Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 19

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 19

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).

him one who was prompt in obeying orders and one who could be thoroughly trusted. one, in fact, whose every act was inspired by patriotism and de- votion to his country.

After leaving the army, Mr. Longstreet returned to his native State, and went to work on a farm by the month, being thus employed until his marriage, Jan. 27, 1870, with Miss Minerva, daughter of Aaron and Julia (Bennett) Wilson, of Ovid, Seneca Co., N. Y. Mrs. Longstreet can trace her gen- ealogy baek several generations, to Ralph and Mary Wilson, who were the first of the family to leave their home across the waters to come to the United States. Their son David, from whom our subject's wife is lineally descended, was born April 29, 1732, the very day that they arrived in this country. He married and reared a family of four children, of whom his son Joseph, born Feb. 8, 1764, was Mrs. Longstreet's grandfather. Of the twelve chil- dren that completed his family circle, his son Aaron, Mrs. Longstreet's father, was born May 13, 1808, and is still living at an advanced age with his wife on the old homestead in Seneca County, where his ancestors made their home when they first came to America. Mrs. Wilson was born March 18, 1816. Their daughter, Mrs. Longstreet, is the fifth in order of birth of the ten children who have been born to them, she first seeing the light of day in the old home Jan. 27, 1842. She and her husband are the parents of two children, namely : Estelle M., born Nov. 26, 1873; Ira W., Jan. 18, 1875.

Immediately after marriage our subject and his wife left their native State to found for themselves a home on the rich prairies of Nebraska. Mr. Long- street purchased a traet of seventy-four acres of land, upon which he lived for sixteen years. Ife then sold that and bought his present farm, paying therefor $40 an acre. Under his skillful manage- ment, and owing to the rapid growth of the country, it has greatly increased in value, so that it is now worth $120 an aere. It originally comprised 160 acres, but he disposed of forty acres of it for $100 an acre.

Mr. Longstreet has taken an active part in the administration of public affairs in Lancaster; has served as Assessor of the township for seven years and as School Director for four years, and no citizen

207

LANCASTER COUNTY.

takes a deeper or more earnest interest in the wel- fare of his community. Ile and his family are valued members of the Baptist Church, of Lincoln, In politics, Mr. Longstreet is a firm supporter of the principles advanced by the Republican party. Socially, he is prominently identified with the G. A. R., as represented by Farragut Post No. 25, at Lincoln.

S ILAS M. CLARK. In this biographical compend are presented the prominent feat- ures of the life of one of the most respected, honorable and large-hearted farmers of Rock Creek Precinct, whose property is situated on section 34, and comprises 160 acres of excellent land in an irreproachable condition of agricultural efficiency.

Our subject is the son of Hezekiah Clark, who was born about the year 1780, in Jefferson County, N. Y., and died in the same place in 1840. His wife was Lucy Watson, who was born in 1790 in Center, N. Y., and died in Jefferson County in 1883. Her husband was by trade a carpenter and builder, in which calling he was increasingly suc- cessful. Their home circle included twelve chil- dren, five of whom are now living: Julia, now Mrs. DeLong, whose husband is now a retired merchant ; they reside in Warren, Ill. William, a successful merchant in Boston, Mass., but now retired from active work; Irene Mathews, relict of Mr. Mathews, whose home is also at Warren; Philena Bloomer is now living at Rock Creek, and Silas M. Clark, who was born Jan. 17, 1836, in Jefferson.

Until he was twenty years of age our subject made his home with his parents. His education was received in the public school, afterward sup- plemented by a course in a private academy. About the year 1856 he began farming, and continued in the same until 1862, when he enlisted, on the 19th of July, in Company A, 10th New York Heavy Artillery. Until the spring of 1864 he was doing garrison duty at Washington, but at that time they were ordered to the front, and arrived at Cold Harbor almost immediately after the battle at that place. They were attached to the 18th Army

Corps, and with them proceeded to Petersburg and were in the battle at that place. They remained at the front until the 15th of August, when they were ordered back to Washington for about thirty days, and then went to the Shenandoah Valley for two months, but took part in no engagements. On the 2d of April following they entered into an engage- ment with the rebel forces, losing about eighty men, and were shortly afterward dispatched to Peters- burg for provost duty, where they remained until June 22, 1865, and were then discharged by general order.

