USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 29
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On the 24th of June, 1903, Dr. Moore was married to Miss Marion D. Car- penter, a native of Massachusetts and a daughter of W. A. Carpenter, who was a pioneer of York and became manager of the creamery company here. To Dr. and Mrs. Moore have been born three children : Robert H., Marion Ruth and Orville M., aged respectively sixteen, ten and eight years. Mrs. Moore is a member of the Congregational church. Dr. Moore is affiliated with the York Rite bodies of Masonry and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is also connected with the Royal Highlanders, while his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. He takes a decided interest in the Rotary Club of which he was the first president. and cooperates in all those forces which make for the material, intellectual, social
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and moral progress of the community. His career has ever been actuated by advanced standards, and not to know Orville M. Moore in York is to argue one's self unknown.
ROBERT HENDERSON
Among the citizens of York who are living retired after many years of diligently directed and profitable activity in business fields is Robert Henderson, who for a long period was actively engaged in farming in Nebraska but is now enjoying a well earned rest. He was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, January 16, 1850, and is a son of David and Hlelen (Brown) Henderson, both of whom were natives of Scotland, their marriage, however, being celebrated in Liverpool, England. The father was born December 21, 1813, and the mother's birth occurred June 11, 1811. They came to the United States in 1844 and made their way to Rock county, Wis- consin, where the father engaged in business as a carpenter and cabinetmaker. In 1866 he removed with his family to York county, Nebraska, and here secured a homestead claim, erected a hewn log house with one room downstairs and one room upstairs, and spent his remaining days upon this land, and his son John also homesteaded at that time. The land upon which David Henderson settled is now section twenty, Henderson township. He was one of the first settlers when Henderson township was organized and it was named in his honor. There were no settlers in the distriet at that period and the Indians were more numerons than the white men. They would hunt and trap around the homestead and there they endured together the hardships and privations of pioneer life. In his political views Mr. Henderson was a republican and held most strongly to its belief. He occupied various township offices and in an early day filled the position of county commissioner and assessor. Death called him in March, 1890, while his wife survived until September 10, 1893. They were the parents of eight children : John, who died in 1896: Mary, the deceased wife of Daniel George, who was also a homesteader in Henderson township: Jeanette, who is the widow of E. D. Copsey, and lives in York: Agnes, who became the wife of Rollen Shepherd, and died in 1905: Robert : Nellie, who makes her home in York with her brother Robert, and is the widow of W. D. Young who died in 1886, and who was a bridge builder and contractor of this section of the state: Elizabeth, who resides with her brother Robert : and Thomas, who died in infancy. The parents were members of the Presbyterian church and in that faith reared their family.
Robert Henderson obtained his early education in rural schools of Wisconsin. He was reared on the home farm and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He came with the family to Nebraska and when twenty-one years of age homesteaded. He first lived in a dugont on his land and later built a frame honse. lle continued to reside on that farm with his sister until 1909, when he rented the old home place and took up his abode in York. For a long period he had carefully engaged in farming and had brought his fields under a high state of cultivation, making his place a very productive one. Ile is now enjoying a well earned rest. the fruits of his former toils bringing to him all of the comforts and conveniences of life.
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Mr. Henderson is a republican and has held several political offices, having been supervisor of the county for eight years and acted as chairman of the board for several years during that period. He was also elected to the state legislature and through one term was active in framing the laws of the commonwealth. He was also elected county treasurer and filled that position for two terms, at the end of which time he retired and has since taken no active part in political or business affairs.
Mr. Henderson began living in a modest way and passed through all the struggles incidental to the settlement of the frontier and the development of new farms. In the early days game was plentiful and he frequently indulged his love of hunting. Through one winter in young manhood he devoted his time to hunting buffaloes. On one occasion his companion, Will Collins, wounded a buffalo which then started in pursuit of him, but Mr. Henderson shot the animal and thus saved the life of his friend. On another occasion he was hunting with a companion who shot a buffalo but did not kill him. The man's horse stumbled and the buffalo was just ready to kill the hunter when Mr. Henderson's trusty rifle pierced the lungs of the buffalo, and again he was instrumental in saving a life. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. The town of Henderson was named for his father and throughout the intervening period since the arrival of the family in the state, the Hendersons have ever taken active parts in promoting the work of development and improvement. Mr. Henderson was a member of the state legislature when Governor Holcomb occupied the executive office, at which time there were but sixteen republican legislators, the remainder of the assembly- men being populist. Mr. Henderson has at all times borne his part in the work of progress and improvement.
