Old Photos of Eckley
Sam Soper's Restaurant circa 1915
Circa 1915 photo donated by Jean Greene.
In 1860 Nemaha County, Nebraska Territory, Samuel Soper is a cabinet maker, 52, with Elizabeth 37, Samuel 11, John 9, James 4, and Frederick one month.
They're in Nemaha County in 1870, and in 1880 young Samuel is in Smith County, Kansas. Samuel 31 is farming, Margaret D. 20. In 1900 Smith County, thay hae Mary D. Dec 1880, Walter Nov 1882, John April 1884, Ada Feb 1886, Chloe Nov 1890 , and Ruby Sept 1893. The first four kids were born in Kansas, Chloe and Ruby in Oregon.
In 1910 Yuma County, Samuel is 61, born in Illinois, married but no spouse, living alone, farming.
Wray Gazette- July 23, 1909 "Samuel Soper has accepted a position on the Eckley section." (probably a railroad job)
Samuel Soper came to Eckley about 1910 with a son, John, and daughter,
Addie (Soper) Neuswanger. He operated a restaurant on the west side
of Main St in the block north of Catchpoles store until 1918. He died
in 1919 and is buried in the Eckley Cemetery.
Jean (and I) would very much appreciate a circa 1915 photograph of the
west side of the first Main St. business block south of the railroad
where Soper owned three lots. The "Eckley Main Street looking north"
photo already donated shows the block but doesn't show details.
Yuma, January 12, 1917 "Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Soper left for Bonners Ferry, Idaho, last Friday to visit their son."
Yuma Pioneer - March 21, 1919 
Wray - April 3, 1919 "Samuel Soper died last week at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harris,
near Bird City, Kansas. Sam as he was known to his friends in Wray, Yuma and Eckley, had been in ill health since the death of a son.
Up until last July deceased had been in the restaurant business in Eckley and from then on had been with his daughter in Kansas. The funeral was conducted by the Masons of Wray and Yuma at the Presbyterianxhurch in Eckley. Interment, was had in, the Ecklcy cemetery. He is survived by five children. "
His heirs were Margaret Soper, Cal Harris, Ruby Eller, Chloe Ring, and Walter Soper, non-residents.
The notice was filed by Maud Harris of Bird City, Kansas.
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December 23, 1910 "Miss Addie Soper left Friday for a visit at her old home in Nebraska. "
May 12, 1911 "News reached here from Inavale, Nebr., that Miss Ada Soper,
formerly of this place, was kicked by a horse and her leg broken.
Her father had been expecting her here to keep house for him this summer.
Her friends here hope she will get along nicely and will soon be with us
again."
June 30, 1911 "Miss Ada Soper is here from Riverton Nebr., to spend the summer with her father. "
May 23, 1912 "Sam Soper got a telegram from Smith county, Kansas Sunday morning stating that his residence on his farm had burned down there the eve before. This is quite a loss to Mr. Soper."
November 22, 1917
The funeral of John Soper, who resided fourteen miles southwest of Eckley,
was held in Eckley Monday afternoon by Rev. A. C. McClelland, pastor of the Presbyterian church,
and burial was made in the cemetery near there. The circumstances of Mr. Sope' s death are exceptionally lamentable.
He was to have brought some potatoes in to Eckley for the merchants there Friday and he failed to deliver them.
As they were needed for Saturday the merchants phoned out to a neighbor of Mr. Soper and asked them to tell him to be sure and bring the potatoes in that morning.
When the neighbor went to the house, he found the body lying on the floor and the top of the head completely blown to pieces with the gun lying on the floor.
Mr. Soper was a man of thirty-three years of age and had lived alone on his farm southwest of Eckley for several years.
For the past two month he had been very despondent and had made the remark to several of his friends that he had concluded
that he would be better of dead than to live as he had been doing. The body was found about eight o'clock
Saturday morning and had been dead for several hours. There are no relatives of the deceased living,
in this vicinity except one sister, Mrs. William Neuschwanger, who resides south of Eckley near her brothers place.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Soper, and four sisters, all of Riverton and Inavale, Nebraska, and Bird City, Kansas,
arrived as soon as possible after receiving the messages telling of the tragedy. The deceased was well thought of by
the people residing in that community and no reason is given for his act than temporary despondency.
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March 27, 1919 "J.L. Soper left Friday for a visit with friends and relatives at his old home in Hardy, Nebraska."
