Tekamah and Vicinity, Noteworthy Men of

Smith, the firm becoming, as at present, Smith Brothers. Soon after this change Mr. Chilcott entered the Burt County Bank, as cashier. October 25th, 1817, Mr. Chilcott was united in marriage to Miss Josie Nelson. He passed from this life August 18th, 1889.

   HENRY S. M. SPIELMAN was born March 11th, 1836, in Blair county, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of six children, his father dying before his birth. He was taken by his mother to Huntingdon county when a year or two old where he lived until he came to Burt county in the fall of 1857. He was married June 22nd, 1854, to Miss Caroline Boring. Upon his removal west, besides his family, he brought his mother with him. They reached Tekamah Oct. 26th, 1857, and the ten acre lot on which his home now stands is the same spot on which he passed his first winter. He entered under the pre-emption law the quarter section which was so long known as the W. B. Beck farm and on one corner of which the Arizona M. E. church now stands.
   Mr. Spielman is now one of the wealthy men of this county all of which he has carved out by energy, perseverence (sic) and an unfaltering faith in the future of the west. He is identified with all public enterprises which contribute to the prosperity of a farming community and in the declining years of life he and Mrs. Spielman find much enjoyment in travel.

   J. R. THOMAS is one of the colony of thrifty New Yorkers who contributed so much to the early settling of this county. He was born at Sheldon, New York, April 23d, 1830. His father died when he was a lad of twelve years and the greater part of the work and care of the old homestead fell upon him. He labored bravely for many years caring for the place and those at home. June 7th, 1854, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Mary O. Barnam. Three years later he made a trip to Nebraska for the purpose of locating a home somewhere in the west. He arrived at Teka-

mah and after looking over this section of the country selected and purchased, just south of town, a fine tract of 320 acres. He then returned to his home in New York and in February, 1869, moved here with his family. They resided upon the farm for a number of years and then moved to Tekamah in 1877, where he engaged in the lumber and coal business for some nine years.

   I. C. JONES was born January 14, 1827, at Exeter, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. He was educated at Lewisburg University where he spent three and one-half years. He was ordained a Baptist preacher, February 17th, 1859, at Canasaraga, New York. and five days later started for the west and settled at Paw Paw Grove, Illinois. During these early days he preached some and farmed to help meet expenses. While living in Illinois the war broke out and Mr. Jones enlisted as a private in the 15th Illinois infantry and discharged his duty to his country faithfully. Shortly after the close of the war he removed to Sand Springs. Iowa, and in 1867 came to Nebraska. He attended the Nebraska Association at Plattsmouth in September, 1867, walking nearly all the way from his home in Silver Creek township, Burt county, to Omaha. He was present at Bellevue, November 12th, 1867, when the Nebraska Baptist State Convention was organized and was elected manager for three years.
   Mr. Jones was united in marriage November 7th, 1849, to Miss Adaline Hood, and together they are now spending the declining years of their life on their farm in Silver Creek township.

   PETER REINERT was burn in Wincheringen, Prussia, October 23d, 1833, and came to America in May, 1854 and settling in Wisconsin where he was married to Miss Mary Cummings, Oct., 1858. He removed from there to Pennsylvania in 1863. Not being satisfied with agricultural conditions in that state, and having relatives in Burt county who told glowing tales


© 2002 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller