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John A. Ballantyne
John A. Ballantyne, one of the most respected citizens of
Norfolk. Nebraska, was born in Gouverneur, Saint Lawrence County, New York,
April 4, 1853, and was the second of eight children in the family of Archibald
and Margaret Ballantyne, who had four sons and four daughters. Mr. Ballantyne
received his early advantages in New York state, and in 1876 went into the state
of Michigan. In the summer of 1878 he came to Knox County, Nebraska, coming
overland from Yankton, South Dakota, and walking the entire distance, reaching
his new home place, Blyville post office, August 28, 1878, with fifty dollars
capital and his chest of tools, as he was a carpenter by trade and followed the
occupation of contractor and builder. On December 13, 1878, our subject was
joined in Knox County by his father, mother, two brothers and two sisters who
came overland via the Yankton, South Dakota, route, and three years later a
third sister joined the family. Mr. Ballantyne and his father and brothers
became quite extensive land owners in the county of Knox, and the father was
known as an old time pioneer in that section. Three members of the family died
while residing in Knox County. Mr. Ballantyne's mother, and brother Walter, died
in December, 1905, and his father died in December. 1909. At the present time
two sons and three daughters survive: Mary, who is married to James Balentine,
who reside in Knox County; Alice, who is married to Henry Weigand. who reside in
Knox County; George B., who is also married and lives in Knox county; and Agnes,
who is unmarried and resides at Hartington, Cedar County. Nebraska. Mr.
Ballantyne, the subject of this sketch, resided in Knox County about four years
and then moved to Hartington, Cedar County, Nebraska, and continued his business
of contractor and builder for two years; then was affiliated with the Wilcox
Lumber Company in Hartington for three years; and then resumed his trade in
connection with the furniture and undertaking business. In 1889, our subject
became connected with the Edwards Bradford Lumber Company, going to
Osmond, Pierce County. Nebraska, as manager of the yards at that place for
eleven years; he then moved to Norfolk, Nebraska, having become traveling
auditor for the Edwards Bradford Company, and in February, 1908, became resident
manager and distributor for their business in this locality, in their local
lumber and coal yards, where he is still located. Mr. Ballantyne was united in
marriage November 25, 1885, to Miss Lyda E. Paddock. Mrs. Ballantyne was born in
Ohio, October 27, 1855, and is a daughter of Solomon and Evylin (Whitney)
Paddock. Mr. and Mrs. Ballantyne have a fine family of five children, whose
names and histories are as follows: John A., junior, who is married to Miss
Jennie Benning, lives in Gregory, South Dakota, and has one child, is also
connected with the William Krotter Company; Robert S., who is with the
Edwards-Bradford Company in Norfolk; and Byron W., Bernice Evaline, and George
W.. who reside at home. Mr. Ballantyne is one of the foremost business men
of Norfolk, where he owns a fine modern home and all improvements, and he and
his family are prominent in the social and church circles of their home town.
They are members of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Ballantyne is a member of
the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a republican.
Source: Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of
Nebraska 1912 Internet Archive
Transcribed
and Contributed by: Janice Rice
R.H. Harris
Chance plays queer pranks in the lives of some of us!
Opportunity comes knocking at our doors, and sometimes finds the inmate fully
equipped and ready to seize what she holds in her open hands. Such is the career
of R. H. Harris, cashier of the Bank of Lynch. A chance word of a friendly bank
president, who had for years known of the ability and integrity of the younger
man, diverted from the ranks of trade to that of finance a worthy candidate for
a successful career in most any walk in life he might have chosen. "Bert"
Harris, as he is familiarly known, is a native of the Knickerbocker state, born
at Rochester, on March 26. 1874, and is a son of Frank H. and Mary (Malcolm)
Harris, the former having engaged in the grain and lumber business at Onarga,
Iroquois County, Illinois, in 1878 four years later removing to Sterling,
Johnson county, Nebraska. Here the mother died in July, 1888. and the family
soon became somewhat scattered. Bert finding a home with an uncle, J. E. Helm, a
druggist at Burchard. Nebraska. In 1890 the uncle was appointed agent to the
Indians on the Santee reservation east of Niobrara. While living here our
subject was appointed industrial teacher, filling the position some fifteen
months. He then attended the Yankton college for two winters, and on leaving
school secured a situation in the store of Mr. Henry E. Bonesteel, remaining
there until the fall of 1895, when he was elected clerk of the district court of
Knox county. Nebraska, holding that position up to January. 1900. Through
commercial friends gained while in the Bonesteel store, he was offered a
position with a new shoe firm operating from Sioux City, and although he had no
experience in that line and could give no assurance of how much trade he could
command, he made a good impression and was started out on the road. He "made
good" from the beginning, having a genial disposition and hustling qualities
which made him many friends and stood him in good stead. His long acquaintance
with Mr. Frank Nelson, of the Niobrara Hank, changed the whole current of his
life. That gentleman was desirous of widening his financial interests and was
casting about for a trustworthy man of sufficient ability to run a branch bank.
