Capt. Contal, whose first advent into Nebraska was in 1824, and who lived to the ripe age of 84 years, died at his home in Dexterille last Thursday morning and was buried from the Free Methodist church by the Grand Army boys Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Mr. Contal was one of our oldest pioneers and widely know from the fact that he served in three wars, covering a period of 16 years. He leaves, besides the immediate family, a wide circle of friends to mourn his loss. The funeral was largely attended by many who had known him in pioneer days. An extended write-up of his life will appear in our next issue.

#2-6 Aug., 1903 - Blair Republican - Captain Benjamin Contal - Veteran of many Indian Wars and the Civil War

CAPTAIN BENJAMIN CONTAL DEAD

Probably the Oldest Settler in Nebraska, Having Come to Fort Atkinson - now Calhoun - in 1824.

HE WAS 84 YEARS OF AGE - CAME TO BLAIR IN 1889

Captain Benjamin Contal died at his home in Dexterville at 8 o’clock last Thursday morning of heart failure. Owing to his great age he had been gradually growing weaker for some time, but was able to walk about less than twenty four hours before the final dissolution.

The funeral was held in the Free Methodist church at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon and was under the auspices of the G.A.R. post of this city.

The church was crowded to overflowing with the many friends of the deceased who were anxious to pay this last tribute to his memory. Interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

Benjamin Contal was born at Plattsburgh, N.Y. on the 19th day of March, 1819, and was of French parentage. When about two years of age his parents moved to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., the father having enlisted as drum major in the 6th U.S. Inf. In 1824 the regiment was ordered to Ft. Atkinson, now Ft. Calhoun, this state and county, thus becoming an early territorial resident.

When 13 years of age the future Captain enlisted as a drummer boy in Co. “K” 6th U.S.I., and served in this capacity the full term of five years. It was during this enlistment that the Black Hawk war broke out and his company helped to capture the famous Indian chiefs, Black Hawk and Keokuk.

In 1837 he enlisted in Captain Morgan’s famous Spy Battalion of Missouri militia and helped wage the war of extermination against the Seminole Indians in Florida. He participated in the battle of Okeechobee, his regiment being at the time under the command of General Zachary Taylor.

After his discharge he returned to his home in Jefferson Barracks, but soon re-enlisted in the 5th U.S. Inf. and his younger brother, Charles, in the old 6th regiment. The 6th was ordered to the frontier to put down a rebellion of the Cattle Nation, and not wishing his younger brother to undergo the hardships of such a campaign he was granted an exchange and this time fought at Sabine River and other places until the uprising was quelled.

After another honorable discharge he followed the life of a civilian for some time, working a farm that is now included in the city of St. Louis. During this period he was married, about 1840, to Mary Jane Whaley, at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., and of this union six children were born, to wit: Isabella A., who married a Mr. Foster and who died in Chicago some 20 years ago leaving two children; James, who served in the Civil War, but who is now dead; Charles, who now resides at Prairie DuChein, Wis., and was present at the funeral, as was also William, a resident of North McGregor, Ia. The whereabouts of Lewis is unknown and Albert died in childhood.

In 1848 Mr. Contal moved his family to Prairie DuChein, Wis., occupying rooms in the old government fort for a time, later he ran a hotel. Selling this, he operated a horse ferry across the Mississippi for several years, and after disposing of this he bought an 160 acre farm near North McGregor, Ia. and worked it until the Civil War broke out. His wife, having died in 1860, he enlisted in the 8th Iowa Cavalry, but this regiment having too many men, he was held over to help form the 9th regiment. Finding that he was an experienced soldier, the recruiting officer set him to drilling the new recruits and he did his work so well that he was commissioned their captain, and served as such during the remainder of the war.

In February, 1866, he was honorably discharged from the volunteer service, but after farming a year near his old place, he enlisted for the last time in the regular army and was assigned to Co. H, 4th U.S.I. He served two years as 1st sergeant and was discharged with honorable mention.

He then came to Omaha and shortly after to this county, settling on a homestead near Fletcher where he was married to Miss Letitia Shepherd who still survives him. In 1889 they sold the farm and moved to this city.

Captain Contal, as he was familiarly known, was a man of fine sensibilities, of unfailing integrity and consequently was beloved by all who knew him. He was always of a deep religious nature, and many years ago united with the Methodist church, afterwards transferring his membership to the Free Methodist body.

