USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska > Part 54
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William W. Carder was reared in Lebanon, and in the city schools received a liberal education. At sixteen years of age he engaged in the office of the Lebanon Citizen to learn the "art preservative," and in the three years that he spent there he gained a thorough mastery of his calling. After he left that office he went to Cincinnati, and for a short time
set type on the Enquirer and on the Times. Ile then went to Peoria, Ill., and was employed in the same manner in the office of the Peoria Transcript, until 1857, when he came to the Territory of Ne- braska, and the following seven years was engaged in freighting across the plains as far west as Salt Lake City. These long and tedious journeys were not devoid of excitement, and were sometimes fraught with danger, as after the breaking out of the late Civil War the Indians were quite hostile, and the only safe way to travel was in large companies. Even then the trains were occasionally attacked and cattle were killed or stolen. It was while on one of these journeys that our subject met the lon. John Cadman, one of the first settlers of Lancaster County. He was at that time (1863) in the employ of Coe & Carter, and while preparing to make a trip across the plains he was detained in Nebraska City three days after the rest of the train had started. Ile was provided with two pairs of oxen and a two-wheeled vehicle, and was entrusted with 84,000 in cash and two dozen pistols, which were concealed in a dry-goods box. His employers then instructed him to make Ft. Kearney as quickly as possible by the shortest and most expeditious route, that he might overtake the train there. On the second day out he arrived at the cabin of Mr. Cad- man, and asked to be allowed to stay over night. Cattle thieves then infested the country and every stranger was looked upon with suspicion, and it is thought that Mr. Cadman took Mr. Carder for a member of that fraternity, for in answer to his query, Mr. Cadman replied that he might if he would consent to be watched by a man with a re- volver. Mr. Carder readily consented, and on the floor of the cabin he slept the sleep of the just until the morning hours. Ile then pursued his journey, and arrived at Ft. Kearney six days ahead of the train. In 1864 he resumed his old employ- ment as a printer, and was engaged in the office of the Nebraska City Press, the leading paper of Nebraska, serving as foreman three years, and the latter part of the time as local editor. In 1867 he came to Lincoln to engage in the newspaper busi- ness on his own account, and in 1868 he disposed of his paper to J. Q. Brownlee, and engaged as foreman in the mechanical department for two
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years. He then entered the United States mail service as route agent on the Nebraska Railway, and was thus employed for three years and eleven months. Ile then devoted his attention to agri- cultural pursuits on his land in Middle Creek Pre- cinct, which he had taken up under the Homestead Act some years previously. He lived there until 1880, when he sold out and bought a farm in Grant Precinct, and resided there two years. At the ex- piration of that time he returned to Lincoln, and engaged in hotel-keeping until January, 1988. In 1885 he bought a tract of land on Holdridge avenue, and in 1887 erected his present substantial residence. On the 1st of September, 1888, he opened Carder's European Hotel, north of the post-office, at No. 934 P street. The hotel is first-class in every particular.
Mr. Carder married, April 18, 1861, Miss Nancy Swarts, who was born near London. Ontario, Canada, and is a daughter of Simon and Sarah ( Banghart) Swarts, both natives of Canada, and of German ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Carder have two children living: Emma, wife of J. B. Herrick, of Lincoln; and C. H. Gere Carder. Willie, their second child, died at the age of sixteen years; May, the third child, died at the age of eleven years.
Mr. Carder is one of the leading Republicans of Lancaster County, and has been an enthusiastic supporter of the policy of this party ever since he was old enough to vote. Ile has taken a con- spicuous part in political affairs and has been a dele- gate to numerous conventions, and in 1879 was elected to represent his party in the State Legisla- ture. He is a member of Lincoln Camp No. 190, Modern Woodmen, and he and his wife occupy a high social position generally, being liberal-minded, intelligent and cultured people.
Le OUIE MEYER has been for several years a prominent figure in business cireles in Lan- caster County, and is considered one of the ablest and most enterprising merchants of Lincoln, where he is engaged in the wholesale and retail general merchandising business, under the firm name of L. Meyer & Co .. at Nos. 108-110 North
Tenth street, opposite Government Square. He has been an important factor in building up the mercantile interests of the city, and is one of the leading public men.
