USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 35
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In 1920 the company which Mr. Brott represents saw fit to appoint him as their agent to place money on farm mortages, in his territory.
JAMES D. HOUSTON
Since 1917 James D. Houston, who was for many years a prominent farmer and stock raiser in York county, has resided in his home at 708 Burlington avenue, York. Mr. Houston is of Scotch descent having been born in Scotland on the 20th of June, 1841, a son of Andrew and Emily ( Ritchie) Houston, both natives of Scotland. In 1870 Andrew Houston and his family removed from their native country to the United States, locating in Columbia county, Wisconsin, where they resided until 1871, when they came to York county, settling in the Thayer precinct. There Mr. Houston homesteaded eighty aeres, putting up a frame house the lumber for which was hauled from Lincoln. The father was getting too old to engage in active farming and in 1880 both he and his wife passed away. their deaths occurring within two weeks of each other. They had been caught in a sand storm some time previous and the dust settling on their lungs was the cause of their deaths. Andrew Houston was a very prominent man in his community and was one of the first county commissioners of York county. Needless to say a feeling of deep bereavement swept the community at his death.
James D. Houston was twenty-nine years of age when his parents removed to this county and upon his arrival here he also homesteaded eighty acres, engaging in farming on his own account. He broke his own land and the first frame house he erected upon his land was the second largest house of its kind in the county. The wood for his fuel he got from Lincoln creek, and he hauled his provisions from Seward and Fairmont. During the Easter blizzard of 1873 he was snowed in for three days and after the storm subsided it was necessary for him to dig his way out to his barn. During the grasshopper storms he managed to save some wheat, and it was not long before he was making a success in his agricultural , pursuits. Ile began to increase his acreage and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land for which he paid five dollars an acre, with a ten-years limit in which to pay the total amount. He later bought eighty aeres for which he paid ten dollars an acre and he was soon recognized as one of the most successful and progressive farmers in the county. At one time he owned four hundred acres of finely improved land and had two sets of improvements on this land. Ile suffered loss during the droughts of '93. '94. and '95, but he soon recovered. When his son James became of age and wished to engage in farming Mr. Houston gave to him one hundred and sixty acres and to his son William one hundred and twenty aeres.
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In 1917 Mr. Houston decided to retire from active farm life and he removed to York and is now residing in his home at 708 Burlington avenue.
The marriage of Mr. Houston occurred in England. His wife was Mary Liding- ton, a native of that country whose death occurred in 1920, at the age of eighty- three years. Seven children were born to this union : James, a native of England. who is now farming in York county : William, whose birth occurred in England and who is engaged in farming in York county ; Andrew, who was the first child to be baptized in York county by Rev. Mr. Morgan, and who is now engaged in dairy farming in Washington : Ritchie, farming in Colorado ; George, whose death occurred in 1880; Kittie, the wife of Eugene Bemis of York; and John E. who is engaged in the mercantile business as well as farming in Idaho.
For eight years Mr. Houston has served on the county board and was chair- man of this board for one year. He likewise served as county assessor two terms. The religious faith of Mr. Houston is that of the Episcopal church of which organization he is a consistant member.
Two sisters of Mr. Houston came to York county with him. Mary Ann died in this county some years ago and Effie who was the wife of John Eatherly, is also deceased. Mrs. Eatherly owned and built a house on the west side of the square where the public market now stands, the front of which she used for a millinery store. The Houston family have played an important part in the development of York county. Mr. Houston has seen the country grow from a wild and uncultivated state into one having many large and busy communities and comfortable homes. He has led a life of diligence and industry and as the result of this close application to his agricultural affairs has become one of the most prosperous and highly respected men of his district.
WILLIAM L. WHITE
William L. White, an insurance man of York, was born in Connecticut August 1, 1859, and was an adopted son of Edward R. and Elmira C. (Franklin) White, both natives of Connecticut. The parents died when William L. White was but two years of age and he was adopted by his father's people, Edward R. and Elmira C. (Franklin) White, and removed with them to Illinois about 1867. His father by adoption was a prosperous farmer and cattle-man and the family were members of the Presbyterian church.
