USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 23
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 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
Each registrant was required to make out his own statement unless he was unable to write. But the two assistants did what was permissible in giving advice and assistance subject to the rules as interpreted by the member of the legal advisory board and the provost marshal. They met in the juryroom or the District Court room at the courthouse regularly each day at 9 o'clock until the close of the specified time.
The assignments for the first six days were as follows: Monday, December 17th, Judge Corcoran, W. L. Kirkpatrick and O. S. Gilmore; Tuesday, December 18th. George M. Spurlock, H. G. Hopkins, and W. W. Wyckoff; Wednesday, December 19th, C. E. Sandall, E. A. Gilbert, J. W. Purinton ; Thursday, December 20th, Judge Corcoran, JJ. E. Carlin, G. W. France: Friday, December 21st. George M. Spurlock, F. C. Power, Arthur W. Wray ; Saturday, December 22d. C. E. Sandall, Charles F. Stroman, and M. M. Wildman.
WINTER DRIVES
The winter of 1917-18 witnessed drive after drive. First came the annual Christ- mas season, Red Cross Roll Call, which met a very liberal response. This was fol- lowed in January and February by the War Savings Stamp campaign, shortly after that came the relief drive for the Armenian funds. At a meeting held in York, attended by a Mr. Azim, the following relief committee was appointed to raise funds to send to the starving Armenians: C. A. McCloud, A. E. Mead, J. I. Moore, James B. Harvey, Professor Bissett, Judge Corcoran, Dennis Meehan, George Shrek, Senator Sandall, F. A. Hannis, Mesdames E. S. Clark, Will Kirkpatrick, Burnard, Robert Copsey, Overstreet, Behling. An advisory committee consisting of all the clergy in the county was also appointed.
THE HOME GUARDS
During the first months of 1918 a company of Home Guards was organized in York. This organization drilled regularly and prepared itself for service in emergencies. While such companies were never called away from home, an exam- ination of their roster discloses the names of many men of middle age, successful in their respective lines, civilian life and ofttimes beyond the years of military service. The roster as recruited by the middle of March was as follows :
Capt. A. W. Thompson, First Lient. James B. Harvey, Second Lieut. W. V.
834
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
MacCartney, First Sergt. Earl Williams, Quartermaster Sergt. Wade Read, Sergt. Bugler Tom Van Decar. Bugler Loyal Roggy.
Sergeants : William DeBord, E. J. Taylor, Charles Fisher, Dr. George Shidler, Mansfield Hervey, R. O. Allen.
Corporals : Fred Wilkins, E. A. Levitt, F. W. Schroeder, Dan Stevens, Dennis Meehan, Jr., Clark Pine.
Company: J. G. Alden. A. W. Ballenger, S. A. Anderson, A. E. Andrews, C. S. Byrnes, E. C. Bristol. J. P. Conway. J. P. Cunningham, Dan Chileote, J. M. Meradith. Harold Myers, Guy Meradith, Grover May, L. V. Newman, J. B. McGinley, G. E. Nearing, C. C. Nelson, Emmet Osborne, M. L. Pembleton. C. E. Callender, J. H. Crane. O. J. Dudek, W. H. Davis. E. V. Ellis, S. M. Ellis, D. C. Freet, Clarence Foster. H. W. Freeman, Roy Foster, O. S. Gilmore, J. F. Gibbs, H. C. Harrett, E. Holoch. T. J. Hatfield, P. J. Hesler, Alex Haberman. S. F. Hanson, Charles Hildebrand. Martin Humphrey. Gus Hornyak. Al J. Jess, Floyd Kerwood, Edwin Miller. Floyd Mohring, F. L. Probst, James Poullas, J. R. Reed, II. P. Requartte, F. H. Rockwell. Russell Rogers, L. M. Sypher, Clarence Stevens, F. O. Sake, G. R. Stewart, Ralph H. Stone, John Schneider, Fred H. Vineent, C. H. Venholm. P. J. Van Vleet. G. W. Wallender, B. A. Wythers, Mils Wallerstedt, Vie Lundgren.
THIRD LIBERTY LOAN
The third Liberty Loan was inaugurated all over the United States on April 6th. A patriotic parade in York that day to celebrate the company's first anniversary of entrance to the war was taken as an opportunity to arouse interest in this drive. With a quota of $509.400 for this drive by May 10th, York County had "gone over the top," the subscriptions being $648,900 as announced by the county chairman, J. E. Ilart.
FOURTH REGISTRATION
The fourth registration was held on September 12, 1918, when the citizens of York County between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, thirty-one and forty-five, stepped up and filled out the registration cards.
