Tekamah and Vicinity, Noteworthy Men of

his pen and personality was felt on all matters of public importance.
   Mr. Hall removed from Tekamah to McPherson, Kansas, where he engaged in the lithographing, printing and publishing business and later removed to California and engaged in citrus culture. He was later appointed horticultural commissioner and quarantine officer which position he hold for six years and resigned to take editorial charge of the Pacific Fruit World a periodical of wide circulation published at Los Angeles. He is also president of the State Horticultural Society of California.

   AVERY BLAIR COOLEY was born at Turin, Lewis county, New York, on the 30th day of April, 1827. When he was five years of age his parents moved to Genessee county, New York, where he grew to young manhood. That part of the country was then the frontier. Reaching man's estate he and three brothers painted the buildings along the Erie railroad when it first built through western New York. In 1852 he went to Aurora. Illinois, where he was united in marriage in 1863 to Miss Sarah Gilbert. Mr. and Mrs. Cooley came to Tekamah in 1872 where he engaged in the furniture business, erecting one or two buildings in the Hopewell block on the east side of Thirteenth street. By trade he was a painter and paper hanger. He passed from this life Tuesday, July 29th, 1902, his wife surviving him.

   CHAS. W. HARNEY was born in Illinois, near Jacksonville, Morgan county, and came west with his parents to Nebraska in 1857. He remained with his parents until 1873, on their farm three miles east of Tekamah. He moved to Tekamah in 1882 where he has since been almost continuously engaged in business, at present being proprietor of a prosperous meat market.
   Mr. Harney has been twice married. In 1873,

while a resident of Arizona township, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Chambers who died within a few years thereafter. October 29th, 1884, he was married to Mrs. Amanda Smith, of this city.

   M. M. HARNEY was born in Illinois. He came to Nebraska in 1857 and in 1863 enlisted in the Second Nebraska cavalry. At the close of the war he returned to Burt county where he engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1888, with his family, he removed to Texas where he has since resided. He is engaged in the live stock business.

   CHRIS ASTOR was a native of Bavaria. He was born September 17th, 1828 and, with his parents, came to Ripley County, Indiana, in 1846. Two years later they came to Jackson county, Iowa, and engaged in farming until 1852 when he went to California and engaged in mining for four years He then returned to Jackson county his old home and was united in marriage to Miss Althea Jonas. Mr. and Mrs. Astor came to Burt county in 1856 and engaged in farming until the year 1877 when they moved to Tekamah and entered the hotel business. He erected the "Astor House" which, until it was remodeled, and discontinued as a hotel, bore his name and was a credit to his memory. He bore a wide acquaintanceship and was most highly respected.
   While sleeping peacefully on his bed the night of January 24th, 1902, Mr. Astor quietly passed to the Great Beyond.

   W. E. PRATT was born May 8th, 1859, in Wyoming county, New York. When four years of age his parents removed to Burt county, arriving here in 1863, and settling on a farm five miles north of Tekamah. Here he attended the country school until fifteen years of age when he came to Tekamah. In 1880 he took up the study of civil engineering under J. E. House, chief engineer for the O. & N. W. and the Missouri Pacific


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