USA > Nebraska > Sherman County > Loup City > The trail of the Loup; being a history of the Loup River region > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
HILLMAN, REV. GEORGE-came to the North Loup Valley in April 1872, and settled in Greeley county. On May 10, 1872, he preached a ser- mon in the house of John Vanskike. Captain Munson sent an armed es- cort to guard the congregation from Indians. The first Methodist church ever organized in the Loup Valley was organized at the Hillman home, also the first Sabbath school. The first general election was held in his home on October 8, 1872 at which time he was elected county judge, being of course the first judge of Greeley county. Rev. Hillman was born in Banwell, Somersetshire, England, September 17, 1829; came to America in 1848; lived in Iowa until 1872 when he came to Nebraska. He was married to Miss Hannah Jenkins in 1853. Rev. Hillman and his good wife are now living near Scotia. They are in good heatlh and still enjoy living. Mr. Hillman still preaches occasionally. The old settlers hold them in love and esteem, remembering the long years of right living this good couple have spent here in the North Loup Valley.
KELLOGG, JOHN G .- the minnesinger of the Loup, was born in Lake county, Illinois, January 15, 1846, where he grew to manhood and got all the schooling he ever had. Here he farmed and composed rhymes. When twenty-three years old he set his face westward and came to Platte county, Nebraska. Here he lingered till August, 1871, when in company with Shepard, Scott and Stewart, pioneers spoken of elswhere, he set out for the North Loup Valley. On the 7th day of September he selected his claim in Greeley county, lying above present-day Scotia. Mr. Kellogg was one of the organizers of Greeley county and became its first county super-
%
Old Settlers' Meeting in Stewart's Grove. Aug. 17, 1905.
A Cattle Round-up in the Early Days.
257
BIOGRAPHICAL
intendent. On January 30. 1879, he married Belle Scott, one of the earliest women to come into the Loup, who is more than usually conversant with all topics pertaining to early frontier life. They have five children living.
McANULTY, GEORGE W .- was born at Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1853. He lost both of his parents at an early age, his father losing his life in his country's defense during the Civil War, and his mother dying within the same year. At the age of eighteen he went to Texas and for the first time saw the great West. After some time spent in the Lone Star state he went to Illinois and thence back to Pennsylvania. But he had gotten his taste for the plains. Accordingly he came back and arrived in Nebraska and the North Loup Valley in 1873. He settled on the James
Barr farm near Burwell. When Fort Hartsuff was established helped to build some of the structures there. Later he enlisted in Captain Munson's company-Co. C, 9th U. S. Infantry-which was ordered into active service a few days after his enlistment. The company joined the rest of the 9th Regiment at Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory. The Great Sioux War was on and the boys were on the frontier. Mr. McAnulty was with Gen- eral Crook in the terrible campaign of 1876, and returned with his company to Fort Hartsuff two years later and was there discharged. He married Miss Lillie Moore in March, 1880, and settled near Ord. In 1882 he moved to Scotia where he has since resided. He has three children, two sons, Fred and John, and one daughter, Louise. Mr. McAnulty is a believer in the North Loup Valley. Never, even during the darkest years, has his faith in it faltered.
MOORE, DAVID-one of the early settlers of Greeley county was born in Ohio in 1827. He came of good Quaker stock. His early life was spent in Indiana and Illinois. As a boy he knew Lincoln and often heard him address a jury in the old court house at Delavan, Ill. Later his parents set- tled in eastern Iowa, near Wyoming. Here he met and married Louise Standish in 1848. He served throughout the Civil War in Go. K, 24th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was with his regiment in some of the hard- est fought battles of the war. He came to Nebraska June, 1873, and settled in Greeley county taking as a homestead the northeast quarter of section 10-17-12, one mile east of Scotia where he resided for twenty years. In 1893 he moved to Scotia. He was most public spirited and untiring in his efforts to build up this part of the state. He was admitted to the bar in
1881 and practiced law for some years. In early days his home was noted for its generous hospitality and for many years David Moore was known as the friend of the settler. He died November 25, 1904, at his home in Scotia. His wife and three children survived him. His oldest son Horace Moore died June 23, 1905. Those still living are Dr. Mila S. Moore of Taylor, Nebr., and Mrs. George McAnulty of Scotia.