William L. White received his education in the public schools of Illinois, working on the farm in his spare time. He continued work on the farm until he reached the age of twenty-one years at which time he removed to York county and settled in York. He obtained a clerkship in a store and remained there for four years, at the termination of which time he went to Waco, bought an interest in the Farmers & Traders State Bank and remained there for thirteen years. Tiring of the banking business he sold his interest and returned to York where he took up insurance as his vocation. While in Waco he had written some insurance in the bank and so had had some practical experience in this venture. In a short time he had built up a large patronage and his business is steadily growing.
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llis time is devoted to his business and he has twenty-six companies and the strongest fire insurance agency in the state.
In 1888 Mr. White was united in marriage to Miss Laurah B. Nally, a native of Lafayette. Indiana. The mother of Mrs. White came to York county about 1881 and bought a half section of land near Waco. Hler death occurred at the home of Mr. and Mrs. White in York in 1909. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. White four children have been born, namely: Edward, who has been special state agent of the Home Insurance Company for the last six or seven years: Agnes M., at home: D. G., who has been in the navy for twelve years and was chief commissary steward on a transport traveling back and forth to France during the World war; and Hubert L., who has charge of the clothing department of the Middlebrooker Department Store. Both Edward and Hubert L. were in the service of the United States during the World war, the former having been in training camp in Arkansas and had just received his lieutenant's commission when the armistice was signed ; and the latter was in the quartermaster's department and served in France for one year,
Politically Mr. White is a republican and has served on the York city council and the school board at Waco. Hle and his wife are members of the United Brethren church, which organization he serves as treasurer, Fraternally Mr. White is connected with the Masons and has obtained high rank in the order, belonging to the Knight Templar commandery and the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Benovolent Protective Order of Elks and has held every chair with the exception of exalted ruler. He has always employed fair and honorable methods in his dealings and as a result has won the confidence and respect of his fellowmen.
GEORGE HAYWORTH
George Hayworth, now living retired at McCool Junetion, was born in Davis county, North Carolina, April 14, 1846, the son of Riley and Priscilla (Chambers) Hayworth of North Carolina. His father spent some years farming in Virginia and Appanoose county, lowa, and later in Indiana where he remained but a short time, returning to lowa, where he passed away in 1895. The mother died in Indiana,
The boyhood of George Hayworth was spent on his father's farm, and when he grew to manhood he enlisted with Company G of the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry and served in outpost duty in the vicinity of Bridge- port, Alabama, for one hundred days, when he was discharged. He re-enlisted with Company E of the Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving until the end of the war. lle took part in the battles around Petersburg and on April ninth, the day General Lee surrendered, he was captured and was a prisoner for one day. After the war was over Mr. Hayworth sought a quiet and peaceful life. so he engaged in agricultural pursuits in lowa. In August, 1821. he made a trip to York county, Nebraska, and was so well pleased with the prospects in that com- munity that he moved there in the fall of that year with his wife and two children, coming by horse team with very little household goods in a wagon. He traded the horses for a yoke of oxen because they were easier to feed, as they could work with the native prairie grass as feed. Horses had to have grain. During the
GEORGE HAYWORTH AND FAMILY
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
hardships of the memorable winter of 1871-2 they lived in a dugout on Indian Creek, and in the spring of that year took a soldier's homestead claim in the loea- tion known as the McFadden precinet. Here he broke forty acres of rough land the first year and raised enough corn to feed the stock. Their home was a fourteen by fourteen sod house, and their beds consisted of ash poles driven in the walls and bound around by rope. A great deal of labor and perseverance were required to accomplish anything in those days, for the ox teams were slow and the journey to Fairmont or Crete to market and to Beaver Crossing to mill required more than a day.
