USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska > Part 79
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OHN GILLESPIE, Secretary of the Ne- braska Stockyards Company. has had a lib- eral experience in this Western country, becoming a resident of this State as early as 1859, during its Territorial days. A native of Jefferson County, Ohio, he was born near what was then the embyro town of Springfield, on the 230 of July, 1832. While he was still an infant his parents removed from Jefferson to Carroll County. There the boyhood and youth of John were spent, and there he developed into manhood.
William Gillespie, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Washington County, Pa., his childhood home being near that of the lion. James G. Blaine. The Gillespie family is of Scotch-Irish descent. The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Mary Engle, whose birthplace and early home was near that of her husband. After their marriage they settled in Noble County, Ohio, whence they removed, in 1853, to Van Buren County, Iowa, and subsequently went to Scotland County, Mo., where the death of the father oceurred
in 1866. The mother died at Grafton, Neb., in 1884, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Maggie Burt.
To William and Mary Gillespie there were born eight children, the eldest of whom was John, the subject of this sketch. IIe pursued his early studies in the country school, near his home in Carroll County, Ohio, and afterward attended school in Noble County. He was studiously inclined, and for a time was engaged in teaching; subsequently he learned the trade of a carpenter, which he fol- lowed until 1859. That year he came to Nebraska, and settled in Peru, Nemaha County. Mr. Gilles- pie then abandoned carpentering and engaged in general merchandising until the outbreak of the Civil War.
Upon the 15th of June, after the first call for troops, Mr. Gillespie enlisted in Company C, of the 1st Nebraska Infantry, at Omaha. The regi- ment was commanded by Col. (now Governor), John M. Thayer, and was shortly after sent to St. Louis, Mo., and assigned to the command of Gen. John C. Fremont, who was operating against the rebel Generals Price, Marmaduke and others. Later the 1st Nebraska was transferred to the command of Gen. Grant, and our subject was present at the capture of Fts. Henry and Donelson, and also at Shiloh. He was also at the siege of Corinth, and crossed with Gen. Lew Wallace the State of Ten- nessee, and was afterward transferred to the depart- ment of Gen. Curtis, under whom the troops moved to Cape Girardeau, Mo. Here the 1st Ne- braska went into camp, and did picket duty nntil April 26, when the enemy, under Gen. Marma- duke, made an attack that but for the activity and heroie bravery of the "boys in blue" woukl have been successful. The 1st Nebraska Regiment was actively engaged throughout the entire battle, and after many brilliant deeds of daring repulsed the enemy. After this they were detailed to St. Louis and assigned provost duty for several months. Next they were ordered to the department of Arkansas, under the command of Gen. Steele, and took part in a number of important battles and skirmishes.
Mr. Gillespie, on account of his bravery and fidelity to duty, was now considered worthy of pro- motion, and received the position of Regimental
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Commissary, and was commissioned First Lieuten- ant, having charge of the infantry and cavalry. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to Omaha on a veteran's furlough of forty days. In the meantime occurred the Indian outbreak .and murder of the people on the Republican River and Upper Platte. Lient. Gillespie was among the first to report and proffer his assistance in repelling the Indians. He was at once given the post of Quarter- master and Commissary at Pum Creek, a point some thirty-five miles west of Ft. Kearney, on the old stage line. Here he was busily employed in piloting stages and fighting the Indians for some eighteen months.
On the 10th of August, 1865, Lieut. Gillespie was relieved and mustered out at Ft. Kearney, whence he returned to Brownsville, and shortly after was elected Territorial Auditor, a position which he beld most creditably for a term of two years, and was then re-elected for four years. He was appointed by the Legislature one of three Com- missioners to lay out the town of Lincoln, where it was determined to locate the State capitol, and under their immediate supervision were erected the first Capitol buildings, the State University, the Agricultural College and the Insane Asylum. In order the better to attend to the duties connected with this, be removed his office from Omaha to Lincoln, on the 1st of January, 1869.
Retiring from office in 1873, Mr. Gillespie was principally instrumental in the organization of the Nebraska stockyards, in 1884, of which he was made Secretary, and which office he still holds. There have been few important enterprises in which be has not been interested, while his wide experience and mature judgment have constituted him an im- portant factor in developing the best interests of the city and county. He cast his first Presidential ballot in favor of James G. Birney, and now gives his entire support to the Republican party.
The subject of our sketch was married, in Novem- ber, 1854, at the home of the bride, in Noble County, Ohio, to Miss Julia Byers, who was a na- tive of that State, and who died in Iowa in 1857. By this marriage Mr. Gillespie became the parent of two children, the elder, Miss M. M. Gillespie, and Willie C., who died in Iowa when an infant.
His present wife, to whom he was married in Sep- tember, 1860, was Mrs. Sarah D. Proctor, a native of Worcester County, Mass. She was born on the 5th of April, 1834, and is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wright Rugg. By this second alliance there have been five children added to the family circle, viz: Emma B., Harry T., Edward E., Lily M. and Grace L., all of whom are at present unmarried. The home of the Gillespies is well known in the society circles of Lincoln, and forms for the cult- ured and refined people of the city one of its at- tractive features.
C HARLES O. STRICKLAND was born in Piatt County, Ill., at Centerville, Jan. 1, 1865, and is the son of John W. and Anna M. (Hevel) Strickland, the former born in Logan County, Ohio, and his father, George Strickland, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, who, early in life removed to Logan County, Ohio, where he was one of the first settlers, and con- tinned to make his home there until his death in 1887. That homestead was the scene of the early days of his son, and until he had finished the ordinary round of school studies, upon which he went to Washington, D. C., matriculated as a student of medicine, and in due time was initiated into the mysteries of sutures and their osseous connections ; the origin, rise and progress of disease, and the methods of combating the same. He finally was graduated at the medical college at Washington.
Immediately after his graduation Dr. Strickland was united in marriage with Miss Anna M. Ilevel, and settled in Centerville, Piatt Co., Ill., which con- tinued to be his home until 1869, when the family removed to Lincoln, which was in its infancy and more country than town, surrounded by the billowy prairie, upon which the elk, deer, antelope, wolf and other animals roamed at will. The Doctor opened an office immediately and continued prac- ticing until the year 1877, when he purchased a flouring-mill at Raymond, and gave all his attention to the same, in which he continued prosperously until his death, the result of a deplorable accident, and occasioned by his being overcome by the
M. E. Melick
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strength of the current of the mill stream and drowned, in the spring of 1884. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, honored and beloved, and an earnest advocate of the Republican party. His wife was a native of Illinois, being born in Coles County, and still resides in Lincoln with her children.
Our subjeet was four years old when the family removed from Centerville, Ill., to Lincoln, In due time his attention was directed to the study of those subjects which lie at the foundation of progress and advancement in every department of life. Having completed the course of study prescribed in the common school he entered the classes of the State University. At the age of twenty years, upon his graduation, he took charge of his father's business, which included the mill and the large wholesale business. In these engagements he has been con- tinuously successful.
Our subject began to realize, as the cares of busi- ness and general life gathered around him, demand- ing attention, that in something his life was incomplete, and that a brightness, cheer and inspir- ation to meet and overcome the opposing forces of life and ambition to reach out after the large attainments was necessary. Accordingly, believ- ing he had solved this problem, he in April, 1886, became the. husband of Artha M. Klock. Subse- quent events have proved that his judgment in this matter was correct. His wife is a native of Iowa, the daughter of G. S. Klock. Our subject has not yet made his mark with any special prominence in political circles. but undoubtedly if he so desires will do so. He is earnest in his prin- ciples of the advocaey of prohibition, and an ener- getie worker, the recipient of the highest esteem of his fellow-citizens.
2 ICHOLAS E. MELICK. America has rap- idly become the pork-raising country of the world, and Nebraska, with her rolling prai- ries and unexceptional climate, offering as she does unusual facilities for the production of this important article of consumption, is rapidly taking the lead of
the States in this industry. The subject of the pres- ent sketch is making a specialty of the same at his farm on section 22, Rock Creek Precinct, where he owns 120 acres of choice land.
