Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 90

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

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Among those who have assisted in some measure in the development of this beautiful State is our subject, one of the old settlers in the northwestern part of this county, prominent as a citizen, good and true, whose home and farm is situated on seetion 29, West Oak Precinct, and comprises eighty acres of ground, and also the proprietor of 160 acres of ex- ceptionally good land on section 28.

John Thompson, Sr., the father of our subjeet, is of English birth and parentage, and was born in England about the year 1809. Our subject con- tinued to live in England until 1865, when in Au- gust of that year he came to Canada. In the mother country he had followed with prosperity the occupation of farming, and when he came to this country he continued in the same calling, and is still living, being resident with our subject.

The father of our subject took for his partner in

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life Miss Anna Gregg, a lady who proved her- self in every way deserving of the highest tribute that can be paid to wife and mother. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were given five children, of whom four still live-our subject, John Jr., James and Annie. One son, Christopher, lived to take part in the War of the Rebellion, and fell in battle. The mother of our subject died in 1849.

Our subjeet was born in York, England, June 10, 1826. receiving his education in the church schools of his native town. From school he became a stu- dent of Vulcan, and began to work at the forge, and bade fair to rival in a very short time the "vil- lage blacksmith." This apprenticeship began when he was thirteen years of age, and very shortly after the death of his mother. Ile served the regulation seven years, and continued in the same shop as a master workman for four years more. After that he worked for some time in machine-shops of the London & Northeastern Railway, at the city of York.

In 1861 our subject left his native land and came to Iowa. and staid ten months, but was all the time sick with malaria, and he determined to go to Canada, where he worked at his trade for a short time, then returned to England, where he remained seventeen months. and while there was united in matrimonial bonds to Miss Jane Ilammond, on the 11th of April, 1864. Almost immediately after this happy event he returned to America, accom- panied by his father. Ile landed in Canada, and continued to follow his trade for six years, and then in the year 1871 came to the wilds of Nebraska's boundless prairies, and homesteaded eighty acres of land.

By careful and strict attention to business, by well-directed energy and continued activity, the original eighty acres of Mr. Thompson have grown to be 240, all in a most excellent state of fertility. His house is built for comfort and convenience, and is in every way a home. Its interior decoration and arrangements, and the pleasant surroundings of the exterior, vie with each other to this end. In the vicinity of his house he planted four beautiful groves, and has set out an extensive orchard comprising a large variety of excellent fruit trees, besides finding time to provide for the production of small fruits of

many kinds. The greater part of the farm is given to the raising of cereals, mostly wheat and corn. Ilis stock farm has in it the foundation of an exten- sive business in that line. He has already some very fine cattle, including an excellent Galloway full- blood, and also several horses of good record and other stock, and requires the greater part of the corn produced by 140 acres for feed purposes.

Mrs. Jane Thompson died on July 20, 1881, leaving three children-John C., James and Clara. The eldest son has become the husband of Miss Lu- einda Sterns, and they make their home upon the other farm of our subject. On the 15th of Septem- ber, 1882, our subjeet entered into a second marriage, with Mrs. Mary Payne, and to them also have been born three children-Rosa M., Bertha and Harry.

Our subject has frequently been called upon to assist in the various offices of his district. For seventeen years he has been School Treasurer, for five years he continued to hold the office of Assessor, has been Supervisor several times, Deputy Collector for two terms, and he drew and paid the first money of the district. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the Trustees of the new church at Crounse, which is the first that has been built in this vieinity. He has also been ap- pointed Postmaster of the same town.

Our subject sustains a very high character in the district as a man and a citizen in all the relations which he sustains, is much respected on account of his manliness and success, admired because of the intelligent and conscientious way in which he dis- charges any official duties committed to him, and in every circle is held in highest esteem.

F RANK N. HOFFSTRADT. Among the in- telligent and able members of the farming community of Lancaster County, our sub- jeet occupies an honorable position. Hle brings not only hands well trained in the work of a farmer, but also a cultivated mind to bear upon the scien- tific side of the problems that are testing all the skill and learning of the leading agriculturists of the day. His farm on section 30, Panama P're-

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cinet, is under admirable cultivation, and with the improvements that he is continually making bids fair to rank among the finest farms in the precinct.

