USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward county, Nebraska, together with a chapter of reminiscenses of the early settlement of Lancaster county > Part 22
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STANWOOD.
Mrs. Mary, danghter of David and Dorcas Imlay, was born in 1820, in Muskin- gum county, Ohio. Was married to James McFadden in 1848, at Wabash, Indiana. Removed to Calhoun, Iowa, in 1856, where she buried her husband in 1857. She was at this time the mother of six children, viz., Henry, now of Holt county, Neb .;
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Lydia, now Mrs. Hoops, of Staplehurst, Neb .; James W. and Marcus, both of Omaha; Mary, now Mrs. Hecocks, of Seward; and Dethula, now Mrs. Nelson, of Montana. She married Sabin Stanwood in 1860, in Harrison county, Iowa, and to them were born Andrew and Joseph, now of Seward. They settled in Seward county, on a homestead three miles north-east of Seward, in 1867, where she died in 1874. She united with the Presbyterian church in early life, and died in the triumph of a living faith, and mourned by a large family and a host of friends.
DONALSON.
Elizabeth Denning Donalson, mother of Mrs. Wm. Imlay, of Seward, was born June 12, 1797, at West Union, Ohio. Was married at the age of twenty-seven to Wm. Donalson, and became the mother of six children, four of whom are now dead, viz., Job, John H., Rebecca E., and Samuel A., leaving;but Mrs. Sarah Fow- ler, of Windsor, Mo., and Mrs. Mary E. Imlay, of Seward. In 1826 the family moved to the wilds of Indiana, and hewed out for themselves a home in Decatur county, residing there about ten years, when they moved to Wabash, where she buried her husband. She, by industry and frugality, managed to keep the family together until the two surviving sisters were grown and married. She resided at Wabash until 1875, when she followed her daughters to the West. She sojourned at Windsor for six months, when she made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Imlay until her death, which occurred Dec. 23, 1879. She suffered great affliction during the last months of her life from a fall she received. She united with the Presby- terian church in her early youth, and served her Master faithfully through her long and eventful life. She was buried in Seward cemetery.
BOUGHTON.
Eliza W. Bent was born in Sterling, Cayuga county, New York, May 22, 1815. On October 3, 1839, she was married to Rev. Newell Boughton, a minister of the Baptist church. For fifteen years she ably assisted him in his ministrations in the various churches of which he had pastoral charge. Mr. Boughton's health failing, he thought a change of labor would be beneficial, and accordingly settled on a farm near Baraboo, Wisconsin. There Mr. Boughton died Oct. 6, 1854, and there the widow continued to reside until the fall of 1876, when she removed to Seward, where she resided until her death.
In November, 1878, she was afflicted with a stroke of paralysis from which she partially recovered, and a second stroke prostrated her in January, 1882. From the latter she never recovered, and during the five years after its occurrence she was almost unable to walk, and was confined to the house much of the 'time. During this time her strength rapidly failed, and during the last three years she was incapable of taking any care of herself. Her only daughter, who had never been separated from her mother, took care of her during this period with great devotion. On Monday, July 4th, she was attacked with severe bowel troubles, and took to bed. All that medical skill and loving care could do for her was done, but to no avail. The severe heat of the weather and her extreme weakness com- bined to make the disease irresistible, and she quietly passed away on Saturday, July 9, 1887, aged seventy-two years. Throughout the years of her invalid life she had suffered little pain, and her last sickness and death were unattended by suffering. Paralysis had so deadened the nerves that sensation was weak, and
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consequently no pain was felt. When very young Mrs. Boughton became a Chris- tian, and united with the Presbyterian church at the age of fourteen. After her marriage to a Baptist clergyman she transferred her membership to that church, and remained a faithful and consistent member of that denomination all her life. Though in her later years deprived of the privilege of attending divine service, she never lost her interest in religion, nor her faith in God. Only a few hours before losing consciousness she expressed her entire confidence in Christ, and her belief that she was about to be taken to a better world, where she would be reunited to her husband, to whose memory she had been faithful during the thirty-three years of her widowhood. Mrs. Boughton was the mother of seven children, of whom three survive her, Clarence E. Boughton, of Baraboo, Wisconsin; Augustus S. Boughton, of Indianola, Neb., and Mrs. F. G. Simmons, of Seward, Neb. Funeral services were held at the Baptist church, conducted by Rev. J. N. Webb, who was an old friend and co-worker with Mr. Boughton, from the text, " Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."
MORRIS.
