USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 25
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
Frank A. Peterson, when three years old was brought by his parents from Iowa to York county, in the schools of which he secured an education. He remained with his parents on the farm and helped in the agricultural operations, proving a valuable assistant to his father in the work of reclaiming and cultivating the homestead. Under the sound tuition given him he rapidly became a skilled farmer and stockman and is now engaged in general farming and raising cattle, giving special attention to marketing feed cattle and obtaining good prices for his work in this connection. The fact that he gives close personal attention to his farming operations indicates that he manages his affairs in a systematic manner and that he possesses marked business ability. Aside from his farming interests he is a stoekholder in the Farmers Co-operative Association at Bradshaw, the latter a thriving organization devoted to agricultural expansion.
In 1898 Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Ella C. Sandall, further reference to whom appears elsewhere in this work. To this union three children have been born : Viva, wife of Benson Clithereou of Sterling, Colorado : Genevieve, at home; and Frank Edmande, also at home. In politics he is a stalwart republican and for three years he served as school moderator at Bradshaw. He and his wife attend the services of the Swedish Lutheran church, in the good works of which they are active participants. They enjoy the confidence, goodwill and high regard of numerous friends in the community in which they reside.
ODEN S. GILMORE
Among the leading attorneys of York, York county. is Oden S. Gilmore who was born on a farm in that county on the 4th of May, 1878, the son of Sebastian and Lura (Randall) Gilmore. The father was born in Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, March 2, 1847, and in 1866 removed to York county where he homesteaded. Previous to his going to Nebraska he had worked on farms in Illinois and came to Nebraska when nineteen years old where he met Miss Randall whom he later married. The homestead which he acquired in York county he still owns and thereon resides, his wife having died on the 6th of March, 1914. At the time he took up the homestead he had only eighty acres but he now owns four hundred acres all being well improved and consisting of some of the best land in the county. The Blue river runs through it. Eight children were born of this union, three of whom are still living, namely: Oden S., the subject of this review ; Robert L., a traveling salesman who resides in Omaha ; and Blanche who married Charles Buey and they make their home with her father. Sebastian Gilmore is a faithful member of the Christian church and a democrat in polities. When he first came to York county he had practically nothing, but by his perseverance and determination he has succeeded in making himself financially successful. For some time he served as township clerk and treasurer and he built the first shingled log house west of Lincoln in the state. llis father, Elias Gilmore, erected the first frame house in York county. The house now belongs to Sebastian Gilmore and is still standing. The maternal grandfather of Oden S. Gilmore, Ira Randall, came to Nebraska from Wisconsin about 1873 and engaged in farming. Both grandfathers died in York county.
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Oden S. Gilmore received his education in the country schools until he reached the eighth grade when he took a two years' course at Cotner University, Bethany, and spent four years in the State University where he was graduated in law in 1911. He practiced for one and one-half years at Edgar and in 1914 was elected county attorney for York county, which position he filled until 1919. Previous to his election as county attorney he had resided on his farm in York county, having sold out his practice in Edgar, and after the expiration of his term of office he opened an office in York and again started into the general practice. He has a large clientele and has been admitted to practice in all courts in the state. During the World war he was very active and served as one of the Four Minute men. He still owns the farm in York county which he has successfully conducted for twenty years.
On the 12th of September, 1912, Mr. Gilmore was united in marriage to Miss Helen C. Conant, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and to them three children have been born: Wilson Conant was born August 5, 1913; Doris Evelyn was born on the 10th of November, 1915, and the last member of the family, Robert Rush was born November 11, 1919.
Mr. Gilmore and his family are members of the Christian church, and fra- ternally he is a Mason, an Elk, a Knight of Pythias, and a Woodman. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the democratic party and has always taken an active part in all political events. In 1902 he ran for the legislature but was defeated because of the fact that his distriet was mostly republican. He is a member of Delta Chi, a college fraternity. Mr. Gilmore has always been among the foremost in any action for the improvement of his community and is a firm believer in education. He taught school for three years, for two years, 1901-02, being principal of the MeCool high school. In the conduct of his law practice he has employed only the highest methods and principles and the position which he now occupies in his community is the result of his own industry and efficiency.