The following named persons volunteered to serve as registrars and copyists for the registration at polling places in each township and ward in York County September 12, 1918:
Gresham-F. F. Cane, B. L. Hawley. T. C. Thomas, W. HI. Diers.
Thayer-W. E. Prather, Rev. W. C. Brewer, C. M. Horsfall.
Benedict-William Hagemeister, D. W. Baker, L. F. Steinbach.
Arborville-T. S. Fisher, C. W. Flick, F. E. Merchant, E. M. Wood.
Bradshaw-J. B. Carlisle. C. B. Palmer, Jr., R. W. Finley. W. E. Stafford, Alva Lininger.
Lockridge Town Hall-Fred Strobel, Herbert Otto, Arthur Otto.
Houston-Marion King, William Florer, T. H. Clifford, Homer Koons.
Waco-J. V. Brady, E. J. Kaltenborn, J. H. Fisher.
Beaver Town Hall-William Witte, Charles Purinton. Henry Pieper, Paul Geyser.
Leroy Town Hall-Joseph Neville, John DeBoer, Robert Thomas, Charles Propst.
.
835
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
Charleston-Peter Marik, E. O. Stone, Roy Weston.
Bergen School House -- H. W. Hardy, J. W. Tracy, Chester Broehl.
Lushton-H. P. Dearing, Joy Payne.
Henderson-II. J. Kroeker, D. D. Wiens.
Hays Town Hall-F. M. Churchill, John Boren, Fred Barker, George Jenkins. McCool Junction-A: R. McFadden, L. L. Slagel, R. F. Lord, R. M. Ware.
West Blue Town Hall-Ira Kail, Henry Gillan, John Schultz.
York, First Ward-Frank L. Propst, E. W. Williams, W. E. McCloud, E. H. Bemis, Alma Stoll.
York, Second Ward-H. G. Hopkins, J. B. Ettel, J. P. Guidinger, R. L. Brott, R. C. Stewart.
York, Third Ward-R. C. Stewart, C. A. Keefe, Charles Read, J. G. Alden.
York, Fourth Ward-E. B. Koon, E. C. Knight, De Witt Lee, O. J. Dudek, W. W. Buckley.
A REAL RECORD
Mr. and Mrs. Davis Thomas of York, Neb., prominent retired farmers, appar- ently held the state honors for the largest number of sons in Unele Sam's service, according to the records compiled by Governor Keith Neville.
Six sons of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas responded to their country's call and were serving on the battlefields in Europe or training in American camps. Several other Nebraska families have reported five sons in the service, but none offer six, so far as the compiler of this work has learned.
Two of the Thomas boys accompanied the Fourth Nebraska Regiment south to Camp Cody and served in the 127th Field Artillery under Col. P. L. Hall, Jr., Lincoln. The Fourth was one of the first regiments called into service.
The Thomas boys and the places where they were serving in September, 1918, were: Sergeant Fred D. Thomas, 127th Field Artillery, Camp Cody ; Corporal Edward S. Thomas, Headquarters Company, Forty-second Infantry, Dover, N. J .; Corporal Forest Thomas, Battery E. 127th Field Artillery, Camp Cody; Gordan C. Thomas, 103d Engineers, Infantry, Fort Benjamin, Indianapolis; George Homer Thomas, wagoner, medical department, Sixty-first Infantry, A. E. F .; Warren S. Thomas, called in July quota of draft from Nebraska.
FOURTH LIBERTY LOAN
The quota of York County for the fourth Liberty Loan was fixed at $729,900, and Monday, October 7, 1918, was set as the day upon which the campaign would open. There was not an extensive canvass made for this loan, but the people were asked to come and to get their respective committees at their usual voting places on that day and make such subscriptions as they could.
SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1918
On Saturday, April 6th, a great parade was held to celebrate the first anniversary of York County's entrance upon the great war. The day's program was as follows:
The parade at 11 o'clock A. M .; Benediet Band; Goddess of Liberty; Uncle Sam : Abe Lincoln; Council of Defense; Liberty Loan Committee: City Council ;
836
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
County Officials ; Grand Army of the Republic: Woman'> Relief Corps; all Red Cross units of the county: Home Guards: the Spirit of 26: Boy Scouts: Lushton Band : Junior Garden Unit ; all school children of the county; 1 :30 o'clock P. M., patriotic concert : 2 o'clock P. M., speaking by Mr. F. S. Howell, Omaha.
