Newspaper Clippings - DeWitt, Nebraska, 1923

DeWitt, Nebraska in Saline County was incorporated in 1857.  The Nebraska State Historical Society Library in Lincoln has newspapers from DeWitt from as early as 1874.  The newspaper holdings can be found on the  Nebraska Newspapers page at the Society's website.  Is an ancestor of yours in the news?  

DeWitt Times, Thursday, May 24,1923

"Laborers and teams wanted Beatrice, Nebraska, 40 3 Abel Construction Co.

Will furnish pasture for two head of town cows, 3 blocks from Burlington depot.  Inquire at this office.

R. W. Venrick was called to Clatonia last Sunday to conduct the funeral of the late Frank Roscoe.

Mrs. Gladys Anderson of Waverly, was visiting her mother, Mrs. Lidgard the last of the week.

Harness and Shoe Repairing.  New Harness, Collars and Flynets on hand.  Open nights.  adv 42  A. F. Friesen

Roy C. Reid and family of Nemaha, Nebr., were visiting the formers mother, Mrs. R. P. Vanderploeg, Friday and Saturday of last week.

The list of graduates published in this paper last week was incomplete, in as much as it did not contain the name of Miss Bernice Weibel, who is a member of the class.

Dale Reid and wife of University place visited the latters parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Ladner over Sunday.  Miss Blanche Ladner of Lincoln accompanied them on the trip and paid a visit to the folks here.

Dr. Stivers, Specialist in spinal treatment of chronic and nervous diseases of men, Women and children will be at Mrs. Will Kiburzs residence each week from noon until 2:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - adv  38

The Farmers Union are holding a picnic Tuesday, May 29th in the Ebke grove one mile west of DeWitt on north side of Turkey Creek.  Every body is invited.  Games and amusements with a big basket dinner is the program.  Ball games before and after dinner.

We believe that every organization should have a publicity committee, when publicity is wanted.  As an illustration we just heard that the Volunteer Fireman had a banquet a couple of weeks ago, to which the members of the Village board were invited.  

Clatonia News Items

Miss Naomi Lohmeyer of Lincoln, Nebr., a former resident of this town visited the latter part of the week with friends and relatives.

Elmer Vonderfecht was taken to Lincoln last Wednesday and operated on at one of the hospitals.  He is doing very nicely.

Miss Marie Rohe, who has been living in Omaha for some time was brought to Lincoln last week to one of the hospitals for treatment.

The school play "Her Honor the Mayor" put on last Saturday evening by the Junior Class of the high school, was greeted with a full house and the work done was exceptionally good and the audience was well pleased.  The little folks from the primary room put on a few songs between acts which made a great hit with the audience.

Mrs. Henry Rohop had the misfortune to lose her pocket book containing $57, while on her way to town last Saturday morning.

Mrs. Kyle from Canada arrived Saturday morning to attend the funeral of her brother, Frank Roscoe.

Rev. L. D. Burham, Assistant pastor of the Trinity church of Lincoln will fill the pulpit of the First M. E. Church at this place next Sunday morning, for Rev. Scott, who will preach at the Trinity Church, Lincoln, at the same hour. 

Rev. Hermand, Dist. Supt. of Lincoln held quarterly services at the Salem M. E. Church Sunday evening.

Next Friday being the last day of school for this term, a community picnic will be held and every body is invited to come.

The Night Hawk Orchestra from DeWitt gave a dance in the Clatonia Hall last Wednesday evening which was well attended."

Treasure Chest Thursday - John & Ruth Negley, Not Available in Kodachrome

These "pictures" of my Third Great Grandparents John and Ruth Negley are photocopies of photocopies of I don't know how-many-times-removed from the original sketches.   A fellow researcher sent them to me several years ago and I'm very grateful to have them.  They are probably the best I can hope for.  Photographs may have been against their religion.  I haven't found any mention of a church affiliation for the Negley's until their son Josiah Negley was married in the Methodist church in Illinois, which may have been his wife's church.  John's Great Grandfather, Hans Rudolph Negley, was a member of the Ephrata Cloister in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, a strict religious community.  The Foster family were mostly Methodists.  When John and Ruth married in Pennsylvania, they may have gone with either a Dunkard or Pennsylvania Dutch denomination or possibly Methodist.  They may not have stayed with the same church as they moved to Illinois, then Iowa.

Ruth Foster Negley has half of a chapter devoted to her in the book "The History of the Foster Family", (1902) written by D. I. Foster -- she shares a chapter with her brother Josiah.  Her parents were Richard Lewis Foster and Charity Johnstone.   An exerpt from the book about Ruth: 

"When she was ten years old that "Hog Pen" school house was built and she got some little schooling.  She went to school to "Praying Pascoe" a celebrated teacher of the time who knew much more about using the rod than teaching the rule of three.  Our grandfather, the late Thomas Foster, told the writer many years ago that this man Pascoe would compel one of the pupils to return thanks at noon each day and it was recognized fact that the larger the boy the poorer the thanks.  Ruth Foster grew to girlhood on the mountain, and we are told that even in early girlhood, she evinced an aptitude for caring for the sick, and was the solace of many a sick room."  