WILLIAM B. HOUSTON
It has been said that the field of opportunity finds its boundaries only in the limitations of the individual, and to the man who believes that there is a chance for every individual and who is willing to take his chance with others there will always come a time when he can take the initial step that will lead on to fortune. This is exemplified in the life story of three members of the Houston family, but is more particularly shown in the case of William B. Houston, with whom this sketch briefly deals. Mr. Houston was born in Buckinghamshire, England, Octo- ber 1, 1869, a son of J. D., and Mary (Ledington) Houston, the former a native of Scotland, born in 1841 and still living at an advanced age, and the latter a native of England, where she was born in 1837 and passed away in 1920.
J. D. Houston married Mary Ledington in England and sometime later immi- grated to America, on arrival going to Wisconsin, thence to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1870. In the latter year he moved to York county and took a homestead which he immediately proceeded to develop and cultivate. His father, Andrew Houston, also acquired a homestead on which he died in 1880, and he may be rightly
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regarded as one of the pioneers of farming in the part of York county in which he lived. After settling on the homestead J. D. Houston lived in a sod house for some time and later decided to build. He hauled the lumber from Seward and built a substantial frame house and from that time his circumstances became more comfortable and prosperous. He is now living retired with his son William B. Houston on the old homestead, enjoying that well earned rest to which his energy and industry fully entitle him. He and his wife had seven children, six of whom are living : James, a farmer, living in York county; William B., subject of this sketch: Andrew, a farmer, in Washington ; Kate, wife of Eugene Bemis: Richard, a farmer, living at Wauneta, Nebraska : George, who died at the age of ten years ; and Jolin, a merchant and farmer, living at Dietrich, Idaho. J. D. Houston and his wife were members of the Episcopal church, in the good works of which he still takes a deep interest. In political affairs he has given the weight of his support to the republican party. During his active life he achieved considerable success, having started in with very little, having found difficulty in securing enough money to pay his passage from England. He is now in his eighty-second year and considering his advanced age is in the possession of good health. He has hosts of friends and wellwishers.
William B. Houston was brought by his parents from England when an infant. lle grew up in the surroundings of his father's homestead and was edu- cated in the schools of York county and here has ever since been living. He began to earn his own living by working on the farm for his father, his keynote has been indefatigable industry and hard work and he has missed no opportunity that would enable him to conduct his agricultural operations along the best scientific lines and approved methods. He is now the owner of a quarter section of well- improved land to which he gives his personal attention and in addition to culti- vation of crops he also raises a good grade of cattle and hogs.
On October, 1, 1903, Mr. Houston was united in marriage to Jeunie Sovereign, a native of York county and a daughter of Milton Sovereign who homesteaded in this county in an early day and now lives in Montana. Mr. and Mrs. Houston are the parents of five children : Helen, attending high school; Brighton, in the public school: Margaret, Milton and David John, at home. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the good works of which they are active participants, as they are in all movements calculated to advance the public welfare. Mr. Houston is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. During his long years of residence in York county he has become widely and favorably known, his many excellent qualities gaining for him many warm friends.
GEORGE M. SPURLOCK
George M. Spurlock, lawyer, successfully practicing at the bar of York where he is accorded an extensive clientage of a most important character, is a native of Nebraska, his birth having oceurred at Plattsmouth. His parents were Burwell and Isabella S. ( Davis) Spurlock, mention of whom is made on other pages of this volume.
George M. Spurlock pursued his early education in the public schools of Cass
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county and afterwards spent three years as a student in the Nebraska State Uni- versity, and in 1892 was graduated from the Law School of DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana. Having thus qualified for the profession he entered upon the practice in Plattsmouth, where he remained until 1905, when he removed to York. In the meantime he served as county judge of Cass county for two terms and made a most capable official on the bench. He was also twice elected to the state legislature, the last time in 1903, and he gave the most thoughtful and earnest consideration to all the vital questions which came up for settlement, and left the impress of his individuality and ability upon the statutes enacted. He has business interests outside of his profession and is a director in the First National Bank and vice president of the First Trust Company.
