Gage County Archives – Nebraska Genealogy

Biography of Hon. L. B Boggs of Filley, Nebraska

Hon. L. B. Boggs. Prominent among those who have assisted in building up the town of Filley is the subject of this sketch, a man of wealth and influence, and one whose natural abilities have won for him a high place among the financiers and business men of this part of the county. His portrait may be seen on the opposite page. He traces his ancestry back to Ireland, where his paternal grandfather, Andrew Boggs, was born, in 1759. Upon immigrating to America he settled in Virginia, and spent the remainder of his life there. James Boggs, the father of … Read more

Biography of John C. Haddan of Wymore

A Biographical and genealogical history of southeastern Nebraska

John C. Haddan, born on July 15, 1840, in Putnam County, Indiana, was a Civil War veteran and prominent resident of Wymore, Gage County, Nebraska. He enlisted in August 1861 in the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry and was honorably discharged in February 1863. Haddan participated in key battles including Winchester and Cedar Mountain. He moved to Nebraska in 1872 after living in Iowa. Married to Mary I. Wymore, he became a notable local figure, owning multiple properties. Active in politics as a Republican, Haddan also served as past commander of Coleman Post No. 115, G.A.R.

Biography of W. H. Richards

W. H. Richards, a prominent attorney in Liberty, Nebraska, was born on August 27, 1853, in Atchison County, Missouri. Admitted to the bar in 1894, he handled diverse legal matters across Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa. Richards partnered with his brother, L. S. Richards, in the real estate business, with significant holdings in several states. Another brother, J. T. Richards, was a successful pump and windmill dealer in Liberty. A long-time Nebraska resident since 1859, W. H. Richards was also a co-owner of the Central Hotel in Liberty. Married to Minnie F. Thorp in 1900, they had one daughter, Wilma Ruth in 1904.

Biography of Robert G. Gilmore of Beatrice

Robert G. Gilmore, a retired farmer in Beatrice, Nebraska, and Civil War veteran, was born on July 28, 1839, in Venango County, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in Company D, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on August 17, 1861, and fought in significant battles including Antietam and Gettysburg. Wounded and captured at the Battle of Spottsylvania, he was later paroled and promoted to sergeant. After the war, Gilmore married Lucy M. Clough in 1867 and moved to Gage County, Nebraska, in 1876, farming until his retirement in 1892. Active in the G.A.R., he was a charter member and commander of the Cortlandt Post and a member of Rawlins Post No. 35 in Beatrice.

Biography of Thomas Copeland of Diller

Thomas Copeland, born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1833, served as the mayor of Diller, Jefferson County, Nebraska. A Civil War veteran who served in the Twenty-first Indiana Light Artillery, he moved to Nebraska in 1880 after stints in Indiana and Iowa. Copeland married twice and fathered six children. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Odd Fellows, and was active in the Methodist Episcopal church. His political career included serving as mayor and on the board of trustees in Diller.

Biography of William H. Allvord of Highland Township

William H. Allvord, born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in 1842, was a distinguished Civil War veteran and pioneer of Gage County, Nebraska. He was one of five brothers who served in the war, three of whom were wounded. Enlisting first with the Second Pennsylvania Infantry in 1861, Allvord later re-enlisted with the Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He endured imprisonment at Andersonville and was severely emaciated by the experience. After the war, Allvord settled in Nebraska, where he farmed in Highland Township and engaged in public service. He was married to Martha Buchanan, and they had two daughters, one of whom survived to adulthood.

Biography of Hon. P. H. James of Highland Township

Hon. P. H. James, born July 4, 1842, in Pike County, Ohio, was a Civil War veteran and pioneer of Highland township, Gage County, Nebraska. Son of Samuel and Catherine James, he enlisted in the 26th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861, serving until 1865. In 1871, he moved to Nebraska, initially settling in Johnson County before establishing a 320-acre homestead in Gage County. An influential farmer and Republican, he served as postmaster and state legislator. Married to Catherine Keppler in 1866, they had six children. James passed away leaving a legacy of public service and community development.

Biography of John Frederick of Hooker Township

John Frederick, born February 11, 1847, in Württemberg, Germany, was a successful farmer in Hooker Township, Gage County, Nebraska. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1854, settling in Maryland before moving to Illinois and Missouri. At fifteen, he enlisted as a drummer boy in the Eighty-second Illinois Infantry during the Civil War, participating in numerous significant battles and enduring sixty days in Libby Prison. After the war, he moved to Nebraska in 1870, purchasing land and gradually amassing 320 acres of well-improved farmland. On November 12, 1878, he married Elizabeth Gillett, and they had nine children. Active in the community, John was a Republican, a member of the Grand Army post at Adams, and attended the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Biography of James E. Doyle of Liberty Township

James E. Doyle, born in 1829 in Zanesville, Ohio, was a respected resident of Liberty Township, Gage County, Nebraska, and a Civil War veteran. He enlisted in November 1861 with Company E, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving honorably for three years. After the war, he resumed his trade as a wagon and carriage maker in Bloomfield, Indiana, before moving to a farm near Bloomfield in 1867. In 1885, he relocated to Gage County, Nebraska, where he successfully farmed 120 acres. Doyle married Mary Weiser, who died in 1856, leaving one son, Martin. In 1861, he married Sarah Bender, with whom he had several children. A staunch Republican, Doyle served six years as justice of the peace and was active in the G.A.R., serving as post commander and adjutant. He was also a long-time Mason, affiliated with Lodge No. 65.

Biography of William R. Chaney of Adams

William R. Chaney, born October 24, 1840, in Greene County, Illinois, was a well-known citizen of Adams, Gage County, Nebraska. An Irish descendant, his parents, James and Sarah Chaney, were pioneers in Greene County. William was raised in Mason County, Illinois, and enlisted in the Civil War in 1864, serving in the 133rd Illinois Infantry. He moved to Gage County, Nebraska, in 1880, becoming a prosperous resident. Chaney married Pamelia Finley in 1864, and they shared a life for forty years. A Democrat, he was active in the G.A.R., the Baptist church, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.