USA > Nebraska > Seward County > General history of Seward County, Nebraska > Part 14
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CHAPTER XXVII.
DEATH OF SEWARD COUNTY PIONEERS. THE VOICELESS.
We count the broken lyres that rest Where the sweet wailing singers slumber,
But o'er their silent sister's breast The wild flowers who will stoop to number ?
A few can touch the magic string, And noisy Fame is proud to win them-
Alass for those that never sing, But die with all their music in them!
Nay, grieve not for the dead alone Whose song has told their heart's sad story ----
Weep for the voiceless, who have known The cross without the crown of glory!
Not where Leucadian breezes sweep O'er Sappho's memory-haunted billow, But where the glistening night dews weep On nameless sorrow's churchyard pillow.
() hearts that break and give no sign Save whitening lip and faded tresses,
Till Death pours out his longed-for wine Slow dropped from Misery's crushing presses.
If singing breath or echoing chord To every hidden phang were given,
What endless melodies were poured, As sad as earth, as sweet as heaven! -Oliver Wendel Holmes.
We are sorry that we have not been able to give a com- plete list of Seward county pioneers and only a partial list of those who have passed to their final rest. We have searched
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
every available record and avenue of information, but have met considerable disappointment The pioneer settlers were attached to each other in a much stronger tie than that of mere neighbors and it would have been in line with the gen- eral thought of the day and age to have formed pioneer so- cieties for the purpose of preserving the memories of events, as well as the life and death of its members. But what we have been able to collect of the sadest events in the closing scenes of pioneer residents we present to the friends and the general public, trusting that it will be accepted by all as the best we can do at the present late date in that direction.
While there are not a very great number of the early settlers whose passing may come in line with the sentiments embodied in the foregoing poetry there were a small per- centage of them who closed their eyes to the scenes sur- rounding them before they had realized the grand results of the sacrifices they had made to open the new country and place it upon a plain of civilized progress.
First Death and First Coronor's Inquest in Seward County.
FATHER DUNWAY
As he was familiary known and for whom there is no other name re- corded, settled on a homestead on section 3, in -G- precinct in 1864. He had made some improvements upon his claim, hoping to make his family contented and comfortable, expecting them to arrive from the east in the near future. His neighbors were few and far apart, but visited him at odd times and especially Grandfather Imly, an aged gentleman who spent a little time with him frequently. One day in the month of September, 1864 Mr. Imly made one of his customary calls at the Dunaway home but found it alone. He waited some ti.ne for his friend's return, but becoming alarm- ed at his continued absence, cemmenced a search, resulting in the discovery of his lifeless body laying in a patch of grass which showed evident signs of a struggle, having been wallowed down to quite an extent. The old gentle- man immediately hastened home and gave the alarm, his son, David Imly mounting a horse rode to a field, some distance away, where several neigh- bors were putting up hay. A short consultation was held and as W. W.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Cox, one of the number present, was a justice of the peace it was decided that he should act as coroner, but the difficulty of finding enough persons for jurors confronted them. Finley R. T. Gale, being special constable with power to summon jurors, suggested that they proceed to the Morgan settlement where he would complete a jury. With exciting hurry they proceeded to the Morgan settlement where the jury was quickly made up consisting of David Imly, sr., D. P. Imly, William Imly, Joseph Imly, R. T. Gale, Job Reynolds, Thomas Morgan, William Morgan and W. W. Cox. They reached the scene of death just as the sun was sinking behind the western horrizon and with solemn faces and uplifted hands were imme- diately sworn as jurors. The jury soon reached a verdict that the deceased came to his death from the effects of cramp colic.
It being evident that the deceased had been dead some time a rough board coffin was constructed of lumber taken from the cabin and the re- mains of Father Dunaway were laid to rest beneath an oak tree by the light of the misty moon beams. His goods and chattles were properly cared for and turned over to the sorrowing wife upon her arrival.
CHRISTOPHER G. W. CLARK
Who with his wife, Rachel Clark and several children, moved from Coles county, Illinois, to Seward county, Nebraska in 1867, settled up- on a homestead two and one-half miles south-east of Beaver Crossing. Mr. Clark enjoyed his new home for the short period of ten years, being called to a brighter home in Heaven, March 20, 1877. He left a wife and sev- eral grown sons and daughters-the oldest son, Columbus D. Clark, also an early homesteader in the same section with his father, moved to Cali- fornia, after a few years residence on his homestead, where he with his wife died about 1879, leaving two small children, a son and daughter. Thomas J. Clark, next younger son, also a Seward county homesteader, made a trip to California after the orphan babies, bringing the smaller one the entire distance in a hand basket. The wife, Rachel Clark, survived her husband a little more than thirty years, passing to her final rest November 24, 1907.
