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two and a half miles southwest from Beatrice, it is possible to enjoy fully the various society events of that beautiful city. Mr. Stoll, while in New York City was united in marriage with Miss Barbara Schieck, April 18, 1852. This lady is a native of Germany, and came to this country in the year 1848, when about thirteen years of age. She was born April 17, 1835, in Baden, near Heidelberg; she is the daughter of Henry George and Julia Schieck. They had a family of eleven children, seven of whom grew to maturity, and in the year, 1848 they emigrated to America, landing in New York. From there they made their way to Will County, Ill., and settled in Mokena, that county, where the father bought a farm, and continued to farm until his death, which took place in 1885, aged a little over ninety years, The mother died in 1886, also at the age of ninety years. They became well-to-do, and assisted all their children in life. Mrs. S. has presented her husband with seven bright, healthy boys, and five girls, equally well endowed. Matilda, now Mrs. Roemer, of Kansas City; Charles M., Henry A., Albert F.; Malena J., now Mrs. Cunningham, of Marysville, Kan.; Louis J., William A., Ferdinand H., Nettie E., Barbary A., Mary H., and Edward J. All of these survive. During the past seven years our subject has not had a doctor's bill to the amount of $5 presented to him on their account. Our subject ,and wife were both brought up in the Lutheran Church, and have ever continued their membership in that communion. Their children also are being reared in the same faith. They are attendants at the church at Beatrice. Socially, our subject is connected with the I. O. O. F., and is a member of Beatrice Lodge No. 19, and also of the Encampment No. 16, at time same place. As a result of his experiences he has since the war been a Republican, although formerly he was a Democrat. In Missouri, whither he went after his mill burned, he was compelled to trade a $50 gun for a sack of meal, in order to keep his family from starving until he could get something to do. Such was the public sentiment at that time that he was obliged to hide in the brush for over two weeks in order to prevent being killed by rebels, who had threatened his life. Upon another occasion they called upon him to help raise a pole on which they had put a rebel flag. but he refused utterly, saying, "You may put a rope around my neck and pull me up to where you put the flag, but I will not give so much as the strength of my little finger in assisting to raise that pole or flag." This act of loyalty was the occasion of such an outburst as to make him leave the State. This, and also numerous other incidents upon the same line, have made him an unfaltering Republican. This history of our subject presents many features of encouragement to those who are still engaged in the upward struggle. Not only was the first start in life due to his own effort, but each of the three recommencements he has since made; for his misfortunes have been many, and upon three different times he has been reduced to the necessity of practically beginning life anew. Then again he has lost considerable money at various times by notes he had endorsed for friends, who failed to pay the same when due. However, his industry, push and good management have enabled him to survive every disaster, surmount every obstacle, and attain this ultimate unqualified success. Mr. Stoll has a section of laud in Harlan County, this State, where it is his intention to start four of his sons in stock-raising in the coming season, and their success is well-nigh assured, seeing they have manifested the same high character and many of the noble personal traits possessed by their father. One of the most delightful rural views the publishers have presented to the public in many years is the full-page view of Mr. Stoll's residence, and some of the magnificent animals which he makes a specialty in raising.
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musician established in Wymore. Mr. Trowbridge has been from his youth up a teacher of instrumental and vocal music, and received his musical training from Prof. George F. Root and Dr. Palmer, both of international reputation.
Demptsy Trowbridge, the father of our subject, was horn in Bourbon County. Ky., Nov. 11, 1801. In the same place he was reared, received a common school education, and afterward learned the trade of a blacksmith, after which he taught school in Washington County, Ind., and there became acquainted with, and finally married Miss Edith Skelton, which event took place Nov. 27, 1823. They became the parents of eleven children, six of whom were sons. One of their children died in early childhood. Our subject was the youngest child of the family. During the term of his teaching school, the father of our subject was impelled by his religions convictions to enter the ministry, and during the latter years of his life served in that office in the Christian Church. He was a man of large physical power, and well-developed, active brain, rapid and accurate in thought. When he had reached the age of thirty-eight years he was stricken with fever, and after a very brief illness was defeated in the battle of life, and fell under the keen sickle of the "Reaper," on the 31st of March, 1839, just six days before our subject was born, leaving his widow and family in a financially destitute condition. He had become quite prominent as a minister, and large things were expected from him should he have survived.