When on March 22, 1918, meetings were held simultaneously in every school- . house in the State of Nebraska for the War Saving Stamp work, York County went "over the top" in that same day. Although her quota was $390,000, something in the neighborhood of five hundred thousand dollars was subscribed that day.
The next drive that appeared was the mid-year Red Cross drive, beginning on May 20th. York County was assigned its quota of $19.000.
In May, 1918, the labor bureau connected with the Commercial Club widened its scope of usefulness by making arrangements to operate the free employment agency in every town in the county in conjunction with the York office, and to carry on this extension work representatives and assistants were chosen as follows:
MeCool. L. W. Williams : Benediet. W. B. McMullen : Waco. S. A. May ; Thayer, Paul Mueller: Bradshaw, Frank Bedient : Lushton. H. P. Deering: Gresham. llerman Diers: Henderson, L. R. Meisner ; Charleston, Peter Marik.
These gentlemen joined with President Shreck and Secretary Woodrum in the work of supplying help of all kinds to all who needed and in finding places for men in search of work.
The York high school. toward the end of the war, took great pride in its service flag of forty-nine members and the Alumni Association of the York high school who went into the service of their country. These stars represented the following alumni :
1892-Capt. Otis Newman.
1904-First Lient. D. D. King.
1906-Wendell Froid, Capt. Dale MeDonald, First Lieut. William Mead, Edward Wood.
1904-Charles Beard, Charles Lesh, Lieut. Albert May.
1908-First Lient. Stewart Bell.
1909-First Lieut. Glen Whitcomb, Floyd Cox, Clarke Pine, Earl Wood.
1910-Charles Bradwell, Peter Mechan.
1911-First Lieut. Howard Bell, Dan Blood, Cloyd MeKinley, Earl Warner, Earl Samuelson, Otto Zumquinkle, Willard Wiley.
1912-Hugh Mulvaney.
1913-First Lieut. Harold Miller, First Lient. Harry Hubbell, Harvey Salmen. Harry Osborn, First Lieut. Chester Sandall, Earl Yates. Earl Wideman.
1914-Ervin May. Roy Bradley, William Davidson, Charles Hannis, Evertt James, llarold Requartte.
1915-Vincent Morgan. Charles Cox, Ralph Little. Alonzo Miller, Bernard Tranger.
1916-Dan Chilcote. Darrel Mohler, David Mohler, Ralph Stone.
1918- Floyd Cooper, Dean Myers, Harlan Boyer.
ARMISTICE DAY
The happiest day York County ever knew, or perhaps within the experience of anyone now living may ever know, was November 11, 1918, when the bells, whistles,
837
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
guns and every other noise-making appliance man, boy or mob could find awakened everyone from their slumbers in the early hours of the morning to announce that the Armistice had been signed, and the actual fighting of the terrible World war was over.
During October numerous preparations had been made to send a very heavy contingent to camps, but the Spanish influenza epidemic was already raging through the country. From the camps where it had been spreading its dire and dreadful fatalities, it rapidly encroached upon the civilian population.
The united war work drive of the seven great agencies of relief and cheer was in its midst, and was helped considerably by the enthusiasm of Armistice day. That day every line of business, school and all endeavor was abandoned to one wild, riotous, unprecedented carnival of joy and celebration.
AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE WAR
For two years after the Armistice concluded the active actual fighting across the waters, certain effects of the World war were visibly evident upon the life of the community. The era of high prices, loose money, and the speculative spending orgy continued until in October, 1920, a decided, sudden slump occurred. The depleted condition of the European nations, the destruction of their credit and their inability to purchase food supplies available in America brought about a very sudden tumble in market prices. This fact, coupled with the achievement of this portion of the country in raising in 1920 a crop absolutely unparalleled in proportions, created a rather decided stringency in the winter of 1920. Corn that had been selling less than a year before around $1.50 to $1.65 and which had been planted in the spring of 1920 at seed, labor and land costs anticipating its eventual sale at around a dollar a bushel at least, fell to around fifty cents, with the market so stagnant that it could hardly be sold at that. Wheat, raised in anticipation of two dollars, went far below a dollar and a half.
Along with this situation came another drive to help the starving people of Europe, so as to keep those nations in some shape to rehabilitate themselves, and eventually to repay at least some of the ten billions of dollars loaned to them during the war by the United States.
In December, 1920, York County again marshalled her faithful forces and undertook this rather late, post-war drive. The movement to finance this giant benevolent and charitable enterprise was headed by Herbert Hoover for the nation and G. W. Wattles of Omaha for the state, and engaged the thoughtful, heart- felt attention of the people of the nation.
