Judge Walter Moon   

Judge Walter Moon, one of the early settlers of Nebraska, and now a resident of Sherman County, in earlier days experienced the usual hardships and privations of the pioneer. He is honored as a veteran of the civil war and is highly esteemed as an upright, public-spirited citizen, who has served in various offices of public honor and trust.

He was born in St. Lawrence County. New York, January 25, 1835, son of Orange B. and Margaret (Wing) Moon, being the third of their ten children in order of birth. The father who was of French-English extraction, was born in Vermont, and his death occurred at LaPorte, Iowa, in the spring of 1890. The mother, also a native of Vermont, was of English and Welsh descent, and her death occurred in LaPorte in 1897. When about ten years old, Walter Moon accompanied his parents to Illinois, where he received a liberal education and reached manhood, after which he engaged in farming.

He was married December 20, 1855, in Kane County, Illinois, to Mary C. Harris, of Canadian birth, who died at Forestville, Iowa, in October, 1856, less than one year after marriage. In the spring of 1856 Mr. Moon removed to Iowa and engaged in farming there. October 29, 1859, he married Sarah A. Gilbert, of New York birth, then living in Iowa, and they continued to live there until the spring of 1873. They then came to Sherman County and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land, three miles west of Loup City, where they lived until 1885, when Mr. Moon was elected county judge and moved to Loup City. Prior to that time he had been appointed to fill the unexpired term of his predecessor. Later he served several years as county surveyor, and in each capacity acquitted himself with credit to himself and his office.

In early days he was instrumental in organizing school district number fourteen, and served on the school board many years. He has always been actively interested in and closely identified with the upbuilding and development of Sherman County, and stands for progress along all lines of endeavor. He is one of the best known men in his part of the state and has the confidence and regard of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

His wife died January 18, 1893, at Loup City, survived by her husband and four daughters. She and her husband had lost a son prior to her death. The four daughters of Judge Moon are as follows: Mary C, wife of G. P. Callaham, lives in Sioux County, Nebraska, and they have two children; Kate B., wife of Dr. A. S. Main, lives at Loup City; Lydia A., wife of Edwin Angier, of Loup City, has two children; and Effie M., of Sioux County, Nebraska.

In 1908 Judge Moon removed to Sioux County, where he homesteaded four hundred and eighty acres of land, under the Kincaid Act, on which he now lives. He has a vivid recollection of the trying experiences of early frontier life, but does not regret identifying himself with the region in which he has witnessed so remarkable a chance and period of development during the past forty years.

His service in the Civil War began July 28, 1862, when he enlisted as a member of Company H, of the Twenty-first Iowa Infantry. He served until the close of the war and was discharged at Clinton, Iowa, reaching home July 28, 1865. The important engagements in which he participated were: Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Big Black River, Siege of Vicksburg, campaign of Spanish Fort and Mobile, and numerous skirmishes. He acquitted himself worthily and is entitled to look back with pride on his record.

Mr. Moon lived but a short time in the pioneer soddy, but occupied a log house two winters in Sherman County, as well as living in that kind of a dwelling in Iowa and Illinois.

He is a republican in politics and a member of the Methodist church and of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Compendium of History, Reminiscence and Biography of Nebraska, 1912,

Submitted by:   CD=FOFG

Henry Jenner   

It is probable that among the early settlers of Nebraska there is not a one who is more widely known than the above, who is now a resident of Loup City. He came to this county in 1883, and since that time has made it his home. For more than a quarter of a century he has lived in Loup City, and during this long period of time he has accomplished many things for the city. It is indebted to him for Jenner's Park, one of the well-known resorts of the locality, and much of its progress in other ways can be traced to his enterprise and public spirit.

Henry Jenner was born in London, England, on the 14th of March, 1861, and was the second of eight children born to Henry and Jemima Garches (Bond) Jenner. But of this large family, five of the children are still living—three sisters in England and one brother, Robert, in Loup City. Both parents died in the old country.

Mr. Jenner received his elementary education under private instructors, and after spending seven years in the famous school at Eaton, entered King's College in London, where he remained four years. After leaving this college, he engaged in the business of brewing for three years.

In 1882, he came to America, sailing from Liverpool to New York in the "City of Chester," and located in Sherman County, Nebraska. The next year, in company with his brother, Robert Bond Jenner, he bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, about seven miles south of Loup City, where they lived for five years, then sold and moved to town, where Mr. Jenner engaged in the creamery business in partnership with H. M. Mathew.

In September, 1892, Mr. Jenner married Miss Laura Lee Smith, a native of Tennessee. Her father, Andrew Jackson Smith, came to Sherman County, Nebraska, in 1879. His wife, who was Loania V. V. Norton before marriage, followed with the children the next spring. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jenner — Constance, Henry and Robert.