NURTON, E. A .- of Scotia is a much travelled man. He was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, February 19, 1856, and here he spent the first twenty-one years of his life. In September 1, 1877, he and his father bought one and one-half sections of railroad land five miles from Scotia. In
258
THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP
the fall he returned to Iowa and the next year worked his father's farm. However, in the fall of 1878 he returned to his land in Nebraska. In 1879 he again went back to Iowa and worked for nine months for his uncle. Then again he returned to Greeley county. On February 6, 1883, he mar- ried Miss Emma L. Woodward of Dubuque, Iowa. In 1886 he moved to Ord only to leave in 1888. The next year however he sold his farm property and moved to Scotia where he lives at present.
PRIDEMORE, JEREMIAH-was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, April 24, 1833. When but a child his parents moved to Clay county, Illi- nois, where he grew to manhood. In March, 1859, he married Miss Sarah File of Bond county, Iowa. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in the 48th Illinois Infantry. He saw much active service and engaged in the battles of Ft. Donalson, Shiloh. Vicksburg, Chattanooga and Atlanta. After his discharge in September, 1864, he returned to Bond county, Iowa, where he lived till he came to Greeley county in 1877. He still lives on his old home- stead.
SAUTER, GEORGE C .- was born at Wittenberg, Germany, and came to America when but three years old. His parents spent some time at De- troit and Chicago, but later removed to Indiana where the boy grew to manhood. He came to Fish Creek in Greeley county in 1877 and home- steaded there. He married Anna Brandt of Indiana. Of his children.none are living. The Sauters remained on the farm till 1893 when they moved to Scotia where they are now nicely located.
SCOTT, WILLIAM-Two of the first among early settlers in Greeley county were William Scott and his son, L. E. Scott. William Scott was born in Fairfield county, Conn., July 22, 1823. As he grew to manhood he learned the carpenter trade. He was married September 6, 1849. His eldest and at present only living son, L. C. Scott, was born in October of the next year. In 1855 the Scotts came to Freeport, Iowa, only to return ten years later to Connecticut. In 1866 they moved to Rosendale, Fon- du Lac county, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1872 L. E. Scott moved on to Greeley county and was followed by his father in the fall of the same year.
STEWART, ALZA M .- The first settler in Valley county was Alza M. Stewart who came to this county in August, 1871. Mr. Stewart was born in Binghampton, New York, May 27, 1843. When a small child his par- ents moved to Waukegan, Ill., where he lived till 1869. During this time he served for three years in the army. In April, 1869, he came to Platte county, Nebraska, where he lived till he came to Valley county. In Jan- uary, 1872, he took out papers homesteading the first farm in Valley county. In 1874 he moved to his timber claim adjoining his homestead but being in Greeley county. On July 4, 1874, he married Miss Mamie Burdick.
WALLACE, VIOLA-The first white woman in Greeley county was
259
BIOGRAPHICAL
Mrs. Viola Wallace, wife of James L. Wallace. She arrived with her hus- band in December, 1871. They settled on the creek which today bears their name, "Wallace Creek." A brother of Mrs. Wallace, George Wal- lace, came with them, taking an adjoining claim. Mrs. Wallace was a lady of education and refinement, born and educated in the southern city of Norfolk, Virginia. Mrs. Wallace was a brave little woman and bore the great change from the luxurious home in the city to a settler's cabin on the extreme frontier with wonderful fortitude. Mrs. Wallace (now Mrs. Thomas Grandberry ) lives at Long Pine, Nebr.
SHEPARD, ALONZO-is one of the first four settlers of the North Loup Valley. He was born in Canton, Mass., in 1836. When but six years old his parents moved to Illinois where he lived till 1867. At this time he decided to come to Nebraska and after spending six months in Omaha finally took up a pre-emption claim in Platte county. In the fall of 1871 he came to this valley and took a homestead in Greeley county whither he moved with his family in April, 1872. Mr. Shepard was married in 1866 and to the couple but one child was born. Mr. Shepard was a member of the first militia but was never engaged in any fights against the Indians.
VANSKIKE SETTLEMENT-No history of the North Loup Valley would be complete without mention of the Vanskike settlement. Three brothers, John, James and Jefferson, with their brother-in-law, Joe Con- way, came to the valley in the spring of 1872. They settled in Howard county, just below the Greeley county line. They were all typical pio- neers. They cheerfully bore their part in the early years and made many friends. Their homes were noted for hospitality.
