USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 47
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York to live he did his part in the building of the courthouse with the understanding that no saloons were to be allowed in York within a period of twenty years. He was also a prominent man in financial circles being a stockholder in the York Bank and a director in the bank at Polk. It was about 1905 that he retired from active busi- ness life and his death occurred in Bailey's Sanitarium at Lincoln. Ite had always been a large landowner and at the time of his death was in possession of two sections of land in York county, a large number of aeres in California, and some city property in Lincoln. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Graves, five of whom are still living: Myra, the wife of Edward Koon, a real estate man in York ; Nora, who married H. J. Clarke, a dealer in tombstones in Omaha : Daniel, residing on the farm homesteaded by his father ; Mable, who is the wife of Moses Keahlier, a farmer near York ; and Henry (., whose name heads this review. The family were reared in the Congregational faith, and the father, Dan Graves, was a leader in the activities of that organization. Mrs. Graves is still residing in York at the advanced age of seventy-four years.
In the acquirement of his education Henry C. Graves attended District School, No. 66, and in due time entered the Kearney Military Academy, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1906. Ile then entered the state agricultural school at Lincoln where he remained for one year, at the termination of which time he engaged in farming for a period of seven years. On the 11th of August, 1913, he removed to York and built a garage. He ran this business for five years, selling Cadillac. Chandler and Nash cars. On the 15th of September, 1918, he sold this business but continued to manage it for one year after the sale. He had been very successful in this business but it was not the line of work in which he wished to continue. flis next venture was in the real estate business and while it is mostly ! general he does some emigration business in Colorado and western Nebraska. He is perhaps one of the biggest landowners in the county having thirty-one hundred acres in Colorado, two hundred aeres in York, and his home at 216 East Ninth street. He also owns one-fourth of a section in Perkins county.
In 1908 Mr. Graves was united in marriage to Miss Nettie E. Tewell, a native of Arborville and a daughter of Jordan Tewell. When Mr. Tewell first settled in York he worked for a Mr. Grover a while and then decided to go into business on his own account. Hle ran stores at Arborville and Polk and is now living retired and well-to-do in Julesburg, Colorado.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Graves the right of franchise he has been a staneh supporter of the democratic party and is well versed on all the issues and questions of the day. His fraternal affiliation is with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he is a member of the Baptist church. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Graves is one of the finest in York and is noted for its hospitality.
RICHARD PRYCE
Richard Pryce, deceased, an honored pioneer of the west in the 60's, was during the latter part of his life a prominent factor in the advancement of the business interests and development of this section of the country. Mr. Pryce was born in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, February 5, 1837, and died at his home near
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Thayer, Nebraska, February 4, 1920, being eighty-three years old lacking one day. He came to America with his parents in 1845 and the family settled on a piece of government land in Wisconsin, where the parents made their home for the rest of their lives.
Richard Pryce crossed the plains in the early days, starting from Nebraska City and driving five yoke of oxen through to Denver, Colorado. There were sixty wagons in the train and nearly five hundred head of oxen and cattle, and the journey was a slow and perilous one, in which they covered about twenty miles a day. He afterwards made the trip by rail and lived to see the automobile and aeroplane in successful operation. He remarked a short time before his death that he had lived to see all the modern methods of travel and transportation, none of which was in use when his father was a boy. In 1882 Mr. Pryce bought a tract of railroad land in Thayer township which by unremitting toil he developed into a. well arranged and productive farm, building thereon a commodious home which he occupied until the time of his death. He became the owner of five hundred acres of fine land which he acquired at the moderate figure of seven and one-half dollars per acre. He made many valuable improvements on his holdings and his general farming and stock raising were conducted with success, while his diligence and determination brought him prominently to the front in connection with the line of his chosen occupation. Ile was regarded by all who knew him as a man of striet integrity and sterling honesty. He was of kindly spirit and generous disposition toward all with whom he came in contaet and was liked by all. It fell to his lot to experience many phases of pioneer and frontier life and he made liberal contribu- tions of strength and wisdom to the development of the great west. He stood in the front rank of those who planted civilization in this part of Nebraska and was par- ticularly active in the growth of York county. Although an ardent supporter of the republican party he never aspired to public office. preferring to devote his time to his agricultural interests, but at the same time he never neglected to use his infinence to advance any movement intended to promote the social and material welfare of the county.
