Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 91

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

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service, and followed the fortunes of the regiment until it was mustered out of the service at Provi- dence, R. I., in August, 1884, when he was dis- charged. Our subject entered college at New York City, and took the entire course, graduating with honors in December, 1864. Shortly afterward he entered into a partnership with Bryant and Stratton, under the firm name of Bryant, Stratton & Lillibridge, and from that time has been in- creasingly prominently identified with this depart- ment or specialty of education. Mr. L. came to the city of Lincoln, and hecame the partner of F. F. Roope in the Lincoln Business College and Insti- tute of Penmanship, Shorthand and Typewriting, which is now the largest in the West. This institu- tion has become a recognized factor in the educa- tional world of the State, and our subject is very popular with his students, who recognize in him a thorough business man, perfectly competent, pos- sessing an aptitude for imparting instruction, and one who is a true friend to the diligent and perse- vering student.

The above institution is quite largely patron- ized, but by no means exclusively by the people of Lincoln. The students come from all parts of the State, and the surrounding States. Our subject is also the author of one of the most popular prac- tical and widely used works on book-keeping that has ever been published. It is issued under the title of "Modern Book-keeping," and is used by the National Union of Business Colleges, of which asso- ciation Mr. Lillibridge is the honored President. The above work is also in use by a very large num- ber of public and private schools throughout the land.

Our subject is a resident of the city of Lincoln, and is the possessor of an elegant and beautifully situated home, his family circle comprising him- self and wife with their three daughters, who have doubtless done much to make it the abode of cult- ure, refinement and true æsthetic beauty. Mr. Lillibridge was fortunate in being an admitted ac- quaintance of Marie D. Walters, the youngest daughter of the Hon. William Walters, for many years proprietor of the State Register, at Spring- field, Ill. Their union was consummated upon the 24th of December, 1867, at Springfield, Ill.

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The Trinity Episcopal Church, of Lincoln, is fortunate in being able to command the services of Mr. Lillibridge as one of its vestrymen, and clerk of the vestry, which office he has continued to hold for the past three years. Our subject and family are members of this church, and among its most ardent supporters, and receive the highest respect and esteem of those associated with them in this community. Without overstepping in the slightest degree the limits of exactitude, we would add that this is true also to an unusual extent outside the church society, extending to the entire com- munity.

Mr. Lillibridge's military experience and patriotic loyalty make him an enthusiastic member of the Appomattox Post No. 214, G. A. R., of which he is the Junior Vice Commander. He has also passed by a series of regular steps from the Masonic Altar and the right hand of the Worshipful Master, through the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery and Consistory, and in each body is held in the high- est fraternal regard. He is very active in the vari- ous bodies of which he is a member, although, perhaps, giving special attention to the work of the Asylum and Consistory. From the latter he has re- ceived the high Masonic distinction of S. P. R. S. of the 32d degree of A. A. S. R. He is attached in fraternal bonds to the Mt. Moriah Command- ery of Knights Templar.

RMAN J. KING was born in Otisco, Onon- daga Co., N. Y., on the 5th of March, 1851. Ilis father, Chauncey J. King, was a native of the same place, and his grandfather, Thomas King, was born in Chester, Hampden Co., Mass., in which place it is supposed his great-grandfather, Apollies King, was also born. Our subject was com- missioned Captain in the State Militia by JJohn Hancock, and later as Major by Samuel Adams. The latter commission is now in the hands of our subject. Tradition says "the first ancestor was Phil- lip King, who came to America in 1620, and settled at Taunton, Mass."

The great-grandfather of our subject went to On- ondaga County, N. Y., to spend his last days with his

children. The grandfather of our subject was reared in Massachusetts, and moved from there to Onondaga County, N. Y., about the year 1812, and was one of the early pioneers of that county. Ilis removal took place before the day of railroads and canals, and the journey must have been made with teams and wagons. lle bought a tract of timber land on a hill in Otisco, built a log house, and at once commenced to clear land for a farm. Albany was the nearest market for several years, and there he used to draw his wheat for sale. Ile remained on his farm until the time of his death. The maiden name of his wife was Submit James, who was born in Northampton, Mass. Her ancestors were early settlers of that section. and suffered much from the incursions of the Indians. She also died on the farm in Otisco.

