Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 72

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

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Our subject could not do without his fruit trees, which were much missed upon leaving the old farm.

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He therefore set to work to supply this lack, and in as short time as possible he had an orchard con- tamning upward of 250 well-bearing and carefully selected apple trees, besides an abundance of other trees and bushes, bearing fruits large and small. Those who have experienced a Nebraska summer will know well how to appreciate the grateful and cool- ing shade, and will not be surprised that our sub- ject should, in addition to the orchard, be careful to provide this desideratum. Ile is now provided with a very fine collection of forest trees, number- ing several hundred of black walnut, besides other varieties in proportion. At different times and in different places, Mr. Hermance has owned consider- able real estate in this county, and has done very much for the improvement of the district. He was the owner also of a large tract of land at Hastings, Neb., which he recently sold at an advance, also property adjoining West Lincoln, which he sold at an advance. Our subjeet has always been held in the highest repute, and the many laudable qualities of his character and conduct are fully appreciated by his fellow-citizens. He has usually been one of the Election Board of his precinct, also School Director of the district in which he lives.

Miss Esther Hawkins, who became the wife of Mr. Hermance, was born Dec. 22, 1831, in Cattaraugus County, N. Y. She received her carly education in the common schools of her native place, and after she had done with the benches, desks and school books as a scholar, she presented herself for exam- ination, and was adjudged worthy to return and take charge as a teacher, in which capacity she con- tinued to give satisfaction to all concerned until she resigned her position to take her place at the hymeneal altar. The father of this lady was born in Oswego County, N. Y., about the beginning of the present century, and when a young man was married to Miss Betsey Morris. Their family com- prises some eight children. They resided in Catta- raugus County for over thirty years, Mr. Hawkins following the occupation of farming. His death occurred about the year 1854, and after two or three years his widow entered into a second matrimonial alliance. The record of births in the family bears the names of his children as follows: Harriet, Orson, Euphemia, William, Esther (now Mrs. Her-

mance), Duty, Osear and Rodna, Orson, William and Oscar are deceased, and with the exception of Esther, the others still reside in their native county.

Ernest Hermance, son of J. L. and Esther (Haw- kins) Hermance, was united in marriage, in April, 1872, at Scio, Allegany Co., N. Y., to Miss Electa Black, of New York, and to them were born three children-William Leroy, James and Rodna. They were divorced, and after a time he was again mar- ried, and now to Miss Jennie Ward, of Lancaster County, who has presented him with two children. Mr. Hermance is a farmer in the county, and, like his father, enjoys the lieartiest confidence and highest esteem of his fellow-citizens.

In politics Mr. Hermance is a stanch Republican, and he and his wife have for many years been mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

6 HIEODORE R. CIHTTENDEN, a gentle- man in the prime of life and ranking among the leading farmers of Yankee Hill Precinct, has for the last four years been laboring to good advantage, cultivating 160 acres of land on section 18. Ile is a man held in respect by his neighbors, being a thorough and skillful farmer, meeting his obligations promptly, and acquitting himself in all respects as a useful member of the community.

Mr. Chittenden was born in Hillsdale County, Mich., Oct. 6, 1844. Nelson Chittenden, his father, was born and reared in Onondaga County, N. Y., where, upon reaching manhood, he led to the altar one of the most estimable young ladies of his town- ship, Miss Elizabeth Nelson. They continued res- idents of the Empire State a short time, and then the father determined to cast his lot among the pioneers of Southern Michigan. Ile chose his loca- tion in Cambria Township, Hillsdale County, and spent his first night there in a hollow log. With his estimable wife he subsequently endured all the privations and hardships incident to life in a new country, and after building up a good homestead departed hence, in 1850. The mother survived her husband a period of thirty-six years, remaining a

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widow, and spent her last days in Hillsdale County' Mich., passing away in 1886.

