USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 46
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Throughout his life Mr. Thompson was a stanch supporter of the republican party and fraternally was affiliated with the Woodmen. He was likewise a member of the Congregational church and his widow is still prominent in the various church activities. For one year Mrs. Thompson remained on the farm after her husband's death. At the end of that time, however, she removed to York and purchased her present home at 802 East Fifth street. During the World war Mrs. Thompson took a prominent part in the various activities of the community and her son Floyd entered into service in the fall of 1912. His branch of service was the aviation and he was stationed at both Kelly and Wright Fields. The armistice was signed before he got across and he was discharged at Montgomery, Alabama, in March, 1919.
OLIN HITCHCOCK
Among the prominent citizens of York county is Olin Hitcheoek, junior part- ner in the undertaking firm of Metz & Hitchcock. He is a native of Shoals, Indiana, having been born in that place. May 15. 1882, a son of James F. and Dora (Beaver) Hitchcock. The father was born in Canton, Ohio, on the 15th of Febru- ary, 1850, while the mother was born in Indiana. December 22. 1853. In their early lite they went to Indiana where they met and were married. For some time Mr. Hitchcock engaged in farming in Martin county, Indiana, but in 1882 removed to York county where he purchased some railroad land. For thirty years he resided on this land and in 1910, desiring to retire from any kind of active life, he removed to York and here they are still living, respected and prominent citizens. On the last farm owned by Mr. Hitchcock many improvements were made and a
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modern home erected, having electric lights, steam heat and other comforts of the city home. He did not sell this place until 1915. Seven children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock, five of whom are living, namely: Olin, the subject of this review; R. C., a traveling salesman residing in Kansas City, Nebraska: Dwight, who is with the Pacific Electric Railway Company of Los Angeles ; Mrs. Wayne Soper, whose husband is principal of schools at Eagle; and Gladys, who is teaching school in York. Mr. Hitchcock is a consistent member of the United Brethren church, as is also his wife, and he is a member of the democratic party.
In the acquirement of his education Olin Hitchcock attended the public schools of York and in due time entered York college. His initial step into the business world was in 1913 when he entered the undertaking business. To prepare himself for this work he entered the Worsham School of embalming in Chicago and became familiar with every detail. In 1914 he sold out his business and entered into partnership with Mr. Metz. They have the only undertaking business in York.
On the 22nd of September, 1904, Mr. Hitchcock was married to Miss Edith M. Montsmith, who is a native of York county. Her father was Henry Montsmith, one of York county's earliest pioneers. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock two children have been born, namely: Helen V. who is eight years of age; and Ree Maribel, aged four months.
Sinee age conferred upon Mr. Hitchcock the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratie party and the principles for which it stands. He served York county as coroner for two years, from 1914-1916. When elected to this office he carried the county by three hundred votes which well demonstrated his popularity, for normally there was a republican majority of seven hundred or eight hundred. Fraternally he is a member of the Elks; Knights of Pythias; Royal Highlanders; and Odd Fellows. He and his family are members of the United Brethren church in which they take an active part and Mr. Hitchcock is regarded as a leading and progressive citizen of the community.
DIETRICH D. EPP
Dietrich D. Epp, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in Henderson township, York county, was born on the 10th of June, 1884, in this county, his father being Heinrich Il. Epp, who is mentioned at length on another page of this work. The son spent his youthful days under the parental roof and at the usual age began his education in the public schools, while later he spent one term as a student in a college at Newton, Kansas. During vacation periods he worked in the fields and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He continued at home until he had attained his majority and then began farming on his own account, taking up the work of eulti- vating the place upon which he now resides on section 14, Henderson township. As the years have passed he has become the owner of a valuable property, having today three hundred and twenty acres of finely improved land. Ile follows the most progressive methods in the cultivation of his fields and the care of his crops
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and is aecounted one of the representative and enterprising business men of his community.
