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A Pioneers Tale - Submitted by: Virginia Doudney Chastain BECK-MOORE - Peter Beck was an early settler of Lancaster County, Nebraska. He was born 16 November 1828 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the son of Conrad Beck. His family was of German descent. On the 1st of January 1850 he married Sarah Moore, the daughter of John Moore and Susan Nagle, also of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Sarah Moore was born 15 September 1824. For a short time Peter and Sarah resided in Latrobe, Pennsylvania but moved to Lancaster in Grant County, Wisconsin in 1861. In 1869 they left Wisconsin to homestead in Nebraska. The family settled two miles northeast of the town of Hickman where Peter took up farming. Land records indicate Peter's homestead was in Section 22, Township 8 North, Range 7 East. It consisted of the 80 acres on the South 1/2, Southeast 1/4 of the section. The claim was filed 28 November 1969. The certificate of purchase was dated 8 September 1875 and the patent date was November 19th 1875. They remained lifelong residents of the area, living in town after 1891. Peter died at home on 5 August 1916 shortly after the death of Sarah on 15 May 1916. Both are buried in the northeast corner section of the Hickman Cemetery. Peter and Sarah had 9 children. Submitted by: Marcia Stewart S. P. BENADOM - Our subject is a descendant of the Rev. John Benadom, the revered founder of the United Brethren Church. He was a native of Germany, was quite a learned man, and took pains to educate all of his children. He came to the United States and settled in Ohio, and there, it is supposed, his son George, the father of our subject, was born. He was reared and educated in that State and became prominently identified with the educational interests of his native State, being one of the best mathematicians of his day, and at the time of his death was Professor of Mathematics in Mt. Vernon College, Lancaster, Ohio. He was also an active businessman, and at the time of his death in 1834, was a contractor on the Ohio Canal. His partner made way with the funds and left his family in impoverished circumstances. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Myers, was a native of Ohio, and spent her last years in Fairfield, that State, dying in 1838. She was a woman who filled in every respect the perfect measure of wife, mother, and friend. Of her marriage ten children were born nine of who grew to maturity. He of whom we write was born near Lancaster, Fairfield Co., Ohio, Nov. 13, 1826, and was only eight years old when his father died, and twelve years old when his mother's death made him an orphan, and from that time he has made his own way in the world. If his father had lived our subject would doubtless have received the education that he craved, but the bright, manly lad was forced instead to earn his own bread by working on a farm. He married in his
eighteenth year, and in 1846, accompanied by his wife, he
started for the west, taking all his effects in a wagon drawn by
a blind horse, having in his pocket but $52, all the cash that
he owned. He located in Jones County, Iowa, and was one of the
pioneers there, from that time taking an active part in
developing the resources of Iowa, and was prominently connected
with the organization of the State. When he first located there the country was so sparsely settled that his patrons came from fifteen to twenty miles to his smithy. He continued prosperously engaged as a blacksmith, having entered into partnership with another man when he first located in Olin, for a number of years. In 1856 he took the contract to carry the mails from Olin to Davenport, and was appointed Postmaster by Buchanan, which office he resigned in 1862. He resided in Iowa until 1868, and during that time had witnessed the development of Jones County from a wild, uncultivated country to a well settled, wealthy county. In the year just mentioned Mr. Benadom sold out there and came to Lincoln, to begin life anew as a pioneer. He came as far as
East Nebraska City, then the western terminus of the railway,
and performed the rest of the journey to Lincoln on a stage.
