Tekamah and Vicinity, Noteworthy Men of

   JESSE GRIFFEN, Sr., was born in England, April 29th, 1829. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Mary Chapple and three years later, in 1859, they came to America, landing at Boston, Mass. The same year they came to Iowa, locating at Iowa City. In 1860 they came to Omaha where they resided until March, 1866, when they came to Burt county and located the homestead in Summit township which has been their home ever since, until the past year, when they moved to Tekamah, where Mr. Griffen has owned property for some years. The first years of their life on the farm in this county were years of hardship but Mr. Griffen says they were among the happiest of his life. Their nicely improved farm is now known by them as "The Evergreen Home."

   NATHAN D. BLACKSTONE was born August 24th, 1832, at Harmony, Somerset county, Maine. In May, 1846, he moved to Wisconsin, where he made his home for thirteen years. June 24th, 1859. he arrived in Burt county, and for two years lived on the Blackbird, six miles west of Decatur. He then moved to a farm six miles southeast of Decatur, which locality he named "Fairview," and by which it is known today. Here he lived for forty-one years. moving to this city in 1903, where he is now making his home.
   Mr. Blackstone was united in marriage May 5th, 1863, to Miss Amelia K. Arlington.

   FRED J. W. MICHAEL was born August 20th, 1847, in Germany. He accompanied his parents to America in 1852, first locating in Cleveland, Ohio, and later in Cook county, Ill., coming to Burt county in June, 1857. He has since that time lived on a farm in Arizona township where he has become the owner of many of it's must fertile acres and has one of the pleasantest and best improved homes in the county.
   Mr. Michael was united in marriage October 16th, 1873, to Miss Lizzie Gill.

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   ELI SHAFER was born in Knox county, Ohio. September 26th, 1838. At six years of age he accompanied his parents to Washington county, Iowa, where he resided on a farm near FairfIeld until the death of his parents in 1851. Mr. Shafer was a harness maker by trade but for the last thirty-five years of his life followed the mercantile business. He came to Tekamah, September 21st, 1882, and was one of the city's leading merchants until his death. which occurred May 30th, 1898.
   Mr. Shafer was united in marriage to Cynthia A. Jones, at Richland, Iowa, January 1st, 1863.
   Being a cripple Mr. Shafer could not enlist as a soldier in the war of the rebellion but he showed his patriotism by becoming one of the home guards at his then home in Iowa.

   RICHARD MARR was born at Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. February 17th, 1815. In 1854 he came to the United States, locating in the state of Iowa From there he came to Burt county, Nebraska, in November, 1862, where he has resided continuously since. Most of his years in this county have been spent in Arizona township where he followed farming. Of late years he has made his home with his daughter Mrs. W. N. Haywood in this city.
   Mr. Marr was united in marriage in April. 1835, to Melissa C. Boutwell.
   In the war of the rebellion of 1837 and 1838 between the Lower Canada French and the Upper Canada British, Mr. Marr took a part.

   ICHABOD TUCKER was born April 24th, 1824, at Cherry Valley, New York. At twelve years of age he became a resident of Michigan, where he resided until manhood, when he removed to Chicago In 1858 he left that city and came west, making his home at DeSoto, Nebraska. then one of the frontier posts. He resided there until his removal to Tekamah in August, 1872, While a resident of DeSoto he served as post-

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