Our subject is a son of Frederick and Gertrude (Houser) Hoffstradt, respected citizens of South Pass, where they reside in a comfortable, commo- dious home, spending their declining years in the enjoyment of an income amply sufficient to procure them all the comforts and luxuries that they desire. The father is a well-to-do farmer, and owns a large farm comprising a half-section of land. Ile and his wife are both natives of Germany, born respectively in Prussia and Hesse-Darmstadt, lie being now sixty- eight years old, and she fifty. They came to Amer- ica after they had grown to man and womanhood, and were married in Rockford, Ill., and then set- tled upon her father's farm. They were among the pioneers of Winnebago County, were hard-working people, and took a very active part in advancing the religious, educational and social interests of their community, being prominently identified with the German Evangelical Church, of Davis. As years wore on, fortune smiled upon them, and they became prosperous and well-to-do. They finally sold their handsome farm in Winnebago County, Ill., and came to Lancaster County, Neb., to make their home in South Pass, of whose community they are still honored members. Mr. Hoffstradt has been in his day a man of remarkable strength and physique, and still retains much of his old-time vigor. He and his wife are the parents of seven children, all of whom are living, namely : Frank N., George E., Theressa L., Fred J., Addie L., Annie and David G.

Frank N. Hoffstradt, the subject of this sketch, was born Aug. 2, 1856, in Durand Township, Win- nebago Co., Ill. His early education was obtained by private instruction, and he was not sent to the public schools until he was twelve years old. Ile was put to work when quite young, as his father, a man of uncommon energy and strength, was a hard worker, and expected much of his boys, at the same time giving them all the educational advantages possible. Thus our subject belongs to that class of farm boys who grew up in the same State as Abra- ham Lincoln, and many a day he passed behind the plow speculating upon the future, and what it might

have in store for him. As he grew to manhood, he became possessed with the desire to gain a thorough education, of which he had already gained a solid foundation. Consequently he entered the North- western College at Naperville, Ill., in the fall of 1876, and remained there a close student for three years. Being very ambitious to retain the high standing that he had attained in his classes. he studied too hard, his health gave way, and he was obliged to leave college a short time before finish- ing his course, to recuperate. He then resolved to try life in the Far West, and selecting Lancaster County, Neb .. as his destination on account of its fine climate and other advantages, he arrived in Lincoln, April 16, 1879, a young man of twenty-three, alone and in a State new to him, without personal friends, and sought to establish for himself a new home where he might enjoy life, and regain his health. Ile soon entered upon the profession of teacher, and was identified with the educational interests of Lancaster County for three years. During that time his health improved greatly. and the next year after coming to Nebraska in 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Dowd, of Durand, Ill., an estimable young lady of refined tastes. For two years they shared life's joys and sorrows, and then she was taken sick, and died in October. 1884. leav- ing a little daughter, Ina Pearl, now a blooming child of four years.

In the spring of 1880 Mr. Hoffstradt bought a farm of eighty acres in Panama, and made that his home, but still continued to teach while managing his farm until 1885, but he now confines his atten- tion more exclusively to agricultural pursuits. Ilis fine education, versatile talents, and prompt busi- ness habits, have given our subject a place among the leading citizens of the precinct, where he is popular and influential. lle is a strong temperance man, and both in public and in private, his life is irreproachable. Ile is true to the principles of the Republican party, believing in American govern- ment for American citizens, and he has the educa- tional, social, religious and financial interests of the community at heart. Ile has held some important offices, and discharged their duties with character- istic fidelity, much to the satisfaction of his con- stituents. Ile was appointed Census Enumerator

RESIDENCE AND FARM, JAS. B. HALE, SEC. 30. SALTILLO PRECINCT.

Legend .

A. NEW. HOTEL. B. PAVILION. C. ICE-HOUSE

D. DANCING HALL. E. ROSLYN SPRING. F. GIANT IRON » G. SULPHUR

MASCOTT-ISLE.

H. MAGNESIA »

K. DAM .

L. BOAT LANDING M. MASCOTT ISLE. N. BALL PARK. O. STATION. R. RAPID= TRANSIT.

S. STABLE,

"CUSHMAN PARK" LINCOLN, NEB. E. H. ANDRUS & SON, OWNERS.

