(Photo)

An Early Settler Called

Eliza Anne Meyers was born in Jennings County, Indiana, Nov. 18, 1844 and passed away Thursday, April 5 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Austin Renshaw at the ripe old age of eighty-three years, four months and eighteen days.

She was married to William Taylor, December 21, 1866 in Illinois and in 1869 they moved to Iowa and in 1875 coming to this county. In 1877 they purchased a farm at Rose Hill adjoining the farm now owned by the son John Taylor and this land remained her property as long as she lived.

To this union six children were born; Edwin, Hattie, John, Alta, now Mrs. Austin Renshaw, Grace and Will. Of these Hattie and Grace passed away in 1877, Hattie at the age of eight years and Grace in infancy and Edwin passed away in 1896.

The husband passed away in 1880 and for six years Mrs. Taylor struggled alone, keeping her family together and clearing the home of a debt that was still due at the death of her husband.

In 1886 she married Mr. Schuyler Hurd and they lived happily together until March 27, 1913 when he passed on. Since that time she has made her home for the most part with her daughter, Mrs. Austin Renshaw, who resides west of Blair on the Orum road.

About five years ago she suffered a paralytic stroke and since that time her health has gradually failed her and after an illness of over seven months during which time she was confined to her bed she passed away.

Mrs. Hurd was one of the best known of the early settler mothers and during the years of pioneering hardships she made many friends by her kindness toward her neighbors and these old friends never forgot her.

She was a women of sterling character, a charter member of the Rose Hill Methodist Church and died in the faith leaving a memory of her good deed and her kindness to others as a bright spot in the pathway of life.

The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at two o’clock from the Rose Hill Church with Rev. Norlin of Herman and Rev. Bader of Blair officiating and interment was made in the Rose Hill Cemetery.

She leaves to mourn her two sons, John Taylor of this county and William Taylor of Cheyenne County and one daughter, Mrs. Austin Renshaw also of the county, besides thirteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

The out of the county relatives in attendance at the funeral were the son, Wm. Taylor already mentioned, and two nephews T. C. Spiker of the western part of the state and Sam Spiker of Long Pine, Nebr.

#2- Published in the Pilot April, 11 1928

(Photo) Pioneer Woman Passes Over

Mrs. S. E. Hurd Died at the Home of her Daughter, Mrs. Austin Renshaw

Funeral Was Held Sunday

Mrs. Schuyler E. Hurd reached the end of life’s road at 3:30 last Thursday afternoon, April 5th, at the home of her daughter, Ms. Austin Renshaw, following a long illness, she having been bedfast for over seven months.

The funeral was held at the Rose Hill Methodist church, of which she was the last surviving charter member. Rev. J. Norlin, of Herman, is the present pastor, but the roads were so bad Rev. Carl G. Bader went out from here to conduct the funeral service.

Burial was in the Rose Hill cemetery by the side of her late husband, whose death occurred March 27th, 1913. Despite the cold weather and the terrible condition of the roads, due to the heavy snow storm Friday, there was a large attendance of friends and relatives and the floral offerings showed something of the high esteem in which Mrs. Hurd was held by all who knew her.

Eliza Ann Myers was born in Jennings county, Indiana, Nov. 18, 1844, so she was 83 years of age at her last birthday. When she was yet a girl the family removed to Illinois, where she was married to William Taylor Dec. 21st, 1866.

To this union six children were born, Edwin A., died at the age of 11 years, Hattie G. died at the age of 8 and Grace A. died in infancy. The surviving are John H. Taylor, of Rose Hill, Alta M., Mrs. Austin Renshaw, who lives west of Blair, and William M. Taylor, of Huntsman, Cheyenne county, this state. There are 13 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

In 1869 the family as it was at that time moved to Lucas county, Iowa, and came to this county in 1875, settling on a farm near Rose Hill in 1877, which Mrs. Hurd owned at the time of her death, her grandson, Harold Taylor, now lives there.

Mr. Taylor died in 1880 and on March 17th, 1886 Mrs. Taylor was married to Schuyler E. Hurd, whose death occurred March 27th 1913, after living happily together (rest missing)

The following are pieces of articles – no sources were listed:

Article #1

While Mrs. Hurd wasn’t a territorial pioneer she came here shortly after that date, 1875, the very year of the grasshopper plague. Their firs crop was absolutely eaten up and Mr. Taylor went to Fremont and worked at his trade as broom maker to help tide them over until another crop could be raised.

Those who live at a distance, who came to attend the funeral, were Will Taylor and Mr. and Mrs. Tad Spiker, of Cheyenne county, Sam Spiker, jr., of Long Pine, Neb.

Article #2

But three years after they settled on the 80 acre farm near Rose Hill Mr. Taylor died, leaving her with a mortgaged farm and four children to raise. She was equal to the occasion and managed the business so successfully that the mortgage was paid off and the children had a home there until they were married and settled on places of their own.

Mrs. Hurd was sturdy and robust practically all of her life and had lived on a farm continuously from the moment of her birth to the day of her death. She loved the farm and wasn’t afraid of work in any capacity.

Mrs. Hurd was the last of a family of five children. Her father died before his youngest child was born, so her mother had much to go through with that she did herself in after years. He oldest brother conscripted by the Confederates and was killed in the very first engagement he went into in the Civil war. Another brother Richard, escaped through the picket lines and walked all the way from Labelle, Mo, to Terre Haute, (rest missing)

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