USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 56
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 56
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E. H. BURNHAM
Since the 1st of January, 1921, E. H. Burnham has been active in the office of president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank at Fairfield. Like many other promi- nent and successful citizens of Clay county he is a son by adoption, his native state being Illinois. He was born in Richview, Illinois, on the 22d of May, 1857. His parents were Dr. William S. and Ann (Rowley) Burnham, the former a native of Vermont; the Green Mountain State, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Their mar- riage was celebrated in Oak Hill, Illinois. William S. Burnham was a physician of ability and practiced his profession in Richland Center, Wisconsin, until his demise in 1888. His wife also passed away in that state. He was a veteran of the Mexican war and at the close of that conflict removed to Illinois, where he resided for a few years before going to Wisconsin. Three children were born to that union : Ida, who is the wife of O. F. Black, an attorney of Richland Center, Wis- consin ; E. H., whose name initiates this review; and Will, a garage proprietor of Denver, Colorado. Throughout his life William S. Burnham was a stanch sup- porter of the republican party and fraternally he was identified with the Odd Fellows. Mrs. Burnham was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church.
E. H. Burnham is indebted to the schools of Richland Center, Wisconsin, for his education and after graduating from high school engaged in teaching for one year. He then accepted a position as clerk in a dry goods store in which connec- tion he remained for some time but resigned and devoted his time to the study of telegraphy at Sabetha, Kansas. After familiarizing himself with every phase of that work he was employed as agent by the St. Joseph & Grand Island for thirty- five years, coming to Alexandria, Nebraska, in 1880, fifteen years of that time
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having been spent in Fairfield. He subsequently retired from that line of business and in 1915 became prominent in the financial circles of Fairfield as vice president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank. For six years he held that office to the complete satisfaction of the many patrons and other officers of the bank and on the 1st of January, 1921, was made president of that institution. The bank has a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars, surphuis of five thousand and average deposits of two hundred thousand dollars.
On the 10th of December, 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. Burnham to Miss Ida M. Church, a native of Troy, New York, whose parents were natives of Vermont and later removed to Nebraska, becoming settlers here in 1879. Both passed away at Alexandria, Nebraska. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Burnham six children have been born: Rowley C., who served in the World war as wireless telegraph operator and is now agent for the Union Pacific at Medicine Bow, Wyoming; Harry, who has been in the employ of the government since the war and is now stationed at Vancouver, Washington, where he is an electric welder in a shipyard ; Neta, who is the wife of Arthur Woodhead, an express messenger for the Burlington at Stromsburg; Madge, who is in the State Journal office at Lincoln ; Anna, who is in the bank with her father; and Mary, who teaches school at David City.
The political allegiance of Mr. Burnham has ever been given to the republican party, in the interests of which he has taken an active part. For one year he served his fellow citizens as mayor of Fairfield and for nine years has been a member of the school board. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church and he is fraternally identified with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he has been a member for forty years. He is now acting as master of Fairfield Lodge,. No. 84. Mr. Burnham has risen to his present position of affluence in the com- munity solely as the result of his own determination and industry. He is alert and energetic, is alive to all the vital questions and issues of the day, the business opportunities and the chances for civic development, and his aid and influence may always be counted upon in the furthering of any movement for the progress and development of the community.
LEVI WHITCOMB
Levi Whitcomb, now identified with farming near Springranch, was born in Adams county, Nebraska, January 15, 1874. His parents were Lewis and Emma (Ingram) Whitcomb, the former a native of Wisconsin and the latter of Pennsyl- vania, and their marriage occurred in Henry county, Illinois. They later removed to Iowa, where the father engaged in farming until 1873 and then removed to Adams county, Nebraska, and took up a homestead of eighty acres. For some time he lived in a dugout and he brought the land to a highly cultivated state, setting out an orchard and making many improvements. Subsequently he purchased a one hundred and sixty acre tract in Adams county and later eighty acres in Clay county. Lewis Whitcomb lived on his farm in Adams county, Nebraska, until his death. which occurred in 1913. His wife passed away in 1904. Four children were born
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to that union, two now living: Mabel, who is the widow of William Miller and makes her home in Sheridan, Wyoming; and Levi, whose name initiates this review. Both Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he followed an independent course in politics.
