My Genealogy Hound

A. E. WHITCOMB, born in the town of Windsor, Vt., April 29, 1854, is a son of Daniel and Arvilla (Adams) Whitcomb, natives also of the “Green Mountain State,” and descendants of old New England stock. His parents immigrated to the West when the subject of this sketch was a child, settling in Rock county, Wis. There his earlier years were spent and there he began the race of life. He was brought up on his father’s farm and his first pursuits were those of agriculture. Taking a position with the Eclipse Wind Mill Company of Wisconsin, in 1871 at the age of seventeen, he remained in their employ for a period of seven years, engaged in selling wind-mills and pumps, mastering all the arts of the craft during this time and getting a world of experience and valuable business training, as any shrewd, wide-awake young fellow might be expected to do. He came to Nebraska in 1878 and located in Phelps county, where he opened an establishment of his own and began selling wind-mills, pumps, tubular wells, etc. Moving to Holdrege when that place started, he enlarged his stock with his growing trade and has since done a thriving business. He owns a large store and carries a full line of supplies in his line. Mr. Whitcomb has built up a very desirable business in his adopted town and county and is a man of recognized business talent and integrity. He has considerable real estate interests in Phelps county and is actively identified with the general growth and development of his community. He is a progressive, enterprising public-spirited citizen and has abundant confidence in the future of Holdrege and Phelps county. He has never aspired to any public position, being a man of quiet tastes and strict business habits. Like all good citizens he keeps up with local, state and national questions and the progress of general events. He has his opinions and when occasion demands he does not hesitate to express them. He is a stanch republican and usually votes that ticket.

Mr. Whitcomb has been twice married; his first wife Miss Rosa Farnham, his second Mrs. Mary Lepper, both of Davis county, Iowa. He has an interesting family and a pleasant home.