Lincoln was then but a small hamlet, consisting mostly of log
buildings, and the greater part of the surrounding country was
wild prairie land owned by the Government and State. Elk,
antelopes and deer were plenty and our subject being a good shot
and fond of hunting, killed a great many wild animals. When he first came here Mr. Benadom commenced dealing in furs, and for twelve years handled all the furs sold in Lincoln. In 1869 he entered into the business of building dams, and in six years time had constructed thirty-nine dams in different parts of Nebraska. Some years after
coming to Lincoln he bought wild land, which he improved, and he
is now the owner of 320 acres of well-improved land in Thayer
County, and also owns other land there. He erected two blocks in
the city of Carleton, one of which he still owns, and he has
erected several houses in Lincoln. Mr. Benadom is a man of sound principles, is trustworthy as a citizen, and his character in private life is unassailable. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and at the same time a strong Prohibitionist. Taken from : Biographical Album of Lancaster County Nebraska - Submitted by Phyllis Jean Bryant MARTIN - DEAHL - My ancestors Casper and Elisebeth Martin were settlers in Lancaster County, Nebraska in Saltillo Precinct on Sections 21 and 28, along with Casper's brother John and his family. Casper's parents were Louis and Anna Elizabeth (Warner) Martin who were born and married in Hesse-Darmstadt, Prussia. Emigration records at the Staats archive in Darmstadt, Germany indicate that the family came from the Ober-Ohmen area. In 1848, they emigrated with their family to the United States. Crossing on the Brig Frederica of Oldenburg, the passenger list shows the family included Adam and Anna Martin (Casper's grandparents), Ludwig and Anna (his parents), Caspar, and his siblings Mary, Grete, Johann, and Gertrude. Casper, born 4 August 1836, would have been 11 years old at the time. In America,
Casper's family first resided in Allegheny County, Maryland but
moved north to Somerset County, Pennsylvania due to their Union
sentiments. Casper married Elisebeth Deahl 13 September 1857.
Elisebeth was the daughter of Andrew and Matilda (Schultz) Deahl
and granddaughter of Baulshar Deahl and Adam Schultz. She was
born 12 January 1837 in Allegheny County, Maryland. Her father's
family had come to America in 1834 from the Frankfurt area near
Hesse-Darmstadt. The Chapman Brothers 1888 "Portrait and Biographical Album of Lancaster County, Nebraska" described Casper's home as "a handsome residence, surrounded by beautiful grounds, with many shade and ornamental trees, fine groves and orchards, comprising 130 apple trees, mulberries, cherries, and plums; choice grapes and other fruits..." Casper was a member of the Masonic Lodge. In Illinois, he was Master of the Shipman Lodge for five years and a delegate to the Grand Lodge of Illinois at Chicago from 1875-1879. In Nebraska, he belonged to Lincoln, Nebraska Lodge #19. He also belonged to the Knights of Pythias Lodge in Hickman, Nebraska and the Knights of Honor Lodge #126 in Shipman, Illinois. He was a member of the Democratic party and the couple were charter members of the Lutheran Church in Roca, Nebraska. Casper and Elisebeth's children were Howard L. Martin and Estella (Mrs. James) Beck. They also had four other children who died in infancy. Casper died at his home a mile north of Hickman on 29 March 1908. After his death, Elisebeth lived with her son. Elisebeth died at the home of her daughter near Newport, Nebraska several years later on 10 November 1912. Both are buried at the Roca Cemetery. Casper's brother John married Catherine Deahl (a sister of Elisebeth) on 23 October 1863 in Keyser, Maryland. John and Catherine
had 12 children, nine of which survived: Matilda Elizabeth (Mrs.
