Biographical Sketches of Fairfield
 
 
 
Richard Bayly
Leander Brewer
James H. Conrad
John H. Epley
John C. Hedge
Dennison Howe
John E. Hopper
William L. Howe
C. T. Mills, Sr.
Worthy T. Newcomb
George W. Noble
William S. Randall
Benjamin F. Rawalt
Charles F. Shedd
Albert S. Willis
 
 
      RICHARD BAYLY, of the firm Bayly & Gordon, wagon-makers and repair shops, was born in the township of
      Southeast Hope, on what was then known as the Huron Track, Ontario; December 15, 1839, where he learned
      the trade of blacksmith, serving three years, after which he carried on the business for six years, and during that
      time acquired a knowledge of wagon-making. In 1865, he engaged in the oil business in Enniskillen, Ontario, for
      three years. In 1868, he went to Chicago, and was employed by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
      Company, building shops, stations, etc. He came to Nebraska April 28, 1870, homesteading 160 acres in
      Fairfield Precinct, and was for six years engaged in farming. In 1876, he engaged in this business, and carried it
      on for three years, after which he engaged in the implement business in company with Louis F. Fryor for two
      years. In March, 1881, he again engaged in wagon-making and undertaking, and admitted Charles Gordon in as
      partner in the following December. Mr. Bayly was elected Commissioner of Clay County in 1873, re-elected in
      1876, and again in 1879.


      LEANDER BREWER, Postmaster, was born in Tinmouth, Rutland County, Vt., February 15, 1820, and was
      reared on a farm, residing there until 1848, then moved to Allegan County, Mich., where he farmed until he
      enlisted, September 30, 1861, in the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, serving for eighteen months.
      Returning to Allegan County, he farmed for several years, then engaged in the milk and dairy business, and also
      engaged in growing fruit. He came to Nebraska April 25, 1872, homesteaded 160 acres in Lone Tree Precinct,
      Clay County, and resided on it some two years. He was appointed Postmaster of Fairfield in June, 1873, which
      position he still occupies, and is also engaged in farming.


      JAMES H. CONRAD, druggist, was born at Parkersburg, Va., September 29, 1849, removing to Marengo,
      Iowa, at the age of ten years; he resided with Dr. J. W. Grant until twenty-one years of age; during five years of
      that period he studied medicine, and was for two years engaged in practicing. He came to Nebraska in March,
      1873, located in Fairfield Precinct, Clay County, and was for a year engaged in farming. Moving into town in
      1874, he engaged in livery business, in which he still continues. Shortly after his arrival here, he also engaged in
      the drug business in company with J. E. Hopper; they dissolved partnership eighteen months later, since which
      time Mr. Conrad has conducted the business alone. He carries a nice stock of $2,500, and has the oldest
      established business in this line in town. He was married in Victor, Iowa, July 4, 1872, to Sarah J. Archer, a
      native of Lisbon, Iowa. They have two children--Winnie and Francis.


      JOHN H. EPLEY, wagon work, contractor and builder, was born in Freeport, Ill., in 1842. He learned the trade
      of millwright and followed it for a livelihood in Illinois and Iowa, and during his residence in the latter State, took a
      course at the Iowa University. He came to Nebraska in March, 1870; built the Crete Flouring Mills, and was
      employed in erecting other mills through the State for three years. Mr. E. came to Fairfield in 1873, and was
      engaged in the mercantile business until July, 1879. He, in connection with this, built a grist-mill at Liberty Farm
      Ranch, this county, and conducted it until March, 1882. He established his present business in the spring of 1881.
      Mr. E. was married in the fall of 1875, in Clay County, Neb., to Emma Toms. They have four children--Victor
      F., Mattie, Claude and Blanche.


      JOHN C. HEDGE, manager for Frees & Montgomery, dealers in lumber, etc., was born in Greene County,
      Penn., in 1844, and reared on a farm in Washington County, Penn. He enlisted March 9, 1865, in the Sixth
      Pennsylvania Cavalry, serving four months; then went to Illinois, where he was engaged in various employments.
      Subsequently employed in Fairfield, Iowa, by a coal and grain company. He came to Nebraska in April, 1878,
      and was employed by his present employers at Edgar, Neb., until he came to Fairfield, Neb., in February, 1880,
      to take charge of their business at this point. He was elected Town Clerk in April, 1881, and a member of the
      Town Board in 1882.