Our subject was a little lad six years of age at the time of his father's death, and began early in life to paddle his own canoe. Ile lived with his mother on the farm until fourteen years old, work- ing around among the neighbors by the month, and spending a portion of the winter season in school. 1Ie realized the advantages of book learning. and, by improving his opportunities, became fairly well posted upon matters of general interest in the world, and still keeps up the course of reading which assisted him to an intelligent manhood. When twenty-six years of age, believing that he would be justified in taking upon himself the re- sponsibilities of a family, he was united in mar- riage, Dec. 24, 1870, with Miss Catherine Van Ness, a sister of Mrs. John F. Ilay, of Yankee Hill Precinct, and of whom a sketch appears else- where in this ALBUM. Shortly after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Chittenden took up their residence in Calhoun County, Mich., where they lived until com- ing to Yankee IIill Precinct, in 1884. To our sub- ject and his wife there have been born six children, two of whom, Charles and Nelson, died at the ages of twelve years and two and one-half months. The four surviving are named respectively : Willie, Cornelia, Clarence and Lena.

The farm of our subject includes 160 acres of good land, which he has redeemed from the indifferent condition in which he found it, making a highly productive tract which is now the source of a com- fortable income. He has earned his possessions by the sweat of his brow, and now, sitting under his own vine and fig tree, is enjoying that to which he is amply entitled. He is liberal-minded and public-spirited, a stanch Republican, politically, and has served as Moderator in his school district since becoming a resident here.

UDSON E. VANDERLIP, President of the Citizens' Bank, of Bennet, and a leading mer- chant of the town, is widely and favorably known throughout the eastern part of this county as one of its most energetic and capable

men. He represents a fine estate, being the owner of about 400 acres of land on section 3 in Nemaha Precinct, all under a high state of cultivation, and valuable property in the village.

The farm of Mr. Vanderlip is stocked with thor- oughbred Short-horn cattle, besides a goodly as- sortment of the common grades, and he is also considerably interested in the breeding of high- grade horses, having an interest in the celebrated English stallions, Brigadier and Favora, who are owned by the Bennet Horse Company, in which Mr. V. is a stockholder. These animals took the first premium at the Nebraska State Fair in 1887.

The Citizens' Bank, of Bennet, was organized in October, 1886, Mr. Vanderlip being one of the leading men of the enterprise. Its capital stock is $25,000, and our subject has been President since the start. He is comparatively a young man, hav- ing been born Ang. 14, 1844, and first opened his eyes to the light in Upper Canada, where he was reared on a farm and completed his education in the High Schools. His parents, Robert and Caro- line (Beebe) Vanderlip, were natives respectively of New York State and Canada. They came to Kent County, this State, about 1852, locating on a tract of land, where the father carried on farming, and was called from his earthly labors in 1888. The mother is still living at the old homestead. The parental household included ten children, of whom nine are living and residents mostly of Michigan and Nebraska. Of these, Judson E. was the second born.

Our subject continued with his parents until twenty-five years of age, then resided in Ionia County, and engaged in farming and teaching until May, 1869, when he changed his residence to Stock- ton Precinct, this county. Homesteading eighty acres of land, he operated as a tiller of the soil for a period of five years, then coming to Ben- net engaged in general merchandising, and thus he still follows in connection with his other in- terests. He has the largest establishment in the place, and keeps a full stock of everything required in the village or country household. For two years he has been President of the Village Board, and takes a lively interest in every enterprise cal- culated to advance the interests of his community.

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Politically, he is independent, aiming to support the men whom he considers best qualified for office. He became identified with the Masonic fraternity in 1869, and is the Secretary of Bennet Lodge No. 94.

The marriage of our subjeet with Miss Marietta Robinson was celebrated at the home of the bride, in lonia County, this State, Feb. 17, 1870. Of this union there is but one child, Edwin A., who was born in April, 1873, in Stockton Precinct. They occupy a handsome and comfortable home, and enjoy the esteem and confidence of hosts of friends. The Citizens' Bank occupies offices in the handsomest block in the village, and has become one of the indispensable institutions of this part of the county. The name of its President carries with it a guaran- tee which establishes it firmly among the other business interests in this region, and is ample secur- ity that its affairs will be conducted upon a safe basis. Mr. Vanderlip has assisted materially in the building up of the town of Bennet, has here in- vested a large proportion of his capital, and here centered his most valued interests. Hle esteems no effort too great that shall result in the general good of the people around him in advancing their social and financial welfare, and in giving to the rising generation the advantages which shall make of them a race of honest men and good citizens, prepared to take up the mantle of those who shall have gone before.