The father of our subject was reared in his native town, and having been brought up to follow agri- cultural pursuits, he has always continued in that occupation. He bought a farm in Otisco a few miles from the old homestead, where he now re- sides. He was married to Laura Miller, the mother of our subject, who had been born in Otselie, Che- mango Co., N. Y., and was a daughter of Eber and Esther (Pease) Miller. To the parents of our sub- ject there were given seven children, six of whom lived to become men and women: Orman J .; Sophronia, wife of N. D. Rice; Hattie, wife of C. D. Bailey ; Carrie, wife of E. C. Collins; Jennie, who is living at home, and Charles II., who died on the 3d of January, 1888, aged eighteen years. For many years the parents have been members of the Congregational Church.

Our subject was the oldest child of the family, and he received his early education in the district schools, afterward attending the High School at Syracuse. At the age of twenty he began clerking in a general store in Otisco, and nine months later he bought a half-interest in the store, continuing in business there for seven years. Then he went to Syracuse and opened a grocery store, thence to Lin- coln in 1881, where he began in business for him- self. He first commenced with a small stock of goods in a small frame building on the corner of Thirteenth and L streets. Ile was successful in his transactions from the start, and in 1885 he erected

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the handsome and commodious brick block which he now occupies on N street, between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. Here he has one'of the finest grocery stores in the city in its appointments, and the amount and quality of stock.

On the 30th of April. 1873, Mr. King married Emma Outt, who was born in Tully, Onondaga Co., N. Y., a daughter of William H. and Catura (Fellows) Outt. They have two sons-Dewitt C. and William II. Mr. and Mrs. King are members of the Congregational Church.

ERBERT S. BOWERS was born in Fishkill, Dutchess Co., N. Y. His father, Joseph Bowers, was born in Billerica, Middlesex Co., Mass., where his father, the grandfather of our subject, had spent his entire life, and had been engaged in farming. The father of our sub- jeet grew up to manhood, and was married in that place. IIe commenced working in a cotton factory when he was quite young, and by close attention to the details of the work, he was advanced in position until he became the foreman in the factory. Ile moved from Massachusetts to New York. thence to Virginia, about the year 1856, and located a tract of land in Prince William County. There he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until the year 1860, when, on account of the possibilities of a war, he soll his land and moved to Indiana, where he bought a farm near Seymour. In that city he lived until 1874, when he came to Nebraska, and settled in Yankee Hill Preeinet, Lancaster County. IIc bought some uncultivated land, but his health be- ing very poor, he was unable to do the hard work required, and his sons attended to the management and improvement of the farm for him.

The father of our subject was married to Maria Stevens, a native of Chelmsford, Mass. By a former marriage Mr. B. had three children, and there were in all eleven children, ten of whom grew up to the years of manhood and womanhood. The father died on the homestead in 1881, and the mother died in February, 1887, at the same place.

When his parents moved to Virginia our subject was quite young, and the first school which he at-

tended was in Brownstown, Ind., afterward at Sey- mour. Hle received college instruction from the Wesleyan College at Bloomington, Ill., and in 1874 he commenced teaching in Lancaster County, where he taught several country and village schools. In 1879 he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, re-elected in 1881, and again in 1883. In 1885 he went to Pawnee City, and served two years as Superintendent of Schools, then in 1887 he re- turned to Lincoln to act as Superintendent of the city schools during the leave of absence which was granted the Superintendent. In 1888 Le was elected Assistant Superintendent of the Lincoln schools.

In December, 1881, our subject was united in marriage with Nannie Lehmen, who was a daugh- ter of Derrick and Isabella Lehmen, living in Som- erset, Ind. They have one child, named Jessie L. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers are members of the Meth- odist Church, taking an active interest in the relig- ons welfare of their city, as well as the educational improvements. There is certainly no more useful or noble profession than that in which our subject is engaged, "teaching the young idea," and there is no profession which requires a more upright and honest walk than that which brings one in close re- lation with the young, who are so eager to criticise and to imitate.