A. E. Mead, county Red Cross chairman, was requested by the state chairman, Mr. Wattles, to put machinery in motion to provide an agency to raise funds in York County. Mr. Mead has taken the initiative and the result is a skeleton organization which will be quickly developed and energized. De Witt Lee is chair- man, A. W. Ballenger, secretary, Rev. George J. Weber publicity director. Dr. George Shidler in charge of four-minute speakers.
-
BIOGRAPHICAL
... .
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L
CHARLES A. MCCLOUD
BIOGRAPHICAL
CHARLES A. McCLOUD.
Business enterprise and business integrity have both found in Charles A. McCloud an exponent. Ilis record indicates that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously, for through individual effort he has worked his way steadily upward, following at all times constructive methods, his path never being strewn with the wreck of other men's failures. He is today prominently known as a banker and capitalist of York. He was born at Moravia, Iowa, in 1860, a son of William and Ann (Sears) McCloud, the former a native of West Virginia, while the latter was born in Ohio. The father was a son of James R. McCloud, whose birth occurred in Virginia and who removed to Towa about 1866. He devoted his entire life to the occupation of farming and passed away in Iowa, respected and honored by all who knew him. His son William E. McCloud became one of the pioneer residents of łowa, where he took up his abode in 1856. IIe, too, became a farmer and stock raiser and dealer. In 1877 he removed to York, Nebraska, and purchased railroad land, remaining on the farm for a number of years. In 1897. however, he retired from active business and established his home in the city of York. His life was ever an honorable and upright one. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, was a member of York Lodge, No. 56. A. F. & A. M .. including Solomon chapter, No. 33, and Joppa commandery, No. 17. In early life he gave his political support to the democratic party but afterward became a stanch advo- cate of republican principles, and held a number of town offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. While he was in limited financial circumstances at the time of his removal to Nebraska, he won a substantial measure of prosperity as the years passed on and was thus able to leave his family financially comfortable. It was in Iowa that he wedded Ann Sears, a daughter of Presley W. Sears, who was born in Virginia but removed to Iowa in 1854, becoming one of the early residents of that state. The death of Mr. McCloud occurred June 11, 1902, while his wife passed away December 11, 1912. They were the parents of ten children who are all living: Charles A., of this review ; Mary the wife of Archi- bald G. Evans, who has been state agent for a fire insurance company for forty years and makes his home at Lincoln, Nebraska: Harriett, the wife of Daniel Ilardesty, who resides on a small farm near York: Mrs. Rosa Cook, living in Denver : William E., who is cashier of the First State Savings Bank of York ; Carrie, living in Lincoln; Frank, who is assistant manager for Swift & Company at Seattle, Washington: Jessie, the wife of John B. Winfield, a farmer of York county ; Anna May, the wife of W. E. Losee, who is engaged in the lumber business in Salt Lake City : and J. R., who is cashier of the First National Bank of York.
Mr. McCloud of this review began his education in the public schools of Iowa and afterward attended the fowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, leaving college in his senior year. He came to York in 1877, and although he was then a young man of but seventeen years, he had already taught school in lowa. After his
Vol. II-16
843
844
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
parents moved to Nebraska he worked his way through college. His first business activity in York county was that of clerk in a hardware store, and he was also employed in a lumber-yard and in connection with a grain and implement business at Waco. In 1881 he was appointed to the office of deputy county treasurer and filled the position until 1885 in a most creditable manner. He then entered the Citizens State Bank in 1886 and was connected with that institution for a little more than a year, after which he purchased right of way for the Chicago & North- western Railroad Company, this task engaging his attention in 1887 and 1888. Ile next established a real estate agency at York and continued in the business until 1905, or for a period of seventeen years. During that time he also served as county commissioner for five years and was traveling auditor for the state of Nebraska for four years.
