USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 67
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Vol. II-43
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December 2. 1823, near Plano, Illinois, also was educated in the York public schools and the York Methodist College. On the 11th of June, 1896, she became the wife of Seymour W. Bissell and in January, 1909, removed to Hastings, Nebraska, where she has since resided with the exception of one year spent in Denver, Colorado : Benjamin . Beck, the fourth of the family, born January 2, 1875, near York. Nebraska, was graduated from the York high school in 1894 and in 1899 attended the Chicago Art Institute, specializing in designing. He became an instructor in the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and at present is manager of the designing department of the Charles Everett Johnson Art Service Company of Chicago. On the 26th of December, 1901. he married Magdalene Jones and they had two children : Gazelle Janice, who died in infancy : and George Anthony, his grandfather's namesake; Dwight H. Beck, born August 2, 1822, near York, was graduated from the York high school in 1892. He is now a merchant tailor of Omaha, Nebraska, and is a thirty-second degree Mason. He was married March 18. 1915. to Hazel Wilburn and their two children are Frederick Werne and Dwight Harvey, Jr. : Elsie M. Beck, born November 28, 1878, near York. Nebraska, was graduated from the York high school in 1896, attended the Nebraska Wes- levan University and was a teacher in the public schools of York and University Place. She was later secretary of the Nebraska Industrial Home at Milford. Nebraska. and bookkeeper at the Nebraska Hospital for the Insane at Lincoln. She studied voice under Madame Wave Whitcomb and at the present time is associated with the W. C. Baer Furniture Company.
It was in October. 1843, that Mr. Beck, on account of failing health, sought a new location. He came to York county, which impressed him so favorably that he bought a tract of land and then returned to Ilinois. Having decided to make the change, on the 20th of February, 1834. with his wife and three children. he arrived in Fairmont, Nebraska, which was the nearest railroad station to York. The family was detained in Fairmont for several days by a real Nebraska blizzard and on the ?1th of February the pioneers came to the little village of York. In the spring a small house was erected on the eighty-acre farm which adjoins York on the west. The change of climate proved so beneficial that Mr. Beck regained his health and for many years successfully followed farming, although in the early days, with other pioneers, he endured crop failures, grasshopper raids, droughts and floods. but as time passed on, the hardships and trials of pioneer life were overcome and he became one of the substantial agriculturists of this section of the state.
While denied the education he so much desired for himself. Mr. Beck was anxious that his children should have better school facilities. He was deeply inter- ested in the founding of the Nebraska Conference Seminary, later the York Metho- dist College, at York in 1880. He was a trustee of this school from the beginning and gave liberally of his time and money to the enterprise. lle believed that the Nebraska Wesleyan University should be at York, but when it was located else- where and the York Methodist College closed its doors, his disappointment was so keen that he never recovered from it.
In the later years of his life ill health compelled Mr. Beck to give up active farm work and he engaged in the grocery business, his store being located first where the Y. M. C. A. now stands, while later he removed to the location known as the Wildman building. He established a large grocery trade and his success
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enabled him to perform many of the acts of generosity and kindness that charac- terized his life. He was liberal to a fault and no one was ever turned away from his store empty-handed. He had implicit faith in humanity and never wearied in well doing. In 1888 ill health caused him to retire from active life. His great desire was to live for his family. 1Ie made a brave struggle and did not despair of recovery until the day of his death, which occurred October 26, 1889, lacking but a few days of being fifty-one years of age. He battled with disease all his life, but never lost hope. He was a man of faith, full of courage and ambition. The trials incident to pioneer life never vanquished him. He was strong in char- acter, a man of pure speech and clean life, and at his going the unanimous verdict of the community was that if ever a man lived and died a consistent Christian and good citizen, that man was George A. Beck and that he would ever live in memory as an example worthy to be followed. Mrs. Beck survived her husband until Feb- rnary 12, 1920, passing away at her home in York. She and her husband were a stanch influence for good in the early days, when society and opinions here were in the making. They always stood for righteousness, for elean living and the highest ideals and are entitled to a large share of the credit and gratitude due to those who made and kept York clean and temperate.
