These biographies were transcribed from Goodspeed’s Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton Counties. They are only the biographies for individuals who resided in Hall County Nebraska in 1890 whose surname starts with the letter F.
FINCH, D. A., D. D. S.
D. A. Finch, D.D.S., a young man still in his twenties, is, however, conceded to be one of the leading dentists of Hall County, Neb. He was born in Oneida County, N.Y., November 19, 1863, and is the second of four children born to Daniel and Maria (Livesey) Finch, who were born in England and brought to the United States when children, and here reared to maturity. The former’s death occurred in York State in 1878, at the age of forty-two years, but the mother, who was born in 1843, is still living, and resides at Camden, that State. Dr. Finch received a good practical education in the public schools of his native State, and finished his literary education in the Camden High School, from which he graduated in 1882. The following year he began the study of dentistry in the office of Doten & Martin, of Camden, N.Y., and with them remained until the spring of 1885, when he followed Horace Greeley’s advice, and came west to grow up with the country, locating at Grand Island, and has done exceptionally well, for his ability and learning are well recognized in Hall County, and the people have given him a large patronage. He is in every respect a self-made man, and has done much to advance the business interests of Grand Island. He belongs to the K/ of P., the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His marriage occurred in August, 1888, at which time Miss Addie M. Hall, born near Terre Haute, Ind., January 8, 1864, became his wife. She is a daughter of Harrison and Eliza (Carpenter) Hall, who now reside in Tacoma, Wash.
FINES, John W.
John W. Fines, farmer and stock raiser, Shelton, Neb. The name that heads this sketch is that of one of the well-known residents of Hall County, Neb. Like many other settlers in the county he came originally from Pike County, Ill, where his birth occurred on June 5, 1858. His father, William Fines, was a native of England, born about 1810, and in 1830 he emigrated to America, where, he was one of the pioneers of Pike County, Ill. About 1852 he married Mrs. Sarah Musgrave, the widow of Joseph Musgrave, who came from England with his family, and by her became the father of four children: Martha, James, Joseph and Sarah Ann. Joseph is deceased. Mr. Fines died immediately after landing. Mrs. Fines was the mother of five children by her former marriage: Charles, Esau (deceased), Jacob, John W., Abigail. The father of the last named children came from England to America in 1830. John W. Fines started out for himself at the age of twenty years, and one year later was married to Miss Zerlda Myers, daughter of John and Annie Myers, of Hall County, Neb. This union resulted in the birth of four children: Lilly M., Amzie, Loretta and an infant unnamed, all living. Mr. Fines has secured a good start in life by his close application to all enterprises undertaken by good business investments. He has a good stock of cattle, horses and hogs, and a large tract of land, which is fenced. Water is found in abundance a few feet below the surface, and, take it all in all, Mr. Fines is highly pleased with Nebraska. He is a member of no political party or church, but has recently become a member of the Farmers’ Allicance.
FRANCIS, Thomas
Thomas Francis possesses advanced ideas regarding agricultural life and since 1869 has been engaged in tilling his present farm, which comprises of 160 acres of good land. He is a son of William and Mary (Haley) Francis, and was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1832, and was reared to manhood in his native land. Two brothers have become subjects of Uncle Sam, he determined to seek a home in the United States also, and accordingly landed on American shores, and went to Wheeling W. Va., but soon after joined his brothers, at Barnesville, Ohio, remaining with them two years. He then pushed westward and for nearly two years he was engaged in railroading between Chicago and Detroit, Mich., but the year 1854 found him in Louisville, Ky., and a short time after in New Orleans, where he remained until 1856, then went to Nashville, Tenn., thence to St. Louis, where he again followed railroading, this time being on the Iron Mountain Road. In 1858 he returned to Nashville, was there during the opening of the Rebellion, joined the army and served nearly four years, participating in the following engagements: Perryville, Blue Springs, Strawberry Plains, Cumberland Gap and numerous skirmishes. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Bridget Ryan, a daughter of William and Sabina Ryan, and to them the following family was born: William (who was born March 31, 1869), Michael (born December 22, 1872), Mary (born May 15, 1874), and Sabina (born July 17, 1876). Mr. Francis came with his family to Hall County, Neb., in March, 1869, and located on 160 acres of land which is well watered by Wood River, which runs through it. He has a fine young orchard and his residence is located about a mile and a half from Shelton, Buffalo County, Neb. Mr. Francis and all his family are strict members of the Roman Catholic Church and he is a stanch Democrat and member of the Farmers’ Alliance.
