Orlando S. “Doc” Bare was born near West Union, Iowa, February 26, 1855. He was the third child of a family of eight children born to John and Caroline Bare.
At the age of ten years he moved with his parents to a new home near Sterling, Illinois. Here he grew to manhood and on November 26, 1874, married Matilda Fry. Matilda, the second child of Joseph and Anna Fry, was born November 24, 1856 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, five months before her family moved to Illinois. She descended from a long line of distinguished ancestors; teachers, editors, ministers, publishers, professors, mechanics and tillers of the soil. The Jacob Wismer family from which she descended came to America from Germany in about 1709. In 1857, the Fry family moved west and located at Sterling, Illinois. Joseph joined the army and fought in the Civil War. He died on June 11, 1890 and Anna on August 8, 1903.
After their wedding, Matilda and Orlando lived in Malbern, Illinois for several years where four of their children were born; John A, Anna May, Verna L. and Joseph.
In 1881, they moved to Antelope County, Nebraska which was as far west as the railroad extended at that time. They homesteaded at Grecian Bend near Clearwater, where they acquired a timber claim of 165 acres on August 9, 1889. Three more children were born: Agnes E, Orlando Jr, and Norton Henry. The children attended Grecian Bend School.
Matilda made all the clothing for the family. After the children were grown, Matilda and Orlando built a small cottage on the claim, living there until 1928, when he died on January 22. Matilda died on September 6, 1947.
John (1875-1927) married Rosabel M Caterbury. He died in Fairfield, Iowa. Anna May (1877-1959) taught school for many years. She married Sylvester Ward on March 12, 1902. They made their home in the Antelope Creek community. They retired from farming in 1948 and moved to Neligh. Sylvester died January 14, 1953 and Anna May died October 15, 1959. Verna L (1878-1974) was married to Serenus M. Ward on March 15, 1899. They also lived in Antelope Creek farms for the next 45 years. He died in 1932 and Verna on September 1, 1974. Agnes (1887-1970) married Olwin Todd on April 12, 1911. They farmed in the Clearwater area. Orlando Jr (1890-1958) served overseas in France during World War I. He married Aline Norris and they were the parents of two children. Norton Henry attended college and became a Student of Divinity and doctor. He spent two terms as a medical missionary in China and Tibet. He married Lois Nichols and had four children.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in June 2007