George Louis) Emmerich, Sarah Ann Martin, John Ernest Martin,
Clare Mabel (Mrs. Herbert Martin) Hanson, Mary Estella Martin,
Charles Elmer Martin, Nellie Viola (Mrs. Henry) Wissel, Maude
Catherine Martin, and Hilda Pearl (Mrs. Levi) Weibel. He married Flora Bitinger, daughter of Simeon and Sarah (Wiland) Bitinger, and they had two children Allen A. and Winne E. John A. Deahl and his wife came to Lancaster County, Nebraska in 1879 with his father's family and soon bought bought 40 acres of school land and 40 acres of railroad land. John's wife was Susan Boger, the daughter of Peter and Sally (Peck) Boger. They had four children: Edwin, Laura, Cora and Jessie. Submitted by: Marcia Stewart MUNK - FETTERLY - SISSON - WERTZ Abner MUNK and his wife Mary Ann FETTERLY moved to Nebraska in about 1868 as the first recorded land transactions for him are in 1868. Abner and Mary were both born in Danube, Herkimer County, New York where they were members of pioneer families of that county. Seeking new land, they moved their family to Nebraska where they settled in the Bennett area. Mary's aged parents, Jacob FETTERLY and Margaret SISSON FETTERLY made the move with them. Abner was a farmer who quickly erected a small claim cabin and got busy working the land. Six of his seven children made the move with them. Twin daughters
were born to them shortly after their arrival but passed away
within a week. Abner, Mary, her parents and some of their
children are buried in the Bennett Cemetery. He recalls long, cold blizzards where they sat around their little fireplace eating popcorn, and many seasons of barely making ends meet when they nearly starved and had no shoes. Later he became quite the adventurer and had an encounter while driving cattle with the rather infamous Nebraska rustler, Doc Middleton and his gang. Abner and Mary's
children include: George Wesley, John Alonzo, Purl (male),
Harriet, William, Howard and Carrie. Harriet passed away prior
to the move to NE. Carrie married John WERTZ another early
pioneer of this area. Children: George 24, veteran surgeon (veterinarian), Alonzo 21, William 18, Pearl 17, Howard 15, Carrie 13. All children born NY. 1900 census - Bennett, Lancaster Co, NE: ABNER MUNK, b. June 1832, 67, born NY, parents born NY. Farmer. Wife, Mary, born Aug. 1833 in NY, age 66, parents born NY. Has born 8 children, 6 of whom are living. She is listed as a "carpet weaver". (could that room size loom Grandma Velvick had be hers?) 1910 census - Bennett, Lancaster Co, NE: ABNER MUNK, 77, born NY, parents born NY, Mary 76. Submitted by: Beverly Zuerlein BEALL - GRIM - KOONTZ -
SHATTO - WITHROW GREER - William
T. GREER Two infant sons George W. and Thomas J. are buried in a cemetery near Hickman. The rest of the family move to Saline Co. near Wilber in the mid 1880s. The family is listed in 1870 Fed. census Lancaster NE M593 R830 Pg144 and 1880 Fed. census Lancaster NE T9 R752 Pg 47. I have a partial
description of the Homestead location. William T was my
Grandfather and died before I was born. I do have other
family information. BROOKS - SYKES Grandfather was in the Civil War and my uncle John William Brooks was a drummer boy in the Civil War. There was a tribute to him published in the Nebraska State Journal on February 16, 1909. He served from July 1863 to August 1865. His sister Augusta Rebecca married my Great Grandfather George Sykes on April 18,1871. They all lived their lives out in different parts of Nebraska. My grandfather and grandmother John and Elizabeth Brooks are buried in Wyuka Cemetery here in Lincoln. I am very proud to be a part of both families. Submitted by: Cynthia (Sykes) Smetter |
EUGENE
F. SULLIVAN STORY (CLAN BROHILL) I am the daughter of Eugene and Mary Laura Meistrell Sullivan. I was born on Oct 13, 1930 on the family farm on section 25 Denton Precinct Lancaster County Nebraska. I have very little memory of my grandfather Eugene Francis Sullivan even though I was 8 years old when he died in March of 1939. In 1999 I started to research my ancestors. This is the Eugene Francis Sullivan story. Eugene was born about 1850 according to his death certificate. Death certificate listed place of birth as “County Clark” Ireland. This obviously should be County Cork. Place of birth was actually the village of Lehanebeg on Beara Peninsula County Cork Ireland. This fact is probably 100 percent