GEORGE HENTON
Many changes have taken place in York county since George HFenton came here, and he is deserving of a place in this volume for having been a pioneer and an honored veteran of the Civil war.
George Henton was born at Logansport, Cass county, Indiana, August 30, 1844. His parents were John Rigney and Mary (McCurry) Henton. The father was a native of Virginia and in young manhood went to Kentucky where he met and married the mother of our subject. In 1830 he went to Cass county, Indiana, when there were but one or two log houses in Logansport. He put in a dam and sawmill, sawed the lumber, made and burned the brick and erected one of the first brick residences in that part of the country. Ile took up land and engaged in agricul- tural pursuits for many years with good success. In 1866 he moved to Platts- month, Nebraska, where his death occurred the next year. The mother survived for many years passing away in 1887. She was a native of North Carolina and tradition says her uncle, Samuel MeCurry, was a teamster in the Revolutionery war and aided in the defeat of Braddock. The paternal grandfather was George Henton, probably a native of England.
George HTenton was the youngest of seven children. He and his sister Ovanda who lives with a daughter at Minatare, Nebraska, are the only members of the
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family now living. Our subject was reared on a farm in his native county and attended the public schools until he was sixteen years of age. Ile then began learning the carpenter trade at which he was employed until President Lincoln called for seventy-five thousand troops in April, 1861, and on the fourth of June George Henton, not yet seventeen years of age, enlisted in Company G, Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years or during the war. The regiment was organized at Indianapolis and three weeks later they went to Virginia and par- ticipated in the battles of Greenbrier and Elk Water, after which they went to Camp Wyckliff, Kentucky. In the spring of 1862 they were among the first troops to arrive at Nashville, Tennessee, and soon after proceeded to Pittsburg Landing, where they arrived just about the time that memorable fight ended. He followed Beauregard's retreating army to Corinth and then was sent back to Louisville in pursuit of General Bragg. When that general turned back across Kentucky the engagement at Berryville took place in which Mr. Henton participated. He then went to Nashville where he was encamped for some time, his next seene of active fighting being at Stone River. Being on detached service Mr. Henton was with the Tenth Indiana Battery during the first day's fighting but was with his own regiment the second day. After this battle they went into camp at Murfreesboro, and shortly afterward were ordered to Chattanooga. He took part in the battle of Missionary Ridge. Of the three hundred and thirty-four men who went into this battle two hundred two were killed or wounded. Of his own company but seven returned to tell the tale. Shortly after this battle an attack of pneumonia made it necessary for Mr. lenton to be sent to the hospital at Nashville, and on his recovery he remained at the barracks at Nashville until the expiration of his termi of enlistment. He was mustered out at Indianapolis, Indiana, June 25. 1864. He returned home and attended school until the spring of 1865, when he again enlisted, this time in the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry. He remained in camp at Indianapolis until the latter part of AApril and was then ordered to Wash- ington, and from there to Alexandria. Virginia, for guard duty, but two weeks later was sent to Dover, Delaware, where he was discharged Angust 4, 1865. Although he saw so much active service and participated in some of the tiercest battles of the war he was never wounded nor captured, although at Missionary Ridge he was knocked down by an exploded shell and came out of the fight with several bullet holes in his clothes.
