Gage County Archives – Page 2 of 2

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

A Biographical and genealogical history of southeastern Nebraska

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 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 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 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 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 John C. Haddan of Wymore

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 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