On December 17, 1867, he was married to Mary Ford, who was born in Indiana, the daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Jordan) Ford, natives of Pennsyl- vania and Kentucky, respectively. To this union have been born twelve children : Louis S., of Frontier county, Nebraska, who has six children; Lney E., the wife of Grant Spray, who resides in Colorado, and is the mother of five children; Missouri, the wife of Jeff Stoker of York, Nebraska, who has five children ; Flora, who is married to Court Glen, resides in York, Nebraska, and is the mother of four children ; George and Charles who have passed away; Frances P., the wife of Frank Johnson, who has five children: Jacob; Alice, who is married to Ervin Waldren, resides in Phelps county, Nebraska, and has seven children: Amelia, who is married to Leon Waldren of York county and is the mother of five children ; Thomas, who lives in Lincoln county, Nebraska, and has two children ; and Mary, who passed away.
Mr. Hayworth is a member of the John Brown Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Exeter, Nebraska, and in politics is a republican. He always mani- fests an interest in the affairs of the community and for seven years has been a member of the school board. Mr. Hayworth still gives his attention to the fences and repairs on his two hundred and forty acre farm, but for the most part his time is spent in his comfortable home in MeCool Junetion where he and his wife reside. He is never negligent in the duties of citizenship but has always supported measures that have had to do with the upbuilding of his community, and has wisely directed his individual affairs, so that he is ranked with the snc- cessful men of the county.
HENRY W. BROTT
A spirit of energy and enterprise has actuated Henry W. Brott at every point in his business career and gained for him prominence in the real estate and insur- ance circles of York. He was born in Appanoose county, Iowa, on the 17th of March, 1861, the son of George and Sarilda (Delay) Brott, both natives of Ohio. They removed to Iowa in their early childhood with their parents. George Brott owned a small eighty-acre farm in that state and engaged in its cultivation prior to the Civil war. On the outbreak of the war he enlisted and met his death at the battle of Marker Mill in Arkansas. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a republican in politics. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brott three children were born, namely: Rosetta E., who married J. W. Townsend of York who retired from active business life in 1914, but had for twenty-five years engaged
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in the mercantile business in Blockton ; Henry W., the subject of this review; and George Wesley, a farmer residing near Reading, Iowa.
Henry W. Brott was reared by his maternal grandfather. Henry Delay, who was a local preacher of the Methodist church. Mr. Delay had charge of a church and Sunday school for many years of his life, and when he left his charge and re- moved to town the church and Sunday school soon faded into oblivion. Mr. Delay had been nearly blind for several years prior to his death which occurred at the advanced age of eighty years. Although he had never had a day in school Mr. Delay was particularly quick in mathematics and when anyone would state a propo- sition he could solve it without paper or pencil. It was amid such surroundings that Henry W. Brott spent his childhood, receiving the educational advantages offered in the country schools of the state. He was ever ambitions to increase his knowledge and this he did by reading and studying in his spare time. Until he was twenty-four years of age Henry Brott followed farming, and then learning the mason's trade he came to York in 1887 and began to contract in brick and plaster. In this venture he was so snecessful that he saved enough to build a home. This home he traded for a farm situated five miles from the town. For ten months he kept this farm, making over two thousand dollars out of the investment. and then returned to York where he bought another home. The success which he enjoyed from his first trade was perhaps the stepping stone to his present business, for since that time he has been buying and selling on an ever increasing scale. In 1900 he was elected sheriff of York county, in which office he proved so efficient that he was reelected to the office in 1902. In connection with his general real estate business he has done some immigration land work, and has sold much land in Brown county, South Dakota. His entire time is devoted to his business and he has built up a large trade because of his fair and honorable dealings. Mr. Brott has been through the hard school of experience and is in every sense of the word a self-made man. When he started out in the business world he had practically nothing and today he is worth over one hundred thousand dollars He owns land in Brown county, South Dakota, some business buildings in York as well as residence property, and also owns a fine piece of business property in Scottsbluff.