The grandparents of Mr. Melick, upou both the paternal and maternal sides of the house, were born in New Jersey. Nicholas E. Melick, Sr., after whom our subject is named, was married April 1, 1812. ITis family comprised six children-Peter, Chris- topher B., James William, Catherine, Edwin and Elizabeth, four of whom are now living. The date of the death of the grandparents is unfortunately lost. The eldest son, Peter, was the father of our subject, and was born near the close of the year 1812, and lived to be fifty years of age. In the year 1862 he removed from Hunterdon, N. J., to Marshall County, Ill., making of farming his life occupation. His wife was Maria Miller. to whom he was married on the Ist of April, 1837. This lady was the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Field) Mil- ler, also natives of New Jersey. Her father was born in 1815, and followed the trade of saddler, al- though he spent some years upon a farm. Ilis daughter, the wife of Mr. Peter Melick, was born in the year 1815, and continued to make her home with her parents in New Jersey until her marriage, as above recorded.
To Peter and Maria Melick there were born seven children at the homestead in Hunterdon County, N. J., prior to the removal to Illinois, in 1861. Mary E. is the reliet of Mr. Adam Har- riman, of Rock Creek; Emma J., who is the wife of Warren Hallett; Nicholas E., our subject; Cath- erine, who died in childhood; Samnel M., who is now Sheriff of this county, and owner of a farm in Rock Creek Precinct.
The gentleman whose biography is herein pre- senterl was born Aug. 25, 1817. His early life was spent with his father upon the farm, and largely oc- eupied in such duties as could be safely assigned to him. His early educational advantages were ex- ceedingly limited. although he attended the public school for a time. At the age of eighteen years he went to Chicago and attended a private school taught by W. G. Hathaway, at No. 172 Clark street. He then returned home for one year, and at that period his father removed to Henry County, III.,
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where he lived for about two years. In 1867 our subjeet entered the Northern Illinois University, and began his studies in the freshman class, but his previous studies enabled him to take an advanced standing, and complete the course in six months.
In the year 1869 Mr. Melick eame to this eounty and loeated a claim of eighty acres. He then went to Washington County, lowa, and taught school during the winter. The following spring he and his brother commenced working the elaim, and our subjeet was enabled finally to establish his owner- ship. Ile continned to teach in the public schools in Lancaster County for six years. In several cases the school-house was simply a dug-out that had been deserted by its former occupants for a larger and more substantial dwelling. The fuel was usually corn. The experience of the "Hoosier Schoolmas- ter" was his, so far as the "boarding around" was concerned.
Our subject was married on the 28th of March, 1872. The lady of his choice, Miss Priscilla Scott, is the daughter of Rev. James M. and Eliza A. (Gardner) Scott, who were natives of Canada. Mr. Scott is a minister of the Free Methodist Church. He removed to Illinois in 1864, and in 1885 went to Saunders County, this State, where he and his family still continue to reside. The home cir- cle included twelve children, in the beautiful pro- portion of six sons and six daughters, nine of whom are living : Eliza died at the age of seventeen years; Priscilla, the wife of our subject, was the second born ; Lucille, the wife of M. McBride, of Ft. Elgin, Canada: John is a resident of London, Ontario; Sarah died in infaney ; Caroline, the wife of Rev. C. E. Ilarroun, resides in Fairfield, Iowa; Robert is a minister in Ridott, Ill .; James is laboring in the Master's vineyard at Seattle, W. T., and Sam- uel C. is a minister in Rock Creek; Mary A. is married to the Rev. Alexander Norrington, of Sun- derland, Ontario; William N. is deceased; Charles A. is a student at Orleans, Neh.
The wife of our subject was born on the 13th of December, 1845, at Canada, and was married at Ash- ton. Ill. ; from that time she has lived with her hus- band upon their farm. Their family numbers eight children, three of whom are sons: William E., born March 23, 1873, and died September 16 of the
same year; Katy May, born June 9, 1874; Carrie, Nov. 12, 1875; Charles W., May 20, 1877; Frank E., Dec. 2, 1878; Emma P., Nov. 8, 1880; Bertha L., June 24, 1882; Marion M., Nov. 5, 1883.
