USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
For gallant deeds of bravery and for having proved himself a faithful and able soldier, our sub- ject was in 1862 promoted to the rank of Corporal, in which position he served until the close of the war. Although never severely wounded in battle, yet there were times when he barely escaped the closest call. Once at Suffolk a spent ball struck him in the breast, disabling him for a short while; at another time a musket ball grazed the top of his bead, cut- ting his cap into pieces and stunning him so that he fell as if dead. In his last engagement before Petersburg his life was miraculously saved in this way: It was a very hot day and most of the "boys" had divested themselves of their knap- sacks, but our subject thought he would keep his on. A piece of shell flying about struck him squarely on the back and was found imbedded in his blanket, and thus he was saved from instantaneous death, on the 16th of June, 1864. The fact of his retain- ing his knapsack seemed but a small matter, and yet it proved to be the means of saving his life.
Being mustered out and honorably discharged, Mr. Burcham returned home to enjoy peace in the country free from war. But the noble young heart
461
LANCASTER COUNTY.
which had so often defied volleys from the South- ern musketry. being no longer invulnerable, was pierced by a dart from the quiver of the eunning little god Cupid. which was healed by his marriage to the charming and estimable young lady. Miss Hannah A. Miller. Mrs. Burcham is a daughter of John and Ann (Barkley) Miller, who were formerly residents of Kentucky, but who had set- tled in Hendricks County, Ind. They were the parents of ten children, six boys and four girls. Mrs. Burcham. the sixth child, was born on the 20th of July, 1843. She enjoyed the advantages of the common schools, and grew to be a cultured and refined young woman. This union has been blessed by the birth of seven children, of whom five are living, namely : Myrtle M., J. Albert, Edie II., Scott M. and Blanche B. Louril L. and Cora A. are deceased. Of the living the eldest is twenty and the youngest three years of age; Myrtle is the wife of A. J. Smith, and resides in Norton, Norton Co., Kan. ; they have one child, a daughter. The other children are at home with their parents.
Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Burcham went to Champaign County, Ill., where for five years our subject engaged successfully in farming. Then, concluding to move still further west, Mr. B., in 1871, started for Nebraska, driving a four-horse team, his wife and children soon joining him at South Pass, coming by rail. He purchased 160 aeres, his present place, which then had only a small log house, and sixty acres of the ground plowed. In 1875 Mr. Burcham purchased 120 acres and later eighty acres additional; he then sold forty of the 120 acres. Ile is now the owner of 320 aeres of fine land; he has so improved and beautified this with buildings, including a very fine residence, that few would suspect it to be the same as that on which he began his labors abont seventeen years ago.
The farm buildings and residence of our subjeet are finely situated on the banks of a pleasant little stream, whose border of trees affords a grateful shade in summer and a protection from the winds of winter. The granaries, corn-cribs, barns, yards, ete., not only give evidence of thrift and prosperity, but plainly indicate the master-hand at management, planning and building. His magnificent dwelling,
pronounced the finest in the county, was erected in 1882, and is provided with all modern conveni- ences. Mr. Bureham has given his attention con- siderably to the raising of fine stock, and has now a herd of 130 high-grade Short-horn cattle, besides the best of horses and other domestic animals.
For ten years Mr. Burcham has been Treasurer of the school fund. lle is a strong Republican in politics, and figures prominently in the G. A. R. and the social eireles of his community. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, and comes to the front rank in matters of general interest and importance, socially and educationally. Mrs. Burcham is a very estimable lady, and by her charming manners is thus the presiding genius of one of the most attractive homes in the county.
The Burcham homestead gives a fine seope for the pencil of the lithographie artist, and will be ac- knowledged by all who look upon it as fully worthy of representation in a work treating of the impor- tant features of Lancaster County.
W ILLIAM H. BURLING is classed among the able and honored members of the farm- ing community of Lancaster County, by whose enterprise and perseveranee lier magnificent agricultural resources have been so finely developed. Though not among the early settlers of Nebraska, he may justly be regarded as one of its pioneers, as when he came here the country was but sparsely settled, and was still largely in a wild condition, giving but little indieations of its present advanced state of civilization and opulence. Mr. Burling's fine and well-cultivated farm, so pleasantly located on section 20, South Pass Precinct, shows that, not- withstanding the many hardships and discourage- ments that he encountered on every hand in the early years of his residence here, he has become prosperous and well-to-do.
