My Genealogy Hound

JACOB W. CLANCY was born in Canada July 9, 1854, and is the son of William and Hannah (Powley) Clancy. The senior Clancy was born in England, and came to America with his parents when quite small. He owns a large dairy farm near Nappenee, Canada, and is also largely interested in the raising of sheep.

Jacob W. Clancy left the paternal homestead when he was eighteen, and worked for a time in an oil refinery. He also became an expert engineer, and was stationed at Petrolia, Canada, for nine years. He came to St. Clair, Mich., in September, 1877, and followed farming for a short time, and in the fall of 1877 came to Buffalo county, Nebr., and purchased a quarter section of good land in Thornton township. He built a sod house and prepared to receive his family, which followed the next year. But little of the surrounding country was settled then, and neighbors were few and far between. It was not an uncommon thing, even in those days, to see deer and antelope on a distant bluff or bounding down through a draw to escape possible danger. The winter of 1880-1 was an exceptionally severe one, and great suffering was experienced, generally among the new arrivals. Many were not prepared for the severe storms and deep snow, which began that season about the fifteenth of October, and continued until the next April. The scarcity of fuel was cause for a great deal of inconvenience and suffering, and some were even without the actual necessities to sustain life during so long and disagreeable a winter, and were in a measure dependent upon their more fortunate neighbors.

Mr. Clancy was married, September 27, 1875, to Miss Elva A. Ward. She was a Canadian by birth, but her parents were born in the United States. Six children have been born to this union, namely — Elmer A., born September 6, 1877; Pearl E., born April 30, 1879; Delia A., born November 28, 1880; Vernia A., born March 27, 1882; Ethel M., born December 30, 1883; and Victor E., born March 25, 1886.

Mr. Clancy has held various local offices, but is independent in politics. He and his wife are both members of the United Brethren church.