May 1, 1913 "William H. Neuschwangor and Addie Soper both of Eckley wore united in marriage by the county Judge, T. C. Jennings, Wednesday. "
May 9, 1913 "Wednesday of last week occurred the marriage of Mr. Wm. Neuschwanger and Miss Addie Soper. They are two of Yuma county's finest young people. They came here several years ago and each took claims, which are now deeded. The groom also bought more deeded land and they now
have about 800 acres. This is a sample of what young people with grit can do in Yuma county, Colorado.
Billie, as we all know him, came from Osborne county, Kansas, and is one of those good dutchmans. The bride came from Smith county, Kansas, of course, and is one of that county's best."
April 24, 1913 "Bert McKinzie and Miss Ruby Soper called to spend the evening last Sunday with Mae Lewis."
July 11, 1913 "Miss Ruby Soper, who has been clerking in Hall's store, is visiting relatives in Kansas. "
July 24, 1913 "Mrs. Soper and sister, Maude Gleison, were business callers at S. M. Weaver's Friday."
November 1913 - John L. Soper filed for land in 1, 1S 47W, witnesses Johnie S. Cox, Henry J. Goebel, William E. Smith, and Artie A. McCasland.
March 26, 1914 West Vernon items " A birthday party waa given at the J. L. Soper home Friday evening, March 20, it being Mr. Soper's 50th birthday anniversary. The disagreeable weather permitted but few to be out, but those in attendance enjoyed themselves greatly. At midnight a dainty threecourse luncheon was served. The guests departed at a wee early hour in the morning, each wishing Mr. Soper many happy returns of the day. "
October 2, 1914 "Addie Neutschwanger, formerly Addie Soper, of Eckley, filed notice of intention for land in 1, 1S. 47W and 6, 1S 46W, witnesses John N. Mitchell, Henry J. Goebel, John H. Stagle, and James P.Peterson.
March 21, 1919 
"Joe Soper and John Burns transacted business in Wray Saturday.", Back to Eckley Photographs.
June 5, 1914 Yuma Pioneer "J. T. Soper arrived from Republican City, Nebr., last week to take charge of the business of the Beatrice Creamery Company at this point. "
June 26, 1914 the Pioneer advertised "We have secured the room at the rear of the Deines & Korh store, and have installed a steam boiler and sterilizer so has to claen our patrons' cans. J.T. Soper, our representative in Yuma is a competent creamery man of many years experience."
October 22, 1914 "Glen Soper spent Saturday and Sunday with home folks.
March 4, 1915 " A baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ira Soper Saturday, February 20. "
Glen Soper spent Saturday and Sunday with his parents.
Mrs. J. L. Soper was called Sunday night to help care for her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ira Soper, who had taken a back-set and is quite seriously ill at this writing.
"
November 18, 1915 "McGINNIS SCHOOL SECTION CHANGES HANDS
A big land deal was made last Saturday through the agency of W. C. Proctor, the Vernon land man, in which the Mediums school section just north of Vernon, changed hands. The new owners are J. L. Soper of Vernon and ?O. Soper of Manly, Nebraska, the two gentleman being brothers. The price paid was $ 52.50 an acre or $ 28,000 for the tract. This section is one of the finest farms on the Vernon flats, and the crops raised the past two years of the portion that is in cultivation would pay for that part of the land. We understand that the new owners expect to improve the land and move onto it the coming season.
"
Margaret Drusilla (Morris) Soper 1859-1939 is buried in Yamhill County, Oregon.
So is Adelaid (Soper) Neuschwanter 1886-1973, with William Henry Neuschwanter 1882-1946.
January 1917 "Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Soper left for Bonners Ferry, Idaho to visit their son."
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James H. Soper, of Weld County, Colorado, cash-claimed a quarter in 3, 2N 48W in 1890.
James N. Soper is a laborer in 1891 Denver, living at 1637 Blake. Elijah Soper, a carpenter, lives at 1541 Blake.
James Soper married Dora Rasmussen in Denver May 5, 1889, performed by minister T.A. Uzzell.
James N. Soper and Dora Soper divorced in Arapahoe County February 20, 1904.
It is possible that the land record had an error in the name, or a ficitcious name was given. The application on file in the National Archives is the only resource that would give further information on this land claimant.
This page is maintained by m.d. monk.