 MR. AND MRS. GEORGE BEARD. |
of public affairs whether local, state or national; he is still a good judge of farm land and livestock and on these subjects his expert advice is often sought. Today he is an upstanding official of trust and enterprise of whom the citizens of Cheyenne county may well be proud. On December 17, 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. McDaniel and Miss Lula Pierson, a daughter of the Sunflower state. They became the parents of ten children, five of whom died in infancy; the others are: Chester P., a conductor on a train running from Sidney to Cheyenne; James R., who owns a transfer business in Sidney, volunteered for service in the army of the United States during the World war, being assigned to the quartermasters department at Camp Funston; Helen, Frances and Robert, all of whom are still at home. Mr. McDaniel is a sturdy adherent of the Democratic party and is especially proud of the record it made during the war. He is a Mason and also a member of the Modern Woodmen. He is giving his children the many advantages that he himself was unable to secure in his childhood and youth, and assures them that if they desire they are to have full advantage of the wonderful educational advantages afforded by city and state to equip them for the business of life. GEORGE W. BEARD, pioneer frontiersman and early settler of Kimball county, who now resides near Greeley, Colorado, has had a career of varied and interesting experiences, for he has been a resident of Nebraska for nearly half a century and has seen what was then called "The Stake Plains" of the western half of the state develop into one of the garden spots of the country. In this opening up of the panhandle Mr. Beard has played an important part, for he has been the owner-manager of several newspapers in which for years he published items of help to the settlers and others which told of the many advantages of this section. Mr. Beard is one of the gallant sons of the Union who enlisted in the northern army at the outbreak of the Civil War and so did his part in preserving the integrity of the nation and today is one of the brave, gallant figures of that great organization, the Grand Army of the Republic, the ranks of which thin so rapidly each year. George W. Beard was born in Harrison county, Indiana, near the Ohio river, December 28, 1836, the son of Jesse and Charlotte Beard, the former a native of Bolling Green, Kentucky, while the mother was born in Georgia, one of the gracious and charming southern women of her day. Both parents were of Scotch-Irish extraction, handing down to their children many of the admirable traits of both races. They became the parents of eight children: Laura, Jeremiah, John P., Samuel B., Ferdinand W., who studied medicine and later became a practicing physician in Lawrence county, Indiana, and died at Vincennes; George W., of this review, Lucy F. and William D., all deceased. Mr. Beard was reared in his native state, was given the educational advantages afforded in the new country where he lived in his childhood and youth. Living near the Ohio river, which was the highway of commerce in the nineteenth century, it was but natural that he became interested in the river traffic and became a boatman. Large barges were built upon which the provisions and commodities for sale were loaded and the long trip to New Orleans commenced. Oftentimes all the products of the upper Ohio valley were sold before the barge reached New Orleans but the men finished the trip, sold or left the barge and many times returned home overland, thus learning much about the country. In 1854 Mr. Beard gave up his career on the river to enter professional life, entering the office of the Western Argus, at Corydon, Indiana, to learn the printer's trade and become a newspaper man. Corydon was one of the early capital towns of Indiana, as the seat of government was moved there from Vincennes in 1813 and its newspapers were the leading ones of the section. For five years Mr. Beard was connected with the Argus, became an efficient printer and business man as well as learning the profession of newspaper man. He was near enough to the border to be fully conversant with all phases of the slavery question and at the outbreak of the war, in 1861, enlisted in the Third Indiana Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Baker. Within a short time he was transferred to serve under Lieutenant-Colonel Scott Carter and later General George H. Chapman. Mr. Beard and his troop were sent to Washington, D. C., for equipment and instruction. When ready for active service they were assigned to duty on the east shore of Chesapeake Bay in Maryland trying to catch blockade runners. Subsequently the Third Indiana Cavalry took part in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, the siege of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and many minor skirmishes before being assigned to |
General Beaufort's corps to take part in the battle of Gettysburg. Mr. Beard and his comrades participated in the memorable Battle of the Wilderness, then served under General Phillip Sheridan on the march toward Richmond, destroying the railroads of the southerners and laying waste the country. It was on this march that Mr. Beard was wounded by a grape shot in his hip, which has caused him trouble ever since. He was removed to a hospital at Point Look Out, on Chesapeake Bay, where he remained until his third period of enlistment expired, was then sent to Indianapolis, Indiana, and given his honorable discharge though still walking on crutches. Mr. Beard returned to Lawrence County, Indiana, and within a short time became engaged in merchandising but soon sold his store to buy the Bloomfield News, which he ran six years with great success. Like so many of the returned soldiers Mr. Beard came west and in 1885 located in Kimball county; took up a homestead, proved up on it in a year and a half having a soldier's warrant and then opened a hotel in the town of Kimball. Later he engaged in the grocery business but sold out when appointed postmaster under President Harrison, serving during the Harrison administration. Mr. Beard had the honor of being elected the first judge of Kimball county, proved a most efficient official and was reelected twice, serving in the judicial capacity three terms. His tastes and inclinations were for professional life and upon leaving the bench Mr. Beard became the owner-manager of the Kimball Observer which he conducted several years before disposing of the paper and moving to Central City to assume charge of the Nonpareil, the