CHARLES F. MULIG
Charles F. Mulig, now deceased, who for many years was a respected and valued resident of York county, Nebraska, was born in Nova Scotia, October 13, 1840, the son of Charles Mulig, a native of Nova Scotia. The parents afterward came to this country and they passed away in Wisconsin, where their son Charles spent his childhood.
Charles F. Mulig served for three years in the Union army during the Civil war. He received a gunshot wound and though he spent some time in the hospital as a result of it he was not disabled permanently. After he was discharged from the service of his country he moved to Minnesota, where he remained three years and in 1870 came to York county, Nebraska, and took up a homestead of one hun- dred and sixty acres, an allotment which was allowed to Civil war soldiers. His first home was a dugout on the northeast quarter of section 20 of what is now Beaver township. He was a good farmer and constantly made improvements, erect- ing a fine set of farm buildings which are still standing on the old farm where the widow and son now reside.
He was married in Wisconsin to Miss Josephine Clarke of Maysville, Wisconsin, and to them were born ten children, nine of whom are living. They are: Myrtle, the wife of Jolin Gaylord who resides in New Mexico; Emma, the wife of A. A. Bristol of Omro, Wiseonsin : Florence, who is married to Charles J. Zweig of York eounty ; Charles, who is married and lives in York county, Nebraska, and is engaged in the produce business ; L. C., who is married and is a resident of Waco, Nebraska ; Fred A., who lives in Utica, Nebraska : G. W., who since the death of his father has managed the home farm : Elmer, who is married and resides in De Ridder, Louisiana ; and Edna, the wife of Fred J. Strinz who resides in Utica, Nebraska.
G. W. Mulig, who lives with his mother and operates the home place, is a Vol. II-43A
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successful farmer and a man active in public affairs. He is serving his first term as a member of the county board of supervisors.
Charles F. Mulig passed away in September, 1913, leaving to mourn his demise his devoted wife and children and a host of friends and neighbors throughout the community. As one of the earliest of the pioneers of the west he contributed in a marked measure to the development of the district in which he lived and he left the impress of his individuality upon the work of advancement and improvement.
MELVIN O. MeLAUGHLIN
Melvin O. MeLaughlin, member of congress from the York district since 1918 and prominently known in educational circles throughout the state, was born in Osceola, Iowa, August 8, 1876, his parents being William D. and Risby J. (Creger) MeLaughlin, the former a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1848, while the latter was born in Iowa in 1851. They were married in fowa and lived there for a number of years but are now residents of Oswego, Kansas. In 1884 they removed to Rawlins county, Kansas, where the father purchased a relinquishment and con- centrated his efforts and attention upon farming. In early manhood he had followed the profession of school teaching and was county superintendent of schools in Madison county, Iowa. He was a forceful, earnest and eloquent speaker who for many years was very active in politics, engaging extensively in campaign work, but in later years he has concentrated his efforts and attention upon farming. In early manhood he was a soldier of the Civil war, serving in the Thirty-third Wis- consin Regiment for a period of three years, and was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea. In politics he has always been a republican and in days of peace has been as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the nation's starry banner on the battle fields of the south. He is a representative of one of the old families of Pennsylvania, being a son of Henry MeLaughlin, a native of the Keystone state who removed to St. Charles, Iowa, where he followed farming to the time of his death. The maternal grandfather of Melvin O. MeLaughlin was John Creger, who was born in Ohio, and he, too, became a farmer of Iowa, in which state he also engaged in preaching as minister of the Christian church.
Melvin O. MeLaughlin was the third in order of birth in a family of seven children of whom six are living, but he is the only one residing in York county. He pursued his education in College View high school at Lincoln, Nebraska, in the Lincoln Normal University and at different periods studied in Peru, Nebraska, in Osceola, Iowa, and in the Union Biblieal Seminary of Ohio. He was in school much of the time till thirty-two years of age, constantly broadening his knowledge along various lines. He studied law under Hugh Myers of Omaha and for five years in early manhood he taught school through the winter months, while in the summer seasons he continued his own education. Ile left the parental roof in 1892 and started out in life without capital, employing various means of obtaining a livelihood and educating himself. After teaching for five years he entered the ministry of the United Brethren church and was the organizer of a church of that denomination at Omaha, Nebraska, in the spring of 1907, remaining there as min- ister for six years. In 1913 he came to York and accepted the presidency of York
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College, remaining at the head of this institution until elected to congress in 1918. He served during his last two years' connection with York College without pay, for the war was then in progress and he made this contribution to the educational development of the community.