Upon beginning life upon his farm in 1870, our subject built a sod house, in which he lived about a year, his brother living in a similar house upon the adjoining elaim, which made it possible for them to spend much time together. He began breaking sod on his land the same year, and pushed the work rapidly. The first erop was put in in the season of 1870-71, and yielded bounteously. Mr. Melick co tinued to link with his farming the profession of the pedagogue. The brothers usually worked to- gether with a common interest. In the unfortunate experience of the grasshopper plague, our subjeet (lid not suffer as much as many of his neighbors, for his wheat was in the shock when they came, and was safely gathered in; but the corn crop was en- tirely devastated, which calamity meant to the far- mers around far more than the mere loss of the grain, because they had no food wherewith to fatten their hogs, and were therefore compelled to sell out at two eents a pound, and ship to Iowa. This experi- enee was repeated, although to somewhat less ex. tent, the following year. The chief reverses which have come to our subject have been those arising from loss in connection with his hogs. All the grain that is raised upon the farm is required for their feed. and he raises upon an average 150 bushels per annum.
Mr. Melick is a decided Prohibitionist, and vig- orously upholds the cause. For six years he has held the office of Justice of the Peace, with honor and impartiality. He has for several years been Treasurer of the Distriet School Board, and Clerk of Elections.
Our subject and family are members of the Free Methodist Church, and have done as much for its advancement as any family in the district. They are among the most earnest and faithful of its ad- herents in this region, and receive the unqualified respect, not simply of the church members, but the entire community, because of the high Christian character with which their profession is adorned.
The portrait of Mr. Melick, given in connection with this sketch, occupies a fitting place among the
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well-to-do and prominent men of the county, who have been instrumental in elevating it to its present enviable position in one of the most prosperous com- monwealths west of the Mississippi.
RTHA C. BELL, County Clerk of Lancaster County, is a young man whose sterling in- tegrity and fine business qualifications have gained for him the high position which he so well fills, wherein he has won the full confidence of his fellow-citizens by his faithful discharge of the duties pertaining to his office. Ile is a native of Indiana, born in Cass County, Jan. 9, 1847, and is a son of George W. and Marrietta (Thomas) Bell, natives respectively of Indiana and Pennsylvania. His father was born April 30, 1824, and was in early life a farmer. In 1852 he became interested in mercantile business in Galveston, Ind., and later went to California, where he was engaged in min- ing. He also worked in the mines of Nevada and Idaho.
In 1887 the elder Bell came to Lineoln and established himself in the real-estate business, which he is still prosecuting with success, so that he is now numbered among the substantial men of this city. His estimable wife died in Illinois in 1869. She was an exemplary woman of high char- acter, and was much beloved by all who knew her, and a devoted member of the Christian Church, which at her death was deprived of one of its truest followers. Of the eight children born to her and her husband, our subject was the eldest; following is the record of the others: Gertrude P. married J. H. Davis, a merchant; Mollie B. became the wife of David T. Cook, a carpenter; George T. is also mar- ried, and engaged in farming; Melinda is deceased ; Lizzie married David Farnsworth, a carriage black- smith; Harvey S., a fire and life insurance agent, married Kitty Rairdon; another child died in in- fancy.
Ortha C. Bell was educated in the common schools, and as soon as large enough assisted in the labors of the farm. At the age of twelve years he entered the office of the Princeton (Ind.) Republican, and when seventeen, although but a youth, imbued with
the fire and patriotism of one who loves his country, he resolved to enlist in her service and do all that lay in his power to assist in suppressing the Rebellion. He was mustered in as a private in Company B. 10th Indiana Cavalry, and from December, 1863, served as bugler until he was honorably discharged from the army in August, 1865. Ile was present at the battle of Mobile Bay, and was on the courier line from Blakely to Spanish Fort and Pulaski; thence the march to Franklin and Nashville was almost one continuous fight, strongly contested by the Confederate General, Ilood. From the latter city his regiment proceeded to the river, and Hood was left behind at Florence. Our subject eame very near being wounded in one battle, a button being shot off his coat. For a time he was sick in a hospital at Jackson, Miss., and when he was discharged was suffering from the army senrvy.
After retiring from the service, Mr. Bell returned to his home in Indiana, whence he went the follow- ing year to Havana, Mason Co., Ill., where he worked in a printing-office four months. Then he was employed in an express office for some time, and later, in a telegraph office, being the first telegrapher in Havana. He subsequently had a trial of life in Texas, being engaged in book-keeping there for one year. He then returned to Havana, and in Febru- ary, 1872, turned his face westward again, and ar- rived in Lincoln on the 29th of that month. His first employment in this city was as a clerk in a boot and shoe store, and two years later he occu- pied the same position in the china store of S. C. Elliott, remaining in the employ of that gentleman for six years to a day.