After leaving the army Mr. Clark remained at Ogdensburg, in St. Lawrence County, and worked at merchandising. The following year, 1866, he began farming in Jefferson County, N. Y., and was fairly successful during his residence for about five years, when he removed to this county, and bought a farm of 160 acres for $17,000. This land be speedily made [quite fertile and raised large har- vests; he suffered in 1883 very considerably from hailstorms, losing nearly the whole of his crops. His specialty is stock-raising, but what part of his farm is not required to raise feed for liis stock is used for grain.

One of the most important steps in the life of any man, perhaps more than any other a farmer, is that wherein he unites himself "for better or worse, for richer or poorer." We say especially a farmer, because during the year, and especially the winter, the little household is largely shut into it- self, forming its own little world, and each is de- pendent upon the other so much for all that goes to make life worth living. In large centers of population this is not so, and if one has no com- panion at home there are opportunities within easy reach that will enable the sufferer to forget the same. Our subject in this important step happily made no mistake when he took to himself Margaret Weller. They were married April 2, 1859, at Ogdensburg. This lady is the daughter of John C. and Ann (Bennett) Weller. Her father and mother were both natives of England. Her father was born in 1803, and landed in Quebec in the year 1840. After a short residence in that city he went to Ogdensburg, N. Y. Mrs. Weller was born in 1801, and is still living and in the enjoyment of

208

LANCASTER COUNTY.

good health. Their family included twelve chil- dren, of whom seven are still living. The names are recorded as follows: John, Margaret (wife of our subject), Carrie, William, Anna, Eliza and Emma.

After Mr. Clark took possession of his farm he began the improvement of the same at once, first. however, providing a home shelter for the family. This took the form of a dug-out, which a little eare and labor made not only habitable but comfort- able. The person who has lived always in some brown or white stone front mansion would be sur- prised at the amount of solid comfort and good cheer to be found in a claim shanty or dug-out. During the grasshopper plague his crops suffered severely, but he did not get disheartened; he was made of better stuff, and mutually encouraging each other, himself and wife worked together and soon recovered all that seemed to have been irretrievably lost. Their family has grown to include three chil- dren : William, born Jan. 12, 1860 ; Hattie E., born on the 11th of February, 1863, is a resident at Rock Creek with her husband, Frank E. Rogers; and Lilian .M., now Mrs. James Michael, born Oct. 15, 1867.

Mrs. Clark is one of the prominent and most de- voted members of the Congregational Church at Waverly, and in that communion is very greatly esteemed, as she is, indeed. in common with her husband, by all who know her. They are now reaping the golden harvest of a life of energetic toil, honor and loyalty to themselves and neighbors. Our subject is in politieal matters associated with the Republican party, and takes a deep interest in all matters. whether national or less far-reaching. He has been for over four years Justice of the Peace, in which position he has served to the great- est satisfaction of all concerned. Socially. he is a member of Mitchell Post No. 38, G. A. R., of Waverly.

In visiting jewelry stores one is often struck with the different styles of the larger pieces of silver- ware, as made for ornamental and useful purposes. Some are pretty, but without solidity ; others fan- tastic but apparently without any place to get hold of them; and then there are those good, solid pieces of full weight and sterling value; not, perhaps, so

full of embellishment and trick of design. but when you see and handle them you know exactly what they are and for what use. So with men ; some are handsome but useless; others so full of angularities and tricks that yon cannot touch them; and then again there are those solid in worth, honest in pur- pose, large-souled, beneficent men whom it is al- ways a pleasure to meet and an honor to know. Such an one is the subject of this sketch.

E DWARD YOUNG, the leading tobacconist of Lincoln, has been established here since 1886; he has a fine store and does an exten- sive business. Hle is a Pennsylvanian by birth, born in Lycoming County, Oct. 9, 1845. His father, Henry Young, was a native of Scotland, his birth occurring Oct. 11, 1810, and the grandfather of our subject, Jacob Young, likewise of Scottish birth, came to America with his family in 1828. He settled in Maryland, bought land, and engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising. He spent his last years in Frederick County, that State, dying at the advanced age of eighty-two years.

