Francis F. Abbey

Francis F. Abbey was born January 1848 in Port Hope, Durham Co., Canada West, and died about April 1925 in Nebraska at about age 77. He was the son of Nathaniel Abner Abbey of Dutchess Co.?, NY, and Mary Nugent of County Cavan, Ireland.

Mary J. (Unknown) was born October 1855 in Illinois and died after 1930 in Nebraska. Her father was born in Indiana and her mother was born in England.

Frank and Mary were married about 1877.

Frank and Mary had five children:

1. Nellie E. Abbey: Born July 12, 1879, in Nebraska; Died July 16, 1915, in the City of Lincoln, Lancaster Co., NE (age 37). Married about December 4, 1895, in Nuckolls Co., NE, to David Leroy Edenburn: Born August 3, 1872, in Little Rock Twp., Kendall Co., IL; Died November 24, 1922, in the City of Superior, Nuckolls Co., NE (age 50).
2. Orrin Robert Abbey: Born December 17, 1880, in Webster Co., NE; Died Unknown. Married (1) about 1927 to Ida Tullis: Born May 1895 in Nebraska; Died about 1940. Married (2) about 1945 to Edna Marie Tullis: Born October 31, 1906 in Hebron, Thayer Co., NE; Died January 15, 1998, in Denver, Adams Co., CO (age 91).
3. John Francis Abbey: Born August 18, 1884, in Webster Co., NE; Died November 1971 in North Platte, Lincoln Co., NE (age 85).
4. Bessie M. Abbey: Born August 1890 in Nebraska; Died after 1930. Married about 1911 in Nebraska to Alexander Nephews: Born May 14, 1882, in Nebraska; Died after 1930.
5. Walter Lee Abbey: Born June 6, 1895, in Superior Twp., Beaver Pct., Nuckolls Co., NE; Died September 1966 in Hastings, Adams Co, NE (age 71). Married about 1919 in Nebraska to Myrel G. Chaffin: Born August 24, 1901, in Inavale Twp., Webster Co., NE; Died December 8, 1997, in Blue Hill, Webster Co. NE (age 96).

TIMELINE

Francis F. Abbey was born 1848 in Port Hope, Durham Co., Canada West.

Mary J. (Unknown) was born October 1855 in Illinois.

After the death of Frank's father in 1849 in Canada, Frank's mother, Mary (Nugent) Abbey, became a resident of Wisconsin, locating in Sheboygan Co. with her children, where she purchased a claim. For two years she made her home on the farm, then in 1851 his mother sold her interests and returned to Canada with all of her children except Wellington, where she spent the remainder of her days. She died at her home in Millbrook, Ontario, Canada in 1888, and is buried beside her husband.

In 1859 Frank (about age 11) returned to the United States and settled in Wisconsin.

The 1860 U. S. Census taken on July 24, 1860 shows Francis Abbey (age 11) born in Canada was living in Byron Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI in the Henry Harris household. His sister Sarah Harris (age 16) born in Canada was already married to John B. Harris (age 30) born in New York, who was the son of Henry Harris.

In 1864 Frank was living in Byron Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI when he enlisted in the War of the Rebellion (Civil War) in Company E., 38th Regiment Infantry, Wisconsin Volunteers on March 11, 1864. He was mustered out at the end of the war on July 26, 1865 in Washington, DC.

The 1870 U. S. Census taken on June 23, 1870 shows Frank Abbey (age 21) born in Wisconsin is a Soldier and with an address of the Omaha Post Office, Douglas Co., NE.

Frank and Mary were married about 1877.

The 1880 U. S. Census taken on June 14, 1880 shows Frank Abbey (age 33) born in Canada to Canadian-born parents is a Farmer living in Logan Precinct, Clay Co., NE. Living with him is his wife Mary J. Abbey (age 24) born in Illinois to Indiana and English-born parents. Also there is his daughter, Nellie E. Abbey (age 1) born in Nebraska to Canadian and Illinois-born parents.

In 1883 the Veteran Soldiers Association of Clay Co., NE was organized which included F. Abbey as a member.