Levi Whitcomb is indebted to the schools of District No. 20 for his education and after putting his textbooks aside assisted his father on the home place. He started farming on his own account at the age of eighteen years, buying eighty acres of land with the assistance of his father. He later bought an eight acre tract in Clay county, on which he now makes his home. He engages in mixed farming and has made many fine improvements on the place. Since 1903 he has lived on his present farm and in this time has risen to a position of prominence in the community.
In December, 1911, occurred the marriage of Mr. Whitcomb and Miss Julia Swanson, a native of Henry county, Illinois, and a daughter of Samuel and Amanda (Turner) Swanson, both natives of Sweden. Her parents located in Henry county, Illinois, in an early day and subsequently came to eastern Nebraska, locating in Clay county, where they are now residing, prominent and highly respected citizens. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb: Gerald, eight years of age; Carl, seven years of age; Merton, five years of age; and Bernice, two years of age.
Along political lines Mr. Whitcomb maintains an independent course. He has served as town clerk but is now devoting his entire time and energy to his agricul- tural interests. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and they are prominent and consistent members of that organization. Mr. Whitcomb owns his father's one hundred and sixty acres in Adams county and altogether is in possession of three hundred and eighty acres of valuable farm property. Although he had the assistance of his father in early life, his success is the result of his own determined effort. Step by step he has worked his way upward and is now numbered among the prominent farmers of Clay county.
FRANCIS DEE HASTINGS
Since 1885, Francis Dee Hastings has been a resident of Fairfield, Clay county, and has become prominent in the community as a veterinary doctor. He was born at Canton, Illinois, on the 26th of October, 1857, a son of William and Catherine (Heckerd) Hastings, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Ohio. Their marriage occurred in Illinois, where both had gone as young people. William Hastings followed farming in Illinois and resided in that state until his death. Three children were born to that union: Francis Dee being the oldest in the family and the only one living. Mr. and Mrs. Hastings were consistent members of the Dutch Reformed church.
Francis Dee Hastings secured his education in the schools of Illinois and engaged with his father in farming in that state for some time. He then left the parental roof and went to Iowa, where he followed farming and in 1883 came to Nebraska and located in Clay county. For one year after his arrival in Clay
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county he worked on a farm and then began to practice veterinary surgery. He has been active in that practice since 1885 and although he never made a special study of it has proven his ability in that connection. In addition to his practice Mr. Hastings keeps a number of breeding horses.
In 1894 occurred the marriage of Mr. Hastings to Miss Ollie Harris, a native of Ohio, and to them two children were born: Russell, who is with Armour & Company in Omaha: and Howard, in business with his father. The death of Mrs. Hastings occurred on the 17th of May, 1918, and on the 14th of January, 1921, Mr. Hastings was again wed, choosing Florence L. Bayly Hyde as his second wife. She is a native of Illinois and a daughter of H. H. Hyde, a pioneer of Fairfield. Mrs. Hastings is prominent in the social affairs of Fairfield and in church circles, being a consistent member of the Congregational church.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Hastings the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party and the principles for which it stands. For six years he served his fellow citizens as alderman. The greater portion of Mr. Hastings' time has been devoted to his practice, although he is appreciative of the social amenities of life and is a member of the Knights of Pythias. His ability as a veterinary doctor has spread far and wide and he has an extensive and lucra- tive practice in the southern part of Clay county, the northern part of Nuckolls county and in Adams and Webster counties. During his thirty-six years' residence in Fairfield Mr. Hastings has made many friends who appreciate his true personal worth and he is readily conceded by all to be a representative citizen.
