from the door, often cutting and splitting rails for twenty-five cent per hundred. He enjoyed the pioneer experience of going sixty miles to mill, with his blind horse loaded with corn. He found this life too arduous, and shortly afterward pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres in Atchison county, Missouri, where he began life anew, but still in humble circumstances. He moved to Nebraska in 1854, and he died on the old homestead which he had settled forty years before, and his wife followed him in 1899. He and his wife were members of the Christian church, in which he was an elder, and he had served in the militia which routed the Mormons from Jackson county, Missouri. He was a quiet unobtrusive man, living at peace with his neighbors, and attended strictly to his own business.
There were eleven children born to these parents, but a son died in infancy. Mrs. Margaret Snow, a widow of Auburn, was born in Buchanan county, Missouri; Jesse died at the age of twelve; the third in order of birth is Thomas B.; Elizabeth is the wife of David Tourtelott, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and they have six children; Lucy Jane, deceased wife of James Hiatt, left four children; Richard is a retired farmer at Red Cloud, Nebraska, and has two daughters; Kenyon died in Arkansas in 1896, leaving his wife, a son and two daughters: Mary, wife of Henry Shubert, her second husband, lives in this county and has four children: John W. is at Broken Bow, Custer county, Nebraska, and has one son and one daughter; Nancy Ann is the wife of James Linn, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and has one son and one daughter.
Thosmas [sic] B. Skeen was reared and inured to farm life from an early age. Owing to his father’s financial circumstances and the primitive surroundings in which they lived, his education was meager, and the old schoolhouse in which it was obtained was of the fashion now passed from history, being roughly made, with puncheon floor, slab seats and
fireplace, and other equipments and appliances known to the schoolboy of sixty years ago. In 1854 he and his father came to Nemaha county, Nebraska, where they laid out a claim and built a double log house and cattle shed. They were among the first comers, and “batched” it the first winter, as the family did not come until the following April. The Indians had not yet removed from their old camping grounds, but they lived at peace with the whites, their only depredations being the stealing of corn once in awhile, nor where [sic] they polite in their visits nor ever backward in begging for food. The first winter that Mr. Skeen spent there was a hard one, the deep snow making existence for the cattle especially precarious, and some of their sheep perished, the red men eating the dead animals in the spring.
Mr. Skeen remained at home until he reached his majority, and in the spring of 1859 was among the stampeders to Pike’s Peak. Denver then had about twelve houses, and from there his party of eight went to the Clear Creek and Boulder region. They were turned back by the deep snows on the east side of the mountains, and established claims at Twelve Mile Diggings, and they have since been thankful for the outcome of the expedition, for had they reached the other side of the mountains their bones would have later been found there by some subsequent wanderers. After spending one summer in this new experience, Mr. Skeen returned to what seemed God’s country, in Nebraska. But he was not satisfied with his western experience, and he soon afterward engaged in freighting, taking about ten wagons, drawn by four or six oxen or two or four horses, and loaded with flour, bacon and other provisions, to Denver and other parts of the state, where he sold the flour for sixteen dollars per hundred, his corn for nine cents a pound and other prices in proportion. He began this enterprise on borrowed money, and at the end of four years quit with two thousand dollars to the
good. He had bought eighty acres of land, trading one hundred and twenty acres of wild prairie toward it and borrowing three hundred dollars at five per cent interest per month. He and his family moved on this property in 1861, and in the spring of 1865 he sold out for twelve hundred dollars and went to Jackson county, Missouri. He soon returned, however, and invested in a flouring mill two miles east of Auburn. He conducted this with success for nine years, and in 1873 sold his half interest in it for ten thousand dollars. During the following summer he was in the Northwest Pacific coast country for the purpose of locating land, but in the end came back to Nebraska, and settled on one hundred and seventy-three acres of improved land, where he was engaged in the stock business. In 1879 he bought two hundred acres near Nemaha city, and from then until 1898 engaged in the cattle-feeding business, shipping about five carloads each year. He moved into Auburn in 1888, farming by proxy for one year and then came back to the two hundred and eighty acres three miles southwest of Nemaha City, but a year later he sold this for fifty dollars an acre, which was then the top-notch price for land. He then bought two farms nearer Auburn, and in 1892 built his good home on a quarter of block of city property. He owns these two farms, for which he paid fifty-four dollars an acre. He has since refused seventy-five dollars an acre for some of his land, and he is now one of the prosperous landowners of the county, all of which he has made by his own well directed efforts, beginning with nothing at the start in life. Diligence, perseverance and honorable methods of business dealing have brought these rewards to one of the best known pioneers and citizens of Nemaha county.
