Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 41

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

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In the year 1886 an Old Settlers' Reunion was established, of which our subjeet was the first Vice President. The meetings of this society are held in a beautiful grove, which is in great demand throughout the summer for all kinds of entertain-

ments and picnics, because of the superior arrang- ments and shade from its noble trees. The meet- ing of the society for this year will be held in the same place. The interest which attaches to this place is the fact that the whole, comprising some two and a half acres, is the work of our subject, mostly in the year 1872. Then it was prairie; now a beautiful park. It will perhaps be remem- bered that our subject had to haul the lumber for his first house a distance of fourteen miles.

For five years Mr. Hedges has been School Di- rector for his district, and has also filled the office of Supervisor. Himself, wife and two children are members of the Christian Church at Agnew, and are among its most earnest supporters. Mr. Hedges has always been an ardent Republican, active in campaign, and at all times ready to lend the weight of his influence and the activities of his energy in behalf of his party. As a man and citizen he is most highly esteemed, and all his well-directed efforts for the benefit of the community duly and fully ap- preciated.

W HENRY SCHIMALE. The German Em- pire has contributed thousands of its most enterprising and substantial citizens to the New World, and to whose thrift and industry it is largely due for its remarkable growth and pros- perity. They have permeated every channel, both East and West, and have been especially efficient in the development of the latter section of country. Their undaunted courage made them fully equal to the privations and hardships which the pioneer settler must ever encounter, and they considered no sacrifice too great in order to effect their object, namely, the building up of a home. and providing against the necessities of later years.

The subject of this biography has reason to be proud that he is one of this nationality, and his career is one eminently worthy of mention in con- nection with the sentiments which have here bech put forth. His home on the other side of the At- lantic was near the famous old German city of Bremen, which is known the world over as one of the principal ports of emigration from the Old

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World to the New, and distinguished alike for its extensive manufactures of the articles most largely utilized by the human family. In this region the Schmale family had lived for generations, and here also was born Henry, Sr., the father of our subject, who carried on farming, and spent his entire life on his native soil.

Henry Schmale, Sr., was married in early man- hood, and of this union there were born eight children, three only of whom are in the United States, viz. : W. Henry ; Charlotte, the wife of Fred Niedenstein; and Louis, of Seward County, this State. Our subject, in common with the children of the German Empire, was placed in school at an early age, where he attended quite steadily until a lad of eleven years. and subsequently pursned his studies half a day for nearly two years. When not in school he was employed in a cement factory, and later in a flouring-mill. In 1859, not being satis- fied with his condition or his prospects in his native land, he determined to emigrate to the New World. He was without means, being obliged to borrow money to pay his passage, and thus landed on a foreign shore among strangers in debt, and unable to speak the English language. He sojourned but a very brief time in New York City, making his way directly to Illinois, where his honest counte- nanee soon secured him friends and employment, and he remained a resident of Monroe County. that State, until 1865. On the 14th of February, that year, the Civil War being in progress, he en- listed in Company F, 153d Illinois Infantry, and remained in the service until the confliet was ended, but seeing little fighting. He, however, was ready whenever called upon to perform his duty as a soldier, as it is well known that a German volun- teer seldom runs. He received his honorable dis- charge at Memphis. Tenn., Sept. 21. 1865, and re- turning to his old haunts in Monroe County, Ill., remained tliere until the spring of 1866, then mi- grated to Wisconsin, of which he was a resident two years.

In the meantime, with the thrift and industry characteristic of his race, our subject liad managed to save a snug little sum of money, and in 1868 had sufficient for profitable investment, and for this purpose set out with a team to seek a location.

Making his way to this county. he homesteaded a claim in Middle Creek Precinct, where he put up a log house with a sod roof, and prepare I to locate, and commeneed cultivating the soil, planting fruit and shade trees, and as the seasons passed found himself on the road to prosperity. In due time his land was all enclosed with neat and substantial fences, and he erected a good set of frame build- ings, gathered together a goodly assortment of live stock, and also the machinery requisite for the prosecution of agriculture to the best advantage.

