Joseph William Burkhead was one of the early settlers of Antelope County. Over the years he was actively engaged in farming, business, and community affairs in the Oakdale area. Joseph was born June 21, 1866 to George W. and Sarah Kesling Burkhead at Brandon, Iowa.
At the age of 18, he came to Antelope County and stayed with his uncle, Jake Kesling of the Star Community. While working on the railroad branch line from Oakdale to Elgin, he met Elnora Austin. She was the daughter of William and Mary Ann Day Austin. She was born in the mining camp at Brownstown, Wisconsin on June 30, 1870. As a young woman she came with her parents to the area south of Oakdale. Here they homesteaded, in a sod house, on a piece of land in Cedar Township.
Joseph and Elnora were married on December 9, 1888 and they immediately went into farming. Three children were born: Ora, born November 11, 1889, married P C Tennis on August 10, 1911; Alva L, born June 28, 1891, married Alida M Jensen on July 5, 1911; Elsie, born August 4, 1892, married Carl C Jackson on November 15, 1910. All of the children were born on the farm, grew up there, and attended Mt Ayre School. For a period of time the family returned to Iowa to live after which they returned to Antelope County. When Alva's wife died, they took in the new baby and raised her like their own. In 1919 the family moved to Oakale where Joseph operated a billard hall until his death in 1931. Joseph and Elnora were quiet, peace loving people that priortized their lives to their faith, family, friends and neighbors. Elsie and her husband Carl returned from South Dakota to help her mother. After a lengthy illness, Elnora passed away on June 26, 1955.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in June 2007