In 1907 Mr. Epp was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Epp, who, though of the same name was not a relative. To them have been born five children : Elbert E., born April 2, 1908: W. H., born February 3, 1910: Edward H., born March 10, 1913: Arthur R., born December 5, 1915 ; and Elsie M., born October 30, 1918.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Epp are members of the Bethesda church of Henderson and are loyal followers of its teachings, while to its support they make generous contribu- tion. In polities Mr. Epp is a republican and is now serving as supervisor of Henderson township. He has also filled the office of township assessor for four years and at the present time is acting as school treasurer of his district. He started out in life without financial assistance and by industry and energy has steadily worked his way upward, overcoming all difficulties and obstacles in his path and winning a place among the prosperous farmers of his section of the state.
EDWARD D. COPSEY
Edward D. Copsey, deceased, was for many years a prominent farmer of York county, and his death which occurred on the 8th of August, 1917, came as a great shoek to his friends. He was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1841, the son of John and Mary (Talbott) Copsey, both of whom were natives of England. They removed to Wisconsin before the outbreak of the Civil war and there engaged in farming. Edward Copsey, was one of their seventeen children, fourteen of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. While a boy he attended the country schools in Wisconsin receiving such education as these facilities offered.
On the outbreak of the Civil war, Edward Copsey enlisted with the Eighth Wisconsin Regiment, which was famous as the eagle regimeut. At the completion of this term of enlistment, he joined a New York regiment. During the four years of the war he was engaged in active service and participated in many important battles, among them being Vicksburg, Inka and Corinth. On receiving his discharge at the close of the war Mr. Copsey returned to Wisconsin but soon turned his face westward. He arrived in York county in 1867, securing a homestead upon which he built a log house. After spending about a year on this claim he became homesick for Wisconsin and returned to that state. In 1820, however, he again made the long trip by wagon back to York county, enlarging his farm by purchasing railroad land. He was successful in the cultivation of his land and after a few years built a frame honse. During the early days of pioneering supplies were hauled from Nebraska City, a distance of about one hundred and twenty miles. In 1820 the Burlington and Missouri Railroad was built through Sutton, which furnished a market only eleven miles away. There were numerous Indians in the country in the early days, for the most part inelined to be friendly. At one time three thousand of them accompanied by a white man passed the homestead. However, the community soon became settled and civilized and after twenty-five years of hard though successful work on the farm, Mr. and Mrs. Copsey retired to York, where his death occurred. In October, 1867, Mr. Copsey was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Henderson, a daughter of David and Helen (Brown) Henderson, both natives of Scotland.
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Mrs. Copsey is a sister of Robert Henderson, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. To this union four children were born: Fay D., who farmed until 1912 when he retired and lives in York; Nellie, the only danghter, is the wife of W. M. Welsh, who is agent for the Burlington at Central City : Robert, the third member of the family, is mentioned elsewhere in this work ; and Hugh, the youngest, lives in Lincoln and is a conductor with the Burlington Railroad. Mrs. Copsey still resides in York and takes an active interest in all its affairs.
Mr. Copsey was always a stanch supporter of the republican party, and a promi- nent member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a loving husband and a kind and devoted father, who found his greatest happiness in providing for the welfare of his family. The salient traits of his character were such as won for him the highest regard and goodwill of all.
JOHN WHOLSTENHOLM
John Wholstenholm, now deceased, was born in Lancashire, England, April 27, 1828, the son of William and Martha ( Aspinwall ) Wholstenholm, who spent their lives in England. John Wholstenholm was reared in his native town and owing to the financial circumstances of his parents was obliged to go to work in the cotton mills at the age of eight years, where he received the sum of one shilling for his week's labor. When he reached the age of twenty-five years he had become a very capable carder but as he was an ambitious youth he was not satisfied with this sort of career, so he sailed to America in 1850, landing at New Orleans. Later he made his way to Peoria, Illinois, where he found employment on a farm, receiving thirteen dollars a month which he considered a large salary.