When Mr. Schmale came to this section of country Nebraska City, sixty-five miles distant, was the nearest market. Deer and antelopes bounded through the forest and over the country with fleet and graceful limbs, while game suitable for the table was abundant. Indians also still lingered in this region, and other denizens of the wilderness no more desirable for neighbors. The nearest white family was one mile away. Mr. Schmale is thus one of the earliest pioneers on the western line of Laneaster County, and was one of the first to till its soil and commence the trans- formation which has been little short of miraculous, considering the length of time which has elapsed, and during which villages have sprung up and a eity has been built, which is now of no little im- portance west of the Mississippi.

There came to this section of country with our hardy pioneer his newly wedded wife, formerly Mrs. Mary Ann (Moring) Bridge, to whom he was married in Lancaster County, Neb., May 15, 1870. Mrs. Schmale was born near Davis, Ste- phenson Co., Ill., March 16, 1851, and is the daugh- ter of John Henry Moring, a native of Prussia. The latter was born near the old Prussian town of Min- den, in the Province of Westphalia, and emigrated to America when a young man. 1Ie located in Illinois, and was married not very long afterward. settling near Davis. where he engaged in farming, and where his death took place in 1552. The maiden name of the mother was Sarah J. Ballenger. She was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, and after the death of her first husband was married to Ernest Otto, of Stephenson County, Ill., where she continned to live until 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Otto then removed with their family to Wisconsin. living in LaFayette

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and Green Counties until 1866. The spring of that year found them on their road to Nebraska, to which they journeyed with a team, and were nearly five weeks on the route, traveling after the manner of the emigrants of those days, camping out wherever night overtook them, and cooking by the wayside.

The Otto family upon arriving in this county settled on land now occupied by the city of Lin- coln, and which was then called Lancaster. But four dwellings marked the spot where now stands one of the most flourishing cities of the West. Mr. Otto was a blacksmith by trade, opening the first shop of this description in the future city. He carried this on two years, then desirous of a change of occupation, homesteaded a tract of land in Middle Creek Precinct, from which he improved a farm. Mrs. Otto died near Malcolm, this county, .luly 31, 1878, and Mr. Otto is now a resident of IIolt County.

Miss Amanda Moring, an elder sister of Mrs. Schmale. taught the first school opened in the city of Lincoln, when it was known as Lancaster, in 1866. She subsequently married W. II. II. Thomp- son, and is now a resident of Sacramento, Cal. Mrs. Schmale accompanied her mother and step- father on their journey to this county, in 1866, and lived with them until her marriage the following year with William Bridge. He was a farmer by occupation, and they settled in Lancaster County, where his death took place in 1869. Of this union there were no children. To onr subject and his wife there have been born two sons and two daugh- ters, viz .: Harmon, Norman, Ida E. and Minnie May. The eldest is seventeen and the youngest twelve years of age.

LONZO GOSS is the owner of a beautiful farm of 150 acres situated on section 7, Oak Precinct, and favorably known as a general farmer and stock-raiser. In the East, especially in New York State, the family name has been known and honored in other days. Ilis grandfather, Simon Goss, was born in about the year 1793, in New York State, and when quite small

he suffered the irreparable loss of both parents. He, however, managed to procure an education. and began to read law. and after passing a very satis- factory examination he was admitted to the bar, and continued prosperously for some time in this profession. Feeling called upon to take up the work of preaching the Gospel, he gave up his prac- tiee and law office, and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in due time was ordained and given the charge of a large cireuit. Being oppressed with the number of sick and af- flicted, and not aware of any way to help them, he began the study of medicine with that end, and, following the example of his great Master, he went about doing good, preaching the Gospel and teach- ing the people, and healing large numbers of those who came to him. Constantly engaged in this work, he became quite a skillful physician. and finally settled down in the town of Camburg, Can- ada, to the practice of medicine, and so continued until the end of his days. He was a prominent and highly respected citizen, and from the first a self- made man.

Milan G. Goss was the fourth child of Dr. S. Goss by his second wife, and he had one brother and two sisters, by name in the order of birth, An- geline, Jessie and Simeon. He was born on the 18th of April, 1813, in New York, where he was reared and received his education. For several years after leaving school he was engaged as a teacher, and after that became a farmer, although at various times this was interspersed with other occupations at such times as farm work was slack. His first farm was situated in Canada, where he had lived for some time, owing to his father's residence there. About the year 1831 he became acquainted with Miss Eleanor Lounsberry, and as their acquaintance ripened into friendship, and this into deeper and stronger attachment, it was finally arranged that they should unite their lives, which was accordingly done May 29, 1832.

