USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska > Part 53
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The family of our subject are members of the Free Methodist Episcopal Church, in good standing, and receive the cordial esteem of their fellow-mem- bers. The politieal sympathies of Mr. Eager are with the Republican party, of which he is an old friend and supporter. His standing in the com- munity is of the very highest.
b ENRY C. FUSON, of Waverly Precinct. came to this section of country in 1875, and began his career in Nebraska upon rented land. He labored industriously five years, and by this time had accumulated sufficient capital to purchase his present farm, of which only forty acres were under the plow. There was upon it only one small building, which served as a shelter to the family until the erection of the present handsome and substantial dwelling, in 1888. This residence is one of the finest in this part of the county, and Mr. Fuson has by degrees added the other farm buildings essential to the convenience and comfort of the modern agriculturist. A view of the place is shown in this connection. IFis accumulations are the result of his own industry, as he is essen- tially a self-made man, one who was thrown upon his own resources early in life, and understood that if he was to get on in the world he must put his shoulder to the wheel. That he has done this, and with most admirable results, is at onee apparent in the fine property which now affords him a handsome income, and which will amply provide for him in his old age.
Our subject was born in Champaign County, Ohio, March 18, 1845, and is the son of William S. and Sarah (Harboar) Fuson, who were natives re- spectively of the Old Dominion and the Buckeye State. William Fuson was but an infant when his parents emigrated to Champaign County, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives. He
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grew to manhood assisting in the building up of the homestead, and was married to the mother of our subject in Champaign County, of which her parents were also early pioneers.
The parents of our subject, in 1846, left Ohio and settled on a farm in Fulton County, Ind., where the father followed agriculture until his death, in 1862. The mother later joined her youngest son, Millard F., in Kansas, and is now residing there, in Trego County. The parental household included eleven children, eight of whom were living at the time of the father's death, and seven still survive: Thomas J. follows the profession of a teacher at Havana, 1Il .; Ira J. is mining in the vicinity of Georgetown, Col .; Simeon J. pursues farming and carpentering combined, near Marbletown, Ill .; Willis II. died in Trego County, Kan., about 1885; Henry C., our subject, was the fifth child; Noah E. died in Fulton County, Ill., when about twenty-two years old; Mary C., Mrs. John Jackson, lives in New Mexico, and Millard F. is a mail carrier of Trego County, Kan.
Mr. Fuson, our subject, was only eighteen months old when his father removed with his family to Ful- ton County, Ill., where the boy developed into man- hood, acquired a common-school education, and became familiar with the various employments of the farm. The second year of the war he enlisted as a Union soldier, in Company E, 53d Illinois In- fantry, but was only permitted to serve about ten months, being compelled to accept his discharge on account of ill-health. He, however, participated in the siege of Corinth, and saw much of the hard- ships and privations of war. Upon retiring from the service he resumed farming in Illinois, and in dne time, May 7, 1867, was united in marriage with one of the most estimable young ladies of Fulton County, Miss Zilla Atwater, who was born there Oct. 17, 1844. Iler parents, Lyman and Jane (Lockwood) Atwater, were natives of Ohio, and spent their last years in Fulton County, where the father followed farming, and died about 1862. The mother passed away in 1873.
Mr. Fuson when starting out for himself pur- chased eighty acres of his father's estate in Fulton County, and lived there until coming to Nebraska, To our subject and his estimable wife there have
been born six children, of whom five are living, namely : Willis II., U. Grant. Flora Isabelle, Dora May and Charles H. One son, John R., died Dec. 28, 1885, in Nebraska, when a promising youth of fifteen years. Mr. Fuson while in Illinois was con- neeted with the United Brethren Church, but now, with his estimable wife, belongs to the Christian Church, in Waverly. Politically, Mr. F. votes the straight Republican ticket, but has never aspired to office. As an ex-soldier he is identified with the G. A. R., belonging to Mitchell Post No. 38, at Waverly.
b ON. JOHN W. DICKINSON. One of the leading and substantial citizens of Laneas- ter County is John W. Dickinson, the sub- jeet of this biographical sketch, who resides near Waverly, upon his farm. He is a son of En- sign P. and Fanny S. ( Whiteher) Diekinson, natives of Ohio and Massachusetts respectively.
E. P. Dickinson learned and for many years fol- lowed the trade of carpenter, in his native State, where he was reared to manhood and continued to reside until after his marriage. In 1842 or 1843 he removed with his family to Wisconsin. When he came to Grant County there were very few set- tlers, and neighbors could only be visited after a comparatively long journey. He took up his resi- dence near Platteville, where his services were speedily in demand, and for a considerable time he continued to follow his trade. Here. Sept. 22, 1845, our subject, John W., was born. His father, who is still living. has been a successful man. When he settled in Grant County the total amount in the family exchequer was exceedingly small, in popular parlance he was without a dollar, but by in- defatigable industry and undaunted enterprise he has become one of its wealthy and most respected citizens.
The "grand old party" has always found in Mr. D. a stanch advocate, an intelligent and energetic worker. IIe is not a member of any church denomi- nation, but his innate large-heartedness and liber- ality are such that he deals with liberal hand with every worthy and charitable enterprise, whether it
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be the individual who has been overcome by the misfortunes and adversities of life, or more exten- sive demands from the community at large. His wife, the mother of our subject, is still living, and has borne seven children, of whom John W. is the second. The eldest was Elizabeth, now the wife of E. T. McKee, of Stockton, Cal .; after John W. was Lorain, wife of II. W. Cowell, also of Stockton; Phebe, now Mrs. Warren Johnson, of Grant County, Wis. ; William, resident in Arizona, and Everett. of Ripon, Cal .; Ina I., who married A. Grindell, but afterward died in California, and Charles, now a resident of Platteville, Wis.
Until our subject was eighteen years of age his life was spent between attending school and render- ing sueh services as he was enabled to upon the farm. Then (in 1864) he enlisted and went into service with Company B, 43d Wisconsin Regiment, which was commanded by Col. Allison Cobb, now of the Nebraska Supreme Beneh. Mr. Dickinson partici- pated in the battle of Johnsonville, Tenn., and a number of minor engagements, and was discharged by general order, in July, 1865, at the elose of the war, when he returned home to Wiseonsin. Two years after he turned his face westward, and finally located on seetion 14, town 11, range 8, Waverly Precinct. Here he entered a homestead claim, took up his residenee upon it, and set to work to fulfil the other legal requirements. In due time he proved up, and has since continued to oeenpy it. Ile owns 180 acres of land, which is in a good state of cultivation, and upon it is found, besides his pleasant residence, substantially built farm buildings, in which attention has been given in the detail of arrangement, to such provision as shall in- sure the greatest comfortand convenience. In ad- dition to his farm Mr. Diekinson has engaged ex- tensively for the last three years in the sale of live stock and grain.
In the year 1871 Mr. Dickinson was married to Carrie A. Hulling, daughter of Samuel and Johana Hulling. This lady was born in Grant County, Wis., where she resided until her marriage. Their home has been brightened by the presence of four children-Ensign, Fanny, Ina and Clyde.
Our subject follows the admirable example of his father in polities, and has been a careful stu-
dent, strong adherent, and eloquent advocate of the principles of the Republican party ; frequently has he been called upon to fill loeal offices. He was a candidate for election to the State Legislature in 1886, at which time, remembering his conscientious and careful work in the other olliees, respeeting his manly character and integrity, judging him a worthy and true man, one fitted in an eminent degree to represent them. the people eleeted him.
In the G. A. R., of Waverly, of which society Mr. Diekinson is a member, he has been found to be a consistent, reliable and active member, courteous gentleman, and brave comrade, especially in the post with which he is immediately connected.
OSEPH ROCKE is one of the prominent farmers residing in Buda Precinct, being the owner of eighty aeres of land on section 1, also of 320 aeres in Rawlins County, Kan. He was born on the 15th of November, 1854. in MeLean County, Ill .. and is a son of Joseph and Mary Rocke, both natives of Germany. His par- ents emigrated to America, and after reaching this country went to Illinois, and among other places in which they made their home was the county of Tazewell. They came to Lancaster County about the year 1868, and the father homesteaded eighty acres of land, it now being the home of his son, our subjeet. The father died in January, 1883, and the mother in June, 1886, they having been the parents of seven children, six now living, namely : Christian is proprietor of the Washington House; Jacob, the present County Treasurer of this county ; Mary, the wife of Prof. Richard Stoekfeld, who is the Principal of the schools at Cortland, Gage County ; Melinda, the wife of Henry Weidaman, in Gage County : Elizabeth, the wife of John Fisher, residing in Lincoln, and Joseph, our subjeet.
