USA > Nebraska > A Biographical and genealogical history of southeastern Nebraska, Vol. II > Part 10
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tilities between the north and the south, now lives in Philadelphia; Frank is living in Philadelphia.
Thomas J. DeKalb remained a resident of his native city until twelve years of age, when he accompanied his parents to Sullivan county, Penn- sylvania. He continued under the parental roof until after the out- break of the Civil war, when at the early age of seventeen years he re- sponded to his country's call for aid and on the 12th of September, 1861, became a member of Company L, Second Pennsylvania Volunteer Cav- alry, under the command first of Captain R. T. Woods and afterward of Captain Charles A. Taylor, of Osceola, Pennsylvania. The regiment was first at Camp Curtin, Pennsylvania, and later at Point Breeze Park near Philadelphia, whence it was sent to Baltimore, Maryland, and on to Washington, D. C., where the command was stationed for about three months. In 1862 it was attached to the Army of the Potomac, becom- ing a part of the Second Brigade of the Second Division. With his regiment Mr. DeKalb participated in the battle of Cedar Mountain and several skirmishes against the troops under General Mosby, the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg. Chancellorsville and Get- tysburg, which was considered the decisive battle of the war. There the regiment was detailed to act as guard for rebel soldiers. Later the Second Pennsylvania joined General Grant's army as it moved toward Richmond and was in various actions of the Union army in and around Petersburg. It was there that Mr. DeKalb received an honorable dis- charge on the 12th of September, 1864, by reason of the expiration of his term of enlistment. He had been promoted from the ranks to the posi- tion of a non-commissioned officer, being sergeant of his company at the time he was mustered out. Later he became connected with the United States government service in the quartermaster's department as clerk or assistant quartermaster with the Army of the Cumberland stationed
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at Nashville, Tennessee. There he continued until June, 1865, when he returned to the north, the war having ended.
After hostilities Mr. DeKalb engaged in teaching school for sev- eral years in northeastern Pennsylvania, and in 1869 he came to Jef- ferson county, Nebraska, hoping that he might find in the conditions of the great west the opportunities he sought for business advancement. He secured a homestead claim on which he made a dugout, and he brought the first lumber into his township or precinct. He lived upon his farm three years and then went to Furnas county, Nebraska, being one of the first settlers in that part of the state. In 1876 he re- turned to his homestead farm in Jefferson county, where he has two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land, which lies along Little Sandy creek. His farm is well improved. He has a good home well furnished, substantial barns and commodious corn cribs and other shelter for his grain and stock. He has a windmill, and in fact all mod- ern machinery and equipments necessary to facilitate the work of the farm. He has planted an orchard, which is now in bearing condition, and there is considerable timber upon his place. In fact, he has made his farm a model one, and has one of the fine rural homes of Jefferson county.
In 1867 in Pennsylvania Mr. DeKalb was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Raugh, who was born and reared in Sullivan county, that state, and who has been to him a faithful companion and help- mate on life's journey for thirty-seven years. She is a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Henry) Raugh, and her father was an officer of the war 1812. The Raugh family was established in Pennsylvania at a very early epoch in the colonization of that state, and its members have been prominent in public affairs there. The grandfather, Wil- liam Raugh, resided in the Keystone state and was of the Quaker faith.
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To Mr. and Mrs. DaKalb have been born six children: Anna Laura, who is a capable and popular teacher of Jefferson county; Henry Leonard, who is engaged in the practice of law in Lewiston, Montana; Bertha, Samuel, Frank and Lizzie, all at home.
. Mr. DeKalb gives his political allegiance to the Democracy where national questions are involved, but at local elections where there is no issue before the people he supports the candidates whom he thinks best qualified to carry on the business of town or county. He has been notary public, and in local office has always been true and loyal to the trust reposed in him. He well deserves mention among the pioneer settlers of this part of the state, and his interest in the public progress and improvement is indicated by the active co-operation which he has given to measures for the general good.
TOLIVER P. BLACK.