After the war he returned home and in 1866 accompanied his parents on their removal to Plattsmouth, Nebraska. He worked at the carpenter trade until 1872, when he started for Franklin county, Nebraska, with the intention of taking a homestead. Stopping at York on the way he learned that a claim in this county has been vacated by a Civil war soldier and that it could be had. For fear the former claimant might return Mr. Henton bad about decided not to take it when he learned that another was abont to lay clain to the land. Hastening to Lincoln he filed on the southwest quarter of section 31. Baker township. Returning to Plattsmouth he shipped his household goods to Fairmont and hired a team to hanl a load of lumber to the place he had selected for a home. The land was wholly umimproved and he erected a frame dwelling fourteen feet by fourteen feet. and in this they made their home for six years. Then the house which still stands and which has served all these years was built. For many years Mr. Henton successfully engaged in farming but for some years past has lived retired.
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On October 6, 1868, in Cass county, Nebraska, occurred the marriage of George Henton and Miss Lydia Eikenbary who was born at Burlington, Fowa, May 11, 1844. Her parents were Samuel and Martha (Crawford) Eikenbary the former born in Preble county, Ohio, and the latter in Union county, Indiana. They were early settlers of Cass county, Nebraska, coming there in 1856. Samuel Eikenbary served in the territorial legislature when the capital of the state was Omaha.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Henton has been blessed with the birth of four children, three of whom are living: Frank E. resides in Alberta, Canada: Ethel is the wife of Herbert Harris, a dentist of Auburn, Nebraska; Madge passed away at the age of two and a half years: and George Earl, a physician of Portland. Oregon.
Mr. Henton has been a republican since casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln at his second election. For many years he has maintained pleasant rela- tions with his army comrades by membership in Robert Anderson Post, G. A. R., at York. Mrs. Henton is a member of the Christian church.
It would be impossible to find a more devoted couple than Mr. and Mrs. Henton, who have traveled life's pathway together for more than fifty-two years, and still reside on the old farm where they located forty-eight years ago. Time and fortune have dealt kindly with them and no worthy cause ever seeks their aid in vain. Mr. Henton has been as faithful to duty in days of peace as when he followed the stars and stripes on the battle fields of the south.
JACOB P. REGIER
Jacob P. Regier a well known and enterprising farmer of York county where he operates a splendid farm of one hundred and eighty acres, is a native of Russia, born in that country April 7, 1874, a son of Peter and Kathrine ( Quiring ) Regier, both also of Russian birth. In 1876 they crossed the Atlantic and first located in Minnesota, remained in that state for a short time and then migrated to Nebraska and settled on a farm. Some years later the family went to Oklahoma and there the father passed away and the mother is still living, being well advanced in years. To their marriage twelve children were born, six of whom are living.
Jacob P. Regier was reared in Nebraska and attended the common schools of the state. He grew to manhood with the usual advantages of a boy of that period and after he had attained his majority started on his career as a farmer and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since with good results, becoming one of the well-to-do men of his community. He has a well kept and highly improved holding of one hundred and eighty acres devoted to general farming and stock raising, and he ranks as one of the progressive farmers of the district. His place is located on section 20, Brown township, and he has been utilizing modern ma- chinery and skilled methods in the operation of his holdings, which is now one of the most valuable farm properties in the district.
In 1897 Mr. Regier was united in marriage to Miss Kathrine Goertzen, a native of Ilamilton county, Nebraska, and a daughter of Isaac and Agnes Goertzen, both born in Russia and came to America in the early 20's the father dying some years later while the mother is still living aged seventy. Mr. and Mrs. Regier have
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become the parents of five children: Kathrine, the wife of John D. Quiring. a farmer, of York county : Agnes, living at home : Jacob E .: Daniel E. and Heinrich E. The Regier family are members of the Mennonite church and take an active part in all church work. He supports the republican party and has served his district on the school board. Mr. Regier enjoys an enviable reputation as a self- made man whose success is the merited reward of his unremitting industry and sound business judgment.
