USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska > Part 48
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The life of Elias Reeves was made more com- plete and felicitous by his life companion, Mabel MeIntire, who followed her husband to the last resting-place, and, like him, passing to the same while on the Huron homestead.
Our subjeet was eight years of age when his parents removed to Ohio, and is consequently able to remember well the ineidents of their early settle- ment, and pioneer life in that State. His school life was spent in the little old-fashioned log school- house. situated some distance from his home, and the journey to and fro was not always unattended with difficulty, or even danger. From the school, he went to the farm, and became his father's assist- ant, first in the clearing, and afterward in the more direct agricultural labor. Our subject saw Hinckley Township develop from a wilderness to a well-set- tled and wealthy district. At the age of twenty- one he had left his parents and home to start for himself, working upon the farm during the summer, and during the winter in clearing and wood chopping.
In 1852 Mr. Reeves became the husband of Sarah
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B. Stuart, a native of Vermont, a daughter of P. C. and Ametia (Severance) Stnart. Their union was a very happy one, and the home cirele includes four children-Burton E., Mary J., Marion and Mehitabel. Directly after his marriage Mr. Reeves purchased a house in Hinckley Village, and made his home there. Shortly after this the air was filled with the clarion note of the Civil War, and he enlisted in 1862 in Company II, 1st Battalion Ohio Sharpshooters, and served with them nine months, when he received an honorable discharge through disability, and returned to his bome. Owing to the condition of his health, his physician advised him to remove to Iowa. and accordingly he went thither, and took charge of a large stock farm a little east of Waterloo, and continued his residence there for about three years, when he removed to Missouri and rented land, and followed agricultural pursuits until the year 1870.
Nebraska was then the new home of our subject, who settled in this county, and took up a homestead claim in the northwestern part, in what is now Elk Precinet. During the first summer he did a good business in teaming, and was enabled thereby to support bis family and prepare for the work of improving his farm, which important work he pro- ceeded with, putting up a comfortable dwelling, with the needed barn, ete., surrounding his home with orchard and gardens, and not omitting the more important work of sowing and cultivating. In his youth he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and afterward a local preacher. His wife died July 30, 1888, at their homestead.
ARTIN V. BLANCHARD is pleasantly lo- eated on 160 acres of land on seetion 14, Waverly Precinct, which has been bis home since April, 1873. He is a native of Ohio, and was born in Ashtabula County, March 31, 1837. His father, John F. Blanchard, was a native of the Empire State, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Orpha Root, also a native of New York.
The marriage of the parents of our subject was consummated in Obio, where they had removed with their respective families, and they continued to
make that State their home until the death of Mrs. Blanchard, which occurred in 1848. Of this union there were born four children, of whom the other three are recorded as follows: John A. resided in Ashtabula County. Ohio, and died June 23, 1888; Alfred L. was a member of Company K, 7th Kan- sas Regiment, and was killed at the engagement near Columbus, Mo., Jan. 8, 1862; Lucy L. is the wife of Stephen Rennison, of Olmsted Falls, Ohio. The father was subsequently married, choosing for his second wife Miss Maria Richards, and of this union there were born three children, all of whom grew to maturity-Clara, Milo and Hattie. The father continued to reside in Ohio until his deatlı, which occurred in 1885, while his second wife is still living at the old homestead.
Our subject was reared at the home of his father, and while engaged in the acquisition of knowledge as it was presented in the public schools of his na- tive place, he assisted his father on the farm and in a cheese-box factory that he also owned. At the age of twenty years he started out in life for himself, and was engaged in Oakland and Wayne Counties, Mich., working as a farm hand. At the end of one year he returned to his native State, and spent a year engaged in farm work, after which he secured employment in a sawmill, and remained until 1861. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted with John Brown, Jr., and upon going to Kansas was mustered in with Company K, 7th Kansas Cavalry, Ile saw much active service, participating in thir- teen engagements, among which was that of Cor- inth, Miss., but he came out unscathed by the bullet of the foe, the only injury sustained being occasioned by a fall from his horse. He served until Nov. 17. 1864, and was then mustered out at St. Louis, Mo., and honorably discharged.