Our subjeet is a native of England, born in 1848, in Cambridgeshire, which was also the birthplace of his father, John Burling, who carried on farming on a limited seale in his native shire for a number of years. The mother of our subject was born in Wales, but was reared in England. For many years
462
LANCASTER COUNTY.
she was the Principal of a school in England, which was supported by the charity of a rich lady and gen- tleman. In December, on the 31st day thereof, in the year 1854, Mr. and Mrs. Burling embarked on board a vessel bound for this country, accom- panied by their children. They landed in New York City, and after living there eighteen months, removed to Bureau County, Ill., where the father died at the age of fifty-nine. in 1870. Ile was twice married, and by his first marriage, to the mother of our subject, had six children now living, three of whom are in Nebraska, and three in Illinois, as fol- lows: Sarah, John, Elvira, Peter, Thomas and Will- iam. Ile had three children by his second marriage. The mother of our subject, a gifted, intelligent woman, of a kind and firm disposition, died in 1864, at the age of fifty-five. (For further parental his- tory, see the sketch of the brother of our subject, the lion. Thomas Burling).
Mr. Burling received the first steps of his educa- tion in his mother's school, and after bis arrival in this country, when a lad of six or seven years, he made good use of the advantages offered him in the schools of New York City, and distinguished him- self as a bright student. After the removal of the family to Illinois, the educational facilities were not so good in that recently settled county, but he fin- ished a course in the schools of Wyanet, Bureau County. When he had finished his schooling, he was called upon, at the age of sixteen, to assist in the farm work. Ilis mother died when he was nearly seventeen years old, and his home lost its chief attraction, and after his father's second mar- riage, when he was eighteen, he began to work out, not leaving his father, however, until the harvests of that year were gathered in. Our subject con- tinned to work out by the month for four years, and then, July 21, 1870, he embarked on the first pas- senger train ever run on the Burlington & Missouri River Railway, bound for Lincoln, Neb., as he was desirous to try for himself the independent life of a farmer on the rich virgin soil of this State. He took up a homestead on section 30 of what is now South Pass. buying out the claim of another man, and afterward "proving up" on it. He now owns a fine farm of 160 acres, on which he has made many valuable improvements, among which is noted a
good orchard of ninety trees. Ilis prosperous con- dition has not been attained, however, without many trials and hardships, especially during the try- ing times from 1874 to and including 1876, which would have daunted many a less courageous man. He was in a state of extreme poverty during those years, and suffered many reverses and losses from the start. The first loss was that of three horses, and then the failure of crops on account of drouths and grasshopper raids.
Our subject was married. Feb. 16, 1875, to Miss Sarah E., daughter of David and Mary ( Williamson) Carter, and she faithfully shared with him the trials of their early married life, lightening them by her ready sympathy and cheerful assistance, and has in- creased the joys and comforts of life since they have entered upon a more prosperous period. She comes from a distinguished American family that dates its origin in this country to early Colonial times, when some of its members settled in Ken- tucky. Mrs. Burling's grandmother was the first white woman who slept in Knox County, Ill., of which Mrs. Burling's parents were pioneers. The wife of our subject was born there May 1, 1852, and received her education in the district schools. She came to Nebraska with her brother in 1872, who bought a farm, and she kept house for him until she resigned to preside over a home of her own. Mrs. Burling's father was three times mar- ried, her mother being his second wife, and to them were born eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Burling are the parents of five children, namely : Erastus Reese, born Feb. 27, 1876; Mary, who died at the age of one month; John E., Sarah M. and Will- iam C.
During his many years' residence here Mr. Bur- ling has taken a conspicuous part in the adminis- tration of public affairs, and has done much to advance the intellectual, moral and social status of South Pass. He is at present holding the office of School Director, and has served on the board for many years. He has been Road Officer for nine years, and Assessor for one year. In his political views, he strongly favors the policy of the Repub- lican party. Ile is a thoroughly good man in every way; he and his excellent wife do much good in an unostentatious manner, and occupy a warm place in
463
LANCASTER COUNTY.
the hearts of their neighbors. Mr. Burling is an active Sunday-school worker, and he deserves great credit for organizing the Sunday-school in his neighborhood, which is conducted in the school- house, and has well earned for itself the appellation of the "Bee-Ilive Sunday-school." It is in a very thrifty condition, has a membership of fifty pupils, the exercises are rendered very interesting, and it is indeed a power for much good in the community.