One of the two children who was brought from California, the brother being the oldest, was married several years ago, and Rosa, the "hand- basket" passenger is now Mrs. Clarence Harling.
HENRY BRIDENBALL
An 1873 settler in -L- precinct died in 1892, aged 82 years and 4 months, leaving a wife, three sons and three daughters, Henry Jr., Fred .. George, Lizzie, Amelia and Minnie.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
JOHN D. SALNAVE.
Father Salnave was a native of Chemung county, New York where he was born July 1st 1814, and where he was married to Jane S. Reed in the year 1842. Moved to Seward county, Nebraska, in 1869 and settled on a homestead in section 34, -L- precinct. He passed to his eternal home in Heaven, March 24th, 1880, aged 66 years, 8 months and 23 days. His wife, Jane S. Salnave, followed him to rest at her home in Beaver Crossing Friday, August 1st, 1890, aged 73 years, 1 month and 5 days. She was born at Bainbridge, New York, June 27, 1817. They left to mourn their departure, two sons and six daughters, B. F. Salnave of North Chemung, New York, John G., Annett G., wife of William Rumsey, Lydia M., wife of J. H. Waterman, (the author) Pamelia Grace, all of Beaver Crossing, the latter being now the wife of Edward Lanning, of Lexington, Nebraska, Lucy A., wife of O. C. Fish, of lowa, Margaret J., wife of Paton Dillon, of Alma, Nebraska, and Lenora, wife of Christain Maurer, of Farnam, Ne- braska. One son, Francie, preceded his parents to rest in New York state when ten years old. John G. Salnave, victim of a fatal accident which will raceive notice further along in this work, died at Beaver Crossing, Tuesday, September 1st, 1891, aged 39 years, 8 months and 4 days; B. F. Salnave dieing at Elmira, New York, September 21. 1914.
WILLIAM RUMSEY
Who settled on a homestead near Beaver Crossing in 1870, died at his home in that village, February 18, 1902, leaving a wife, three sons and one daughter. His wife, Annett G. Rumsey, followed him to rest February 16, 1913, aged 68 years, 7 months and 23 days.
J. B. COURTRIGHT,
An early pioneer settler near Milford, died at the home of his son in-N- precinct, April 1, 1901.
HON. SILAS SCOTT ATWOOD
Was born in Preble county, Ohio, March 12, 1842, his parents moving to Washington county lowa, when he was eighteen months old, where he grew to manhood. He settled on a homestead two miles west of Milford in 1867, later moving to his final home south-east of Beaver Crossing where he resided till the end of life. He was twice elected to represent his county in the state legislature, first in 1902 and again in 1904. He died at his home at 12:30 a. m., April 8, 1906 of heart failure. His last moments, when he fully realized that his life was drawing to a close, were passed with the same uncomplaining fearlessness that seemed to characterize his whole
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
life and after gently telling his wife that he could not live he quietly closed his eyes in that sleep that "knows no waking." We were personally ac- quainted with Comrade Atwood and can truly say that Comrade Thomas A. Healey voiced our estimation of him when he said of him: "He was a quiet, inofensive soldier and citizen-one of God's noblemen."
GEORGE A. KILLPATRICK
A pioneer settler at Beaver Crossing in the early seventies where he was engaged in T. H. Tisdale's store for a long time as a clerk, afterwards taught the village school and other schools of the vicinity-married Miss Wing and shortly after moved to Seward. Was several times elected county surveyor. Passed to his final rest at a hospital in Crete, Nebraska. in 1902, leaving a wife and small children.
JUDGE J. K. COREY
A pioneer settler, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. F. T. Wing, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Wedensday, May 21, 1913, aged 87 years. Mr. Corey served three terms as county judge of Saline county, and was for sev- eral years a practicing attorney at Beaver Crossing. Seward county.
STEADMAN G. MERRIAM
Settled in Milford in 1866 and was for several years a pioneer merchant of that village, passed to his rest at the home of his son George, in Seward, May 21, 1904, aged 90 years, one month and 24 days. Mr. Merriam re- tired from business a few years prior to his death and moved to Seward where he spent the remainder of his advanced life.