The father of our subject disposed of his Canada property in 1849, went to Winnebago County, Ill., and bought a wild tract of land, and set to work to improve the same, erecting the buildings required for farm and home purposes, and bringing the ground itself into a fit state for farming. In all of

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this he was eminently successful, and after a time found a good purchaser for this property, went to Iowa, purchased 160 acres of land in Howard County, a id began again duplicating his experience in Illinois. And this was his experience twice re- peated, each time, however, in the immediate neigli- borhood.

Not satisfied with these repeated changes, the father of our subject removed to Kansas, and in Crawford County began again by taking Govern- ment land and living over again his old experience, making the sixth home built, and farm improved in thirteen years. In 1884 he removed to Nebraska, and spent one year prospecting. At the end of that period he returned to Kansas, and bought an im- proved farm in Greenwood County, where he now makes his home, enjoying the fruit of his toil, and, considering his age, most excellent health.

Mrs. Eleanor Goss was born April 10, 1812, in Canada, where she was also reared, and received her education, and continued her residence until mar- riage. The union has been most felicitous, and was blessed by the birth of seven children, six of whom it was their happiness to see arrive at years of maturity. The eldest-born, Harriet Ann, is now Mrs. Hugh Hamilton, of Colorado; the next was Alonzo, our subjeet; after him, William, who owns a farm in Lancaster County, then Angeline, the wife of Josiah Evans, of Iowa; Melissa, now Mrs. Joshua Clugston, resident in Greenwood County, Kan., and Milan G., resident of the same place. Their mother departed this life Ang. 9, 1885, at Greenwood, Kan., where her remains now lie.

Our subject, Alonzo Goss, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., May 27, 1837. While quite small, his father removed to Canada, he of course accom- panying him, and there remained until he was twelve years of age, when they removed to Illinois, and after another five years to Iowa. His educa- tion was received chiefly in the two latter places. From the time he had completed his schooling until he was twenty years of age, he assisted his father on the farm. He then went into the same occupa- tion upon his own account, but after a short time was compelled to relinquish active labor, owing to a most painful accident. In the year 1866, while engaged in some necessary duties with his team, he

received a painful and dangerous kick in the re- gion of the stomach, from which he was laid up for over three years. He consulted a prominent Chi- cago physician. A most wonderful cure was the result, after eight distinct operations. After this he returned to his father's house, and there remained until quite strong again. Upon returning to active pursuits, he gave his attention first to teaming through the western section of country, and shortly afterward purchased an improved farm in Iowa, which he continued successfully to operate for several years.

July 16, 1864, our subject was married to Miss Alsena Towne, a native of Iowa, which union has been blessed by the birth of seven children, of whom three are still living: Andrew Simcon, the eldest, died in Minnesota. Three have died since the re- moval to this State; one, a fine lad of seventeen, Walter C., in company with a friend, was bathing in the Oak Creek, at Woodlawn, was taken with cramps while in fifteen feet of water, and drowned, July 16, 1885; Estella died here, at the age of seven years, March 18, 1884; also Cora, aged ten months. Those living are Ella and Mary, both young ladies, and Mabel R .; the latter about two years of age.

In the year 1866 our subject sold his property in Iowa, and spent two years teaming in Minnesota; then he returned to Iowa, and, after a short stay went to Kansas, and purchased a farm in Crawford County, which he after one season sold, and went west to Howard County, which name has since been changed to that of Elk County. Here he pur- chased a farm and improved the same, and after three years of prosperity accepted an advantageous offer for his property, and went back to Winneshiek County, Iowa, where he made his home for two years, after that making his home for eighteen months in Monroe County, removing thence to his present home, March 18, 1880.

