(From the "History of Hall County," Beuchler, Barr & Stough, © 1920)
DAVID D. O'KANE, postmaster and one of the substantial business men of Wood River, Nebraska, has been identified with affairs in Hall County since 1883 and has lived in the state since he was six years of age. From that time to the present seems a comparatively short period in the actual passage of time, but seemingly a century many have gone by when the progress and substantial development made in this part of the country is considered. In all this change Mr. O'Kane has been vitally interested and has borne a leading part.
David D. O'Kane was born at Polo, Illinois, December 8, 1868. His parents were Joseph and Mary (Davie) O'Kane, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Ireland. David D. was the youngest born of their family of eight children, the others being: Mary, deceased; James, deceased; John H., postmaster at Gothenburg, Nebraska; Daniel, employed in the postoffice at Wood River; Mrs. Elizabeth Sanders, who lives at Norfolk, Nebraska; Mrs. Josie Kelley, who resided in Omaha, and Mrs. Anna Worthing, who lives at Los Angeles, California.
In 1874 the parents of Mr. O'Kane moved to Dawson County, Nebraska, locating two and a half miles northwest of Willow Island. His father was a ranchman and had work for all his boys to do and it was not long before little David claimed recompense for herding his father's cattle. When the family reached their new home in Dawson County, they found no provision for comfortable family life like that they had enjoyed in Illinois. They had shipped lumber to this point from Clinton, but transportation was slow and delayed and they were forced to live in the school house as it was in this same building that Mr. O'Kane later attended school. He was about twelve years old when he was able to qualify as a sportsman. Game was plentiful and he kept the larder well supplied with deer meat, ducks and wild geese. He relates that droves of wild horses would gallop across the country and that it was great sport to chase them but it was difficult to catch any of the old ones and when the young colts were captured it was almost impossible to raise or break them for use on the farm.
When Mr. O'Kane was fifteen yars (sic) old he left the home ranch and went to Alda, Nebraska, where he learned the art of telegraphy, and in the fall of 1883 he came to Wood River as night operator. This pleasant little city has since been his settled home, although for some time he worked up and down the railroad line as telegrapher for short periods. A man of energy and enterprise, Mr. O'Kane was one of the early promoters of the now necessary telephone service. In 1902 he organized the Nebraska Telephone Company, with country lines working out of Wood River and has been its able manager ever since. He has given encouragement to many other laudable enterprises in the county and his fellow citizens know that they may safely invest if he gives support. He owns valuable real estate at Wood River which includes his comfortable residence and the brick building in which the post office is located.
On November 27, 1905, Mr. O'Kane married Miss Agnes Whalen, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Thomas and Anna Whalen, who were the parents of four sons and three daughters: John, William, Frank, James, Mrs. Elizabeth L. Hoye, Mrs. Anna Dunn, and Mrs. Agnes O'Kane. Mr. and Mrs. O'Kane have the following children: Mary, a student in the Wood River high school; Leo David, a pupil in the fifth grade at school; Robert Harold, also doing well at school; Gretchen, has reached her fifth year, and Charlotte, at the charming age of two years. In politics Mr. O'Kane is a Democrat and in addition to serving for the past four years as postmaster, he has served several terms as village clerk. He has conducted an insurance business in connection with real estate handling for some time, for the past fifteen years having been active along many lines. He and family belong to the Roman Catholic church and he is a leading member of the Knights of Columbus. He was one of the founders and is a prominent factor in the Wood River Commercial Club.
From a newspaper local to Monte Vista, Colorado; August, 1945
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Child Accidentally Drowns in Small Pool last Thursday
Tragedy took the life of Barbara Mae Dantice, nineteen months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Dantice, Thursday afternoon, August 2, when the child accidentally drowned in a pool of water near her home.
The baby was rushed to the Community hospital after being found a few minutes after she had fallen into the water. The hospital attendants worked with a doctor for more than three hours giving the child artificial respiration and oxygen, but failed to revive her. Fire Chief Paul Barger assisted in attempting to revive her.
The accident happened when Barbara Mae and an older brother were playing in the yard and while running, Barbara fell into a ditch near a culvert. the ditch was dry but some water had formed in a pool under the culvert and in falling, the child had worked her way into the water.
funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock from the Woods chapel with Father Thomas Forrest in charge. Interment took place in the Monte Vista cemetery.
Barbara Mae was born in Monte Vista January 1, 1944. Besides many family friends and relatives left to mourn her early passing, she is survived by her parents; one brother, Donald, and two sisters, Jean and Arleen. Also her grandparents, Mrs. John L. Dantice and Mr. and Mrs. Fred K. Hoff of Canon City.
Appeared in a newspaper local to Monte Vista, Colorado; March, 1977
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Velra Wright, 66, a resident of Center, died in Hanford, Calif., Feb. 28. No details of her death were available except that it was termed a natural death. Mrs. Wright was born Nov. 25, 1910 in Center, the daughter of M. M. Sutley and Annie Chrisman Sutley.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church the American Legion Auxiliary and the Rebakah Lodge all of Center.
Mrs. Wright was a pianist and played for dances, school entertainments and in late years often played for the several Senior Citizen Centers in the San Luis Valley.
She had been visiting her daughter, Cleo Ann Wright in Hanford, Calif., when she died.
In addition to her daughter she is survived by one brother, Melvin Sutley, Pennsylvania and two sisters, Mrs. Thelma Finley of Canon City, Colo., and Mildred Barkley of Kremmling, Colo.
Graveside services will be Friday, March 4 in the Monte Vista Cemetery with arrangements by the Rodgers & Sharp Mortuary of Monte Vista, at 1 p.m.
Those who wish may contribute to the Adams State College Alumni Fund.