Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 96

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

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Mr. Castor, in all the relations of life, has acquit- ted himself in a manner which has gained him the esteem and confidence of all who know him, being of irreproachable character, and possessing those in- stincts which have ever led him to scorn a mean action, and to adjust his line of conduct by the high-minded principles inherent in his nature, and which have shed their influence upon all around him.

E VERT M. UPHOFF. This thrifty and in- dustrious young farmer of Highland Pre- cinet, is cultivating successfully 160 acres of land on section 21, which comprises the homestead, and eighty acres on section 28, the whole of which yields him a handsome income. His land is mostly in productive condition, and his experience in agri- cultural pursuits dates from his boyhood. He takes delight in noting the development of the seed to the harvest time, and has the true conception of what agricultural life should be, taking pride in putting forth his best efforts and with the results which do him great eredit.

Woodford County, Ill., was the early tramping ground of our subject, and where his birth took place under the modest roof of the parental dwell-

ing on the 9th of October, 1866. It will thus he observed that our subject is young in years, espe- cially so considering the large interests which he has in charge. Ilis father, Frank Uphoff, was a native of what was formerly Hanover in Germany, and was of pure German ancestry, belonging to the better class of his nationality. He was reared to farm life until reaching his majority, and then eulisted in the serv- ice of the Government, as a private soldier in the regular army, for a period of seven years.

The father of our subject after receiving his hon- orable discharge from the military service, emi- grated at once to the United States, and located first in Peoria County, Ill. There also he was first married, but his wife died four years later, leaving no children. He then returned to his native land, and was married the second time, to a maiden of his own country, Miss Kazena Miners, and they at once crossed the water and settled in Woodford County, Ill., where Mr. Uphoff resumed farming and where their five children were born.

The subject of this sketch was the second son and third child of his parents. While residents of Wood- ford County the second child died, and the parents, in 1870, with their four remaining children came to Nebraska, and settled in Highiland Precinct, this county, upon a tract of land now included in the homestead of our subject. The country at that time was practically undeveloped, but the father of our subject, with the industry and enterprise char- acteristic of his German ancestry, labored persever- ingly until there began to grow up around them all the comforts of a modern home. Here the two younger children of the family were born, but with the exception of our subject and his sister Maggie, all were taken from the home circle by death. The latter is now the wife of J. R. Renken, and they live on their own farm of 160 acres in High- land Precinct; they have an interesting family of four children-William, Herman, Martin W. and Anton.

Mr. Uphoff, our subject, completed his education in the district schools of Highland Precinct, and when a lad of fifteen years started for California. He reached the Pacific Slope in safety, and was there a short time. Later he migrated to Linn County, Ore., where for a period of four years he

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worked on a farm the greater part of the time. This experience had the effect of restoring his some- what impaired health, and developed in him a strong and robust constitution, so that in returning to his home in 1886 he was amply prepared for the work which lay before him.

Our subject after making suitable arrangements for the establishment of a home of his own, took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Ida Hayem, their marriage being celebrated at the home of the bride in Highland Precinct, Nov. 6, 1887. Mrs. Up- hoff was born in Woodford County, Ill., June 7, 1868, and came with her parents to Nebraska when about eleven years of age. She completed her education in the schools of Ilighland Precinct, and under a course of careful training by an excellent mother, was well fitted to assume her future position in life as the wife of a good man. Of this union there has been born one child-Reakey.

The father of our subject departed this life at his home in Highland Precinct, on the 1st of June, 1881, after a short illness. He was fifty-one years of age. The mother died March 7 of the follow- ing year, of inflammation of the brain, at her home in Highland Precinct, at the age of forty-three. They were good people in the broadest sense of the term, and worthy members of the Evangelical Church. With this church our subject and his estimable wife are also connected. Politically, Mr. L'phoff, like his father before him, is a stanch sup- porter of the principles of the Democratic party.