"Another thing Ruth Negley could say, she was named for a great aunt, Ruth Foster Lewis, who was born in Massachusetts about 1730 and died in Madison county, Ohio about 1820.  The first female Foster child that our family have any record of." 

Ruth is also said to be an Aunt of Stephen Collins Foster, the song writer who wrote "My Old Kentucky Home", "Oh Susanna" and others, but I haven't found that exact connection yet.

With John I don't have as much success finding his name in print online anywhere.  Better access to land records would be great.  Again, from the book by Foster: 

"John Negley laid a warrant on a piece of land about three miles north of Hopewell, Pa., where he built a house and where the young couple started house-keeping and where several of their children were born.  The writer lived on this old farm from April 1st, 1858, to April 1st, 1867.  About 1850 John Negley and family moved from Broad Top Mountains over into Woodcock Valley, settling on the north bank of the Juniata River about three miles from Saxton, Pa., where they resided until the Autumn of 1863, when they sold out and moved to Buda, Bureau Co., Illinois, where Mrs. Negley had two sisters living, Mrs. Thomas Horton and Mrs. Septimus Horton.  Here the family resided for about ten years, and the Buda people will bear us out when we say that they were splendid people.  Here most of their children were married.

In the spring of 1873 the family again pulled up stakes and this time set their tent in Decatur Co., Iowa, where they resided until death claimed the old people.  Uncle John Negley died December 8th, 1884, aged 75 years, 10 months and 15 days.  Ruth Foster Negley died December 27th, 1895, aged 87 years, 6 months and 23 days.  She was the last child of R. L. Foster and wife to depart this life..."

There is another book that I want to add to my old trunk in the attic someday written by Floyd R. Negley, "Negley, USA History & Genealogy" (1986).  I was given copies of the pages from the book that cover my ancestors.  In this book, Mr. Negley pretty much echoes the same information that D. I. Foster had:  

"John and Ruth started farming near Broadtop in Bedford County, but around 1850 they moved into Woodcock Valley and settled on the north bank of the Juniata River about three miles from Saxton, Pennsylvania.  In the fall of 1863 they sold that property and moved to Buda, Bureau County, Illinois where two of Ruth's sisters were living.  John and Ruth lived there for about ten years and most of their children were married in that area.  In the spring of 1873, the family moved again, this time to Decatur County, Iowa where they resided until their deaths."

Jacob Negley and Phoebe Hale were John's parents.  Jacob lived his entire life in the same area.  Phoebe was born in Virginia, and with her family, escaped to Pennsylvania to avoid Indian wars.  They are buried in St Paul's UCC Church Cemetery, Russellville, PA.

John was a Farmer in census records from 1860-1880, listed as a "Laborer" in 1850. Probably a farm laborer.  He was a few years too old to serve in the Civil War.  His son David served in the 76th Regiment, Co. E, Pennsylvania Infantry. 

John & Ruth were married September 15, 1836 in Bedford County, celebrating 48 years together before John's death.  Seven children were born to them, two sons died in infancy in Pennsylvania.

• David Foster (1837-1917)
• George (1839- died before 1850)
• Susanna (1841-1922)
• Amon (1842- died before 1850)
• Catherine  (1843-1870) 
• Josiah Foster  (1846-1922)
• John Calvin  (1850-1916)

This marker is in the Decatur City Cemetery for John & Ruth.  It was placed many years after their deaths.  I checked visiting their grave off my bucket list this summer.

Tombstone Tuesday - David & Mary Negley

In the Decatur City Cemetery, Decatur, Iowa

David F. Negley (1837-1917)

Mary L. His Wife (1849-1905)

Their children were:

• Elizabeth  (1869-?)
• Harriett  (1872-?)
• Margarett  (1874-1958)
• John Elmer  (1877-1941)
• David Lewis  (1880-1970)
• Thomas Arthur  (1882-1944)
• Clyde Clinton  (1883-1940)
• Rebecca  (1886-?)
• Nettie  (1887-?)
• Burrell  (1890-?)

Friday's Faces from the Past - Ruth's Little Girl

"Ruth's little girl"  [To]  Alice Negley

Ruth is most likely Ruth Negley, daughter of John Calvin & Mary Negley.  She was a first cousin of Alice Negley and 11 years younger.  Ruth married Hiram Andrew Wells and had two daughters, Verda, born in 1906 and Mildred born in 1918.  I think this very stylish little girl would be Verda. 

And then again, I could be wrong.  

There is no photographer's information on the photo.  Looks like it was taken at someone's front door.  Was this taken with a personally owned camera, like a Kodak "Brownie"?  