Mr. Meyer is a native of Austria, born Aug. 12, 1853, near Carlsbad, the world-renowned watering place. He is the fifth in order of birth of the eight children born to Dr. David and Mary (Becker) Meyer. His father is a physician of no little note in his native land. and is the oldest practicing member of his profession now living in the nation of Austria, and in an extensive practice of fifty-five years has justly gained the confidence and friend- ship of a large number of patients by his careful and skillful treatment.
Our subject received a substantial education in the schools of his native country, which he attended from the age of five until he was fourteen. On leaving school he commenced his business career as a clerk in a store in Carlsbad, where he spent one year. Ile was a lad of more than ordinary capacity and intelligence, possessed of an indomitable will and ambition, and desiring to see more of life and make a name and a place for himself in the world, he determined to come to the United States as the country where he could best accomplish what he desired to do. Accordingly in the summer of 1870 he crossed the Atlantic, and landed on these shores at New York City. From there he made his way to Des Moines, Iowa, where he had friends, with whom he spent several months. In January, 1871, he came to Lincoln, and entered the store of Rich & Openhiemer as a clerk, and his four years' experience in that capacity in that establishment proved of invaluable service to him in his after career. In 1874 our enterprising subject, who had scarcely attained manhood, established himself in the grocery business on his own account. He was doing very well, and had built up quite a good trade, when he was burned out in March, 1877. Serious as was his loss he was not for a moment dis- heartened, but with a courageous spirit began again, though on a smaller scale, and has gradually worked his business up to its present magnitude, where it stands on a sure and substantial foundation. In 1880 he added dry-goods to his stock, and has ex- tensive dealings with the country merchants and
youre Very Truly
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farmers throughout the State of Nebraska. Ile owns the building that he occupies, which is two stories in height, and 25x134 feet in dimensions, built of brick.
Mr. Meyer was married, Oct. 2, 1879, to Miss Anna Gunarson, of Lincoln, Neb., daughter of Andrew Gunarson. She was born in Princeton, Bu- reau Co., Ill. Their pleasant household circle is com- pleted by the presence of their son Max, and two daughters, Paulina and Leah. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are favorites in social circles in this city, and have many warm friends. Mr. Meyer. beside attending to his large business interests, finds time to spare to the duties of public office, to which he is often called. He is at present a member of the City Council, of the Fifth Ward, to which he was elected in April, 1888. He was elected one of the Directors, and Treasurer of the Board of Trade for the sec- ond term in April, 1888. In politics, he has always been a strong Republican, and in favor of the enforcement of law and order.
ENRY HI. WILSON. One cannot rise from the thoughtful reading of Sir Walter Scott's works without being impressed with the strength of character, pertinacity and robust manhood of the Scotch, as a race. The descendants of this people of remarkable history mark with the same traits and characteristics their individual record, and leave their imprint upon their surround- ings, whatever may be the country in which they sojourn.
Henry H. Wilson, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, is a gentleman well known through- out the country as an able lawyer and a brilliant writer. He was born near Fremont, Sandusky Co., Ohio, Jan. 1. 1854, and is the eldest son and seventh child of a family of nine. His sisters Rachael and Martha died in infancy; Caroline is married to John B. Brown, of Bryan, Ohio; Agnes resides near Ashland, Neb., and is the wife of Martin Van Horn; Rebecca married Christian Krabill, a suc- eessful farmer of Farmer's Center, Ohio; Jane is the wife of Samuel Biggerstaff, whose home is near
Ithaca, Neb .; his younger brother, William, died Feb. 6, 1888; the youngest, John J., is now living iu Wahoo, Neb.
The father of our subject was born in Luzerne County, Pa., not far from Shickshinny, Sept. 13, 1813, and was the son of farmers, Robert and Agnes (Wilson) Wilson; although of the same name they were not related. Robert was the son of Jo- seph Wilson, who came to the United States from Ireland in pre-Revolutionary times. In Robert there was a mixture of Irish, Scotch and Welsh blood, the former predominating. The two great- grandfathers of our subject bore the same name, Wilson, and the mother's grandfather came from Freland at the age of seven years. Until the year 1832 the father of Henry H. remained under the parental roof, surrounded by home influences and educated in the schools adjacent to that home.