On August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company K of the Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served throughont the war, taking part in many important engagements in the war in the west. He saw service at Chickasaw Bluffs, Arkansas Post, Magnolia Hills, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, Vicksburg, Jackson, Mansfield, Kane River, Marksville, Yellow Bayou, Fort Gaines, Spanish Fort, Blakeley, Whistler Station, and was in other important skirmishes. He enconntered many dangerous situations but was never wounded nor taken prisoner, though he would have sold his chances for a small consideration many times. On one occasion he was struck by a spent rifle bullet which pierced two thicknesses of his leather belt and was stopped by his cartridge box. When the war was over he received his discharge at Mobile, Alabama, July 10, 1865, and was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois.
In 1871 he came to Nebraska and filed on a claim in McFadden township, where he secured a quarter section under the laws relating to soldiers claims under the homestead act. In 1874 his sod house was replaced by a two-story frame house which was considered a most imposing residence at that time. The new settler found no water in that locality except in the basins, but Mr. Wholstenhohn foresaw this difficulty and came prepared with tools and immediately drilled a well. As neigh- bors began to congregate he found well drilling a paying occupation, and many of the best farm wells in this region are the result of his labors. At that time Lincoln was the nearest trading post for the people of this vicinity and as it was fifty miles
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distant going to market was an inconvenient undertaking. There were no roads on the prairie and on one occasion when the neighbors had exhausted their supply of flour, Mr. Wholstenholm started for the mill which was about eight miles distant, to get more flour, and lost his way and as the sun was hidden by clouds he became confused as to the directions. Three days passed before he returned with four sacks of flour, during which time the neighbors lived on crushed corn, and his coming was the event of a demonstration of joy. He relates that when the settlers were coming in rapidly and the land was being taken correspondingly fast he started for Fairmont one morning to do some trading, taking the usual path, and before he had noticed anything unusual about the path he had driven across an elevation on the ground which proved to be the dugont home of a newcomer. The man came out and talked to him, saying that he had lived there for two weeks in his little cave covered with a roof of sod. Mr. Wholstenholm remained on his homestead eon- verting it into a splendid farm home, adding one hundred and sixty acres to the property which he later divided between his two sons.
Mr. Wholstenholm was married to Miss Hannah Lonsdale, who was born in his native town in England. She was the daughter of Thomas and Helen (Halsted) Lonsdale, and passed away in 1875. Mr. Wholstenholm later married Mrs. Hannah Ramsden who has since passed away. Of his eight children, four are living: James, of MeCool Junction ; Miles, a farmer in West Blue township, York county : Ellen, the wife of Charles Prescott, who resides at Merna, Nebraska ; and Alice, the wife of C. E. Seeger, of Merna, Nebraska. .
Mr. Wholstenholm took much interest in the Grand Army of the Republic Post at Lushton, of which he was a member. In politics he was independent. voting for the men he considered best qualified to fill the offices, and for the measures he deemed most wise. After many years of active life on the farm he retired and moved to McCool Junction where his death occurred in March, 1899.
Mr. Wholstenholm was a man who never allowed obstacles nor difficulties to discourage nor deter him, but regarded them as an impetus for renewed effort on his part, and as the years passed his progress continued until at the time of his death he was one of the most prosperous and prominent men in the county, with a host of friends who regarded him as a man of sterling worth and splendid principles.
NELS B. SWANSON
Nels B. Swanson, one of the early settlers in York county has by his own efforts become one of the prosperous residents in York, where he lives retired. Ile was born in Sweden, March 4, 18-18, the son of Swan Nelson and Kaner Jepson Nelson who owned a little farm in the old country where he spent his youthful days and helped with the farm work.
