Copyright © 2022 by Kevin W. Walker
Copyright © 2021 by Kevin W. Walker
Burial: Powell Canyon Cemetery, Custer County, Nebraska.
Copyright © 2021 by Kevin W. Walker
Chas. H. Chesley has purchased another farm in Yucca valley, the California Baker farm, which corners on his other farm he purchased a few days ago. This makes Mr. C. a fine farm of 320 acres which cost him $1450 cash and he is justly proud of his purchase. A. H. Needham made and completed the sale. Mr. Needham has several other good farms and small ranches for sale.
Copyright © 2020 by Kevin W. Walker
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It was not unusual for some to have thought Walker insane. the high incidence[sic] of insanity in Custer County had prompted the Chief, in 1893, to say "It begans[sic] to look as if we would have to adopt the suggestion of the Norfolk asylum authorities that a fence be placed around Custer County, and our fertile fields and rolling hills be turned into a large asylum for the accomodation[sic] of our insane."-- It would be interesting to look into this history of Custer County a little farther but what might be really interesting is discovering who added the note? We might have a clue in the paragraph above, because it was also added to my original. The paragraph give us the status as of 1907. There is no reason to believe that date was picked arbitrarily. So we have a possible clue.
July 1 1973
Dear Cousin May
I expect you thought what I wrote you like I did I did not want to help you but was not that I thought Lillie could help you more than I so Mother's day I called Lillie's Girl Blanche Yerves and asked her to see if Lillie could remember the trip from Nebraska but she could not your Grandpa Henry Chesley was bourn March 15, 1860 in Illinois died December 14 1926 at 66 yr.
Hattie Olly Chesley bourn July 7 1867 in Michigan died in March 1938 age 70 she did not know where they were married but they moved to Kansas 1882 or 83 Lillie was bourn in Nicodemus Kansas October 14 1883 in 1887 or 1888 they moved to Nebraska my folks was married in Osborn Kansas in Oct 26 1884 then thy moved to near Arnold in 1886 then my Stept Father and his brothers came to Arnold he was Warren D Copeland but he went to Wyoming in with 1890 and when your folks went to Montana he stayed there for a while then came back to Arnold in 1896 or 97 and then he and my mother was married in 1899 and a good father to us boys.
His brother stay near Arnold the rest of his life I have a book that has the names of seven children they had three before they left here I think it 1891 or 1892 when they left Arnold because my brother would tell about playing with the three of he was bourn in August of 1887.
My Dad Warren would tell about being in or Downs Beloit in Kansas that is where my sister is buried I am not sure.
There was Geo Chesley then Charles Chesley he was the first one to come to Arnold Nebr Henry was the 4th of the Chesley family and Charles Chesley went to Washington near Tacoma or Buckly in Dec 1902 I remember but at one time Charles Henry then my folks and George Chesley all lived close together within 3 miles I hope this helps you some and I hope to see you sometime this year the Lord willing I would like to have these back when you get your copy
Love, Cousin KeithKeith G. Walker was my grandfather.