In 1885 Mr. Brott was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Sarver, a daughter of Jacob Sarver, who at one time had charge of the state poor farm in Kansas. It was while holding this position that he met and married his wife. He came to York county in the eighties, and his death occurred in April, 1893. After his death the widow made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Brott until she passed away in April, 1920. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brott four children have been born: Elsie. the wife of George 1. Downey, a real estate dealer and insurance man of Scottsbluff : Raymond, who for ten years was connected with the American State Bank of York. five years of the time holding the position of assistant cashier, and who is now district agent for the Franklin Life Insurance Company of Springfield, Illinois. having charge of many sub-agencies : Edith, who is at home : and Marjorie, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Brott are faithful members of the Congregational church, and he is a Master Mason and a Royal Arch Mason. He has been a member of that fraternity for thirty-five years. Since age conferred upon Mr. Brott the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party and the principles for which it stands. He has held the office of alderman of York and was a member of the school board for a number of years. Ile is a director in the American State Bank
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and assisted in organizing the York Investment Company. He has always taken an active part in the development of York and York county and has given unselfishly of his time and money in the raising of funds to support various charities. He is a member of the Commercial Club and the Country Club and is an ardent devotee of all outdoor sports, particularly of golf, in which he excels.
JEROME C. MCKINLEY, M. D.
For fourteen years Jerome C. MeKinley has been residing in York county and in this time has built up an enviable reputation as a physician and surgeon. He is a native son of Ohio, born in that state on the 10th of October, 1861. in Fairfield county. His parents were James and Effie (Courtright) MeKinley, the former born in Scotland, while the latter was a native of Fairfield county, Ohio. James McKinley came to Ohio with his parents when he was quite young and here he met and married his wife. He engaged for many years in farming but enjoyed a few years of retirement in Lithopolis. His death occurred at the age of sixty-nine years and Mrs. McKinley was called to another life at the age of forty-two years. Ten children were born to this union, four of whom are living: Mrs. Maggie Glick who is a widow and resides in Lithopolis: J. Andrew, a retired cattle-man of Columbus, Ohio; J. F., a druggist of Leigh, Nebraska ; and Jerome ( .. the subject of this review. Mr. MeKinley was always a stanch supporter of the democratic party, and both he and his wife were active in the Presbyterian church.
In the acquirement of his education Dr. Mckinley attended Central College near Columbus and Pleasantville, and in 1884 came to Dodge county where for one year he was engaged in teaching school. He then taught for two years in Colfax county and for three years in Dodge county, at the termination of which period of time he entered the medical college at Lonisville, Kentucky, from which institution he was graduated in 1891. He immediately began the practice of his profession at Leigh, and after seven years removed to Humphrey where he practiced successfully for eight years. On the 1st of August. 1906, he came to York and here he has since resided, having a very prosperous and steadily in- creasing practice.
In 1888 Dr. MeKinley was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Westfall. who was a daughter of D. C. Westfall. Mr. Westfall resided on a homestead in Dodge county for a number of years, but in later life he and his wife removed to Dr. McKinley's home where they died. To the union of Dr. and Mrs. McKinley four children have been born, two girls and two boys, namely: Effie L., the wife of Walter Bernd, secretary of the Wholesalers Association of Omaha ; Alfretta Susan, the wife of George N. Gibbs, an attorney at North Platte; Cloyde Edwin of York, who travels for Armour & Company; and Harold Courtright, who is completing his last year at the University of Nebraska and is a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Dr. and Mrs. McKinley are members of the Congregational church and take an active part in all the various activities connected with that organization. He is a member of the democratic party and fraternally is a Mason and an Elk. For one year he has served the county as county health officer and has been county
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physician for three years. In connection with his professional duties Dr. MeKinley is a member of the County, State, and American Medical Associations and has held the office of president of the county association. In order to keep abreast with the strides ever being made in the medical world Dr. MeKinley has taken three post-graduate courses at the medical college in Chicago and has also attended different clinics. Throughout York county he is known as a physician and surgeon of mueh ability, and although his practice is mostly a general one he makes the diseases of children a specialty.
MARCUS E. PLANK
Mareus E. Plank is now living retired in Bradshaw, but for a long period was actively identified with farming interests in this section of the state and through close application and unremitting energy won a substantial measure of success. He was born February 18, 1851, in Fulton county, New York, on a farm near Johnstown and the following year his parents moved to DeKalb county, Illinois, where he was reared on a farm. IIe began his educational course in the common schools of that state and finished in the high schools, retiring from school well equipped with the essentials of a sound education. He remained in the family home helping in the work of the farm until he was twenty-two years old, when he began to work out on farms by the month and continued this for three years, although wages at that period were not very tempting. When he was twenty-five he returned to New York state and for five years taught school during the winter and summer terms, between times working on a farm. Mr. Plank was conductor on a street car in 1873-74.