In March, 1898, Mr. Spurlock was united in marriage to Miss Mary Virginia Smith, who was born in Saline county, Missouri, and they have two children : Woodson, twenty years of age, who was graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute in 1919, and is now a student in the Nebraska State University; and Burwell, ten years of age.
Mr. Spurlock and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a Mason who has taken degrees in both York and Scottish Rites. He is likewise a member of the Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a republican, who has taken a somewhat active part in politics, recognizing the duties and obligations as well as the privileges and opportunities of citizenship. The cause of education has found in him a warm friend and for nine years he served as a member of the school board of York, and is now on the board of trustees of Nebraska Wesleyan University. He has also been active as an officer in the church and was representa- tive at the general conference for four quadrennial periods. He is serving on the library board and is treasurer of Mothers' Jewels' Home. He is interested in all those agencies which make for the amelioration of the hard conditions of the unfortunate, and is a man of kindly sympathies and high ideals. Mrs. Spurlock is a granddaughter of Joseph Huston, late of Marshall, Missouri.
PIERCE HARDIN
Among York county's highly respected citizens is numbered Pierce Hardin, a retired farmer, who is now living in Benedict. Moreover, he has lived in this district forty-three years and during that period has become familiar with every phase of its growth and development, in which he largely participated since his arrival in 1878. He was born in Pennsylvania, September 29, 1850, a son of Solomon and Susan (Uhl) Hardin, also natives of the Keystone state, where Solomon Hardin was a farmer and from whenee he moved to Illinois in 1854. On settling in Illinois he continued his farming operations, presently purchasing a tract of prime land on which he engaged in general farming and stock raising, his efforts being rewarded by a commendable measure of success. Death claimed him at the comparatively early age of forty-four years, while his widow passed the alloted span of three-score and ten. Four of their children are still living: Pieree, the subject of this sketch; W. W., a farmer, of Dixon, Illinois; J. T., a banker, of Beatrice, Nebraska, and A. E., in the wholesale fruit and produce business in
Vol. II-17
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
the state of Washington. Solomon Hardin and his wife were earnest and active members of the Lutheran church, to the upkeep of which they were liberal con- tributors. He voted an independent ticket, believing that discrimination thus exercised was for the best interests of the community.
Pierce Hardin was reared and educated in the schools of his home district in Illinois and helped his father for some years on the farm. In 1878 he came to York county and after looking about for a while purchased a tract of railroad land and presently set to work to improve and develop it. finally bringing the place to a state of excellent cultivation. On that farm he lived for thirty-two years and his labors wrought a marked change in its appearance, for he broke the sod, tilled the fields, and in course of time gathered good harvests, at the same time raising a good grade of cattle. Feeling the need for a rest, and having acquired a competence, he retired from active work in 1910 and moved to Benedict, where he is spending the evening of his life secure in the friendship and esteem of many friends and neighbors who appreciate his worth and services in making this part of Nebraska a better place in which to live.
In 1875 Mr. Hardin was united in marriage to Christina Troutman, a native of Pennsylvania. They became the parents of six children: Avis M., wife of Ed James, a farmer, of York county ; Russell S., a farmer : Irving S., living on the home farm ; Gertrude, wife of Walter O'Brien, a farmer; Chester, who conducts an undertaking establishment in Omaha: and Edwin, who is attending the Midland College at Fremont, Nebraska. Mr. Hardin votes an independent ticket in polit- ical affairs. For years he was identified with the development of the school dis- tricts of the county and served as school director for district 85, his efforts in that connection being rewarded by practical results, and he has been at all times most loyal to any public trust reposed in him. Ile and his wife have guided their lives on Christian principles, being always careful to conform their actions to high standards. In a word they have endeavored to follow the Golden Rule, doing unto others as they would have others do unto them.