The father of our subject was about eighteen years of age when he came to America. Ile mar- ried, in Maryland, Elizabeth Michael, and after a few years of a happy wedded life she died in the home that they had established in that State, being only thirty-two years of age. Mr. Young finally sold his farm in Maryland and moved to Lycoming County, Pa., where he engaged in the lumber business until 1859. He then returned to Maryland, and re- sumed farming until 1862, when he enlisted in the 6th Maryland Infantry, and served in the 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. He was wounded near Winchester in 1864, and was discharged on account of disability caused by his wounds. He never fully recovered, but died in July, 1866, at the age of fifty-six. Ile inherited in a large degree those characteristics that make the sturdy, honest Scotch such desirable citizens, and he was a man of good repute, and was held in high esteem by his neighbors.

The subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools of Pennsylvania and Maryland.

RESIDENCE OF A . D. KING, SEC. 7. NORTH BLUFF PRECINCT.

RESIDENCE OF R. E. BAKER, SEC.2. CENTERVILLE PRECINCT.

RESIDENCE OF LEON G.ANDRESS, SEC. 3. WEST OAK PRECINCT.

211

LANCASTER COUNTY.

He was an active, self-reliant lad, and at the early age of thirteen began independently to make his own way in the world, commencing as a clerk in a general store. In 1862 and 1863 he was engaged in that capacity in a tobacco store. After the war he started ont as a traveling salesman, and was thus employed the greater part of the time for sixteen years. He was very popular and made many large sales for his employers, securing their confidence by his honest dealings and careful attention to their interests. He profited much personally by his travels; being a keen observer, his views of life were enlarged, and he gained a better knowledge of our wonderful country than is often granted to many of us, as he visited twenty-seven States and three Territories. In 1882 he retired from his busi- ness as a traveling salesman and located at Sterling, Ill., where he engaged in the cigar and tobacco business until 1886. In that year he came to Lin- coln and established himself in the same business, in which he has been eminently successful. Ile is a man of good mental calibre and is more than or- dinarily well informed, being a student of good literature, and having a remarkable memory for whatever he has read, and he readily recognizes faees and names after having once seen or heard them. He is always gentlemanly and courteous in his manners, and is respected and trusted by all with whom he has business or social relations.

Mr. Young was married, Dec. 7, 1876, to Miss J. M. Walsh, a native of Grand Rapids, Mich. She presides with true tact and hospitality over their home, and makes it attractive alike to her family and the numerous friends whom they have gathered around them since taking up their residence in this city. Two children, Stanley E. and Byron A., complete the household of our subject and his wife. The family attend the Presbyterian Church.

E UGENE HALLETT was quite an early set- tler in Lincoln; but few of the men who were in business when he came are here at the present time. He was born in Nantucket, Mass .. his father, Allan Hallett, having been born in Yar- mouth, of the same State, and his father, the grand-

father of our subject, as far as is known. spent his entire life in Massachusetts. The father of our sub- jeet was reared in his native town, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. When quite a young man, he settled in Nantucket, where he carried on his trade of carpenter and builder, and also en- gaged in the hardware and lumber business. In the year 1854, or 1855, he sold his interests at Nan- tucket and moved to Milford, in the same State, where he engaged in the manufacture of sash doors and blinds, and also as contractor and builder.

In the year 1858 the father of our subject moved from Milford to Leavenworth, Kan., going as far as latan, Mo., in the cars, and making the remain- der of the journey by steamer. In Leavenworth he followed the trade which he had learned when young, and was a resident in that city until the time of his death, which occurred in 1866. He had married, in Nantucket, Miss Hepsabeth Rand, a daughter of Ebenezer Rand. She died at her home in Leavenworth in the year 1859. They were the parents of the following children: William A .. de- ceased; Emeline, who is married to Thomas E. Kirkley ; Eugene, our subject, and Fannie B., also deceased.

Our subject is the third child of the family, and he lived in Nantucket until he was fifteen years old, when he moved with his parents to Milford. He had attended the public schools in the former place, and at the age of sixteen he commenced to learn the jewelry trade in Milford, where he worked at the business for one and a half years, and then went to Providence, R. I., where he followed the same business for two and a half years. In the year 1858 he went with his parents to Leavenworth, and there engaged in the jewelry business, which he continued until 1871, when he came to the young and flourishing capital of Nebraska, and established him- self in business. He was first situated in a small frame building on O street, between Tenth and Eleventh streets, and removed from there to his present fine location on North Eleventh street. He has been very successful in business, and having secured the entire confidence of the people, he is enjoying a very large trade.