I was going through my latest batch of papers to arrive from my aunt's estate and found this. My heart jumped into my throat and my jaw hit the ground. This was torn out of some sort of Family Bible with parts of the Gospel of Matthew still attached.This Certifies ThatThe Rite ofHoly MatrimonyWas Celebrated BetweenMr. Henry M. Walker of Osborn Co. Kans.and Lucy Chesley of Osborn Co. Kans.on 24 of October 1884 at her Fathers houseby J.C. Lawrence J.P.Witness C.H. Chesley Witness P.C. Chesley
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K Co. 8th Ill. Cav
Benton Barracks St. Louis Mo
June 28th, 1865
Dear Phebe,
I received your letter of the 18th last night while in bed and was truly glad to hear from home once more. We left Fairfax Station on the morning of the 19th. I was taken quite ill at Fairfax Courthouse but after remaining a short time I went on to Washington where I overtook the regiment. That evening we got on the cars of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, laid over one day at Cumberland and then came to Parkersburgh, West Virginia. There we took Steam Boat and landed at Lawrenceburgh, Indiana on the 25th where we again got on the cars, passed through the States of Indiana and Illinois and landed here yesterday evening and here we are in Missouri. How long we will stay or where we will go next I do not know, we hear a great many yarns in reference to our destination. Some tell us we are going to Texas, some say we go to Kansas. I think we will go to Illinois, but how soon I do not know. I cannot believe we will remain here any great length of time. I see nothing fixing up here to remain, another thing we are not getting any soft bread, no cooking utensils or other conveniences for staying any length of time. I ought to have told you that my sickness was only temporary. I had a friend who stayed with me and I soon recovered, and had quite a pleasant trip considering the inconveniences we had to contend with, having no opportunity to cook. Only at Cumberland where we did a little cooking, and the Sanitary Commission gave us coffee. When we landed at Lawrenceburgh the citizens very kindly invited us to dinner at there houses & had they known we were coming they would have given us a jublie dinner. It is the first, last and only town we passed through where we were treated like white folks or where the people seemed to appreciate the services of the soldiers. We are encamped on the most beautiful place I have been in since I enlisted. Very level, all the Barracks painted white. I think the grounds contain about 40 acres, probably more. There are a great many troops here, and as far as I can learn they are all homeward bound, except the Missouri troops and the Regulars, this makes me believe we will not remain here any length of time. We have very beautiful weather, not very hot, yesterday was quite cool with a little rain. I am at present in very good health but somewhat tired after our long trip of twelve hundred miles. Yesterday evening after we got into our Barracks one of Co. D was shot by the accidental discharge of a Carbine through the carelessness of another of the same Co. He lived about 15 minutes but never spoke or showed any indication of being conscious of what was passing around him. If you write soon direct your letters to me at Benton Barracks St. Louis Missouri instead of Washington. When we leave here I will write to you immediately on stopping at the next place. Having nothing more of importance to write, and hoping you are in good health, accept the love of your devoted Husband.
C. H. Chesley
K Co. 8th Ill Cav
GRANDMA CHESLEY IS LAID TO REST
In the passing of Mrs Phoebe Chesley the Arnold Community sustained the loss of it's oldest resident. On February 6, 1928 she celebrated the ninety-eighth anniversary of her birth and received many flowers, other gifts, also numerous messages both my telephone and mail. To make this event complete, a son and daughter, Charles E. Chesley and Ida E. Barnes respectively came from Prosser, Washington to be with their mother. They with Mrs. W.D. Copeland are the surviving three children from a family of eight. Mr. Chesley remained only a short time but Mrs Barnes remained for a longer visit and she with her sister, Mrs. Copeland at whose home Grandma lived were with her when the end came.
Grandma Chesley leaves a long line of descendants, besides her three children. There are twenty-six grand-children, eighty-four great-grand-children and thirteen great-great-grand-children. Her going also breaks up five living generations namely, Mrs. Phoebe Chesley, Mrs. Ida Barnes, Mrs. Maud Conely, Mrs Fay Sesrood and Mrs. Genevieve Stevens. A very interesting feature of the ages of four generations of these good people.
Mrs. Phoebe Chesley is exactly twenty-six years older than her youngest daughter, Mrs Ida Barnes who is seventy-two, she (Mrs. Barnes) is exactly twenty-six years the senior of her youngest daugher, Mrs. Blanche Winslow who is forty-six. Mrs Winslow has a daughter Zelpha who is twenty-six years of age.
Grandma Chesley was paralyzed in the lower limbs making it necessary for her to remain in a wheel chair, but she could use her hands freely, doing all kinds of fine handwork.
She could read without the aid of glasses, few people are as familiar with Scripture as she, for she read and discussed the Bible frequently. Her mind remained intact to the end. Many of her friends quoted her as a very clever conversationalist.
Funeral services were held at the M. E. Church on thursday March 1. Rev. L.S. Burnham officiating. Interment beside her husband in Powell Canyon Cemetery.
The floral tributes were many.Note about the above, Phoebe was twenty-six years older than Ida, but her youngest daughter was Lucy (Chesley) Walker Copeland, not Ida.