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for Panama in 1885; in 1886 he was elected Asses- sor of Panama, and was re-elected to that office in 1887. He is at present Clerk of the elections of Panama, and is also School Director of his district. Religiously, he is identified with the Presbyterians, was a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church of Firth, and is at present Ruling Elder. lle is also an active Sunday-school worker. and has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school for sev- eral years.

Mr. Hoffstradt was married to his present wife Ang. 2, 1887. She was formerly of Wilber, Neb., although she was born and reared in Germany. Iler maiden name was Diana Smith, and the date of her birth was Feb. 14, 1861, She received an excellent education in the far-famed schools of her native land. She came to America when she was twenty years old, coming to Nebraska in t88t. She is a good housewife, and makes home cozy, attractive, and a pleasant abiding-place.

E UGENE H. ANDRUS, an extensive dealer in real estate in the city of Lincoln, is looked upon as one of the most enterprising and prominent business men of Nebraska. A na- tive of New York State, he was born near the town of Castile, in Wyoming County, Sept. 10, 1846, and was the elder of the two children of Martin and Clarissa (Huntington) Andrus. Ilis father was a native of Vermont, and at one time extensively en- gaged as a railway contractor, and dealer in grain and produce in Baltimore, Md. The mother, a native also of the Green Mountain State, was the only daughter of Daniel Huntington. She died when her son Eugene H. was a lad ten years of age. Martin Andrus is still living, retired from active business, and makes his home in Perry, N. Y.

The subject of this sketch acquired his rudi- mentary education in the common schools, and at the early age of twelve years began his business career as clerk in a store, where he remained three years. Being ambitious to complete his education, he went to Rochester, N. Y., and became a student in the college there, diligently pursuing the pre- scribed course of study until the outbreak of the

Civil War. Although then but fifteen years old his patriotism overcame every other consideration, and throwing aside his books he enlisted in the defense of his country, becoming a member of the 24th New York Batterry. His services, however, were required only a short time when his regiment was mustered out, and young Andrus received his honorable discharge and returned home.

Our subject now assumed charge of his father's business in Baltimore, and was thus occupied for two years. Thence he went to Perry, N. Y., and engaged in merchandising on his own account, carrying on business at that point three years. Then taking up his residence in Warsaw he became proprietor of the Andrus Regulator, and in connec- tion with this carried on a very extensive business, selling on an average $150,000 worth annually. Finally, owing to unavoidable business complica- tions, he was compelled to close out, and after settling honorably with his ereditors, had but $50 left. Undismayed, however, by his ill fortune, he set to work with characteristic energy to retrieve his position in the business world, and devoted that small sum of money to the purchase of thirteen acres of land adjoining the town of Warsaw, and laid it out in town lots, from the sale of which he realized over $3.000.

In 1872 Mr. Andrus entered into a contract to go to Corning, Iowa, and take charge of the landed interests of A. & G. W. Frank, whose property lay mostly in Iowa and Missouri. In the performance of his duties he found it necessary to make surveys, and operated under the experienced eye of A. B. Smith, the well-known Burlington & Missouri River Railroad surveyor. Later Mr. Andrus assisted in the platting of Creston, and other important towns along the line of this railroad. This accomplished, he entered the employ of the Burlington & Mis- souri River Railroad Company, as land agent, taking charge of its land in Southwestern Iowa, which ex- tended over several counties. After the grass- hopper scourge he was sent to Nebraska to make things satisfactory with the settlers, and to arrange other contracts. Ile at this time had his head- quarters at Harvard, Neb.

Two years later, in 1878, Mr. Andrus was ap- pointed general land agent of the Burlington &

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Missouri River Railroad Company, having his head- quarters at Kearney, and while there he established offices at different points in the Republican Valley, one being at Loup City, which was then forty-seven miles from any railway. From the year 1878 to 1880 he sold 1,400,000 acres of land for this eom- pany. In 1882 Mr. Andrus moved to Lineoln and opened an office for the purpose of engaging in a general land business, handling State and school land, and also Lineoln city property. The town then included about 8,000 inhabitants; the atten- tion of Eastern capitalists had already been at- tracted to it, and their efforts were being put forth to promote its growth. Mr. A., with that keen foresight and business sagacity for which he is noted, discovering in the little city the great me- tropolis of the future, invested largely in eity prop- erty, which he held for a time, then sold, disposing of the most of it during the year 1887. Upon this he realized handsome profits, thus placing himself among the substantial men of this locality.