correct. He came to the United States in 1859 with his older brother Mortimer (Murty) and a younger sister Hanora (Hannah). Their parents were Eugene and Mary Sullivan according to the biography of Eugene in the book “The Portrait and Biography Album of Lancaster Co. Nebraska” published in 1888. Knowing the approximate age of Eugene, Mortimer and Hanora, I consulted a genealogist Riobard O’Dwyer, who wrote a book of families “Who Were Your Ancestors, Allihies Parish.” Mr. O’Dwyer felt that he indeed had the family history living in Lehanebeg. I subsequently contacted Father Liam Comer in the village of Allihies and obtained the baptism records for Mortimer and Hanora from St. Michael’s church in Cahermore.. Mr. O’Dwyer felt that Eugene’s baptism had simply not made it into the church records. There were other siblings, Jeremiah, Mary and John but I can find no record of them beyond their baptisms. The family story was that Eugene and Mary Sullivan in Ireland had children, but then Mary died and Eugene had remarried and either before or shortly after the birth of a child, Eugene had died and the stepmother had the children leave as she could not care for them all. However, since Mortimer was age 18 and surely would have been working, it would seem that perhaps she sent them to the US knowing that they would have a better life. Family story says that Hanora being only 5, was placed in a convent orphanage in Massachusetts and Eugene got a job at age 9 sweeping floors in a factory. The 1860 census of New Bedford Massachusetts has Mortimer and Eugene living with Jeremiah and Mary O’Brien and children. It is my belief that Mary O’Brien was Mary Sullivan (clan Brohill), the sister of the senior Eugene in Ireland. Eugene probably went to Houghton Co. Michigan in 1863. He is believed to be on the 1870 census living in a boarding house. By 1870 his brother Mortimer had married Mary Lowney and little sister Hanora was living with them in Houghton Co Michigan.. Later Hanora married Mark Lowney in Houghton Co Michigan. On August 18, 1872 Eugene married Bridget Sullivan in Fall River Massachusetts. Bridget was the daughter of Jeremiah (clan Ukirre) Sullivan and Catherine Clifford. Bridget was born in Ballydonegan (Beara Peninsula) in January 1857 Bridget is listed on the 1870 census in Houghton Co. Michigan with her father Jeremiah and Catherine, although this Catherine may not have been her mother. Why Eugene and Bridget went back to Fall River to marry is unknown, but Bridget’s father Jeremiah had married Margaret Hurley there in November 1871 after the death of Catherine.. Eugene and Bridget did not stay in Massachusetts long because their first child Mary Ann was born in Calumet Michigan on October 7, 1873 and died on March 15, 1875. The next child Murtagh (Murty) was born on Oct 29, 1875 also in Calumet. In July 1877 Eugene brought his family to Lancaster Co. Nebraska and purchased 160 acres of land on section 25 Denton Precinct from the Burlington and Missouri Railroad. The other three quarters of this section were purchased by John R. Sullivan, Timothy F. Sullivan and Bridget’s father Jeremiah U. Sullivan. After moving to Lancaster Co Ne at least eight more children were born. Anna was born July 1878, Timothy Oct 1879, Kathryn Feb 1882, Mary Ellen April 1885, Eugene July 1887, Loretta Oct 1889, Bernadine Aug 1892 and Jeremiah June 1894. It is possible that there was one more child because the 1888 biography says that eight children were born but only five survived. The dead would have been Mary Ann, Anna and one other unknown. Many years later, Timothy married Estella Boland, Kathryn married John M. Sullivan, Mary Ellen married Marland Baughman, Loretta married Francis McCarthy and Jeremiah married Evelyn Sullivan(?). Bernadine died at birth. Eugene and Bridget raised their family on the NE quarter of section 25-9-5 Denton Precinct. A census of District #66 school in 1881 shows that Murty was five years old and so assume that all the children received a limited amount of education. The school building was built on the western boundary of the section halfway between the corners. The land was given by Timothy F. Sullivan. On June 5th 1905 a parcel of land was given by Eugene F. Sullivan to the Catholic Bishop of Lincoln and a church was erected on the eastern boundary of the section. This church was known as the Sullivan