Nemaha County Archives – Nebraska Genealogy

Biography of Robert Wilkinson Furnas

A Biographical and genealogical history of southeastern Nebraska

Robert Wilkinson Furnas, born May 5, 1824, in Miami County, Ohio, was a distinguished figure in Nebraska’s history. Orphaned by cholera in 1832, he was raised by his grandfather. Furnas apprenticed in tinsmithing and printing before venturing into publishing, founding the Nebraska Advertiser in 1856. A Civil War veteran, he organized Indian regiments and served in key battles. Post-war, he engaged in politics, agriculture, and education, becoming Nebraska’s governor in 1872. Married to Mary E. McComas, they had eight children. Furnas contributed significantly to state agriculture, education, and veterans’ affairs.

Biography of Dr. Charles F. Stewart

Dr. Charles F. Stewart, born August 28, 1832, in Switzerland County, Indiana, is Nebraska’s longest-serving physician, active since 1857. He moved to Nemaha County in the Nebraska Territory, where he built a distinguished career. Dr. Stewart served as an acting assistant surgeon during the Civil War and was superintendent of the Nebraska Hospital for the Insane. He spent seven years on the state board of health and over twenty years as a U.S. examining surgeon for pensions. Despite his age, Dr. Stewart remained actively engaged in his medical practice past 1900.

Biography of Henry Harmon

Henry Harmon, born February 4, 1823, in East Tennessee, was a retired farmer residing in Auburn, Nebraska. Moving to Illinois in 1828, he assisted his gunsmith father, Nathan Harmon, before marrying Margaret Handley in 1849. The couple initially farmed in Missouri, then relocated to Nemaha County, Nebraska, in 1855. There, they established a homestead and eventually owned extensive farmland. Harmon faced health challenges in later years, including the loss of his leg, yet remained active and devoted to his family and community. A Democrat, he held various township offices and was a member of the Christian church.

Biography of George E. Dye

George E. Dye, born August 6, 1840, in Yates County, New York, was a farmer and merchant in Auburn, Nebraska. His father, William Dye, was a Baptist minister born around 1803 in Madison County, New York, and died in 1865 in Madison, Wisconsin. William’s father, John Dye, originated from Rhode Island and died in New York circa 1843. George served in the Union Army during the Civil War, and in 1869, he moved to Nebraska. In 1866, he married Mary E. Grant, and they had five children. George was active in the Grand Army of the Republic and various local organizations.

Biography of Austin C. Mutz

Austin C. Mutz, a prominent nurseryman in Auburn, Nebraska, was born on February 18, 1850, in Edinburg, Indiana. His grandparents emigrated from Germany, initially settling in Pennsylvania before moving to Ohio. John Mutz, Austin’s father, married Phoebe Williams in 1847 and relocated to Nebraska in 1857. Austin received his education in Cass County, Nebraska, and pursued farming and the nursery business, establishing a successful nursery in Auburn. He married Mary Seybolt in 1884, and although they lost their only biological child, they adopted a son, Otto. Austin was active in educational matters and politics, identifying as a Bryan Democrat.

Biography of John Hamilton Shook

John Hamilton Shook, born on July 31, 1838, in Carlinville, Illinois, is a notable figure in Auburn, Nebraska, known for his varied life experiences, including Civil War service and frontier activities. His great-grandfather emigrated from Germany, and his father, James Shook, moved the family to Illinois. John and his brother William arrived in Nebraska in 1859, initially engaging in prairie farming. John served in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865, participating in major battles like Pittsburg Landing and Vicksburg. Post-war, he and his brother ran a successful sawmilling business. John married Ella Pike in 1870, and they had five children. He held several public offices, including postmaster and county commissioner.

Biography of William Gaede

William Gaede, born November 28, 1861, in Germany, is the cashier of the Nemaha County Bank in Auburn, Nebraska. His parents, Dietrich and Elizabeth (Pagels) Gaede, emigrated from near Berlin, Germany, to Nebraska in 1870, settling in Peru, Nemaha County. The family invested in property in Nebraska and Kansas. William, who attended the State Normal School at Peru, managed his brother-in-law H. M. Mears’ business in Peru before entering banking in 1892. In 1901, he co-founded the Nemaha County Bank, where he has served as cashier since its opening in 1902. William and his sister, Lena Mears, reside together in Auburn.

Biography of George T. Dustin of Auburn

George T. Dustin, born September 11, 1844, in Dubois County, Indiana, was a respected liveryman in Auburn, Nebraska. His father, Timothy Dustin, died before George’s birth. His mother, Louisa T. (Combs) Dustin, relocated the family to Bureau County, Illinois, in 1846, and later to Peru, Nebraska, in 1860. George supported his family from a young age, taking various jobs including working as a teamster. He spent four years in Montana hauling freight and later turned to breaking prairie in Nemaha County. In 1874, he started a livery business in Peru and eventually moved to Auburn in 1890, expanding his operations significantly. He married Hulda Capwell in 1880, and they had seven children. George was active in local politics as a Republican and was involved in the Masonic fraternity.

Biography of Samuel L. Caldwell of Auburn

Samuel L. Caldwell, a prominent merchant in Auburn, Nebraska, was born in Ross County, Ohio, on November 26, 1849, to Allen and Ellen J. Caldwell. Allen Caldwell, a pioneer in Ohio, was born on March 24, 1816, and was the son of Crawford Caldwell, an Irish immigrant. Samuel spent his early years on his father’s farm and later pursued education at the National Normal University in Lebanon, Ohio. He taught school and studied law, being admitted to the bar in 1879. Samuel moved to Auburn in 1884, where he became a school principal and later a police judge. In 1887, he married Mary A. Wood, who successfully ran a millinery and dry goods store in Auburn. Samuel Caldwell was active in community service, notably as an Odd Fellow, and served multiple terms as a police judge.

Biography of Robert C. Boyd of Auburn

Robert C. Boyd, assistant cashier of the Carson National Bank of Auburn, Nebraska, was born in Upton, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on October 25, 1866. He gained his education through practical experience, initially working in his father’s store before moving to Nebraska in 1884 to clerk at his brother’s bank. Boyd was promoted to assistant cashier in 1891. He and his brother played a key role in establishing Auburn’s electric plant in 1901 and have been active in real estate. Boyd married Lillie Angle on April 24, 1890, and they have three children. A dedicated Mason and Republican, Boyd has also served as city treasurer for eight years.