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Note: THE HENRY STANTON FAMILY
Written by John J. Harrington, Grandson of Henry Stanton
Henry Stanton was born on May 23, 1846 in Ireland according to his sworn statement when applying for citizenship on the Fifth of October, 1876, Luzerne County, PA and that he arrived at the port of New York on the 10th of April, 1871. His Certificate of Death, State of Nebraska states his birth date as 1841 as given by his daughter Mrs Anna Harrington, copy of certificate of death is in file. His father was Martin Stanton (landholder). Mary McHale was born in 1852 and whose father was Anthony McHale (landholder). They were married on the 17th day of March 1873 in the church of the Most Holy Rosary at Castlebar, in the county of Mayo. They left for America the next day and settled in Pittston, Pennsylvania where Henry Stanton obtained employment in the coal mines.
Henry Stanton was granted citizenship papers on October 5, 1876, in the Court of Quarter Sessions, Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
While residing there four children were born, two dying in infancy. Patrick Stanton was born March 2, 1874, and Anna Stanton was born on March 17, 1875, she had a twin sister named Bridget. Bridget died of Black Diphtheria during an epidemic September 17, 1876. At this same time another child was lost in the same epidemic, she was Mary Stanton.
The lure of free land as well as the high accident and death rate in the mines prompted the family to look westward. They left Pittston during the year 1877. Together with two other Irish families, the Tom Welch's and the Tom Gallagher's. They arrived in O'Neill during June 1877. On June 15, 1877, Stanton filed on a homestead, the land being the SW quarter of Sec 1, Township 29N, Range 12W. The filing was done at the Niobrara Land Office. The fee for filing was $14.00. The terms were that a homesteader had to reside on the place for five years, cultivate a sufficient number of acres and plant trees. The location of the land was three miles north of O'Neill, NE and one half mile west. As of 1986 the owner was Henry Reimer.
On their trek West arriving at Wisner, NE, the terminus of the railroad at the time, the immigrants were entreated to take up homesteads at that point. However, nothing would do but move on to their original destination. When passing through Neligh, NE, Henry Stanton purchased a horse which was used with an oxen to do the farm work for many years.
Henry Stanton received his Certificate of Homestead on August 21, 1883 at the Niobrara Land Office. Attesting to Stanton's residence and cultivation of the farm were John Cook and John Enright, residents and settlers living on adjoining quarter sections.
Born to the Stanton's in Nebraska were sons; Martin, Henry and Anthony. Anthony being one of the co-authors of this family history. Daughters Kathryn, Margaret and Agnes, Agnes being a co-authoress.
Patrick Stanton - married: Bea McMahon, they had three children:
Thomas
Agnes
Martin
Martin Stanton - married: Anna Hickey, they had three children:
Kilmer
Winifred
Genevieve
Henry Stanton - married: Julia McGillicuddy, they had no children.
Anthony Stanton - married: Mary McIntyre, they had three children:
Eugene
Catherine
Eileen
Anna Stanton - married: John J. Harrington, they had two children:
John Joseph
Mary Agnes (Mayme)
Kathryn Stanton - married: James P. Ryan, they had 7 children:
Henry
James
Dennis
Claire
Kathryn
Grace
Mary
Margaret Stanton never married
Agnes Stanton - married: Romaine Rohde, they had three children:
Bernard
Anthony
Francis
The Stanton's, like all the early settlers, endured the hardships, heartaches, trials and tribulations of the pioneer days. Memorable of course were the terrible drought days of 1890-1894. During the latter year homesteaders received some economic help from out of state organizations, individuals and the State and Federal Government. The blizzard of 1888 was areal tragedy to many people as well as to the livestock. An incident pertinent to the storm is recalled most vividly. Henry Stanton and the oldest daughter Anna were taking the herd of some 40 head of cattle to an adjoining section to graze the cornstalks when about half mile away the lead cow threw her head up and sensed the storm in the air. She immediately turned and on the run led the whole herd to the shelter of a hay shed, where all survived the storm. During the night a riderless horse, saddled and bridled, came to the soddy and stayed on the sheltered side tramping the snow until he was nearly on top of the soddy.
