AARON BOVEE PASSES AWAY

Aaron Bovee, for many years a resident of Washington county, passed away on March 20th, at the hospital in Tekamah.

Nicholas Aaron Bovee was born in Fairfield, Illinois Jan. 17, 1841. Was married August 24, 1867, to Miss Anna M. Betzer. This couple were parents of nine children, six of whom survive them. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. F., 7th Illinois Infantry and served in the Civil war until its close, nearly four years. He was taken prisoner and was in Andersonville prison several months.

Shortly after his marriage he moved to Iowa, and in 1882 came to Washington county, making Blair his home for a number of years, occupying the property now owned by H.J. Raver, on east Washington street, where his wife died, April 3, 1906.

A number of years ago his eyesight began failing him and of late years he has been totally blind. He had made his home at the Soldiers Home, at Burkett, Nebr., for the past two years, and recently went to Tekamah to visit his children, and was in usual health up to a couple of days before his death, when he had a very severe attack of stomach trouble which resulted fatally.

The remains were brought to Blair on Wednesday morning, accompanied by several members of his family, and the funeral held at the Methodist church, conducted by Rev. D.W. McGregor, of Tekamah, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery, by the side of his wife.

The surviving children are Mrs. John Loftis, Mrs. William Gilliam, Mrs. Mae Osborne, R.H. Bovee, of Tekamah, Mrs. Lee Fletcher, of Bushnell, Nebr., and W.J. Bovee of Green River, Wyoming, all of whom were present at the funeral.

Article #2

N.A. BOVEE, WELL KNOWN PIONEER SETTLER AND SOLDIER DIES Nicholas A. Bovee, one of the best known pioneer settlers in the county passed away at the home of relatives in Tekamah on last Monday.

He was born in Fairfield, Ill., in 1841 and was married to Anna M. Betzer, Aug. 29, 1867. To this union nine children were born, six of whom are still living.

Soon after his marriage he moved to Marion county, Iowa and later in 1882 to Nebraska, settling on a farm up near Vacoma where he took an active part in all neighborhood affairs being an active worker in the Methodist church, then a strong organization at that place and of which organization he had been a member since early manhood.

His wife passed away April 3, 1905, and since that time he has made his home most of the time with his children, excepting the last three years which time he has spent in the soldier’s home.

Mr. Bovee was a Civil war veteran, enlisting in Co. E. Seventh Ill., Volunteer Infantry on July 25, 1861 and served through the entire war, being mustered out on July 8, 1865. He saw much active service, being captured at the battle of Altoona Pass and served five months in a rebel prison.

The funeral services were held in the Methodist church of this city at 10:30 a.m. today, Rev. D.W. Macgregor of Tekamah officiating and the interment was made in the Blair cemetery under the auspices of the Masonic order of which he was a member.

Article #3

Pilot, March 22, 1916

N.A. Bovee, whose familiar face with its long flowing beard was so well-known in this city, died at the hospital in Tekamah of a stomach tumor at 5:45 Monday morning. He had been sick but about two weeks, having come over from the Soldier’s Home at Burkett for a visit with his daughter, Mrs. Wm. Gilliam. The body was brought to this city on the early morning train and the funeral held at the Methodist church, which he had attended so long, Rev. D.W. McGregor, of Tekamah, officiating.

Nicholas A. Bovee was born in Fairfield, Ill., Jan. 17th, 1841, and was therefore just past his 75th birthday. On July 25th, 1861 he enlisted in the 8th Ill. Infantry and served in the Army of the Tennessee and during almost the whole of the Civil War, being mustered out July 8th, 1865. He was captured at the battle of Altoona Pass and served five months in a rebel prison, a few days of that time being at the famous pen at Andersonville. He fought in most of the important engagements of this great army, at Shiloh, at Corinth, at Ft. Donaldson, Petersburg, etc. He was married to Miss Anna M. Betzer in Fairfield, Ill., Aug. 24th, 1867, moving to Iowa shortly after this important event. They came to this county in 1882 settling near Vacoma, which was their home until after the death of Mrs. Bovee on April 3rd, 1905. Mr. Bovee made his home in this city for several years, going to the Soldier’s Home at Burkett about three years ago.

He enjoyed the life with his old comrades and only a few weeks ago we published a letter from him telling how kind everyone was to the old “boys.” Mr. Bovee was a good soldier during the great war in which he took part, and he was also a good soldier in the long battle of life. He joined the Methodist church in early manhood and lived a clean, upright Christian life if anyone ever did. He was a member of the Masonic lodge at Herman and of the G.A.R. at this place. He is survived by four daughters and two sons, Mrs. John Loftis, of Tekamah, Mrs. Lee Fletcher, of Bushnell, Neb., Raymond H. Bovee, of Tekamah, W.G. Bovee, of Green River, Wyo., Mrs. Wm. Gilliam, of Tekamah, and Mrs. May Osborn, of Tekamah.

Article #4

Blair Democrat, March 23, 1916

CIVIL WAR VETERAN ANSWERS COMMANDER’S CALL

Nicholas A. Bovee died at Tekamah on March 20th, after a few week’s illness, from tumor of the stomach. The body was brought to this city on Wednesday where services were held at the Methodist church, Rev. McGregor officiating, after which the remains were buried in the Blair cemetery with Masonic honors.

The deceased was born in Fairfield, Ill., on Jan. 17, 1841, and was married to Anna M. Betzer in that place on Aug. 24, 1866. The couple came to Nebraska in 1882. Mr. Bovee went to the soldiers’ home, where he spent three years, after which he made his home with relatives in Tekamah.

The deceased leaves one sister in Wisconsin, and six children of a family of nine. Mrs. Myrtle Loftis of Tekamah, Mrs. Lee Fletcher of Bushnell, Nebr., Mrs. Wm. Betune and Mrs. Mary Osborn of Tekamah, and W.S. Bovee of Green River, Wyo. Nicholas A. Bovee was a member of the Masonic lodge at Herman, and the G.A.R. and the Methodist church.

During the Civil War, the deceased belonged to the 7th Illinois Infantry attached to the army of the Tennessee. Having fought at the battles of Ft. Donaldson, Shiloh and Corinth, he was captured at Altoona Pass and served two months as a prisoner of war, some of the period being in the now historic Andersonville prison.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~