A host of friends, new and old, join with the widow and relatives in sorrow at his demise.

#3-6 Aug., 1903 - The Pilot - Capt. Benjamin

THE PASSING OF CAPT. CONTAL

Benjamin Contal was born at Plattsburgh, New York March 19th, 1819 and died at Blair, Nebraska July 30th, 1903 at 8 o’clock a.m., aged 84 years, four months and six days.

In the death of Capt. Contal this community loses one of the oldest settlers of this county and state. His father’s family, when he was a boy of six, were stationed at old Fort Atkinson, now Fort Calhoun, for a few years after 1824. He was a loyal citizen, a warm friend and a Christian gentleman, and a short historical sketch of his life might be appreciated by his many relatives and friends. The following is a sketch thereof as given by himself and members of his family.

When Mr. Contal was about two years old his father enlisted as a drum major in the Sixth regiment of US. Infantry and was sent with his family to Jefferson Barracks, Mo. The father was a Frenchman by birth, having been born and raised in the city of Paris, while his mother was of French Canadian stock. The family remained at Jefferson Barracks until the command was ordered to the Department of the Missouri, and, of course, the family accompanied the command, and were sent by way of the Missouri river to old Fort Atkinson where they remained for several years. The regiment of his father was then ordered back to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., and the family accompanied the command. Here they remained until about 1832 when Benjamin was 13 years of age, when he, Benjamin, enlisted as a drummer boy for a term of five years in Company K, Sixth U.S. Infantry where he served his full term and was honorably discharged. It was during this term of service that the Indian war broke out between the Sac and Fox and Winnebago Indians of Northern Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin and the early settlers. The Sixth regiment or a battalion thereof was sent to help put down the war, and young Benjamin accompanied the command and participated in the war that was afterward known as the Black Hawk war, and which resulted in the capture of Black Hawk and Keokuk, the leading chiefs, and the removal of the Sac and Fox tribe to Tama county, Iowa and the Winnebago's to Wisconsin.

After his discharge from this service he returned to Jefferson Barracks and the Seminole Indian war having broken out in Florida, causing great excitement throughout the country, young Contal, ever loyal to the government, again enlisted for the Florida war. this was in the spring of 1837. He enlisted for a term of nine months as a musician in Capt. Morgan’s spy battalion of Missouri militia, which was afterwards attached to Gen. Gentry’s division. He went with his command and with it participated in several minor engagements with the Indians, and was in the great battle of Okeechobee Lake, Fla., which occurred, so history states, on Christmas Day 1837. This battle decided the war, and the command returned to Missouri where the Captain was again honorably discharged. After this he did not long remain in civil life, but soon thereafter enlisted as a recruit for the Fifth U.S. Infantry, which was then stationed at Jefferson Barracks. He had a younger brother, Charles, who was a member of company K, Sixth U.S. Inf. at this time. The sixth regiment was ordered to go to the frontier, to what was then called the Cattle Nation. Charles, being younger and less fit for the hardships of frontier warfare, Benjamin sought an exchange with his younger brother and the same was granted and he was transferred to his old company, being Company K, Sixth U.S. Infantry. He accompanied his company to the Sabine river and from there to Fort Reno, and from there to Camp Gaines where he was again honorably discharged by reason of the expiration of his term of service. He then retired to private life and settled as a farmer and gardener at or about Jefferson Barracks. Here he lived on a place then called Wheat Bush, but now a part of the city of St. Louis, until 1848. while here farming he accumulated wealth sufficient to own a few slaves, but in 1848 the agitation against slavery became more and more intense, he became convinced that it was not right for him to own slaves so he gave them their liberty. He then removed to Prairie DuChein, Wisconsin. Upon his arrival here there was not a house in the town that he could rent; but he finally made arrangements for a few rooms in the old Government Fort where he lived until he purchased a house and several lots on the banks of the Mississippi river where the Douseman house now stands. He refitted the house and turned it into a hotel which he operated for several years under the name of the Franklin House.

After disposing of this property he with his family removed to the Iowa side of the Mississippi river where he bought a house and barn and a horse ferry across the Mississippi, which he operated for number of years, or until 1855, when he disposed of the same and purchased a quarter section of land in Clayton county, Iowa, about six miles north of North McGregor, and not far from his former home. This farm he improved and occupied until 1861. His wife having died the previous year, he was left with a family of four children, the

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