Mr. Jenner is one of the younger men among the early settlers, but his liberal education and natural progressiveness have tended to make him remarkable among the sturdy pioneers. He has always been interested in all measures tending to the betterment of the conditions in his adopted home, and has not hesitated to give freely of both time and means in order to accomplish the end sought. For fourteen years he served as water commissioner, superintending the municipal water works.

About 1898, he purchased some land adjoining the city limits, seven acres of which he has devoted to a private amusement and zoological park, known as Jenner's Park. He now has about two hundred animals of various kinds here, and many interesting curios from many parts of the world. Besides these, there are all kinds of devices for amusing both young and old, a splendid dancing and refreshment pavilion, etc. The grounds are beautified by the many and rare flowers, which are kept in the finest possible order, as well as the many tiny ponds filled with hundreds of darting, flashing gold fish. It is a park which would do credit to a much larger city than Loup City.

Mr. Jenner's long residence in this city, together with his remarkable personality, have made it possible for him to come in contact with many hundreds of people, and he is respected by every one with whom he has an acquaintance.

Mr. Jenner was reared in the Episcopal church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias order and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a republican.

Compendium of History, Reminiscence and Biography of Nebraska, 1912,

Submitted by:   CD=FOFG

James W. Johnson   

James W. Johnson, a successful stock and grain farmer of section twenty-nine, township fourteen, range fifteen, Sherman county, Nebraska, is widely and favorably known as a man of affairs and influence in his community. He has spent most of his life in Nebraska, and is one of the younger men among the state's early settlers.

Mr. Johnson was born at Newton, Iowa, July 24, 1866, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Watson) Johnson, third in a family of ten children. The father is mentioned at length else where in this work. Five sons—George E., Walter, Frank, Charles and Ernest—live in Valley County, Nebraska. Three daughters—Mrs. Maggie Van Scoy, Mrs. Fanny Sample and Mrs. Kate Paulser —live in Valley county.

At the age of twelve years, James W. Johnson came with his parents to Hall County, Nebraska, where the family remained three years, then moved to Valley County, where the father secured a homestead, on which he still resides. The son received his early education in Iowa, and grew to manhood on his father's farm, learning all kinds of farm work.

In 1889, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sherman County, which he operated for sixteen years, and in 1905 secured the one hundred and forty-acre farm where he now lives. He erected a very comfortable home, and otherwise improved the place, bringing it to a high state of cultivation.

He has always taken an active interest in public affairs in his community, and has served many years as a member of the school board, being now director of district number thirteen, and he has also served as township clerk.

March 2, 1902, Mr. Johnson married Miss Frances Huckelberry, a native of Marion County, Illinois, daughter of Philip and Matilda (Hewett) Huckelberry, both also born in Illinois. Her father died in Sherman County in 1904, and her mother now resides in Burt County, Nebraska. Mr. Huckelberry and wife had eight children, those besides Mrs. Johnson being: a daughter in Indiana, a daughter in Illinois, two sons and two daughters in Nebraska, and one son in Illinois.

To Mr. Johnson and wife three children have been born, namely: Alta M., a student in the St. Paul Business College; Mata, a student in the same institution; and Ellen Marie at home.

Mr. Johnson is a populist in political faith, and, fraternally, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

On his first Sherman County farm, Mr. Johnson lived for eight years in true pioneer style before building a modern frame dwelling.

Compendium of History, Reminiscence and Biography of Nebraska, 1912,

Submitted by:   CD=FOFG

Barney McDowell   

(Deceased.)

The McDowell’s were pioneers in Sherman County and are of the few families who still own the original homestead secured upon their coming to the region. They have done much toward the development and advancement of the community and have always stood for its best interests. The late Barney McDowell was well known throughout the county as an industrious farmer and a public-spirited citizen, who was always ready to do his duty in every relation of life. He was a true friend and kind neighbor much esteemed for his sterling qualities.

He was born in England and his wife in New Orleans, Louisiana, whence her father returned to England after a sojourn in the southern states. They were married at Whitehaven, England, in 1860, and came to the United States about 1866, moving from Pennsylvania to Harrison County, Iowa, in 1877.

In the fall of 1882 Mr. McDowell went to Sherman County and secured a homestead comprising the southeast quarter of section six, township sixteen, range sixteen. The following spring Mr. McDowell and his family located in their Nebraska home.

Mr. McDowell improved and developed a fine farm, and the home place now contains three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. He lived there the remainder of his life and passed away May 5, 1910, survived by his wife and six children. He was in his eightieth year, and his widow, though in advanced years, is well and active, and lives on the farm with her sons, Barney and James, who manage the place. One daughter, Bessie, is teaching in the district schools. The oldest daughter, Mary, is the wife of Edward McDowell, a sketch of whom appears in this work, and their farm adjoins the McDowell farm on the south. The other two daughters are Kate, wife of Phil Lynch, of Custer County, and Nellie, Mrs. John Sweeney, also of Custer County. The family are well known and popular in social circles and have many friends.

Compendium of History, Reminiscence and Biography of Nebraska, 1912,

Submitted by:   CD=FOFG