No one to see the city of Lincoln to-day could conceive the difference since that period; then it was in the midst of a wilderness of prairie, with here and there a log house, dug-out or sod shanty, surrounded, perhaps, by a small clearing or stretch of plowed ground. To-day the landscape around the city, which has grown marvelously, is in every

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direction smiling and fair to look upon. As far as the eye can reach are farms and homesteads, speak- ing eloquently of peace, happiness and prosperity within their borders. Among the large and hand- some residences, by no means the least worthy of mention is that which our subject has erected upon his property, and has surrounded with shade and fruit trees, which offer to the heated, weary and thirsty. both rest and refreshment. Although this home is so pleasant and fair to look upon, over it have gathered the clouds, and the dark shadows have at times wrapped it ronnd, for since his com- ing our subject has buried about one-half of his family.

The farm of our subject, both in its agricultural and stock-raising departments, will bear the closest inspection, and from whatever standpoint regarded, the verdict will be one of satisfaction and delight. At present Mr. Goss is Director of School District No. 18, which oflice he has continued to hold from his first coming hither. He has also for some time held the office of Road Commissioner. In re- ligions matters our subject continues his adherence to that department of Christian teaching in which he was brought up, and is affiliated with the local communion of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which his sterling qualities are duly appreciated. Among his fellow-citizens Mr. Goss is duly appre- ciated as a man and patriot, perhaps more especially by those of the same political creed and party. Our subject has always been active and energetic in his support of the "grand old Republican party."

6 IIOMAS M. S. REYNOLDS. Men have come to Nebraska from nearly all sections of the Union, mostly from the Eastern and Middle States, and some from the South. The Old Dominion eradled the subject of this sketch over seventy years ago, his birth taking place on the 21st of February, 1818, in Orange County. His life has been that of an honest. steady-going citi- zen, who has lived uprightly and in consequence ocenpies a good position among the people who have known him best. Ile is now comfortably lo- cated in Yankee Hill Precinet, on section 36, where

for the last fourteen years he bas been tilling the soil of a farm 172 acres in extent, with results which have made him comparatively independent, surrounded by all the comforts of life, and with a competeney for his declining years. By the aid of the accompanying illustration, we are assisted in presenting to the readers a much more accurate and complete picture of this home and its surround- ings, which bespeak prosperity and comfort.

Washington Reynolds, the father of our subject, was also born in Virginia, where he was reared to manhood and married a Maryland lady, their union resulting in the birth of nine children. Thomas M. S. was the sixth son, and continued a resident of his native State until a youth of nineteen years. His father died when he was a little lad six years of age, and he was reared in the family of Zachary Billingsly, with whom he removed to Southern Ken- tucky, where he lived nearly a year, then returned to his old home with his brother, Philip S., and em- barked at farming at Louisville, Ky., where he re- mained until 1860. Then, migrating westward, he was occupied for a time at farming in Saline County, Mo., whence he came to this county in 1874.

Mr. Reynolds, as it has been seen, was early in life practically thrown upon his own resources, and the necessity for industry and economy bred within him those self-reliant qualities which have proved the secret of his success in life, thus being one of the best schools in which a youth can be educated. While in Kentucky he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Seaton, who was born in that State, and whose parents were natives of Kentucky and spent their last years there. This union has re- sulted in the birth of thirteen children, most of them born in Kentucky, and twelve of whom are still living. The eldest, Simpson S., is farming in Gove County, Kan .; Theodore F. lives in IIolt County, this State; Louisa A., Mrs. Allen Price, is a resident of Seward; Mary E., Mrs. Jerome Cam- eron, lives in Saline County, Mo. ; Virginia, the wife of John Cameron, and George, in Butler County, this State; William died in Missouri, Dee. 27, 1872, when about sixteen years old; Charles is occupied at keeping a meat-market in the city of Lincoln; Emma is the wife of Charles Cadwallader, of Ray-

RESIDENCE OF JOHN MINGES. SEC. 27. YANKEE HILL PRECINCT.

RESIDENCE OF THOS. M.S. REYNOLDS, SEC.26., YANKEE HILL PRECINCT.

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mond, this county; J. Edward remains at home with his parents; Mattie is the wife of Henry Hammond, of Ilamilton County, while Effic and Ida are at home with their parents ..

Mr. Reynolds cast his first vote for William H. Harrison, and since the organization of the Repub- lican party has been its devoted adherent. Mrs. Reynolds died April 22, 1880, aged fifty-six years, nine months and nine days, in this county.