HON. DANIEL C. McKILLIP
Seward county's first attorney at law, who began his professional career at Milford in 1868 died at his home in Seward, March 17, 1904. Mr. McKillip was one of Seward county's most able attorneys, highly respected by all citizens of the county. Served two terms in the state legislature, from '72 to '76.
DANFORTH BROWN
Settled in Beaver Crossing in 1872, died at his home in that village in 1899, aged 92 years. His wife, Mrs. Jane Brown, died in October 1902 while on a visit in the New England states. The remains were brought home to Beaver Crossing and laid to rest by the side of her aged husband. One grown daughter, Abbie Brown preceded them to rest, dieing shortly after their settlement in their new home.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER NICHOLS,
Father and mother of Ross and Uriah L. Nichols, came from New York state in 1872 and settled on a portion of Ross Nichols' farm where they built a home which is now one of the very few remaining pioneer residences of Seward county. It stands in the south half of the village of Beaver Crossing and is known as the Maule property. These two aged people came to a new country to live their last days near their children. They both passed to rest in 1876.
ROSS NICHOLS
An 1869 homesteader settled upon a quarter section upon which is now located a portion of Beaver Crossing where he errected a home which is perhaps the oldest frame house in Seward county, in use now as the Beaver Crossing hospital. Mr. Nichols died at his home, March 16, 1892, aged 68 years leaving a wife, one brother and one sister. One daughter, Ella Nichols preceded him to rest in 1875, aged 15 years, 4 months and 1 day.
URIAH L. NICHOLS
An 1869 homesteader just over the Seward and York county line in the latter county, moved to Beaver Crossing where he resided about twenty- five years where his wife died in 1911 when he moved to Omaha to live with his son, William where he died March 28, 1915, aged 85 years. One daughter, the wife of Thomas Kerby preceded her parents to rest by several years and one son, William, remains to mourn their loss.
HORACE P. SEYMOUR
For many years a resident of Beaver Crossing, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ross Nichols, in that village, September 16, 1908, aged 88 years. Mr. Seymour was a pioneer railway engineer, having served as such several years before the war of the rebellion.
ELDER W. G. KEENE
who bought and settled upon the W. J. Thompson ranch farm in -K- pre- cinct in 1872 died at his home there June 16, 1876, leaving a wife, one son and two daughters. His wife, Harriet Seymour Keene, remarried to Mr. Edwards, an early homesteader of the locality, shortly moving to Oklahoma where she resided till the spring 1914 when she returned to Beaver Cross- ing, dieing at the home of her niece, Mrs. Ross Nichols, June 16, 1914, aged 84 years.
CHAS. C. LEZOTTE
Settled on rail road land in -L- precinct in 1873, died at his home in
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Beaver Crossing, April 27th, 1905, aged 76 years, 9 months and 10 days. Mr. Lezotte was born in Clinton county, N. Y., July 17, 1828. Was married to Mary S. Little, January 1st, 1849. They came to Seward county, Nebraska in 1874 and settled upon rail road land in -L- precinct where they resided two years when they exchanged their farm for James Hayward's homestead in the same precinct upon which they resided until a short time privious to'his death they retired from the farm and moved to Beaver Crossing. He left a wife and several sons and daughters.
S. R. DOUGLAS
A homestead settler near Milford in the sixties and for twenty-five years a well known money loaner at Seward, died at his home in that city, Mon- day morning, December 18, 1905, aged 77 years. He left a faithful and loving wife to mourn his departure. Although Mr. Douglas wanted as high a rate of interest as the law allowed him, the writer, as well perhaps as many other citizens of Seward county, remembers many accommodating acts in his dealings and settlements for borrowed money, and he must be regarded as a benefactor by those who applied to him in times of necessity.
LYMAN F. MORGAN
Settled on a homestead in -E- precinct in 1870, near where the village of Utica was afterwards located, and died at his home June 14, 1904. Nancy A. Morgan, his widowed wife, followed him to rest May 10. 1915. They left two sons, Eugene D. and Fred. B. Morgan, both residing near the old homestead.
ELIJAH GLEASON
Who settled on a homestead in -L- precinct in 1866, died at Milford January 20, 1915. Mis. Gleason, his life partner, preceded him to rest at Beaver Crossing, March 29, 1802.