It is eminently proper that the portrait of this representative citizen should grace the ALBUM of Lancaster County, and we accordingly place it herein with pleasure.

AVID E. PREY. Among the old settlers of Lancaster County, and its worthy citi- zens, must be mentioned the gentleman whose biography is here briefly sketched. He is a native of New York State, where he was born on the 5th of June, 1842. He is the son of John B. and Margaret Prey, of whom further men- tion is made in the sketch of J. W. Prey, whose biographical sketch will be found upon another page of this volume. Our subject came to Lan-

caster County in 1856, and has sinee resided here continuously. The educational possibilities of his early surroundings were exceedingly limited, sueli, however, as were offered he took every advantage of, and has since by general reading greatly improved his education.

The chosen occupation of our subject has been that of farming, into which he was initiated when he was quite small, receiving, as he grew in strength and intelligence, more complete instruction, and performing more perfectly the duties assigned. At the time of his coming to Nebraska it was practi- cally an unknown territory, and had not had the first roughness of its original condition removed; Indians and wild game of different kinds were far more plentiful than settlers, and the land for mile after mile stretched away without a sign of eivili- zation. From this primitive condition he has watched with pride its phenomenal development.

In 1863 our subject entered a homestead claim for 160 acres of land, which he has brought to a well-nigh perfect state of cultivation. Since that time he has purchased other sixty acres, giving him a total of 220, which includes the farm as at present operated. The chief productions are those which would be included by the phrase general farming, and our subject has always been successful in his harvests, excepting where, as at the time of the grasshopper plague, circumstances beyond his con- trol absolutely prevented.

On the 25th of February, 1872, Mr. Prey was united in marriage with Sarah X. Davis, a native of Ohio, who has presented him with three children, who bear the following names: Nina, Daisy and David. Mrs. Prey was born on the 14th of March, 1852, in Morgan County of the above State, and is a daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Davis, the former of whom is deceased. IIer father was born in New England and later removed to Ohio, where he met and married his wife, a native of that State and of English ancestry. This lady is still living, and resides in Whiteside County, Ill., where her husband died in October, 1887.

Our subject has served the important office of School Director for several terms, and also that of Road Overseer. Ile has been prosperous in the various business undertakings of his life, and has

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been enabled to lay aside a fair competenee against the proverbial rainy day. As a man and a citizen he is simple in his habits, industrious and energetic, honorable in every transaction, and consequently much esteemed. In polities he has always been a supporter of the Republican party.

A. STOCKING. It being generally be- lieved that heredity and environment have much to do with the formation of character, and that our lives are stimulated by the immediate or indirect influence of our ancestors, a short resume of the lives of Mr. Stocking's parents may serve as the index to the liberal impulses which mark his daily life, and which have won for him the esteem of those who know him. He is descended from those Puritan Fathers of our Republic who ex- erted in so signal a manner their wisdom and energy in planting the seeds of freedom, piety and learn- ing, the fruits of which are so richly enjoyed from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It is a trite remark, be- cause so obvious and just, that no people on earth owe more to their ancestors than the descendants of the early New England families.

The courage and devotion manifested by these zealous and freedom seeking people generally throughout all the American colonies during the opening scenes of the Revolution and the long-con- tinned trials of the war, are entitled to the profound respect and admiration of all. Against pressure of social influence in the large Colonial town where bribes and offers were freely made by the emis- saries of the Crown, and where predictions of an- archy and ruin were constantly poured forth by the timid and mercenary ; against the temptations held out by the wealthy and ruling classes and threats hurled at them by the most powerful of the Royal- ists, those New England men and those noble women were proof.

To such noble ancestry do our subject and his wife trace their birth, the forefathers of Mrs. Stocking having been numbered among the erew of the always-to-be-remembered " Mayflower," and those of Mr. Stocking having come to America in Colonial times. The parents of our subject, Abner

and Gratia (Porter) Stocking, were born in Massa- chusetts, and afterward settled in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where the husband carried on the occupation of farming. He died in the year 1854, at the age of forty-five, and his wife died in the year 1885, at the age of sixty-five years. They were the parents of four children-William R., David A., Joseph and Mary M.

