History of the State of Nebraska Collections – Page 5 of 8

Biographical Sketch of J. P. Latta

J. P. Latta, banker, born in Ashland County, Ohio, October 31, 1844. At the age of two years, came with his parents to Jackson County, Iowa; assisted on their farm until 1863. Came to Burt County, Neb., and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He owns about 1000 acres, which is largely devoted to stock-raising. He commenced the banking business in 1877. Since that time his attention has been in this direction. Married Libby Jones, a native of Jackson County, Iowa, in 1870. Now proprietor of the Burt County Bank at Tekamah.

Biographical Sketch of J. J. Stubbs

J. J. Stubbs, grain, is a native of Preble County, Ohio; in 1870, came to Omaha; was employed as civil engineer for the railroad about five years. He then engaged in the grain business, which he has since continued; in the winter of 1879-80 came to Oakland; has since built an elevator, which is used in the storage of grain.

Biographical Sketch of J. Henry Smith, M. D.

J. Henry Smith, M. D., Albion, was born in Canada in 1842, living there until 1860, when he came to the United States: He received his preliminary education at Clark Seminary, Aurora, Ill., where he lived for several years. For a time he engaged in the practice of dentistry at Aurora. He took one course of lectures at the Detroit Medical College, at Detroit, Mich., and two courses at Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating from the latter in 1870. He then went to Kendall, Orleans Co., N. Y., engaging there in the practice of his profession about ten years. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. H. Stork

J. H. Stork, farmer, Section 34, P. O. Tekamah, was born July 8, 1835, in Prussia; in June, 1854, came to Quincy, Ill.; in the spring of 1856, he removed to Fontanelle, Neb., and in the fall of this year returned to Quincy, Ill.; in 1857, he, with Mr. Sprick, returned to Fontanelle; in 1858, came to Omaha, and followed teaming about three years, He then returned to Fontanelle; worked at farming two years; enlisted in 1863, in Company A, Second Nebraska Cavalry; served eleven months, then returned to Fontanelle, where he was married to Frederica Michael; of Mecklenburg, Ger.; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. F. Piper

J. F. Piper, firm of Blanchard & Piper, general merchandise, is a native of Franklin County, Penn. In 1865, he came to Wayne County, Ohio; in 1877, came to Tekamah, clerked for John F. Kessler about four years in Tekamah and Lyons. In August, 1881, he, with Mr. Blanchard, bought out Mr. Kessler, and have since been carrying on this business.

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Gibson

Isaac Gibson, live stock and farming, was born in Clark County, Ind., December 8, 1814; came to Fairfield, Jefferson Co., Iowa, in 1851; kept a hotel, known as the Gibson House; also engaged in farming; in the spring of 1857, came to Tekamah; bought out a grocery, the only one in Tekamah. He had also bought a farm, which was managed by his sons, consisting of 540 acres. He closed out his store in about 1869 and engaged in real estate, live stock, and superintending his farm. His business now is principally livestock. Has been Justice of the Peace; was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ira Thompson

Ira Thompson, proprietor Thompson House, is a native of Chautauqua County, N. Y., where he was raised and educated. He enlisted in August 1862, in Company B, One Hundred and Twelfth New York Infantry, and served to the end of the war. Returned to his native town, where he remained till 1875, then came to Hardin County, Iowa; ran a hotel there; in 1879, removed to Battle Creek, Iowa; there ran a hotel also; in August, 1881, he came to Decatur, and has since had charge of this house.

Biographical Sketch of Ira Thomas

Ira Thomas, firm of J. R. Thomas & Sons, grain and lumber, is a native of Wyoming County, N. Y.; in 1860, he came to Tekamah, and was afterward editor and proprietor of the Nebraska Advocate; business manager for G. P. Thomas & Co. at Oakland in 1879; May, 1880, the present firm was established. Their grain business amounts to about $90,000 a year. They own the only steam elevator in the county. Their lumber business amounts to about $45,000 a year. Their business is done principally in the Logan Valley district.

Biographical Sketch of Hon. William B. Beck

Hon. William B. Beck, farmer, Section 11, P. O. Arizona. He is a native of Scotland. In 1834, he came with his parents to Wyoming County. N. Y. There he assisted on their farm. In 1849, went to California; engaged in mining; returned to New York in 1851, there continued farming till 1855, when he came to Nebraska, located in Burt County, where he has since resided, except for one year in Colorado. He owns one of the best-improved farms in this locality, consisting of about 400 acres, and is largely engaged in stock raising. He represented this county in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. W. Lyon

Hon. W. Lyon, firm of W. Lyon & Sons, proprietors of Lyon’s Mills, was born in Vermont; raised in Connecticut. In 1843, came to Dodge County, Wis.; in the fall of 1865, came to Omaha; opened a general store, continued about one year. He then removed to Arizona Precinct, Burt County, where he was engaged in merchandising and ran a sawmill. In 1869, came to Lyons. The following year he built this mill. They own over 1,200 acres of land. He formerly owned the land where Lyons now stands. He was a member of the State Senate; also a member … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Robert Hanson