leading publication of that locality. Five years later he disposed of his interests in Nebraska, to locate at Las Cruces, New Mexico, near the Rio Grande and for two years was the editor of the Republican. Nebraska was really home to Mr. Beard and he returned to Kimball for a period before locating at Greeley where he has since resided. In February, 1864, George Beard married Miss Angie R. Broaddeus, the daughter of Andrew and Jeanette Broaddeus, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of New York City. Six children were born to this union: Lena, deceased; A. B. Beard, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Jennie, the wife of L. W. Bickel, of Greeley, Colorado, an early banker of Kimball county; Stannard, an attorney of Billingham, Washington; George, deceased, and two infants that died. Mr. and Mrs. Beard have been members of the Presbyterian church for many years and active in church work. Mr. Beard has been a man of active and energetic life, ever supporting all movements for the development of every community where he has lived and is notable as one of the pioneer journalists of Kimball county and the Panhandle. He is now living retired, enjoying the sunset time, and as the shadows lengthen from the crimsoning west can look back across the years and feel that his has been a worthwhile and worthy life for he offered the greatest gift a man has--his life --for the defense of his country and later devoted his talents to newspaper work and the owner of such publication has great influence in moulding public opinion and opening a vast field of information to readers. Mr. Beard lead wisely and well. WALTER CLARK, is not only to be ascribed pioneer distinction in Garden county, where he established his residence prior to its creation, but he also was called upon to assume the office of first sheriff of the new county. He is the owner of a valuable tract of land in the county and to this well improved cattle ranch he gives his personal supervision, besides which he is engaged also in real estate operation, with residence and business headquarters at Oshkosh. Mr. Clark was born in Floyd county, Iowa, March 1, 1871, on his father's farm, near Charles City. He is a son of Thomas and Hannah (Smith) Clark, who were born and reared in Ireland, where their marriage was solemnized and whence they came to America as young folk, in the early '60s. Soon after their arrival in this country they established their home in Iowa, where the father devoted his attention to farm enterprise until 1886, when he came with his family to Nebraska and took up a homestead claim of a hundred and sixty acres, in Keith county. He developed a productive farm, upon which he made good improvements, and continued his activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower until he was well advanced in years. He then retired and joined his children in the vicinity of Lewellen, in what is now Garden county, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was about sixty-eight years of age at the time of his death and his wife was sixty-three years old when she passed away, both having been earnest members of the Presbyterian church, his political support having been given to the Republican party. Of the eight children five are living. |
Walter Clark acquired his early educational training in the public schools of his native state and was a lad of fifteen years at the time the family came to Nebraska, where he did his part in connection with the work of his father's farm and attended school as opportunity offered. He continued his association with the work and management of the old homestead farm until he was about twenty-six years of age, when he came to what is now Garden county and purchased a quarter section of land, near Lewellen, this land having been measurably improved and also provided with irrigation facilities. He paid at the rate of fifteen dollars an acre, and the land is now conservatively valued at two hundred dollars an acre. When he instituted active operations on this ranch Garden county was still a part of Deuel county, and of this county Mr. Clark was elected sheriff in the year 1906, when he removed from his ranch to Oshkosh, the county seat. He held the office of sheriff of Deuel county some years, and when, in 1910, Garden county was segregated therefrom and duly organized, with Oshkosh as the county seat, Mr. Clark was elected the first sheriff of the new county, a special election having been called for the selection of the officials for the new county. Giving a most efficient and acceptable administration, Mr. Clark retained the office of sheriff four consecutive terms--until January, 1919. He had refused again to become a candidate for the office in the fall election of 1918, as his private business and property interests demanded his time and attention. Alive to the enduring value of Panhandle land, Mr. Clark wisely made further investments in real estate during the period of his service as sheriff, and now he owns nineteen hundred acres of excellent grazing land, all in Garden county, all fenced and constituting one of the extensive and well equipped cattle ranches of this section of the state. He rents his original farm, but to the management of his cattle ranch and other business interests he gives his personal supervision, and also maintains his residence in Oshkosh, the county seat. As a dealer in farm land and other real estate in Garden and other counties of this section of the state Mr. Clark has conducted numerous transactions of important order thereby contributing to the further advancement of the civic and industrial prosperity of the Nebraska Panhandle. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, he is affiliated with Oshkosh Lodge, No. 286, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and his wife is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church. April 24, 1899, recorded the marriage of Mr. Clark to Miss Cora Paisley, who was reared and educated in Polk county, this state. They have no children. ROBERT A. BARLOW, the cashier of the Liberty State Bank of Sidney, Cheyenne county, from the time of its organization, is a resourceful and progressive executive and has yielded primary influence in shaping the policy of this substantial financial institution. During practically his entire business career Mr. Barlow has been associated with banking enterprises, having shown a special constructive talent for finance which he has used for the upbuilding of each bank with which he has been associated. Robert Barlow was born in Canton, Illinois, August 29, 1883, the son of Frank M. and Jennie (Carter) Barlow, both natives of Illinois, who were reared, educated, married and spent their younger days in that state. In 1900, the family came to Nebraska, locating in Webster county on a farm not far from Red Cloud, where Frank Barlow and his wife still reside. Since locating in this state the father has been actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he is meeting with well deserved success. He is a Democrat in politics and while he takes no active part in political affairs is intensely interested in all civic movements for the benefit of his community, and while making a success of his own affairs and enterprises, has not been remiss in duties of citizenship. Robert Barlow acquired his early education in the public schools of Illinois and after the family removed to Nebraska, when he was about sixteen years of age, he continued his studies in the country school and subsequently took a course in the business college at Grand Island as he had early determined to enter business life. After graduating from the college in 1904, he entered the American Bank of Sidney in May of that year, holding from the first, the responsible position of cashier of the bank, Mr. Barlow played a large part in the upbuilding of the substantial business of this institution and remained cashier until November, 1918, when he resigned to become one of the organizers and heavy stockholders of the new bank which was chartered as the Liberty State Bank, thus commemorating by its name the great struggle for the liberty of the world in which our country took such an |
important part. The original capital of the institution was $25,000, and it opened its doors for business April 5, 1919. The business has grown by leaps and bounds and the story of its initial success reads more like a fairy story of old than a modern prosaic business statement, for on August 22, 1919, the report of the bank--then little over four months old shows that there were $172,000 on deposit. It is needless to say that the bank has made phenominal (sic) progress even in this country of great and speedy success. Since becoming associated with these representative banking houses of Nebraska, Mr. Barlow has been a potent factor in furthering their advancement in financial circles and it has been under his careful and progressive regime that the Liberty State Bank has made such a wonderful advancement in the volume of business and has already become one of the leading financial institutions of western Nebraska. Though a young man, Mr. Barlow is recognized as a natural born financier; he is a broad-gauged and liberal citizen and has always shown vital interest in public affairs whether of his community, state or the nation, and during the war was one of the hardest workers in all movements for the furtherance of its prosecution in his town and county. Like so many of the younger generation, who today are holding the positions of responsibility that formerly were held only by men of advanced years, Mr. Barlow is an independent thinker on all subjects as he keeps abreast of all questions of the day whether financial, political or domestic and as a result is an independent in politics, drawing no strict party line when he casts his vote as his influence is ever with the man best fitted to administer public office. In 1907, Mr. Barlow married Miss Grace Hart of Sidney, a native of this city who is the mother of four children: Virginia, Gretchen, Marjorie and Robert A., Jr. Mr. Barlow has entered actively into the business and social life of Sidney since he first came here and has a host of good friends. His fraternal affiliations are with. the Modern Woodmen, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Woodmen of the World. He has won many depositors to his bank by his policy of courtesy, his sympathy and general good fellowship. W. H. BUETTNER. -- Prominent among the energetic and progressive agriculturists and business men of the younger generation whose activities have been centered in Cheyenne county, one deserving of more than passing mention is W. H. Buettner, During his comparatively short business career he has become identified with the best men of his community and has demonstrated the possession of sound ability and practical knowledge, qualities developed through experience and training. He is a Badger by nativity having been. born on his father's farm near Chilton, Wisconsin, November 9, 1881, and is a son of Joseph and Lucy (Bolz) Buettner. The father also was a native of Wisconsin. He was reared and educated in that northern state by beautiful Lake Michigan and enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war. Following the close of hostilities he returned to his home and was actively engaged there in farming pursuits for some time then came west, locating on a farm in Platte county, Nebraska, where he spent the rest of his life. Joseph Buettner was a hale, hearty man whose outdoor activities inured him to hard work and lived to be old, passing away after attaining the psalmist's span of three score years and ten, as he was seventy-seven at the time of his death. There were six children in the Buettner family, three boys and three girls, all of whom grew up in Wisconsin and Nebraska on their father's farm. They were given all the advantages obtainable in an educational way in the excellent public schools of both states, as their parents were anxious that they have good start in life. Mr. Buettner passed his childhood and early youth on the home farm, early acquiring valuable knowledge of farm business, the best crops to put in, the best time and methods of harvesting, and while a young man was capable of carrying on farm industry independently, due to his practical experience at home. Almost a decade ago he established himself in the Panhandle, renting a three hundred and twenty acre tract in Cheyenne county and demonstrated that his success was assured in his chosen vocation as he at once became one of the prominent men of the community, who by able management, modern methods and good hard work and a plenty of it, was soon recognized as a, capable producer of all farm products and a stockman who thoroughly understood his business. Independent in ideas, he is also independent in politics and gives his influence to the man most worthy and best fitted to fill an office. With his family he is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Buettner married Miss Josephine Korth, the daughter of John Korth of Platte county, where Mrs. Buettner was born. The |
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