David, our subject, was born on the 31st of March, 1846, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and was eight years old when his father died. lIe had the advantages to be obtained from attending the public schools, and at the age of fifteen he entered a semi- nary at Dover, Ohio, and attended there in the winter time. He continued living with his mother until he went to Illinois, where he worked out by the month for the first two years of his residence in that State. In 1869, our subjeet, in company with E. Hoisington, came to Nebraska and took up a homestead of eighty acres.

In the year 1874 Mr. Stocking was married to Miss Polly Giddings, a daughter of Alfred and Fannie (Van Orden) Giddings. The father of Mrs. Stock- ing was born in New York, and the mother was born in Greene County of the same State, and after their marriage they resided in their native State for five years, after which they went to Stephenson County, III., where they lived a number of years. Then, coming West with their children in 1869, they settled in South Pass Precinct, in Lancaster County. The father died in 1871, aged fifty-eight years, and the mother took up a homestead in 1873, now, how- ever, residing with her daughter, Mrs. Stocking. She is seventy-three years old, and is the mother of ten children, seven of whom are living-Francis, Wal- lace, William, Naney, Patti, Polly and Van Orden.

Mrs. Stocking, wife of our subject, was born July 2, 1852, in Kent Township, Stephenson Co., [Il. She received the educational advantages of the common schools, and was eighteen years old when she came to Nebraska. She is the mother of five children-Wallace, Burd, Abner, John W. and Almond Burrell. The latter is deceased. She is a member of the United Brethren Church, and is dis- tinguished for her womanly qualities and zealous industry. Our subject is the owner of 120 acres of land, having made all the improvements by his own

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hard labor and careful management. He was for- merly a member of the Republican party, but be- lieving that the good of the country would be enhanced by advocating the policy of the Prohibition party, he now takes an active interest in promoting its views, his wife being also strongly in favor of temperance. For two years our subject was Asses- sor, and for six years he has been School Director, at present filling that honorable position in Panama Precinct. Ile is a good, honest, upright man, and as such he and his family have the esteem of the entire community in which they live.

M AURICE E. JONES, M. D .. a prominent capitalist, of Lincoln, has gained a wide reputation as a successful and skillful phy- sician and surgeon, and to-day occupies a leading position in the medical profession of Ne- braska, and he has also shown himself to be a financier of no mean ability. He was born in Montgomeryshire, England, Aug. 3, 1836, a son of John M. and Elizabeth (Edwards) Jones. Ilis parents came to America in 1845, and settled in Great Barrington, Mass. In 1852 his father estab- lished himself in the mercantile business in Pitts- field, Mass., and continued to reside there with his family until his death in 1887, when a valued and respected citizen was lost to that community. Ilis amiable wife did not long survive the shock occa- sioned by his death, as her own occurred a month later. Six of the children born of their marriage grew to maturity, namely : Maurice; Thomas, now in the mercantile business in Taunton, Mass .; Jona- than was a merchant. in Providence, R. I., where lie died in 1887; Elizabeth C .; Emma A .; A. May married James Ilosburg, and they live in Dalton, Mass.

The subject of this sketch was nine years of age when he came to America with his parents, and amid the beautiful scenery of that part of the old Bay State where his parents made their home he grew to vigorous manhood. IIe received substan- tial education iu the excellent academy at Great Barrington, and in a private school in Lanesboro. He was strongly attracted to the medical profession,