ROLAND REED,
An 1866 settler at Beaver Crossing, died at his home, February 8, 1884, aged 65 years and 7 days. Jane Reed, widowed wife of Roland Reed, fol- lowed him to rest at the homestead home, October 1, 1888. They were both born in Pennsylvania, he February 6, 1819, and she September 3, 1820. They came to Seward county and engaged in keeping a ranch for three years, settling upon a homestead in 1869. During his ranch life Mr. Reed was appointed and served as Beaver Crossing's first postmaster. They left six children, three sons and three daughters, one son John preceded them to rest at Beaver Crossing, November 29,1875, aged twenty-eight years.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
HON. E. C. CARNES
Died at his hame in Seward, Friday, March 22, 1895. Mr. Carnes was known by all early settlers of Seward county as one of the first grain buyers of Seward, locating there soon after the advent of the rail road. He was a man prominent in business and also in politics. Although only a little past middle life at the time of his death he had gained an advanced position as an able statesman. He served as a member of the state consti- tutional convention in 1875; was the first state senator from Seward county and was twice elected lieutenant governor of Nebraska.
JUDGE J. W. DUPIN
Settled on a homestead northwest of Seward in 1869, moved to Seward in the early seventies and began his business career as a clerk in the Grange Store, a popular institution for a short period. He later served as deputy county clerk for Thomas Graham; was twice elected county clerk, served one term as Seward's postmaster and was county judge at the time of his death, March 9, 1902. In our meetings with Judge Dupin, mostly on business occasions, we found him an admirably pleasant and agreable man, and his untimely passing away so suddenly and unexpected brought great sorrow to us as it did to all Seward county people who knew him. He left a wife and children.
A. R. WINSOR,
Who settled on a homestead in -K- precinct in 1869, died at the home of his son, J. L. Winsor, three miles east of Beaver Crossing, March 20, 1902, aged 88 years and 23 days. His wife died in 1898. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom preceded them to rest.
JUDGE GEORGE W. LOWLEY
Who settled on a Seward county homestead in the sixties, and later be- coming one of Seward's ablest attorneys at law, practicing his profession in that city for more than a quarter of a century, died suddenly, Thursday morning, March 27, 1902, leaving a wife to mourn his departure.
ELIJAH K. DUNBAUGH,
Seward's first druggist, who opened a drug store in that city early in the seventies, which he conducted several years, died at his home, Wednesday, April 24, 1895, aged 71 years. Mr. Dunbaugh had been in poor health for several years.
DR. J. H. WOODWARD,
One of Seward county's pioneer physicians, died at his home in Seward,
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
October 8, 1902. He was born in Indiana in 1835, came to Seward county in 1871, and settled at Milford where he practiced his profession for two years when he moved to Seward. He was an able physician and enterprising citizen. He left a wife and grown children.
JOHN CATTLE,
Vice president of the State Bank of Seward, died in England, August 12, 1902. Mr. Cattle had been in ill health for some time and together with his wife made a trip to England to visit friends, in hopes that a change and rest from business cares would aid in restoring his health. He was a popular and successful business man and in his death the city and county sustained an inestimable loss.
E. N. WINGFIELD,
Who bought and settled upon the Widow Wilson homestead in -K- precinct in 1874, died at his home September 9, 1879, aged 74 years. Mr. Wingfield left a wife and four daughters to mourn the loss of a kind hus- band and father. The deceased was a southern man who lived in the war zone during the rebellion, and his sympathies with the cause of that move- ment were so strong and fearlessly expressed that his loyal neighbors' sus- picions were aroused to such an extent that they preferred charges against him for "bushwhacking" Union soldiers and he was arrested and confined in a United States military prison nine months. While living near him for a period of two years, we leaaned to know him and feel safe in saying that his great, tender and sympathetic heart never permitted him to harm a boy in blue. He was in truth "one of God's noblemen."
JOSEPH F. M. DIMERY,
A pioneer settler on a farm near Beaver Crossing, died at his home in that village, Saturday, April 18, 1903. Mr. Dimery entered the mercantile business with Thomas Tidyman in Beaver Crossing in 1873 in which he continued several years. He later bought the flouring mill at that place of W. J. Thompson, conducting it for some time, finally selling it to George Winand he returned to the business of farming. Upon the com- pletion of the F. E. & M. V. rail road to Beaver Crossing he became in- terested in the State Bank of that place. He built a store building and con- ducted a general mercantile store for several years, being closely identified with the business of the village for twenty-five years.