WEEKES, WILLIAM BYRON-grain and live stock dealer, Scotia, Greeley county, was born in Illinois near the city of Cairo, November 5, 1859. He is of English ancestry, and his father, Thomas Weekes, was a soldier in both the Mexican and the Civil Wars, was mortally wounded at Hartsville, Tennessee, December 1, 1862, and was taken prisoner by the Confederates, and soon after died in Libby prison. The mother of Mr. Weekes was in maidenhood Elizabeth Lindridge. After the death of her husband she cared for her children the best she could. and gave them the advantage of a common school education. Before he was sixteen years old, with an elder brother, Charles Weekes, William came to Nebraska and set- tled upon a homestead in Greeley county. This was in the fall of 1875, and since then Greeley county has been his permanent home. He was success- ful as a farmer and a stock grower, and for some years has been as success- ful as a dealer in stock and grain. In the quarter of a century that he has resided in Greeley county, he has seen the country about him converted into rich farms, and railroads and towns built up. He has carved his own fortune by industriously working, and is in independent circumstances. In
260
THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP
the matter of politics he has always been a Republican. From 1886 to 1890 he served as treasurer of Greeley county, and in 1891 was one of the Board of County Supervisors. He is a Mason of the Royal Arch degree and is also a member of the Woodmen and the Tribe of Ben Hur. He is a member of; the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married June 12, 1881, to Nora A. Whitehead, and has six children-Charles W., now a physician in Scotia, Edwin and Edgar, twins, Chester, Cecil and Edith Weekes.
Loup County.
BROMWICH, URIAH-Mr. Uriah Bromwich was born in Chicago, Ill., in 1853. Upon the death of his father six months later, his mother went to Canada, soon however to return to Chicago. She next spent sev- eral years in southern Wisconsin, landing in Minnesota in 1858. Here Mr. Bromwich grew to manhood. He married Miss Elnora Fay in 1876. In October of 1878 he came to Loup county and pre-empted. He then home- steaded just across the line in Custer county in 1880. From Mr. Brom- wich's home one has a fine view of the Loup Valley for miles.
CLARK, WILLIAM A .- is a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born in May, 1854. He spent the first twenty-five years of his life in Juni- ata and LaSalle counties of that state, though he has lived the rest of his life in Nebraska. In 1879 he took up a claim in Loup county about five miles west of Taylor where he still lives. In 1898 he went to Burwell and spent two years in the implement business there, but he sold out at the end of that time and returned to his Loup county home. He was elected to the office of county treasurer of Loup county in the fall of 1903.
COPP, CALVIN L .- was born in Tiogo county, Pennsylvania, in 1848. He left the old Quaker state when eight years old, and saw life in Missouri and Iowa before he came to Nebraska in 1869. He married Elizabeth Rob- lyer of York county and came to Loup county in 1879. He has spent twenty-five years near Almeria and Moulton farming and is now cozily homed in Taylor. Mr. Copp has yet large landed interests in the county. He has been a lifelong Republican, though he has never been actively en- gaged in politics. Mr. Copp never grows weary telling of the strenuous days when he had to haul whole loads of cedar posts to Grand Island to ex- change for a sack of flour and a plug of tobacco.
CROUGHELL, THOMAS-was born in Hartford county, Connecticut, in December, 1854. Here he lived until 1878 when he moved to Nebraska and settled in Loup county, about two miles west from Taylor. While in Connecticut he worked in a cotton factory where all kinds of cotton fabrics were made. But since coming to Nebraska he has successfully devoted his time to farming and stockraising.
FAY, STEPHEN-is one of the many men who believe in the future of the Loup county sand-hills. He was born in Wisconsin, near Fon du Lac, in 1863, though raised in Vivian county, Minnesota. He farmed in
261
BIOGRAPHICAL
Freeborn county, Minnesota, many years. In 1879 he came to Loup county and settled two miles south of Taylor. He was a young man then and to make a way for himself had to become a "cowpuncher" on the Snake River range. He married Rosetta Caldwell in 1884 and has four children. At present he owns 400 acres of pasture and hay lands north of Taylor where he keeps his herd of cattle.