On October 10, 1860, Mr. Skeen was married to Miss Eunice Harger, who was born at Muscatine, Iowa, a daughter of Jarias and Elizabeth
(Wickersham) Harger, who came to Iowa from Indiana at an early day, and the latter was connected with the family which settled Yellville, Arkansas, in the early history of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Skeen are the parents of the following children Mary Elizabeth, born January 14, 1862, died when two years old; Eunice Eulalie, born April 7, 1864, is the wife of James Armstrong and has one son; Ada Frances, born March 19, 1867, is the present wife of Riley Turney, residing on one of her father’s farms, and she has one son by her first husband, James Whitcomb Fairbanks; George B., born September 13, 1869, is in Grant county, Oklahoma, on one hundred and sixty acres which his father bought him, and he has one son and three daughters; Lydia May, born May 25, 1872, is the wife of William Harris, of South Auburn, and has one daughter and she was a teacher before her marriage; Ford, born July 31, 1877, is on one of his father’s farms, and has one daughter; Adelbert died in 1892 at the age of eleven; Cora Ethel died in 1874, one year old. Mr. Skeen is a Master Mason, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has been an official for many years. In politics he is a Republican.
Captain C. F. Nye is one of the well known citizens of Clay township, Pawnee county, and he is also one of the pioneers of this part of Nebraska, having come here in 1867. He was born in Highgate, Franklin county, Vermont, December 17, 1838. He is a son of Nelson Nye, born at Keene, New Hampshire, December 17, 1810, and who lives at St. Albans, Vermont, at the age of ninety-three years. Nelson Nye is a son of Benjamin Nye and a Miss Wright, whose father was a soldier
in the Revolutionary war. Nelson Nye was reared in New Hampshire on a farm and married Eliza Fairbanks, who was born in Vermont and was a daughter of Benjamin Fairbanks of New England stock. Nelson and Eliza Nye moved to Highgate after their marriage and located upon a farm. The children born to them were as follows: Laura F. Marsh, of Sheldon, Vermont; Benjamin, of Highgate, Vermont; Chester F.; and Albert, a prominent citizen of Highgate, who served in the Tenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry and made a fine record during the Civil war.
Mr. C. F. Nye was reared upon his father’s farm and was early taught that industry, thrift and integrity are essentials to real success. His education was an excellent one; he had the advantage of a course at the university at Burlington, Vermont, but he left that institution to enlist a few days after Fort Sumter was fired upon and entered the First Vermont Regiment for ninety days. At the expiration of his term of service he returned to the University, but his patriotism would not allow him to remain there, and after a year enlisted, in September, 1862, in the Tenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, Colonel A. B. Jewett and Captain H. Platt commanding. Among the battles participated in by our subject may be mentioned Locust Grove, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Cedar Creek and the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. He participated in the battle of Petersburg and was wounded at Monocacy, July 9, 1864; his wound proved a very serious one and he was confined to the hospital for some time. Later he participated in the battle of Cedar Creek under General Sheridan’s command with the Sixth Army Corps and was again wounded and forced to go to the hospital. He enlisted as a private both times and after his second enlistment he was promoted in the Wilderness to captain and continued in command until his final discharge.