He approached Mr. Harris with the question, "How would you like banking?" The
latter replied that "he might like it but didn't know a thing about it." He
immediately forgot the incident, but Mr. Nelson evidently did not, for after a
few days a telegram was handed Mr. Harris at O'Neill, which contained the
message, "Have bought bank at Lynch. Come at once." An unjustly complaining
letter from his firm had reached Mr. Harris just about this time, so he quickly
decided to accept the new offer, checked his trunks to Sioux City, walked in the
office and handed over his keys. This was entirely unexpected to his employers,
as it later developed that his sales were the highest of any man on the road,
and a request that he remain until after carnival week and meet their country
trade was complied with. For this favor his firm presented him with a cheek for
$150 and cash to a third of that amount, and the good wishes of all in his new
undertaking. On October 10, 1900, Mr. Harris took charge of the bank at Lynch as
cashier, and its president has bad no cause to regret his judgment in the
selection of a young man to manage this branch of his extensive financial
interests. Mr. Harris was married on June 12, 1904, at Fairfax, South Dakota, to
Miss Lois Allen, who was born at Spirit Lake. Iowa, her parents now residing in
Randolph, Nebraska, where the father is in business. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have
one son. Robert Allen Harris, who is the pride and comfort of his parents'
hearts. Mr. Harris is a republican in political faith. He has a very pleasant
memory of an incident occurring while he was a member of his uncle's household.
Theodore Roosevelt, then a special commissioner of the interior department, came
to Santee to inspect the post, and as hotel accommodations were not very
desirable, he was invited to make himself comfortable the agent's house, sharing
our subject's room with him. The two young men took a three days' hunting trip
together, and neither has forgotten the pleasures of the trip. Mr. Harris is a
member of the Masonic order, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Niobrara, and has
attained the thirty-second degree in the consistory at Omaha, crossing the hot
desert sands in Tangier Temple of the Mystic Shrine. The Odd Fellows and Royal
Highlanders of Niobrara claim him as a comrade, also the Pythian Knights of
Creighton. and the Norfolk Herd of Elks.
Source: Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of
Nebraska 1912 Internet Archive
Transcribed
and Contributed by: Janice Rice
Frank H. Lenger
Among the worthy citizens of Nebraska, who by thrift and
energy acquired a competency in the early days of the settlement of this part of
the state, no name stands higher among his fellowmen than that of Frank H.
Lenger, now serving as county commissioner of Knox County. Mr. Lenger was born
in the city of Tabor, Bohemia, on February 22. I860, and was but a small boy
when his father, John J. Lenger, (of whom an extended account may be found in
this book), broke away from the old order of things in the fatherland by coming
to the Great Republic to establish for himself and family a new life amid new
surroundings and conditions. He was a man of high position and affluence in his
native land, and might have retained these advantages to the end and provided
places of influence and considerable fortune for his children had he chosen to
remain. They settled in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, where Frank grew up,
receiving his education in the common schools, and he gained quite a knowledge
of city life in Chicago, where the family spent two years. Also, some time was
spent in Yankton, South Dakota, where he attended the public schools, he was the
younger son, and remained with the old folks until about the time of his
marriage. in 1884. Although most of his time was occupied in farming, he had at
different times clerked in a drug store and shoe store, and also was for a time
with a leading implement house in Yankton, he located in Niobrara in the spring
of 1884. and in partnership with his elder brother. John, established an
implement house in the town, under the firm name of Lenger Brothers, continuing
the business together for ten years. In addition to this, they were heavy
stockholders in a packing house north of the town, our subject having charge of
the steam and motive power, also the rendering department, besides doing the
buying of all stock, and so efficient was his work that he was made the
recipient of a gift of seventy-five dollars one Christmas, which showed the
appreciation of the company for his efforts. During this time they developed