Tombstone Tuesday - John Calvin & Mary Negley

In the Decatur Cemetery, Decatur, Iowa

John Calvin Negley (1850-1916)

Mary, His Wife (1853-1925)

Their children:

• Corabelle  (1873-1955) married George McClellan Buckingham
• Harry Aaron  (1878-1969) married Nellie Wells
• Etta Susan  (1884-1960) married William Campbell 
• Ruth Ella  (1888-1967) married Andrew Wells 
• John William  (1890-1977) married Laura Akes
• Oliver Benjamin  (1892-1954) married Ethel Kier
• Rose Inez  (1895-1970) married Lester Smith
• Reuben Floyd  (1899-1918) married Clara Miller
• Charles  ( ? ) 

Friday's Faces from the Past - Oliver Negley family

Written on the back of this post card photo is "To Sadie From Oll & Ethel".  "Oll" and Sadie were first cousins, he was 12 years younger than she. 

Oliver Benjamin Negley was the son of John Calvin and Mary Negley and was born June 3, 1892.  He married Ethel Alice Kier December 18, 1912.  They had two daughters, Hazel and Freda.  Hazel was born in 1914 and if that little girl looks about 3 years old, that would mean the photograph was taken about 1917.  Oliver signed his WWI draft registration card on June 7, 1917.  He claimed exemption from draft due to his wife and child, so I don't believe he served (I don't subscribe to Fold3 to check on that).

In the Decatur Cemetery, Decatur, Iowa I found this grave for Oliver and, I assume, his wife.  I can't explain why her name is "Louva H", not "Ethel".  Ethel was with Oliver yet in the 1930 census, but I can't find them at all in 1940.  I don't find any marriage record for Oliver and Louva.   If you know the story, please leave a comment! 

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Mary Smith 1863

Mary Smith

In the name of God Amen

I Mary Smith of Burrillville in the County of Providence and

State of Rhode Island, Widow being weak in body but of sane

mind, in view of my of my approaching dissolution do make this

my last will and Testament in manner following that is to say:

First I give & bequeath to my Nephew Daniel S Sayles son of

Pitts Sayles, my large Silver spoons marked D. S.

Second I give and bequeath to Mary D. Stokes, Daughter of Daniel

S. Shumway twenty five dollars in money.

Third I give & bequeath to James S. Shumway Son of Daniel S.

twenty five Dollars.

Fourth I give and bequeath to Sarah S. Coggswell, Henry H.

Shumway & Louisa R. Shumway, Children of Daniel S. Shumway

Ten dollars each, all the above named legaries are to be paid out of

my personal estate by my executors herein named within one year

after my deceased.

Fifth I give devise & bequeath unto my Nephews Daniel S. Shumway

& unto my Niece Lucy Sayles wife of Pitt Sayles all the rest and

residue of my estate of every kind and wheresoever situate or lying 

equally between them share and share alike to them & their heirs

and assigns forever, they paying out of the same all my just debts 

funeral charges and expenses of settling my estate.

Lastly, I hereby nominate and appoint Daniel S. Shumway and

Lucy Sayles aforenamed sole Executors of this my last Will & Testa-

ment and do hereby revoke all other and former wills by me made

and publish and establish this and this only as my last Will

and Testament.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Burrill-

ville this fifth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand

eight Hundred & Sixty two.

Signed published and and declared by Mary Smith as and for her last 

Will and Testament in our presence who have at her request and in

her presence and in presence of each other hereunto set our names

as Witnesses.

Whipple Walling                          Mary Smith

John A. Field

John Walling

I Mary Smith of Burrillville in the County of Providence &

State of Rhode Island do this 20^th day of May A. D. 1863 make

& publish this codicle to my last Will and testament in manner 

following that is to say.

Whereas in my said Will I have given to my Nephew Daniel S. Shum-

way and Lucy Sayles wife of Pitts Sayles the remainder of my estate

of every kind which I have not named above & given away.  I do hereby 

order and declare and my Will is that portion of my estate which I

give to my Nephew Daniel S. Shumway.  I give devise & bequeath to 

Thomas D. Sayles & his heirs & assigns forever.  I do hereby nominate 

and appoint the said Thomas D. Sayles in connection with Lucy

Sayles to be Executors in lieu of Daniel S. Shumway.

And I hereby order this my codicil to be ammened to and make a

part of my last Will and Testament to all intents and purposes. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Burrillville

this 20^th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun-

dred & Sixty three.

Signed published & declared by Mary Smith as & for her last Will &

 Testament in our presence who have at her request in her presence

& in presence of each other hereunto set our names as Witnesses.

Charles Moore                                                Mary Smith

John Walling

Martha S. Walling

I ordered this Will from SAMPUBCO from a list of Massachusetts Will Testators Index.  It turned out to be the wrong Mary Smith for me.  If this Mary Smith is in your tree, let me know!