Michael Sullivan, the well known and popular agriculturist residing about a mile and a half north of Friend in Saline county, is a stanch and thrifty Irish-American citizen, one who has acquitted himself exceedingly well in his life career. He has lived in this country since early
manhood, is one of the veterans of the Civil war, and in the pursuits peace has made as creditable a record as he gained while a soldier in the service of his adopted country.
He was born in Ireland in 1846, nearly sixty years ago, being a son of Timothy Sullivan, who attained the advanced age of eighty-four-years before he was summoned from earth. Both his parents were devout members of the Catholic church, and were honored and respected citizens. The son Michael was reared and received his education in his native land, but was still a boy in years when he emigrated to America. From New York he went west to Lockport, Will county, Illinois, where he remained until he entered the services of the union. In August, 1862, when Lincoln called for sixty-thousand volunteers, he enlisted at Joliet, Illinois, in Company C of the One Hundredth Illinois Infantry, under Captain Bacon and Colonel Bartleson. The regiment was ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, and then to Nashville, and was assigned to the command of General Rosecrans. At the battle of Murfeesboro Mr. Sullivan was severely wounded by a grapeshot which struck his right arm, and was taken first to the hospital at Louisville and then to Chicago. He later returned to the service, and did not receive his discharge until the winter of 1864, when he was stationed at Lookout Mountain. He returned home with a gallant record as a soldier. After the war he lived for a time in Illinois, being located at the cities of Streator, Ottawa and Pontiac. In the latter place he was married to Miss Alice O. Hair, who throughout the remainder of her life in countless ways proved her devotion to her family and was a helpmate and wife such as not many men are fortunate enough to find. In 1884 Mr. Sullivan removed from Illinois to Nebraska, and for ten years successfully followed farming in Fillmore county of this state. He then bought his present nice farmstead a mild and a half north of Friend consisting
of eighty acres of land, and well improved with a neat house surrounded with fruit and shade trees, and with all the accompaniments and refinements of a modern country home. Mr. Sullivan is held in the highest esteem by his neighbors and is one of the thrifty and worthy citizens of this community.
Mr. Sullivan has three children: William, who is married; Hattie, who makes her home with her father and is a successful teacher; and Nettie, who is a popular clerk in a mercantile establishment in Friend. These bright and energetic young people received good educations and are worthy members of this society of Saline county. The greatest loss the family has had to sustain was in the death of the wife and mother, who was summoned above in 1894, when forty-two years of age. She had endeared herself to all by her goodness of heart and worthy deeds, and her place can never be filled in the family circle. She was a member of the Catholic church, and Mr. Sullivan and the daughters are adherents of the church.
H. W. Shufeldt is the owner of a fine farming estate near Friend in Saline county. He is one of the old settlers of this part of the state, for he cast in his lot with the primitive conditions of Saline county as long ago as 1870, and during the subsequent third of a century as been an efficient, honored and successful citizen in all departments of his activity. He has had a broad experience with the world, was from the first blessed with industry and energy, and has not been found wanting when the varied responsibilities of life have come to him. Farming has been his life's work, and despite the many hardships and struggles through
which the early Nebraska farmers had to pass he persevered to a successful culmination of his labors and is now one of the most prosperous and substantial men in Saline county.
He was born in Albany county, New York, March 10, 1849, of one of the good old families of the state. His father, Harmon Shufeldt, settled in Lake county, Illinois, in 1854. The Shufeldt family was represented in the wars of the country from the time of the Revolution to the Civil war, and in the latter conflict there were thirty soldiers of the name. Harmon Shufeldt married Mary E. Jones, a native of Philadelphia and of Welsh descent. Harmon Shufeldt died in Kansas, but his widow is still living, making her home at Barrington, Cook county, Illinois. There were nine children, six sons and three daughters, in their family, and the following three sons were soldiers in the Civil war: Henry, of the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry; H. W., and Theodore, of the One hundredth and Thirteenth Illinois Infantry, and he sleeps in a soldier's grave at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The father of the family was a strong Republican, and by occupation was a farmer and his widow is a member of the Baptist church.
Mr. H. W. Shufeldt was reared on the Illinois farm, where he was taught the value of work, and his schooling was received in the country schools. In November, 1863, he enlisted at Marengo, Illinois, in the Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, under Captain Chapley and Colonel Hines. He was at Benton Barracks in St. Louis for a time, and was then all over southern Missouri, Arkansas, among the Iron Mountains engaged in fighting Price's, Marmaduke's and Joe Shelby's Confederate troopers, and this was among the most perilous and trying service of the entire war. From Fort Leavenworth he was ordered to Fort Dodge, Kansas, and was then on duty which took him within site of Pike's Peak, remaining in the west until December, 1865. He received his honorable
discharge at Springfield, Illinois. After his soldier life was ended he spent some time in northern Wisconsin, and in 1870 came out to southeastern Nebraska. He took up a homestead in Saline county, and his first home here was built of lumber brought from Lincoln. Among the trials which he had to endure before reaching his present prosperity were the grasshoppers, hot winds, winter blizzards, drouths, and many others, but he never gave in to discouragement, and the victory has been on his side as anyone can witness who passes by his fine estate of three hundred and twenty acres, situated a mile and a half from Friend. Here he has a nice modern residence, a commodious barn, a windmill to supply water for all purposes, a grove and orchard which form a beautiful background for his home, and everything in the best possible condition and evidencing the highest degree of progressiveness and thrift.
Mr. Shufeldt was married in Saline county, February 20, 1872, to Miss Margaret E. Love, who has been a devoted and inspiring helpmate to him for more than thirty-two years. She was born in Pennsylvania, being a daughter of Alexander U. and Lyda (Sherman) Love, who were early settlers of this part of Nebraska, and who are now both deceased, having been the parents of four sons and one daughter. Two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Shufeldt are deceased and they have three sons living: Harmon and Alexander W., who are both residents of Saline county; and H. W. Jr., at home. Mr. Shufeldt is a Republican in politics, and is affiliated with the W. T. Sherman Post No. 130, G. A. R., at Friend, and has held office in the post. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
© 1999, Lori L. Laird, NEGenWeb Project