On the 4th of August, 1897, Mr. MeLaughlin was married to Miss Elma Pier- son, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Justin and Elizabeth ( Bedell) Pierson, who removed to Lancaster county in early life and there now make their home. The father is a farmer, having always given his attention to the tilling of the soil. To Mr. and Mrs. MeLaughlin have been born four children: Esther, who is attending the Colonial School for Girls in Washington, D. C .; Ruth, also in school in Washington ; John Hale, five years of age; and Paul P., a little lad of two summers.
Both Mr. and Mrs. MeLaughlin are members of the United Brethren church and he is a Knights Templar Mason and member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He devotes his entire time at the present to his congressional duties and in the fall of 1920 was reelected by a majority of fourteen thousand. He has always been active in politics but never sought office until a candidate for congress and during his first term made a splendid record, being a most forcible, earnest and convincing speaker and actuated at all times by patriotic devotion to duty.
MARION KING
Another man of York county who may lay claim to the proud American title of self-made man is Marion King who since 1914 has been superintendent of the poor farm. He is a native son of lowa, born in Clarke county on the 17th of September, 1869, a son of T. J. and Mary F. (Majors) King. Both parents were born in Kentucky and were married in Illinois to which state they had come with their parents in early youth. The father engaged in farming and in 1888 removed to Nebraska and farmed in Saline county for some time. He has a farm in Kansas but for the most part lives with his son in York county. The mother passed away in October, 1909. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. King five children were born, four of whom are living: J. W., who resides in Louisiana and is engaged in the horse and mule business; Oliver, who works for the Burlington railroad and lives in Iowa; Marion, the subject of this review; and Malinda, the wife of Otis Derry, a farmer in Kansas. The King family were reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. King gives his allegiance to the democratic party.
In the acquirement of his education Marion King attended the country schools of his native county and in due time was graduated from the Osceola high school. After putting his textbooks aside he engaged in farming, which occupation he has followed for the greater part of his life. In 1909 he came to York county and engaged in the grain business at Houston and Thayer, continuing in this successful venture for a period of eight years. In 1914 he was made superintendent of the poor farm and to this work he devotes his entire time. He has considerable land in Texas and Louisiana and is financially independent.
In the fall of 1895 Mr. King was united in marriage to Miss Mary Farquhar-
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sen, a native of Canada and a daughter of Henry Farquharsen. Her father was born in Scotland, emigrated to this country in an early day and was one of the pioneer farmers of Saline county. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. King two chil- dren have been born : Lena. the wife of Robert McDonald who is in the restaurant business in York ; and Georgia, a stenographer in York. The King family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mrs. King and the youngest daughter are prominent in the affairs of that organization.
Since age conferred upon Mr. King the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party and is well versed on all of the questions and issues of the day. Fraternally he is junior warden of the A. F. & A. M. and he has passed through all the chairs in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is likewise a Modern Woodman. Mr. King's life has been an active, busy, and useful one and he enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and good will of those with whom he comes in contact.
JAMES E. HART
James E. Hart of Lincoln, who is secretary of the department of trade and commerce and chief of the bureau of banking of the state, received his appointment from Gov. MeKelvey, and in 1919 resigned his position as president of the City National Bank of York to take up this work. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1864, a son of John D. and Nancy (Lowery) Hart, both natives of that state. The father engaged in farming, and lived and died on the farm where his birth occurred. He was born in 1818 and died at the advanced age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Hart was born in 1823 and passed away in 1907. They were members of the United Presbyterian church and always took an active part in the affairs of that organization. Seven children were born to this union, four of whom are living. James E., the subject of this sketch being the only one of the family residing in Nebraska. John D. Hart was a stanch supporter of the republican party, although he neither sought nor desired publie office. Ile was a member of the state militia and during Lee's raid in Pennsylvania was called into active service. Ilis father, or the grandfather of James E. Hart, came with his parents to the United States from Scotland and settled in Pennsylvania at an early day. Hle engaged in busi- ness there on reaching manhood and spent the balance of his life in Pennsylvania, becoming a prominent resident of the community in which he lived.