In 1867 Mr. Pryce was united in marriage to Miss Martha George, also a native of Wales, and to their union five children were born, one of whom died in infancy. The surviving members of the family are: Russel, who lives on the home farm; Mrs. Malissa Hattel, who lives near Thayer; Albert J., also living near Thayer; and Mrs. Carrie Harris, of Stromsburg, Nebraska; also a foster-daughter, Miss Grace Pryce, who had been a member of the family since childhood. One sister survived Mr. Pryce-Mrs. Bartlett of Attiea, Wisconsin, who passed away in March, 1920. At the time of Mr. Pryce's death he had seventeen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Pryce passed away February 6, 1912, to the deep sorrow of her family to whom her domestic virtnes and noble character had ever been sources of abiding love and veneration.
Russel Pryce, the eldest of the children, now owns the old homestead of two hundred and forty acres. He had always lived on the home farm during his father's lifetime, and was a great help from young manhood in carrying on the affairs of the holding. In his father's declining years he practically relieved him of all business cares and is now proving himself a worthy successor, having long since established a reputation as an experienced agriculturist. Albert L. Pryce, the second son, remained on the home farm until 1908, when he moved to the other
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part of his father's estate consisting of two hundred and eighty acres located in Stewart township and there makes his home. He married Margaret Hoffer and they became the parents of ten children, of whom nine are living, one having died in infancy. Following the lead of their father, Russel and Albert Pryce give undivided support to the republican party.
JAMES N. PLUMB, M. D.
For twenty years Dr. James N. Plumb has been practicing in York and in that time has built up a large and steadily increasing practice. He is a native son of Nebraska, born in Rulo in 1868. His parents, Lewis and Mary (Schaft) Plumb, were natives of Ohio and were married in that state. The father was a carpenter by trade and for some time ran a lumber-yard and continued his carpentering. becom- ing very successful in both lines. During the Civil war Mr. Plumb served in the provost marshal's office at Camp Chase and his wife was in charge of the prison camp dining-room. It was during the war that JJacob Schaff. the father of Mary Schaff. went to Nebraska. He was born in Somerset county, Turkeyfoot township. Pennsylvania, but at an early day removed to Ohio. When he left for Nebraska Mr. Plumb gave him some money with which to purchase some land for him with the result that at the close of the war Mr. and Mrs. Plumb removed to this state. That was in the year 1866 and they settled in Richardson county taking up the cultivation of their land. Two children were born to this union: Perry E., who was a physician at Gothenburg, Nebraska, and died at the age of forty-five years : and James N., the subject of this review. The mother died in 189t and Mr. Plumb was again married, this time to Mary Simpson. He was a member of the republican party and of the Methodist Episcopal church. James Plumb, the grandfather of the subject of this review, followed the carpenter's trade in Ohio and died as the result of a fall from the top of a house he was razing. Grandfather Schaff was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and was well known throughout Richardson county which he represented one term in the state legis- lature.
Dr. James N. Plumb acquired his education in the schools of Rulo and in due fime entered York College. For two years he attended the University of Nebraska and then entered the medical department of the University of Iowa at Iowa City where he remained for one year. At the termination of this period he enrolled in the Rush Medical College and was graduated therefrom with the degree of M. D., in 1891. Establishing himself in Fairmont. Nebraska, he began his practice and remained there for ten years. His success was insured from the beginning and he built up a very large practice. He gave up his practice there in 1901, however, and removed to York, determining to retire from general practice and to specialize in eye, ear, nose and throat. In this special line of work he is recognized as one of the finest specialists in the county. About every two years he takes post-graduate work at the Polyclinic at Chicago, his last course having been in 1918. Although the greater part of his time is devoted to his profession he is interested in the financial cireles of York, being a stockholder in the City National Bank and a director in the City National Trust Company.