further the business of supplying the government with cattle for the Indians,
and continued in this branch of the trade long after, disposing of their
implement business. These contracts provided for supplying the various agencies
of tin- Yankton. Santee, Ponca and Flandreauz tribes, sometimes delivering as
many as sixteen hundred head of cattle at a time. Finding his health failing
about this time, Mr. Lenger took an extensive trip through the west, and
afterward feeling much improved, he returned to Niobrara and moved to his
homestead on which he had previously filed. In 1894 Mr. Lenger filed on a
homestead near Niobrara, to which he has added from time to time until he
now owns five hundred and sixty acres of the finest farming land to be found in
the state. He owns other land south of the city, besides a number of residences
and town lots. and also has a hall section in Hock County, twenty-five miles
from Bassett. Nebraska, (the above is sold). .Mr. Lenger was married in Yankton
County. South Dakota, on November 11. 1884, to Miss Carrie Ferdinand, a native
of Chicago, Illinois. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lenger. as
follows: Edward. who is a graduate of the Niobrara high school and of Grand
Island business college, now occupying a lucrative position as stenographer in
the Northwestern offices in Norfolk; Carrie, also a graduate of the high school
and ambitious for a college career, which has been temporarily checked by her
mother's illness and death; Ralph, in the employ of Geo. L. Adams, druggist, is
also a graduate from Niobrara high school, and is ready to go to Creighton
Medical College; Claude. Mildred and Irene. The three last mentioned are still
going to school and are doing well. Mrs. Lenger passed away April 11. 1910. and
her loss is a severe blow to her devoted family, as well as to the community in
which she lived, as she was a good christian woman, and was active in the
Presbyterian church. Politically Mr. Lenger is a republican, and was nominated
for a school office before his twenty-first birthday, which intervened between
the primary and elect inn day. Prior to coming to Nebraska he served as assessor
in Yankton, and he was the first assessor of Raymond township, serving for three
terms. He has since filled a like position in Niobrara. While living in Raymond
township he several times refused the nomination for commissioner on account of
taking his time from business, but on retiring from the strenuous life, he
viewed the matter in a different light and decided to accept the honor conferred
upon him by his friends, which resulted in his election to the office in 1906.
He was re-elected in 1908 and 1910. Mr. Lenger is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, and was with his wife during her lifetime, a member of the
Rebekah lodge. He also belongs to the Benevolent Order of Z. C. B. J., and is a
member of the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belonged.
Source: Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of
Nebraska 1912 Internet Archive
Transcribed
and Contributed by: Janice Rice
Mike Loftus
Mike Loftus, one of the early settlers in the state of
Nebraska, now resides in Knox county, where he chose his home in 1902. Here he
has a valuable estate in section twenty, township twenty-nine, range five, and
is known as one of the prosperous and successful agriculturalists and stockmen
of his locality. Mr. Loftus was born in Oonnaught Province, Knockanello village.
Ireland. June 7, 1858. When but a small boy he left home and struck out for
himself, taking passage for America, where he was sure a fortune awaited him
only for the taking. He landed in New York City after an eventful voyage, and
immediately started for the west, going first to Illinois, where he remained for
two years. There he followed farming. In the fall of 1879. he came to Nebraska,
locating in Platte county, but only spent a short time in that vicinity,
removing to Holt county, where he took a homestead and started to improve his
claim. He at once put up a sod shanty and lived alone, cooking his own meals,
and working hard to build up his farm. Later on he filed on a tree claim in the
vicinity, and proved up on both tracts. He now has a fine farm of two hundred
acres, situated about one mile from Creighton. The place is well supplied with
every convenience, including substantial buildings, plenty of trees, planted by
Mr. Loftus himself, all kinds of stock, etc. He raises fine crops of grain, and
is fast becoming one of the leading men of wealth in his vicinity. Mr. Loftus
was married in O'Neill on January 22. 1889. to Miss Mary Carney, and to them
have been born two children. Thomas and James, both of whom are at home.