Settlement Church and services including baptisms and marriages were held there. After Denton grew into a village, the church known as Sullivan Settlement church was disbanded and the Sullivan’s started attending St. Mary’s church in Denton. The church on the Sullivan land was moved across the road and was used as hay storage and at some point the hay caught fire and the church building was destroyed. The district # 66 school operated until the 1950’s. The last child was Jeremiah who was born June 25, 1894. Julia Hanley Sullivan was the midwife who attended the birth. After the birth Bridget was left alone to rest, but unknown was the fact that the umbilical cord had been cut wrong and Bridget died from hemorrhage. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Lincoln. At this time the oldest child, Murty was 18 years old. To care for the family, Anna, the daughter of Murty and Mary Lowney Sullivan moved into the home to help Eugene with his large family. It is not known if Eugene had mental and drinking problems before Bridget’s death but a May 31, 1899 article in the Lincoln Evening News gives an account of an episode. A March 1, 1906 article says Eugene had been committed again to the asylum for the fourth time. The first article has a statement from his brother Murty saying that Eugene had been injured in a blast. Would assume this was while he worked in the copper mines in Houghton Co Michigan. Eugene is listed as in the asylum on the 1900 census Yankee Hill Precinct. Evidently Eugene had a profitable farm as on March 12, 1892, he and his brother Murty purchased the N 1/2 of section #30 of Yankee Hill Precinct. On Oct 20, 1910, Eugene sold his son Murty J. Sullivan one half of his share and the other half went to son Timothy who was living in Spokane Washington at that time. Timothy then sold his acres to his brother Murty J. On May 12, 1914, Eugene S. Sullivan, the son, married Mary Laura Meistrell in St. Mary’s church in Denton and they moved to the farm that had been in the family since 1877. Evidently the senior Eugene moved to Lincoln at this time and lived with his brother Murty, and children Anna and Margaret. The 1920 census of Lincoln Ne shows Murty and Eugene at 2103 S. 13th street with Murty’s daughters Anna and Margaret. Eugene F. Sullivan died March 11, 1939 while living at 1520 Van Dorn Street of a sudden heart attack. Information was given by his son Eugene. I believe information given on the mother is incorrect. Born in Ireland in 1850 and dying in Lincoln Ne. in 1939 was quite an achievement. From all accounts I have read about copper mining on the Beara Peninsula, I can only assume that he was working in the mines when he left for the US at age nine. Beara is a beautiful land, with a temperate climate and it must have been a shock to be in Michigan where they have about 200 inches of snow each winter. Houghton Co Michigan is adjacent to Lake Superior and must have seemed somewhat like the Beara that they had left. I can only assume what they must have felt as they came to Lancaster Co. Nebraska. The prospect of owning land after being paid so little for such dangerous work must have been the powerful drive that brought them here. Teresa Sullivan September 2006 I have sources for the great majority of facts presented above. Will gladly share these sources with any interested parties. Dsull88075@aol.com JEREMIAH U. SULLIVAN I am Teresa Sullivan, granddaughter of Eugene Francis and Bridget Sullivan Sullivan. Bridget’s father was Jeremiah U. Sullivan and this is his story. Jeremiah was born in 1828 in Coom, a little village on Beara Peninsula, Co. Cork Ireland. His parents were Jeremiah Sullivan and Margaret Harrington. This branch of Sullivan’s was of the clan “Ukirre”. When I started researching, I wondered about the significance of the initial “U” in Jeremiah’s name. I now believe that it comes from the clan Ukirre. Jeremiah was baptized on April 17, 1828 and had a brother Daniel born in April 1826 and a brother Cornelius born in December 1833. I have not researched these two brothers. I know nothing of Jeremiah’s early years, but assume that he worked in the copper mines in the vicinity of Allihies Ireland. The 1870 census of Houghton Co. Michigan says that he was a miner and it is known that the Michigan mines only employed experienced miners. On August 26, 1854 in St. Michael’s church