My Genealogy Hound

ELIHU FIELD, one of the most prominent farmers and pioneers of Harlan county, Nebr., was born in New Hampshire March 9, 1816. His father, Prentice Field, also a native of that state, married Mary A. Mitchell, of Haverhill, Mass., and moved to York State, where both died in 1865. Their family consisted of eight children, only three of whom are now living, viz. — Elihu, Frederick M. and Mary N.

Elihu Field, whose name heads this sketch, was reared on the farm and received a good common-school education. After reaching his majority he learned the blacksmith’s trade and followed it to some extent. He was united in marriage to Miss Elvira, a daughter of Lemuel and Rachel Scott, of Richmond, N. H. Her paternal grandparents were natives of New Hampshire and of Scotch descent. From New Hampshire Mr. Field removed to New York State, where he resided about eighteen years, engaged in the lumber business. He went from York State to Henry county, Ill., at which place he remained about seven years, coming thence, in 1874, to Nebraska, and settled in Harlan county, Antelope township, and locating a homestead and timber claim on the west half of section 24, township 4, range 17 west. He afterwards sold the timber claim, yet retaining the homestead. He at first built a dug-out, then a sod house, and lived here about four years before bringing his family, all the time improving and making preparations for their coming. He, of course, endured all the hardships and privations of pioneer life. For about six months he had to haul all the water he used a distance of ten miles, and all his trading had to be done at Kearney, a distance of over thirty miles. After four years of toil and patient waiting his family joined him in his new home. When Mr. Field settled here there were only a few families in the township, and all had come poor and were unable to assist one another, consequently each man had to depend on his own exertions, but settlers kept coming until the entire government land was claimed. Nature had done its part in making this one of the most beautiful places in the state, and now Mr. Field is surrounded with good neighbors, with well improved farms, all in the enjoyment of home and comfort. He lived in his sod house until 1885, when he built and moved into the comfortable frame where he now lives. He has his place well improved, having all the necessary outhouses, a good stable, granary and groves, has one hundred and twenty acres under cultivation and raises mixed crops, and in addition to general farming has engaged quite extensively in dealing in stock. For the first few years he had his crops destroyed by grasshoppers, but he did not let this discourage him; having two willing hands and a stout heart he toiled on and has succeeded well, mostly raising good crops since. He has now reached the ripe old age of seventy-four, and is yet hearty and full of push and does good work on his farm. Mr. Field attends strictly to his own business, is industrious and economical, and everything on his place gives evidence of good management. No citizen of the county commands in a higher degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow-men. He is ever straightforward and honorable, and is known as one having the interest of the county at heart, and willing to do his share in forwarding all projects tending to its material or moral advancement. In politics he has always been a stanch democrat.

To Mr. and Mrs. Field have been born two children — Lurana, now wife of J. T. Pettis, and Lucretia, who died in New Hampshire December 12, 1843. Mr. Field is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the Farmers’ Alliance of Harlan county.