GEORGE F. OVERTURE
An excellent farm property located in section 22, Sheridan township, Clay county, pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by G. F. Overturf, recog- nized as one of the representative agriculturists of his section of the state. He was born in Davis county, Iowa, on the 24th of March, 1849, a son of John M. and Catherine (Shadley) Overturf, both natives of Ohio. The father engaged in farming in Ohio until he removed to Iowa in 1848, making the trip overland. He purchased land in that state, a timber tract, which he had to clear, and he resided on it in a log house at first, later huilding a frame house which is still standing. In 1877 he located in Nebraska, buying one hundred and sixty acres of land, partly improved, and there engaged in general farming until he sold his land and went to Kansas. He met his death while residing in that state, being killed by lightning. He was eighty-one years of age at the time of his demise. The mother passed away in her sixtieth year. They were both members of the new school Methodist church.
G. F. Overturf received his education in the country schools of Iowa and walked a mile and a quarter to the little log schoolhouse which he attended three or four months of the year. He remained with his parents on the home farm until he became of age. In 1870 he was married and two years later came to Clay county, driving through in three weeks with a team and wagon. He crossed the Missouri river at White Cloud, Nebraska, on a ferry boat. With him he brought one cow
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and his household goods. Mr. Overturf secured a homestead of eighty acres in Logan township, on the outskirts of the present town of Ong, and his first home was of sod with one room and board floor, the timber for which he hauled from Carleton. He lived in that house one year and then built a larger sod house and also a barn. He likewise bored a well on the place. He proved up on the land, which he later sold, and purchased a one hundred and sixty acre tree claim in Sheridan township, on which he now resides. During the grasshopper storm of 1874 Mr. Overturf suffered severe loss. He had one and one-half acres planted in onions and these the grasshoppers ate, leaving nothing but holes in the ground. During the Easter blizzard of 1873 he was snowed in several days and stayed most of the time with his live stock in the barn for three days and nights. Hunting was both a pleasure and necessity in those early days and game was plentiful. Many Indians passed through the homestead on their spring and fall hunting trips.
In 1870 Mr. Overturf was united in marriage to Miss Elnora Ranes, a native of Iowa, and to them eight children have been born: Amanda, the wife of Sam Baker of Custer county, where he is engaged in farming; Stormy L., a farmer of Clay county ; Gourley, farming in Clay county ; John, who is farming the old home place; Julia, the wife of Murray Mclaughlin, a farmer of Basin, Wyoming; Forest, at home; and two other children who passed away in infancy.
Throughout his life Mr. Overturf has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party, having firm belief in the efficacy of the principles of that party as factors in good government. He has always been a stanch advocate of education and was one of the organizers of school district number 62 and for many years served as a member of the board. Since adult age Mr. Overturf has been engaged in farming on his own account and there are few experiences of pioneer life with which he is not familiar. He is one of the substantial agricultorists of Clay county and has contributed much to the growth and development of the county. He is progressive and liberal in his ideas, upright in every word and deed and a man of rugged honesty.
JEROME C. NISELY
Since 1885 J. E. Nisely has made his home in Clay county, where he is the owner of an excellent farm property and is classed with the most enterprising and prosperous farmers of that county. He, like many other prominent men of Clay county, is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Warren county, that state, on the 20th of December, 1858, a son of G. W. and Sarah Ann (Mabry) Nisely, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. Some time after their marriage, which occurred in Ohio, Mr. and Mrs. Nisely removed to Illinois, where the mother passed away. The death of the father occurred at the home of our subject in Clay county. Ten children were born to that union, nine of whom are living. J. C., whose name initiates this review was the fourth in order of birth. They were consistent members of the Christian church and the father always gave his support to the democratic party. He followed farming throughout his life and owned two hundred and ten acres of valuable land in Illinois. The Nisely
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family are Dutch descent, the grandfather of J. C., Jacob, having been born in Holland.
The country schools of Illinois afforded J. E. Nisely an education and after put- ting his textbooks aside he started farming. For nine years he worked out on various farms and then, leaving his native state, came to Nebraska and located in Clay county in 1885. He bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he moved the following year, and he now owns four hundred acres of valuable farm property in the county. At the time he bought the place there was only a small house and stable on the land but he set about to improve it and today a fine modern residence and the most up-to-date improvements make the farm an attractive place in the vicinity.