At his home in Seward, Neb., Wednesday morning, at 9 A.M., July 28, 1880, of cancerous affections, William Morris, aged 46 years. Mr. Morris was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1834, residing there until he was about eight years old, after which his parents removed to Tuscarawas county, Ohio. Up to 16 years of age he attended public school, when he was apprenticed to a blacksmith to learn that trade ; working at this business until the breaking out of the war, he enlisted in the 145th Illinois infantry and served nine months, seeing military service in Missouri. While in the army he contracted chronic diarrhea, from which he never entirely recovered. On leaving the army he engaged in the hardware busi- ness at Elkhart, Ill., with his brother John H. Morris, in which they continued for two years. Since that time William and J. H. Morris have been engaged for short times in other mercantile pursuits, but devoted most of their time to inven- tions. Morris' reverse buckle for harness was produced by them, and is now principally used in the construction of harness, and other valuable inventions, in- cluding the "Delusion " and " 15th Amendment" mouse traps ; and another valuable invention which they were on the eve of manufacturing at Seward. He was married in Ford county, Ill., in 1867 to Miss Eliza J. Higdon, and the fruits of their marriage are a son and daughter, six and eleven years old respectively. In the fall of 1874 he removed to Seward, Neb., with his brother John and fam- ilies. Last June a form of cancerous or hard malignant tumor appeared on his left arm, which necessitated the amputation of the arm, but this proved of no avail, and after long and patient suffering he died. Mr. Morris' inventive genius was of the highest practical order.
ROLAND REED.
The subject of this sketch was born at Bainbridge, New York, in 1819, and there he lived until his majority, when he pushed out to Tioga Co., Penn., and made his home at the town of Shipping, where he remained five years, and mar- ried Miss Jane Wetherbee, at the age of twenty-three. He changed his place of residence to Delmer in the same county, and there remained until he moved to Seward county in 1866. He located on a homestead two miles west of Beaver
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Crossing, where he spent the remainder of his days. There were born to him nine children. He was a stalwart republican in politics. His religious sentiments were Presbyterian, although he never united with the church. He left a widow and family to mourn his loss. Was buried in the Beaver Crossing cemetery on the ninth day of February, 1884.
MITCHEL.
James Emery Mitchel was born in McDonough county, Ills., Sept. 4, 1854; re- sided in that county until five years ago, when he made his residence in Seward. He entered the ministry in 1882, and was stationed at Germantown, where he. resided until his death. Was married Feb. 22, 1879, to Miss Sarah E. Dunahngh, and to them were born four children, three boys and one girl, all of whom are with their mother. Mr. Mitchel suffered greatly for several years from a honey- comb enlargement of his leg. He found it necessary to have the leg amputated in the winter of 1883, and then the case became more and more aggravated, causing tumors, and affected his lungs, finally caused his death, which occurred Nov. 22, 1886. He was buried in Seward cemetery, and left his widow, four little chil- dren, and a wide circle of friends to mourn his loss. Mr. Mitchel was a very zealous Christian worker. While his sufferings were terrible, yet he remained cheerful and seemed always to rejoice in a bright hope. He was cut down in his early manhood, but he earned the gracious favor of the Master, and died triumphantly.
JASPER ROBERTS
Was born March 24, 1849, in Fulton county, Ill., and died at Seward, Oct. 15, 1884, from a wound received while examining a revolver, which was accidentally discharged. Mr. Roberts came to Nebraska with his parents in the spring of 1866. He resided with the old people until he was of age, when he took a home- stead near the present town of Staplehurst. Was married to Miss Mattie E. Davis, daughter of Hon. W. R. Davis, June 25, 1871. There were born to them five children, two of whom live and are with their mother, Claudius and Ralph, two bright boys. Shortly after the sad death of the father, the oldest living child, a boy of ten years (Wilber), was accidentally killed by the wreck of a building in a heavy wind storm. Mr. Roberts moved to Ulysses in 1880, and run a meat market, then he dealt in stock and grain, and afterwards he started a gro- cery store which he continued to manage to the time of his death. Mr. Roberts was a very successful and popular business-man, and his loss was sorely felt by the community in which he lived. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and great numbers of his beloved order followed him to the tomb. He left a wife, three children, and a wide circle of relatives and friends to mourn his un- timely death. His last expressions as he neared the dark river were that he was ready to go, and his only regrets were to leave the family and friends. Rev. Selby, of David City, officiated at the burial.
PAYNE.