One of the most important purchases of Mr. Andrus was 800 acres of land near the eity, and a part of which is now designated as Cushman Park. This he fitted up as a pleasure resort for the people of Lincoln, and it has become the most important institution of its kind in the West, having been visited by over 60,000 people during the short sea- son of 1888. A railroad runs from the city into the grounds. It has a mile and a quarter of boating, with an average depth of thirteen feet of water, and a beautiful spot of ground known as Mascott Island, covered with a dense growth of trees. The park contains ninety acres of solid timber, compris- ing elm, hackberry, ash, black-walnut and maple.

The principal features, however, of Cushman Park are its springs, which include the Giant Iron, and the White Sulphur, the wonderful Magnesia Springs, and the thirteen fresh water springs. These are yet to be developed, and a beautiful and commodious hotel will be erected in the near future. The Traveling Men's Association of Ne- braska and Colorado will hold their grand eamp- meeting of the Knights of the Grip the last week in June of the season following. Probably not less than $15,000 will be expended in improvements. People visiting the West should not fail to take in

this great resort. Cushman Park lies three miles west of the city of Lineoln, and has an altitude of fifty-six feet above the city. It is the monopoly of all the resorts in this seetion of the West, and is one of the fairest monuments to the zeal and enter- prise of its founder that could be named.

Mr. Andrus was married, in the twenty-first year of his age, to Miss Florenee E. Buxton, of Warsaw, N. Y .. a daughter of Otis Buxton. She presides over their commodious and well-appointed home with a genial hospitality. Two children, Clinton B. and Lottie II., have been born of this marriage. The son is in business with his father, and the daughter is a student in the State University. Mr. Andrus, politically, is one of the leading Demo- crats of this State. He was nominated in 1880 by his party for the office of State Land Commissioner, but Nebraska being largely Republiean, he was de- feated. Ilis great popularity, however, earried him considerably ahead of his tieket, and indicated in a marked manner his standing in the State.

The view of Cushman Park given in connection with this sketch not only adds to the embellish- ment of this work, but reflects due credit upon its projector, who has left nothing undone to render it an attractive and restful resort for the people who here seek recreation.

AMES B. HALE. The subject of this biog- raphy is owner of one of the finest farms in Saltillo Precinct, on section 30, which em- braces 560 acres of land, and which has been brought to a high state of cultivation. Upon it have been erected neat and substantial buildings, a com- fortable and convenient residenee, good barns and outhouses, everything adapted to the comfort of the proprietor and his family, the storing of grain and the shelter of stock. Adjacent to the dwelling is an apple orchard of 600 trees in good bearing condition, and contiguous to this are the smaller fruit trees in abundance. The household comprises the parents and a blooming family of eight children, namely : Robert M., John C., Emma Josephine, Amos, Erie Edgar, Edith S., Bessie and Stewart Grant. They all continue to abide under the home

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roof, are attending school, and are being carefully trained in the manner becoming their station as the offspring of one of the leading families of the county.

Our subject traces his ancestry to Sir Robert Hale, brother of Sir Matthew Hale, Chief Justice of En- gland. The first representatives of the family in this country crossed the Atlantic during the reign of Charles II. Amos II. Hale, the father of our sub- jeet, was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and his wife, Mrs. Mary J. Hale, was born in Davis County, Ind. After marriage they settled in Law- rence, the latter State, where the father occupied himself as a civil engineer and master mechanic, and in due time beeame Superintendent of the In- diana & Madison Railroad. He was a man of fine capabilities and master of his profession. Desirous of a change of occupation, however. he severed his connection with the railroad company, and in 1866 came to Nebraska and purchased a section of land, upon which he began to make improvements. llis career, however, was cut short five years later, his death taking place in 1871, at the age of fifty-one years.

