Lewis Publishing Company, 1904

Transcribed from the original book by Kristin J. Vaughn © 2008

John H Friday Page 550 John H. Friday, a well known and successful carpenter and contractor of Steele City, Nebraska, has been a resident of Jefferson county for over a third of a century, having come here before there was a Steele City, so that he has been a witness of and a worker in the development of all this part of the state. He has been an upright and honorable citizen, with a full share of public spirit in all worthy enterprises, and has won the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has been associated. Mr. Friday was born in Ithaca, Darke county, Ohio, October 7, 1842, a son of George Jacob and Sophia F. (Hess) Friday, both natives of Germany, whence they came to this country; the former died in Ohio, and the latter in Nebraska. Mr. Friday was their only son. He was reared to manhood in Ohio, and taught the lessons of industry and honesty from an early age. He received a good education in the public schools of his native state, but was only eighteen years old when he enlisted at Greenville, Ohio, on September 9, 1861, in Company G, Forty-fourth Ohio Infantry, for three years' service. The first captain of the company was J.M. Newkirk, and later J. Shaw was captain, and the colonel was Samuel Gilbert. He was in a number of battles of the war: at Lewisburg, West Virginia, May 23, 1862; the regiment was on detail duty much of the time in Virginia, and also in active service in Kentucky and Tennessee, participating in the siege of Knoxville. While in Virginia Mr. Friday was wounded by a ball in the left leg and one in the right, also in the head, and two buckshot struck him in the back, all the wounds being received within a few minutes time. He was taken prisoner and held in Andersonville for eight months, during which he suffered all the well known hardships of that prison pen. He weighed one hundred and sixty-four pounds when he was captured, and only ninety-four when he escaped. He was taken by transport to Baltimore, and was sent home to Ohio for sixty days, after which he joined his regiment at Parkersburg, Virginia, where he received his honorable discharge on account of disability. He came out as a corporal, and during his service suffered much for his country and gave full proof of his loyal devotion. He returned to Ohio after the war, and in 1867, with his young bride, came to Jefferson county, Nebraska, and took a homestead east of Endicott, where he farmed for six years. He had learned the trade of carpenter, and he moved from his farm into Steele City, where he has had a busy career as builder and contractor. Many of the houses of the city and this part of the county are monuments to his work and he has the reputation of being a first-class workman. He has a good home in Steele City, and is in prosperous circumstances. Mr. Friday was married in Darke county, Ohio, in 1867, to Miss Rebecca Foreman, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Henry Foreman, also of that state. Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Friday: Lillie M. Lambert; Elmer L., a railroad man in Colorado; Myron, in Kansas; Miss Bertha A., of Steele City; Ida Z. Woods, of this county; Ruthelia M. Blair, of Chicago, Illinois; Pearl Beckwith; and Harry S., at home; and four who died in childhood. Mr. Friday was postmaster of Steele City for one term. He was chairman of the school board, and has done much for the cause of education; and has been town trustee for ten years. He is a member of the Grand Army post, and affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His wife is a member of the Episcopal church. They have both been interested in temperance and moral works, and are useful as well as highly esteemed members of society.