Steven Payne was born in the state of New York, July 11, 1811. He early in life united with the Missionary Baptist church, and although never ordained as a minister, he for many years held a license to do work in that line. His course has always been open, frank, and sincere. Whatever he believed to be right that he
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did with all his might, regardless of what others thought or did. For a long time he had been in poor health, and for some weeks had been confined to his bed, and after much suffering quietly passed away, honored and respected by all for his many good traits of character. Father Payne settled at Seward in 187- His death occurred Nov. 23, 1887, and he was buried Nov. 26th, Rev. J. N. Webb officiating at the funeral.
REV. O. D. CONE
Was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, April 16, 1842. His father, Rev. Edwin Cone, was a local preacher in the Western Reserve conference of the church of the United Brethren in Christ. At an early age he was converted, and joined the church of his father. His boyhood and youth were not altogether devoid of hard- ships, but they were well calculated to develop the symmetrical and self-reliant character for which he was noted in the years of his vigorous manhood. Oct. 9, 1861, he was married to Miss Sallie H. Citerley, in Lake county, Ohio. Three children, one girl and two boys, blessed this union. A few years later he felt that he was called of God to preach the gospel. Ever ready to respond to the call of duty, he connected himself with the Western Reserve conference about 1871, and at once entered the active work of the ministry. Eight years he traveled in this conference, his last circuit being Richfield, Summit county, Ohio, on which he labored three years. These were years of abundant prosperity for the church, and Rev. Cone earned for himself a reputation subordinate perhaps) to that of but few of his co-laborers. In the fall of 1879 he moved his family to Nebraska, buy- ing a farm one-half mile from Unadilla, Otoe county. He at once joined the East Nebraska annual conference, and the following spring was appointed to Unadilla circuit. Here he remained two years, during which time a commodious house of worship was built in Unadilla. At the annual conference in the spring of 1882, he was elected one of the presiding elders. In this capacity he was as successful as before, and won the esteem of not only the people with whom he came in con- tact, but of the ministers under his charge as well. At the expiration of the year he was appointed to Seward station, where he served the people one year with gen- eral satisfaction. Feeling that the general state of his health required him to take a short rest, in the spring of 1884 he located for one year, but in August he ac- cepted the position of general soliciting agent for Western College, Toledo, Iowa, in which he worked during the fall and winter, doing good service for the educational interests of the church. At the meeting of the annual conference, in March, 1885, a lengthy petition from the people of Seward station was presented, asking that their former pastor be returned to them for the ensuing year. Conference com- plied, and Rev. Cone, feeling that his duty lay in the active work of the ministry, yielded to the call of the church, and again became the pastor at Seward. May 31st, while preaching one of the most powerful sermons of his life, he was taken sick in the pulpit, and was carried from the church to the house of Bro. George Slonecker. By June 8th he was able to return to his home at Unadilla. On Sat- urday, the 13th, he was stricken with paralysis of the lower limbs, and on Sunday evening, with the setting of the sun, he peacefully and triumphantly passed the boundaries of mortal existence, and entered that heaven whose beauties and glories he had so often and so eloquently portrayed to his delighted hearers.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
EDGAR M. SPEAR
Was born in Webster, Monroe county, N. Y., June 7, 1840. Served in the war of the rebellion under Commodore Farragut, and was on the gunboat Sciota, at Mobile, when it was blown up. Came to Seward in March, 1872, and planted a nursery. Died Dec. 20, 1880. We are sorry that we can give no further account of a life so eventful as his must have been. Mr. Spear is remembered as a very worthy citizen.
FREDERICK S. JOHNSON,
Senior member of the firm of F. S. Johnson & Co., proprietors of Quenchaqua flouring mills, and bankers at Milford. The subject of this sketch came to Milford, Nebraska, in March, 1880, and, in company with James F. Johnson and H. D. Perry, purchased an interest in the above flouring mills from the original proprie- tor, J. L. Davison. In the following August the firm of Johnson, Perry & Co. bought out the other partners, and the mill was operated by them until the death of Mr. Perry, which occurred December 22, 1881, since that time the firm being F. S. Johnson & Co., consisting of F. S. Johnson and James F. Johnson. The mill is a brick and frame building, four stories high, 36x46. It is run by water power, with a fall of fourteen feet and 150 horse power. Since April, 1881, have been turning out 260 barrels of flour per day. They use steel rollers instead of buhrs for the manufacture of flour, and have nine sets of these rollers, which only require dressing once in five years. They are very much superior to the old style of mill- ing, and produce better results, as 100 pounds of this flour is equal to 122 pounds ground by buhrs. The "Shogo" flour took the first premium at the Nebraska State Fair for the best spring wheat made in the state, and the bread from this flour also took the premium. The names " Shogo" and "Quenchaqua," stamped on these sacks, excited considerable curiosity at the exhibition, as everyone wished to know the meaning of them. They are Aztec words, "Shogo " the brand of flour, meaning the very best, and " Ineuchaqua," the name of the mills, meaning num- ber one. The subject of this sketch was born in Oswego, N. Y., September 15, 1856, and received his literary education at Union college, Schenectady, N. Y.