In the year 1867 our subject was united in mar- riage with Martha J. Brown, a daughter of Hugh

212

LANCASTER COUNTY.

Brown. of Ottumwa, Iowa. They have become the parents of four children, whom we name as fol- lows: Fred A., Maggie E., Hugh B. and Eugene W. S. Mrs. Hallett is a member of the First Chris- tian Church, and is a lady in every respect to be admired. Mr. Ilallett takes an interest in the polit- ical questions of the day, and has united his fort- unes with those of the Republican party. IIe is a member of Lincoln Lodge No. 9, A. O. U. W., and is also a member of the Lincoln Union Club, He is carrying a very fine stock of goods, and by his honorable business transactions has raised him- self to the first rank among business men. So- cially, he and his wife are pleasant and affable, and enjoy the esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

R. HENRY C. DEMAREE, a very suc- cessful and rising physician and surgeon of Roca, has been identified with the various interests of Saltillo Precinct for a period of thirteen years. Besides the income from his profession, he has a good farm. comprising eighty acres of improved land on section 8. This is embel- lished with a handsome dwelling, which he put up in 1884, and which forms a most pleasant and invit- ing home. Ile is a gentleman public-spirited and progressive in his ideas, one who is willing to con- tribnte of his time and means for the advancement of the interests of his communinity, and in connec- tion with his profession, has the laudable ambition of standing at the very head.

Our subject springs from an excellent family, his father being David S., and his mother, Catherine (Irving) Demaree, the former a native of Ken- tucky, and the latter of Scotland, but tracing his an- cestry on his father's side to Holland. The maternal great-great-grandfather of our subject emigrated to America in 1730, settling in New York State, and from him sprang the family of this country. It is hardly necessary to say that they represent some of the best people of this continent, and are promi- nent in the trades. the professions, and the more laborious walks of life.

The parents of our subject, David S. and Cath-

erine Demarce, had a family of five sons and one daughter, and spent their last years in Switzerland County, Ind., the mother dying in 1857, at the age of forty-two or forty-three years, and the father in 1863, when fifty-three years old. Henry C., our subject, was the youngest born, and first opened his eyes to the light at the old home in Switzerland County, Ind., on the 21st of Novem- ber, 1846. His early studies were conducted in the common school, while he became familiar with the various employments of farm life, but when a lad eight years of age, liad already decided upon the medical profession as his future calling.

Dr. Demaree was a young man twenty years of age when he came to Nebraska. The boys had raised a mortgage of $6,000 on the homestead, which the father left at his death, and our subject started out practically without means and wholly dependent upon his own resources. Ile was em- ployed as a farm laborer the first season, and then made such arrangements as admitted him into the office of Dr. William Arnold, of Brownsville, this State, under whose instructions he pursued his medical studies a year, and then became a student in the medical department of Michigan State Uni- versity, at Ann Arbor. A year later he emerged from that institution to enter the Kentucky School of Medicine, at Louisville, from which he was graduated in the class of '78. At this time he had already practiced about one year, and after receiv- ing his diploma, made his way across the Missis- sippi once more, and began the regular practice of his profession in the town of Roca, where he has since been located.

Dr. Demaree was at once recognized by the people of this section as one worthy of their con- fidence and patronage, and his career has been onward from the start. 1Je was united in marriage with Miss Emma L., daughter of E. L. Warner, on the 9th of September, 1884, at the home of the bride in Roca. Mrs. Demaree was born Nov. 29, 1851, in Iowa, and continued under the home roof until her marriage, acquiring a good education, and being carefully trained, as one destined to occupy a good position in society. A sketch of her parents will be found on another page in this volume. To the Doctor and his estimable wife there has been

213

LANCASTER COUNTY.

born one child, a son, Merlin, April 28, 1886. This little one passed away when three months old.

Our subject has comparatively little time to give to matters outside of his profession, being a close student and an extensive reader, although, at the same time, he is ever willing to do whatever lies in his power to advance the interests of his commu- nity. Politically, he is a solid Republican, and is prominently connected with the Lincoln Medical Society, besides holding a membership in the Ne- braska State Medical Society. His prompt atten- tion to the needs of his patrons, and his careful and conscientious methods, both as a busines man and professionally, have secured him a large circle of friends.

