 MR. AND MRS. DICK PICKETT |
came from there to the United States and settled first in New Jersey but later moved to Athens, Ohio, where he died. On the paternal side the ancestry is French. The paternal grandfather, Isaac Matheny, was born in Ohio. His parents came from France, as Huguenot refugees, and settled at first in Virginia but later moved to Ohio and established the home in which L. G. Matheny was born and reared. He entered military service in the beginning of the Civil War, in which he served four years, was lieutenant of company I in an Ohio regiment that took part in the memorable struggles at Memphis, Shiloh and Vicksburg. Later he became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church and since retiring from active church work has carried on a fire insurance business at Nelsonville, Ohio. Of his seven children, Charles M. is the eldest of the survivors, the others being: William, in the employ of the General Electric Company at St. Louis, Missouri; Harry, employed as an inspector by the Hupmobile Company, at Detroit, Michigan; Gertrude, the wife of W. A. Pride, a dental practitioner at Gloscester, Ohio; Luella, head saleswoman in a wholesale millinery house at Detroit; and Marie, private secretary for an attorney at Cleveland, Ohio. Following his graduation in 1889, from the Beverly, Ohio, high school, Charles M. Matheny began to teach school and thereby earned his way through college, his method being to teach during the winter season and enter school in the spring. Thus he paid his way through the Ohio University at Athens, between 1894 and his graduation in 1900, with the degree of B. Ped. For two years he was superintendent of the schools of Coolville, Ohio, for three years was principal of the public schools of Athens, for three years afterward taught mathematics at Circleville, and in 1908 was offered a fellowship in American history and political science, at Columbus, Ohio, receiving his Master's degree in 1909. For three years before coming to, Nebraska, he was principal of the schools of Defiance, Ohio, and afterward, for two years was school superintendent at Emerson, in Dixon county, Nebraska. He came then to Scottsbluff and took over the superintendence of the city schools. At the present time he has heavy responsibilities, having charge of nine school buildings, 51 teachers and 1,562 pupils. Supt. Matheny is a man of progressive ideas and many modern innovations have been planned and accepted by him for the benefit of the school service. He has a capable trained nurse inspect the pupils twice each week. He has done much to raise the standard of scholarship and gives encouragement to various school movements designed to arouse ambition and emulation. In 1898, Professor Matheny was united in marriage to Miss Lolo Wiley, who was born at Guysville, Ohio, her father, A. P. Wiley, being a substantial farmer and stockman and a veteran of the Civil War. Mrs. Matheny is a highly educated lady, a teacher, and much interested in higher education. They have one son, H. Claire, who was born August 1, 1901. At present he is attending the University of Colorado. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, like his honored father, Mr. Matheny is a Republican. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is a member of the Eastern Star order. DICK PICKETT, one of the leading and progressive business men of Scottsbluff, who has been and is playing an important part in the development of this western section of the state, is the exponent of what ability and determination may do. There are numerous instances in western Nebraska where men have arrived in the Panhandle without acquaintances or friends and have worked their way to affluence and position, but there are few which equal the record of the man whose name heads this review. He has been the architect of his comfortable fortune and has the pride of knowing that it has been by his own unaided efforts that his present competency has been accumulated through honest business methods and his own hard work. His ability, given the opportunity finally to evince itself, has placed him in an enviable position, for today Mr. Pickett is accounted one of the leading citizens of Scottsbluff and the surrounding commercial district. Dick Pickett was born in Perry county, Indiana January 3, 1959, the son of James H. and Maryanna (Evett) Pickett. The father was a Hoosier by birth, was reared and educated in his native state, where he received his educational advantages in the public schools, and after attaining manhood's estate, engaged in the business with which he had become familiar in his early youth, agricultural industry, and was accounted one of the best farmers and successful stockmen of that section and time. Maryanna (Evett) Pickett was born in Ireland, and accompanied her parents to America when she was a young girl of thirteen years. After reaching the United States the family located in Indiana, where she grew to womanhood, was educated, and there met and married her future husband. She was a |