He graduated in law at St. Albans, Vermont, in 1867, after which he came west to Pawnee City and practiced law for some time, associated with Captain George M. Humphrey. In 1893 Mr. Nye was elected treasurer of Pawnee county and served two terms with great credit to himself and the satisfaction of his constituents. Of late years he has lived upon his beautiful farm on Turkey Creek, Clay township, where he owns six hundred and forty acres of the finest land in Nebraska, on which he carries on general farming and stock-raising. He makes a specialty of blooded cattle and hogs. Plots of blue grass surround his beautiful home, in the rear of which there is an excellent orchard.
In 1871 Mr. Nye was married to Maggie B. Dorrance, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of William Dorrance, a native of Pennsylvania of Scotch-Irish descent, whose wife, Mary Jane (Duncan) Dorrance, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Dorrance went to Tazewell county, Illinois, where the father died at the age of forty-seven years. He was a hatter by trade but followed farming. In politics he was first a Whig and then a Republican. The wife died September 11, 1894, aged seventy-nine years. They had five children, as follows: Ellen North, of Marshall, Kansas; Marian Wagner, of Pawnee City, Nebraska; J. G., of Clay township; Mrs. Margaret Nye and J. W., of Pawnee City, Nebraska.
Mr. and Mrs. Nye have five children, as follows: W. Nelson, a well known citizen of Clay township; Laura M., wife of L. R. Dillon, of Peru, Nebraska; Jane Ellen, wife of Arthur Pelton, of Dubois, Nebraska; Chester Gilmore, and Florence Elizabeth. Mr. Nye has been a Republican ever since he case his first vote and he is a prominent blue lodge and chapter Mason. He and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. His wife is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. He is genial, courteous and pleasing in manner and both as a private citizen
and public official has made himself highly respected throughout the community.
Samuel L. Caldwell, a merchant of Auburn, Nebraska, was born in Ross county, Ohio, November 26, 1849, a member of one of the pioneer families of that state. His father, Allen Caldwell, was born there March 24, 1816, son of Crawford Caldwell, a native of the north of Ireland, born about 1792. Crawford Caldwell, at the age of seven years, was brought to this country, was reared in New York state, and in early life became one of the pioneer farmers of Ross county, Ohio. He married a Miss McClure, and to them were given three sons and four daughers. One son died in infancy. William died, unmarried, at the old homestead, at the age of thirty-three years. The daughters all married and had families and all lived to old age. Nancy, wife of John Bruce, of Highland county, Ohio, died in the spring of 1903, at the age of eighty-one years. The youngest, Mrs. Katie Nixon, is now in her seventy-fifth year. Grandmother Caldwell passed away in 1859, at the age of sixty years, and grandfather Caldwell died in 1872. By industry and good management in their frontier home they accumulated a competency and in their later years had all the comforts of life. Both were consistent and worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Allen Caldwell married, in 1838, in Ross county, Miss Ellen J. Winegar, who was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, near the famous Natural Bridge, December 27, 1822, daugther of John Winegar, born at that place about 1776. Mr. Winegar was a farmer. In the year 1830 he moved to Ohio, where his last days were spent. His family of four sons
and three daughters all married and reared families. Ellen J. was the youngest. The only survivor of the seven at this writing is Walter Winegar, seventy-five years of age, a resident of Highland county, Ohio. By trade, Allen Caldwell was a wagon-maker, but early in life he turned his attention to farming and was thus occupied for many years. Politically he was a Whig. For twenty years he was a justice of the peace. He was well posted on general subjects and had rare legal ability, and his opinion was often sought and always valued. By word and act he strongly opposed slavery. Like his parents before him, both he and his wife were active supporters of the Methodist church. Physically he was of fine proportions, six feet and one inch high, weighing two hundred and twenty pounds