OBITUARY
Phoebe C. Ward was born February 6, 1830 at Plattsburg, N. Y. In 1848 she was united in marriage to Charles Chesley and from this union were born eight children, three of whom survive their mother: Charles Chesley and Mrs. Ida E. Barnes both of Prosser Washington; and Mrs Lucy M. Copeland of Arnold, Neb: five children preceded their mother to that better land, one of them passing away in infancy, the others growing to manhood and womanhood.
Grandma Chelsey, as she was known to everyone, has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Copeland for many years as she was practically and invalid for a long time. Her husband preceded her in death twenty-three years ago.
Grandma Chesley united with the M. E. Church when she was eighteen years of age and has retained her membership ever since and during the final years especially, she devoted much of her time to reading the Bible and in prayer. She has made her home near Arnold for the past forty-three years, being one of the real early settlers here.
Besides her three children, she leaves several grandchildren, a number of great-grandchildren, and a host of friends. At the time of her passing on February 28, 1928 she had reached to advanced age of 98 years and 22 days.
GRANDMA CHESLEY CELEBRATED HER 98TH BIRTHDAY, MONDAY
A most notable event in the life of West Yucca Valley occurred Monday, February 6, 1928, when Grandma Chesley celebrated her 98th birthday in a quiet manner at the home of her daughter, Mrs W. D. Copeland, who with Mrs. Ida Barnes and Charles Chesley, the latter two of Prosser, Washington, the only three surviving out of eight children, while Grandma Chesley and her husband were each one of a family of eleven children, she being the only one remaining out of the twenty-two. Besides her three children aged 74, 72, and 62 years, she has twenty-six grandchildren, seventy great-grandchildren and twelve great-great-grandchildren.
Grandma Chesley was born in Plattsburgh, NY in 1830, she was married in 1848 and resided in New York until 1856 when she removed to Illinois, and in 1878 moved to Kansas where they resided until 1885, when they came to this community, living in Powell Canyon. Mr. Chesley died about 22 years ago.
Hosts of friends and relatives gave her a postal card and letter shower in remembrance of her 98th birthday, all hoping she will remain with us to celebrate the century mark.Phoebe (Ward) Chesley was my 2xg-grandmother. Unfortunately she passed away less than three weeks after the publication of this article. The named "Mrs. W.D. Copeland" is my g-grandmother Lucy (Chesley) Walker Copeland (1866-1944).
The Chesleys did not become Custer County pioneer residents until 1899. First Chesley to come to Powell Canyon, fifteen miles northwest of Callaway, was Charles E. and Maria Jane (Copeland) Chesley, who purchased a rough 160 acre homestead from Martha's brother Jared Copeland.......This couple also welcomed to Powell Canyon , the families of all five brothers and sisters (Ollnys, Walkers, etc.) as well as their parents Charles H. and Phoebe (Ward) Chesley who were in their sixties. Now the elder Chesleys probably made their home with youngest daughter Lucy, and Henry Martin Walker....[T]he elder Chesleys purchased the Charles E. farm in 1894......
The last of the Chesley brothers and sisters to come to Nebraska was George, who came by wagon in 1899. By then his oldest daughter Eva Pearl was eighteen and like a mother to brothers, Clarence 15, Harry B. 13 and to Fern 10. The mother Cora Densmore had died in 1898 from epilepsy after many years of illness.......
Eva Pearl was soon married to James Wonch and to this couple three strapping sons were born, Grant, Cecil, and Luman. James' mother, Sarah (Woodman) Wonch, a widow, was still proving up on the Wonch homestead......
One of the crops of Powell Canyon was cane and both the Chesley and Wonch farms made molasses in early fall. Eugene, son of Charles E. and Maria Jane, lost his arm in the molasses press. Dr. Mylar of Callaway amputated above the elbow, at the farm with only a neighbor, the older Bob Shaw to assist.Some of the families moved on from Nebraska. Most notable of those being Charles E. taking his family to Washington state. But when you look at this map and this history, you have to come away with the conclusion that Powell Canyon, Nebraska was one of the places our family put down roots. You might even say it is okay to call it "home."