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In 1899 at Fairmont, occurred the marriage of Dr. Plumb and Miss Ella Graves. She was born near Winnebago, Illinois, and was the daughter of Noble and Betsy B. ( Beecher) Graves. Her parents came to York county in 1871 and acquired a homestead southwest of Bradshaw, In their later life they removed to York where Mr. Graves' death occurred in 1879 and she passed away in 1893. Mr. Graves served in the Civil war, and the G. A. R. post at Bradshaw is named in honor of him. Dr. and Mrs. Phunb have become parents of three daughters: Helen who is the wife of W. R. Ward, a farmer near Overton; Florence, who is engaged in teaching : and Elanor, who is in school. The two elder daughters were graduates of the Wesleyan University at Lincoln and Helen also graduated from the Omaha Methodist Hospital as nurse.
Dr. Plumb gives his allegiance to the republican party in the interests of which he takes an active part, although he has never sought nor desired public ollice. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Highlanders, the Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and holds chairs in all three orders. Dr. and Mrs. Plumb are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and active in that organization. Ile has built up a large practice and ranks high among the men of his profession.
THOMAS ELWOOD DOAN
Thomas Elwood Doan is one of the few men now living in York county who came to this part of Nebraska in the spring of 1868. In the fifty-two intervening years he has been a witness to the wonderful transformation which the prairie soil underwent-converting the district from a state of nonproduction to one of well tilled fields and abundant crops and side by side with this evolution was the increase year by year of the population. Mr. Doan passed through the scourge of the grasshopper invasion, the blizzards and the droughts and he is one of the men who has lived through all the hardships of a new country settlement, faithfully performing his part of the tasks necessary to bringing about a settled and contented civilization.
Thomas Elwood Doan was born in Henry county, Iowa, June 19, 1853, and educated in the schools of York county. In 1858 his father moved to Lin county, Kansas, and settled on a tract of government land on which he continued to reside until 1861, when he returned to Iowa owing to war conditions then existing in Kansas, He remained in Henry county, Iowa, for a further period of six years and in 1867 went to Council Bluffs, going thence in the spring of 1868 to York county where he settled in Stewart township and took up a tract of eighty acres of government land located on section 26. Here he erected a log cabin in which he lived for several years. On taking possession of the holding he immediately began to get the place into productive condition and after the lapse of a few years had effected many substantial improvements. He died at the age of seventy-three years while living in Nuckolls county, whither he had gone to reside some years before.
Thomas E. Doan was fifteen years old when he accompanied his father to York county, other members of the family driving two yoke of oxen while he walked
Vol. 11-30
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nearly all the way driving two milch cows. His school days were spent in a log schoolhouse which stood on land owned by his unele, Newton Hyatt, and in those days everything in connection with educational facilities and equipment was of the most primitive character. Mr. Doan assisted his father in the agricultural opera- tions of the home farm, continuing in this line until he was twenty-one years oldl when he went to Iowa and worked for an uncle at shucking corn. At the end of a vear he returned to York county and worked out on farms by the month, after which he bought a team and began to farm on his own account by renting land, during this period saving all his available money to enable him to purchase a holding of his own. In the early days he had to haul grain and other produce to Lincoln and Nebraska City for marketing, returning from each trip with necessary supplies for home and farm. In 1890 Mr. Doan found himself in a position to buy a farm of his own and secured a tract on section 22, Stewart township, on which he now resides. As he prospered in his farming work he was enabled to add to his holding and is now the owner of two hundred acres of prime land, a large part of which is given over to the cultivation of grain. He also raises a fine grade of hogs for which he finds a ready market at good prices. The property yields him a grati- fying annual income and he has long been numbered among the representative agriculturists and substantial citizens of the county.