GEORGE W. FRANCE
George W. France, attorney at York, is a native of that place having been born there on the 10th of April, 1879. Ilis father was George B. France who was prominent among the lawmakers of the county. The death of the senior Mr. France occurred on the 16th of August, 1914, after a life of unselfish devotion to service of the public and to his home and family. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born in that state January 10, 1837, and was over seventy-seven years of age at the time of his death. Mr. France was reared on a farm and was enrolled at Oberlin College in 1861, when the Civil war interrupted his studies. On the 15th of August, 1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-first Indiana Battery and participated in several battles. One year after his enlistment he was seriously wounded by an accidental explosion of powder, and was discharged, returning to Oberlin College. where he graduated with honor in 1867. Immediately after his graduation he entered the law department of the University of Michigan and was graduated therefrom a year later. In 1869 he came to Nebraska and opened a law office at Milford, which was then the county seat of Seward county. In the same year he was elected to the office of county superintendent of Seward county, then embracing the territory which was organized into York county in 1870. For six year he held the position of superintendent of schools, at the expiration of that period removing to York. In 1874 he had married Miss Edith Courtright of Milford and they inade their home in York until Mr. France's death. In 1879 and 1880 Mr France was mayor of York and served the public to the entire satisfaction of all. In 1879 he formed a partnership with S. II. Sedgwick, at one time judge of the supreme court of the state, under the firm name of France & Sedgwick, and subsequently formed a partnership with N. V. Harlan, the firm name being France & Harlan. When his son, George W. France, was admitted to the bar he took him into partnership and the firm became France & France. For many years George B. France enjoyed a large practice and was widely known throughout the state as a criminal lawyer. He was a thirty-third degree Mason and stood high in that ancient order, and was grand master of the state at one time. He was reared in the faith of the Christian church, but while attending Oberlin College he embraced the Congregational faith. In the death of Mr. France the community suffered a great loss, for he was a kind and faithful friend and a good and active citizen.
George W. France, following in his father's footsteps, decided to make law his life work, and after graduating from the University of Nebraska in 1903, he began practice with his father and continued in this connection until the death of the former. He is now practicing alone and has built up a large clientage, gaining
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for himself the reputation and respect enjoyed by his father. In the conduct of criminal cases he is proving his ability, for he was lawyer for the defense iu the latest murder trial in York county, the second ease of that kind ever brought up in the county.
On the 23rd of June, 1903, Mr. France was united in marriage to Miss Jane M. Morrow who is a native of Iowa. Three children have been born to this union, namely : Grace Edith, aged ten years; Jane Winnifred, aged eight years, and Mary Elizabeth, deceased. The family are members of the Congregational church and prominent in all activities of that organization. Mr. France is a Royal Areh Mason and a member of the Elks, being past exalted ruler. He is also a member of the York Country Club. In polities he is a stanch supporter of the republican party but has never been very active. In addition to his professional duties he takes much interest in his farm and in the civic improvements of his community and is a citizen of whom York has a right to feel prond.
RAY COOMBS
Ray Coombs, who follows farming in York county is a representative business man whose wise use of time and opportunities has gained for him a place among the prosperous agriculturists of this part of the state. He was born in York county, May, 9, 1880, a son of John and Elizabeth ( Keckley) Coombs, the former born in England, and came to the United States in the early 70's, and the latter a daughter of William Keckley who was an early settler in York county. The mother is now residing in Portland, Oregon.
When John Coombs came from England and made Nebraska his destination, eventually coming to York county, this part of the state was sparsely settled and was in a primitive condition. He took a homestead of eighty acres in Thayer township, where he was one of the first to settle, and immediately proceeded to get his place in order. It was all raw land without any improvements and his first house and also his first barns were of sod construction. There were no local facilities for the purchase of household commodities and other requirements, and everything had to be hauled from Seward. Later he bought another place south of Benedict and adjoining that town, but during the grasshopper visitation all the growing erops on the holling were destroyed. However, he set to work to retrieve his fortunes and at last had the satisfaction of having his labors rewarded in the enjoyment of a secure competence. He died in 1910, being then in his sixtieth year. He was the father of three children: Margaret, wife of John Welch, of Portland, Oregon; May, who married James Marks of Montana; and Ray the subjeet of this sketch.