loving wife and devoted mother and lived to see all her children well started in life before she was called by the Grim Reaper to her last rest in her forty-fifth year. In 1893, James Pickett left his old home in Indiana and came west, locating at Ravenna, Nebraska, about three years, then to Springfield, Missouri, where he died. He lived to be eighty years old. He enlisted in 1861 in Company H, Twenty-third Indiana Regiment and served three years, also three of his sons, all in same regiment and company. Dick Pickett was reared on his father's farm in Indiana; attended the public school nearest his home and grew up enured to the invigorating but strict discipline of farm life. He early learned all the practical methods of farming and such stock raising as was conducted in Indiana, where he engaged in business when old enough to conduct his own affairs. He was an ambitious youth, read of the many advantages afforded a man willing to hazard his fortunes in the newer country west of the Missouri river, and while still a young man determined to strike out from the old and more thickly settled districts for the west, which has ever had a lure for the youth of this broad land. In 1883, he came to Nebraska and settled in Buffalo county on a farm which he cultivated for seventeen years, bringing the soil up to a high state of fertility, making permanent improvements in the way of buildings, and becoming one of the well-to-do farmers of that section. In 1900 Mr. Pickett sold his first farm in Nebraska and purchased a better location in the vicinity of Hershey, but he was wide-awake, kept abreast of all agricultural questions of the day, and with a keen, far vision soon realized that the great future of the agriculturist lay in that section where a man was not dependent upon the rainfall which in this semi-arid country made farming rather a gamble than an assured commercial enterprise, and selling his holdings he came to Scottsbluff county to take advantage of the irrigation projects, both private and government, for he knew that the soil was fertile enough provided water could be had in proper quantity and at just the proper growing season. Mr. Pickett purchased twenty acres of land just east of the city of Scottsbluff, but within the corporation limits, and an eighty-acre tract a mile north of town. He has raised feed and engaged extensively in buying western cattle, feeding them to fatten for the market and then shipped to the big packing centers of Kansas and Nebraska, and along this line has met with gratifying success as he is a skilled buyer, a good manager and hard worker, a combination that must bring good results in business when a man devotes his energies and abilities to a desired end. In politics Mr. Pickett is a staunch adherent of the Democratic party, though be does not draw strict party lines in mere local elections, as he is broad-minded enough and has the affairs of his community so at heart that he desires to throw his influence to the best man fitted to serve the people. Fraternally he is allied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with his family is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Pickett has not been remiss in any duty of citizenship and is today regarded as one of the progressive and influential men of Scottsbluff, and his success is well merited. On November 3, 1886, Mr. Pickett married Miss Lizzie Herbaugh, in Buffalo county, Nebraska. She was born in Indiana but came to Nebraska with her parents when a child and was reared and educated in this state, so may almost be regarded as a native daughter. Her father, John Herbaugh, was also a Hoosier by birth, reared and educated in that state, and after attaining manhood, established himself independently in business as a farmer. Indiana was well settled up at that time and land was high, so he decided to take advantage of the fine offers of land given by the homestead plan in the west, and in 1873 he came to Nebraska, locating on a claim in Buffalo county, and thus he became one of the hardy, sturdy, brave pioneers of the middle west. The family passed through all the hardships and privations that settlers had to contend with, but they were not discouraged by blizzards or droughts, and lived here to see their faith in this great, wide, open country justified. Mr. Herbaugh, invigorated by his strenuous life, was a hearty old man who lived to be seventy-three years old. He served three years in the Rebellion. Rachel Ann Crawford Herbaugh was born and bred in Indiana, where she received her education and after her schooling was over, met and married John Herbaugh, accompanied him to the new home in the west, and was a loving wife and faithful helpmate during all the trying years they spent on the frontier, establishing a home and winning a comfortable fortune before the sunset years of life overtook them. Mrs. Herbaugh passed away in her sixty-sixth year. They had a family of ten robust children and lived to see them become capable, upstanding, honorable men and women. Mr. and Mrs. Pickett have been blessed with ten children, of whom eight survive: James M., of Glendo, Wyoming, a farmer owning his own homestead, who during the World War served in the Coast Defense Artillery at San |