The settlers found an abundance of grass in the area but no wood. Accordingly, it was necessary to go to the Niobrara or Eagle Creek areas to get some fence posts as well as wood for fuel. On one trip accompanied by John Cook, they were captured by Indians some ten or twelve in number. All painted as if on the warpath. They rode their horses in circles around the two thouroughly frightened men until smoke signals were seen on the horizon to the North when the Indians took off in a hurry. A cavalry patrol appeared in the area within an hour or two and that is probably what the Indians saw. The Indians did however, take all the tobacco and tools that the men had. One did give a handful of tobacco back to Henry. They did not kill or take the oxen being driven by the men. They did take a brightly colored blanket that belonged to Cook. On another trip to the Eagle and after the load of wood was on the wagons, a large rattlesnake was seen coming through the grass with mouth open to strike the animals. Henry heaved the axe at the snake but missed. The snake then attacked and coiled around the axe handle, the men were delayed for hours before the snake took off. Another incident that made a deep impression on the family was on one Sunday morning during the '80's as all were preparing to go to church, from the West (Cook's direction) came a riderless horse, saddled and bridled running for all it was worth. It belonged to a settler that had just been killed about half a mile away. Several suspects were questioned but no one was ever held accountable for the death. However, some suspicion was to the effect that the killing had been done by family members of a young boy that the farmer had killed just a few days previous. Such was instant justice on the prairie.
The famed Doc Middleton was a visitor at the homestead on numerous occasions but no horses were ever lost to him. Another individual was Heilman who they put up on occasion. Henry always sat up all night protecting his horses when Heilman was there.
In order to qualify for a homestead certificate the settler had to plant a number of trees. The Stanton place had a wonderful grove in time and the St. Patrick's Church parish picnic was held there on several occasions, the Reverend Father Cassidy was a guest together with his niece and housekeeper, Mamie Cullen.
Another incident that Grandma Stanton never did forget was when they were loading their possessions on the lumber wagon at Wisner, NE, she put all her clothing in a tub, one of two that she had just purchased. However, she put the upturned smaller tub on top and later on the first day of the trip West, a heavy rain came down on her finery and of course all was soaked, including her little bonnet that was a part of her wedding outfit.
All homesteaders raised a few acres of wheat for flour for the family. The nearest grist mill was at Neligh, NE, which was a two day trip for the settlers. Later a mill was built on the Eagle by the Nullkamper family, which was quite a bit closer.
Henry Stanton moved to O'Neill in the early 1920's and left the farms to his two sons, Martin and Anthony. Henry Stanton passed on to his reward on May 31, 1924. His beloved spouse, Mary, died on September 13, 1924. So closes the brief history of one of the old Irish families, who like countless others of all nationalities made this the wonderful land it is. We owe them so much, they loved their land, their family, their church and their beloved adopted country. May they rest in peace and may we, who survive them, contribute as much to our heritage.
added by John J. Harrington -
The wilderness here at the end of that journey to which they came, has truly blossomed in the years that have gone, the seed that they planted has borne an abundant harvest. Their work has remained to this day and ever will remain and to such people and their labors in the desert places may truly be applied the words of the prophet Isaiah: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."
As told to John J. Harrington by his mother, Anna Stanton:
My mother's name was Mary McHale, County Mayo. The folks were married in Ireland, and came to America the next day. Landed in New York. Then to Scranton, PA. She and Patrick were born there. Anna's twin sister died when she was one and a half, her name was Bridget, she died with Black Diphtheria. Another sister named Mary died when she was ten months old, also with Black Diphtheria, an epidemic. The throat shut and she smothered.
Her father in the coal mines did not want his boys to work in the mines. Patrick was three years old when he came to O'Neill.
By rail to Wisner, NE, and oxen to O'Neill, which was not named then. At Wisner he bought a cow and calf, and two years after he built the barn with lumber. They lived in a sod house ten years, one room, they used boxes for chairs and tables.
Pat Haggerty had the first store. Mart and Kate and Henry and Mag were born in the sod house. Agnes and Anthony in the new house.
Dry Creek snakes in the wood box each morning when they went to make fire and skunks in the well each AM. Mart and mom lived there for a year and half to prove up on the place only to lose it to Mr. Carr.
The blizzard of '88 she remembered very well. Told of the cattle smothering with snow in the nostrils. It started about nine in the AM and lasted 'til nine in the evening. Mag had spinal meningitis at the age of ten. Mrs. McGreavy was her first teacher. There was a creek between them and school and they would have to wade it on the way to and from school.
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