Returning to Ohio. Mr. Blanchard resumed work at the sawmill, of which he finally became proprie- tor, and retained the property until his removal to this State. Our subject was united in marriage, March 5, 1865, with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Leonard and Susan Kile, natives of the State of New York, though they subsequently removed to Canada, where they were residing at the time of the birth of Mrs. Blanchard. Of the five children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard, four still
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survive, as follows: Edith was born Dee. 13, 1867; Alice, May 25, 1872 ; Lola. Nov. 22, 1873, and Ma- bel, April 14. 1885.
In polities our subject is a stanch Republican, and takes an active interest in the deliberations of his party. Ile is also foremost in educational matters, and in order to help on the good work in his vicin- ity he frequently serves as School Director. He is a member of the Mitehell Post No. 38, G. A. R., at Waverly.
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E DMUND DULING. In the colonization of those States which lie along the Atlantic seaboard, at least two different classes of people are most distinctly noticeable. In the North, the Puritan element, cold, stern, repressive, saga- cious, industrious and manly ; in the South, as Vir- ginia and Carolina, the colonists were diametrically opposite as regards one or two points, being mostly of the aristocratie cavalier element of England, manly, courageous and energetic, as their Northern brethren. They devolved into the large-hearted, open-handed Southern gentry. The subject of this sketch is of Virginian descent, and has by no means lowered the standard of his race.
Collin C. Duling, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia about 1790. His educa- tion was received in the common school, and his early life was varied by the exercises incidental to that institution and the work of the farm. About the year 1816 he was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Hayes, and moved onto a tract of land in Coshocton County, Ohio, where he started to make a home and improve a farm. The hardships and privations were many, and dangers not few, but the cheering presence of the wife, and the strong, pro- tecting arm of the husband, sufficed them. For thirteen years they continued to live at this home- stead. and here five of their children were born. In 1830 the family removed to Tusearawas County, where Mr. Duling purchased 120 acres of timber land, which he immediately began to clear, and again repeated the experience of pioneer life. Not only did he improve his own farm and work for his own interests, but did much for the development of the county and the ultimate welfare of the State.
While residing in this county three more children were added to the family cirele. Mr. Duling con- tinned to make this his home until his death, in 1853. Ilis widow, the mother of our subject, con- tinned to enjoy fair health and strength until the ill- ness in 1872 which resulted in her demise. After the death of her husband she lived the greater part of the time with her son, our subject. Both parents belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were among its most respected members.
Edmund Duling is now one of the most promi- nent citizens and stock-raisers in West Oak Pre- einet, of which he was a very early pioneer. He was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, April 17, 1822. Ilis education was simply that which could be obtained in the common school, practical rather than extended. When he was nine years old the removal to Tuscarawas County was made, and having finished school Edmund continued to work with his father until his twenty-second year. Then he went to Virginia, worked upon a farm for a period of three years, and thenee migrated to Spen- cer, Owen Co., Ind., a removal which he never after regretted, for it was there that he met a lady of most lovable character and womanly grace, Rachel Hayes; to her he united his life and interest in October, 1846. Their union, although perfect in its happiness, was, alas, only too limited in dura- tion, for after seven years the bonds were severed by death, in the year 1853.