Francisco and also in the Fortieth Coast Artillery, receiving his honorable discharge December 23, 1918; Mrs. Verdie R. Roseman of Torrington, Wyoming, has two children: William O., of Glendo, Wyoming; John C., of Scottsbluff, who also served in the Coast Defense Artillery in San Francisco, being later transferred to the Forty-first Coast Artillery at Fortress Monroe, is now a student at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln; Willard, deceased; Dorsey M., Theodore, Ivedell, Richard, and Raymond, all of whom are still at home with their parents, who intend to give each child every educational advantage afforded in the city and state that they may be well equipped to start out in life. CLYDE L. HARRISON, a representative business man of Scottsbluff, who is doing a large business as contractor and builder, was born at Greenfield, Iowa, February 10, 1880, and has been a resident of Scottsbluff for seventeen years. The parents of Mr. Harrison are John J. and Clara E. (Rice) Harrison, both of whom survive. The father came to Iowa in young manhood and served three years in the Civil War as a member of company C Twenty-third Iowa infantry. He was a daring soldier and in one of the big battles was so seriously wounded that he had to be placed in a hospital and later was honorably discharged. He was a carpenter and contractor before the war. He now resides in the Soldiers' Home at Leavenworth, Kansas, while the mother is a resident of Ainsley, Nebraska. Of their nine children seven survive and four of these live in Nebraska three other sons besides Clyde L., namely: Worley M., who is a resident of Gordon; Orien A., who lives at Ainsley; and E. Lee, who is in the contracting business at Scottsbluff. In politics the father is a Republican, and both parents are members of the Presbyterian church. Clyde L. Harrison obtained his education in the public schools in Nebraska. He learned the carpenter trade and after locating at Scottsbluff in 1902, was, for years, engaged in more house building than any other builder and contractor in this city. In 1918 he opened his garage where a general automobile repair business was carried on and he handled the King and Oldsmobile cars. This business he sold out in the spring of 1919. In 1903 Mr. Harrison was united in marriage to Miss Amy B. Fink, who was born at Seward, Nebraska, and they have the followed children: Velma Gertrude, Ivan Ray, Clyde, Helen Ruth and Howard Sheldon, the older children being in school. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are members of the Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder and member of the board of trustees. Men of Mr. Harrison sturdy character are not apt to be unduly active in politics with a view to securing public office, but he is a faithful, earnest citizen and conscientiously supports the principles of the Republican party. JOHN W. MONTZ, whose business enterprise and natural adaptability have placed him among the successful men in the automobile industry at Scottsbluff, is one of Nebraska's own sons, born at Harrisburg, August 5, 1891. With him in conducting the garage is his brother, Martin R. Montz, and an extensive business is done. The parents of Mr. Montz are Martin and Gertrude (Simon) Montz, the former of whom was born in Steuben county, New York, July 20, 1858, and the latter in DeKalb county, Missouri. They were married December 30, 1880, at Cameron, Missouri, and six children have been born to them: Elizabeth Matilda, the wife of J. R. Naird, a farmer and stockman in Sioux county, Nebraska; Lebanna and Martie R., twins, the former of whom lives at Alberta, nine miles north of Scottsbluff, and the latter of whom is in the garage business at Scottsbluff; Gertrude Malissa, the wife of John Burnstock, a railroad man of Bridgeport, Nebraska; John William, of Scottsbluff; and Verna Ruth, an accomplished stenographer. The parents are members of the Christian church. Politically the father is an independent voter, and he belongs to the order of United Workmen. He came to Nebraska in the spring of 1884 and in 1886 homesteaded in Banner county, where he engaged in farming for several years. Later he came to Scottsbluff and for a number of years was in the meat market business. He now assists in the garage owned by his sons. He is well known and much respected. John W. Montz remained at Harrisburg, where he attended school until 1900, then worked on a farm near Scottsbluff and as a stockman for a while. About 1910 he embarked in an automobile livery business at Scottsbluff, which he conducted for four years, then worked as a mechanic in a garage until he had learned the business in every detail, including the mechanism of every type of automobile. In 1918 he opened his own garage and since then has devoted himself closely to his business with satisfactory results. On |