OIIN MINGES, of Yankee Hill Precinct, and who devotes the greater portion of his time to farming and stock-raising, has a good property on section 27. Ile settled here in 1876, and operates 160 acres of good land. which he has brought to its present condition mostly by the labor of his own hands. His accumulations are the result of his own industry, as he started out in life without means, and with nothing to depend upon, having to trust to the health and strength that Providence had kindly bestowed upon him. He is now in the enjoyment of a good home, with the pros- pect of spending his old age in the ease and comfort to which he is justly entitled.

Our subject was born over fifty-six years ago, on the 19th of July, 1832, in Lycoming County, Pa., of which State his parents, Christopher and Hannah (Shobbell) Minges, were both natives. His pater- mal ancestors were of Scotch descent, while his mother's people were of French. In the family of the latter, one Shobbell is accredited with having been a General in the War of 1812. Our subject is one of a family of nine children born to his par- ents, seven of whom still survive. The eldest, Eliza. is the wife of Elijah Lester, of Calhoun County, Mich .; Abraham is also a resident of that county, likewise Phebe, Mrs. Alexander Rothrock: Cather- ine lives with our subject in this county; Ilannah lives in Calhoun County, Mich .; Margaret, Mrs. Joseph Lester, resides in Kansas.

The father of our subject, who was a farmer by occupation, died when the latter was an infant of five months. He was reared by his mother until a lad of fifteen years, then began to work for him- self, as the employe of his brother-in-law, Alexan-

der Rotbroek, with whom he lived for a period of six years. In 1866, after spending some time in the lumber regions of Northern Michigan, he went to Fillmore County, Minn., where he carried on farming ten years. Thence, in 1876, he came to this county, locating on his present farm, where he has since resided. The faithful portrayal in the illustration which accompanies this sketch, will, we are sure, help greatly to give a comparatively clear conception of the comfortable home and fine farm buildings of our subject.

Our subject, after taking up his residence in this county, was married, Aug. 4, 1880, to Miss Mary E. Loomis, who was born in Racine County, Wis., June 5, 1850. Iler parents, Theron and Elizabeth (Ballard) Loomis, were natives of New York and Massachusetts, and are now residents of Wankesha County, Wis. To our subject and his wife there has been born one child, a son, George, Nov. 28. 1881. Mr. Minges is a solid Republican, politically, and for four years he served as Treasurer of School District No. 6. Ilis early education was somewhat limited, but he has kept himself well informed upon general topics by reading the leading journals of the day, and is a very intelligent man to converse with.

AMES II. WELSH, Postmaster of Prairie Home, Stevens Creek Precinct, is of Irish birth and parentage, coming to America with his parents when two years old. Ile spent a portion of his early manhood as a soldier in the Union army, assisting to fight the battles of his adopted country, and after the war was over con- tinued for a time with the regular army, being sta- tioned about three years on the frontier of Kansas and Dakota, and hokling the rank of Sergeant. On the 16th of July, 1868, he received his honorable discharge and was mustered out. Locating in the vicinity of Salem, Wis., he engaged in agricultural pursuits until coming to Nebraska in the spring of 1875.

Our subject was born in County Kilkenny, Fre- land, July 1, 1846, and is the son of David and Margaret (Dermody) Welsh, who were natives of the same county as their son. In 1848 David Welsh,

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ambitious of doing better for his family and him- self, left his native land, and with his wife and seven children sailed for the United States, soon after ar- riving on American soil. They made their way directly westward and settled in Chicago, III., where the mother died of cholera, in 1855.

The parental household originally ineluded eight children, of whom the oldest and youngest died the same week with the mother. Patrick died in Chieago when forty-one years old, and Thomas, who lived to manhood, died at Grand Haven, Mich. ; he was a Captain on the lakes, and for a time com- manded the " Alpena." but changed to the "Muske- gon" a few days before the wreck of the "Alpena." Mary became the wife of John Furlong, died July 25. 1888, and was a resident of Chicago at the time; Ellen married John Conley, and also lives in that city ; Bridget is the wife of John Neil, of Grand Haven, Mich. The father died in the latter place about 1876.

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Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 41

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

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