OHN W. IVERS. In the subject of this sketch we find a worthy citizen, Mr. Ivers was born in the neighborhood of LaFay- ette. Ind., Nov. 8, 1829, and was the sec- ond child of eight born to Samuel and Sarah (Mclimpsey) Ivers. The former was born July 15, 1802, at Columbus, Ohio, and was the third in the family of nine which comprised the home circle of Richard and Deborah (Leslie) Ivers. The fam- ily record inscribes their names in the order of birth as follows: Lottie. William, Richard, Samuel, Maria. Mahala, Elizabeth, Elzy and Sarah. Samuel Ivers spent the days of his boyhood and youth in

Miami County, Ohio, dividing his attention be- tween his school duties and the occupations of the farm, which, as the years went by, succeeded those of the school. This continued until after he had attained his majority. Shortly after his marriage he removed to the neighborhood of LaFayette, Ind., and settled on a farm, where he remained for about two years, when he returned to Ohio, which State became his residence for the next three years, when the attractions of the Hoosier State again de- termined him to return. Accordingly he took up his residence in Elkhart, Ind., for a period of three years. The next four years were spent in Mont- gomery County, Ind. At the end of that period another removal was effected, this time to Thorn- town, Boone County. From there he went to Clin- town County, and after one year in that district made his home in Jasper County, near Rensselaer. This was in the year 1844, and was his home for eight years.

'The broad prairies of the Hawkeye State pressed their claims in a manner not to be resisted ; accord- ingly, in the year 1852, Mr. Ivers removed from Indiana to Jones County, near Rome, in that State, but after a residence of one year another removal took the family to Princeton, Mo. After a period of about twelve months this home was vacated in favor of one in Nebraska City. At that time (1855) there was only one brick house in that city. At the close of his first year's residence he bought some Government land in Otoe County, and for the subsequent nine or ten years continued with suceess the occupation of farming. This was followed by a return to Iowa and residence, first in Bartlett and latterly in Glenwood. From there the family passed to Baxter Springs, Kan., where he purchased a farm and met with considerable snecess. Thence, in December, 1881, he removed to Nebraska, and died on December Il, a few days after his arrival. Ilis remains were laid away by his family and friends in Lincoln Cemetery.

The many removals and constant change of home are accounted for by the fact that Mr. Ivers was a trader and, as rapidly as possible, after purchasing a property he woukl improve it, place it upon the market, and, as soon as it was profitably disposed of, would move on to a new home. In this way

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he accumulated a large competency, by which he was enabled to assist his children to make a good start in life. He was a true pioneer of the Far West, and took part in many stirring scenes inci- dent to border and new country life. Ile was a most exemplary man and honorable citizen. Dur- ing his residence in Nebraska he assisted materially in the settlement of the troubles originating in the passage of the Kansas and Nebraska Bill. At the time of the Indian outbreak, when Nebraska City was threatened with annihilation, Mr. Ivers, then Lieutenant in a militia regiment, by prompt meas- ures, bold and decisive action, assisted in avert- ing the danger.

The mother of our subject was born in Miami County, Ohio, near the city of Troy, on the 8th of July, 1805, and was the youngest child of Robert and Mary ( Waugh) Me.limsey. Her parents were originally from Philadelphia, went West when Ohio was a Territory, and settled in the above county, upon a section of Government land, which was rapidly improved. Upon this farm was born the child who grew up, also amid these surroundings, until she reached the years of womanhood, then, Aug. 13, 1824, was married to Mr. Ivers, the father of our subject.

Among the great needs of a newly opened and undeveloped country, perhaps the chiefest would be men and women capable, mentally, physically and financially, to take things as they found them, in all their crudeness, and so shape events that the wilderness may become a garden, its hidden re- sources brought into the light and developed, and institutions worthy of our great Republic, homes, schools and churches, might be set up and estab- lished. The father and mother of Mrs. Ivers were in this sense pioneers. After the death of his wife at Troy, which occurred the same day as was fought the battle of Tippecanoe, the father went on a visit to Pleasant Hill, Ind., where he, too, lay down to his last rest.

Bearing in mind the family from which Mrs. Ivers came, the environment of her youth and young womanhood, the influence of those parents, such as hers were, must have upon a developing life and character, we are fully prepared to expect to see reproduced in her a like nobility of purpose and

completeness of life, throughout the long years of journeying hither and thither, wandering from State to State, passing from home to home, in all of which she accompanied her husband, excepting the time when he discharged the duties of Indian trader in Kansas City.