In 1871 he came to the United States making his way to Johnson county where he found employment on a farm and later rented land and farmed there and in Henderson county, Illinois. In 1879 he came to York county, Nebraska, and bought eighty acres of raw land where the town of Charleston is now located. Here he built a sod house with a board roof, which, after it was whitewashed and plas- tered, made a very comfortable little home. When the Northwestern railroad was
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built he sold a portion of his land to the townsite company, keeping the land in section seventeen, Baker township, which he improved and made one of the best farms in the county. Here he engaged successfully in farming his two hundred and forty acres until eleven years ago, when he retired and moved to York where he has a comfortable home at 827 West Fourth street. Besides this property he still owns his farm of two hundred and forty acres.
On October 6, 1877, he was married to Miss Carrie Pierson who was born in Sweden, October 24, 1849. To them were born the following children: Alma, the wife of Claude Swanson who operates his father-in-law's farm ; Hulda, who is a elerk at the Middlebrook store at York ; Selma and Oscar who have passed away : Mabel, who is a teacher in Lineoln; Viola, the wife of Arthur W. Thompson, a noted auctioneer of York ; and Clara, who is teaching at Shickley, Nebraska.
In polities Mr. Swanson is not bound to any party but votes for men and measures, taking into consideration the qualifications of the men and the advisa- bility of the measures. He is always willing to do all he ean for the service and betterment of his community and has served on the county board of supervisors and on the school board for several years. Mr. Swanson may well be proud of the success he has gained, for he has risen entirely by his own effort, having but two dollars and a half when he landed in this country. His progress and the success he has earned should serve to encourage others, for his life has proved that his prosperity is the result of individual effort and ability.
SIMEON STARK
Simeon Stark, a well known farmer of York county, residing on seetion 4, Bradshaw township, now owns two hundred and eighty aeres of valuable farming land and enjoys an excellent reputation as a successful and representative agricul- turist. He was born in Boone county, Iowa, November 24, 1856, a son of Jesse Stark and wife, the former a native of Indiana.
The father was one of the early settlers of Iowa, where he was reared and edu- cated and spent many years of his active life engaged in farming. In 1875 he left Iowa and made the journey to Nebraska accompanied by the members of his family, coming straight to York county and settling in Arborville township, where he rented land for two years. In 1877 Mr. Stark acquired a holding of his own on section 4, Bradshaw township, consisting of eighty acres, for which he paid about six hundred dollars. There was a sod house upon the ground, part of which was broken for tillage, and there he continued to reside for about fifteen years during this period improving and developing the place with satisfactory financial results. In 1890 he moved to Frontier county and bought a homestead on which he resided for the remainder of his life, his death occurring in March, 1910, at the age of seventy-seven years. He married Winnie Mitchell and they became the parents of thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters, and eight of these children are living. Mrs. Winnie Stark passed away in March, 1919, having then reached the age of ninety years. They were very worthy people, esteemed by all who knew them, no less for their homely virtues than for their stability and uprightness of character.
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Simeon Stark was reared on his father's farm in Iowa and there assisted in the work during his boyhood and youthful days. His opportunity for securing an education was very limited as the school term at that date did not last more than three months, but he availed himself of the advantages such as they were. In 1875 he accompanied his parents to York county and remained on the home place until he was twenty-one years old when he began to work out on neighboring farms at seventeen dollars a month, so continuing for two years. He saved enough money to buy a team of horses, a wagon and a plow, and then began work on his own account by renting land, his industry and energy being rewarded at the end of four years with a large measure of success. The favorable results of his renting opera- tions induced Mr. Stark to purchase forty acres of land which he still owns. Ile secured this tract by making an initial payment of only forty dollars, the purchase conditions calling for seven dollars an acre, which was then the standard price for railroad land. There was a sod house already on the place and he lived on the holding for twelve months, "baching" it during that period. He then bought another forty acres on which fine buildings now stand. first putting up a sod house, which he later replaced by a small frame. He is now the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of most productive land. all well improved, having two fine sets of buildings and trees scattered over the entire acreage. Ilis crops have been uniformly successful and in the raising and marketing of stock he has had equally satisfac- tory results. le has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and everything about his place indicates careful supervision and progressive methods.