SOD – 03: CHARLES CHESLEY SOD HOUSE/NOLAN STEELE SOD HOUSE
The Charles Chesley Sod House/Nolan Steele Sod House is one of two remaining
sod houses in Custer County that are still inhabited. The house is located in Powell
Canyon nearly six miles east of Arnold on the northwest quarter of Section 21, Township
17 North, Range 24 West. The house is clearly visible from the public right-of-way but
does not resemble a sod house. The dwelling is currently a one-story, L-plan building
clad in masonite siding. Displaying a hip roof, the house features a non-historic shed
roof dormer on the south elevation, which is its primary façade. A historic one-story
rectangular addition has been constructed on the northwest corner of the house giving the
building its current L-plan.
Charles Chesley built the original sod core in 1892. Rectangular in plan, the
house is very large and measures 48’-3”x 30’-3”. It is known through a local newspaper
article that blue stem grass was used for the sod and the walls measured approximately
36” thick. When Nolan Steele moved into the house in 1902, he covered the exterior
with wood clapboard. The interior of the house, however, was inaccessible due to the
absence of property owners and no further details were gathered on the interior layout of
the dwelling. Since there was no sod exposed on the exterior, block dimensions and
coursing could not be verified.
All windows and doors on the house have been downsized and replaced with
modern types, but their placement is still likely original based on a historic photograph of
the house. All windows are one-over-one aluminum sash. The south elevation, also the
primary façade, contains four windows and an entrance. The entrance contains a modern
door covered by a non-historic stoop, and the central two windows are paired. The nonhistoric dormer is centered above the paired windows. The east elevation contains two
evenly spaced windows. The north elevation features two windows and another set of
paired windows. The frame addition projects off the northwest corner of the house and
obscures part of the north and west elevations. The west elevation likely contained two
windows in similar positions as the east elevation (Figures 37 and 38).
From the historic photograph, the roof shape appears to be original. The exact
construction method of the steeply pitched hip roof is unknown, but local history states
that the lumber for the roof came from the Milldale lumber mill. It is currently sheathed
with asphalt shingles, but the historic photograph shows it was covered with wood
shingles. The side gable frame addition was added to the northwest corner of the house
in 1928. Its construction removed a small portion of the sod wall. The interior of the
house was inaccessible, but the local newspaper article mentions that the house included
four bedrooms and a small upstairs. The house was updated with electricity and
plumbing.
Charles Chesley filed a Timber Claim on the property in 1899, but the sod house
was already built on the land. Jared Copeland, Chesley’s brother-in-law, began building
the large, one-story sod dwelling for the Chesley’s in 1892 and finished it three years
later. Copeland is known to have helped or directed the construction of several sod
houses in the general vicinity of Lower Powell Canyon. The Chesley’s sold the property
to Samuel Steele in April 1902. However, Nolan and Ella Steel moved into the sod house
in November 1902 and established the B (Butler) and S (Steele) Cattle Ranch. Samuel
Figure 37. Sod – 03: Charles Chesley/Nolan Steele Sod House, 1892 --
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| Figure 38. Chesley/Steele floor plan |
Steele remained the property owner until Nolan Steele received the deed in 1914. The
Steeles raised cattle and hogs and were well respected in the community. The property
continues to remain in the Steele family today. Leon Steele is the grandson of Nolan
Steele and son of Cecil Steele, who lived in the house until the early 1990s.
The Chesley/Steele Sod House is unique in Custer County. The mere size of the
structure, 48’-3”x 30’-3”, differentiates it from many of the other sod houses found in the
county. This house took an experienced sod builder three years to build. While it is
implied that sod houses did not have building plans, this particular sod house appears to
have been carefully constructed to ensure its durability. It was constructed as a
permanent family homestead and not a temporary structure. Its quality craftsmanship and
durability secured its fate with the Steele family and prevented its demise, which so many
other sod houses in Custer County faced.
Since the Steele Family has occupied the Chesley/Steele Sod House for most of
its lifetime, its history is better documented that most sod houses in Custer County.
Although the interior could not be inspected, the exterior of the house remains in good
condition. Its integrity may appear compromised due to the exterior alterations, but for a
sod house these alterations are necessary to keep the house in good maintenance. Sod
houses are not significant for their exterior appearance; they are significant for their
method of construction. Without the alterations imposed on the Chesley/Steele Sod
House, it may not have been livable according to twentieth century standards and
ultimately may not have survived into the twenty-first century.
