Richardson County Archives – Page 3 of 4

Biography of Christ. Madowse

Christ Madowse, a former county commissioner and a prominent farmer in Richardson County, Nebraska, was born on July 4, 1864, in Effingham County, Illinois. In 1883, he moved to Nebraska, initially living with his uncle, Hans Koso, before establishing himself independently. Madowse developed a successful farm of 210 acres in Barada precinct and 70 acres in Arago precinct. He operated a threshing rig and focused on breeding Missouri jacks and Shorthorn cattle. Married to Mary Ruegge on October 23, 1891, they had one daughter, Minnie. Madowse was active in the Lutheran church, local politics, and educational initiatives.

Biography of Hugh E. Boyd

Hugh E. Boyd, born August 8, 1862, in Knox County, Ohio, was a notable figure in Richardson County, Nebraska. The son of John S. and Phoebe (McWilliams) Boyd, he moved to Nebraska in 1882, initially working in flour mills before transitioning to banking and mercantile pursuits. Boyd served as assistant cashier at the State Bank of Humboldt and later managed the Building and Loan Association and the City Mutual Telephone Company. He married Elizabeth A. Rouse in 1887, and they had three children. Boyd was also a county commissioner and active in local fraternal organizations and the Presbyterian church.

Biography of William H. Wheeler of Barada

William H. Wheeler, born November 11, 1859, was a lifelong resident of East Barada, Richardson County, Nebraska. He was the son of pioneers Henry Duke and Malinda (Buchanan) Wheeler. William inherited and developed the family’s 120-acre homestead. Henry, originally from Kentucky, served in the Mexican War before settling in Nebraska in 1855. William assumed farm responsibilities at a young age after his father’s death in 1870 and significantly improved the farm. He married Amanda Brinegar in 1882, and they raised six children. William was a respected community member, actively involved in local civic and social affairs.

Biography of Joseph Kelley Cornelius

Joseph Kelley Cornelius, born June 20, 1830, in Henry County, Kentucky, is a prominent pioneer of Richardson County, Nebraska. He moved to Illinois at twenty-one, then to Richardson County in 1860, purchasing 320 acres of land. Cornelius engaged in freighting during the early 1860s, surviving an Indian attack near the Arkansas River. Returning to farming in 1865, he expanded his holdings to 880 acres, becoming a leading local agriculturist. He retired to Humboldt in 1911. Married to Maria Tighe in 1866, they had six children. Cornelius was active in community and church affairs and supported Woodrow Wilson in the 1916 election.

Biography of Henry L. Ruegge of Arago

Henry L. Ruegge, born November 9, 1838, in Hanover, Germany, was a pioneer farmer in Richardson County, Nebraska. He emigrated to the United States with his parents, Hans Henry and Wilhelmina (Starke) Ruegge, in 1863. Settling in Arago precinct, Henry transformed their land into a productive farm. He married Sophia Hoose on February 4, 1869, and they had nine children. The Ruegges were active in the Lutheran church and local community. Henry witnessed and contributed to the development of Richardson County from its early days as a territory.

Biography of John White Holt of Falls City

The late Hon. John White Holt, former state senator, county treasurer, and president of the First National Bank of Falls City, was born on November 17, 1834, in Boone County, Missouri. Holt moved to Richardson County, Nebraska, in 1857 and became a prominent figure in business and politics. He initially engaged in mercantile business in Salem and later turned to farming and livestock. Elected as state senator and county treasurer, he also co-founded the First National Bank of Falls City, serving as its president until his death on June 16, 1911. Holt was married four times and left behind a legacy of public service and community involvement.

Biography of William Scholl of Arago

William Scholl, born October 19, 1866, in Baden, Germany, was a notable farmer in Richardson County, Nebraska, from 1883 onward. After immigrating to the United States in 1882, he initially worked on a farm in New York before moving to Nebraska. In 1894, Scholl bought and began improving his farm in the Barada precinct, where he resided for many years. He married twice, first to Caroline Hartmann in 1892, with whom he had two children, and then to Anna Scholl in 1905, with whom he had four children. Scholl was a dedicated farmer and community member, active in the Lutheran church and the local school board.

Biography of Edwin Falloon of Falls City

Edwin Falloon, a prominent lawyer in eastern Nebraska and the dean of the Richardson County bar at the time of his death in 1917, was born on July 26, 1853, in Montreal, Canada. He moved to the United States as an infant and settled in Ohio. Falloon studied at Ohio University in Athens and was admitted to the bar in 1880. He relocated to Falls City, Nebraska, in 1882, where he practiced law for thirty-five years. Known for his scholarly and ethical approach, Falloon served two terms as county attorney and was active in several fraternal organizations. He married Emma V. Stump in 1886, and they had five children. Falloon passed away on March 28, 1917.

Biography of James Lines Slocum of Falls City

James Lines Slocum, born December 1, 1844, in Linesville, Pennsylvania, was the president of the Richardson County Bank in Falls City, Nebraska, and a former mayor. He moved west at age ten and settled in Richardson County in 1865. Starting in the grain business, he later joined the Richardson County Bank in 1882 and became its president. Slocum also owned over three thousand acres of farmland and held interests in multiple banks. He married Ida E. Hoops in 1874 and had three children. Active in the Christian church and a Mason, Slocum was a prominent figure in Falls City.

Biography of Stephen Conlee Barlow of Dawson

Stephen Conlee Barlow, born January 15, 1842, in Shelby County, Indiana, is a distinguished Civil War veteran and pioneer of Richardson County, Nebraska. He played a significant role in founding the village of Dawson and contributed to its development through various business ventures, including running a wagon shop and general store. After moving to Nebraska in 1866, Barlow became a prominent community leader, serving on the school board for over 30 years and managing the Dawson-Nemaha Telephone Company. He was married twice, fathering 14 children, and remains an active member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.