The 1885 Nebraska State Census taken on June 1, 1885 shows Frances Abbey (age 44) born in Canada is living near the Locality of Midway Borough, in Logan Twp., Clay Co., NE. Living with him are his wife Mary J. Abbey (age 29) born in Illinois, along with children Nellie E. Abbey (age 6), Owen R. Abbey , and John F. Abbey (age 8/12), all born in Nebraska. 

In the elections of November 1886 showed Francis Abbey received the most votes for Commissioner of Clay Co.

1886 Plat Map for Logan Pct., Clay Co., NE. Frank Abbey is listed as a Farmer and lives on the northwestern border.

In April 1888 Commissioner Abbey resigned.

The listing of soldiers residing in Logan Twp., Clay Co., NE in June 1890 included Frank Abbey,  28th Wis.

Abbey Frank, Edgar                

Nebraska Resident Military Roster on June 1, 1891

Ong is a small village in Clay Co., NE. This may be Frank's postal address.

From the Logan County Through the Years 1885-1985 the following information is given by an early settler, for how Logan County was created.

Logan County was organized in 1885 by a soldier's colony of about 300 members who settled upon government lands under the homestead and timber culture acts of Congress. The colony was organized in 1883 at the office of J. S. Hoagland, then a practicing lawyer in Lincoln, Nebraska. Several veterans of the Civil War designing to enter upon government land consulted with Mr. Hoagland as to where such land could be found. They were advised that such information could be obtained by organized effort at much less expense than if each one attempted to ascertain such information for himself.

A date for a meeting was sized and the Lincoln papers printed a notice that there was to be a soldier's colony organized at Mr. Hoagland's office at a certain time. At this appointed time there were 220 ex-soldiers on hand who joined the organization. Each paid in one dollar and a committee of 5 members was selected to go out and find a good location where government land could be obtained. All railroads offered free transportation to the members of the committee and half fare and half the regular freight rates for members of the colony. The committee, after having carefully examined the country in the northwest, southwest and central western portions, made its report to a meeting of the colony called to act upon such report and it was decided almost unanimously to locate in the un-organized territory where Logan County is now situated. The South Loup River, a beautiful little stream, runs through the center of the county. The valleys and table lands are very productive, and the prosperity of many members of the colony is shown by the comfortable houses, barns, splendid stock, fertile fields and growing trees. The people have prospered without the aid of a railroad as no railroad company has as yet constructed any line through this county. Land there is selling from ten to thirty dollars per acre because of its great productiveness. The farmers ship but little grain because of the long haul necessitated in the marketing of their product. Mr. Hoagland, the organizer of the colony went with his comrades to their new home, procured a patent from the government for his quarter section of land in 1885 and is now one of the leading lawyers in North Platte. Logan County will probably have a railroad in the near future and so lands will rapidly increase in value. A daily mail runs between North Platte and Gandy, the county seat of the county, and nearly every resident of the county has his telephone service. The raising of the best breeds of cattle, horses, hogs and sheep is the principal industry. They have good schools and churches and the people are happy even though they do not hear the whistle of the locomotive and the rumble of the railroad trains. Taken from "History and Reminiscence and Biography of Western Nebraska containing a History of Nebraska" published in 1909