July 1, 1973
Dear Cousin May
I expect you thought what I wrote you like I did I did not want to help you but was not that I thought Lillie could help you more than I so mother's day I called Lillie's Girl Blanch Yerves(?) and asked her to see if Lillie could rember the trip from Nebraska but she could not Your Grand Pa Henry Chesley was bourn March 15 1860 in Illinois died December 14 1926 at 66 yr.
Hattie Olly Chesley bourn July 7 1867 in Michigan died in 8 March 1938 age 70 she did not know where they were married but they moved to Kansas 1882 or 83 Lillie was bourn in Nicodemus Kansas Oct 14 1883 in 1887 or 1888 they moved to Nebraska My folks was married in Osborn Kansas in Oct 26 1884 then they moved to near Arnold in 1886 then my Stept Father and his brothers came to Arnold he was Warren D Copeland but he went to Wyoming within 1890 and when your folks went to Montana he stayed there for a while then came back to Arnold in 1896 0f 1897 and then he and my mother was married in 1899 and a good Father to us boys.
His brother stay near Arnold the rest of his life I have a book that has the names of seven They had 3 befor they left here I think it 1891 or 1892 when they left Arnold because my brother would tell about playing with the three if he was bourn in August of 1887.
My dad Warren would tell about being in or Downs Beloit in Kansas That is where my sister is buried I am not sure
there Was Geo Chesley then Charles Chesley he was the first one to come to Arnold Nebr Henry was the 4th of the Chesley family and Charles Chesley went to Washington near Tacoma or Buckley in Dec 1902 I remember but at one time Charles Henry then my folks and George Chesley all lived close together with in 3 miles. I hope to see you some time this year the Lord Willing I would like to have these back when you get your copy
Love Cousin KeithThis is another example of this family history blog paying me back for my work. A third cousin was Googling his ancestors and found my blog. He was in possession of this letter and asked me if I wanted it? "Why-y su-re!" (Thank you Frank.)
Henry Walker, living three miles northeast of Arnold is in jail at Broken Bow charged with the most dastardly crime in the history of Custer County.From the Custer County (NE) Chief, December 1896 --
On last Saturday, Walker attempted to kill his wife, firing three shots at her, one of them missing her. He lives in Powell Canyon and the neighbors have known for years that he did not get along well with his wife. He has often accused her of trying to poison him.
Saturday morning Walker went to town and complained to Dr. Robinson that he was suffering discomfort, caused by the poisoning. When he got home, he took a revolver he had purchased several days before, in Callaway and told Mrs Walker that he was going to shoot her. She ran from the house and got about ten feet away when he fired two shots at her, one missing her and the other entering her back.
He then compelled her to return to the house and ordered her too get dinner. When she became so weak from loss of blood, she had to lie down, he said, "Now, I'm going to finish you off", and pointed the gun at her head. She begged him not to kill her and put her hands over her face. He fired, the ball almost severing one finger, then lodging in her head. After trying unsuccessfully, with a dull paring knife to dig the ball from where it was lodged, he sent the oldest boy to the nearest neighbor, Mr. Donaldson.
Dr. Robinson and Dr. Matthews from Callaway were called and they removed that ball, but were unable to find the one in her back.
All that saved Walker from being lynched was that some thought he was insane although he had never shown signs of insanity. He was taken to Broken Bow the next day where the board judged him sane and he will stand trial for the crime at next term of court.
Walker is about 35 years of age and has been in the county for a number of years. Mrs Walker is suffering greatly, but it is believed her wounds will not be fatal.
The case of Henry Walker, Powell Canyon farmer accused of attempting to murder his wife was brought before the court. Walker pleaded insanity and both sides fought stubbornly, but the verdict was guilty and he was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary.On 27 July 1899, Lucy (Chesley) Walker married Warren D. Copeland, brother of Maria Jane (Copeland) Chesley, her sister-in-law. My grandfather Keith was still a toddler when the shooting occurred. Warren Copeland was the only father he ever knew.