OHN MARTIN is a very energetic man and a skillful farmer, who has established for his wife and children a good home, and is the owner of a valuable farm on section 21, Sal- tillo Precinct. His life is that of an honest, industri- ous man, whose geniality and friendliness make him popular in this community, and his family is en- titled to be classed among the best families of the precinct. He is a son of Lewis and Anna Elizabeth (Warner) Martin. (For parental history see sketch of Casper Martin, brother of our subject.)

John Martin was born Feb. 4, 1842, in Prussia, the fifth child in a family of seven. He was but four years old when his parents came to America, yet he has a slight recollection of his native land and the voyage across the ocean. They landed in Baltimore, his parents intending to make their home

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in Maryland. He had never attended school before coming to America, and his chances of obtaining an education were very poor in the Alle- ghany Mountain region, where he grew to manhood on a farin, but being an intelligent, wide-awake lad, with good powers of observation, he scarcely needed the aid of books to give him knowledge, and he has become a very well-informed man. Ile started out in life to make his own way in the world when a mere boy of ten summers, being then put ont among strangers, and working for his board and clothes for a year ; then he began to receive wages, and continued to earn his living as a farm laborer until he was twenty-four years old.

Our subject was married, in October, 1863, to Miss Catherine Deahl, daughter of Andrew Deahl. (For parental history see sketch of her brother, George Deahl, on another page of this work.) She was born in Alleghany County, Md., July 23, 1842, and was reared amid the pleasant mountain scenery of her native place; her education was conducted iu the common schools, and in the home where she grew to womanhood she was trained to habits of usefulness and industry, and under the instruction of her mother she became a good housewife, and was fully equal to the duties that devolved upon her when she married. The happy wedded life of herself and husband has been blessed to them by the birth of eleven children, namely : Laura (deceased), Matilda E., Sarah A., Rose Ella (deceased), John E., Clara M., George E. (deceased), Mary E., Charles E., Nellie V. and Katie M. Matilda is the wife of George Emerick, a farmer of Saltillo. The remaining children are at home with their parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin spent the first year or two of their married life in their native State, but in the spring of 1865 they removed to Macoupin County, Ill., where her parents, with their family, also went to live at the same time. At first Mr. Martin began farming in that State on rented land, but in the following year (1866) he bought a farm in that county with his brother Casper, and they were soon comfortably located in their new home, although at times they had scant living. Our sub- ject and his brother by much hard labor succeeded in bringing their farm in good shape, and were quite successful in their venture; however, in

1880 they decided to give up their Illinois farm and try the pursuit of agriculture on the rich alluvial soil of Nebraska. Our subject on coming here purchased 120 acres of land, which is now in- cluded in his farm, and built a comfortable house the first summer. He has since bought more land, and now owns a very fine farm of 180 acres, on which is a beautiful grove, a good house and comfortable barns; these, even as seen in the artist's picture as presented on another page, are most appreciable, and bespeak the prosperity, enterprise and position of the owner.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin and their two eldest daugh- ters are among the leading members of the Luth- eran Church. Mr. Martin belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and also to the Knights of Honor, being a member of a lodge at Shipman, Ill. In his polit- ical opinions he is a sound Democrat.

Le EONARD BEESON, one of the honored pioneers of Lancaster County, began his career in Elk Preciuct upon a tract of wild land, his farm stock comprising two horses, a cow and a pig. He has now a valuable farm eighty acres in extent, the land in a highly productive condition and stocked with a choice assortment of cattle, horses and swine. Ile made his way overland from Indiana to this county, starting on the 16th of September, 1867, with a team of horses and a wagon, bringing with him his wife and all his personal effects. They crossed the Missouri River at Omaha, on the 16th of October, and located upon a tract of rented land in Sarpy County. He met with the misfortune of losing one of his horses the following June, and was obliged to trade his wagon for another horse, and was thus left without a wheeled vehicle.

The pioneers, however, were fertile and expe- dient, and in lieu of a wagon Mr. Beeson found other means of transportation until he could obtain one. In the spring of 1869 he settled in Elk Township, building a dug-out, in which he and his family were obliged to live until they could do better. In order to raise a crop that year he was obliged to rent a tract of cultivated land three and

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one-half miles distant. Ile labored with unflagging industry for the betterment of his condition, and each year found him making some headway, his land assuming a fertile condition, and the family exchanging their first primitive dwelling for a more modern residence. The farm of eighty aeres is now under a fine state of cultivation, and the farm buildings will compare favorably with anything of the kind in this part of the county. Mr. Beeson deserves great credit for the planting of a variety of shade and fruit trees about his homestead, which add greatly to its comfort and beauty, and the many other features of the attractive rural home which he has from time to time gathered about him.