FUEHRMAN, Henry Theodore Julius
Henry Theodore Julius Fuehrman is a well known and highly skillful architect of Grand Island, Neb., and was born in Brunswick, Germany, March 27, 1858, being the only son of Henry and Tulia Fuehrman, the latter of whom is now deceased. The father still resides in Germany. The immediate subject of this biography attended the schools of his native land until he was fourteen years of age, after which he served an apprenticeship at the mason’s trade. Upon leaving school he decided to prepare himself for the duties of an architect, and throughout his entire youth he devoted himself closely to the study of architecture in different polytechnic institutions throughout his native land. When twenty years of age he entered the Germany Army, serving one year, and in 1882 he came to America, and after spending two years in Chicago and in different places in Dakota and Omaha, Neb., he came to Grand Island, which place has since continued to be his home. Soon after coming to Hall County he did some brick laying, but as soon as an opportunity present itself he resumed the calling of an architect, and has given his entire attention to that pursuit for the past five years, and is at present one of the leading men of his calling in the State. The following are some of the principal buildings on which he has worked: The City Hall, Michelson Block, Catholic Church, Baptist University, Soldiers’ Home, and the Oxsnard Beet-Sugar Factory in Grand Island and the Buffalo County Courthouse at Kearney, Neb. He has built up an enviable reputation, for he is a very skillful workman and is noted for the thoroughness of his work. September 19, 1885, he was married to Miss Dora Joehnck, a daughter of Henry Joehnck, a sketch of whom appears in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Fuehrman have two children: Julia and Gustav. Mr. Fuehrman is a member of the A.O.U.W., and politically is a Republican. He is a skilled draughtsman and possesses much natural ability for his chosen calling.
FULLER, Charles
Charles Fuller, farmer, Alda, Hall County, Neb., a lifetime of hard, earnest endeavor in pursuing the occupation to which he now gives his attention, coupled with strict integrity, honesty of purpose and liberality in all directions, have had a result to place Mr. Fuller among the truly respected and honored agriculturists of the county. He was born in the State of New York May 31, 1829, and is the son of Pamenus and Hannah (Hubbard) Fuller, both natives also of the Empire State. They were married there and subsequently moved to Pennsylvania, locating in Erie County, where the father followed the stone mason and plastering trade. He moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio, then Medina County, where he passed the closing scenes of his life. He lived on a farm the principal part of his life. He was born October 13, 1801, and died March 1, 1861, and the mother was born April 5, 1805. Their family consisted of the following children (four living): Marilla (born February 11, 1824), Reuben(born November 10, 1826), Charles (born Mary 31, 1829), Thomas (born August 3, 1831), Sidney (born December 28, 1833), James (born October 29, 1836), George (born October 13, 1839), Franklin (born February 26, 1842), Henry (born July 29, 1845) and Susan (born February 27, 1849). The mother of these children died in 1861, only about two weeks after the death of her husband. Charles Fuller was still in his teens when he moved with his parents to Ohio, and he got $4 per month for three months during the summer when he winnowed hay with a hand rake. He attended the common schools of that State and worked on a farm until he was married. He then picked up the carpenter trade and went to Pennsylvania, thence to Iowa, where he settled in Fayette County, and followed his trade there for some time. He owned a farm and continued to cultivate the soil in the last named county until 1879, when he emigrated to Nebraska, and purchased 160 acres of land in Hall County. He was married in 1854 in Erie County, pa., to Miss Clarinda Wicks, who was born in the Keystone State in 1837, and to them have been born four living children: Melvin C. (born July 7, 1858), Mary C. (born May 31, 1868), Monroe (born April 12, 1870) and Edward F. (born March 6, 1878). The children deceased were Elnora L. (who was born April 7, 1863, and died in Iowa February 20, 1867), and the others were infants. Mrs. Fuller was the daughter of J.S. and Harriet (Conant) Wicks, the father a native of Vermont, born in 1809. The latter was reared in the State of New York, was married there, and there resided until 1836, when he went to Pennsylvania and there died May 21, 1889. Grandfather Conant was a native of Scotland, and emigrated to America before the War of 1812. Mrs. Fuller is in possession of a pair of eyeglasses given her by her maternal grandfather, and which have been in the family for many years.
FULLER, M. C.
M.C. Fuller, farmer and stock raiser, Alda, Neb. Mr. Fuller owes his nativity to Gratiot County, Mich., where his birth occurred July 7, 1858, and is now following a calling that has for ages received undivided efforts from many worthy individuals, and one that always furnishes sustenance to the ready worker. He is the eldest in a family of five children born to the union of Charles and Clarinda (Wicks) Fuller, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. The parents were married in the Keystone State, and there the father followed original agricultural pursuits, but in connection carried on the carpenter trade. He subsequently moved to Ohio, thence to Gratiot County, Mich., back again to Ohio, then to Fayette County, Iowa, and there remained until 1879, when he came to Hall County, Neb., and settled in Wood River Township. There they both reside at the present time. M.C. Fuller was early initiated into the duties of farm life, and received a liberal education in the schools of Fayette County, Iowa. He came to Nebraska in 1879, and was married at Prairie Du Chien, Wis., on April 11, of that year, to Miss Lydia H. Brooks, a native of Fayette County, Iowa, and the daughter of Chancy and Hannah Brooks, natives of New York and Ohio, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks settled in Iowa at an early day, and there the father still resides. The mother died in 1876. In 1882 Mr. Fuller purchased an unimproved farm of 160 acres, and went to work upon the same. He has since erected a good house, barn, outbuildings, and is also engaged in raising a good grade of stock. He is active in politics, and votes with the Republican party. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1887, was subsequently elected and re-elected in 1889. Socially he is a member of the Alda Lodge No. 165, A.O.U.W., and as a citizen and neighbor is thoroughly liked. To his marriage have been born two children: Hannah C. (born June 19, 1880) and Wesley M. (whose birth occurred September 29, 1885.)
Source: Goodspeed brothers. Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state: a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties… Chicago: The Goodspeed publishing co., 1890.
Back to: 1890 Hall County Biographies
Back to: Hall County Nebraska History and Genealogy Project