WILLIAM H. REED
Was born in Hartford county, Connecticut, in 1810. Our record of his younger years is very meager. Lost his first wife in Ohio, and was there married a second time. Lost the second wife in Washington county, Iowa. Married Mrs. Watson in 1857, who still survives him, and now resides at Weeping Water, in Cass county, Nebraska. Mr. Reed came to Weeping Water Falls in 1861, and built a grist- mill, which was the second one in Cass county. In 1866 he moved the old mill to Milford, and built a fine stone mill at the Falls in its place. Mr. Reed was a partner with Mr. Davison in Milford, and he helped start the town. He took a lively interest in all public matters, was always wide-awake and in earnest with regard to the development of the county and his town. Was elected county clerk in the fall of 1867, and had a very important part in the county seat contest. Mr. Reed will be remembered as a man of will power; was very determined and ener- getic in all his undertakings.
While he lived at Milford he was the leader in all her enterprises, and foremost in all her battles with her rivals. He always fought to win, but stern fate seemed
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to be against him in the contest, and when the battle was lost irretrievably the blow was so crushing that the old gentleman could hardly endure to remain in the county, so he spent his last days at Weeping Water, where he had large inter- ests. Mr. Reed was a kind-hearted, genial man. We would take it that he was a an excellent neighbor and a good business-man. While it was the province of the writer of this sketch to often cross swords with Mr. Reed in the struggles of the past, yet we always admired his untiring energy and determination to win or die in the last ditch. We always found him a pleasant man in his every-day life, and one with many traits of character to admire. His life was active, and he acted well his part in the development of Nebraska. When he had outlived his three score and ten years he died, at the good old age of seventy-three, at Weeping Water, Nebraska, and leaves an aged widow, a large family, and a wide circle of friends and acquaintances to mourn his loss.
REV. E. L. CLARK
Was born in 1810, in Addison Co., Vt. His father died just before his birth, and the lad was raised by a stepfather. Was raised on a farm, and went to school in Addison until he was of age, when he began studying for the ministry with a Baptist clergyman. Married Miss Nancy Munger in 1831, at Whiting. Miss Munger was born in 1812, at Whiting, Vt. Commenced his ministry at Troy in the Baptist church. Preached at various places in Vermont until 1851, when his health failed, and he moved to the Adirondack country in New York, and opened a farm in the wilderness. Some time afterwards the family took up their residence at East Constable, N. Y., and remained there until they removed to Seward county in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Clark raised eleven children, six boys and five girls. Mr. Clark was the first resident minister of the county, and preached the second ser- mon in the neighborhood of Seward, in the fall of 1865. The family had many hardships to undergo in the early days, but he was a faithful worker and did very much in moulding the moral and religious sentiment of this new country. Organ- ized the first Baptist church, in 1870, at Seward, and remained its faithful pastor until his health entirely failed, in the winter of 1872 and 1873. He died in the spring of 1873, and was followed to the tomb by a sorrowing people. His wife died in 1875 and was buried by his side.
BATCHELDER.
Lonisa M. Whitwood was born near Ithaca, N. Y., April 17, 1831. In about 1846 her father's family moved to Rockford, Ills., where she was married to J. W. Batchelder, by Rev. H. M. Goodwin, Feb. 18, 1852. The family moved to Seward county in 1870, and settled in "B" precinct, where Mr. Batchelder still resides. To Mr. and Mrs. Batchelder were born five children, as follows: Wm. H., born in Rockford, Sept. 18, 1855; he now resides at Hoxie, Sheridan Co., Kansas; Flora I., born at Rockford, Feb. 8, 1858; died of scarlet fever April 18, 1860; Whitwood J., born at Rockford, March 10, 1861; resides now at " B;" Frank C., born at Burritt, Ill., Dec. 5, 1864; now resides at Grant, Keith Co., Neb .; Edward G., born March 11, 1867, and still resides with his father. The deceased was for many years an exemplary member of the Congregational church, and at the time of her death she was a member of the Presbyterian church. She cheerfully bore the trials and pri- ations of a frontier life. The kindness of her disposition and lier readiness to as-
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sist in alleviating sorrow of others won for her the love of all who knew her. She- truly in the spirit of her Master went about doing good. She died triumphantly when her work was well done, and left her husband, children, and a wide circle of friends to mourn her loss.