In the year mentioned the father of our subject went to Ohio and began teaching, at which he con- tinued until settling near Rome, now called Fos- toria, in Seneca County. Here he soon became the owner of a farm, and continued his residence until 1841, when he moved to Jackson Township, San- dusky County, and bought eighty acres of Govern- ment land at a cost of $100. In the home which he there built up all his children were born, and not until March, 1871, was any further removal made. Then, accompanied by all his family except the two eldest, he came to Nebraska and settled near Ashland, Saunders County. Here he purchased land and improved a homestead of 320 acres, mak- ing it his abode until the spring of 1886, when he took up 320 acres of land adjacent to Camp Clarke, Cheyenne County, and there now makes his home. He is a member of the German Baptist Church, sometimes known by the name of Dunkards. He is independent in politics, pledging himself neither to one party nor another, the dictator of his votes being his sense of right and the requirements of the office to be filled.
Mr. Wilson, Sr., is a man of slight stature and strength, and was ill prepared for the struggles of pioneer life and the hardships incident to carving a farm ont of the dense and almost trackless forests of Northern Ohio of a half-century ago. He is, however, a man of buoyant spirits, strong mind and
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powerful will, and by his indomitable pluck, un- failing courage, and the peculiar faculty of accom- plishing by indirect means what he lacked the physical strength to do by direct means, he was enabled to subdue the forest, clear his farm and rear his unusually large family. During these years of struggle he often accomplished results that many robust men of less resolution would never have un- dertaken. His changes of residence, both in 1871 and 1886, were made in hope of relief, only par- tially realized, from the asthma from which he has suffered for thirty years. On the 1st of March, 1838, he married, in Seneca County, Ohio, his first wife, Hannah Benseoter, who died in a few months. On the 1st of April, 1841, in the same county, he married his second wife, Mary Feasel, who became the mother of our subject. She was born in Frank- lin County, near Columbus, Ohio, on the 23d of May, 1819, and was the eldest child and daughter of Henry and Jane (Kendall) Feasel. The Feasels were of German descent. Jane Kendall was the daughter of an English nobleman, who at an early age came to America to escape the tyranny of an elder brother. About the year 1836 Henry with his family removed to Seneca County, Ohio, where he settled adjoining his brother, and the neighbor- hood was familiarly called Feaselburg, from the large number of their descendants who settled about them.
Henry, for whom our subject was named, was a prosperous farmer, reared a family of nine children, and he and his wife ended their days on the old homestead in Feaselburg. The family were Meth- odists of the old type, eschewing alfornaments, and regarding luxuries and even comforts as danger- ously near the dividing line between the innocent and the sinful. Mary after her marriage became closely allied in feeling and thought with her hus- band, and became a member of the Dunkard Church. She was a woman of more than ordinary strength, both mentally and physically. It is from her that our subjeet inherits his muscular strength and ro- bust figure. She was strong in her affections, de- voted to her children, and beloved by all. She died Sept. 8, 1874, mourned by her family. her friends and the community at large, who recognized and fully appreciated her many virtues, and realized
the social, religious and domestic loss occasioned by her sudden and untimely death.
The early days of our subject were spent on his father's farm, where at the early age of thirteen he assumed the entire burden of work as well as the management of the farm. Here he enjoyed the ad- vantages of a very indifferent country school for three or four months during the winters. This very meager elementary education, eked out by one term in the Normal School at Bryan, Ohio, enabled him, after a hard summer's work on the new Nebraska farm (the last regular work done on the farm), to obtain a license to teach in an Irish settlement on Platte Bottom, near Forest City. Sarpy County. After spending a single term at the Normal School at Peru, this State, he returned to Papillion, Sarpy County, and taught two terms.
By this time a broader view of life began to dawn on the vision of Mr. Wilson, and having con- cluded that a more general education was a neces- sary preparation for his future, he entered the preparatory department of the State University in September, 1873, and resolved to complete its most thorough course, although he had to rely solely on his own efforts to maintain himself. During his college course Mr. Wilson was successively business manager and editor of the Hesperian Student, a college paper, and was twice made President of the Union Debating Society. He graduated with honors in 1878, with the degree of Ph. B., and in 1886 the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by his Alma Mater.