OLOMON S. SCIIWAB, one of the most substantial and enterprising merchants of Lincoln, is extensively engaged in the clothing and gentlemen's furnishing goods business. Ile is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born March 4. 1829, being a son of Moses and Sarab (Roekner) Sebwab. His father was for many years a prosperous Bavarian farmer, owning a good farm, and also dealt extensively in hops and other farm produce. Later in life he emigrated to America, in the year 1854, in company with two of his sons, and located in Baltimore, Md. Subsequently he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he died in 1878, having rounded out a good and useful life, which made him deservedly respected by all who knew him. His faithful wife died in Germany in 1850, having borne to him eleven children, eight of whom survive, five sons and three daughters.
Solomon S. Schwab, of this biographical sketch, passed his boyhood and youth in his native land, entering school in his fifth year, and remaining there until he was fourteen years old, with the ex- ception of four years between bis seventh and eleventh years when he was under private tutors. Having thus obtained an excellent education, when his school days were over he entered a store in the capacity of a clerk, but at the expiration of six months he went to work on his father's farm, and remained under the parental roof until 1848. He was then a youth of nineteen years, of steady and industrious habits, good principles, and an am- bitions desire to make his own way in the world, and deeming that he could best do this in the United States of America, he set his face toward this Mecca of so many of his countrymen, and after
a voyage of several weeks landed safely in an East- ern port. He then made his way to Cleveland, Ohio, whither a sister had preceded him. lle remained there until 1851, when he went to Baltimore, where he was engaged as a clerk for several years. During that time he met Miss Helene Bauer, of that city, daughter of Henry Bauer, a capitalist of Baltimore, where he bad removed in 1853, and they were united in marriage in 1854. To the devoted assistance of his good wife is our subject greatly indebted for his good fortune in life. In 1855 Mr. Schwab went to Detroit, Mich., to become managing partner in the branch store of A. Schnab, a clothing merchant of Cleveland, Ohio. Our subject acted in that capacity for two years, and then took up his resi- dence in Painesville, Ohio, where he embarked in the clothing business on his own account, conduet- ing it very successfully for ten years, Having ac- cumulated considerable property by his business enterprise, and needing a rest, he determined to sell out in 1865, and enjoy life with his family in a trip to Europe. Accordingly he settled up his affairs, and then traveled leisurely through Europe with bis wife and children, thoroughly enjoying the many beautiful scenes through which they passed, the places of historic interest that they saw, and the visit to the okl home of our subject, where he revived recollections of his youth, and renewed pleasant friendships with those of his old companions who were still lingering there. On his return to the United States, Mr. Schwab established himself in business in Cleveland, Ohio, as a jobbing merchant of clothes and men's furnishing goods. entering into partnership with L. Lowman. They continued together five years, when the partnership was dis- solved, but the settling np of the business required the close attention of our subject for another year. Ile then engaged in clothing and merchant tailoring business in Cleveland until 1878, removing in the spring of that year to the city of Lincoln. Here he engaged in general business for awhile, but now confines himself to the clothing business exclusively, and has built up a large and very profitable business, whieb bas placed him among the moneyed men of this flourishing metropolis. Ilis success is due en- tirely to his own exertions, as he began life with small means, and has worked his way up to afflu-
-
464
LANCASTER COUNTY.
enee by the quiet force of persistent efforts and a constant devotion to his work.
Although Mr. Schwab has always taken a keen interest in politics and public affairs, contributing generously to any scheme to improve the city or advance its material interests, he has never aspired to office, the demands of his business requiring all of his attention. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party until 1860, when, in his loyalty to his adopted country, disproving the measures of the majority of the Democratic party, he became a "War Democrat," acting with the Republicans of Jeffersonian principles, with whom he was more in sympathy, until Gen. Grant's second administration, when, in 1872, he resumed his relations with the Democrats.