GARD, DAVID A .- was born in Morris county, N. J., and at the age of 18 years was employed in a store at Dover. At the breaking out of the war he was the first in the city to enlist. He was a member of Company B, Second Regiment, N. J. Vol. Infantry, and was attached to Gen. Phil. Kearney's famous Jersey Brigade, and participated in all its battles from first Bull Run to the fall of Petersburg. He received five wounds, and was left on the field at South Mountain, being badly wounded while charging a battery. He was captured May 6, 1864, in the Wilderness and, with six of his comrades, made his escape the following day. He was married in 1866 and removed to Iowa, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for seven years. In 1876 he moved to Grand Island, Neb., and one year later, to a homestead in the unorganized territory now known as Loup county, then 100 miles from the nearest railroad. He was mainly instrumental in organ- izing the county and was its first clerk. He was one of the most successful homestead farmers of that region. On account of poor health, caused by injuries received in the army, he abandoned farming, and in 1889 removed to Ord, and for four years conducted the Transit House. In 1894 he was elected mayor of Ord on the anti-license ticket. For some years Mr. Gard has been one of the chief promoters of the American Order of Protection, a very flourishing fraternal insurance order. At the present he resides in Lincoln.
HENRY, G. S .- first saw the light of day in Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, on the 17th day of April, 1873. He came with his parents to Adair county, Iowa, at the age of four and lived there until his removal to Loup county, Nebraska, in February, 1884. Mr. Henry's education has been received in the schools at Cromwell and Fontanelle, Iowa, and of Loup county, Nebraska. His marriage to Miss Myrtle B. Messersmith occurred May 26, 1904. He is serving his first term as county clerk of Loup county, being elected to that office by his chosen party, the Republican.
HOOPER, HENRY-is surely a man of varied experiences. He was born in Ohio in 1843. Here he lived until 1867 when he moved to Illinois. He stayed here for about four years as a farmer when he moved to Ne- braska, where he spent the next few years of his life as a hunter and trap- per. He finally found his way to Loup county where he took to farming. Mr. Hooper saw considerable service in the U. S. army during the Civil War. He enlisted in July, 1862, in Co. F, 90th Ohio Volunteers. He served for three years, being mustered out in July, 1865. He engaged in the battles of Prairieville, Stone River, Chickamauga, and was severely wounded in the battle of Kennesaw Mountain.
ROBLYER, JACOB-was born in Pennsylvania in 1846. He went to
262
THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP
Iowa in 1867 whence he moved to eastern Nebraska three years later. In 1879 he moved up the Loup Valley to his present home two miles southeast from Almeria. He was married in 1872 and has lived the life of a farmer ever since. Mr. Roblyer enlisted in Co. C, 171st Pennsylvania Volunteers in 1861, and after serving two years was mustered out in July, 1863. In 1864 he re-enlisted in the 1st New York Light Artillery, from which he was given an honorable discharge in July, 1865.
STEPHENS, WILLIAM-was born near Rockford, Ill., in 1849. When but five years old his parents moved to LaSalle county where he lived until 1878. At this time he moved to Loup county, Nebraska, and settled on the farm that he now works. He was married in the spring of 1888. Mr. Stephens has gone through many experiences in this valley, some of which were very unpleasant. He has seen the blizzards and hailstorms of early years, to say nothing of his experiences with Doc. Middleton's gang of horsethieves.
WILLIAMS, T. W .- Among the earliest of Loup county's pioneers was Mr. T. W. Williams, who like some others, had come a long way to find his present home. He was born in Wales, February 7, 1841. When but a lad of 13 years, he came to the old historic Schuylkill county, Penn- sylvania. Here he grew to manhood and, on March 29, 1862, he married Miss Mary Lewis of Pottsville, Penn. In the summer of 1865 they came to Missouri and for nine years lived in Mason county. They then came to York county. The following year they went to Hamilton county, arriving in Loup county in 1876. Here they homesteaded their present farm. They have had The T. W. Williams Family. thirteen children, seven of which are now living. WOODS, L. W .- was born in Farmington, Iowa, in 1859. When but four years of age his parents moved to Missouri where he remained until 1875. At this time he moved to Nebraska and settled in Burt county. He came to this valley in 1877 and took up his home in Custer county, border- ing on the Loup county line. He has lived in this place ever since as a tiller of the soil.
The Men and Women Who are Making the History of the Loup Valley.
CHAPTER XXI.
In this section the Trail of the Loup is rounded off and completed. Former chapters have told the story of the first-comers, of those who blazed the trail. Their work is practically at an end. The energy and en- terprise of a later generation is even now transforming the pioneer hamlet and village into the modern city. Embryo cities are indeed springing up in the Loup Valley. Their ultimate growth and importance will depend to a marked extent on the ability and enterprise of the men who are building them. We have been fortunate in this respect. The business men of Loup, Garfield, Valley and Greeley counties are, upon the whole, self-made men who have kept in touch with the world and its progress, who, indeed, have ever kept in the vanguard of its progress. The following pages tell the life-stories of a majority of the men and firms which are making our history today :
Ord.