Toliver P. Black, for twenty-two years a resident of Nebraska, has manifested a patriotic devotion to the best interests of his adopted county and state and is accounted one of the enterprising business men, who through the improvement of his opportunities and by unflagging Industry has steadily worked his way upward.
Mr. Black is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Pike county, on the 19th of December, 1841. The family is of Irish and English lineage. The grandfather was John Black, the father Robert Black, and the latter was born in Virginia, spending the days of his booyhood and youth in that state and Tennessee. He was twice mar- ried, and by the first union he had two sons-John and James, who were soldiers of the Civil war. For his second wife Mr. Robert Black wedded
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Martha Moulton, who was born in Kentucky, and was a daughter of Jo- seph Moulton, also a native of that state. They became the parents of the following children: Letha, oldest; Henry, who was a soldier of the Union army; Toliver P., of this review; Joseph, who was also a mem- ber of the army; Thomas; Elijah, deceased; Bettie; Nancy, who passed away; Mima; and one child that died in infancy. The father gave his political allegiance to the Democracy. He resided for many years in Indiana, spending his last days in that state, and he died at the age of sixty-seven years in the faith of the Baptist church, of which he had long been a member. His wife, who also belonged to the same church, died at the age of eight-one years.
Toliver P. Black spent the days of his youth upon his father's farm in the usual manner of lads of that period, and enjoyed the educational advantages afforded by the common schools. When he had attained to man's estate he sought a companion and helpmate for the journey of life and was united in marriage to Miss Winey Whitehouse, who was born on the Ist of March, 1842, in Fairfield county, Kentucky, a daughter of James Whitehouse, also a native of that state, while his father was James Whitehouse, Sr. Her mother bore the maiden name of Nancy J. Morgan and was a daughter of William Morgan, whose father was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. Black have been born nine children, seven sons and two daughters: Josephus S., Samuel G., George B., William Henry, Thomas N., Clar- ence W., Charles A., Mrs. Nettie Watson and Mrs. Martha J. Fisher. They also lost a son, Joseph Robert, who died at the age of fourteen months.
After his marriage Mr. Black continued to reside with his family in Indiana until 1882, when he came to Jefferson county, Nebraska,
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where he has since lived, devoting his energies to agricultuart pursuits, und he lives a busy and useful life.
Mr. Black is a stanch Republican in politics and is connected with Norton Post, G. A. R. He is entitled to membership therein by reason of his service in the Civil war. He was a young man of only about twenty years when the country became engaged in hostilities resulting from the attempt of some of the southern states to withdraw from the Union. His patriotic spirit was aroused, and he enlisted at Petersburg, Pike county, Indiana, in September, 1861, joining the boys in blue of Com- pany I, Forty-second Regiment of Illinois Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. The regiment went into camp on the fair grounds near Evansville, Indiana, and soon afterward crossed the river into Kentucky, proceeding to Bowling Green, Kentucky, Mr. Black participated in the battle of Shelbyville and was also at Nashville and Huntsville, and then returned with his command to Perryville, where the troops were engaged in a running fight for some time. Mr. Black was ill in the hospital for three weeks, after which he was ordered to Stone River, where he was detailed for service with the artillery, as a member of a battery command. Later he went to Georgia, and to him and some comrades was assigned the task of taking eighteen hundred steers through to Sherman's army to be slaughtered for beef. They had several fights on the way with rebels, who thought that they also might enjoy a plate of beef, and they were fired upon by bushwhackers. Mr. Black received an honorable discharge in Georgia. His health was greatly impaired by the rigors and hard- ships of war, and he even yet feels the effect of his severe military serv- ice, but he has never regreted the sacrifice he made for his country and the preservation of the Union, and certainly he deserves the grati- tude of the nation for what he accomplished. He now maintains pleas-
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ant relationship with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army post. Both he and his wife are faithful members of the Presbyterian church, with which they have been identified for forty years.
HENRY W. HELVEY.