On November 13, 1884, Mr. Nisely was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Ditch, a native of Illinois, in which state their marriage occurred. Her parents were Henry and Harriett (Bair) Ditch, who came to Clay county at an early day. Her father bought a farm with Mr. Nisely, which he conducted until the time of his death. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nisely : Nelle and Harry, at home; Fay, who is the wife of Ralph Sconce of Edgar; Ernest, Margaret, Mur- ray, all at home; Jolin, a farmer of Clay county ; and Mildred and Irene, in school.
Mr. Nisely gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, having firm belief in the efficacy of the principles of that party as factors in good government. His religious faith is that of the Christian church, to which his wife also belongs, and fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows. He has always been a stanch advocate of education and to that end served on the school board for many years. He engages in mixed farming and raises some cattle. Mr. Nisely has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his community and can be counted upon to do his part in furthering the public welfare.
THOMAS TALICH
Thomas Talich is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Nebraska long resident in this state and he now makes his home just outside the village limits of Giltner. He was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, Septem- ber 25, 1855, and is a son of John and Mary Talich. His youthful days were spent on the home farm in his native state and he pursued his education in the country schools near his father's place, attending for about three months during the winter seasons and walking three miles to pursue his studies in a little log schoolhouse, sitting upon a bench made of a hewed log. The methods of instruc- tion, too, were quite primitive, but in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons. When fifteen years of age he began working in the timber, cutting rails and doing other such tasks. The year 1876 witnessed his arrival in Nebraska, at which time he was a young man of twenty-one years. He drove across the country with a team of horses and covered wagon and was six weeks making the trip, crossing the Missouri river at Plattsmouth on the ferry. In the meantime his father had purchased a half section here for four dollars per acre and Thomas Talich obtained one hundred and sixty acres of the tract.
THOMAS TALICH AND FAMILY
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He built thereon a one-room sod house with a dirt floor and dirt roof and also put up a sod barn. Moreover, he had a well bored on his place and obtained fuel from the Blue river and the Platte river, also burning corn and cornstalks. Many difficulties and obstacles incident to pioneer life confronted him, but he possessed determination and energy and never allowed the disadvantages to loom too large on his horizon. After a time he gained a good start and traded land with his father, building thereon a frame house, always living, however, in Hamilton precinct. At length he sold his quarter section and bought two hun- dred and forty acres in the same precinct, adding thereto many modern improve- ments and placing his land under a high state of cultivation. He did most of his trading at Harvard and at times has hauled wheat to Hastings, taking two days to make the trip. In 1894 he raised no crops on account of the severe drought. He broke most of the land on his first place and after that time was continuously, actively and successfully engaged in farming for an extended period, but retired in 1912 and removed to Giltner, taking up his residence on a part of his wife's mother's old homestead just on the outskirts of Giltner, where he is now enjoying life.
Mr. Talich was married to Miss Margaret E. Thompson, daughter of David and Mary Thompson. Mrs. Thompson took up a homestead near what is now Giltner, and they have become parents of seven children: John A., living in Garden county, Nebraska ; Robert E., a farmer of Hamilton county ; Thomas C., who cultivates the home place ; Henry F., also on the old home farm; Mary E., the wife of Clayton Ellison, a farmer of Hamilton county; Helen M., who is employed in the Citizens Bank in Giltner; and Ella M., the wife of Murlin Brock.
Mr. Talich served as school director for a number of years in district 71 and also filled the position of precinct assessor for five years. He has likewise been a member of the school board of Giltner and is always keenly interested in everything that pertains to intellectual progress and improvement. He has become a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator at Giltner and to this business gives some attention, but otherwise is living retired. He has always been an independent voter and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, of which his wife and daughters are also members. His long residence in the county, covering forty-five years, marks him as one of its pioneer settlers, and those who are familiar with his life record throughout this entire period bear testimony to the fact that he is a man worthy of high regard and one who in every relation of life has held to high standards of manhood and citizenship.