On September 1, 1881. Mr. Stark was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth C. Lockwood and they have become the parents of eight children: William Lester : Winnie F., the wife of J. C. Gray; Simeon L .: Dora Elizabeth ; Wesley E .; Viola, the wife of Elmer Cash; Millie A .; and Harold L., who died at the age of five. Mr. Stark is a member of the First Baptist church of York and in politics gives his support to the democratic party, without seeking or desiring public office. He and his wife are actuated by a spirit of progress and enterprise in all they undertake and their interest deeply centers in those affairs which promise to upbuild and develop further the section of the state in which they live.
OTTO E. EVANS
Otto E. Evans is now living retired in York but for many years was active along commercial and industrial lines and also for some time filled public office. He was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, November 2, 1865, and is a son of E. N. and Eliza ( Dorr) Evans, both of whom were natives of Maine, and they were married there, having removed to that state in 1849. The father engaged in the lumber business there and was connected with three or four sawmill enterprises of the state, suc- cessfully conducting his business affairs. He came to Nebraska in April. 1879. and settling in York was engaged in the lumber business for a time but retired soon after his removal to this state, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest. He passed away in 1906 in the faith of the Presbyterian church, in which he had long been a consistent member and active worker. In politics he was a republican and served on the village board in North York and
OTTO E. EVANS
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L
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was also active in consolidating the two towns of York and North York. To him and his wife were born three children, of whom one died in infancy, while Fred passed away in 1898.
The surviving member of the family is Otto E. Evans of this review, who pursued his education in the schools of York and in the Methodist Seminary of this city. He started out in the business world as a clerk in the store of his uncle and for a time was employed in a bank. He afterward worked in the office of the county clerk and county recorder and later conducted a paint and wall paper busi- ness in York. He is an expert mechanical draftsman and followed the business for a number of years. llis father was also a mechanical engineer of some note and Otto E. Evans took up drawing soon after completing his publie school educa- tion. He is now living a retired life and for some time has engaged in no active business pursuit. At present he is erecting a beautiful home at No. 2209 Lincoln avenue and the success he has attained enables him to supply himself with all of the comforts and conveniences of life.
Mr. Evans is an attendant on the Presbyterian church. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, his membership being in York Lodge No. 1024, and in politics he is a republican who for eight or ten years served as a member of the city council. He is republican committee-man from the second ward and does everything in his power to promote the success of his party and serure the adoption of its principles. He belongs to the Country Club and is popular in its membership. Throughout the period of his residence in Nebraska he has been an earnest champion of the city and county in which he resides and at all times his aid and cooperation can be counted upon to promote measures for the general good.
HENRY C. GRAVES
Among the alert and enterprising business men of York is Henry C. Graves, who is one of the largest real estate men in the county. The greater part of his lite has been spent in this connection and his success indicates the keenness of his sagacity and the soundness of his business opinions.
Henry C. Graves was born two and one-half miles east of Arborville, on the 6th of April, 1890, a son of Dan and Martha H. ( Loomer) Graves, the former born in Vermont in 1841, while the latter was born in Illinois in 1846. The mother is still living and resides in York but Mr. Graves died July 22, 1917. In early manhood Dan Graves removed to Illinois and there met and married his wife. In the early sixties they came to York eounty where they acquired a homestead on which they built a sod house and resided there for fifteen years. The country was in a some- what wild and uncultivated state and the wild geese were so numerous that they would eat the oats as they were put into the ground. Indians were also numerous but for the most part of friendly disposition, and would often stop at the Graves house on their hunting expeditions for food and warmth. Dan Graves was always a stanch supporter of the democratic party and held a number of local offices in Arborville. During the years of his residence on the farm he was head of District School No. 66, and was a strong advocate of education. When he later went to
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