FAMED PIONEER SCOUT EXPIRES WHILE HERE ON LECTURE VISIT

HAD BEEN VISITOR IN BLAIR FOR A MONTH

OLD-TIME INDIAN FIGHTER WAS CELEBRATED FIGURE OF THE OLD WEST; FOUGHT WITH CUSTER; WAS STEPFATHER OF “CALAMITY JANE”

“Parson Bob,” the picturesque pioneer, Indian fighter and pony express rider, died in Blair at Dana college early yesterday (Wednesday) morning of heart disease. He was 87 years old.

He was found dead in his room on the third floor of the men’s hall at Dana by Alfred Petersen, a student, who has been in company with the aged pioneer during most of his visit here, collaborating with him in writing an extensive history of the Indian tribes of the middlewest.

Petersen missed the “parson” Wednesday morning when he failed to show up in the dining hall at the regular breakfast hour. After eating, Petersen went up to Parson Bob’s room, and found him lying dead on the floor.

The famous old pioneer, his name perpetuated in the history of the Old West, had been in Blair for just one month making a series of lectures to Dana students of history and to the pupils in the city schools. He had been brought here by the Dana historical society. On October 30 he had conducted an expedition to the site of old Fort Atkinson, near Fort Calhoun.

Only Tuesday Parson Bob made two addresses before Central school students.

Wednesday he was to have started on a new lecture tour under the sponsorship of Lucius Pryor, well-known Council Bluffs concert manager. His first lecture was scheduled for Wednesday in a Council Bluffs high school.

Two weeks ago Parson Bob willed his collection of historical objects and his writings on early Midwest history to Dana college. President Nelson said Wednesday that the collection would be gratefully accepted by the institution.

Born on Goat Island in the Missouri river in 1846, he was christened Phil R. Landon. At an early age his parents died and he was adopted by an Indian tribe, remaining with them until 14 years old, when he returned to the white people at a place near Florence.

From that time he led an adventurous life. For over a decade he rode the pony express, and several times was on the receiving end of Indian arrows. Always, though, he was fortunate in escaping death, but even then was reported dead at three times. Once he returned to read his own obituary printed in a weekly paper.

In 1873 he joined Gen. Custer’s band of Indian fighters, but left just three days before the regiment was massacred by the redskins. He was a close friend of the general and of Buffalo Bill.

He was the step-father of “Calamity Jane” of wild-west fame, having raised her after her mother was found dying. Incidentally he gained his nick-name by preaching the sermon at the mother’s funeral.

Parson Bob will be laid to rest in the beautiful memorial plot erected in his honor in 1931 by the Boy Scouts of America. The grave is located on the old Oregon Trail near Edgar. A fence with a single gate surrounds the grave, and the parson kept the key to the gate-lock. It was found in his possession Wednesday.

The body this (Thursday) noon was awaiting word on funeral arrangements from relatives and friends outstate before shipment from Blair.

There was no information as to the exact date of his death, or which newspaper this account was printed.

#2-Published 23 Nov., 1933 - The Enterprise

“PARSON BOB” CALLED WED.

Old Soldier Scout Under General Custer, Friend of Buffalo Bill Cody. A Noted Character.

PROBABLY LAST OF THE SCOUTS

Philip Robert Landon, renown in the lore of the Old West as “Parson Bob” and last of the contract scouts who protected caravans along the Oregon trail from depredations of Indians, died unexpectedly of a heart attack at Dana college early Wednesday morning. He came to Blair a month ago as a guest of the Dana Historical society and had been a resident of the men’s dormitory, since lecturing, preparing further historical accounts of the west and leading explorations to points of historic interest hereabouts. Two weeks ago “Parson Bob” had suffered a severe heart attack, but he had rallied and had again become a familiar figure on Blair streets.

Landon was born on “Goat Island”, in the Missouri river near Decatur in 1846. Tragedy entered his life early with the death of his parents, and he was taken by an Indian tribe and reared as one of their own, learning the language and customs of the redskins. When he was 11 the Indians decided he should return to his own people, and he crossed to the Iowa side of the Missouri and followed a seldom traveled trail southward.

The youth finally reached a point on the Iowa shore opposite the Mormon village at Florence, and crossed the stream. Dirty from days of travel, wearing clothing made from animal skins, able to speak little English, Philip finally made known his plight and a Mormon woman arranged for him to bathe and gave him the first cotton clothing he had ever worn.

He continued southward, following the Mormon trail from Florence to the Platte river. Hailing one of the covered wagon caravans, he rode west to Fort Laramie where for three years he worked as a roustabout, currying horses, peeling potatoes, and doing other menial tasks.

Later Landon became a contract scout, entering the service of private individuals transporting merchandise westward. For 14 years he accompanied the caravans as a guard from the Nebraska line to Fort Casper, Wyo, also serving as a pony express rider.

There were numerous skirmishes with Indians and Landon was wounded several times, but it was later, while serving with Custer and others in the Big Horn country in South Dakota, that he received the most serious of his 11 injuries from Indian arrows and a rifle bullet in his knee.

Following service on the Oregon Trail, Landon went to the Black Hills, serving under General L. W. Colby, who connected him with Custer. On June 15, 1876, Landon relates, he and several others were ordered to drive into the fort all straggling Indians. He was wounded June 17 in an Indian skirmish and taken to a hospital. On June 25 occurred the massacre of Custer and his command by the Sioux, an engagement “Parson Bob” missed because of his disability.

Landon continued to serve in the Big Horn country until 1889, then retired to a less adventurous life. For 34 years he lived at Sterling, Neb., and since the death of his wife two years ago, he had traveled missions such as that which brought him to Dana college.

To one of the Indian customs of his youth he adhered, wearing moccasins because they were more comfortable than shoes.

Landon, member of the national council, Boy Scouts of America, will be buried at the foot of a memorial dedicated to him by that organization near Edgar, Nebraska. Erected in 1931, the marker is surrounded by a fence with only one gate and the key to this gate was always carried by the pioneer westerner. Two weeks ago he had displayed it remarking “It’ll be a long time before it is used if my luck holds out.”

Landon was an intimate friend of Custer, Colby Buffalo Bill and others whose names are written in the history of the west, and according to his own account, he supervised the upbringing of Calamity Jane from the time she was eighteen months old until she was 13. He disclaimed any connection with her after the time she went to Deadwood where she had such a colorful career.

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

FindaGrave #39227156