The birth of our subject took place about forty- seven years ago, Oct. 12, 1841, in Wayne County, Ind., to which his parents removed from North Carolina. His father, Zachariah Beeson, was born in Guilford County, the latter State, near the town of Greensboro, and was the son of Isaae Beeson, a native of the same loeality. Both father and grand- father were farmers by occupation, and the latter left his native State about 1820, to settle in the woods of Dalton Township, Wayne Co., Ind., where he purchased a tract of timber land, and where he lived and labored until his death. Isaac Beeson left North Carolina in 1825, and entered a tract of Government land in Wayne County, Ind. His first dwelling was the primitive log cabin, and he and his young wife commenced housekeeping in a region where bear and wolves were plenty, where Indians still lingered, and where deer and other wild game furnished them many a choice repast. He cleared a farm and erected good frame buildings, which he sold out in 1854 in order to take posses- sion of an improved farm in Jasper County, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death taking place in 1858.

Mrs. Hannah (Thornburg) Beeson, the mother of our subjeet, was also a native of North Carolina, and spent her last years at the homestead in Jasper County, Ind. The parental household included fourteen children, ten of whom grew to mature years and of whom Leonard, our subject, was the youngest. Ile attended the district school until large enough to be of service on the farm, and was a youth of sixteen years at the time of his father's

death. Ile continued on the farm until his mar- riage, and in 1867 came with his family to Ne- braska, spending the first year in Sarpy County. In the spring of 1869 he homesteaded the land which he now occupies and where he has since re- sided. Ife was reared in the doctrines of the Quaker faith, of which his honored parents were warm adherents. His father was a strong Abolition- ist, and his house was one of the depots of the "underground railroad," by means of which many a fugitive was assisted to liberty. In his journey from North Carolina to Indiana Zachariah Beeson was accompanied by his cousin, Isaac Beeson, who owned a cart and he a horse ; they hitched the horse to the cart, and put their effects in the latter, and came through in good shape. Mr. Leonard Beeson cast his first vote for Schuyler Colfax as Member of Congress, and the first President for whom he voted was Abraham Lincoln,

The marriage of our subject with Miss Mary A. Lefler was celebrated at the home of the bride in Jasper County, Ind., Dee. 15, 1861. Mrs. Beeson is the daughter of Michael Lefler, and was born in Jasper County, Ind., Jan. 4, 1841. ller father was a native of Pennsylvania, and her paternal grand- father, John Lefler, also a native of the Keystone State, emigrated thence to Indiana during the pioneer days of Rush County, where he lived for a number of years, then sold out and removed to Jasper County. In 1863 he left the Hoosier State and, accompanied by his family, made his way overland with a team to the Territory of Nebraska. Settling in Sarpy County, he purchased a traet of land, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.

The father of Mrs. Beeson grew to manhood in Indiana, and going into Jasper County, entered a tract of Government land, where he settled with his wife, their first dwelling being a temporary pole shanty, in which Mrs. Beeson was born Jan. 4, 1841. Ile soon erected a double log house and later put up a good set of frame buildings. He im- proved a farm from the wilderness and there spent his last days, passing away in 1875. The mother of Mrs. Beeson was in her girlhood Miss Jane Ann Overton, of Kentucky. She stood bravely by the side of her husband during the vicissitudes of

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pioneer life, and is now living with her youngest daughter on the old homestead. Their experiences in those early times were similar to that of the Beeson family, they having for many years Indians for neighbors and wild beasts all around them.

Mr. and Mrs. Beeson are the parents of three children: William, born Sept. 22, 1862; Gertrude, Feb. 21, 1867. and Jennie, July 20, 1873. The two eldest are married and have homes of their own with one child each, while the youngest is living with her parents. The family is among the most highly respected in this section of the county.