Immediately after his graduation Mr. Wilson be- came Principal of the High School at Seward, in this State, and by his peculiar ability to impart his knowledge to others, as well as by his untiring zeal and enthusiasm in his work, he soon placed him- self in the front rank among the educators of the State. During his two years at Seward, besides his school work. he read privately such elementary books of the law as are usually mastered by stu- dents before admission to the bar. In May, 1880, he entered the law office of Walter J. Lamb, one of the ablest as well as best known attorneys of the State, and there completed his very thorough prep- aration for the bar, to which he was regularly ad- mitted Feb. 2. 1881, in the United States Circuit
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Court. In November, 1881, he entered into a law partnership with Arnott C. Ricketts, an able law- yer who located in Lincoln in 1872. This partner- ship continued until November, 1882, when Mr. Lamb, the former tutor of Mr. Wilson, became as- sociated with them, since which time the present firm has built up a business and a reputation second to none in the State. The same independence of character, untiring energy and patient endurance which enabled Mr. Wilson to acquire a collegiate education under the most adverse circumstances, have in the few years of his practice at the bar placed him in the front rank among the men of his age in the profession. His success in practical life has been even greater than that as a student.
In the beginning of this sketch mention was made of the ability of Mr. Wilson as a writer. It is im- possible to present within the limits of this writing more than an enumeration of a few of his produc- tions, which have appeared mostly in our maga- zines. In the "Popular Science Monthly" appeared a very able article, in March, 1881, entitled, "The State as an Educator." In the same magazine for March, 1884, an article which attracted much at- tention in the legal world appeared under the caption, "The Jury System." In December of the same year there appeared in "The Choice Lit- erature," another paper showing his power as a constitutional lawyer, entitled, "The Unwritten Elements of our Federal Constitution." In De- cember, 1886, the "Literary Magazine" contained another production from his pen, bearing the ap- pellation, "The Relation of History to the Study and Practice of Law," which article was read be- fore the Nebraska State Historical Society, was received with favor. and now forms part of their second report.
The social status of Mr. Wilson is pronounced, his standing in the profession which he adorns is undeniably high, and as a citizen he occupies a most enviable position. Socially, be is connected with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Lincoln Lodge No. 19, in which he has filled the chairs of Junior and Senior Warden with dignity to the or- der and honor to himself. Although affiliating, po- litically, with the Republican party. voting its ticket and supporting most of its principles, he be-
lieves firmly and advocates openly and eloquently both Prohibition and Free Trade, and urges the advisability of taxing the vices and Inxuries of life rather than its necessaries.
Mr. Wilson was united in marriage, June 22, 1882, with Miss Emma Parks, a lady highly edu- cated, and possessing those admirable and womanly characteristics which have enabled her to sustain a very high position in the community at large, and in the affectionate regard of her more intimate friends. Of this union there have been born three children : Henry Parks, Oct. 20, 1883, and who died December 9 of the same year; Helen, born Oct. 26. 1884, and an infant, born on the 28th of May of the present year (1888). Mrs. Wilson is the eldest daughter of Capt. Benjamin D. and Ann (Farns- worth) Parks. She was educated and graduated with honors from the Nebraska University in the year 1880, with the degree of B. S. She has one sister, Clara, now Mrs. B. F. Johnson, of Lincoln, and one brother. Frank, who, like herself, are grad- nates of the State University. Frank is proprietor of the Sherman County Democrat, in Kansas. Capt. Parks was an early pioneer of Southeastern Iowa. Ile enlisted and was commissioned Second Lieuten- ant of Company E, 22d Iowa State Volunteers, was mustered in the United States service Sept. 9, 1862, and promoted Captain June 10, 1863, but for some reason failed to receive his commission as such until about November 10 of that year. He was with his regiment in its engagements, and fell in the heat of battle at Winchester, Sept. 19, 1864, on the anniversary of his marriage, which occurred in the year 1855. Ile was a member of the A. F. & A. M., a valiant soldier, an honored and much re- spected citizen, a true husband and father. His surviving comrades in arms never tire of telling of the genial Captain, and never fail to annually dec- orate his final-resting place at Agency City, in Wapello County, lowa. His widow, although left with very limited means, which was soon after nearly all lost in the destruction of her house by fire, kept the little family together, and still lives to enjoy the companionship of the children so early left to her care, and to see them all graduates of the State's highest institution of learning, now the centers of happy homes of their own.