Source: Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of
Nebraska 1912 Internet Archive
Transcribed
and Contributed by: Janice Rice
Mr. C. A. Lyon
Mr. C. A. Lyon, who resides on section five, township twenty-nine, range
five. Knox County, is one of the leading old-timers in this section, and has
always done his full share in the betterment of conditions throughout the
community in which he lives. Mr. Lyon is a native of New York state, and was
born at Buffalo, February 2, 1842. He is a son of Lewis and Samanthe Lyon,
of Irish and English descent respectively. Our subject's grandmother, on his
mother's side, was in Boston at the time of the famous tea party, and well
remembered that stirring event. His great grandfather. Ethan Allen, served
in the revolutionary war. Mr. Lyon's early childhood was spent in his native
city, and at the tender age of three years, his parents moved to Wisconsin,
where the family remained until he was ten years old. and then they migrated
to Iowa. His education was obtained in the public schools of Wisconsin and
Iowa, where he spent his boyhood days. While living in Iowa, he enlisted in
Company P, 3rd Regiment of Iowa Infantry, under Captain C. A. Newcomb, and
served through the entire war. He was wounded at Blue Mills, Missouri, was
laid up for some time, and in February, 1862, was discharged on account of
another disability. In August, 1862, he re-enlisted at West Union, Iowa. He
saw active service and participated in many battles and minor engagements,
being wounded again at Springfield, Missouri. He received his discharge in
August, 1865, and returned to his home in Iowa, remaining there engaged in a
harness shop and farming up to 1872. In the month of May of that year, he
started out by wagon team for Nebraska, and selected a location in section
nine, township twenty-nine, range five, filed on a homestead, and begun to
build up a farm. He at once put up a dugout and sod house combined, in which
they lived for several years. During the first three years, the grasshoppers
took about all they raised, which was a serious hardship in those days,
times being extremely hard for the poor settler at the best. In 1894, the
hot winds burned up all his crops, he managed to make a bare living, often
himself and family being without the common necessaries of life. Many times
during his early residence here in Nebraska, the entire settlement was
forced to fight for days the stubborn prairie fires that threatened their
homes and stock. After a hard struggle for existence, Mr. Lyon finally begun
to accumulate a nice property, and at the present time he is the owner of a
valuable estate and beautiful home, situated on section five, township
twenty-nine, range five consisting of three hundred and twenty acres of the
finest land in the county. October 1, 1S67. Mr. Lyon was united in marriage
to Miss Sara A. Howard, and to them two children were born, both now married
and settled in comfortable homes in this locality. Mary, the elder, is the
wife of James C. Squires, while Inez married John Neyens.
Mr Lyon has always be active in local affairs, and has done
much toward promoting the growth of the commercial and agricultural interests of
Knox county. During the early days he served as county superintendent of
schools, and proved a most popular and efficient official. He is a stockholder
and director of the First National Hank of Bazile Mills.
Source: Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of
Nebraska 1912 Internet Archive
Transcribed
and Contributed by: Janice Rice
August Schuett
Among the leading old settlers and public spirited citizens of Knox
County. Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a prominent place.
Mr. Schuett has aided in no slight degree in building up the schools and
commercial resources of this region, and has done all in his power for the
betterment of conditions in his community, socially and politically. Mr.
Schuett is a native of Germany, being born in the province of Prussia, April
26, 1847. He is the son of John and Bertha Schuett. both natives of Prussia,
who died in their native land. When but nineteen years of age, Mr. Schuett
came to America, and after landing in the United States, went to Wisconsin,
where he remained for six years, having been married in the meantime. In
1872 Mr. Schuett, with his family, drove from Wisconsin to Knox county.
Nebraska, taking up a homestead on section thirty-two. township thirty,
range five, and four years later a timber claim on section twenty-nine,
township thirty, range five. They first built a dugout in which the family
lived three years, and then built a good frame house. During the first years
of residence in this section of the enmity. Mr. Schuett and family
experienced many hardships and failures. He suffered losses through the
grasshopper raids in which the entire crops were destroyed, and in 1894 the
drouth destroyed all the crops, the hot winds burning them in the ground.
Mr. Schuett now owns eight hundred and eighty acres of well improved land,
and has twenty acres of fine trees, some of which is a good orchard. Mr.
Schuett was united in marriage June 18, 1868, to Miss Bertha Neno and Mr.
and Mrs. Schuett are the parents of three children, named as follows:
Robert, who is married to Miss Minnie Wenters; William, married to Miss
Minnie Gustman. and Tillie, who is the wife of Henry Kriemeier.
Source: Compendium of history, reminiscence, and biography of
Nebraska 1912 Internet Archive
Transcribed
and Contributed by: Janice Rice
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