Until the year 1853 our subject resided with his parents in different locations in the Hoosier State, but at that time he was married and commenced life in his own home. In 1860, from Jasper County, Ind., he removed to Otoe County, Neb., purchasing 350 acres of wild land; for some of this he paid $10 per acre, for others 825, and others so much as $37. Here he remained some eight years, when he re- moved to Glenwood, lowa, purchased 420 acres of land, and was very successful for eight years, when he again sold out and removed to Lancaster County, Neb., purchased 416 acres in Waverly Precinct, and after a residence of three years was enabled to sell to advantage. Ile did so, and bought 100 acres near University Place. Here he continued to reside for a period of three years, and again sold his property, repaired to Lincoln, and erected the houses still owned by him in that city, upon V street. He has always been a devoted admirer and strong adherent of the Republican party, and an energetic worker for his party when occasion de- manded. In the Christian Church, of which both himself and wife are members, he is held in the highest esteem. Ile has frequently been called upon to fill local offices, and in every instanee where he has done so has received the commendation and approval of his fellow-citizens. In 1861 he was enrolled in the Home Guards at Nebraska City, and in the social organization of Odd Fellows has for many years been a member.

On the 3d of February, 1853, our subject was joined in matrimony to Sophronia II. Grant, daugh- ter of Smith and Ivy (Dillon) Grant; she was the fifth child of the family, which included ten chil- dren. The father was a native of Virginia, and resided in Fleming County until his parents re- moved to Lexington, Fayette Co., Ky., which event transpired while he was yet in his teens. Here he was married in after years, and continued to reside until after the birth of his two eldest children, when he proceeded to make his home in Wabash County,

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Ind., upon a homestead farm of 120 acres. In this occupation he was very successful, and before many years owned several other farms in the vicinity. This continued to be his residence until his family had grown up.

Jasper County, Ind., was the place decided upon for the new home. Mr. Grant effected a profitable sale of his farm property, and purchased 460 aeres in the above county, and engaged in stock-raising until his death, in the year 1855. In this ocenpa- tion, as in that of agriculture, previously followed, his vigilance, large outlook and efficiency, made him successful. lle was for many years a member in good standing and Elder in the Christian Church, an organization which aims to restore the original simplicity and purity of the Church of Christ, as in the age of the Apostles. He was a true and ardent supporter of the Whig party, although thinking most strongly on the temperance question, and ah- solutely opposed to the liquor traffie.

Mrs. Grant, mother of Mrs. Ivers, was born in Lexington, Ky., where also she was reared, and continued to reside until she arrived at womanhood and was married. She was a devoted Christian woman, always interested in the work of the church, actively engaged in efforts for the alleviation of distress, and meeting the needs of the destitute ; her pleasure seemed to be to live for others, and in making others happy she herself drank at the same stream. She was for many years a member of the Christian Church.

Until her marriage with our subject Mrs. Ivers made her home with her parents. Although unac- customed, to any great extent, to work at house- hold duties, she bravely began the battle of life, entering with spirit into his plans and projects, and has since, with him, been enabled to rejoice in what has been accomplished, for to-day they are sur- rounded with all that is needed for their comfort and happiness in life. Like her mother and father, she is a consistent and active member of the Chris- tian Church, in which communion her children have been brought up. To this highly respected family have been given eleven children, who were born as follows: Leslie, July 25, 1855; Willis, Aug. 10, 1858; Ella M., Dec. 28, 1860; Amelia and Delia (twins), Jan. 11, 1862; Aurelius, Dec. 31, 1864;

Arabella B., born Dec. 10, 1866, died July 27, 1888; Ivy M., born Ang. 18, 1869; Sadie M., Oct. 10, 1870; Lottie A., Oct. 11, 1873, and Sam- uel, Ang. 13, 1876. With the exception of the twins and Arabella B., all are living. Amelia died Feb. 15, 1862, and Delia Sept. 27, 1863. Ella has become the wife of Cramer Beyette; Belle is now the wife of George Keefer, and Ivy M. is now Mrs. Frank Kauffman.