Henry Whitman Helvey, now deceased, became one of the pioneer settlers of Jefferson county and for many years was identified with its farming interests. He so conducted his efforts as to win prosperity and at the same time gain and retain the respect and confidence of his fellow men. He was a native son of Indiana, born in 1842. His parents were Joseph and Mary Helvey, who became early residents of the state and are represented elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of Jasper Helvey. They first, however, went to Missouri and later to Iowa, settling in Flint county, that state, in 1855. Subse- quently they located in Otoe county, Nebraska, when the Otoe Indians were still residents of that part of the state.
Henry W. Helvey was reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life. accompanying his parents on their various removals, and the work of the farm early became familiar to him. He became a soldier of the Union army in the Civil war, enlisting in the Fifth Missouri Cavalry, in which he served with credit and honor. He was a member of Captain Van Zant's company, and the regiment was commanded by Colonel Pinnich, of St. Joseph, Missouri. It was organized at Nebraska City and Hamburg, and was composed of stalwart men who, loyal to the cause they espoused, made for their regiment a most creditable and honorable record. Mr. Helvey was at the front for thirteen months
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and saw active service. He was then honorably discharged and re- turned to his old home.
It was in the year 1861 that Mr. Helvey was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Hughes, a lady of culture and of good family. She was born in Missouri and is a daughter of John and Malinda (Craig) Hughes, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Indiana. They were residents of Missouri, however, for many years, and were long known as worthy citizens of Nebraska City. The father devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits and in that way provided for his family. His death occurred at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife passed away in Jefferson county, Nebraska, when seventy-eight years of age. They held membership with the Methodist church, were deeply interested in its growth and upbuilding and Mr. Hughes in his political views was a Republican. In their family were seven children : Harriet; Henry, who was a soldier of the Civil war and died at Daykin, Jefferson county, Nebraska; Ellen; Benjamin; Mrs. Helvey; Lizzie; and Priscilla, now deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Helvey were born five children : John, who is an industrious and active farmer now residing upon the old homestead, married Miss Martha Lightbody, a daughter of Isaac Lightbody, who was a soldier of the Civil war, and became a prominent citizen of Ne- braska. Mrs. Martha Helvey died in 1895, leaving two children, Bessie Levina and Dorca Dale. The other members of the family of Mrs. Rachel Helvey are Mrs. Mamie Baker, Mrs. Lydia Smith, Mrs. Nellie Chapman, and Emma, the latter at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Helvey continued to make their home in Missouri until 1872, when they removed to Jefferson county, Nebraska. Here he entered a homestead claim which is now occupied by his widow and son. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable
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land, and Mr. Helvey continued its cultivation up to the time of his death, transforming it into a productive tract, the well tilled fields yield- ing to him a golden crop for the care and labor he bestowed upon it. He voted with the Republican party and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His death occurred when he was but forty years of age, and was the occasion of deep regret among his many friends as well as his immediate family. He was honored by all for his sterling worth, his life having been characterized by manly princi- ples and by unfaltering devotion to duty. He was ever fearless in advocacy of his honest convictions, and manifested in citizenship the same patriotic spirit which prompted him to join the boys in blue at the time of the Civil war. After her husband's death Mrs. Helvey took up the work of managing the farm and rearing the family. She care- fully guided her children in all the things which go to make honorable manhood and womanhood, and they became a credit to her. She is a member of the United Brethren church, and she instructed her chil- dren in that religious faith. Her marked devotion to her family is most commendable and worthy of emulation. By all who know her she is held in the highest regard, and it is with pleasure that we present her record to our readers because hers is a wide and favorable acquain- tance in Jefferson county.
ISAAC LIGHTBODY.
