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Mustered Out

Henry H. Magill was born Aug. 5th, 1838, at Marshall, Michigan and spent his boyhood days near Honey Creek, Wis. When a young man he was one of Uncle Sam’s first mail carriers, covering his route on horseback.

He served in the Civil war about four years. During the war he was married to Sarah Jane Cranshaw of Wis. In December, 1867, they moved to Omaha, which at that time had but a very few buildings. They spent the winter there, where Mr. Magill was employed by the U.P. Railway Co., as a workman in their shop.

In the spring of 1868 he with his cousin, James Van Valin, walked out to his homestead in Grant township, Washington county and built their first shanty, while so doing they turned their wagon box upside down and slept under it. He hauled his lumber with ox teams.

Blair was not in existence those days. The big creek at that time was only a s mall ditch one could step across.

As the slow oxen team was the only mean s of transportation he used to walk to Cuming City for his mail and groceries.

His wife and baby boy made their first trip from Omaha to Cuming City by stage coach and were me there by Mr. Magill.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Magill were among the pioneers who were visited by the grasshopper plague, but like others, they lived through it.

The Indians were very numerous and would frighten the women folks by looking in the windows.

Mr. Magill was one of the first to own a team of horses in that vicinity and of course in those days felt highly elated over the possession.

They labored continuously on the homestead for many years together, raising their family. Mrs. Magill passed away, Jan. 18, 1914, after a lingering illness. Since her death he has made his home with his children leaving the homestead about 8 years ago.

He resided on the homestead 52 years, which was in his possession at the time of his death, which occurred May 11, 1928, at Leavenworth, Kans., Soldier’s Home Sanitarium

Article #2 Pilot 16 May 1928

Henry H. McGill was born near Mitchell, Mich., Aug., 5th 1838 and passed away in the National Military Home, Leavenworth, Kans., May 11, 1928 at the age of 89 years 9 months and 6 days. During his boyhood days his parents with his eight brothers and sisters moved to Honey Creek, Wis., where he lived until Civil war days, when the call came for volunteers, he was one of the first to enlist for service in the Union army. He was a member of Company B, 47th Wisconsin infantry regiment, in which company he rose to the rank of first sergeant. His regiment was stationed with the army of the Cumberland under Generals Hooker, Rosecrans and Thomas and took part in the battles of Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. After three years steady service with the infantry, Comrade McGill received an honorable discharge and returned home. But patriotic blood ran too strong in his veins. He soon entered company F, of the fourth Wisconsin Cavalry. Campaigns then carried him into Confederate States. He fought under General Banks along the Red river, of Louisiana and later personally helped out with the huge chains across the lower Mississippi just prior to the taking of New Orleans. In ’64 he was transferred to General Sherman’s army at Chatanooga and went on that famous march with Sherman, February 9, 1865 he returned to Wisonsin on a furlough and there married Sarah J. Cranshaw, of Honey Creek, Wis. He then went back to the army and remained until dismissed after the Grand Review at Washington, D.C., May 1865. Two years later he and his wife came to Omaha, Nebraska and in the spring of 1867 moved to a homestead in Grant township Washington county. Here he made his home for over fifty years. His wife, Sarah J. McGill passed away January 18, 1914. For the last eight years he has made his home with his children. March 15, 1928 he was taken to the Leavenworth Military Home where he was placed in the Sanitarium for disabled veterans. Comrade McGill had been in poor health for the past several years due to old age. Until recently he was an active member of the G.A.R. first of the New England Post west of Herman, Neb., and later of the Tekamah G.A.R. post. He is survived by two brothers, John C. McGill, of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, aged 90 and Alonzo F. McGill, aged 87, of Milwaukee, Wis., by four sons and four daughters, Arthur McGill, Herman, Neb., Herman McGill, Tekamah, Neb., William and Alfred McGill, of Ponca, Neb., Lottie Longwell, of Bancroft, Neb., Jennie Fackleman, Ponca, Neb., Della Spiker, Long Pine, Neb., and Mabel Hue, Craig, Neb., and by 40 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

O Father, thy gentle voice is hushed

Thy warm true heart is still, And on thy pale and peaceful face

Is resting death’s cold chill, Thy hands are clasped upon thy breast

We have kissed thy marble brow And in our aching heats we know

We have no father now.

? Funeral services were held at the Herman Baptist church Sunday afternoon at 22:30 conducted by the pastor, Rev. P. H. Petersen. Music was furnished by a mixed quartette, Mrs. Peter H. Petersen, Miss Eledyce Godsey, Edgar Skinner and C. R. Gray with Mrs. L. V. Ackerman at the piano. Members of the G.A.R. and American Legion attended in a body and conducted military services at the grave, D. R. J. Cameron, chaplain having charge. Interment was made in the Herman cemetery.

Article #3 Pilot 16 May 1928

A large crowd from here attended the funeral of Henry Magill at Herman Sunday afternoon. He was an old soldier and died in the Old Soldier’s home in Kansas Friday, May 11, 1928. The funeral was held at the Herman Baptist church Sunday afternoon. The service was conducted by Rev. Peterson and the remains were laid to rest in the Herman cemetery by the side of his wife, who preceded him in death in 1914. They lived on a farm in the New England neighborhood for many years and we extend our sincere sympathy to the bereaved ones. Those present from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. Sam Spiker, of Long Pine, Nebr., Mr. and Mrs. Billie Magill and children, Alfred Magill, Mrs. Jennie Fackelman and daughter, all from Ponca, Neb., Mr. and Mrs. Ed Longwell and children, of Bancroft, Neb., Mr. and Mrs. Herman Magill and children, of Tekamah, and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hue and children, of Craig.

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