The gentleman in whose honor this sketch is written has been a resident of this county since the year 1868, consequently he has had considerable experience as an early settler, and has watched with pride and interest the improvements that are yearly being made. On the 3d of April, 1887, he was united in marriage with Mary Roeke, a native of
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Illinois, by whom he has one daughter, Clara, who was born on the 16th of January, 1888. He is a member of the Republican party, and is interested in all general public improvements.
The later residents of a country whose resources have been well developed can hardly appreciate the advantages of education and religion which they enjoy as fully as can those early settlers who have kept pace with the improvements, as they were made, and have watched with admiration the rapid prog- ress toward perfection. Parents bravely and un- complainingly endured the hardships and privations incident to the life of an early settler, stimulated by the thought that their children and their chil- dren's children would enjoy the fruits of their industry, and that in the history of a country none receive more honorable mention than do those noble men and women who made the first start to- ward colonization. The subject of our sketch will be remembered as one who has done his share in the great work of improving this vast Western country, and as he is yet but a young man will have ample opportunity to watch the further growth and development of his section. He enjoys the confi- dence and esteem of the people of his neighbor- hood, and has been fairly successful in life.
UGUST LUCKE. As a whole, it is open to discussion whether there is a more de- sirable class of immigrants in the New World, taking up land or making their homes in the Western country, than those who are from the country of the Rhine. It has been noticed frequently that quite a large number of friends, relatives and acquaintances will leave their native valley together and journey to this country, and take up their claims so as to form quite a colony. Something of that kind took place in the settlement of certain parts of Lancaster County, and our sub- ject is one who stands prominently before the people of Buda Precinct as a representative American eiti- zen, man and farmer. Ilis property is on section 26 of the above precinct, and comprises 480 acres of very excellent farming land.
Our subject was born in Germany, on the 18th
of October, 1839, and is the son of Lonis and Char- lotte Lucke, the former of whom is deceased. His mother now resides in the same precinct. Our sub- ject was reared to manhood in his native country, and there received a good practical education. He determined to emigrate to America in the spring of 1861, and crossed from Bremen to New York in a sailing-vessel, occupying upon the voyage six weeks and five days. For about four years he continued to work steadily in Chicago, where he was em- ployed driving teams, etc. As soon as he had saved sufficient to warrant the venture, he removed to Benton County, Iowa, and began to farm upon his own account, and continued with increasing prosperity for three and a half years. In the fall of 1872 our subject came to this county and home- steaded eighty acres of land, and it was not long before he had a thoroughly improved farm.
Subsequently our subject added to his farm, piece by piece, until to-day it comprises 480 acres, mostly of fine bottom land, all in good condition and yielding very fine harvests. In 1861, when men were called for, he enlisted in the defense of the old flag, and on the Ist of October became a member of Company H, 51st Illinois Infantry, 2d Division, 3d Brigade, Commander. Col. Bridlair, of Chicago. Among the battles in which he partici- pated may be mentioned those of Spring Hill and Franklin, and in the fight at Nashville and a second battle at Decatur. IIe finally became a member of the "Thomas Corps" and was sent to Texas, and afterward returned to Camp Butler, Ill., and was at that place when discharged in December, 1862.
The marriage of our subject was celebrated on the 4th of March, 1870, at Vinton, Benton Co., lowa, the lady of his choice being Minnie Strank- man, and their family includes five children, who have been named as follows: Anne, Willie, Matilda, Rosa and Huldah. His home is very pleasantly situated, and is designed to afford much comfort and convenience; during the warm summer days, the shade and orchard trees receive much praise because of their grateful shade and fruit, while through the long winter evenings, when the family are gathered in their cosy parlor, it is hard to find a brighter or happier home.
Our subject is as conscientious in the question of
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bis suffrage as he is successful in his business, vot- ing not for party, but for the man, and he who is the best, in the judgment of our subject, receives his vote. He is affiliated with the Buda Agricult- ural Society, and with his wife, is a member of the German Congregational Church.