W. GRISWOLD. The grandfather of our subject, Daniel Griswold, was born about the year 1740 in England, and came to America, where he settled and lived in Herkimer County, N. Y., until the time of his death, about the year 1835. He was a farmer and came to America before he was married, his wife being a native of New York, who died about the year 1820. The father of our subject was John Griswold, who was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., about the year 1794, where he lived until he was twenty-five years old, when he went to Jefferson County, and thenee to St. Lawrence County of the same State, remaining there until the time of his death in 1827. The mother of our subject was Lucy (Watson) Griswold, a daughter of William Watson, formerly of Scotland, and she died in the year 1885. There was a family of six children, five sons and one daughter, . three of whom are now living. They are: N. W. Griswold, the subject of this sketch; William, a carpenter living at Lincoln, and Rosaloo, of North Bluff, Lancaster County.

Our subject was born on the 17th of September, 1817, in Fairfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y. At the age of three years he was taken to Jefferson County, thence to St. Lawrence County, where he remained five years with his parents, and at the end of that time he returned to Jefferson County, where he staid until 1855 in the town of Black River. In that place he learned the trade of wool-carding and cloth-dressing, and in 1855 he went to Angola, Steuben Co., Ind., where he worked for a time at his trade and also at carpenter work. In the fall of 1868 he removed from Indiana to Ashland, Sannders Co., Neb., at which place he remained

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from October until the following May. He drove all the distance from Indiana with a double team and a horse and buggy, being thirty-one days on the road, and taking the first buggy that had ever been seen in Ashland. In the year 1868 he re- moved to Lancaster County, where he remained but a few days until he built a dug-out, in which his family lived for five or six years, when he built a sod house in which he lived for six years, and in 1881 he built the residence in which he now lives.

On the 8th of December, 1839, our subject mar- ried Hester Ann Whaley, of Jefferson County, N. Y. Mrs. Griswold is a daughter of James and Sarah (Gordonier) Whaley, the former of English, and the latter of Holland descent. Mr. Whaley died in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1827, and Mrs. Whaley made her home with her daughter in Angola, Steuben Co., Ind., until the time of her death in 1867. They had a family of eleven children, five of whom were sons and six daughters; but five of the children are now living. Mrs. Griswold was the eighth child, and was born on the 11th of Au- gust, 1819, in Oneida County, N. Y.

Our subject and his wife are the parents of seven children, five of whom are sons and two are daugh- ters, as follows: Martha A., wife of J. C. Wolfe, of Red Cloud, Neb .; Grace A., wife of James M. Myers, a farmer of Rock Creek Precinct, of whom a sketch appears in this ALBUM; James W., a farmer of Rock Creek : Charles M., a fireman on the rail- road, living at Hudson, Col. ; Eri H. and Cascius M., both living at home; George Clinton, a grocer of Wallace, Neb. While living near Ashland, Mr. Griswold had to go to that place for supplies, and on one occasion on his return home he had to cross Salt Creek on a low water bridge of logs over which the water was running at that time to the depth of two feet, and in the morning it had risen to the depth of twenty feet.

Our subject has suffered, in common with all the early settlers of this country, from the devastation of grasshoppers, hailstorms and prairie fires, and in common with the early settlers of this country he has had to apply himself diligently in order to re- cover from the effects of such losses, and gain for himself a competence for his older age. Mr. Gris- wold has long been a member of the Republican

party, and he voted for Gen, Harrison on the second election. Ile is a member of no society, either secret or social, but he has been Justice of the Peace since the year 1872 with the exception of one year. For eleven years he has been Assessor, and for seven years he has been a member of the School Board. In 1869 he was thrown from a horse, receiving an injury from which he has never recovered and which has been a great detriment to his success. Ile is the only original settler on his section in the precinct. As a man well advanced in years who has traveled over much of the country and seen many changes, who has striven to keep up with the times and to aid in the advancement of education and govern- ment, he is entitled to the respect and esteem of the community and an honorable mention in this ALBUM.