BAILEY BROTHERS .- In course of years many of our prosperous farmers have turned their attention to breeding high grade cattle, and feeding these for the top market. One of the most successful firms of this kind in the Loup Valley is Bailey Brothers, whose fine stock-farm lies across the river and in sight of Ord. The Bailey brothers-Harry and George-are sons of Daniel Cooley Bailey, one of the fathers of the Valley. The brothers were both born in New York state in the early 50's and moved with their parents to Wisconsin in 1855. In the summer of 1872 the Baileys arrived in Springdale from Wisconsin. The next spring they moved onto the excellent farmsteads which they have done so much to improve down through the years. The brothers are expert farmers and stock raisers. Of late years -- indeed beginning in 1890-they have taken to raising pure blooded shorthorn cattle. Their idea is that it is just as cheap to raise high grade cattle as scrubs, and on the market they are shure to bring better prices. Indeed it is a very ordinary matter for this
264
THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP
firm to sell their sleek, corn-fed steers on the Omaha or Chicago markets and get the very top prices for them.
BARNES & McGREW-Charlie Barnes is one of the old-timers in Ord. Indeed he has been in the barber business here since 1884, thus laying a just claim to being the oldest established barber in the county. With him is associated the popular young barber, Clayton E. McGrew, who learned his trade from Mr. Barnes years ago when the latter operated his shop in the old Hotel D'America. The firm is located on the north side of the pub- lic square, where it owns its own building. Absolute proficiency has built up for the firm a large and evergrowing patronage.
BOTTS, HOMER-was born in Iowa in 1873. He learned his trade of carpentry, in his home state and when he came to Ord in 1897, it did not take him long to make a reputation as a builder and contractor. Fine buildings constructed by him in Ord and Burwell attest to his unusual skill in his chosen profession.
BARTUNEK BROTHERS & NELSON-is the title of one of the new- est firms to open business in Ord. Anton and Paul Bartunek had carried on a prosperous business at Walbach where they catered to a satisfied pubilc for seven years. Prior to this Anton had worked in the largest business house in St. Paul and there gained invaluable experience. The Bartuneks are Bohemi- ans by birth. Their early and commercial education was procured in the old homeland, which they left in 1883. Gus H. Nelson, the third member of the firm, is a Scandinavian by birth and was formerly en- gaged in the general merchandise business at Anton Bartunek Greeley Center. The firm is located in the fine new Misko block on the north side of the public square. Here they have a store room 24x80 feet large, well stored with general merchandise. Fine drygoods and shoes are one of their specialties. They are now doing a $40,000 business and face a bright future indeed.
BLESSING, ALVIN,-who has lately resigned his position as county clerk of Valley county to accept the position of assistant cashier in the First National Bank at Ord was born December 11, 1871, at LaGrange, Michigan, from which place he came with his parents to the so-called "Michigan Settlement" in Valley county, in 1880. He has taught school and farmed, making a success of both. Four years ago he entered politics and was elected county clerk on the Republican ticket. Mr. Blessing is quite a landowner and has lately completed one of the most comfortable and com- modious homes in Ord.
CAPRON, JOE H.,-the Ord real estate dealer, may justly lay claim to being one of the old timers. His early history told in the chapter on village organization, needs no repetition here. From quartermaster's clerk at Ft. Hartsuff he became editor of the Valley county Journal, which he continued to publish till July, 1887, when he sold the paper to C. C.
265
BIOGRAPHICAL
Wolf. It is as a dealer in real estate, rental and abstract work that Mr. Capron has made a name for himself. During his long residence he has become acquainted with every part of the Loup Valley, its people, pro- ducts, prices, etc., and as such is now in position to give immigrants and investors the benefit of his intimate knowledge. Mr. Capron, who has become a man of means, is just completing one of the finest residences in Ord.
BOND, ANGIE R .- the only exclusive milliner in Ord, was born in Michigan in 1874. She came with her parents to Valley county in 1877 and spent some years in the so-called Michigan colony in what is now Michigan township. She served her appren- ticeship as a milliner in the employ of Mrs. Lee, an oldtime business woman of Ord. The next ten years she spent in the employ of G. W. Milford and Frank Mallory. When she started in business for herself she had a millinery experience of twelve years. Her first venture was in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska, from whence she came to Ord in 1903. She carries a very excellent stock of goods and is known up and down the Valley for her fair dealing.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.