Orphans

Beard Family and Orphans

Joseph Alexander Beard and Elizabeth Richardson Beard had four children. Following my great-grandmother's (Belle Elizabeth Beard-Clary) death in 1882, they raised the four children belonging to Belle and Samuel F. Clary. Joseph & Elizabeth Beard also adopted one child - Reuben F. Zook who is shown in the 1880 Census with the Beard family at Brownville, Nebraska.

1880 Brownville Precinct, Nemaha County, Nebraska; ED 207; Sheet 40;
Dwelling 35, Family #38; Enumeration date: June 16, 1880.

Obituary
Reuben F. Zook died at the Baptist Hospital at Omaha Monday night after a six-week illness from penumonia. Mr. Zook was taken to Omaha Sunday for treatment in the hospital. His sickness began with throat trouble, which gradually grew worse until pneumonia set in. The deceased was born in Fremont County, Iowa, on January 11, 1869. He moved to Brownville when nine years old and has since lived in various parts of the county. He was married to Lucy Buerstetta, January 1, 1897, and leaves a widow and two children, Walter and Owen. Besides these a brother and sister in Sydney, Iowa, and a brother at Joplin, Missouri, survive him. For several years past he has been teaching school, and was teaching in the neighborhood of Brock just previous to his death. The funeral service was held at the Baptist Church Wednesday afternoon. Interment was made in Sheridan Cemetery.

Ref: The Nemaha County Herald, March 31, 1905
Submitted by Lynn Sabin

Conkle Family and Orphans

Bertha Madson (aka Maden, Madsen, Madron) was adopted by Peter George Conkle and Frances Elizabeth Leighton as told by his daughter, Laura May Conkle who lived in Peru, died in California, where she went to farm.

Ellsworth P. Conkle's aunt, Laura May Conkle, writes in a small account of her Conkle family:

"About 1897 when Laura was 11 years, she and Jessie Glass (across the corner) borrowed widow Jones' two year old baby Fay Jones, to play with. So Frances thought she would take a girl from the orphans home at Council Bluffs Iowa, for company. She took a child, 9 years old. Maggie, but Maggie lied and stole and could not be taught better, so Frances sent her back to the Home.
"In December 1898, she went and got another little girl which had been deserted by her mother, named Bertha (Madron) years later they ran across her aunt.

"In the summer of 1901, Frances saw a widow Tobin's 3 1/3 mo. old baby in the hammock at old Dr. Neal's house, as she and Pete were going to the garden out on one of his stump patches. The baby, Margaret Tobin, was so starved she could not kick (the mother had to work so hard to make a living for 8). So Frances offered to take the baby for the summer months when Laura needed company most. When the mother took her back she most died so Frances took her again until she was 18.
"December (sic)15, 1901 Bertha died on the farm west of Peru."

Obituary
Bertha Maden, the little girl who found a home with P.G. Conkle and his wife suddenly passed away. She was about seven years old and was taken by them to raise a few years ago. While her health was never very good, yet she had attended school and was sick three days. It is not known just what caused her death as she had been suffering with a sore throat but it was not thought to be serious. She had catarrh which probably was the cause of death.
Ref: Nemaha County Herald, Auburn, Nebraska, Friday Nov. 29, 1901.
submitted by A. Elena Conkle Cogdell

Johnson Family and Orphan

My mother, Myrtle Irene Curren was born in Wisconsin in 1902, but was raised by the William H. Johnson family. She is with them in the 1910 Nemaha County School Census. I also find a connection to North Platte, Nebraska.
Submitted by JoAnn Earl (joann_e1@yahoo.com)

Additional Information

?  NEGenWeb Adoption Project