In 1880 Mr. Doan was united in marriage to Miss Ella Hendrickson and they have become the parents of the following children: Alice, the wife of Roy Rogers; Ellen, who married Tanney Blount; Elmer; Maude, living at home ; Clark; Louie; and Arthur and Mabel, deceased.
Mr. Doan is a stanch republican, having supported the men and measures of that party since he was entitled to exercise the franchise. His has given active support to the canse of education along practical lines and has served as school treasurer of his district for several years. He has witnessed the development of this section of the state from pioneer times to the present and has borne his share in the work of progress and improvement, while in the conduct of his private business interests he has always manifested the sterling traits of character which have won him the high regard and esteem of his fellow citizens.
THOMAS CURRAN
Thomas Curran, owner and editor of the Daily News of York, has devoted practically his entire life to newspaper work. He is a native of Ireland, born in county Donegal, on the 16th of November, 1872, a son of Thomas and Mary (Heekin) Curran, both of Irish birth and ancestry. The father engaged in farm- ing throughout his life and they were both consistent members of the Catholic church. Eight children were born to this union, six of whom are still living, Thomas Curran, the subject of this review, being the youngest. Both parents died when he was just a lad and at an early age he began to shoulder responsibility.
The education of Thomas Curran was obtained in the schools of his native country, and upon hearing of the wonderful opportunities offered here he deter- mined to leave his native land, with the result that in 1888 he came to Nebraska and has resided in this state ever since. He established himself in Lincoln and his
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first employment was as an apprentice on the Lincoln News. He worked for this paper for nine years, at the termination of which time he removed to Fremont obtaining employment on the Tribune. During the five years of his work on this paper he learned book manufacturing with the result that in 1902 he came to York and started the York Blank Book Company, running it as a printing establishment. Some time later he established the Daily News and in 1916 purchased the Times, consolidating the two papers under the name of the News-Times, which is the only daily paper in York. In connection with his newspaper he has a complete manu- facturing plant, one of the best between Omaha and Denver.
In 1897 Mr. Curran was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Menlove, a native of Lincoln, and to them seven children have been born. six of whom are living: Edward and Thomas A. are engaged in business with their father; and Frank, Bessie, James, and Nellie are all attending school. Stella was drowned in the city park in 1912.
Mr. Curran gives his allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is a Knight of Columbus and an Elk. Mr. and Mrs. Curran and family are also mem- bers of the Catholic church. It has always been the habit of Mr. Curran to give striet attention to his newspaper interests and it is this spirit of thoroughness and fidelity which has constituted one of the basic elements of his progress and success since he started out in life on his own account when but a boy.
ERWIN EUGENE LINCOLN
Erwin Eugene Lincoln is a relative of the immortal Abraham Lincoln, and is numbered among the prominent and successful merchants of McCool where he conducts the leading hardware and furniture store in the town. He was born in Canton, New York, April 27, 1857, the son of Myron and Sylvia A. (Page) Lincoln, natives of New Hampshire and Vermont, respectively. His father moved to New York at an early age and later went to Grundy county, Illinois, in 1857, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years. He passed away in Streator, Illinois, in 1824, and his wife's demise occurred about five years ago. Erwin Lincoln grew to manhood in Illinois and was educated in the public schools there.
At the age of sixteen he moved to Streator, Illinois, with his parents and began an independent career as a teamster. Later he entered a partnership with his brother-in-law, buying a farm and engaging in its cultivation until 1877 when he made a trip to Nebraska, and spent the two following years farming some leased school land in York county. In 1888 he located at MeCool where he worked in an elevator for a few months and later conducted a butcher shop before he entered upon the successful business career that has been his. He purchased one-half interest in a hardware store and went into business under the firm name of Lin- coln & Grier, where he prospered to such an extent as to be able to buy out his partner's share of the business within a year. For twenty years he was the leading hardware, furniture and implement dealer in the town, and at the end of that time retired from business for a few years. Four years ago he again purehased the business and since that time has enjoyed a large trade and a flourishing business.