Mr. Schwab has a good residence on the corner of L and Sixteenth streets, with pleasant surround- ings. Four of the six children born to himself and wife died at a tender age. The two living are Sophia, the wife of Dr. A. R. Mitchell, of Lincoln, and Sara, who is a student at the State University.
OHN J. HARMS. Nebraska has among the States a name as a stock-raising State which grows increasingly fair as year succeeds year, and wherever this is true the stock-buyer is an important member of the society. One of the best known and respected of this class is J. J. Ilarms, the subject of this sketch, whose home is at Firth, this county. He is the son of John O. and Matilda (Radamacher) Ilarms, both natives of Han- over, Germany. His parents came to America in 1857. They are now living in Atchison County, Mo. His father was born in the year 1810, and his mother two years later. The family included seven children, our subject being the sixth born This event occurred Nov. 5, 1850, in Hanover.
The condition of life in Germany for the youth is, in many regards, different to that in this country, and among other differences appears that of the education of young people, and lies as much in the manner and plan of teaching as the subjects en- tered into. When the family emigrated to America our subject was seven years of age. When he
began his schooling in this country he was only able to speak his own language, but made very rapid progress in English, and with this in other subjects also. He continued at Springfield, Ill., engaged in assisting his father, until he was twenty-one years of age. In the fall of the year 1873 our subject was married to Miss Mary Aden. who was born in 1851, in Menard County, Ill. This most estimable and excellent lady is of German descent.
After marriage the young couple went to Missouri, in the spring of 1874, and remained engaged in agri- cultural pursuits with increasing prosperity for four years upon a rented farm, and then bought one of their own. It was on the 1st of January, 1880, when our subject came to Nebraska. From the savings of former years he now purchased a farm in Gage County comprising 240 acres, and was soon en- gaged most pleasantly and prosperously in the improvement and higher cultivation of the same. All his time is now fully employed in the endeavor to make his farm the best in his precinct, and to supply the various appliances and machines for the efficient working of the same. The year 1886 saw a removal to Firth. His farm is rented, all his time being devoted to the buying, selling and shipping of stock. The large business he has created and the extensive connection he has worked up are per- ceptible from the fact that he ships from eighty-five to 100 cars of logs, besides other stock, each year.
Our subject is one of the prominent members of the Live Stock Shipping Association, of Omaha, and one of its representative members in this county. Ile has erected a very fine frame dwelling, which is pleasantly situated in the best part of the town, and is very attractive, whether from without or within. When in Gage County our subject was one of the prominent citizens, and here in Firth he is one of the pillars of the community. Besides his property in Firth he is the owner of the Gage County prop- erty, a farm of 280 acres in South Pass Precinct, and the blacksmith-shop at the same place, also a farm in Harlem County comprising 160 acres. His political opinions are along the line of the Demo- cratic party, to which he lends his influence and gives his vote. Socially, the Order of Odd Fellows counts him among its most worthy and honorable members. He has held important offices in the
465
LANCASTER COUNTY.
order, and has filled most creditably every chair in his lodge. Our subjeet is one of the most suc- cessful, popular and honored of the citizens of Firth.
AMES E. PHILPOTT. The legal profession of Nebraska is ably represented by the sub- ject of this sketch, who began life in the town of New Providence, Clark Co., Ind., July 5, 1839. When an infant of five months, his parents removed, first to Louisville, Ky., and thence to Carroll County, Ohio, where James E. was reared to manhood. His mother, Rhoda ( Kelley ) Philpott, died when her son James was a little lad five years of age. The father, Charles Il. Philpott, survived until 1862, passing away at his home in Carroll County, Ohio.
The early studies of the subject of this sketch were conducted in the common school, and later he became a student of the college at Hagerstown, Ohio, where he remained two years and then began the study of medicine. A year later, however, he abandoned this to take up the study of law at Car- rollton, Ohio, in the office of Gen. E. R. Eckley. and was admitted to the bar in 1860 and commenced the practice of law at Carrollton.