in his prime. He died December 23, 1896, and was laid to rest on Christmas day. He left to his children a good estate and what was far better than money and lands--a good name. The devoted wife and loving mother survived him until April 17, 1903, when her death occurred at the age of eighty-two years. They were the parents of fourteen children: John C., a farmer and stock dealer of Highland county, Ohio, is one of the most prominent men in that county, where he has served seven consecutive years as county commissioner, elected on the Republican ticket; he has been twice married and is the father of fourteen children. William H. is also a respected farmer of Highland county, Ohio; James E., a farmer and shoe merchant, died December 23, 1872, at the age of thirty years, leaving one daughter; Noble B., a retired farmer of Des Moines, Iowa, has three sons and four daughters; Sarah Ellen, wife of Washington Arnott, died in Ohio in 1895, leaving four children; Nancy, wife of J. C. Town, an Ohio farmer, has nine children; Samuel L. is the direct subject of this sketch; Walter W., a merchant, died in Ohio, in 1897, at the age of forty-five years, leaving seven children; Maggie J., widow of James M. Hughey, resides in Greenfield, Ohio;
David A., a farmer in Ohio; Abigail, wife of Cary A. Cowman, an Ohio farmer, has two children; Joseph L., an attorney of Greenfield, Ohio; Frank S., an Ohio farmer, has two sons, and O. D., chief of police in Greenfield, Ohio.
Samuel L. Caldwell spent his boyhood days on his father’s farm. During the Civil war he was not old enough to enlist in the service of his country, as did other members of the family, but he made a hand on the farm, and thus it was that being detained at home to work it was not until after he was sixteen years old that he was able to obtain much schooling. Then he went to the town schools and later to the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. He completed the scientific course in the normal at Lebanon in 1880. Meanwhile he taught school and studied law, and in 1879 was admitted to the bar in Washington Court House, Ohio. After this he was engaged in teaching high school. Two years he was principal of the high school at Prairie City, Iowa. In the fall of 1884 he came to Auburn to accept the principalship of the schools at this place, a position which he filled two years. During this time he was elected the first police judge of Auburn, which office he resigned after two and a half years of service, in order to accept the position of principal in the South Omaha schools. That was in the fall of 1886.
In Auburn, June 8, 1887, Mr. Caldwell married Miss Mary A. Wood, a native of Greencastle, Indiana, born in 1860, daughter of Willis P. and Eliza (Moore) Wood, natives of Putnam county, Indiana. In the Wood family are two sons and two daughters, Mrs. Caldwell being the eldest. Her brothers are Frank and Nelson, the former a resident of Kansas, the latter of Indiana. Her sister Millie J. is the wife of Edward F. Stone, of Greencastle.
In March, 1893, Mrs. Caldwell opened a millinery store in Auburn and was so successful in the venture that from time to time the establish-
ment was enlarged. In September, 1901, a full line of well selected dry goods was added and another room occupied. The business is conducted under the firm name of Caldwell & Caldwell, and their two adjoining, well stocked rooms form one of the best stores in town. Mrs. Caldwell attended the DePauw University and previous to her marriage was a teacher in Indiana. In Auburn she is popular in both business and social circles. She is an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which both she and Mr. Caldwell are members, and in the Rebekah degree branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows she has been honored with high official position, being president of the state organization. Her fraternity work takes her to various towns and cities in Nebraska, at all of which places her pleasant speech and her gracious manner have won for her the high esteem of her sisters and brothers of the order. Mr. Caldwell is an Odd Fellow. Politically he may be classed at [sic] a Populist who has come from the Republican ranks. He served as clerk of the district court of Nemaha county one year. Recently he has retired from his fourth term in the office of police judge, having served in all nine years in that office.