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September 18, 1881, Erwin E. Lincoln was married to Miss Kate Teter, a native of Grundy county, Illinois, the daughter of John and Susan ( McAllister) Teter, natives of Ohio. To this union have been born four children: Cora, the wife of William Owen, of Seattle, Washington ; Lewis, who is married and resides in Nampa, Idaho: Emmet, of Lushton, Nebraska, who is married ; and Forrest who lives at home. assisting his father in the store.
As one of the leading men and progressive merchants of his community Mr. Lin- com has always been interested in progress and development and is ready to give his support to worthy movements. He has served on the village board many times and was a member of the county board of supervisors several terms. In politics he is a democrat. When the Farmers and Merchants Bank was organized in 1904 Mr. Lincoln was made president of that institution, holding this office for seven years. Ile has well earned the reputation of a successful and high principled business man and publie spirited citizen, always giving his service or means in order to promote the development of his community.
FRANK G. BURNHAM
Frank G. Burnham, president of the York Brick and Tile Company of York, is one of the county's most progressive and representative citizens. He is a native son of Nebraska, his birth having occurred in Lincoln on the 31st of December, 1877. a son of Horace A. and Lizzie A. Burnham. Both parents were born in Portland, Maine, and in 1874 removed westward settling in Lincoln. The father engaged in farming and stock raising, to which occupations he devoted the greater part of his life. In 1882 Mr. and Mrs. Burnham removed to Custer county, going as far as Kearney by train and driving the remainder of the way and here the father acquired a homestead on which he lived until 1895. The mother's death occurred in 1889. In 1895 Mr. Burnham removed to Cherry county where his death occurred. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burnham, namely: Harry, who is farming in Custer county : Frank G., the subject of this review : Horace E., who is engaged in the insurance business at Seattle, Washington : Sumner, a ranchman in Scotts Bluff county : and Silas, a farmer in Custer county. The Burnham family were reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church and the father was a republican in polities. In every sense of the word Horace A. Burnham was a self-made man.
In the acquirement of an education Frank G. Burnham attended the common schools of Lincoln and in due time was graduated from the high school at that place. On completing his education he started upon his business career in connec- tion with the American Exchange Bank at Lincoln, and for some time he remained in this position. In 1896 he went into business on his own account and commenced the manufacture of briek in Lincoln. Ile carried on this line of work successfully for a period of eleven years, and in 1907 came to York, continuing in this same business and he now has a large plant worth one hundred thousand dollars. He is president and general manager of the company and under his guidance the business has flourished. The bricks are of the best quality on the market and are shipped to all points in Nebraska. Kansas, the Dakotas. and Iowa. When he first entered into the business he shipped an average of twenty-five cars of brick per annum
FRANK G. BURNHAM AND FAMILY
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
out of the state but now his shipments amount to over five hundred cars per annum.
In 1899 Mr. Burnham was united in marriage to Miss Mande Wilson, a native of Lincoln, and to them four sons have been born: Sumner aged eighteen years; Ralph, sixteen years of age; Frank, who is thirteen years old ; and Herbert, eight years of age. The Burnham family are members of the Christian church and Mrs. Burnham takes an active interest in the charities of that organization.
Mr. Burnham gives his allegiance to the republican party in the interest of which he takes an active part. He served as county councilman of York for a period extending over three years. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Highlanders. In each of these orders he is an exemplary member. His business interests demand the greater part of his time and he is always endeavoring to improve the conditions under which his employes, numbering forty men, work. There is the best of feeling between Mr. Burnham and his men for he pays them fair wages, his pay roll amounting to forty thousand dollars per annum. Mr. Burnham has always been quick to recognize the possibilities of a situation, prompt in formulating his plans and energetic in their execution, and it is to these qualities that his success is due.
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