COMMODORE N. BEAVER
Among the prominent citizens of York is Commodore N. Beaver, a retired farmer and president of the City National Bank. He was born near Lincoln, Illinois, on the 11th of September, 1862, a son of Michael Il. and Sarah ( Pence) Beaver, the former born in Ohio, while the latter is a native of Illinois. When Michael Beaver was a young man he removed to Illinois and engaged in farming all his life, never moving out of the state. In 1884 he bought some land in York county, unimproved, and at the time of his death owned sixteen hundred acres. He built a house and cultivated this land. In politics he was a stanch member of the democratic party and held several different township offices. Ile was also a con- sistent member of the Baptist church. In the development and improvement of his community he always took an active part and his death in 1895 came as a blow to his many friends. Michael HI. Beaver, the grandfather of Commodore N. Beaver, was a native of Pennsylvania. He later removed to Ohio, became engaged in farming and died in that state, a well-to-do and highly respected man.
COMMODORE N. BEAVER
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
Commodore N. Beaver is one of three children who are still living out of a family of seven. His brother Wilson is a retired farmer residing in Lincoln, Illinois, and he has another brother, Elmer, a retired farmer living in York, Nebraska. In the acquirement of his education Commodore N. Beaver attended the country schools of Illinois and in due time entered the Lincoln University. After putting his text-books aside he began farming and in 1887 came to York county to take charge of his father's farm. Hle soon purchased some land on his own account, steadily enlarging it, and engaged in the stock feeding business. In 1904 he removed to York but continued to conduct his farm until 1919, when he became president of the City National Bank. ITis time is now devoted solely to his banking affairs and he rents the eight hundred acres of land which he owns and which is well improved. In addition to his duties as president of the bank he is a director of the Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Company.
On the 9th of March, 1887, Mr. Beaver was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Sparks, who was born near Lincoln, Illinois, the daughter of Samuel Sparks who is a retired farmer residing at that place. Four children have been born of this union: Sarah W., who is the wife of, Eugene A. Bishop, a teacher in the schools of Logansport, Indiana ; Samuel, J., a farmer who resides with his parents in York: and Michael H., third in order of birth, died January 2, 1916, aged twenty-six year. The oldest child died in infancy.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church and in his political belief Mr. Beaver is a democrat. He Has always taken an active interest in politics and served as a member of the-city council for two terms. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen and the Maccabees. The interest which he takes in his community is indicated by his membership in the Commercial and Rotary Clubs, serving the former as president, and he is also a member of the Country Club. In every enterprise undertaken Mr. Beaver has proved adequate to all demands made upon him and by reason of the mature judgment which characterizes his efforts at all times he stands today as a splendid representative of a prominent banker and retired farmer to whom business is but one phase of life and does not exclude his active participation in and support of the other vital interests which go to make up human existence.
MELVIN G. KOONS
Melvin G. Koons, a grain buyer of extensive experience and one of Thayer's foremost business men and representative citizens, was born in Fulton county, Illinois, April 6, 1862, a son of James and Elizabeth ( Kost) Koons, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Obio. The father lost his life in the service of his country, having been through the Civil war, serving as a member of the Eighty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. While actively engaged with that regiment he became a victim to fever and passed away at the early age of twenty- three years, to the sorrow and regret of his family, friends and comrades in arms.
Deprived of his father Melvin G. Koons was reared by his mother and educated in the country schools of Ipava, Illinois. In making an early choice of an occupa-
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tion he decided to start farming and rented land for a time in his native state. thus laying the foundation of his future success and opening the way for larger undertakings in which he presently embarked. It was in 1880, when he was in his .eighteenth year, that Mr. Koons came to York county and purchased eighty acres of excellent land in Thayer, which he operated on general agricultural lines for the next five years. Convinced that a still larger field offered him opportunity he entered the grain business and worked for G. W. Wirt with whom he remained eighteen months, in that period acquiring a sound knowledge of the grain business, especially of the buying and selling end. He next accepted a position with the Van Wickle Grain & Lumber Company, with whom he remained from 1894 until 1915, during five years of that time being a superintendent of terminal at Couneil Bluffs, Iowa.