James E. Ilart attended the public schools of Pennsylvania and in due time entered the State Normal School where he completed his education. For the three years following he taught school in Pennsylvania and in 1884 removed to Gage county, Nebraska, where he continued to teach for one term. IJe then discontinued teaching and accepted a clerkship in a store for a period of two years. At the termination of this time he removed to Gove, Kansas, and entered into the employ of the bank there as cashier. For three years he remained in that capacity, or until 1890, when he came to York county, hoping to improve his health which had been impaired by the close confinement of teaching. His experience as cashier in the Kansas bank stood him in good stead and as he was also a bookkeeper he soon obtained a like position at Gresham, where he located. He was one of the organ-
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izers of the bank originally known as the Farmers and Merchants Bank which was later merged into the First National Bank. For twenty-six years he was cashier of this bank, conducting his affairs to the entire satisfaction of the bank and its patrons. In 1916 he removed to York where he accepted the position of cashier in the City National Bank and on the death of Mr. Childs, who was president of this institution, succeeded to his position. Ile resigned, however, in June, 1919, to become secretary of the department of trade and commerce and chief of the bureau of banking, to which he had been appointed by Gov. MeKelvey. Mr. Hart has forty people working under him in this state office and also has supervision over the bank department of the state, administration of the blue sky law and hail insurance. lle is also custodian of about seven hundred thousands dollars in securities.
In 1891 Mr. Hart was united in marriage to Miss Louise Hoth, who was born near Gresham and whose father had acquired a homestead in York county. Two children have been born to this union, namely: Ellis B., who is employed at the Stoek Yards National Bank in Denver; and Esther L., who is an employe of the First National Trust Company at Lincoln.
Mr. Hart is a member of the republican party and has never been very active in polities. Ilis present position is the only public position to which he has ever been appointed, but he was elected to the State legislature from York county in 1907, serving one term. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and a past master of the order. Ile is also a member of the Odd Fellows, has been through all the chairs of the order and has represented both orders in the Grand Lodge. Mr. Hart is a member of the Presbyterian church and his wife is a mem- ber of the Christian Science church. Mr. Hart is recognized as a man of sterling character and his activity has made him a leading citizen of Lincoln where the intelligent direction of his labors has wrought good results in both the attainment of individual snecess and the advancement of public welfare.
REV. THOMAS CULLEN
For thirty years Rev. Thomas Cullen has with zeal and earnestness devoted himself to the work of upbuilding St. Joseph's church at York. He assumed his present pastorate on the 5th of November, 1890, and through the intervening period has worked most zealously, endearing himself to the people and accom- phishing great good among his parishioners. A native of Ireland he was born in Camderry, Glenfarm, in County Leitrim, Ireland, on the 9th of August, 1855, his parents being Michael and Katherine (MeDermott) Cullen, both of whom were natives of the same county and there remained until called to their final rest. The father, who was a successful farmer, passed away in 1892 while the mother survived until 1915. They were married in 1852 and became the parents of five children, three of whom are living: Rev. Thomas Cullen, of this review ; Mrs. John Gallaher, who resides in Ireland : and Mrs. Sarah Ann McGowan, who makes her home at Manor Hamilton in Ireland.
In the acquirement of his education Father Cullen attended the St. Patrick College at Cavan, Ireland, and in 1884, having qualified for the priesthood, was
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ordained at Quebec, Canada. His first charge was at Fremont, Nebraska, and from there he went to O'Neill where he remained for seven months. The first mission of which he had charge was at MeCook, his labors there continuing for five years and eight months. On the 5th of November, 1890, Father Cullen came to York, having been assigned to the pastorate of St. Joseph's church, in which he has since continued. Under his guidance and leadership the church has steadily grown and its membership now numbers one hundred and fifty families. The convent and school are continually progressing under his supervision and he has reason to be proud of their high standing in the community. Rev. Mr. Cullen is also the chaplain of the Knights of Columbus council in the work of which he takes active part.