AMES E. BLIZZARD, a journalist of rare literary ability, is editor and publisher of the Hickman Enterprise, and through the columns of his valuable paper he has done more than any other man to encourage and promote the growth of the village of Hickman, which is widely known to rank among the liveliest villages of Southeastern Nebraska. Ile is a son of John and Elizabeth (Sharp) Blizzard, natives of Delaware, who settled in Georgetown, that State, after mar- riage. The father was a carpenter and joiner, and continued at that trade in Georgetown until 1833, when he moved with his family to Summerfield, Ohio. Two years later he moved to Bellefontaine, Ohio, with his wife and children, and lived there until his death in 1861, at the age of seventy-two. His wife died in the same place in 1880, at the ad- vanced age of seventy-eight years. (For further parental history see sketch of Dr. Blizzard.)

James Blizzard, of this sketch, was the eldest of the five children, three of whom are living, born to his parents. and he was born Sept. 25, 1828, in Georgetown, Del. He was partly educated at a se- lect school at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen he went to Philadelphia, and entered the Southworth High School at that place. He contin- ued there until 1848, and completed a thorough course at that institution, gaining a high rank for superior scholarship. After he left school he re-

ceived the flattering offer of the principalship of the academy at Georgetown, his native city. Hle de- voted his attention exclusively to teaching for eight years, with marked success. In 1851 he entered upon his career as a journalist by establishing the Sussex News, a weekly paper, at the same time con- tinuing his duties as a teacher, and for three years longer he continued to instruct the youth of George- town at the academy, and the public, through the columns of an ably edited paper. He then gave up teaching for awhile, and went to Liberty, Ohio, where he bought out the West Liberty Banner, which he edited for two years. He then returned to Georgetown and resumed teaching for two years. After that he entered the ministry, and traveled under the Presiding Elder of the Philadelphia Con- ference until 1861. when he returned to Ohio, lle did some very effective work as a preacher, throw- ing his whole heart and soul into his labors, and his services were highly appreciated by the members of the conference and the people nnto whom he ministered. In 1876 he again returned to the field of journalism, and going to Salida, Mercer Co., Ohio, he bought out the Salida Democrat and merged it into the Observer. This paper was com- mitted to the interests of the Republican party, and our subject was actively engaged in editorial and political work until 1883, when he was induced to try the West. Ile removed with his family to this State, and engaged in the drug business in Firth for a year and a half. But his love for literary la- bors was still strong upon him, and wishing to enter the editorial arena again, he came to Hickman and started his present paper. the Hickman Enterprise, the first number of which was issued May 8, 1886. This paper ably advocates the policy of the Repub- lican party, and has met with well-merited success from the first, dealing, as it does, in a masterly manner with the various issues of the day, serving the highest purposes of journalism, to educate the people.

Mr. Blizzard was married, in 1848, to Miss Mary, daughter of Peter and Harriet ( Warrington) Rust. She is also a native of Georgetown, Del., born in 1828. She enjoyed good educational advantages in the city schools, and being a lady of true refine- ment, has deeply sympathized with her husband in

214

LANCASTER COUNTY.

his aims and aspirations. The following is the rec- ord of the five children born to them: Willard is a railroad man in Kansas City; Vititia is in Cleve- land, Ohio; Geneva is the wife of William Hilp, of Kansas City, and they have two children-Bessie and Dee; Maggie is the wife of Dr. A. R. Touvelle, of Firth, and they have one child, Mortimer; Eliza- beth is the wife of William Clesen, of Lincoln, and they have two children-Clyde and an infant.

Mr. Blizzard has always been too generous, open- handed and public-spirited to accumulate a fortune, and is now in moderate circumstances. He and his wife are held in high regard as honorable members of society and of church, they belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Hickman. As to the political views of our subject, one needs but to read his vigorous editorials in his paper to be con- vinced that he is a thorough Republican. He is in frail health, and has never been inclined to seek office, although he was at one time nominated by the Republican party of Delaware, his native State, as a candidate for the State Legislature, but de- clined to accept the nomination.

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 19

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

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