Mrs. Trowbridge, the mother of our subject, was born at Wheeling, W. Va., on the 12th of October, 1807. When twelve years of age she went to Washington County, Ind., with her parents, and made her home with them until her marriage. She was the daughter of John Skelton, a native of West Virginia, as was also his wife. Her father died in Owen County, Ind., at the age of sixty-five years. Mrs. Trowbridge was thirty-two years of age when her husband was taken from her, and was left with her ten children, under the circumstances above noticed, to face the hard, matter-of-fact world, but with the heroism of motherhood she nobly faced the situation and kept her children with her, feeding, clothing, educating and preparing them to take their places in life's struggle. This alone speaks most emphatically as to her noble womanhood, strength of character, sound judgment and affection. It has been her joy to see all her children enter into life, not simply in honorable callings, but with that strength and power which come from communion with the Divine, which is at once the privilege and part of the Christian. All her sons at some time in their life have been teachers of music; one of them, the subject of this sketch, has made it his chosen profession. Two of her daughters taught in the public schools, as did also two of the boys. In 1857 she, with the youngest children, went to Marshall County, Ill., and there made her home until Oct. 31, 1866, when she died, after a widowhood of twenty-seven years.
Our subject was born in Washington County, Ind., on the 6th of April, 1839, and afterward lived in Owen and Morgan Counties of the same State. In the two latter he received his education in the common schools. In 1857 he went to Illinois with his mother, who made arrangements for him to enter Eureka University, where he remained for one year, after which he taught in the public schools for five years, and in addition throughout the same period giving instruction in music. This was followed by his entrance into the classes of the State Normal School at Normal, McLean Co., Ill., where he staid for one year, taking advantage of every opportunity offered to perfect himself in his profession, then he returned to school teaching until 1869, in that time serving at Washburn, Belle Plain and different points in the country. He then attended the Normal School for Music at Janesville, Wis., conducted by Profs. Palmer and Root, at the end of the term receiving a certificate bearing the names of the following renowned musicians: W. Ludden, W. S. B. Mathews, C. G. Titcomb, E. H. Nourse and El. H. Palmer. During all of this time he was a classmate of the world-renowned P. P. Bliss, also S. W. Straub and C. E. Leslie. Although our subject had taken such a thorough course in music he continued under the instruction of Profs. Palmem and Root for fully two years longer, with them attending and instructing at musical conventions. Coupled with his natural talent and love of harmonics, these unusually fa-
vorable opportunities to train and mature his ability as a teacher insured his success beyond question.
Upon leaving his instructors our subject taught at Atlanta, Lincoln, Broadwell, Elkhart, of Logan County, Williamsville and Springfield in Sangamon County. He spent ten years in Lincoln, Ill., and in that period gave over 4.000 lessons, for which he received between $8,000 and $10,000. He next settled in Minonk, Woodford Co., Ill., and made it his headquarters for four years, having large classes at Metamora, Roauoak, Benson, Rutland, Dana and Ancona. In the year 1884 he settled in Wymore, and has since taught for nine terms his chosen art. He is held in the highest regard in the community as a professor of music, both in regard to his knowledge and his ability to impart instruction, and no less so because he is in every relation of life an honorable, Christian gentleman.
While residing at Minonk, April 13, 1870, our subject became the husband of Carrie Leslie, a lady in every way in harmony with his own temperament and professional aspirations. This lady was born in Madison County, Ky., Sept. 12, 1842. She is the daughter of Isaiah Webb, and lived with her parents until the date of her marriage with Alexander Leslie, and during her widowhood resided at Lincoln, where she met our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge have been born three children, whose names are as subjoined: Demptsy L., who was born on the 14th of May, 1872; Pearl M. E., Feb. 25, 1877, and Elmer Garfield, who was born on the 24th of February, 1880. The great shadow in the life of our subject, and one seemed fully to emerge, made its presence felt in September, 1881. Upon the 20th of that month his daughter Pearl was taken by death after a very brief illness with scarlet fever, and ten days later his youngest child, Elmer, followed her, leaving the parents face to face with a sorrow that nothing upon earth can remove. The eldest son, Demptsy, was spared to his parents, however, and develops a character that promises a most honorable career.
Our subject and wife are both members in good standing of the Wymore Christian Church, and are among the most active and consistent members. Mr. Trowbridge is also one of the Elders, an office which he has filled since the organization of the church in February, 1886. He has been very energetic and enthusiastic in Sunday-school work, and has held the office of Sunday-school Superintendent for a like period. The standing of our subject and his family in the community is exceptionally high in every relation.
IRAM LACY. Among the representative farmers and stock-raisers of the southern part of Gage County no one has been more successful in his chosen calling than our subject, as is denoted by his valuable farm, finely located on section 2, Paddock Township, embracing 240 acres of exceedingly fertile land, all fenced and under good cultivation, and well stocked with herds of sleek, well-fed cattle and swine. He is one of the early settlers of this township, and has been active in promoting the development of its agricultural facilities. When he began life he had no money, but sound, common sense, a good, practical knowledge of agriculture and an industrious disposition have stood him in good stead, for by the exercise of these he has gained an independent competence, and can support his family in comfort and ease. Mr. Lacy naturally takes much pride in his success as a farmer, and he is proud of his fine looking cattle, which compare favorably with any in the county; he is paying attention chiefly to raising cattle and hogs, selling about forty head of the former each year, and from seventy-five to a hundred of the latter, feeding all the grain that he raises.