When pioneer conditions existed throughout Nebraska, Isaac Lightbody became a resident of Saline county and secured one of the homesteads of that portion of the state. He arrived in 1869, and all to him was an unbroken prairie, not a furrow having been turned or
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an improvement made. With resolute spirit he set to work to conquer the frontier conditions and to utilize the possibilities of the state in the acquirement of a comfortable competence, and in his work he has succeeded. He is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Peoria county on the 30th of March, 1845. His father, John Light- body, was born in Ireland and was of the Protestant faith. When eighteen years of age he came to the United States and established his home in Peoria county, Illinois, in 1840. He was there married to Miss Caroline Ticknor, who was born in New York. She is now deceased, but John Lightbody is still living and makes his home with his son Isaac, at the age of eighty-six years. Throughout his business career he followed the occupation of farming. His political allegiance has been given to the Democracy, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church. In the family of this worthy couple were nine chil- dren.
Isaac Lightbody acquired his education in the schools of Peoria county, Illinois, and was reared in that locality. He was among the brave soldier boys, being a youth of but eighteen years when in response to his country's need he enlisted at Peoria in November, 1863, donning the blue uniform of the nation. He went to the south as a member of Company E, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry. He had previously en- listed in the Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and went to the south, par- ticipating in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, but because of his youth he was sent back to Illinois. He joined the Twelfth Illinois Cav- alry under the command of Captain. Strong, who was later succeeded by Captain Redman, while Colonel Davis commanded the regiment. He went to Camp Butler at Springfield and later to St. Louis, Missouri, being stationed at Camp Jackson, when with his comrades he was put on transport boats and proceeded in that way to New Orleans. The
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regiment was a rough rider cavalry, and the men did gallant service in scouting and fighting, making a record second to none in the entire country for bravery and loyalty. The Davis raid from Baton Rouge to Liberty, Mississippi, was a notable event, being made in ten days and resulting in the capture of three hundred prisoners and three pieces of artillery. The next day the troops participated in a hard fight with two rebel regiments and returned with a large number of Confederate prisoners. Fifteen hundred negro contrabands followed them back on foot or on mules, this being one of the wonderful sights included in the war pictures. Later Mr. Lightbody was in General Davis' raid from Baton Rouge to Mobile, Alabama, which occurred in December, 1864. He participated in many engagements and skir- mishes in that part of the country and later returned to Pasagula Bay and to New Orleans. Subsequently the regiment was at Baton Rouge until January 1, 1865, and on the 7th of January, of the same year, arrived at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The troops were engaged in scout- ing in Vicksburg and in Memphis, Tennessee, and afterward partici- pated in the Osborn raid at Gaines Landing, Arkansas. Mr. Light- body saw some very hard service and became familiar with all the rigors and hardships of war. He afterward did scouting duty in Ten- nessee and in Alabama, later returned to Memphis and afterward went to Alexandria, Louisiana. In August of that year he went to Houston, Texas, and was without rations for five days at Cypress creek in the vicinity of Houston. Following war orders, he proceeded to Hemp- stead, Texas, and on the 18th of September, he was promoted to a position on the staff of General Imboden, engaged in reconstruction duty. At Waverly, Texas, he had charge of artillery which was shipped to Houston, Texas, and at the latter place he had charge of government horses and mules. In the Red River expedition Mr. Lightbody partici-
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pated in the battles of Sabine Crossroads, Narraganza Bend and Yel- low Bayou. He was honorably discharged on the 29th day of May, 1866, and with a most splendid military record he returned to his home, for through three long years he had faithfully served his country as a defender of the old flag, performing every task that devolved upon him, whether it led him into the thickest of the fight or called him to the lonely picket line.
Mr. Lightbody continued to make his home in Illinois, and in 1868 was married there to Miss Arminda Clark, who was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and went to Fulton county, Illinois, with her parents, Richard and Hannah (McFeeters) Clark. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and died in Illinois, while the mother, also a native of the Keystone state, passed away in Stark county, Illi- nois, at the age of seventy years. In their family were three children, of whom two are living.