In 1916 Mr. Koons returned to Thayer and took over the responsibilities of management for the Farmers Grain Association, and he is still with that company buying all the grain, and also sells coal and flour which the company handles. In 1919 a new elevator was erected under his superintendeney with a capacity of thirty thousand bushels and modern in every respect. The company enjoys a large volume of business, its success being due mainly to Mr. Koons' initiative and to the thorough confidence which the publie reposes in him. In association with his son, Homer J. Koons, he built an elevator in Houston, Nebraska, in 1919, with a capacity of fifteen thousand bushels, and in this business he and his son are equal partners. He is generally regarded as an expert in judging wheat and keeps in the closest touch with the grain markets and has been very successful in his business affairs.
In 1881 Mr. Koons was united in marriage to Frances Miller, a native of Illinois, the marriage being celebrated in that state. To their union four children were born: Iva, widow of Clyde J. Chambers, of Council Bluffs, lowa; Nellie, wife of A. C. Stream, a York county farmer: Homer J., manager of the elevator at Houston, and William, who died at the age of twelve, having met with an accident in the elevator. Mr. Koons holds fraternal affiliation with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and with the Modern Woodmen of America and his wife is a member of the Eastern Star, in both of which popular organizations they evince a keen interest. lle easts his ballot in support of the republican party whose principles accord with his political beliefs. IIe has never been a seeker after public office, preferring to devote all his time to the large business responsibilities which he has assumed and which are growing continuously. He has met these responsibilities with a fidelity which has placed him in the front rank among the best business men of York county and the surrounding district.
CHARLES M. SANDALL
Among the honored early settlers of York county was the the late Charles M. Sandall, who settled here in 1871 and throughout the remainder of his life was actively identified with the interests of this section of Nebraska. Ile was born in Sweden, December 23, 1845, and died November 26, 1917, his passing being the occasion of widespread regret, not alone on account of his long years of residence
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in the county but for the excellent character which he bore and for his honesty of purpose in all his relations with his neighbors and the public at large.
Mr. Sandall accompanied his parents from Sweden to the United States in 1858, and the family on arrival went to New Sweden, Iowa, where his father farmed for some time and later removed to Swedenburg in the same state. Before leaving Sweden he had acquired the rudiments of such education as the schools of his native place afforded and during the years of his young manhood he assisted his father in the operations of the farm, thus laying the foundation of the agricultural skill which in later years proved invaluable when he secured a farm of his own. In 1871 he decided to move to Nebraska and settled in York county, where he took over a homestead, in addition to which he also acted as a collector for a pump manufacturing company. When Mr. Sandall came to York county he had reached his twenty-sixth year, and being then in the prime of his young manhood he pro- ceeded vigorously with the development of the homestead, which he later placed under excellent cultivation. Up to the time of his death he was engaged in general farming and stoek raising, raising a fine strain of pure blooded shorthorn eattle, for which he found a ready market at paying prices. His first home was a sod house with dirt floor, which in time gave way to a well built and comfortable abode, where he and his family were pleasantly situated.
In 1872 Mr. Sandall was united in marriage to Fredricka Anderson, also a native of Sweden, who came to America in 1868 and lived for a time in Cam- bridge, Illinois, going later to Iowa. They became the parents of nine children as follows: Clara, who married F. J. Johnson, professor of music at Muskegon, Michigan ; Silas, a farmer living in York county ; Rebecca, at home ; Oscar, engaged at banking in Snyder, Colorado; Esther, who married Rev. D. N. Anderson, now serving as a pastor at Butte, Montana; Ottillia, deceased, who married C. M. Kull, of Spencer, Nebraska; Ernest, a farmer living in York county; Fred, also a farmer of York county, and Rudolph, at home.
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