The career of our subject as an attorney received an early interruption by the outbreak of the Civil War, and he enlisted first in the three-months serv- ice, but upon getting as far as Camp Cbase found there were more volunteers than were required, and he, with others, was excused and sent home. He had determined, however, to assist in the maintenance of the Union, and not long afterward re-enlisted, in Company A, 80th Ohio Infantry, and was assigned to the 17th Corps, Army of the Tennessee. Ile was soon called to take part in the siege of Corinth and the battle of Iuka, being at the latter wounded in the left arm by a gunshot, which necessitated his confinement in the hospital two months. IIe re- joined his regiment in time to participate in the battle of Port Gibson, and was subsequently at Ray- mond, also in the first battle of Jackson, the siege of Vicksburg, and in a number of minor engage- ments. His army experience covered a period of three years, during which he was commissioned on
the 1st of November, 1861, as Second Lieutenant, subsequently promoted to a First Lientenancy, and also served as Adjutant until Jannary, 1863. Later he was commissioned Captain, and also a Colonel, but on account of the regiment being under the minimum, was not mustered in.
In November, 1865, the war being ended, Mr. Phil- pott retired from the service with an honorable dis- charge, and resumed his law practice at Carrollton, Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 1867. In April of that year he came to the new State of Ne- braska, taking up his residence in Lincoln, and soon after opened a law office in partnership with Ezra Trellis, which continued three years. Ile next as- sociated himself with S. J. Tuttle, and subsequently with T. J. Cantlon, later with R. E. Knight. The latter was a very able lawyer. The next partner of our subject was J. C. Johnston, a member of the State Legislature.
Mr. Philpott, in 1872, was elected to the first State Constitutional Convention, where his judg- ment in relation to the important matters therewith connected, served to place him still higher in the estimation of the people of Southern Nebraska. In 1880 he was considered a fit candidate for the County Judgeship, was accordingly elected, serving his term acceptably, and since its expiration has devoted himself to his private interests and his gen- eral practice.
The marriage of James E. Philpott and Miss Anna B. Field, sister of the present District Judge, Allen W. Field, was celebrated at the home of the bride in the city of Lincoln, Sept. 18, 1872. This union resulted in the birth of two children-Imo- gene M. and Charles W. Mr. Philpott is a Repub- lican, politically, but supported Greeley in 1872. Socially, he is a Master Mason, and a member in good standing of the G. A. R.
OYLE MONTGOMERY has been engaged in agricultural pursuits on his present farm on section 22, South Pass, since 1874. and his industry and perseverance have been well rewarded, as his fine farin of eighty acres, for fertility and productiveness compares with the
466
LANCASTER COUNTY.
best in the township. John and Mary (Shatto) Montgomery, his parents, were natives respectively of Maryland and Ohio. The father went to Ohio when young. and there met and married the mother of our subject. They settled in Wayne County, that State, where Mr. Montgomery was engaged in business as a carpenter. In 1844 he removed with his family to Missouri, and became a pioneer of Sullivan County. They traveled to their destina- tion the most of the way on the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, landing at New Brunswick, Mo., and then penetrated sixty miles into the in- terior into an entirely new country. Mr. Mont- gomery became the owner of 400 acres of land, and became an extensive farmer. He lived to see the country developed into a fine farming region, and was an honored and respected citizen there until the day of his death, which occurred in 1875, when he was seventy years of age. He was a man well gifted with physical and mental energy, sound common sense, and shrewd foresight. His wife, now seventy-nine years of age, still lives on the old homestead in Sullivan County. Mo. She was an important factor in her husband's prosperity, as he was often aided by her good judgment and ready helpfulness. She is the mother of nine children, eight sons and one daughter.
Doyle Montgomery, of whom we write, was the eldest child of his parents, and he was born in Doylestown, Wayne Co., Ohio., Aug. 12, 1828. HIis education was conducted in the schools of his native town, and he was sixteen years of age when he left the place of his birth to accompany his par- ents to their new home in Missouri. He experi- enced with them the hard labors and privations of a pioneer life far from the centers of civilization, and many a day did he follow a breaking-plow drawn by oxen, and otherwise assist his father in preparing his land for cultivation. Markets were not very near, and the nearest gristmill was twenty- four miles away. Our subject remained an inmate of the parental home until he was twenty-one years of age, then, ambitious to do something for himself and to see more of the world, he went to work as a carpenter in Keokuk, Iowa, continuing in that city for two years. He then returned to his old home in Sullivan County, Mo., where he had
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.