Honorable Charles Eiseley

Born: 3 JUL 1838 at Wurtemburg, Germany
Died: 2 FEB 1918 at Norfolk, Madison County, Nebraska
Buried: unknown

Married in 1865 to Josephine Whitney near Davenport, Iowa

Born: at Medina County, Ohio
Died: unknown
Buried: unknown

Children:
Lydia M., b. DEC 1872; d. 30 AUG 1873; bur: Logan Cemetery, Hooper, NE
Baby, b. 3 APR 1874; d. 18 AUG 1874; bur: Logan Cemetery, Hooper, NE.
Charlie, d. 31 MAR 1877; bur: Logan Cemetery, Hooper, NE
Josie (son), b. MAY 1876; d. JUL 1876; bur Logan Cemetery, Hooper, NE
Frances
Clyde
Horace

C. F. Eiseley, who was one of the very early settlers of Washington County, NE having located on Sections 7, 19 and 9, on Logan Creek, in 1856. His land was about half way between Hooper, NE and Fontenelle, NE. On October 16, 1876, Hooper was incorporated. Its present officers are: Board of Trustees, Chairman, E. Van Buren; E. H. Airis, George Heine, C. F. Eiseley, there being one vacancy; Clerk, Henry Lucien; Marshal, Thomas Bullock. Nebraska Legislature from Hooper, 1877-1881 and Norfolk, 1887-1889.

Biography Album of Northeastern Nebraska, pub. 1893
Hon. Charles F. Eiseley, one of the leading hardware merchants at Norfolk, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, July 3, 1838, and emigrated to America in 1852, his brother being the first to establish the family name in this country. He first located in Dodge County, Nebraska, on Logan Creek. He paid the government price for a quarter section of land and afterwards took a homestead which he partially developed. In 1866 he, with E. H. Clark, represented Washington County, in the Territorial Legislature, held at Omaha. At that meeting the Constitution of the State was formed, and ratified the following year. In 1874 he removed to the village of Hooper, where he opened the first hardware store, and continued to operate the same until 1882. He represented Dodge and Burt counties in the Legislature in 1877 and 1879. In 1882 he removed to Norfolk, and five years later, 1887, was elected as representative of Madison County. It was through his instrumentality that the enlargement of the insane asylum was made at Norfolk, for which an appropriation of one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars for the buildings, was obtained. It may truthfully be said that Mr. Eiseley is a self-made man. He received his education in his native country in the public schools, and followed teaching several years, after coming to America. He is deserving of much credit for the manly position he has taken on all public measures. He enlisted as a member of the Second Cavalry during the civil war period at Omaha, and participated in the Indian war; serving one year and was mustered out at Omaha in 1864. In 1865 he was married to Josephine Whitney, a native of Medina County, Ohio. By this union the living children are; Francis, Clyde and Horace. Our subject votes the Republican ticket, feeling assured as he does that by so doing he is best subserving the interests of the people. At the time he came to Nebraska all was one prairie wilderness, and its future brightness had not yet been dreamed of, much less realized. He has lived to see the prairies subdued, school houses scattered in every direction, with church spires pointing skyward. He has lived to see countless manufactories established in the Elkhorn Valley, while railroads cross and recross each other, penetrating every nook and corner of the commonwealth. Over telephone and telegraph wires, man is permitted to carry on conversation through all parts of the State. Surely the age of wonders is upon us. To be an eye witness to these great changes is an honor, but to be an actual participant is not accorded to all, but among this number may be enrolled the name of Charles F. Eiseley, one of the pioneers of Nebraska.

Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska, pub. 1882:
C. F. EISELEY, hardware merchant, Hooper, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, July 3, 1838. He emigrated to America in 1852, locating in Pittsburgh, Penn., where he learned the confectionery trade. Was afterward employed as pastry cook on steam-boats running between Pittsburgh and St. Louis on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, until 1858. He then came to Nebraska, locating on Section 8, Town 19, Range 8, Dodge County. He has 320 acres, 160 acres in cultivation, the rest in grass land, of which thirty acres are in pasture under fence. He lived on his farm until 1874, when he moved to Hooper, and building his present store buildings, engaged in hardware and implement business, which he has since carried on. Carries a stock of $3,000 in hardware, stoves, etc., and $2,500 in agricultural implements. He has an excellent trade, which is rapidly and largely increasing. Mr. E. has been prominently identified with Territorial and State governments. Was a member of the Territorial Legislature of Nebraska in 1865, and was elected a member of the State Legislature in 1877 and re-elected in 1879. He is a strong Republican, taking an active part in politics in Dodge County. He married near Davenport, Iowa, in January, 1864, Miss Josephine Whitney, who was born in Medina County, Ohio. They have three children--Francis, Clyde and Horace. Mr. E. is a member of Hooper Lodge, No. 72, A., F. & A. M.

Source: Ruth Moss, Washington County Genealogical Society