Upon his removal to Owen County our subject bought a piece of land on the White River. It speedily began to show that it was under the domi- nation of a master hand, although at the time of purchase it was in all its native wildness. The heavy timber was felled, and Mr. Duling in very truth hewed for himself and wife a farm and home out of the primeval forest. When our subject left this farm, after a residence of thirteen years, he left one of which any man might be proud. From Illinois he came west to this State. In the year 1858 he was married to Miss Amy Payne, of Owen County. Their union was blessed and their home made happy by the birth of a son and a daughter, Jennie ; the latter is still living. The son preceded the mother to the better land. After going to Illinois in 1861 onr subject prospected, and finally bought
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a farm of 240 acres in Edgar County. He had had sufficient for the time of clearing wild land and bringing it to a point of cultivation; his next pur- chase, therefore, was of improved land, having a very comfortable farmhouse and commodious barn already erected. Here our subject continued to reside for thirteen years, during which time he was elected Assessor, and also to several school oflices,
An unusually advantageous offer being now pre- sented, Mr. Duling again sold out and came to Nebraska. Ile was at this time comparatively wealthy, although he started in life with virtually nothing but health, strength, intelligence and man- hood. In this State he purchased the section of land upon which he now lives, and with the money at his command was enabled to immediately pro- ceed with its improvement, an advantage which everyone who has watched the struggles of the early Western farmer to create something out of practically nothing, will appreciate. He erected first his handsome residence, and finished it within and without in a most substantial and artistic man- ner. He afterward proceeded to the building of the other structures which his experience taught him would be needed.
Nebraska has not only reciprocated the coming of our subject by making that coming a success, but, as we shall have occasion to notice, has also re- ceived from him much that has gone to hasten her development. In addition to the original section, the home farm, our subject is now the owner of an extensive farm in Seward County, ten well-placed business lots in Raymond, beside considerable real estate in the city of Lincoln. He has, since his first purchase of the farm, lived in three different houses, the first a dug-out, but a very comfortable one. This was occupied until his frame house was built and finished, in which he continued to live until 1880. He then erected the present stately stone mansion, which stands surrounded by magnificent shade trees, and not far from the extensive orchard, wherein may be found a large variety of the choie- est fruit trees, which yield abundantly in their sea- son.
At the time our subject came from the East he brought with him ten horses and two or three cows, which formed the nucleus of his present stock
farm. He purchased his farm March 16, 1874, paying for it at the rate of $12.50 per acre, then considered a very high price. The first year he was not able to do very much, being too late in the sea- son. Ile would usually leave his family in Lincoln, and on Monday morning go over to the farm, returning on Saturday. The first year he employed four assistants; since then he has had regularly from eight to ten hands upon his farm. The intel- ligent selection of land is shown in the fact that the greater part of his property is upon Oak Creek, which gives, in the dryest seasons, more or less moisture, and consequently good pasture.
A large part of the Duling land, including sev- eral hundred acres, is devoted to wheat and general farming, in which the proprietor has been thor- onghly successful. There are required 200 or 300 acres more to supply the fodder for his stock. The herd of specially selected Short-horn Durhams, numbering over 100, includes a very fine, full- blooded registered Durham bull, and so far back as 1878 Mr. Duling has given attention to the produc- tion of high-grade draft and road horses and mules.
Our subjeet is greatly beloved by all his neigh- bors and fellow-citizens, and has made for himself a name that will ever be green in the memory of the community. Although frequently pressed, he usually declines accepting the various offices within the gift of the people. Once only was he per- snaded to accept office, that of Assessor. The oc- casion which is the cause of his being so affection- ately remembered by the community was that of the grasshopper plague. When the dreaded pests had gone through the country, and left in their train nothing but despair, threatened ruin and famine, it was our subject who put out the hand that saved, and from his own purse supplied suffi- cient to import from other States wheat, grain and corn enough, not only for seed purposes. but for the people and their teams.