Hon. Robert Hanson, farmer, Section 12, P. O. Oakland, is a native of Denmark; in 1863, he came to Racine, Wis., and worked at the carpenter trade; in 1866, he came to Omaha and worked at his trade till 1870, when he removed to this farm; he homesteaded 160 acres, and now owns 420 acres of land, about one hundred and twenty-five acres under cultivation and otherwise well improved. He represented this county in the Legislature in 1879; has been School Treasurer since its organization. He was married in 1870 to Miss Sophia Hanson, of Denmark; they have four children–three … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. P. George Thomas

Hon. George P. Thomas, retired, is a native of Wyoming County, N. Y.; in the fall of 1856, came to Tekamah, bringing with him a steam saw-mill, which he located in the timber, two and a half miles east of this place. He operated it about one year, when it was destroyed by fire. He also engaged in farming and stock raising. He owns 520 acres, 300 of which are in cultivation. He built an elevator, and has been in the grain trade several years; was also in the drug business during 1876 and 1877. He, with Mr. Latta, built … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. George W. Brown

Hon. George W. Brown, farmer, Section 8, Township 18, Range 8 west, P. O. Moss Side, was born March 9, 1842, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. While he was an infant, his parents moved to Harrison County, Ohio, where he resided until twenty-five years old. He enlisted, in 1862, in Company K, Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry, serving over three years in the army of the Cumberland. Was with Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea. After his discharge, he returned to his home, and afterward attended the law Department of Ann Arbor University. He was then admitted to the bar in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. B. K. Smith

Hon. B. K. Smith, farmer, Section 14, Township 19, Range 5 west, P. O. St. Edward, was born in Milwaukee County, Wis., June 23, 1847. His parents moved, while he was an infant, to West Bend, Washington Co., Wis., where he resided until twenty-two years old. He then went to Carroll County, Mo., where he taught school awhile. He then returned to his home in Wisconsin, there engaging in teaching school two or three years. He married, at Barton, Wis., November 18, 1869, Miss Almina Taylor, who was born at East Troy, Walworth Co., Wis. They have four children–Mabel, Jessie, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Austin Nelson

Nelson, Austin Hon. Hon. Austin Nelson, retired, is a native of Norway. When a child he came with his parents to New Bedford, Mass., where he was raised and educated. In 1856, he came to Nebraska, soon after returning to Massachusetts. He, however, made frequent trips West, and permanently settled in Burt County in 1868; located in Silver Creek, engaged in farming and stock-raising. He owns 400 acres of land, also property in Tekamah. In 1872, he was elected to the Legislature. He then removed his family to Tekamah, where they have since resided.

Biographical Sketch of Hiram Rice

Hiram Rice, Postmaster, Albion, has held the office of Postmaster since 1878; was appointed under R. B. Hayes’ administration. Prior to his appointment, he had been Assistant Postmaster about one year. He has a cigar, stationery and confectionery store in connection with the office, carrying a stock of $1,000. He is also, to some extent, engaged in loan business. He first located at Albion in 1871, engaging in farming four years and then was in mercantile business about one year. He was born at Racine, Wis., in 1851. When four years old, his parents moved to Minnesota, living there two … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Marsh

Henry Marsh, farmer, Section 10, P. O. Golden Spring, was born in Livingston County, N. Y., about 1854; came to Jackson County, Iowa, in 1859; came to Burt County, Neb. where he has since resided. He owns 800 acres of land, and is largely engaged in live stock; he winters about two hundred head of cattle and about one hundred and twenty-five hogs. Golden Spring Post Office was established in 1874; he was then appointed Postmaster, and has since held this office.

Biographical Sketch of Henry Fontenelle

Henry Fontenelle, farmer, P. O. Decatur, was born at Bellevue, Sarpy County, in 1832. In the spring of 1855, he came to the Omaha Reservation and on account of trouble between the Omaha and Sioux, he returned to Bellevue and remained there till the spring of 1856, when he again returned to the reservation, where he has since resided. He also owns 160 acres of land, outside the reserve, in Section 4, Decatur Precinct, which he has improved. Mr. Fontenelle is well informed on all matters pertaining to the county. He has been United States Interpreter twelve years; was Government … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H. S. M. Spielman

H. S. M. Spielman, farmer, P. O. Arizona, Burt County., Neb., was born in Blair County, Penn., one and a half miles from Williamsburg; moved to Huntington County, and resided there till October, 1857; came to Nebraska; located in this locality. He pre-empted 160 acres of land; now own 974 acres, including forty acres of his original purchase. He has been connected with the School Board since its organization. He feeds eight-five head of cattle for beef and one hundred and fifty head of hogs for market yearly on an average.

Biographical Sketch of H. M. Bronson

H. M. Bronson, was born in Chenango County, N. Y., in 1847, living there engaged in farming with his father until 1870; he then went to Oneonta, Otsego Co., N. Y., where for ten years he was engaged in the carpenter and builder business. He moved to Nebraska, locating at Albion, in February, 1880; engaged in dealing in lumber, and in contracting and building, until May of the next year, when he went into the present business with John D. Hamilton. Bronson & Hamilton, dealers in agricultural implements, Have been established since May 1, 1881. Their stock averages $6,000; their … Read more