As an old settler of Valley county, Nebraska, and an agriculturist of untiring energy and perseverance and a worthy citizen, the gentleman here named needs no introduction to the people of his locality. He has spent some thirty years in their midst, has gained a host of staunch friends, and incidentally acquired numerous acres of good land and placed himself in a position to enjoy the latter part of his life in peace and comfort. He resides on section twenty-three, township twenty, range fourteen, where he and his family are surrounded by a host of good friends.

Orlando K. Philbrick, son of Harrison and Jane (Closson) Philbrick, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, April 2, 1845; he was fifth in the family of eight children, and has three sisters living in Ohio, one in Iowa, one in Illinois, and another in Colorado; another child is deceased, as are also the parents, the father having passed away in 1872, and the mother in 1852, their deaths occurring in Delaware county, Ohio.

Mr. Philbrick received his education in the home schools, and at the age of seventeen years, on August 22, 1862, enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, serving one year. He participated in the battle at Perryville, and a few months later was taken prisoner, paroled to Camp Chase, Ohio, and owing to illness he was discharged. On February 1, 1865, he enlisted in Company G, Fourth Ohio Cavalry, serving until the close of war. He received his discharge about July 25, 1865, in Nashville, Tennessee, and after the war returned to Ohio, where he engaged in farming.

On October 4, 1867, Mr. Philbrick was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Stanton, in Delaware City, Ohio, near which place she was born, a daughter of Frances and Margaret (Wooden) Stanton, natives of the states of New York and Virginia, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Philbrick have had ten children, namely: Claud O., who is married, has three children, and resides on the home farm; Mary J., living at home; Frank D., who is married, has four children, and lives in Garfield county, Nebraska; Ray A., resides at home; Lulu M., wife of John Dever, they having three children, and reside in Grand Island; Maud A., at home; Scott M., at home; and Dudley A., Florence, and Ben H., who also reside under the parental roof.

Mrs. Philbrick's father died in 1852 in Indiana; and her mother passed away in 1889, in Ohio; she has a brother residing in the state of Michigan, two sisters in Ohio, and another brother in Garfield, Nebraska.

In 1869 Mr. Philbrick migrated from Ohio to Washington county, Illinois, remaining one year, then moved to Randolph county, Missouri, where he followed the occupation of farming near Moberly five years, before going to Shelby county, Iowa. In the spring of 1882 he came to Valley county, Nebraska, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land seven miles southwest of Ord, residing there a couple of years; he then purchased six hundred and forty acres in section twenty-three, township twenty, range fourteen, which is still the home place, and which is now a fine stock and grain farm, well improved. On this farm Mr. Philbrick built a fine ten room residence in 1907, lighted by gas and having hot and cold water on every floor.

With his sons he owns one thousand and twenty acres of ranch land in Garfield county, on which he runs a fine bunch of cattle.

The Philbricks are a prosperous and successful family, owing seventeen hundred acres of fine land. They are an old pioneer family, and have passed through all the trying experiences and hardships incidental to frontier life, and are widely and favorably known. Mr. Philbrick has had the usual "soddy" experience of the west, having lived on his present farm in a large one fifty-two feet in length, one of the largest in the country.

Mr. Philbrick, as before stated, is a prominent farmer and ranchman of this part of Nebraska, and has served as director of school district number forty-five for years. He is a republican in politics and a member of the Grand Army of Republic.

"COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY OF NEBRASKA CONTAINING A History of the State of Nebraska, CONTAINING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF HUNDREDS OF PROMINENT OLD SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF NEBRASKA." CHICAGO: ALDEN PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1912, pages 435-436