NEGenWeb Project
Hall County

 

George W. Broadwell, page 745

GEORGE W. BROADWELL, who does an extensive business in Grand Island as a general contractor, is prominent in public as well as business affairs. Although not a native of Nebraska almost all of his life has been spent here and he takes much pride in the present status of this state in comparison to her sister states.

Mr. Broadwell was born in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, June 13th, 1868, a son of Cyrus F. and Ella A. (Goff) Broadwell. Cyrus F. Broadwell was born in Spring field and in boyhood attended school with the sons of Abraham Lincoln. He was a general farmer an raiser of stock. He removed from Illinois to Colorado, where he lived for three years and then came to Nebraska, May 8, 1871, homesteading near Lincoln. He lived in Webster County until the spring of 1887, moving then to Hall County, here his death occurred in 1894, at the age of forty-eight years. He was a member of the American Order United Workmen, and in politics was a Republican. His wife was born in St. Louis, Missouri. They had six children, George W. being the only one of the four survivors to live in Hall County. His mother makes her home with him. She remembers many interesting events of early times in Hall County. On one occasion, when she was a young woman, she drove a yoke of oxen all the way from Omaha to Denver, and when the family removed to Nebraska, young George W. was entrusted with the duty of driving the ox-team, which was not always an undertaking devoid of danger.

After his school days were over, George W. Broadwell worked as a farmer until he was twenty years old, when he came to Grand Island and learned the brickmason trade, which he pursued until 1897, when he became a general contractor, in which he has been very successful.

On December 25, 1889, Mr. Broadwell married Miss Minnie Balcom, a daughter of James and Elzina (Bowen) Balcom, who came to Grand Island thirty years ago and still reside here. Mr. and Mrs. Broadwell have no children. Mr. Broadwell has taken and active part in public matters and is a prominent factor in Republican political circles. He has been chairman of his ward organization at different times and for thirteen years prior to 1917, was a member of the city board of aldermen. His efforts at all times are directed to advance the general welfare. In early days he assisted in the organization of Alexander Fire Company No. 4, and many old settlers will recall the station at Elma and Seventh streets. He belongs to the fraternal orders of the Elks, and the Eagles.

Transcribed by Larry Coates