RANKLIN H. BOHANAN is one of the firm of Bohanan Bros., who have very large busi- ness interests in the city of Lincoln. Among these enterprises are a meat-market, which is sup- plied with nearly every known variety of animal food; aflivery and sale stable, and a packing and provision department. They also represent a large amount of real estate. Like his brother he is a native of Peoria, Ill. He is in the prime of life, having been born Oet. 14, 1844, and is the son of Edward and Mahala (Wilber) Bohanan, who were natives respectively of Schenectady County, N. Y., and Taunton, Mass. His father was reared on a farm in the Empire State, and emigrated to Illinois in 1834, where he carried on agriculture and butch- ering successfully, and finally took up his residence in the city of Peoria, abandoning farming, and giv- ing his attention exclusively to butchering and the ice business for many years. In 1866 he retired from active life, and is now living at his ease. He owns valuable real estate in Peoria, and is looked upon as one of its solid and reliable citizens.

The parents of our subject were married about 1840, and the mother, born in 1816, died at her home in Peoria in 1865. The seven children of the household were : Major G., Franklin HI., Walter G., Edward G., Lavina M., and two who died in in- fancy. The two elder brothers, our subject and

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his partner, after leaving the primary school were given a course in the Commercial College at Peoria, and embarked together in the butchering business in 1866, in Peoria, Ill. Two years later they sold out, and started for Nebraska overland with a teain, arriving in the embryo city of Lincoln on the 21st of April, 1868.

Bohanan Bros., upon their arrival in Lincoln, began at once to make arrangements for the estal)- lishment of their present business, and in building their first shop were obliged to have the lumber hauled from Plattsmouth and Nebraska City. On the 9th of June, that year, they spread their coun- ters with a choice assortment of meats, and began to take in money, which business they have continued uniformly until the present time. Their methods of transacting business obtained high favor among the people of this section of country, and ere long they found themselves on the highway to prosper- ity. They have been wise in their investments, securing the property from time to time, which naturally increased in value, and have occupied no unimportant position in the progress and growth of the city of Lincoln,

The subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Brudencia A. Mosher, Aug. 27, 1867, at the home of the bride in Peoria. Mrs. Bohanan, like her husband, is a native of Illinois. She was born in Peoria on the 14th of July, 1848. Her father, Philip J, Mosher, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., Oct. 18, 1814, and when a young man became a blacksmith by trade. He spent the most of the years of his life in Peoria, III., but now resides in Lincoln. Her mother, Mrs. Sarah L. (Bristol) Mosher, after long happy years of married life, died March 1, 1885. To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born two sons, William F. and Phillip E., who are now promising young men, twenty and eighteen years of age.

The largest livery stable in the State of Nebraska was established by Bohanan Bros., at Lincoln, in 1876; they have the largest assortment of hand- some vehicles and fine horses of any institution of the kind in the city, and obtain a corresponding patronage from the people of this part of the county. They have put up several fine buildings in the city, including the business blocks which are occupied

in the carrying on of their various business inter- ests, besides dwelling-houses and other valuable real estate. Connected with their livery oufit are several very fine carriage teams and all the para- phernalia required either at a first-class wedding or funeral. Their stables shelter seventy horses, in- cluding some of the best roadsters and trotting stock in Lancaster County. The two hearses which they now employ are costly vehicles, while they contemplate in the near future the purchase of an- other which cannot be built under 82,000. In addition to their city property. they own quite an extent of farming land in the county. Their career has really been phenomenal in its success, every- thing which they touch seeming to become at once a source of profit and an established success.

The residence of Franklin H. Bohanan is finely located at No. 1029 M street, and in its surround- ings indicates in a marked manner the cultivated tastes and ample means of the proprietor. Mr. B., politically, uniformly casts his vote with the Demo- cratic party, and socially, belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P., being a member of the Grand Lodges of the same. Mrs. Bohanan is a member of the Williard Woman's Christian Association; the Woman's Relief Corps, and a Daughter of Re- bekah, and, as would naturally be supposed, in connection therewith, is one who finds greatest de- light in all works of mercy and deeds of kindness, especially toward the sick and helpless.

R OBERT H. MOFFETT, a representative far- mer and stock-raiser of Denton Precinct, was born in Pocahontas County, W. Va., April 27, 1849. Ilis parents were George B. and Margaret E. Moffett, the father a physician and surgeon in the Confederate army for a period of nearly four years. His paternal ancestors were of Scotch-Irish descent.

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Portrait and biographical album of Lancaster county, Nebraska, Part 96

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

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