In 1905 Mr. MeCloud organized the Farmers National Bank of York and was its president until it was consolidated with the First National Bank, of which he became president. lte has been active in shaping the policy and directing the interests of that institution and has ever recognized the fact that the bank is most worthy of credit that most carefully safeguards the interests of its depositors. llis business methods have ever been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. While active in the development of interests that have been of impor- tance to the city and state in its material development as well as a source of individual profit, he has also remained active in public affairs and from 1900 until 1904 was mayor of York. Moreover, he has the distinction of being the only man to the present time who has ever been reelected to the position, and both times he had no opposition. There is no fact which could more clearly indieate his per- sonal popularity nor the confidenee reposed in him. He is now concentrating his efforts and attention upon his banking business. The First National Bank has a capital stock, surplus and undivided profits amounting to three hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars and the First Trust Company, a subsidiary organiza- tion, has a capital and surplus of seventy thousand dollars, while the First State Savings Bank is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars. Mr. McCloud is president of all three institutions and also has interests in six other banks in York county, being president of five of the number, including the First National of Brawshaw, the Bank of Thayer, the Farmers & Traders Bank of Waco, the Blue River Bank at McCool Junction and the Bank of Lushton. He is a director of the City National Bank of Lincoln, Nebraska, and is one of the stockholders of the First National Bank of Mount Pleasant, lowa. HIe is also the vice president of the Mutual Building & Loan Association and has served in this official connection for thirty years. He is likewise the president of the Elks Building Company and of the York Hotel Company, and thus with many of the chief business concerns of city and county he has been closely associated, so that he justly deserves to be numbered among the promoters and builders of the state. He was one of the organizers of the York Brick & Tile Company and assisted in the organization and development of every community building that has been erected in York. In addition to his other interests and investments Mr. McCloud owns several business properties of York. His realty holdings are quite extensive in several other counties in Nebraska.
On the 28th of November, 1883, Mr. MeCloud was married to Miss Flora Bowman, a granddaughter of Presley Saunders, who laid out the town of Mount
845
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
Pleasant, Iowa. She was a daughter of John C. and Eliza Bowman, who followed their daughter to York and continued to make it their home until their deatlı. To Mr. and Mrs. McCloud has been born a daughter, Elsie, now the wife of William T. Conley, a banker of Columbia, Missouri.
Mrs. MeCloud is a member of the Congregational church and takes a most active interest in church and charitable work. She assisted in organizing and sustaining the library of York many years before it became a publie library and has been its only president. She is also well known in club circles and is constantly aiding in the promotion of all interests which have to do with civic welfare, with intellectual advancement and moral progress.
Mr. McCloud is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of York and Scottish Rites and also of the Mystie Shrine. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and was for five years exalted ruler of the last named. He was also chairman of the building committee and raised the money to build the Elks home in York. In polities he has ever been an active and earnest republican and has served as a delegate to county, state and national con- ventions, being at the present writing chairman of the republican state central committee, which in the year 1920 placed Nebraska in the republican ranks and aided in promoting the overwhelming majority accorded Warren G. Harding as president. He is also the president of the park board of York and was largely instrumental in promoting the park and sewerage systems of the city. He has been a director of the Commercial Club since its organization and belongs to the Country Club and is one of its directors and treasurer of the York Rotary Club. He was president of the Nebraska Association of Elks for two years and was grand district deputy under Brother John P. Sullivan of New Orleans. He was also chairman of the committee that seeured the establishment of the Odd Fellows home in York and also the Custodial Home and the Lutheran Hospital. He was a member of the State Council of Defense during the World war and was chairman of the tenth distriet for all the five bond drives, serving entirely without financial recompense. He is president of the Board of Trustees of York College, one of the leading educational institutions of the middle west. He has ever recognized the duties and obligations as well as the privileges and opportunities of citizenship. Throughout his life he has labored for the public good in many ways and has ever held to high standards. Men who know Charles A. McCloud-and he has a wide acquaintance-speak of him in terms of the highest regard; and the things he has accomplished and the methods he has followed entitle him to rank with Nebraska's leading citizens.
JOHN B. DEY
There are not many men living in York county whose careers have been varied by so many interesting experiences as have fallen to the lot of John B. Dey, now a resident of Bradshaw, who in his time has been successively a Federal soldier, a farmer, a newspaper editor and printer, and has filled public office at different periods. He was born in Shelby county, Ohio, October 14, 1845, a son of
846
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
Lewis and Polly M. (Valentine) Dey, the former a farmer and blacksmith during his active life. The family moved to Washington, lowa, the father being accom- panied on the trip by three brothers and a brother-in-law, and the party com- menced an effort to secure a tract of land by making periodical payments of twenty-five cents an acre. Lewis Dey resumed working at his trade as a black- smith and also worked a farm and the family continued to reside in Washington until 1859, when they moved to Wayne county, lowa, the county being then in a wild state and but sparsely settled. A log cabin was ereeted in which the family lived for some time until they were able to replace it by a more substantial and commodious house. Numerous bands of Indians on hunting trips passed the Dey holding in those days, but they never molested or interfered with the settlers. Game was plentiful for the family larder and included wild turkey, deer and wild prairie chickens, the latter being found in huge flocks.
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.