in Allihies, Ireland, he married Catherine Clifford “vel” Bryan. This marriage record indicates that she had the surname of Clifford at one time and also the surname Bryan. She was probably married once before her marriage to Jeremiah. It is known that his wife Catherine O’Brien died on July 9, 1871 at the Atlantic Mine in Houghton Co Michigan. She is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery and her death is recorded in St. Ignatius Church records. The story passed down by the family said that Bridget’s mother died in Ireland before Jeremiah and Bridget came to the US. My feeling is that Jeremiah and Catherine Clifford Sullivan and Bridget came to the US together in 1862. The date is from Jeremiah’s land contract dated July 11, 1877 for land purchased in Lancaster Co. Nebraska. Whether Jeremiah came directly to Michigan is not known, but a lot of Beara families immigrated first to Fall River and New Bedford, Ma. Jeremiah’s intent to naturalize was signed in Houghton Co Michigan on Oct 4, 1867. This record is with the Lancaster Co. records. It is not known if Jeremiah and Catherine Clifford had any children other than Bridget. After Catherine’s death on July 9, 1871, Jeremiah lost no time before remarrying. He married Margaret Hurley on Nov 12, 1871 in Fall River, Ma. A daughter, Mary, was born there on May 15, 1873 and Margaret Hurley Sullivan died three days later of “confinement”. Mary later married in Lancaster County to William Rooney and the marriage license says that Mary’s mother was Kate Foley. I have no idea why Mary thought her mother was Kate Foley instead of Margaret Hurley. After Margaret’s death, Jeremiah again lost no time in marrying. On Oct 14, 1873 in Fall River, he married Julia Hanley Sullivan. Julia had previously been married to a Cornelius Sullivan in Ireland. He had died from miner’s consumption leaving Julia with two small daughters, Mary and Margaret. Julia was from Reentrisk on the Beara Peninsula, her parents being Patrick Hanley and Mary Sullivan (clan Uohni). Jeremiah and Julia did not stay in Massachusetts long because their first child Margaret was born July 25, 1874 in Houghton co. Michigan. Can not find any more records of children born before the couple came to Lancaster co. Ne on July 11, 1877. On July 11, 1877 Jeremiah U. Sullivan (his mark) signed for the purchase of 160 acres of land on the NW quarter of section 25 of Denton Precinct from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. The contract says that he was from Castletown Ireland and had been in the US for 15 years and had just arrived from Red Jacket, Michigan. (This was the old name for Calumet, Michigan.) It is believed that Julia Hanley Sullivan had come to the US shortly after the death of her husband, Cornelius, with her sister Margaret Hanley and Julia’s daughter Mary and Margaret’s son Tim. It is unknown when Julia’s daughter Margaret came to the US but the 1880 school census of school district #66 lists Julia’s daughter Mary and Maggie at age 13 and 11 respectively and Jeremiah and Julia’s daughters Mary and Maggie at age 7 and 6. The 1881 census of that district also includes Tim Hanley at age (it appears) 8. Four more children are known to be born to this couple in Lancaster Co. According to the 1900 census they were: Lizzie born Sept 1879, Julia born May 1882, Katie born June 1884, and Ella born May 1887. It is possible there were others also. Julia’s daughters, Mary and Margaret married John Cody and Robert Walker respectively. Jeremiah and Julia’s children married: Margaret to John Quinn, Lizzie to Marcus Amen, Julia to Alphonus Mauel, Katie to Williams Smith and Ella to Arthur DeShayes. Jeremiah lived a long life dying on December 5, 1915. He would have been 87 years old. His probate record is very interesting. Julia lived on for several years dying on March19, 1918. Both are buried in Calvary Cemetery in Lincoln Ne. Teresa Sullivan Sept 2006 Dsull88075@aol.com I have documented sources for most of the above. Will gladly share with anyone interested in this family. Mary TIPTON(?)
GRIM WITHROW Francis KOONTZ, stone cutter, was born about 1840 in France. He married Julia Ann BEALL about 1865. Julia was born in IA about 1838. She was the eldest of 9 children. Frank and Julia KOONTZ moved to Lancaster Co. in 1869/70 from IL. Julia's parents: Robert
and Caroline WITHROW(?) BEALL |