While maintaining an independent attitude in politics, he is perhaps more in sympathy with republican principles and he regards it as the duty of a public- spirited citizen to keep well informed on the questions and issues of the day and to support his convictions at the polls. With singleness of purpose he has devoted his life to the service of the church and he is a man of resolute will who never falls short of the accomplishment of any task to which he sets himself. Those who know Father Cullen-and he has a wide acquaintance-entertain for him the highest regard and his fellow townsmen are proud to be numbered among his friends. A testimonial of the regard of his parishioners was tendered him on the 5th of November, 1920, at the close of a pastorate of thirty years, when a banquet was held in his honor and he was presented with a fine gold-headed cane in token of the esteem entertained for him. One of the local papers on that occasion said : "When Father Cullen came to this pastorate the new church was just begun. Under his fostering care the membership has increased in number until now it is one of the best parishes in the Lincoln diocese. Father Cullen by his gentle demeanor, his unostentatious adherence to the faith, and his example in right thought and living, has won the love and confidence of his flock and the sincere respect of the entire community." In the addresses made on that occasion many words of praise and of hearty appreciation were spoken by young men and old, some of whom he had baptized into the church and who had grown to manhood under his spiritual guidance. Throughout his connection with the church at York Father Cullen has taken but one real vacation and that when he spent a few months at his old home in Ireland with his loved mother, who has since passed away. Returning, he resumed his duties and the York Catholic church has certainly prospered under his guidance. An attractive meal, beautiful music and rare flowers added to the joy of the occasion at the banquet held in his honor and never to be forgotten were the words of sincere and heartfelt appreciation of his life and labors spoken by those with whom he has been so closely associated in spiritual work through long years.
JOSEPH A. JACOBS
Joseph A. Jacobs, real estate and insurance man of York, was born in Nemaha county, Kansas, on the 8th of September, 1873. Ilis parents were Henry and Mariah (Kerns) Jacobs, the former born near St. Louis, Missouri, and the latter also a native of Missouri. Their marriage took place in Jefferson county, that
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state. When the Civil war broke out Mr. Jacobs enlisted in the Eighth Missouri Regiment with which he served for one hundred days, at the term- ination of which time he re-enlisted in a Kansas regiment and served until the end of the war. He participated in several of the hard fought battles of the war but was never wounded. As a result of his exposure, how- ever, he suffered from varicose veins and eventually this caused his death. For many years he followed the occupation of farmer but in 1897 sold his land in Kansas and removed to York where his death occurred in 1907. His widow sur- vived him for twelve years, her death taking place on the 19th of December, 1919. Mr. Jacobs had been reared in the Lutheran faith and was a member of the United Brethren church of York, as was his wife, although she was formerly a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of five chil- dren : B. Frank, who is an attorney in Tacoma, Washington ; Mrs. D. M. Edgar- ton who resides on a farm in Rulo; L. H., who is a farmer and dairyman of Kamilche, Washington; Joseph A., the subject of this sketch; and G. M., who is superintendent of agencies of the Northern Life Insurance Company at Seattle, Washington.
In the acquirement of an education Joseph A. Jacobs attended the Campbell University at Holton, Kansas, from which he was graduated in 1894. He then tanght school in Kansas for some time and in 1900 came to York to accept a posi- tion as teacher in the college. Subsequently he and his brother started a business college which they ran for one year, at the end of which time Joseph A. Jacobs sold ont to his brother. He completed a law course at Pawnee City, Kansas, under Storey & Storey in 1908, but never applied for admission to the bar and has never practiced. Ilis knowledge of law, however, is a big factor in the real estate busi- ness in which he has been engaged since October, 1905, and he is known throughout the county as being always fair and honest in his dealings. In addition to his real estate business he handles some fire insurance.
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