ENRY ALBERS, JR., of Buda Precinet, was one of the first of its early settlers, and has a good property sitnated upon section 32. Hle was born in the Grand Duchy of Olden- burg, Germany, July 17, 1855, to Henry and Mar- tha Albers. In the year 1856 his parents emigrated to the United States and proceeded direct to Clay- ton County, Iowa. This continued to be their home until 1865, and during that time the father had established quite a large and prosperous busi- ness at blacksmithing. Thence the family removed to this county, and Henry Albers, Sr., homesteaded 160 acres of land on section 32 of what is now known as Centerville Precinct. It was not long before this land was brought to a good state of cultiva- tion, and undergoing constant improvement. At this home the mother of our subjeet died, in May, 1870.

Henry and Martha Albers became the parents of six children, of whom three survive, namely : John ; Lizzie, the wife of Martin Mattison, and Henry, our subject. The father, who is now about seventy years of age, recently removed to Lincoln, leaving to younger hands the activities of life. IIe is one of the representative German pioneers of the county, an ardent member of the Lutheran Church, and in political matters a stanch Republican. Ile is by all accorded sincere and hearty esteem.

Our subject, having been a resident of this county since 1865, has witnessed the grand transformation scene of a Territory to a state of advanced civiliza- tion. Not only has he been an interested witness.

but having wrought through the years of his young manhood as intelligently and diligently as any of his fellows, has erected a homestead that will stand as the monument of his industry and thrift for years to come. His education was such as to give him many advantages, for although there were no schools until about five years after the family set- tled in the district, upon their establishment he attended them through the full course, and after- ward was admitted to the State University. The present site of the city of Lincoln was at the time of his settlement in the county marked by a single log cabin, occupied by a pioneer family. Nebraska City was the nearest trading-point, and hither the farmers transported their marketable commodities, and purchased all their supplies.

In political matters Mr. Albers has always been a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and is uniformly found in the front rank of its friends and supporters. He is the constant and consistent advocate of good morals. and always ready to exert his influence in every enterprise that promises to advance the best interests of the community. Rec- ognizing this and the manliness of his character, his fellow-citizens accord him a large measure of esteem.

The view of the Albers home and surroundings, carefully penciled by our lithographie artist, pre- sents a pleasing picture of rural life, where pleuty abounds and the hand of thrift and industry is on all sides apparent. It should prove a source of encouragement to others who may be entering upon a struggle similar to that experienced by Mr. AI- bers, and illustrates the results of persistent labor and a resolute will.

N. MAIN is the owner of a most excellent farm of 160 acres on section 30, West Oak Precinct, where he settled in the early history of Lancaster County, when there were only three or four families within a radius of five miles from his dwelling. Ile is the son of Delos Main, who was a native of Burlington, Otsego Co., N. Y. In that county he received his education in the usual institutions, and afterward was put to the work of the farm, which he made his life avocation.

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He became the husband of Miss Jane Hollenbeck, and to them were born three children, of whom two are living; the other sacrificed his life in defense of the Union, at the age of seventeen.

In 1846 Mr. Main removed to Brown County, III., took up a tract of land and improved a farm, upon which he lived about five years. Iowa became the next place of residence for about the same length of time, which was spent in bringing from a state of nature to that of high agricultural perfec- tion another farm. From Iowa the family removed to this State about twenty-five years ago, and set- tled on Stevens Creek, about ten miles west of the present city of Lincoln, where he was one of the earliest settlers. From there he removed to Seward County, where he died in 1874, aged sixty-two years, having been born in the year 1822. Ile sur- vived his wife about twenty-six years.

Our subject was born in Burlington, N. Y., Dec. 12, 1844, and was only a little boy when his parents removed to Illinois, and later to Iowa. His educa- tion was received while residing in the two latter States, and was continued until the death of his mother, in Iowa, which was the immediate occasion of the family being broken up, and of our subject being removed from school and sent upon the farm to work. In this he remained until he was seventeen years of age, when he enlisted in defense of the stars and stripes. After being sent to the front he was present at and participated in the battle of Vicksburg, and a large number of minor engage- ments. The total length of his military service was five years and four and a half months. Ile was mustered out at Ft. Benton, Mont.

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Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 91

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

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