Ray Coombs acquired an education in the district sehools near his father's farm and through the period of his boyhood and youth aided in the work of the fields, early becoming familiar with the arduous tasks incident to the development and cultivation of the erops. He started farming on the place on which he now resides and since it has come into his possession has improved and increased its earning power to a very appreciable extent. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising and feeds live stock for the market, in the latter line being very successful.
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Hle started buying and shipping live stock at Benedict and devotes all of his time to the farm and to his stock, his steady application in this connection placing him in the front rank among the leading agrienlturists of the township. His methods are most progressive, his business affairs are systematically handled and in all things he displays sound judgment as well as unfaltering enterprise.
In 1906 Mr. Coombs was united in marriage to Mabel Ready. a native of linois. and to this union six children have been born : Vernon, deceased ; Cheryl, Edith, Marion, Alden and Roland, all of whom live with their parents. Mrs. Coombs is a member of the Unitarian church and of the Order of Rebekah, while in the social affairs of her community she takes a practical part. Mr. Coombs is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Elks, giving considerable attention to the interests of these popular organizations. In politics his leanings are toward the republican party but he exercises the right to vote independently where he feels that party lines are not of as great importance as the necessities of the hour. lle and his wife have an extensive circle of friends throughout the locality and are widely recognized as people of genuine personal worth.
A. FRED ROBSON
Prominent among the most alert and progressive farmers of York county is A. Fred Robson who is the owner of extensive and valuable hollings in Thayer, his entire land interests amounting to seven hundred and twenty acres. He was born in the City of Lincoln, England, January 2. 1848, and was educated in the schools of that city. When he was fourteen years old he began working at the machinist's trade, for the first year his wages being one dollar a week, and for each successive year of his seven years' apprenticeship he received a small automatic advance, this being the trade custom at that time in England. He then worked as a journeyman at his trade for one year. during this period saving enough money to enable him to pay his passage to America.
In 1870, being then in his twenty-second year, Mr. Robson immigrated to this country and landed at Portland. Maine, going thence to Omaha where he worked on the construction of the Omaha bridge across the Missouri river for about two years. He then turned his attention to farming and in the spring of 1822 came to York county and took a homestead of eighty acres in Thayer township and is still residing on his original holding. He erected a small frame house and began to break the ground, remaining, however, but a short time. He returned to Omaha and operated a steam shovel during the summer and then went back to the homestead and resumed farm work. From the very beginning of his life as a farmer Mr. Robson prospered in all his undertakings and as he went along added to his land interests until he finally became the owner of seven hundred and twenty acres of prime land on which he erected a fine set of buildings. His chief line of activity on the farm apart from the cultivation of general erops was the raising of Shorthorn cattle. He has been actuated by a spirit of progressiveness in all he has accomplished and there have been but few leisure hours in his life, which has been one continuous round of energy and industry, these factors being largely responsible for his success.
MR. AND MRS. A. FRED ROBSON
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIB BRY
ASTOR. LEN ARD TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
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On January 4, 1878, Mr. Robson was united in marriage to Miss Frances A. Porter, a native of Bristol, England, who came to America with her mother, her brother William and her sisters Ency and Sarah, in the summer of 1872, being then thirteen years old. They settled on a homestead in Thayer town- ship, York county, and there the family erected a frame house, in which they lived for some years. The mother later returned to England, where she is now living at the age of eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Robson became the parents of the following children: Augustus, who lives in Montana; Vinnie, the wife of Harry IInstead, of Omaha ; Edith, the wife of Christian Farley, of Thayer township; Annie, who died in her twenty-sixth year; William, who lives in Kim- ball, Nebraska; Roy, who passed away at thirteen years of age; Evylin, the wife of Rolla Mace, living in Nebraska; John, who resides in Thayer township; Herman, also in Thayer township; Rhoda, the wife of Glen Warner, of Polk county, Nebraska, and Mary and Albert, living at home. Mrs. Robson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while her activities in community affairs during her long residence in the county have endeared her to a wide cirele of friends by whom she is held in the highest esteem. Mr. Robson has for years given attention to public affairs and has served as school director and treasurer of his school district, his interest in the cause of education being a valuable factor in promoting the welfare of the schools in Thayer township.
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