Biographical Sketch of William N. Haywood

William N. Haywood, live stock; is a native of Knox County, Ohio; in 1847, came with his parents to Jefferson County, Iowa; first assisted on their farm; afterward worked out, receiving $9 a month; in 1857, he removed to Burt County, Neb., and pre-empted 160 acres of land. He now owns 367 acres. He, with Mr. Templeton, also controls about 4,000 acres on which their cattle pasture. They are now feeding from 1,000 to 1,200 head, the largest stock feeders in Northern Nebraska.

Biographical Sketch of Joel S. Yeaton

Joel S. Yeaton, farmer, Section 1, P. O. Lyons, is a native of Somerset County, Me. In 1864, came to Houston County, Minn.; followed farming there five years; came to Decatur, Neb., in the fall of 1869; removed to his present farm in 1870; owns 750 acres of land, and has one of the best improved farms in this county. His house was built in 1872, which cost about $3,000. He was one of the building committee in building the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a member. He has also contributed largely to the support and building of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Capt. S. T. Leaming

Capt. S. T. Leaming, civil engineer, is a native of Schoharie County, N. Y. When four years old, he came with his parents to La Porte, Ind.; in 1852, he went to California; returned in 1855; then took up engineering, he having studied and been actively engaged in the field before going to California; in the winter of 1856-57, he was employed by the Iowa Central Air Line (now the Chicago and North-Western) Railroad; surveyed the road from Ida Grove to the Missouri River; in 1857, came to Decatur and bought a claim of 320 acres from Mr. Rose, for … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles R. Dakin

Charles R. Dakin, dealer in furniture and agricultural implements, is a native of Concord, Mass. In 1833, he came to Geneva, N. Y.; in 1835, removed to Cleveland, Ohio; clerked in a store, and carried on business about four years. In the fall of 1839, he came to Waukesha County, Wis., and carried on a general store there and in Milwaukee; he closed his Milwaukee store, after running it about eighteen months; continued in business in Waukesha till 1863, when he came to Decatur and opened a farm which he improved, In 1875, he engaged in banking, continued about two … 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 George C. Latta

George C. Latta, farmer, Section 1, P. O. Tekamah, was born in Jackson County, Iowa, where he was raised; followed farming; in 1878, he settled on this farm. He owns 520 acres of land, which is improved with a substantial class of buildings. He is largely engaged in live stock. He is feeding about 175 head of cattle, and is carrying through about 300 head. His stock is mainly shipped to Chicago. Six teams are in use in working this farm.

Biographical Sketch of John G. Preston

John G. Preston, farmer, Section 19, P. O. Oakland, is a native of England. In 1842, he came to America; in 1852, he engaged in railroading and continued in this business about twenty-eight years. In 1867, he purchased this land, and in the spring of 1880, located here. He owns 800 acres in this county, also 100 acres in Douglas County; is largely engaged in livestock, and now owns 135 head of cattle, and 125 hogs. About five teams are used in working this farm, which is one of the largest in this locality.

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 W. N. Buck

W. N. Buck, farmer, Section 36, P. O. Tekamah, is a native of Medina County, Ohio. In 1857, came to De Witt County, Ill. In 1860, removed to Missouri. In 1862, came to Harrison County, Iowa. The following year came to his present locality, where he has since resided. He owns 105 acres of land, which he has improved. He is feeding about fifty-two head of cattle and about 30 hogs.

Obituary of Levi Motz

Levi Motz was born in Pennsylvania, 21 April 1828 and died at the home of daughter, Mrs. John Taylor, in Decatur, Nebraska 26 May 1914 at 6 p.m. following several months of decline in strength and sickness aged 86 years 1 month and 5 days. When a young man he came to Tipton County Indiana. In 1854 he came to Iowa and in 1856 he was married to Elizabeth Burcham at Magnolia, Iowa. To their union 11 children were born–9 daughters and 2 sons. All of his children survive him except one daughter who died several years ago. His wife … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. L. Handy

W. L. Handy, hardware, stoves, tin ware, etc. Is a native of Albany, Mo.; in 1872, he came to Blair; worked for Reordan & Kerney, hardware, about five years; the firm of W. L. Handy & Co. was then established, they buying out C. A. Meyers & Co.; this business continued till January, 1880, when Mr. Handy came to Oakland; worked for Blanchard & Latta about one year; W. L. Handy then bought out Blanchard & Latta, and has carried on the business ever since March 12, 1881; he does a business of about $17,000 a year.

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 George Frank

George Frank, farmer, Section 13, P. O. Herman, was born in Bavaria in 1849; came to Milwaukee, Wis.; worked at the cooper trade there about seventeen years; in 1867, came to Nebraska, locating on this land. He owns 205 acres, which is improved, with a good house and barn and a large number of trees. He has about forty head of cattle and about seventy hogs. Two teams are used in working this farm. Married, in 1859, Caroline Bree, of Prussia. Have three children–one son and two daughters. He has two sons and one daughter by a former marriage.

Biographical Sketch of J. S. Loveland

J. S. Loveland, proprietor of the St. Paul Hotel, is a native of Ogdensburg, N. Y. In about 1854, he came to Bremer County, Iowa, engaged in farming; afterward removed to Ida County. In about 1861, he came to Nebraska and located at Decatur; homesteaded 160 acres of land; was Government carpenter with the Omaha Indians about four years; then returned to Decatur, and kept a hotel about two years. In February 1881, he came to Oakland and opened this house.

Biographical Sketch of F. W. Barns

F. W. Barns, of the firm of A. E. Wells & Co., bankers, is a native of Racine County, Wis. During 1878-79, he attended Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.; in 1880, came to Blair; a few months later came to Oakland, and at once became a member of this firm.

Biographical Sketch of E. L. Parmelee

E. L. Parmelee, of the firm of Driscoll & Parmelee, butchers and meat market, is a native of Middlesex County, Conn. When a boy, he was brought up to the butcher business, which he has since followed. In 1871, he, with his father, removed to Humboldt, Kan., and carried on the butcher business about four years. He then returned to Connecticut, afterward to Philadelphia, continuing in this business. In 1877, he came to Tekamah, and has since been identified with this firm in this business.

Biographical Sketch of A. H. Gates

A. H. Gates, farmer, Section 3, P. O. Arizona, was born in Erie County, N. Y.; raised in Stephenson County, Ill.; in 1855, came to Nebraska; located on his parents present farm, consisting of 320 acres of land, which he pre-empted. His house is now surrounded with a large number of trees, also a walnut grove, all of which are his own planting. He enlisted in 1862 in Company B, Second Cavalry; served eleven months.

Biographical Sketch of W. W. Mason

W. W. Mason, farmer, Section 34, P. O. Tekamah, is a native of Summit County, Ohio; in 1855, came to Jackson County, Iowa. In 1858, he removed to Kansas; in 1865, came to Burt County, Neb.; located in Arizona Precinct, where he has since resided. He owns 160 acres of land and is largely engaged in live stock. He is now feeding about eighty head of cattle.

Biographical Sketch of A. N. Corbin

A. N. Corbin, farmer, Section 11, P. O. Arizona, was born in Huntingdon County, Penn.; in the spring of 1856, came to Jefferson County, Iowa; in the fall of this year, he came to Burt County, Neb.; he pre-empted 160 acres, where he now resides. Owns now about 640 acres. About 200 acres of this land is under cultivation. He now owns seventy-five head of cattle and about seventy-five hogs.

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