Robert G. Gilmore, a retired farmer of Beatrice, Nebraska, and a veteran of the Civil war, enlisted at Erie, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1861, in Company D, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel J. W. McLane and Captain O. S. Woodward commanding. Among the battles he participated in were the Seven Days’ battle before Richmond, Turkey Bend, second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and at Gettysburg, and the other battles and
skirmishes of that campaign. He participated in the three days’ battle in the Wilderness previous to the battle of Spottsylvania. At the battle of Spottsylvania he was wounded, and carries a ball in his left leg to this day. At Spottsylvania he was taken prisoner, May 8, 1864, and August 22, 1864, he was paroled and sent to Annapolis, Maryland. He enlisted as a private, but was promoted to the rank of sergeant for gallantry on the field. His regiment had more killed and wounded than any other in the army, except one. He was honorably discharged September 20, 1864, and returned to Pennsylvania.
Mr. Gilmore was born July 28, 1839, in Venango county, Pennsylvania, being a son of William Gilmore, who in turn was a son of Brice Gilmore. William Gilmore was a native of Pennsylvania and followed the trade of carpenter. The maiden name of his wife was Jane Dickey, and she was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. The children born to these worthy parents were as follows: Adam C., served in the Ninty Pennsylvania Reserves, and died in 1875; Robert G.; Ira B. served in Company I, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and now resides in Butler county, Pennsylvania; Quinton B; Sarah J. Adams, of Utica, Pennsylvania; Agnes I. McCracken, of Utica, Pennsylvania; William W.; and Ann Eliza Whitman. The father died at the age of eighty years. In politics the father was a Republican. Both were consistent members of the Presbyterian church, in which he was a deacon.
Robert G. Gilmore was reared and educated in Pennsylvania, and there in 1867 he married Lucy M. Clough, a daughter of Horace and Ann (Brown) Clough, natives of New York. Ann Clough died in Illinois in 1867, and the father came to Gage county, Nebraska, in 1875, where he died August 25, 1891.
Mr. Gilmore located in Highland township, Gage county, Nebraska,
on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in 1876, but in 1892 retired to Beatrice, where he has since lived. His children are: William B., who lives on a large ranch in Wyoming; Flora Stewart, of Beatrice; Leonard B., lives on the old farm; Horace lives in Gage county and follows teaching as his profession. The first vote our subject cast was for Lincoln in 1860, and he has since continued voting the Republican ticket. Like the majority of the veterans of the Civil war, he is interested in G. A. R. work, and was one of the charter members of the Cortlandt [sic] Post, of which he served as commander. He is now a member of the Rawlins Post No. 35, of Beatrice. Genial, hospitable and pleasing in manner Mr. Gilmore makes and retains many friends, and is one of the representative men of the county.
Robert C. Boyd, assistant cashier of the Carson National Bank, of Auburn, Nebraska, was born in Upton, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1866. His education has been gained chiefly in the practical school of experience. Up to the time he was fifteen years of age he attended the public schools of his native town. The next three years he spent as a clerk in his father’s store. In November, 1884, he came west to Nebraska and accepted a position as clerk in the bank of which his brother, Edward M., was manager, and he has since been identified with this bank, having been promoted to his present position of assistant cashier in 1891. During their residence here the Boyd brothers have in many ways been active in promoting the growth and best interests of Auburn. It was largely due to their enterprising efforts that the electric plant of the town was secured in 1901. They have for years been interested in real estate, buying and selling both city and farm property.
Robert C. Boyd was married, April 24, 1890, to Miss Lillie Angle, a native of Welsh Run, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, born August 21, 1868, daughter of Henry B. and Mary (Niswander) Angle, both natives of Franklin county. Mrs. Angle died February 1, 1896, at the age of fifty-seven years, leaving ten of her eleven children, viz.: Ella, wife of John E. Shartle, of Independence, Missouri, has two sons; Annie, wife of W. B. Waddell, Oakland, California, has one son and one daughter; Avis, wife of W. B. Duffield, of Welsh Run, Pennsylvania, has one son; G. C., a railroad official, located at Spokane, Washington; Lillie; Harry F., of Welsh Run, Pennsylvania; Lyman, a Pennsylvania farmer; James Garfield, Lucretia and Minor, triplets. The first named died at the age of nine months. Lucretia is the wife of Rev. Rolland E. Christ, a Presbyterian minister of Atglen, Pennsylvania. Minor is a resident of Chicago, is married and has one daughter. The youngest child, Miss Bessie, is at the old home in Pennsylvania, with her father, who is a retired farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have three children; Avis Angle, born February 6, 1901; Mary Jane, June 28, 1895; and William N., July 8, 1899.