Mr. Lacy is a native of Davenport, Iowa, his birth taking place in that city April 24, 1850. His parents, Hiram and Anna (Workman) Lacy, were natives of Kentucky and Tennessee. When our subject was five years old they left the city of his birth and went to Atchison, Kan., where they lived for awhile. The father of our subject subsequently died in Henry County, Iowa, in June, 1857. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a man of sterling worth and sound integrity, commanding the respect of all with whom he came in contact, either in a business or in a social way. In 1861 our subject and his mother came to Nebraska and located
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in Richardson County, where they lived for several years. Mrs. Lacy is now spending the declining years of her life in the home of her son John, in Colorado, near Colorado Springs. She is the mother of five children now living, of whom Hiram, of this sketch, is the third in order of birth.
Our subject came to Gage County in March, 1878, and located on the farm where he now lives. To the wife who presides over his home and makes it comfortable and cozy, he was united in marriage in Falls City, Neb., Sept. 16, 1873. Mrs. Lacy was formerly Miss Fannie Johnson, and she is a daughter of the late Alexander and Mary Johnson, natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Johnson died when her daughter was about nine years old; Mr. Johnson died in Washington County, Ark., in February, 1888, The pleasant household circle of our subject and his wife is completed by the seven children who survive the nine horn to them. Mr. Lacy is an independent, capable. self-reliant man, possessing much shrewdness and forethought; he is frank and openhearted, and is well liked by his neighbors, as he is always obliging and helpful.
EORGE McCLUNG is one of the early settlers of Paddock Township, and has contributed his share toward its development and improvement, He is actively and prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm on section 34, which he has improved from the wild, unbroken prairie to one of the best tilled farms in this locality. He is a native of Ohio, first opening his eyes to the light of day in Jefferson County, May 2, 1855. His parents, Archibald and Lucinda (Carden) McClung, natives of New York and Ohio, moved to Van Wert County, Ohio, when our subject was a mere child. From there they went to Clinton County, Iowa, in 1865, and in 1869 removed to Grundy County, in the same State, and there the family was bereft of the faithful wife and devoted mother, who died Oct. 2, 1876, at the age of fifty-two, lamented by many, as she was a woman of sterling virtues and of a kindly disposition. In 1878 the father came with his children to Gage County, and purchased his present farm of 160 acres in Paddock Township, and he has since been a respected resident of this township.
George McClung was reared partly in his native State and partly in Iowa, and he grew to be a strong and capable lad, and early put his shoulder to the wheel to assist his father in carrying on his farm; thus he gained a sound, practical knowledge of agriculture, which has been of great benefit to him since he has had a farm of his own. July 23, 1876, he was married to Miss Margaret, daughter of Robert and Mary A. (Brown) Dick. Mrs. McClung's mother died in Linn County, Iowa, in 1869, and her father is now living in Dakota. To our subject and his wife have been born six children, one of whom, Desie, is deceased. The others are Mary L., Archibald W., Elizabeth J., Emma M. and Agnes A.
Mr. McClung came to Gage County with his family in 1878, and bought eighty acres of land on section 34, Paddock Township, comprising his present farm; he is now fencing 240 acres, including his father's 160-acre farm. He has his land well unproved; he is engaged in general farming. but each year confines his attention more and more exclusively to stock-raising, in which department he is meeting with marked success. When Mr. McClung first came here this township was not laid out, and it may well be his pride that he has been privileged to aid it in its development and to watch its growth. He is a shrewd, far-seeing man, of good business habits, with a fine reputation, friendly and obliging in his relations with his neighbors, and in his family a kind husband and devoted father. He is a strong Prohibitionist.
ILLIAM YOUNG. This gentleman is perhaps one of the largest stock-raisers of Highland Township. He resides upon his ranch on section 1, where he owns 320 acres of very excellent land, admirably suited to his purpose. As will be noticed, he is one of the pioneers of this county. Mr. Young was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on the 20th of July, 1843, and is the son of Edward and Jane Young, both of whom were of Scotch descent, but natives of Ulster, North Ireland
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© 2004 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller |
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EMPTSY H. TROWBRIDGE. Among the inspiring and elevating influences which act upon the soul in this life, few are more potent than that of harmony, especially as rendered by a well-trained orchestra, or breathed from the soul of an organ. The sketch of the salient features in the life of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this paper presents the history of the first trained and fully educated 