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ENRY V. HOAGLAND. This gentleman is an example of Western enterprise and well- directed energy. lle was born in Somerset County, N. J., Nov. 2, 1842, and is a son of William V. F. and Sarah (Beekman) Hoagland, also natives of New Jersey. The ancestors of this gen- tleman were residents of New Jersey for several generations, and as a family have always been among her most respected citizens. His paternal great-grandfather, Henry V. Hoagland, who lived to the advanced age of ninety years, took part in the noble struggle of the Revolution. His grand- father Hoagland served as the Sheriff of Somerset County. His father, William V. F. Hoagland, was by trade a carpenter and builder, which business, however, he afterward left to engage in agricultural pursuits. He removed to Macoupin County, Ill., about 1856, residing there until 1886, when he eame to Nebraska and took up his residence in the city of Lincoln. He is now seventy-three years of age, is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and jani- tor of the First Presbyterian Church, of Lincoln. His wife, the mother of Henry V., is also living, and has attained the advanced age of sixty-nine years, and is a member of the Congregational Church. Of the family of eleven children nine are living, the subject of this history being the eldest. The others are Joseph S., Sarah ( wife of Calvin Tunnell), Rich- ard, Jeanette (wife of George Bagley), Susan, Liz- zie, William and James. With the exception of Sarah. who resides in Macoupin County, Ill., all are residents of Nebraska.
When the father of our subject determined to leave the old home State Henry V. was abont four- teen years of age, and all his education had been received in the common schools. At the call for men to serve in defense of the old flag, in 1861, he enlisted, and was mustered into service with Com- pany F, 7th Illinois Volunteers, which was the first regiment to go from Illinois. Six regiments from that State had taken part in the Mexican War; in the Civil War, therefore, the first regiment be- came the seventh. Ile received his baptism of fire at Ft. Donelson, taking part later in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Kennesaw Mountain, Altoona, Bentonville, besides numerous skirmishes and lesser figlits. He was one of the heroes who marched with
Sherman to the sea, and on to Washington, where he took part in the grand review. Hle passed through the war unscathed, knowing nothing per- sonally of wounds, or that awful experience-prison. In July, 1865, he was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., with the rank of Second Lieutenant.
Returning to Illinois, our subject worked with his father as a carpenter for about one year, when he again left home to attend the Eastman Commercial College, at Chicago. In the beginning of 1867 we find him at Bunker Hill, where, in February, he was united in marriage with Mary Etta Randolph, daugh- ter of John and Susan Randolph. After his mar- riage he returned to the West, locating at Springfield, Ill., engaged in the business of undertaker, serving also for two years and a half as clerk in the State Treasurer's office, under Gen. E. N. Bates. In 1872 he removed to Kearney County, Neb., and took a homestead, living upon it for three years, at which time, a favorable opportunity presenting itself, he sold this and opened a hotel at Kearney.
In 1878 our subject came to Lincoln, where his brother, Joseph S., was Sheriff, and became Deputy Sheriff under his brother, remaining in this office until 1880. Entering into partnership with his brother, he purchased a lumber-yard, which was located where the present Masonic Temple stands. at Lincoln. Here they carried on a successful and growing business for three years, when he opened a real-estate, law and insurance office. While there he was busily engaged in the organization of the Soldiers' Colony in Logan County, and became Pres- ident of the colony. He made Lincoln his residence until April, 1886, when he took up his residence at Waverly. Ile also owns land in Logan County.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoagland are members of the Con- gregational Church, as are also their three children- Frank, Albert and Evaline. In politics Mr. Hoag- land is a recognized leader of the Republican party, and for two years has served with general satisfac- tion as Justice of the Peace. With the memory of his service in the great struggle, we are not surprised to find him an active member of the G. A. R. and Past Commander of the post at Lincoln. llis enter- prise, energy and strength of character, together with the respect which those qualities always com- mand, are clearly shown by his connection with the
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