REV. ABRAM TOWNER.
Born June 13, 1806, in Bradford Co., Pa. Married Miss Hester Vought, of his native place, Jan. 1, 1826. Moved to Olio in 1829. to Missouri in 1832. Was licensed to preach in the M. E. church in 1844. Settled in Cass Co., Neb., in 1854, when he preached the first sermon ever delivered in Cass county. His wife died Feb. 7, 1866, at Rock Bluffs, in Cass county. The old gentleman moved to Butler county in 1867, and had the honor of naming Ulysses. Since that date has several times visited California, where he married a second wife, who lived but a short time. Since that time he has made his home with his sons, Abram and Mc. D., at Ulysses, and with his daughter, Mrs. Tishue, of Seward. There are six children living, viz., Achatias, of Washington Territory; Abram, of Ulysses; Emily, now Mrs. L. Patterson, of Kansas; Mc. D., of Ulysses; Susan, now Mrs. S. C. Cutter, of Rapid City, Dak .; Lucy, now Mrs. William Gilmour, of Plattsmouth, Neb., and Rannie, now Mrs. J. Tishue, of Seward. Mr. Towner lived a faithful Christian and died in the triumphant faith of a blessed immortality. His death occurred Aug. 29, 1886, at Ulysses, Neb.
MRS. JANE SNODGRASS,
The mother of Rev. E. W. Johnson, was born Aug. 4, 1812, in North Carolina. She was the daughter of Elijah Wilcoxsen. When she was eighteen her parents moved to Kentucky, from thence to Fulton county, Ill., and located near the present town of Lewiston. Here she married Moses C. Johnson, in 1831. In 1851 her husband was killed by a runaway team. She was the mother of nine children,. two sons and seven daughters. Among these children were Rev. E. W. Johnson, Mrs. Abram Wallich, now deceased, and Mrs. Thomas Skillman. In 1853 she was again married to Mr. James Snodgrass, and by him had one daughter. The old lady died at Seward, Oct. 16, 1874. Her death was caused by injuries received from a fall from the car steps at Seward depot one dark night. She suffered much pain for several months from the injuries. When death came to her relief it found. her ready, and she quietly fell asleep in the arms of her Savior.
MRS. AMOS COLEMAN.
Mary C. Poisal was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, June 13, 1839. She removed. with her father's family to Iowa in an early day, and to Cass Co., Nebraska, in 1864, where she engaged in teaching until her marriage to Amos Coleman in 1867, July 30th. She was the mother of seven children, all boys, the oldest nineteen and the youngest three years. Mrs. Coleman was converted at the tender age of thirteen, and lived a consistent and earnest Christian life. Her home was with the M. E. church, of which she was a valuable member. The family, consisting of her husband and one child, settled on their homestead in " B" precinct in the early spring of 1870, and they had their full share in the labors and trials of the new settlement. She has been in poor health for near three years, her disease be- ing a cancer of the breast. While a great sufferer she has been very patient and
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cheerful. Her chief concern was that her husband and children should join her in the better world. Her death occurred March 26, 1888. She is mourned by the family and a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
REV. THOMAS N. SKINNER
Was born is St. Lawrence county, Vermont, and was educated at Potsdam Col- lege. At the age of twenty years he was converted to Christ. A few years later he was married to Miss Ocha L. Bell, and emigrated from his native state to Illi- nois, where he.commenced his ministerial work. At the age of thirty he re- moved to Iowa, still continuing his chosen labor. In 1867 he was sent to Milford in this county, to take charge of the Congregational church there and remained its pastor for several years. In 1873 his wife died, leaving a family of five chil- dren. On the 27th of March, 1877, he was married to Miss Nancy A. Dugan, who still survives him. Later he removed to the north-western part of this state, where he continued his labor of establishing churches and Christian institutions, faithfully laboring for the salvation of sinners until his health became so impaired from overwork and exposure in that new and sparsely settled country, that he was obliged to retire from his field of labor, and he returned to this county iu hopes of regaining health to continue the work in the Master's fold. His con- stitution had been overtaxed and he never regained his old-time vigor. At every opportunity he was at his post, preaching and warning sinners to repentance, feeling that he had a call from God to fight the good fight until he was called home to the Master he served so faithfully on earth. He leaves a wife and seven children to mourn his loss. The five children by his first wife are all grown, and he has two little girls as the fruits of the second union.
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