      DENNISON HOWE, a retired merchant, was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., January 22, 1822, and five
      years later went to Orleans County in that State, and was reared on a farm, which he afterward followed on his
      own account. At eighteen years of age, he was engaged as a clerk, which he followed for two years, and
      subsequently was proprietor of a mercantile establishment at Knowlesville in Orleans County. He came to
      Nebraska June 10, 1877, engaging in the mercantile business, which he followed for three years, when he turned
      over the business to his sons, John and George W. Mr. Howe is the owner of 160 acres of land adjoining the
      town of Fairfield, and has twice been elected on the Board of Trustees of that place.


      JOHN E. HOPPER, general merchant, was born in England February 27, 1840, and fourteen months later his
      parents emigrated to America. He learned the trade of tinsmith in Cleveland, Ohio, working at it from 1856 until
      he enlisted, July 30, 1861, in the Sixth Michigan Infantry, serving for nineteen months, when he was discharged
      on account of disability, and subsequently followed his trade in Allegan County, Mich., until he came to Nebraska
      in March, 1872, at which time he homesteaded 160 acres in Linn Precinct, Clay County, and farmed for about
      two years, when he came to Fairfield, in the fall of 1873, and took charge of the St. Joe & Western Railroad
      section-house, which he conducted for two years, then followed the grain business for a few months. In October,
      1875, he established a general merchandise business at that place, in company with J. W. Small, who retired in
      the following April, since which time Mr. Hopper has been alone. Mr. H. was married in Allegan County, Mich.,
      August 4, 1861, to Nancy E. Smith. They have three children--Cora A., Minnie A., and Archie B.


      WILLIAM L. HOWE, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Monroe County, N. Y., April 22, 1859, and reared
      on a farm; at eighteen years of age, he purchased land in that county, and, in company with his brother, Lewis B.
      Howe, conducted a large farm. He came to Nebraska in March, 1880, and purchased eighty acres adjoining the
      town of Fairfield, and, in connection with his brother, Lewis B., farms some 350 acres. He is largely engaged in
      raising sheep, of which he has some three hundred, and his brother 1,500. Is also engaged in breeding Poland
      China hogs. Mr. Howe was married at Fairport, Monroe County, N. Y., December 18, 1879, to Hattie E. Lusk,
      a native of Newark, N. Y.


      C. T. MILLS, Sr., manufacturer and dealer in furniture, and undertaker, was born in London, Eng., in 1820,
      where he learned the trade of cabinet-maker, serving as an apprentice some seven years, and worked at it as a
      journeyman in that country until 1867, when he emigrated to America and was for two years employed at his
      trade in Chicago. Then employed on the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad till 1870, at carpentering. Then went to
      Lincoln, Neb., worked at carpentering till 1872; left there and took a pre-emption; lived on it two and a half
      years; sold improvements and moved up to Fairfield in 1875, and then was employed on the Burlington &
      Missouri Railroad as a carpenter; built his store at the commencement of 1881, for the sale of furniture.


      WORTHY T. NEWCOMB, of the Fairfield Bank, was born in Portage County, Ohio, in 1850, and educated at
      Hiram College, Portage County, Ohio, graduating there in 1873, after which he was for two years engaged in
      preaching in Jefferson County, N. Y. He came to Nebraska in February, 1876, located in Edgar Precinct, Clay
      County, and was for several years engaged in farming. He then came to Fairfield and carried on a meat market
      for a year, and in the fall of 1880, joined S. J. Anthony in dealing in live stock, etc., and in May, 1881, organized
      the bank in company with S. J. Anthony and O. C. Hubbell.


      GEORGE W. NOBLE, collection agent, was born in Philadelphia, Penn., March 20, 1844, and there learned the
      trade of book-binder with his father. Entered the army May 26, 1861, with the Second Delaware Infantry, and
      was discharged August 13, 1864, and re-enlisted March 21, 1866, in the Second Battalion Eighteenth United
      States Infantry, and was discharged in 1869. Mr. Noble came to Nebraska in May, 1869, and took the first
      homestead in Clay County, upon which he remained four years, when he sold his place and purchased an eighty
      acre tract in the same county. He took up his residence at Fairfield, in 1879, and in the fall of that year was
      elected Justice of the Peace, to which office he was re-elected in 1881, carrying on also a collection business. He
      is a member of the G. A. R. and A., F. & A. M., and Vice President of the Old Settlers' Association. He was
      married in 1873, in this county, to Annie E. Thompson, a native of Columbia City, Ind., and has a family of two
      boys--John H. and George W.


