amerien. Taking passage on a steamer at Bremen, after a voyage of sixteen days they en- tered the harbor of New York. The family came to Mason County, Ill., where our subject grew to manhood.

On the 3d of November, 1878, our subject mar- ried Miss Margaret Kramer, by whom he had two children : Adolph, who was born on the 27th of Au- gust. 1879, and Margaret, who was born March 10, 1881. While Margaret was but a tiny babe her mother died, on the 13th of March, 1881, leaving her to the care of her father.

Through the medium of the schools and by tak- ing a general course of reading, our subject was enabled to acquire a very fair education, and being obliged to depend on his own labor, he made use of the education which he had acquired, and his know]- edge of men and business, endeavoring to work to the best advantage, so that he can justly claim to have made all the property that he possesses by his own energy, frugality and good management.

Leaving Illinois, our subject came to Lancaster County, Neb., in the spring of 1884, where he now owns 160 acres of good land. on which he has made many improvements, and which yields him very fair results. Ile deserves very much credit for having manfully taken the shaping of his own fortune and the preparation for the future comfort of his fam-

In political cireles our subject is always solid for the Republican party, and unwaveringly lends his influence and gives his suffrage to that party, by which he is acknowledged as one of the stanch and reliable citizens. In outside circles, as well as i ily into his own hands and keeping, and he may

204

LANCASTER COUNTY.

well be termed in the trucst sense of the word a self made man.

Our subject is a member of the Lutheran Church, and to the best of his knowledge and ability he tries to follow the teachings of the most noted of Re- formers of his own country-Martin Luther. In politics, he coincides with the views and principles of the Democratic party, and in matters of general advancement and improvement he takes an active interest.

RTHUR E. BOWERS, a leading farmer and stock-raiser of Yankee Hill Precinct, occu- pies an honorable position among the in- telligent and enterprising citizens of the county, who, by their energetic and well-directed labors, have been largely instrumental in placing it in the foremost ranks as a great agricultural and commercial center. Mr. Bowers was born in the State of New York, on Long Island, Sept. 9, 1840, and is a son of Joseph and Maria (Stephens) Bow- ers, both natives of Massachusetts, the father and also the mother, it is supposed, being of English descent. When he was about twelve years old he removed with his parents to Dutchess County, N. Y., and when he was about sixteen they made an- other move, going then to Virginia, where they remained about four years. They then took up their abode in Clermont County, Ohio, but after residing there a short time they moved to Ripley County, Ind, and subsequently to Jackson County, in the same State.

While living in Jackson County, Ind., our sub_ ject left home and friends to go forth and defend his country's honor on many a hard-fought battle- field in the rebellious States of the South, enlisting Aug. 20, 1862, in Company K, 5th Indiana Cavalry, as a private. Ilis regiment was attached to the Army of the Ohio, and finally became a part of Sherman's army. Our subject was actively en- gaged under that noted leader in the Georgia cam- paign from Dalton to Atlanta, during which time he was under fire a great deal, while performing the duties that devolve on a cavalryman. Prior to that his regiment had taken part in the pursuit of the famous raider Morgan, being gone on that ex-

pedition from July 4 to July 20, and they succeeded in capturing the most of the rebel's force, with the exception of a few hundred men. After the Mor- gan raid the regiment to which our subject belonged was refitted, remounted, and sent to East Ten- nessee, where it took part in a campaign which lasted from sometime in September until about the Ist of the following January, including the siege of Knoxville, from which Longstreet was trying to force Burnside. After that he and his comrades took part in a good deal of guerrilla warfare in Ken- tucky, and were engaged in many fights and skir- mishes in the[campaign from Dalton to Atlanta, which was almost one continuous fight. Our sub- ject was honorably discharged from the army June 15, 1865, as Sergeant, having served with efficiency and gallantry until after the close of the war. He then returned to Jackson County, Ind., and again assumed the duties of a civilian.

Feb. 22, 1874, Mr. Bowers was united in mar- riage to Miss Maria Baldwin, a native of Jackson County, Ind., born Jan. 26. 1844. She is a daugh- ter of William and Pearl (Brown) Baldwin, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Her paternal grandfather was a native of England, and emigrated to America subsequent to the Revolu- tion. Her parents were married in Indiana, and had born to them twelve children, of whom three survive, namely : John, of Seymour, Ind .; William, of Medora, Ind .. and Maria. Her parents were early settlers of Jackson County, Ind., having es- tablished their home there some sixty years ago, and there her father died in August, 1874. The mother still survives, and is now nearly eighty years old. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed to them by the birth of three children, as follows: William B., born Oct. 11, 1876; Alma, born Sept, 29, 1881, died Oct. 14, 1884; Benjamin A. was born May 7, 1883.

Shortly after his marriage our subject set out for Nebraska, accompanied by his wife, to make a home on these fertile prairies. He settled on the north- west quarter of section 31, Yankee Ilill Township, and has since been a valued citizen of this common- nity. He owns a quarter-section of land, which by downright hard labor he has developed into one of the finest farms in this locality. He has erected

205

LANCASTER COUNTY.

comfortable and convenient buildings, and every- thing about the place denotes the thrift and able management of the owner, and that his reputation as a practical and skillful farmer is not undeserved. All his prosperity is due to the fact that he has not despised hard work as a means to an end, and, also, to the ready and cheerful assistance afforded to bim by a good wife who has administered her affairs with frugality and wise economy. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bowers are earnest and sincere Christians and active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church. and he is at present serving as Class-Leader. In politics Mr. Bowers favors the Prohibition party ; he is always to be found on the side of the right, and is a promoter and encourager of every scheme that will in any way enhance the material progress of the county or township where he resides, or that will serve to elevate their moral and social status.

P E. LONGSTREET. Our great Republic not only owes a debt of undying gratitude to the noble citizen soldier, who, during the late war, in the "times that tried men's souls," unhesitatingly went forth to do battle for her cause, but she is under obligations to them for what they have since achieved in building up the country, and developing still further the magnifi- cent resources. Not a quarter of a century has elapsed since the last battle was fought, and the brave soldiers who had brought the war to a suc- cessful issue laid down their arms and resumed the quiet vocations which they had dropped at the first alarm of war to march forth to Southern battle- fields to defend the stars and stripes, which, but for their valor and patriotism, would not now wave over a free and undivided country. Many of them then, or afterward, sought new homes on the great Western plains, and our country thus became a second time indebted to them, as they have been important factors in turning the greater part of what was known as the " Great American Desert" into magnificent harvest fields. and in planting opulent cities and busy towns where before were wild, silent, untrodden wastes, thus showing, as the

great and glorious Milton wrote, that " Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than war."

As a fine representative of this class of citizens. one who has done his share of this great work, we are pleased to give a place in this volume to a sketch of the life of P. E. Longstreet. IIe is a prosperous member of the farming community of Lancaster County, and has for many years been prominently identified with its growth. He owns on section 33, Lancaster Township, a valuable farm, admirably located within easy access of the markets, being only four miles from Lincoln, and for eulti- vation and productiveness it has no superior in the vicinity.

The father of our subject, Nelson Longstreet, was a lifelong citizen of Seneca County, N. Y., where he was born in 1806, and died in 1855, scarcely past the prime of life. He earned his living as a day laborer, and by his upright course in life as a man of steady habits, kindly nature, and sturdy integrity of character, he was justly esteemed by all who knew him. He married in early life Clarinda Coon, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Coon, of Seneca County, N. Y., where she was born in 1811. She was a woman highly re- spected for her many good qualities, and her use- ful life of sixty-nine years' duration closed in October, 1880. She was the mother of six children, four of whom were sons, and the family record is as follows: Richard R., born March 17, 1836, lives in Cayuga County, N. Y .; P. E., our subject, born June 26, 1838; Charles N., born Jan. 7, 1841, lives in Cayuga County, N. Y .; Clarinda, born July 4, 1844, married Lewis Bond, a commercial agent ; Rachel, born Sept. 12, 1846, married Charles Gunn, and is now a widow; Loren, born Sept. 7, 1856, lives in Seneca County, N. Y., where he owns a large vineyard and makes the culture of the grape his business.

Our subject was early trained to industrious and frugal habits in the home of his parents, and at the age of fifteen, being then an active, manly, self- reliant lad, he commenced life for himself by working out on a farm by the month. IIe contin- ned thus busily employed until the breaking out of the war, and as soon as he could be spared from the duties that devolved upon him at home, he

206

LANCASTER COUNTY.

hastened to join his companions who were defend- ing the honor of the old flag on the bloody battle- fields of the South. He enlisted in Company G. 126th New York Infantry, Aug. 9, 1862, and after drilling at Geneva, Seneca Co .. N. Y., for about a week, entered active service under Gen. Miks, and in the terrible years that followed he suffered all the horrors and privations of war in being wounded nigh unto death, imprisoned, nearly starved, etc. lle was captured at Harper's Ferry, and was held a prisoner for three months before being paroled. Ile served at both battles of Bull Run, at Cedar Creek, was twice in action at Culpeper Court Ilouse, took an active part in the battle of the Wil- derness, was at the Whitehouse through three skir- mishes, did valiant service in the battle of Peters- burg, and then was engaged in the battle of HIatchies' Run. In this battle our subject was wounded by having his leg broken, and after that he lay on the field two days and nights, suffering eruelly from the torments of thirst and pain, and then was only taken up as a prisoner, destined for Libby Prison. Hle was forty-eight hours on the road without his leg receiving any attention, and when the rebel surgeon came to dress it he insisted that it must be amputated. Mr. Longstreet strongly objected to such a procedure, and by a little care his strong constitution triumphed, and he recovered, although given over to die He was held a prisoner for nearly three months, and finally became able to get about on crutches. He and his fellow-pris- oners had a starving time of it on corn bread, made from corn and cob meal, and soup made from beef and potatoes boiled together till all pulp and then stirred with cold water, each prisoner getting his rations twice a day, from one-fourth of a cup to a pint of soup and a piece of corn bread an inch square. Mr. Longstreet and his comrades were finally exchanged and taken to Annapolis, Md., and thence to Baltimore, where he remained about six weeks in the hospital. He was then sent with others to York River, where he remained until his discharge in 1865. Our subject won an honor- able reeord on some of the most hotly contested battle-fields of the war, displaying throughout his entire service the cool, courageous, self-sacrificing spirit of the true soldier, and his officers found in

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 18

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

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