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The Old Folks At Home
Otoe County
Some of Nebraska's Centenarians who still live and have their being
Nebraska City, Neb, March 30 — Otoe County and Nebraska City in particular, would seem a good place to live. People live to a ripe old age here, comfortable, happy and prosperous.
To collect names and dates of all who have reached the age of 75 and over would be nest to impossible, but the following are a few known to your correspondent, and are representatives of the early days before Nebraska was a state.
An honor to the county, state and nation; long may their lives yet be spared.
John Irwin, or as he is familiarly called, "Uncle Johnny," is well known not only to the people of this county, but throughout the entire state. He is 92 years of age and until very recently in full possession of all his faculties. Mr. Irwin, but for a peculiar dislike to paying his taxes, might have been one of the wealthiest men in the state. But from this neglect, piece after piece of valuable land has slipped away from him. There has not been a term of district court for years that "Uncle Johnny" has not attended, and he was frequently present at United States court at Omaha. Mr. Irwin has four children, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Dr. George M. Brinker was born in Frederick County, Virginia, June 27,1813, and is therefore nearly 78 years of age. He settled in this city in 1865 and with the exception of two years' residence in Denver in 1875-76 has lived here continuously.
He was married near Starsburg, Va., March 7,1837, to Mary A. H. Bowman. They have six children and a number of grandchildren living. The doctor is a graduate of the university of Pennsylvania, a member of the Otoe County medical association and a prominent Mason.
J. D. Carmichael is a pioneer of Otoe County, locating at Minersville, south of this city, in 1857 and has since resided there, rearing a beautiful home.
Mr. Carmichael was born in Pennsylvania in 1812, making him 79 years of age. He married Miss Julia Leyman March 27, 1838, and fifty years later at their hand-some home they celebrated their golden wedding. His wife's age is 76, Mr. Carmichael cast his first vote for Jack-son, afterwards for Polk and Pierce. He joined the republican party when it was formed but voted for Greeley in 1872.
He was a Justice of the peace in territorial days and married the first couple In Otoe precinct.
Mr. Carmichael is a man of great ability and is still active and hearty. They have one child, nine
grandchildren and two great grandchildren living.
Jacob Klapser's age is 84. He was born October 7, 1807, in Wartemberg, Germany and came to this county at the age of 10. He has earned his own living since he was 12 years of age, working on a farm until he was 17. He then learned the harness and saddlery trade, and, has successfully conducted that business ever since. He came to Nebraska in 1856, locating at Plattsmouth, coming to Nebraska City in 1865, establishing the business which he is still conducting. They have three children living. twelve grandchildren and five great
grandchildren.
Philip Davis lives with his son in-law, T M. Taylor, at the latter's residence on North Sixth Street. Mr. Davis is 83 years of age. He was born at Harrisburg, Pa, January 18, 1908. He Has seven children, eleven grand children and eight great grand children.
Wesley Spurlock claims West Virginia for his native state. He is 78
years of age and his wife 76. They have eight children living.
James Fitchie first saw the light of day in County Down, Ireland, on the 3
rd day of May, 1810, and is therefore nearly 81 years of age. His wife is a native of the same county and has reached the age of 78. They were married in their native county October 20, 1838. and in 1839 Nebraska City and Otoe County helped to celebrate their golden wedding, Mr. Fitchie came to Nebraska with the ox team and wagon of song and story in 1855, taking up a claim at Tekamah. Burt County,
then a city with but one log house and two tents. In October of the same year he came to this city and liked it so well he has remained until the present. He was a member of the state legislature in 1869 and has held numerous positions of honor and trust. Mr. Fitchie has a great fund of anecdotes of the early settlement of Otoe County, none of which gives him more pleasure to relate that of the couple he married when a justice of the peace in the territorial days. After the ceremony the groom said the squire would have to wait for his fee wutil he could haul and sell a load of posts. That groom is now an honored citizen of Otoe County and worth $100,000. Mr. and Mrs. Fitchie have living six children and twenty-four grandchildren.
Patrick Gorman has reached his 81st year. He enlisted in 1861 in the Seventy-second Illinois
regiment and served two years. Mr. Gorman left the army practically disabled, having contracted chronic rheumatism. He receives a pension but like many deserving cases it is much too small. He settled in Nebraska in 1867, and has since resided here with his wife. They have two children, their only grandchild dying at an early age.
R. H. Dickey has been in the drug business in this city since 1865. Mr. Dickey has reached the age of 82, but still attends to business. He was probate and county judge of Otoe County from 1866 to 1877, and is a prominent Mason. He was married in Campbell County, Virginia, July 10, 1829, to Miss Susan S. Howarton. They have two children living.
Morning World Herald, Omaha, Monday, April 20, 1891
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