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.

He states that at the time he crossed the Mississippi River he could count every building in Davenport. It was some years before a railway connected Olin, the town where he located, with the outside world, and Muscatine, forty miles distant, was the nearest market and depot for supplies. 

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.

In three nights he killed twenty-one wolves inside of the incorporated limits of the city, a startling illustration of the wild and unsettled condition of the country that can scarcely be credited to-day, twenty years later, by one who passes through these broad avenues of commerce and sees on every hand indications of wealth and prosperity in the busy traffic going, in the fine business buildings, and in the stately, beautiful dwellings on every side. 

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 has been twice married. Fidelia Burroughs, his first wife, was born in Vermont, and died in Iowa in 1866, leaving eight children--Almina, Emma, Mary, George W., Alice, Wilfred and two who died in infancy. The second marriage of our subject, which occurred in 1867, was to Miss Hannah Jones and to them two children have been born, but they are now dead. 

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.

Soon after they married, Casper and Elisebeth move to Somerset County, Pennsylvania and farmed there until 1864. They located then to Macoupin County, Illinois, buying a farm with Casper's brother John. In the winter of 1879-1880, Casper visited Nebraska and persuaded his brother to join him in moving there. In the spring of 1880, Casper and John brought their families and purchased land in Lancaster County. 

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.

Several of Catherine and Elisebeth's brothers settled in Lancaster County also. George W. Deahl settled in Saltillo in 1886, buying land from his father for a dairy farm. George married Hallie May Mitchell, the daughter of William and Margaret (Hooper) Mitchell, on 12 February 1885. Chauncey Deahl purchased his farm in Saltillo Precinct in 1885. 

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.

Abner's son, John Alonzo, wrote of his life on the prairie in early Nebraska.  He recalled that they had many Indian visitors during their early years all of whom were friendly, but speaks of those settlers not too far down the road who lost their lives to hostile Indians.  

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.

Here is just a bit of supporting evidence: Abner moved the family to Nebraska about 1868, according to land purchases documented in the Nebraska State Archives.  They show he purchased 80 acres May 11, 1868. 1870 census - Alas, this was unreadable....at least the copy at my LDS center. 1880 census - Stockton, Lancaster Co, NE: ABNER MUNK, 47 farmer, born NY, parents born NY.  Wife, Mary 46, born NY. 

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 
George W GRIM, farmer and Justice of the Peace, was born in OH about 1835 and moved with his parents, Joseph and Mary GRIM to Sullivan Co. MO. around 1840. He married Catherine SHATTO December 18, 1853 in Sullivan Co. MO. Catherine, daughter of Daniel and Catherine STITLE SHATTO, was born in OH about 1836 and arrived in MO around 1839. George and Catherine GRIM migrated to Lancaster Co in about 1864. This date is based on the birth of their 5th child Henry born about 1865, he was their first child born in NE. George and Catherine had 12 children and later moved to OK sometime after 1890. 

GREER - William T. GREER 
was born in Moultrie Co. IL.  Enlisted 1 Nov. 1861 in Co. M 10th Il. Cavalry.  Was medically discharged 31 May 1862.  Moved to Lancaster Co. in 1865 and homesteaded near Hickman.  

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. 
Submitted by: Glenn Greer  
16426 SE 21st Place Bellevue WA 98008

BROOKS - SYKES
My Great-great grandparents, John and Elizabeth Brooks were the first to homestead in Firth. They came from England, landed in New York from there, were in Iowa a very short time and came to Nebraska in 1869. 

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

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
[email protected]
I have documented sources for most of the above. Will gladly share with anyone interested in this family.

Mary TIPTON(?) GRIM WITHROW 
Twice widowed mother of George and several of her other children also resided in Lancaster Co.   

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 
were neighbors of the KOONTZ'S according to the 1870 census for Lancaster Co. NE. The BEALL family migrated through Sullivan Co. MO as well. Robert was a farmer by trade. He was born in IN in about 1812. Caroline was born in OH about 1815. Clemenz KOONTZ, s/o Frank, was born in 1869. He married Malissa Ann GRIM, d/o George, in 1891 at Lancaster Co. NE. Malissa was born in 1870 at Hickman, NE. Submitted by: David Lewis

This is a copy of the obituary that appeared in the Plattsmouth Journal, Jan. 19, 1920 and reprinted in the Eagle Beacon. 

George A. MAYER, father of Mrs. Henry Wetenkamp, died at his home in Lincoln Dec. 22, 1919. Mr. Mayer was one of Nebraska's pioneer settlers. In last Sunday's Star appears an interesting article too lengthy for reproduction here, which tells of his coming with his wife and eldest son to Nebraska in 1850, traveling over the unbroken prairies of Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska, in a covered wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen and two cows. 

After six weeks of arduous traveling they stopped at Plattsmouth, where they farmed for three years. Then Mr. Mayer bought 160 acres seven miles east of Lincoln on Holdrege street for 300, part of which was paid in gold dust received in exchange for a yoke of oxen. In 1865 he filed a homestead claim on 160 just across the road. In 1868 the first school of Lancaster county was organized and held in Mayer's two room log cabin. The Mayer's were always friendly with the Indians, who call Mr. Mayer "Good Buck.". At one time, when the Mayer children were without shoes, the father obtained moccasins from a tribe of 600 Indians who were camped on his farm in exchange for some onions. He also traded them a rooster for his first butcher knife. 

Lincoln at that time composed of only a dozen houses and was known as Salt Basin. The first train that ever run into Lincoln was a great curiosity. The family stood outside the house and waited expectantly for the whistle, the first one they had ever heard. Mr. Mayer was one of the twenty-three men who voted in the first election held in Lancaster county. The old home farm where a family of six children was raised, was sold in 1910 and Mr. Mayer moved to Lincoln where he spent the remainder of his life. The funeral was held Dec. 24th at the home, 2825 I street, in charge of Rev. R. M. Badger, the remains being buried at Wyuka. 

Mr. Mayer is survived by three sons and three daughters, H. W. Mayer of Walton, Nebraska; W. L. Mayer, of Beatrice; M. J. Mayer of Denton; Emma B. Mayer, and Mrs. E. E. Mann, of Lincoln and Mrs. Henry Wetenkamp, of Eagle. - Eagle Beacon.

I am descended from Mrs. Elmer Ellsworth Mann. Her son, Hubert Reynolds Mann was my grandfather. 
Submitted by Lesley M. Adams