In 1880 our subject was appointed Deputy County Clerk, serving in that capacity for six years, the first two years being under L. E. Cropsey, and the remaining four years under J. II. McClay. Our subject showed such zeal and ability in the dis- charge of his duties that, on the expiration of the term of his predecessor, he was chosen County Clerk in his stead, being elected to that office by the Republican party in November, 1885, and en- tering upon its duties in January, 1886. In 1887 he was re-elected for the same position, being nom- inated by acclamation. Mr. Bell is a prominent member of the G. A. R., Farragut Post No. 25, of
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which he is now Commander; and also of the I. O. O. F., Laneaster Lodge No. 39, in which he has held the highest rank. In politics he has always been true to the principles of the Republican party.
December 10, 1871. Ortha C. Bell and Miss Minnie Đ. Polley were united in marriage by the Rev. A. Burns, pastor of the Christian Church. Mrs. Bell is a lady whose amiable qualities and high character have gained her many friends. She was born in the State of New York in 1855, and at an early age united with the Christian Church, and has ever since been a devoted and consistent member. Mr. Bell belongs to the same church, is influential in its affairs, and a member of the building committee which has in charge the erection of a new church edifice. The family circle of our subject and his wife includes two children : Jennie G., born March 10, 1877; and Hazel P., Aug, 26, 1888. One little daughter, Lena, died at the age of eleven months; and Ray HI., a son, died when not quite three years of age.
AVID A. CLINE. Grand Secretary of the I. O. O. F., of Nebraska, and a man promi- nent among the affairs of the city of Lin- coln, began life near the town of New Lex- ington, Highland Co., Ohio, on the 28th of March, 183t. His parents. Daniel and Mary ( Miller) ( line, numbered nine children in their family, of whom David A, was the eldest. Daniel Cline was born in Hampshire County, Va., about 1795, and was a machinist by trade, which occupation he fol- lowed the earlier part of his life, but later engaged in farming. Hle emigrated to the Buckeye State in 1818, and settled among the early pioneers of Mus- kingum County, taking up a tract of Government land in the Muskingum Valley. After a residence in that region of ten years he removed to Highland, where he remained some time, and from there to Clarke County, and there spent his last days, passing away in 1867.
The father of our subject was first a Wbig, politi- cally, and later a Republican, and a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church. He did good service as a soldier in the War of 1812, when near its close, as previous to that time he had been too
young to enter the ranks. The paternal grandfather of onr subject, Adam Cline by name, was also a na- tive of the Old Dominion, and carried a musket in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Mary Cline was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 21, 1809, and emigrated with her parents to Ohio, settling among the pioneers of Highland County. There the descendants of the Miller family may be found quite numerously to this day. The mother of our subject is most ten- derly remembered by him as a modest and unas- suming lady, possessing all the Christian virtues, and after living a most praiseworthy life, passed quietly away at her home in Clarke County, Ohio, in 1883, when well advanced in years.
The subject of this sketch spent his youth and opening manhood under the parental roof, attending the common school, and assisting his father on the farm. In 1857, when twenty-six years of age, desirous of advancing his store of knowledge, he en- tered Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio, where he pursued a thorough course of study for two years, and although not yet satisfied with his requirements, was compelled to abandon his books on account of ill-health. Subsequently he taught school for a time, in order to obtain means for the further prosecution of his studies, but for three or four years thereafter suffered greatly physically, and it was believed by his friends that he might die at any time. About 1862, however, he began recovering his old vitality, and two years later we find him joining in the tide of immigration to Ne- braska, which was then a Territory. He took up his residence in Nebraska City, aud for about six years thereafter was variously engaged, teaching a part of the time, and also oeenpied as a jeweler.
In 1870 Mr. Cline came to Lineoln, and opened an art gallery, having learned photography several years before. Ile conducted this successfully until 1880, then engaged in general merchandising four years. In the meantime he had been elected to his present position, with the I. O. O. F., when there were only abont sixty lodges in the State. In 1885 he disposed of his mercantile interests, and aside from his duties as Secretary, gives his attention mainly to his private affairs. Under his super- vision the I. O. O. F. in Nebraska has expanded from sixty-five to 162 lodges. He is a devoted
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