      WILLIAM S. RANDALL, dealer in agricultural implements, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1840, and
      reared on a farm in Washington County, Iowa. He enlisted in August, 1861, in the Eighth Iowa Infantry, serving
      until May, 1866, after which he farmed in Washington County, Iowa. He came to Nebraska in the spring of
      1873, and homesteaded in Marshall Precinct, Clay County, residing on it four years, during which period he
      farmed. He was elected Treasurer of Clay County in the fall of 1876, and was re-elected in the fall of 1877.
      During his term of office he resided in Sutton. He came to Fairfield in the spring of 1880, and engaged in the
      implement business in company with L. F. Fryar and in May, 1881, in company with J. W. Small, organized the
      Fairfield Exchange Bank.


      BENJAMIN F. RAWALT, agent for H. Gregg & Bros., dealers in grain, etc., was born in Fulton County, Ill.,
      and reared on a farm. He enlisted August 18, 1862, in the Eighth Minnesota Infantry, serving for three years,
      after which he farmed in Wabasha County, Minn. In 1869, he removed to De Kalb County, Mo., where he
      farmed for two years; then in St. Joe, Mo., employed for two years as clerk in a wholesale grocery, after which
      he traveled in that business through this State, and in April, 1874, engaged in mercantile business as a clerk at
      Fairbury, Jefferson County, Neb., continuing there for four years, and in August, 1878, he came to Fairfield and
      engaged in present capacity. In January, 1882, he also engaged in the implement business, and admitted as a
      partner Eugene Brewer in the following February, and is also a stockholder in the Herald Publishing Company,
      of this place. Is at present assistant editor and Secretary of the Association.


      CHARLES F. SHEDD, of the firm of C. F. Shedd & Co., dealers in grain, etc., was born in Dayton, Ohio, in
      1842, and reared on a farm in Lee County, Iowa. He enlisted September 15, 1861, in Company I, Engineer
      Regiment of the West, serving for thirteen months. He then farmed in Iowa for some years, and was for a year in
      business in Northern Wisconsin. He came to Nebraska in August, 1873, homesteaded 160 acres in Lone Tree
      Precinct, Clay County, on which he resided for two years. He came to Fairfield in 1875, where he was engaged
      in the grain, stock and lumber business in company with Snively & Hedges, and in 1879, he also engaged in
      business at Frisco, Colo., where he is engaged in manufacturing lumber, etc., and also in negotiating in mines.
      Was elected President of the Frisco Discovery & Mining Company in December, 1879, and Treasurer of Royal
      Mountains and Mining Company in 1880. The firm of C. F. Shedd & Co. has branch houses at Edgar, Carleton
      and Belvidere, and shipped the first grain from Clay and Thayer Counties in 1873. Mr. S. was married in St. Joe,
      Mo., in 1874, to Mary L. Badger. They have three children--Carrie E., James A. and Hattie May.


      ALBERT S. WILLIS, deceased, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., December 25, 1819. He learned the
      carpenter's trade, which he followed for some years, and removed to Marquette County, Wis., in 1850, where
      he also followed his trade. Ten years later, he went to Burr Oak, Mich., where he was engaged in the
      commission and lumber business; after this he came to Nebraska, and engaged in farming, at which he is still
      engaged. His son-in-law, William H. Frey, deceased, was born at Noblesville, Ind., March 1, 1840, and
      followed farming in St. Joseph County, Mich., and enlisted in the First Michigan Volunteers September 3, 1861,
      serving until the close of the war, at which time he held the rank of Captain of Company B. He came to
      Nebraska in 1871, and homesteaded 160 acres of land in Clay County, and, in 1876, took up his residence at
      Fairfield, following the business of Justice of the Peace, collecting agent, etc. In 1868, he married Emma Willis, at
      Burr Oak, Mich. He died September 19, 1880, leaving a family of a wife and two children--William R. and
      Lewis.
 



 

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