Families of Merrick County Nebraska Archives

The Abbott Family of Merrick County, Nebraska

A History of Merrick County, Nebraska to 1895

Jacob W. Abbott and Elizabeth Abbott, our great-grandparents, settled in Chapman, Nebraska, in 1877. Born in Ohio in 1845, Jacob fought in the Civil War and later farmed in multiple states before homesteading in Kansas and returning to Nebraska. Jacob and Elizabeth had eleven children, whose descendants mainly remained in Nebraska, many involved in farming and local businesses. The Abbott family endured the typical hardships of early settlers, including the brutal 1888 blizzard. Their story reflects the broader historical and personal narratives of pioneering American families, dealing with frontier challenges and contributing to community development. The details sourced from C.E. Persinger’s 1981 history of Merrick County portray a vivid picture of their legacy.

William Abel of Merrick County, Nebraska

William Abel, my great-grandfather, was born on February 26, 1826. He was the son of Lyman and Sally Abel. He was married to Esther Stanley, on September 27, 1853, in Damascus, Ohio, at the Quaker Meeting Hall. A copy of their original marriage certificate has been given to the Merrick County Historical Museum. Esther was the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Stanley. They spent the first year of their married life in Leeds County, Johnstown District, Canada West. Their intense desire for a better life brought them to Benton County, Iowa, in 1854. They lived in that area until 1879, … Read more

Turner L. Abel of Merrick County, Nebraska

Turner L. Abel, born in 1865 in Iowa, was a Quaker minister managing five churches and deeply committed to community building in Merrick County, Nebraska. With his wife Lizzie, they lived primarily on their farm, briefly attempting wheat farming in Nebraska before resettling back in Iowa. Turner was instrumental in founding Nebraska Central College, now a high school. The couple had four children, enduring significant hardships including the early deaths of two. After Turner’s death in 1917, Lizzie survived by taking in boarders and baking pies until her death in 1958. Both are remembered for their resilience and contributions to their community.

Harvey D. Abel of Merrick County, Nebraska

Harvey D. Abel and Edith Peterson Abel were born in 1897, married in 1917, and lived mostly on a Nebraska farm until 1945 before moving to Central City. Harvey worked for a seed corn company and was innovator in farming techniques including hybrid corn and irrigation practices that sustained crops during severe droughts and depressions of the 1930s. Active in community and Masonic Lodge, Harvey also supported rural electrification. Edith enjoyed a prominent role in the Eastern Star and Job’s Daughters. The couple had four children, contributing to their local community before passing away in the early 1960s, leaving a lasting legacy through family and community achievements, buried in Central City, Nebraska.

Stewart L. Abel of Merrick County, Nebraska

Stewart L. Abel recounts his life’s journey, beginning with his birth in Central City, Nebraska, in 1924. He attended District #50 and later married the daughter of a woman who once cared for his father. He transitioned from farming to a fulfilling career in life insurance in Columbus, Nebraska. Abel reflects on the economic shifts over the decades, the deep roots his family has in Merrick County, and his aspirations for future generations preserving the land. His narrative is enriched by vivid memories of his schooling days, community challenges, and significant familial connections that shaped him and his community’s history, tying his life story closely to the broader economic and historical changes observed in his lifetime.

Robert Adams of Merrick County, Nebraska

Robert Adams, son of David and Matilda Adams, was born in Ohio, the fourth in a family of nine children. He received his education mainly in Ohio schools, later moving with his parents to Bureau County, Illinois. Mr. Adams was united in marriage to Amanda J. Sill of Pennsylvania, and later of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Adams, with three small children, came to Nebraska in a covered wagon, camping out along the way. They homesteaded 160 acres, as well as paying a good-sized sum for land in 14-15-7. A rather wide strip of land on the north side of this … Read more

John Downing Adams of Merrick County, Nebraska

John Downing Adams was born in Ohio in 1842 and moved to Illinois with his family around 1850, where he later fought in the Civil War. After being wounded, he returned to Illinois, marrying Mary Elizabeth Lafferty in 1867 and having three children there before moving to Merrick County, Nebraska, in 1872. They traveled by covered wagon and initially lived in a dugout. In Nebraska, they had six more children. John was a skilled carpenter and farmer. After Mary’s death in 1915 and John’s in 1922, both were buried in Palmer, Nebraska. The couple’s many descendants remained largely in Nebraska. Throughout his life, John built a legacy via his family and contributions to community infrastructure.

Heinrich Ahrens Family of Merrick County, Nebraska

Heinrich Christopher Ahrens was born December 5, 1839, in Hanover, Germany. He married Magdalena Dierks on November 19, 1868, in Liverpool, England, en route to the United States. She was born on November 18, 1847, in Holstein, Germany. They settled near Yorkville, Illinois, where they lived for three years before traveling by horse to Shelby County, Missouri, where they remained through the winter. This trip took three weeks. In February of 1872, they homesteaded in Lake Township, Hall County, Nebraska. Their children were Alida Christine, who later married Frank Niemoth and lived in Merrick County; Helene, who died at the … Read more

William Alexander Family of Merrick County, Nebraska

William Bruce Alexander married Daisy Florence Rose in 1905 in Tazwell County. They had a son who died in infancy. Daisy died in 1908, and William moved to Omaha, remarried in 1910 to Emma Vonder Lieth, and had five more children. Their family moved several times, predominantly lived in Nebraska, and William worked in various jobs before resuming farming. He died in 1918. Emma managed after his death, moving with children and ultimately died in 1936. Their children had varied careers and lives, continuing the family lineage in Nebraska. This history traces the Alexander family’s multigenerational saga starting from the early 20th century, depicting transitions in residence, occupations, and significant life events.

Axel E. Anderson Family of Merrick County, Nebraska

Axel E. Anderson, originally from Sweden, settled in the U.S. with his family and later married Clara Grahn in Nebraska. They moved across various farms, finally residing in Merrick County. Active in local governance, Axel contributed notably until his health declined in 1920, leading to his death in 1928. He and Clara had four daughters who married and gave them twelve grandchildren. After both Axel and Clara’s passing, their farm continued in the family under their daughter Ruth, who lived in Merrick County for over 77 years. This brief spans Axel’s immigration, family developments, and local engagements, reflecting his community contributions and family legacy.