On November 28, 1878, Mr. Plank was united in marriage to Ida Shaffer, a native of New York state who was educated in the public schools of that state. For some years before her marriage she taught school. the system at that time being to board around with the families whose children were being taught. Mr. Plank taught school for one term after his marriage and then turned his attention to farming in New York state where he remained for a while and later returned to DeKalb county, Illinois, where he resumed farming on his father's place and cultivated that holding until March, 1887. Mr. Plank then came to York county and purchased two hundred aeres of land for which he paid five thousand dollars. When he moved onto the farm there was a small frame house and a small barn already erected and after a time these were discarded and substantial buildings substituted, the improvements consisting of a modern house and outbuildings in keeping with the demands of the times. From the date of settling down to the work of his farm his efforts were erowned with a well deserved measure of success. He applied himself to general farming and to the breeding of registered Shorthorn cattle and registered Poland China hogs, his produce in these lines netting him handsome returns. Industry and perseverance, guided by keen intelligence, have been the basis of his success, and he can look back over the past without regret. In 1911 Mr. Plank felt that he had earned a rest from the strenuous life and he bought a home in Bradshaw where he has since been living retired surrounded by every comfort and convenience, rewards to which his years of toil fully entitle him.
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To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Plank two children were born: Neal, born in Simmonsville, New York, January 8, 1880, and now in Montana where he practices as a veterinary surgeon. He was a graduate of Kansas City Veterinary College and during the World war he was stoek inspector for the American government and so continues; Nancy, the second child, became the wife of Carl E. Nicholson and is living on the old home place. They are the parents of three children: Irene, born July 20, 1909; Madeline, born October 27, 1916; and Neil Edward, born November 26, 1920. In politics Mr. Plank gives his support to the democratic party and holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in the Modern Woodmen of America. At the presidential election of 1920 Mrs. Plank cast her first vote for the candidate of her choice and appreciates the duties which the franchise confers upon women. She is an earnest member of the Christian church of Bradshaw, and like her husband enjoys the respect and good will of those with whom she has been brought in contact.
CASPER GEORGE THAMER
Casper George Thamer is now living retired in York. For many years he was closely connected with agricultural interests and through the careful condnet of his business affairs acquired a competence that now enables him to rest in large degree from business cares and labors. Ile was born in Kurhessen Castle, Germany, on the 27th of April, 1836, a son of John and Catherine (Goembel) Thamer. The father was a weaver by trade.
Casper G. Thamer learned the weaver's trade from his father and in 1856 came to Canada, settling in Waterloo. The trip to America was made in an old sailing vessel and seven weeks were passed in the crossing. For some time in the old country he engaged in damask weaving. In 1859 he went to Illinois, settling in Peoria. He there engaged in farming, working out among the various farmers, his wages being but ten dollars a month. Subsequently he removed to Tazewell county where he worked on a farm until the outbreak of the Civil war when he enlisted in Co. B, Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years and two months. During his entire service Mr. Thamer never had a furlough. He was on duty on the Mississippi, participated in the battle of Corinth where he lost a number of comrades, and was in the many engagements taking place around the Red river. He was wounded in the wrist at the battle of Lake Shico and received his discharge in October, 1864, at Springfield. He remained in that state where he rented land on which he raised hogs, selling them for two dollars per hundred. While living in Illinois his marriage occurred and he continued to farm as a tenant in that state for nineteen years. In 1883 he removed to Nebraska and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lockridge township for the sum of twenty-five dollars per acre, also including the crop for that year. The only improvements on the place were a frame house and a slab barn. He immediately set about to put the land in high cultivation and some time later purchased another one hundred and sixty acre tract. He is now in possession of a half section of the finest land in the county. Ile set out an orchard on his place but it was destroyed by hail storms. He then devoted his time to general
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