DON A. KEENEY
Don A. Keeney, now living retired in Fairfield, has been a resident of Clay county for fifty years. He has witnessed the growth and development of the county, in which he has taken an active part, and he has many friends in the community who appreciate his true personal worth and many sterling traits of character.
Don A. Keeney is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Chicago on
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the 13th of July, 1844, a son of Henry B. and Mary (Munson) Keeney, the former a native of Hartford and the latter of Stonington, Connecticut. Their marriage was celebrated at Hartford and soon afterward they removed to Chicago, when that eity was but a small town. Mr. Keeney resided there for a short time, helping to build the docks, and then moved to Elgin, where he purchased government land, on which he resided for some time. After disposing of this land he bought another traet in MeHenry county and there Mr. and Mrs. Keeney resided until death. Nine children were born to their union, four of whom are now living: Mrs. Martha M. Gillette, who is a widow, living at Deweese; Edward H., residing near Red Cloud; Mary, who is the wife of John R. Buck, an attorney of Hartford, Connecticut; and D. A., whose name initiates this review. The mother was a strict Presbyterian and Mr. Keeney gave his political allegianee first to the whig and later the republican party. He made a success in life and was a man above the average in intelligence, having a keen mind which he continually improved with good literature. The grandfather, Henry B. Keeney, was a native of England.
In the acquirement of an education D. A. Keeney attended the schools of Illi- nois in the vicinity of his father's farm and after putting his textbooks aside helped his father. In December, 1863, he volunteered his services and joined Company K, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, with which he served two years. He helped drive Price out of Missouri and participated in many of the important battles of the Civil war. At the close of the confliet he returned to his home in Illinois and there remained until May, 1871, when he eame to Nebraska and located in Clay county. He homesteaded on section 20, Fairfield township, and resided there until 1884. His first home on this land was a log house, sixteen by eighteen feet, and he lived in it for some years, subsequently building a frame house. In the memorable Easter storm of 1873 Mr. Keeney lost three cows which were drowned in the Blue river and he also suffered loss during the grasshopper storms. The vicinity in which he located was very sparsely settled, there being but five settlers in the community. On his way to this county, the trip being made overland with wagons, Mr. Keeney stopped off in Iowa for a year, where he engaged in farming. In 1884 he moved off of the homestead and into Deweese, where for two years he took over the man- agement of the Chicago Lumber Company. Subsequently he moved into Fairfield, where he bought stock and sold implements for an additional two years, at the termination of which time he again returned to his homestead. He did not long remain there, however, but moved again to Deweese and subsequently to Fairfield on the 10th of March, 1920. He has a fine modern home there and is residing retired, an honored and respected citizen.
On the 28th of September, 1872, occurred the marriage of Mr. Keeney to Miss Addie T. Marvin, a native of New York state and a daughter of George T. Marvin, an early settler of Illinois who later removed to Iowa, where his death occurred. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Keeney: Mary Ellen, the wife of Dr. Jester of Doniphan; Laura Arrah Oldham, a resident of Deweese; Ernest L., engaged in farming in Clay county ; Edward F., an auto painter of Hastings; Nettie Brower, who is married and lives near Deweese, where her hus- band engages in farming; Arthur, a flour mill worker in Deweese; Kate, the wife of Mr. Harnie Trobaugh, a farmer of Clay county; and Albert, a ranchman of Idaho.
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Since age conferred upon Mr. Keeney the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party, in the interests of which he has taken an active part. For thirteen years he has been assessor and is now the assessor of the east ward. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church of which his wife is also a member, and fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen and the Grand Army of the Republic. The success achieved by Mr. Keeney shows what can be accomplished by ability, determination and energy. He has been a witness of the growth and development of this section of the state and has borne his part in the work of general progress and improvement, being classed with the substantial and representative citizens of Fairfield.
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