December 4, 1913, he was united in marriage to Miss Bertha May Klingman, and they have one daughter, Loraine Genevieve. He is independent in his political views but no one doubts his good citizenship. MARTIE R. MONTZ, who is well-known in the garage business at Scottsbluff, in association with his brother, John W. Montz, was born in Missouri, February 7, 1884. He is one of a family of six children born to Martin and Gertrude (Simon) Montz, the former of whom was born in Steuben county, New York, and the latter in Missouri, in which latter state they were married. The parents of Mr. Montz came to Nebraska in the spring of 1884, when he was but an infant. His father homesteaded in Banner county in 1886 and his early years were spent on the home farm but he attended school at Harrisburg. Mr. Montz then went farther west and for fifteen years rode range in Montana, South Dakota and Idaho as well as Nebraska, meeting with many thrilling adventures during that time. In 1917 he located at Scottsbluff and went into business with his brother, and a large business connection has been built up. The partners are practical men, both have had solid experience and the public has confidence in them. Mr. Montz was married on December 25, 1918, to Miss Sylvia Folden. While interested and well posted on public affairs Mr. Montz like his father has always preferred to be an independent voter. GEORGE F. KIMBROUGH. -- There are few men in the automobile business at Scottsbluff who have advanced to the front in this line more rapidly or substantially than George F. Kimbrough, and not always do men of collegiate training and professional prestige, find equal success in the practical field of business. Mr. Kimbrough is the owner of the. Scottsbluff plant of the Platte Valley Motor Company, and also owns the Bayard Motor Company. George F. Kimbrough was born at Denver, Colorado, October 18, 1887, the second in a family of three children born to James W. and Norah (White) Kimbrough. The other members of the family are: James T., who is a railroad man, of Denver; and Corinne, who is the wife of Stephen M. Hall, a stockman of Denver county. The mother of the above family was born at Bellefontaine, Ohio, April 18, 1859, and the father at Carthage, Illinois, December 7, 1849. He came to Denver in 1878, was married at Denver, and for years has been a railroad man, at present being one of the older conductors on the Colorado & Southern line. He is a Democrat in his political views and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. With his graduation from the high school in 1907, George F. Kimbrough completed the entire public school course at Denver, and in 1912 graduated from the law department of the Colorado State University with his LL.B. degree, during his college life being a member of the Phi Delta Theta and the Phi Delta Phi Greek letter fraternities. He was admitted to the bar in the same year and engaged in the practice of law with the firm of Macbeth & May, of Denver, for four years. Mr. Kimbrough then became interested in the automobile business and accepted the office of secretary of the Sharman Automobile Company, with which concern he remained eighteen months and then took charge of the Scottsbluff branch of the Platte Valley Motor Company, in which he bought a one-half interest in April, 1918, and the remaining interest in January, 1919, and also became owner of the Bayard Motor Company as mentioned above. Mr. Kimbrough handles Ford cars and Fordson tractors exclusively. His sale field is all through the Platte Valley where these cars and tractors are very satisfactory. On June 24, 1914, Mr. Kimbrough was united in marriage to Miss Helen Ryals, who was born at Macon, Georgia, and they have a daughter, who was born April 19, 1919. He belongs to Union Lodge No. 7, A. F. & A. M.; Denver Chapter No. 2 R. A M.. and Colorado Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar and El Jebel Temple Shriners. He is not affiliated with any political party but is a watchful citizen nevertheless and casts a careful, well considered vote according to his own free judgment. FRANK B. DE CONLY. -- One of the interesting men of Scottsbluff is found in Frank B. De Conly, vice president of the Scottsbluff Live-Stock Commission Company, and of other important business enterprises, not only because of his pleasing personality, but on account of the fact that he has built up a substantial fortune, entirely through his own efforts in the comparatively short time since he reached manhood. He was born in Custer county, Nebraska, in 1888. The parents of Mr. De Conly, Frank and Mary E. (Ellington) De Conly, reside at Hastings, Nebraska. The father was born in Penn- |
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