Mrs. Amy (Payne) Duling was the daughter of Leonard Payne, and was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, April 9, 1841. When a child nine years of age, her parents removed to Owen County, Ind. She continued her residence with them until her marriage, April 11, 1858, at which time she was seventeen years old. The 15th of November, 1887,
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Mr. Duling and his wife started on a visit to Illinois and Indiana, where they spent nearly two months among their old friends and neighbors. On New Year's Day, while at the residence of her brother, James Payne, Mrs. Duling received a fall, bruising her arm, and in consequence of which she suffered considerably two days and nights. The third day she went to the house of her sister Eliza. That night she awoke her husband and told him that the pain in her arm was gone, and that she had seen a wonderful vision. The beautiful Star of Bethlehem had appeared, and she had received a Divine mes- sage for L. W. Bolen, which she delivered the fol- lowing morning. On Sabbath morning she said to her husband, "Edmund, I am going to die. I wish I could last until Jimmy comes." "Edith, why are you weeping? I am perfectly happy. Denny and Edith meet me in heaven." Her husband asked, "If this be the case, shall I take you to our house, or to the church." She answered, "Just as you and Jennie wish. My clothes Jennie can arrange to suit herself. I have no will to make. Tell Jennie not to pine for me; not to look at things of mine or think of places I have been and grieve for me. Now, Eliza, meet me in heaven. Tell sister May to take Jennie in her arms, and be a mother to her; tell all the friends to meet me in heaven." She requested all the children to kiss her, and admonished her hus- band to pious labor in bringing souls into the fold. She adverted to their kindness, then made a cross with her hands, and with a smile pointed upward. After a few more expressions indicative of her peace with her Savior, and her tender love for her fam- ily, she passed beyond the pain of death. By her decease the church at Raymond lost one of its most devoted members, the husband, a faithful wife, and the daughter a loving mother. Her name is held in kindly remembrance by all who knew her.
Much might be said descriptive of the various sections of property of our subject, of the produce of his farms and the various appliances used thereon, or to extol the excellencies of the beautiful creat- ures in his stables and pasture, and still more about our subject himself; but perhaps sufficient has al- ready been said. The aborigine did not need that a tree should be blown over a whole village, or wig- wams razed to the ground, in order to indicate to
him from what point of the compass the breeze came; a feather was sufficient for his purposes. So we would leave the success of our subject to indicate his manhood and his life. We have only to add that he is a most devout and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and that in the " grand old party," Republican, he finds that which is most congenial to his political opinions.
ENRY HENKEL. Prominent among the young and thrifty farmers of Buda Precinct may be classed the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Ile resides on section 18, where he has a good farm, and is known throughout the precinct as a hard-working, industrious farmer, and enjoys the esteem of the entire community, both for his integrity of character, his good common sense and habits of industry.
Mr. Henkel was born in Germany, Jan. 17, 1857, and his parents. Henry and Amalie Henkel, were also Germans. In 1874, accompanied by their son. they came to this country, taking passage at Bremen on a steamer which made the voyage in eleven days. The family stopped in New Jersey for about two years, when they went to Mason County, III., where the father and mother both died. They had be- come the parents of the following six children : Charles, Frederick, Henry, Angust, Sophia and Et- tie. In 1879 Mr. Ilenkel came to Nebraska, stop- ping in Gage County for about nine years, working at farm labor for different parties. Ile then came to Lancaster County and is now the owner of 200 aeres of well-improved land. This property he has made by the savings of his own hard labor, and since becoming the manager of a farm has demon- strated his own practical knowledge of the business which he has chosen for a life occupation. He is fairly well educated in his native tongue, and hay- ing picked up quite a good deal of English since he has been in this country, he is able to transact all his business in that tongue.
Our subject was united in marriage, April 21. 1885, with Catherine Hanenkamp, sister of Henry Ilanenkamp, of Centerville Precinct, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this work. To them
9. 76. Westcott
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have been born two children -- Amalia and Edwin. The birth of the former occurred July 31, 1885. and that of the latter Sept. 19, 1887. Mrs. IIenkel is a native of Germany, her birth occurring at Damme Oldenburg, May 21, 1861. She came to America with her parents, John G. and Catherine M. Hanenkamp. They settled in Mason County, Ill., where she was reared and educated in both the English and German languages. She came to Lancas- ter County in the spring of 1884. and has since been a highly respected and intelligent member of society. Mr. Henkel is a member of the German Lutheran Church, being Clerk of his congregation, and in politics is a Republican, and always favors every- thing which has for its object the elevation and im- provement of society.