SAMUEL MANNING,
A pioneer settler of Seward county, died at the home of a son in Seward Thursday, April 27, 1905. aged 82 years, 5 months and 13 days.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
CLAUDIUS JONES
Seward county's first banker, died suddenly at his home in Seward, Wednesday morning, November 3, 1886. Mr. Jones had apparently been in his usual health up to almost the moment of his death. He had risen at his usual hour, and after taking breakfast started to go to town, but meeting his son, Harry T. Jones, returned with him to the house where he was stricken down, dieing instantly. He had spent twenty-three years in the banking business at Seward and was president of the first national bank of that city at the time of his death. His wife, Harriet I. Jones fol- lowed him to rest at her home in Seward, July 18, 1903.
ALEX. H. VANCE,
A pioneer resident of Milford, an able farmer and well known able corres' ondent for democratic newpapers under the name of "Old Stallwart," died at his home April 21, 1905. Mr. Vance was above the average dem- ocratic writer and did more good for his party and the public than any other writer of that party in Seward county.
J. M. FLETCHER,
A pioneer settler at Seward, died at his home in that city, January 15, 1896. We quote the following in regard to Mr. Fletcher from the Weekly Review of Beaver Crossing of January 16th,'96: "Comrade J. M. Fletcher of Seward died about two o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mr. Fletcher has visited our village several times, and his kind face and genial ways will be remembered by everybody in this vicinity. He was an able speaker and never permitted an audience to get tired waiting to hear something. He was an old soldier and could illustrate the trying scenes of the civil war, as well as the general conditions of the country previous to the war with an accuracy to revive the memories of all who witnessed the tragic events. Comarde Fletcher was a great sufferer from injuries received in the battle of Pittsburgh Landing."
SAMUEL BROWN,
One of the earliest settlers of Seward county, who came and located on a homestead in -J- precinct in the sixties, residing on the same for many years and finally retiring and moving to Milford, died at his home in that village Sunday, October 25, 1896, aged 80 years.
A. V. SKILLMAN,
An 1865 homesteader in Seward county, died at his home in Seward, Tuesday morning, July 22, 1902. He resided upon a farm for many years,
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
finally moving to the city and engaging in business from which he retired on account of failing health a few months previous to his death.
JAMES V. PRICE
Settled in -N- precinct in 1869, and died at the home of George Foster in that precinct, September 26, 1895, aged 74 years. Mr. Price had an in- teresting military record. He was a soldier in the United States regular army from 1842 to 1847, serving through the Mexican war. In 1861, at the outbreak of the war of the rebellion he enlisted in Company I, Second New York volunteers and served until the close of the strife. He was not married, but left several mourning relatives and friends.
MRS. MARY A. ROBSON CHAMBERS,
Aged 91 years, 6 months and 12 days, died at the home of her daughter. Mrs. C. L. Slonecker, in Seward, Monday, August 27, 1906. She was born and married in England and ten children were born to the union. They came to Seward county and settled upon a homestead four and a half miles south-east of Seward in 1869. Her husband died in 1882.
CHRISTOPHER TURNER,
A pioneer settler in the city of Seward, died at his home, November 20, 1905, aged 72 years, 2 months and 19 days. Mr. Turner was married at Seward to Matilda Robinson in October 1879, where he with his wife spent their married life, having born to them eight children. The wife and children were left to mourn his departure.
SARAH FOSTER,
An 1870 homesteader in -L- precinct, died at her home in Beaver Crossing, Tuesday morning, November 28, 1893, aged 80 years and seven days. Mrs. Foster built the first frame house in -L- precinct which was occupied as her home for many years. She was the mother of several sons and one daughter.
SAMUEL LONG
And wife settled upon a homestead in -H- precinct in 1863; he died in 1887, aged 75 years while she remained to the advanced age of 93 years, dieing April 27, 1916. Her maiden name was Permilia A. Rodgers. She was married to Samuel Long, March 1,1843 in their native state, Kentucky. While Mrs. Long was one among the earliest homestead settlers in Seward county she will retain the enviable record of having lived a longer time on her pioneer homestead than any other of the early settlers, having spent forty-three years upon it, from settlement until called to her eternal home.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
HOADLY G. HOSFORD
Settled on a homestead in -D- precinct in 1869 where he resided until the late nineties when he retired from the farm and moved to Seward. He died August 2, 1903 leaving a wife, one daughter and four sons.
WARREN BROWN
Settled on a homestead north-east of Seward in 1866 where he resided for thirty-eight years, moving from the farm and settling in Germantown in 1892 where he passed to his final rest May 24, 1904.
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