Robert C. Boyd is a prominent Mason. He has received the thirty-second degree in this ancient and honored organization, and is a past master, past high priest and past commander. He also has membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Ancient Order of United Workmen, and, politically, he is a stanch Republican. He filled the office of city treasurer eight years, in which capacity he still serves. Both he and Mrs. Boyd are worthy members of the Presbyterian church.
Clayton E. Blessing, a member of the firm of Blessing & Tankersley, and proprietor of “Central Fruit Farm,” Auburn, Nebraska, where he resides, has been a resident of this town for twenty years.
Mr. Blessing was born in Burketsville, Maryland, June 21, 1855, and is descended from German ancestry on his father’s side, his great-grandfather and great-grandmother Blessing having been born in Saxony, Germany.
George Blessing, the grandfather of Clayton E., was born in Maryland, in 1789, and was by occupation a planter. In his young manhood he was a participant in the war of 1812, and in later life, in the days of Civil war, he showed that he still had fighting blood in him. He was a strong Union man, and he had long been a disbeliever in slavery and had emancipated his slaves. His farm and timberland was on the border of the Confederacy and he was subject to depredations from both armies. In this connection we quote from an interesting article published some years ago in one of the Washington papers:
“Mr. George Blessing, seventy years of age, was a farmer who resided in the mountains near Myersville. When it was learned that the rebels were prowling through the neighborhood, stealing horses and committing depredations generally, he was importuned by his family to remove his stock beyond the reach of the marauders; but he declined to do so, avowing his purpose to defend his property to the last. He had ten guns in his house which he proceeded to load and put in readiness, in the event of any necessity arising for their use. At noon, July 2, 1863, he gathered his family about him and read aloud the ninety-first Psalm: ’I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust,’ then he engaged in devotional worship, imploring the Most High to shield and protect his household from the assaults and
rapacity of the enemy who were laying waste his native soil, and seeking to overthrow the best government ever devised by the wisdom of man, pleading God to uphold and sustain the old flag of his fathers. Taking two guns, he repaired, with his son, a lad yet in his teens, to his barn, from which he descried a squad of rebels approaching on horseback. Handing his son a gun, he ordered him to take a certain position, and, should the squad dismount and attempt to break open the door of the stable, which was fastened by a lock, fire upon them. The rebels advanced within a short distance of the stable, when one of the number threw himself from his horse, and commenced the work of demolishing the stable door. At that moment the old man and his son fired simultaneously upon the offender, both balls taking effect in his right arm. The balance of the party scampered away, leaving their wounded comrade behind them, and swearing vengeance upon their opponents. Before they had escaped beyond reach of Mr. Blessing’s gun, he fired a second shot at the fleeing foe, but with what result he could not tell. The rebel at whom he fired fell forward on his horse, evidently wounded, but he managed to get away.
“Mr. Blessing’s neighbors, learning what he had done, waited upon him and by every argument they could advance endeavored to dissuade him from his purpose to ’stand his ground.’
“They tried to prevail upon him to leave the vicinity and seek refuge from the infuriated rebels, who would return with reinforcements and not only destroy his property but would murder him and his son. The brave old patriot was immovable in his purpose to defend his property, though in the event his life would be forfeited. He was a man of prayer, and read his Bible and accepted literally its promise, and he had infinite confidence in his ’shield and buckler,’ assured that needed strength would be given him in the unequal contest which might ensue. The guns were