E RASTUS E. BROWN, President of the State National Bank of Lincoln, has been promi- nent in city affairs and the business inter- ests of this growing town since the time of his com- ing here in 1870. A native of Onondaga County, N. Y., he was born in the town of Jordan, Oct. 27, 1838, and was the third in a family of four children born to Russell and Laura (Sweet) Brown, who were of New England ancestry, and the father a native of Massachusetts.
Russell Brown emigrated to New York State when a youth of sixteen years, and thence, some years after his marriage, to Steuben County, Ind. The mother died in 1879. Mr. Brown and family still live in Indiana. Erastus E. acquired his early education in the district school, and when a youth of fifteen years made his way to the town of Wol- cottville, Ind., and attended the academy two years. Subsequently he went to Auburn, N. Y. ,and entered the law office of Wright & Pomeroy, and under the instruction of these first-class attorneys gained a fine insight into legal lore. He also attended the Law School at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He was admitted to the bar in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1861, and began the practice of his profession at Moravia, Cayuga Co., N. Y.
Mr. Brown continued bis law practice at Mo- ravia until 1870, then, turning his face westward. took up his residence in the rising city of Lincoln, where he followed his chosen calling successfully until 1882, when failing health obliged him to with- draw from duties which were consuming too much of his time and strength. He became identified with the State National Bank as its President in 1885, and still holds this position, discharging the various duties and responsibilities therewith in a manner which has placed it upon a substantial foot-
ing and gained for its leading official the esteem and confidence of the community.
The marriage of Erastus E. Brown and Miss Jennie Churchill, of Onondaga County, N. Y., was celebrated at the home of the bride in Borodino, N. Y., Dec. 12, 1866. Mrs. Brown was born in Onondaga County, and is the daughter of Ansen and Izabenda Churchill. The father died when his daughter Jennie was five years old. The mother died in 1875. They occupy a handsome home on L and Thirteenth strects. Mr. Brown was elected Mayor of Lincoln in 1872, and was the united choice of the people of this district for the State Senate in 1877 and 1881. lle was largely instru- mental in securing the appropriation for the build- ing of the State Capitol at Lincoln, which gave to this city its substantial growth and which has main- tained it upon a solid basis. He is a man liberal- minded and public-spirited, and came to this sec- tion of country at a time when such men were most needed. In politics, he is a stanch Republican.
RUSSELL LOWNES, one of the enterpris- ing and public-spirited men of Grant Pre- cinct, owns a fine farm 320 acres in extent, which is located on section 10, and upon which he has erected a neat and substantial dwelling, a commodious barn, and the other buildings required for the successful prosecution of agriculture after modern methods. The estate is also supplied with the other appurtenances required by the progressive ag- riculturist, namely, first-class farm machinery, excel- lent grades of live stock, including horses, cattle and swine, a fine orchard of apple trees and the smaller fruits, which go to make up the comforts and enjoy- ments of the rural home.
Sharing in the prosperity of the subject of this sketch are an excellent and sensible wife and two bright children. The latter have been carefully reared, and given those advantages in keeping with their position as the representatives of a family which is widely and favorably known throughout this part of the county, and with whose history they are closely identified, and who have contributed their full quota in bringing it to its present position.
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The communities of the West have grown rapidly. and, during the six years' residence of our subject in this portion of Laneaster County, his example and his labors have had due weight with the people around him and have proved an impetus to their own efforts, illustrating the oft repeated maxim, that much of life is due to its surroundings and associa- tions.
The Lownes family is supposed to have origi- nated in Wales, and the father of our subject, Joseph by name, was born in Belmont County, Ohio. Upon reaching manhood he was married, in Fulton County, Ill., to Miss Susannah J. Russell, who was born in Alexandria, Vt., and who emigrated with her par- ents to Terre Haute, Ind., where they remained two years, then moved to Fulton County, III., where they lived about four years, then changed their residence to McDonongh County. of which they re- mained residents until December, 1882. Then, com- ing to Nebraska, they settled in Grant Preeinet, where the mother died on the 4th of May, 1883, and the father two years later, Sept. 15, 1885. Their family included four children, the eldest of whom, Evelyn, is the wife of Charles A. Cook, of Oak Pre- cinct, this county; J. Russell, our subject, was the second child and only son; Susannah, Mrs. Charles M. Martin, resides on a farm in Grant Precinct; Ida married Fielding Martin, and died in Grant Pre- einet, March 23, 1885.
