These biographies were transcribed from Goodspeed’s Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton Counties. They are only the biographies for individuals who resided in Hall County Nebraska in 1890 whose surname starts with the letter O.
OAKES, Thomas A.
Thomas A. Oakes is alderman from the Fourth Ward of Grand Island, Neb., and his name is identified with the material and social happiness of Hall County. He was born in Baltimore, Md., March 20, 1849, and is a son of James and Mary (Nugent) Oakes, worthy people who were born in Derry, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in early life. The father was a coppersmith by trade and for many years worked in the car shops of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company at Baltimore. He died in 1865 at the age of forty-seven years, and his worthy wife followed him to the grave some two years later. The youth and early manhood of Thomas A. Oakes were spent in his native city, and there he learned the painter’s trade, and after reaching his twenty-first year he left home and worked at his trade in different parts of the United States for several years, being principally engaged throughout the West. In 1881 he settled at St. Paul, in Howard County, Neb., with the interests of which place he was identified until 1885, when he came to Grand Island and began working in the Union Pacific car shops, which has been his principal occupation ever since. He is a steady, painstaking workman, and as a citizen commands the respect of all who know him. He is a member of the K. of L., and is now serving his first term as alderman for his ward. He was married in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Miss Annie A. Cosgrove, by whom he has a son and daughter: Walter C. and May H. Mr. Oakes and his wife are regular communicants of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church.
O’KANE, D.
The mercantile interests of Hall County, Neb., have been ably represented since March, 1880, by Mr. O’Kane, who has also been successfully engaged in grain-dealing. Upon first locating in the county, in January, 1880, he was the ticket agent at Alda for the Union Pacific Railroad, and held this position until he established his present business. He was born in Ogle County, Ill., in 1855, and was the fourth of nine children born to Joseph and Mary (Davy) O’Kane, natives, respectively, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Ireland, their union taking place in the State of Indiana. Soon after this event they settled in Illinois, and here the father was engaged in farming until 1874, when he moved to Nebraska, where he resided until his death in January, 1887, his wife dying in December, 1889. D. O’Kane received the advantages of the common schools of Ogle County in his boyhood, but in 1874 left his parents’ home and settled in Dawson County, Neb., where he carried on stock-raising for some time. He then took up the study of telegraphy at Willow Island, and about 1876 became an operator and entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad, and during a service of thirteen years he only lost about five weeks. He has been engaged in general merchandising for a number of years, and as he carries a large and varied assortment of goods which he sells at very reasonable rates, he has obtained a large share of public patronage. He was married in Alda in January, 1882, to Miss Anna Mitchell, a native of Michigan and a daughter of Thomas Mitchell, who came to Nebraska in 1870. He is now a widower and makes his home with Mr. O’Kane. To the union above mentioned two interesting children have been born: Mabel and Josie. Mr. O’Kane casts his vote with the Democratic party, and has served as justice of the peace of Alda Township, and has been a delegate to different county conventions. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., Alda Lodge No. 165, and is a wide-awake and enterprising citizen, interested in all good works.
OWENS, AMAJIAH D.
Among the people of Hall as well as surrounding counties the name that heads this sketch is by no means an unfamiliar one, for ever since locating here he has been closely connected with the progress and development of the community. His birth occurred in Wirt County, W. Va., February 27, 1847, and he was the fifth of eleven children, nine of whom are living, born to Luther and Mardulia (Lott) Owens, who were born within the limits of Old Virginia. A. D. Owens, the immediate subject of this memoir, was reared on a farm in his native county, and in 1871 accompanied the family of Joseph H. Trout from West Virginia to the city of Indianapolis, Ind., and in the fall of 1872 he came with the same family to Hall County, Neb., and made his home with them for six months. The following years he spent in Wyoming Territory and Colorado, then returned to Nebraska, and engaged in farming in Centre Township of Hall County. On November 4, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie S. B., the daughter of Joseph H. and Amelia E. Trout, which family was the one Mr. Owens accompanied from West Virginia. Mrs. Owens was born in Frederick County, Md., January 30, 1856, and immediately after their marriage she and Mr. Owens settled in Grand Island, where they have since made their home. During the first few years of his residence here Mr. Owens was employed in different ways, and after working in an elevator for two years he spent two more years as clerk in a grocery store, and the following year was an employee of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company. In December, 1885, he bought a dray line in Grand Island, and has very successfully owned and operated it ever since. His line now consists of four teams, and he is doing a prosperous business. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., the K. of L., and in his political views is a Republican. He and wife are the parents of the following children: Myrtie A., Clyde L., Byrel M. and an infant daughter unnamed. Clyde and Byrel are deceased.
Source: Goodspeed brothers. Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state: a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties… Chicago: The Goodspeed publishing co., 1890.
Back to: 1890 Hall County Biographies
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