In the year following his marriage Mr. Lightbody came with his young wife to Nebraska, settling in Saline county in 1869. He se- cured a homestead claim and was one of the organizers of the county, voting at the first election. He also served as a member of the election board as its clerk, and was a member of the first school board of his lo- cality. He took a very active and helpful part in the improvement and upbuilding of that portion of the state, and is numbered among the pioneers who laid broad and deep the foundation for the present pros- perity and progress of the community. His home was a combination of a dugout and log cabin and in that he lived for some years, and then went to Lyon county, Kansas, settling near Emporia, where he remained for six months, and then returned to Saline county, Nebraska, where he continued to reside for two years. On the expiration of that period he sold his property there and came to Jefferson county, securing one
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hundred and twenty acres of land. His farm is now a valuable one, and is well improved with good houses, substantial barns and all mod- ern accessories in the way of good machinery. The fields are under a high state of cultivation and he has good grades of stock. In addition to this property he owns another tract of eighty acres about three miles south of the town of Daykin.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lightbody have been born seven children: Emma ;. George McCellan; Harvey; Grace Adela Black; Grover C .; Frank Folsom; and Isaac Alonzo. They also lost several children, namely : Martha Helvey; John Allen, who died at the age of nineteen years ; and three that died in childhood.
Mr. Lightbody is independent in his political views, voting for the men rather than the party. He is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic; holding membership with Daykin Post No. 266, and he is a Mason, belonging to Aldrich Lodge No. 4, F. & A. M. He is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, and in these fraternities enjoys the high regard of his brethren because of his fidel- ity to the beneficent teachings of the different orders. He is a well informed man, public-spirited and progressive, and has taken an active part in the early development of Nebraska as well as in promoting its later-day progress and improvement.
CALEB M. BACON.
Caleb M. Bacon is the owner of one of the finest farms in Eureka precinct, Jefferson county, comprising two hundred and forty acres of valuable land, which is rich and arable and has been placed under a high state of cultivation, so that it yields to the owner a golden tribute
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for the care and labor he bestows upon it. In the midst of his well tilled fields stands an attractive and commodious country home, and near by are excellent outbuildings, including a large barn, sheds and cribs. There is a grove upon the place and a good orchard, while the latest improved machinery facilitates the farm work. In the pastures are seen high-grade stock, and the place is divided into meadows, past- ure lands and tilled fields by well kept fences.
Mr. Bacon is one of the representative citizens of the county. He has visited many parts of the world, and in this way has gained a com- prehensive knowledge of foreign countries such as the ordinary man does not possess. He was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1826, and is a representative in the sixth generation of the family in America, the ancestral home having been established at Wethers- field, Connecticut, at an early period in the settlement of the new world. The family is of English lineage. Nathaniel Bacon as far back as 1739 was a prominent man of the Middletown parish, and Daniel H. Bacon was a man of influence in his community at Farmington, Connecticut. Daniel Bacon, the grandfather of our subject, became a soldier of the American army in the Revolutionary war, and being captured by the British died while held as a prisoner of war on the prison ship Jersey.
Daniel H. Bacon, the father of our subject, was born in Wethers- field, Connecticut, and in early manhood married Lydia Ellis, who was born in Hampton county, Massachusetts, February 1, 1783. The fol- lowing children were born of this marriage: Chauncy, deceased: Oli- ver; Eunice; Nancy; Lewis; Hannah ; Chloe; and Daniel E. For his second wife Daniel H. Bacon married Mary Zuber, who was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, August 10, 1789, and was one of a family of four children, one son and three daughters. Her father was Moritz Zuber, who came with his family to America during the early girlhood
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of Mrs. Bacon. Her death occurred in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in September, 1836, when she was forty-seven years of age, and because of her many excellent qualities her friends felt that they had suffered a great loss. She left five children : Caleb; John Harvey and Lucy, both deceased; Hector, who died in Kansas in 1899; and Homer, who is living in Delevan, Morris county, Kansas. The father died on the old home farm in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1850, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His entire life had been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and thus he had provided for the wants of his family. His political allegiance was given to the Whig party, and for many years he served as captain of a company of the state militia of New York state. He was a man of fine physique, strong powers of endur- ance and was also a man of firm convictions, unfaltering in support of what he believed to be right, either in matters of citizenship or in those things which affected his business and social life.
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