My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM W. POOL, farmer, and secretary and manager of the Nebraska Land and Cattle Company, with headquarters at Ravenna, Nebr., was born in Niagara county, N. Y., March 17, 1844 His father, William H. Pool, a native of Massachusetts, was reared a farmer, and in 1844 emigrated to Michigan, in which state he is still residing at the advanced age of eighty-two years — his earliest recollection of any notable object being a sight of the soldiers of the war of 1812. He married Miss Irena, daughter of Obed Smith, and this union was blest with the following children — A. H. Pool, now living nine miles north of Kearney, Nebr.; A. S. Pool, in the coal business at Chicago, Ill.; B. F. Pool, a farmer near Romeo, Mich.; Harriet M. Pool, unmarried and living at Romeo, Mich., and William W., the subject proper of these lines.

At the age of four years, William W. Pool was taken by his parents to Michigan, in which state he remained until he was eighteen years old, when he went to Oil City, Pa. He was reared chiefly on a farm, but had a taste for general business, and although he received but a limited share of schooling, acquired later a practical education, which enabled him to transact or enter into any branch of trade. In 1872, Mr. Pool married Miss Eva H., adopted daughter of Charles Williams, a foundry and millman of Wellsborough, Pa., who died in 1889; her mother, Sophia J. Hoyt, having died in 1854, and her father, Joseph B. Hoyt, having been killed while serving his country in the Union army in 1861. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pool have been born four children — Ella; Bartlett F., who died in January, 1880, at the age of five years; Gertie S., and Eva I., who died when but six weeks old.

William W. Pool came to Nebraska in October, 1876, and at first pre-empted a quarter section, in section 12, township 11, range 15; subsequently, he secured a homestead claim of a quarter section, and a timber claim for another quarter, both in section 6, township 11, range 14; he at once commenced to improve his farm, erecting substantial buildings and farming until 1883, when he, with others, organized the Nebraska Land and Cattle Company, under the laws of the State of New York; in 1889, however, the company was re-organized under the laws of Nebraska. To this company Mr. Pool disposed of one-quarter section of his land, reserving one-half section for his home. The company owns ten thousand acres of land, and is engaged in raising and handling live stock, and its officers are B. F. Peck, of East Bethany, N. Y., president; R. L. Downing, of Kearney, Nebr., vice-president; and W. W. Pool, the subject of this sketch, secretary and manager, and for the last named position no better selection could have been made. In addition to stock-raising and trading, the company cultivate three thousand five hundred acres in mixed crops, and in 1889 grew eight hundred acres in wheat, with a fair yield. The average number of cattle raised, fattened and shipped annually, is one thousand, two hundred head, and hogs are also handled. The average number of hands employed by the company is thirty, and it requires about one hundred and fifty horses to do its work. Mr. Pool has a fine residence in Ravenna, but pays daily visits to the company’s ranch, and gives its affairs special attention. Telegraphic communication is had between the ranch and his residence, the two being about five miles apart. Besides being the manager of this large business, in which he has been a stockholder from the beginning, Mr. Pool is vice-president of the First National Bank of Ravenna, and president of the Ravenna Creamery Company. Since becoming a resident of Nebraska, he has served as justice of the peace, and at present is a member of the town board, although he is not an aspirant for office, and takes no particularly active part in politics.

When Mr. Pool settled on his pre-emption, neighbors were few and far apart, and but few improvements were to be seen, but soon the prairie began to be settled up, and was dotted with houses and farm improvements; the railroad was run through, the town of Ravenna sprang up, and the development of the country is still going on rapidly, and much of this improvement is due to the enterprise and push of such men as the subject of this sketch, William W. Pool.