C APT. JOIIN H. WESTCOTT. The West has not only developed some of the most brilliant men of the age, but it has attracted from the older settled States many of its most en- terprising and valued citizens. The natural result accruing to communities so largely made up of the best element of American manhood, is a remarka- ble progress in all the avenues and walks of life. No section of even our own remarkable country has witnessed such rapid strides in the development of her natural resources and the establishment of the various industries of an advanced civilization, as has been witnessed in the Great West. This may justly be accounted for, partly because of the great fertility of her soil and the natural advantages enjoyed, but these alone will not account for it all; to the men of genius and enterprise, who have de- veloped and atilized these gifts of nature, is duc the immeasurable credit, and of them it may truly be said that they have developed the Great West. A representative of the class who have been drawn here by the natural advantages, and who have done so much in the development of this wide-spreading country, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch.
Capt. John H. Westcott was born in Brownville, Jefferson Co., N. Y., on the 11th of October, 1839. His father, Willard Westcott, was a native of the
beautiful valley of the Mohawk, and his father, Daniel Westcott, the grandfather of our subject, was also a native of the same State; as far as is known he spent his entire life in that State, and died in Jefferson County in 1832. The father of our subject was reared and married in New York, where he bought a tract of timbered land near Brownville, on Pillar Point, which extends into Lake Ontario. Ile cleared a farm from this land, on which he continued to reside until his death, in 1867. Ile was originally a member of the Whig party, and subsequently joined with the Repub- licans on their organization.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Helen Putnam. She was a native of Pennsyl- vania, her father, John Putnam, being a New En- glander and a descendant of the celebrated Gen. Israel Putnam. After her birth her parents moved to New York and settled in Jefferson County, where they lived for several years, then removed to Illi- nois, where they both died. To Willard and Helen Westcott there were given three children: John II. (our subject), Martin II., and Minerva J., now deceased.
Capt. Westcott received his early education in the common schools of Brownville, remaining there until he had completed the common-school course, when he attended the academy at Fulton, Oswego Co., N. Y., and subsequently the High School at Watertown. In the winter of 1861-62 our subject tanght school, but there being a call for men in be- half of the country, he left his peaceful mission to engage in the perilous encounters on the battle- field. How proud our country should be that there were then and are now within her borders so many loyal hearts, ready to respond to her call when in {langer, and so deeply imbued with patriotism that they forgot for the time being their own personal identity and interests, and taking leave of those whom they held most dear, went forth bravely to the battle front, heartily resolved on victory or death. Can such brave men ever be forgotten? Will they not rather be remembered and their fame handed down from generation to generation, their brave deeds and daring exploits justly celebrated in song and verse?
With a heart full of sympathy for his struggling
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country, and resolved to follow her fortunes, our subjeet enlisted as a private on the 26th of July, 1862, in Company II, 10th New York Heavy Ar- tillery. He was mustered in as Sergeant, and one year later was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, soon after to First Lieutenant, and in Angust of 1864 he was made Captain, in which capacity he served until April, 1865, when he re- signed on aeconnt of ill health. His regiment formed a part of the Army of the Potomae, and made the first attack on Petersburg, being at the front of the corps for several weeks. His command was then transferred to Washington, where he re- mained for two months, thence to the Shenandoah Valley. At Washington he was strieken with fever and ague, and was obliged to remain in the hospital for about two months.
Upon his recovery our subjeet was placed on de- taehed duty and sent to Harper's Ferry, where he was the Officer of Ordnance for two months. He was again taken ill, and as soon as able was trans- ferred on detached duty to Carlisle, Pa., where he remained until he was discharged. During the summer following his return home he visited the West, but returned to Jefferson County and bought a farm which he retained until 1867, and in 1868 he moved to Bureau County, IN., buying a farm ten miles northeast of Princeton. He lived on his farm until 1878, when he sold it and moved into Princeton, where on account of ill-health he lived a quiet and retired life until 1880. Then he came to Lancaster County, having previously bought 480 aeres of land on seetion 26, Elk Precinet, on which he has since made substantial improvements. His mother died at his home in 1886.
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