My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH PINKHAM, a pioneer and one of the most successful farmers of Kearney county, was born near St. Marys, Canada, July 9, 1845. Samuel Pinkham, father of Joseph, was also a native of Canada, was a farmer, and married Miss Domachille Sharka, a native of Canada, of French descent, who bore her husband five children, of whom Joseph is the eldest. The death of Samuel Pinkham took place in 1888, at Austin, Minn. Joseph Pinkham was reared on a farm in Canada until about twelve years of age, when he was brought to the United States by his parents, who located in Green county, Wis., in 1856; in 1859 they moved to Crawford county, in the same state, where, in November, 1861, Mr. Pinkham enlisted in Company K, Twelfth Wisconsin infantry. His regiment was assigned to the Western division of the army, and was at once employed in the pursuit of Price, mostly in Missouri, Arkansas, and Kansas. Mr. Pinkham was subsequently at the siege of Vicksburg, and after the fall of that city re-enlisted with his regiment, which still retained its name. It then joined Sherman’s army at Resaca, and was made part of the seventeenth corps, under Gen. McPherson, and was at the siege of Kenesaw mountain, and was engaged in the battles of July 21 and 22, 1863, before Atlanta, at the time Gen. McPherson was killed, and participated at its siege, was with that part of the army that circled or swung to the right and engaged the enemy at Jonesborough when Atlanta fell, and afterwards, through all the engagements in the famous “March to the Sea,” was at the grand review at Washington, and, although in many terrific battles, Mr. Piukham was never captured nor severely wounded. He was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and received his discharge and pay at Madison, Wis., at which point he was enrolled. Returning to his home, he resumed farming, but in a few years sold out and turned his attention towards acquiring an education, his opportunities for that purpose having been quite limited in his earlier days. Beginning in 1868, he attended a select school one year, then studied three years at the State University, Madison; next took a commercial course, and in 1873 married and resumed farming, raising tobacco chiefly for two years. Seized with a desire to come West, he moved to Iowa, lived there until August, 1877, when he came to Nebraska and settled in Kearney county.

He located his homestead claim on the northeast quarter of section 8, township 6, range 14, two miles from Minden, built a dug-out with no floor, and lived in this a short time. He next built a sod house, in which he lived about three years, when the town of Minden was located. He then moved to the town, erected several buildings, and made the town his residencc for seven years. Here he was elected justice of the peace, which office he held six years. While here he also studied law during his leisure hours and was admitted to the practice in the lower courts. In 1887 he erected a commodious two-story frame dwelling on his farm and moved into it. He is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, of which two hundred and twenty-five acres are under cultivation. He raises mixed crops and stock, giving special attention to Norman horses, as well as graded cattle and hogs. He has an orchard of 225 apple trees, and large quantities of small fruits, and for several years his displays of fruit at fairs have received numerous premiums. He has never made a failure in raising a good crop since his arrival in Nebraska, and his farm shows every evidence of thrift and good management. When he settled here there were only two frame shanties in his part of the country, the other dwellings being all dug-outs. In the direction of Kearney city there were but one or two houses. Mr. Pinkham was largely instrumental in procuring the removal of the county seat from Lowell to Minden, the latter being near the center of the county. During the stay of Mr. Pinkham in Minden, hotel accommodations were very meager, and with his characteristic energy, assisted by his noble wife, he started a hotel and boarded all the leading men connected with the railroad, during its survey and building. He still owns considerable property in the town, but is enjoying the fruit of his early pioneer life on his original homestead entry.

Mr. Pinkham married Mrs. Deborah A. Smith, widow of William E. Smith, a soldier of the late war, who died at Jacksonport, Ark., of congestive chills, June 27, 1862. His brother, Lieutenant Smith, died a short time after. At that time Mrs. Smith had made arrangements, and had her trunk packed, to go into the army as a nurse, but an attack of illness forced her to relinquish her purpose. To the union of William E. and Deborah Smith were born four children, of whom two died before the war. Of the two surviving after the war — Charles A. Smith is married and is a progressive farmer; the second son, William H. Smith, served three terms as constable in Nebraska, and was killed in the discharge of his sworn duty. He was an enterprising man and belonged to the Sons of Veterans.

Mrs. Pinkham is a daughter of Warren Miles, of New York State, who married there, but afterwards moved to Wisconsin, pursued farming as a vocation, and died in 1876, near Madison. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pinkham have been born three children, named — Inez P., Lewis W. and Nellie L. Inez died soon after coming to Nebraska, there being no physician to be had, and but a few neighbors at hand to sympathize or render aid during her illness.

Mr. Pinkham is a member of the G. A. R. and in politics is a republican. Mrs. Pinkham is a member of the Presbyterian church and also of the Ladies’ Relief Committee. Mr. Pinkam is of a quiet disposition and is highly respected by all who know him. He has been greatly aided by his amiable wife in his acquisition of his present property, she being a lady of most excellent judgment, great foresight, and possessed of much energy and industry, as well as great suavity of manners, winning friends wherever she is known.