The subject of this sketch was born in Melon- ough County, Ill., April 8, 1847, was reared to farm pursuits, and completed his education in the Normal School in Macomb, in his native county, He came to this county in the latter part of 1882. He had been married in Prairie City, Ill., Nov. 9, 1870, to Miss Frances V. Cadwallader, who was born in Ellis- ville, Fulton County, that State, Jan. 27, 1850, and is the daughter of Ezra and Mary M. ( Laneaster) Cadwallader, the former of whom died. in Prairie City, April 14, 1872. The mother is still living, and makes her home in Lewisburg, Kan.
To our subject and his wife there were born three children, the youngest of whom, a son, Marcus, died when about one year old, in 1879. Mrs. Lownes is a very capable and intelligent lady, of good family, and occupies a fine social position as the wife of one of the leading men of this county, and repre-
senting the best phase of its agricultural and busi- ness interests. She is a member in good standing of the Free-Will Baptist Church, while Mr. Lownes was reared in the religious faith of the Society of Friends, and is still in sympathy with the principles tanghit him by his honored parents.
The maternal grandmother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Susan Janey, whose ancestors crossed the Atlantic from England on the same ves- sel with William Penn, and were in full sympathy with the great peacemaker in his labors to implant the principles of truth and justice upon the soil of the new continent. Politically, Mr. Lownes is a pronounced Republican, and a man who keeps him- self well posted upon matters of general interest to the intelligent and responsible citizen.
ON. WILLIAM W. CARDER. A well- known officer of the United States Army, in a recently written magazine article, has for- cibly stated the faet of the wonderful de- velopment of the great Western plains in the following words: "The rapid and thorough re- clamation of our Western possessions from the con- trol and domination of savages, and the magical transformation of this vast expanse of wilderness from a theater of barbarous warfare into thriving cities, villages and farms. the ocenpants of which are provided with peaceful and happy homes, are doubtless without a parallel in the annals of civili- zation." As one who has been a witness of this magical transformation from wilderness to civili- zation, it gives us great pleasure to present in the pages of this work a biographical sketch of William W. Carder. Ile is a fine representative of the hardy, courageous pioneers who laid the foundations of Nebraska's present prosperity, and he has also assisted in building the noble superstructure that has since arisen, making it a great and power- ful State. When he came to Nebraska in 1857 it was under Territorial Government, and there were but few settlements away from the Missouri River. It was then that he saw for the first time the broad and almost illimitable plains, stretching for hun- dreds of miles away to the base of the Rocky
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Mountains, which form a portion of what was then called the " Great American Desert," with which in the years that followed he became so familiar. It was a wild, desolate country, where deer, antelope and buffalo roamed at will, and the Indians were still numerous and often hostile.
In 1867 Mr. Carder settled in Lincoln, and to him belongs the distinction of having edited and published the first newspaper ever issued in this city or, indeed, in the interior of Nebraska, and through its columns he was instrumental in attract- ing people hither and thus building up the city, which had been previously organized, although the sale of lots had not taken place. Assisted by his wife in setting the type, he sent forth to the public the first number of his paper, called the Nebraska Commonwealth, on the 22d of October, 1867. The name was afterward changed to Nebraska State Journal, and in 1868 it changed hands.
The subject of this sketch was born in Harrison County, W. Va., Aug. 2, 1838, being a son of Ab- bott Carder, a native of the same State, and a grandson of Henry Carder, who was born in the city of Dublin, Ireland. The latter emigrated to America with his family and settled in Virginia, where he and his brother had previously bought a large tract of land. He became extensively eu- gaged in farming, and resided there until his death. The father of our subject was reared and married in Virginia, Susanna Staulnaker, likewise a Virginian by birth, becoming his wife, and he resided in his native State until 1839. In that year he moved to Ohio with his family, and in the town of Lebanon, Warren County, started a carriage and wagon fac- tory, which he conducted very successfully for many years. He is still living, full of years, and honored for the upright life that he has led, mak- ing his home with his children, and a part of the time dwelling with our subject. IIis faithful wife departed this life in Dayton, Ohio.
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