and determined to become a doctor, and he ac- cordingly commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Cady, of Pittsfield, and later was graduated from the Berkshire Medical College in 1860. Ile com- menced to practice his profession in Chesterfield, and thenee went to Westford, Mass. In 1862 he was called to Chelsea, Mass., to take the position of Assistant Superintendent of the Chelsea Marine Ilospital. He was there but a short time when he resigned to accept the office of Assistant Surgeon in a Rhode Island regiment, and in that capacity he did good service at the battles of Chancellors- ville and Fredericksburg. He was in the army for a year, when he resigned, and settled at Meredith Village, and practiced there for a time. From there he went to Mt. Vernon, N. II., remaining there in active practice until 1867. Ile then es- tablished himself in Port Jervis, N. Y., and was there appointed surgeon of the Delaware Division of the Erie Railway. In 1871 he visited his birth- place in England, and after traveling in Europe for three months, returned to America, and settled in his old home in Pittsfield, Mass., where he formed a partnership with Dr. O. S. Roberts. While resid- ing there he invested in real estate in Lincoln . without ever having seen it. In 1876 he again visited Europe, and spent six months in traveling over the Old World. On his return to this country he concluded to come to Lincoln to look after his real estate here. At that time Lincoln was a small and quiet place, with but little prospect of ever reaching its present size and importance as a great Western metropolis. The Doctor opened an office here, but after practicing his profession here for two years, he sold out and returned to the East. In 1882 he was selected to take charge of the medical department of the Insane Asylum at Amityville, N. Y. Ile remained there one year, discharging the duties of his position with satisfaction to those in charge of the institution. He then opened an office in New York City, and was successfully engaged there until 1886. But he had not forgotten Lin- coln, and he decided to locate here once again, and he has ever since been an honored resident, and has contributed very materially to its growth. Soon after his return he erected the handsome brick block which he now owns on the corner of

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Twelfth and P streets. While a practicing physi- cian in Massachusetts the Doctor was prominently identified with the Pittsfield, Berkshire and Massa- chusetts State Medical Societies. Hle joined the Masonic fraternity at Milford, N. H. The Doc- tor's travels and wide experience have made him a polished and cultured man of the world, and his strong personality, genial manners and entertaining conversation, have drawn to him many warm friends from among the intelligent and educated people whom he has met at home and abroad.

OIIN J. TROMPEN. Among the biographies which grace this volume will be found that of J. J. Trompen, one of Hiekman's most popular citizens, influential politicians and prosperous business men. He is one who stands high in the community in stature, as also in the foregoing qualities. He is a man of unusually fine physique, standing six feet six inches, and large in proportion. He is possessed of almost unbounded resources and reserve force, and in spite of a num- ber of reverses has made his way to a very advanced position in life, and if ever pride is a virtue it is so under such circumstances. How much, however, of this prosperity has been the result of his alliance with his talented, cultured and most estimable wife would be hard to say.

The father of our subject was John Trompen, who was born in North Holland, and came to the United States with his father. brothers and sis- ters while yet a young man, and with them located in Ottawa County, Mich, where also he began farm- ing, continuing his residence at home until 1874, when he came to Nebraska, accompanied by his father, and located in South Pass Precinct. Here he became the owner of 320 aeres of farming land, and died upon the homestead at the age of sixty-five years, in 1883. His mother, Mary (Raak) Trompen, was also born in Holland, and still lives upon the homestead, aged sixty-eight years. She has been twice married, her first husband being HI. Wiefrich, by whom she became the parent of

one child, Frederick. Her second marriage has been fruitful in the birth of two children -- our sub- ject and his sister Martha.

Our subject was born April 8, 1854, at Vriesland, Mich. llis early days were spent and his education was received in the schools of the same place. His school life was marked by the same attention to de- tails and perseverance that have made him so success- ful in later years. His unusually large proportions were early noticeable and rapidly developed. In this regard he took somewhat after his great-grand- father, who was a cavalryman in the favorite regi- ment of Napoleon I, renowned wherever the history of that military genius is read. He was also a man of large brain power, which seems to have been transmitted by some psychic law of generation to our subject, who also bears the same name.

Mr. Trompen's felicity has been largely enhanced by his union with Miss Jennie Huyser, daughter of Quirinins and Gessie Huyser. This lady was born in Zealand, Ottawa Co., Mich., June 23, 1853. The education in the common school was supplemented by that of a full course in the Ladies' Seminary, at Holland, of the same State, the curriculum of which included a complete course in music, living languages, artistic work and other accomplishments, and occupied a period of between four and five years. Immediately after her marriage with our subject, which was solomnized at Zealand, she came to Lincoln, arriving Sept. 22, 1874. The father of our subjeet had purchased a half-section of land, and upon this occasion presented one-half of it to his son, who began farming at once upon it. For three years they lived in a sod house, as may be surmised of not very extensive proportions. The first three or four years our subject met with trials and adverse circumstances which would have crushed many, and possibly but for the high inspiration that had now come into his life, and lifted him above mere selfish consideration, would have conquered him also, but he labored on and was victor over all.

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Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 72

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

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