The mother of our subject is still living, being sixty-eight years old, and makes her home at Roca, Neb. The paternal family ineluded nine children, three sons and six daughters. Of these James B. was the second child, his birth taking place Oct. 25, 1847, in Springville, Lawrence Co., Ind. His early education was quite limited, being in a new coun- try with good sehools few and far between. Ile, however, was trained to those habits of industry and principles of honor which have attended him all through his career. He became familiar at an early age with the various employments of farm life, and when ready to establish a home of his own was mar- ried to Miss Lucy A., daughter of John C. Sanford. The latter was a direct descendant of Gen. John Clark, of Virginia, and the parents of Mrs. Hale settled in Indiana, where the father carried on farm- ing until his death. The mother, Mrs. Hannah (Eads) Sanford, an own sister to the famous civil engineer, Capt. Eads, of St. Louis, is still living there.

Mrs. Hale was the eldest of a family of thirteen children, four girls and nine boys, and was born in 1849, in Davis County, Ind. ; she acquired a common-

school education, while receiving careful home train- ing. Mr. Hale, since the time of his voting days. has upheld the principles of Republicanism, and when a boy hurrahed for John C. Fremont. Later he imbibed the deepest admiration for Abraham Lincoln, and had his innate love of liberty strengthened by the perusal of Uncle Tom's Cabin, which made him one of the strongest anti-slavery men of his time. The patronymie was in former times spelled " Ilaile," but changed to the shorter method of Hale by the father of our subject.

The view of the Hale homestead, which appears on another page in this volume, will be recognized as that of one of the most energetic and successful men of Saltillo Precinct, one who through the exer- cise of his own industry and perseverance has en- larged the talent conferred upon him by a kindly Providence. In the development of one of the finest tracts of land in this county he has contrib- uted thus far toward its wealth and prosperity, en- hancing not only the value of his own possessions, but adding to the importance of the real estate around him. A man public-spirited and interested in whatever is calculated to benefit this county and community, he has thus erected for himself a mon- ument which will be looked upon in later years by his descendants who may revert to his career as one of which they have reason to be proud.

AVID R. LILLIBRIDGE. One feature of the progress of the present era is the drifting of every department of trade and profession into specialty. Any trade or calling in life, or subject of investigation, is too vast, its details too multitudinous, to be grasped by one wind. We have, therefore, the whole broken up into lesser parts that they may be the more quickly and perfectly handled. Not many years ago it was supposed that one or two masters tak- ing charge of our youth in a school could so train and instruct them that upon leaving the institution they would be thoroughly equipped for any and every calling, excepting, perhaps. a very limited number of special professions. But this is no longer true, and to-day there are found institu-

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tions which take the young man or woman fresh from the Commencement platform, the proud owner of Iligh School or academie diploma, and provide such instruction as is absolutely necessary to suc- cess in the line of their chosen occupation. It may he stenography or book-keeping or languages or music, but whatever may be the specialty desired, some such course is recognized as being more than advisable.

In the present sketch is offered a brief outline of the life of one who has risen to the "chief seat" in his special profession, which is that of preparing young men and women for business life, and whose success in his specialty has been the occasion of much remark in the city of his residence. The subject of this writing comes of a family known in the East chiefly in connection with the remarkably successful ministrations of the eloquent Baptist clergyman and learned author, Rev. David Lilli- bridge, of Willington, Conn., whose son Amos was the father of our subject, Mr. D. R. Lillibridge, who was born in Willington, Tolland Co., Con., on the 9th of February, 1839. As soon as his age would warrant he entered the public schools of his native town and began his education, which was thorough and complete so far as it was possible. In 1858 our subject taught a school for a term of six months at Imlaystown, N. J.

Citizenship has always been reckoned as of great value. The Roman citizen would often plead his citizenship as the reason why certain punishments for legal offenses should not be assigned to him; favors and positions were often pressed for and ob- tained under the power of the same plea. The American citizen, if he he worthy the name, values the treasure highly and cares for it with affectionate solicitude. But there is another side to the question : for every privilege conferred there is a responsi- bility incurred, and when that responsibility has been accepted and borne, the citizenship is doubly clear. This is the reason why some of the veterans of 1861-65 feel impelled upon all National occa- sions to tell how battles have been fought and won. Our subject is one who accepted the responsibility, and when the flag was in danger of being rent asunder enlisted in its defense. lle served in the 11th Rhode Island Infantry. He saw much active

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Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 90

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

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