LOGAN COUNTY by an Early Settler

Logan county lies just west of Custer and north of Lincoln counties and organized in 1885 by a soldier’s colony of about three hundred members who settled up on government lands under the homestead and timber culture act of Congress.  The colony was organized in 1883 at the office of J. S. Hoagland, then a practicing lawyer in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Several veterans of the Civil war designing to enter upon government consulted with Mr. Hoagland as to where such land could be found.  They were advised that such information could be obtained by organized effort at much less expense than if each one attempted to ascertain such information for himself.  A date for a meeting was fixed and the Lincoln papers printed a notice that there was to be a soldier’s colony organized at Mr. Hoagland’s office at a certain time.  At this appointed time there were  two hundred and twenty ex-soldiers on hand and joined the organization, each paid in one dollar and a committee of five members was selected to go out and find a good location where government land could be obtained. 
All railroads offered free  transportation to the members of the committee and one-half fare and on-half the regular freight rates for members of the colony.  The committee after having carefully examined the country in the northwest, southwest and central western portions made its report to a meeting of the colony called to act upon such report and it was decided almost unanimously to locate in the unorganized territory where Logan county is now situated.  The south Loup river, a beautiful little stream, runs through the center of the county.  The valleys and table lands are very productive, and the prosperity of many members of the colony is shown by the comfortable houses, barns, splendid stock, fertile fields and growing trees.  The people have prospered without the  aid of a railroad as no railroad company has as yet constructed any line through this county.  Land there is selling from ten to thirty dollars per acre because of its great productiveness.  The farmers ship but little grain because of the long haul necessitated in the marketing of their product.  Mr. Hoagland, the organizer of the colony, went with his comrades to their new home. procured a patent from the government for his quarter section of land in 1885 and is now one of the leading lawyers in North Platte.  Logan County will probably have a railroad in the near future and so lands will rapidly increase in value.  A daily mail runs between North Platte and Gandy, the county seat of the county, and nearly every resident of the county has his telephone service.  The raising of the best breeds of cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep is the principal industry.  They have good schools and churches and the people are happy even though they do not hear the whistle of the locomotive and the rumble of the railroad trains.

Taken from History and Reminiscence and Biography of Western Nebraska containing a History of Nebraska published in 1909.  This book belonged to Judge F. R. Hogeboom.  Submitted by Mr. & Mrs. M. Moore.

Nebraska State Gazetteer,
Business Directory and Farmers List
for 1890-1891

CLAY COUNTY

Frank Abbey, Edgar

The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 16, 1900 shows Frank Abbey (age 52) born January 1848 in French Canada and having emigrated in 1851 and a Naturalized citizen is a Farmer living in Red Cloud Twp., Webster Co., NE. Living with him is his wife of 23 years, Mary J. Abbey (age 44) born October 1855 in Illinois, with all five of the children born to her still alive. Also living there are his four unmarried children, all born in Nebraska to French Canadian and Illinois-born parents: Orrin R. Abbey (age 19) born December 1880, a Farm Laborer; John F. Abbey (age 15) born August 1884; Bessie M. Abbey (age 9) born August 1890; and Walter L. Abbey (age 4) born June 1895.

The 1910 U. S. Census taken on April 15, 1910 shows Francis Abby (age 62) born in Canada to New York and Irish-born parents is a Farmer owing his own farm and living in Elm Creek Twp., Webster Co., NE. Living with him is his wife of 32 years, Mary J. Abby (age 54) born in Illinois to Indiana and England-born parents, who has all 5 of the children born to her still living. Also living there are his three unmarried children, all born in Nebraska to Canada and Illinois-born parents: Orin R. Abby (age 29) a Farmer; Bessie M. Abby (age 19); and Walter L. Abby (age 14).

On September 12, 1918 the WWI Draft Registration Report shows John Francis Abbey was farming by himself and living in Route 4, Red Cloud, Webster Co., NE. His nearest relative was Frank F. Abbey, who has the same address.

The 1920 U. S. Census taken on January 5, 1920 shows Frank Abbey (age 71) born in Canada to French and English-born parents and emigrating in 1860 is a Farmer living in Elm Creek Twp., Webster Co., NE. His wife Mary J. Abbey (age 64) born in Illinois to Indiana and English-born parents.

Francis F. Abbey died about April 1925 in Nebraska at about age 77.

The 1930 U. S. Census taken on April 11, 1930 shows Alex Nephews (age 47) born in Nebraska to French Canadian and Missouri-born parents and first married at age 21 and owns his own home worth $5,000 is a Dry Cleaning Shop Owner is living at 915 J Street, 4th Ward, in the City of Fairbury, Fairbury Twp., Jefferson Co., NE. Living with him is his wife; Bessie Nephews (age 36) born in Nebraska to English Canadian and Illinois-born parents and first married at age 21 is a Presser in a Dry Cleaning Shop. Also living there is Alex's widowed mother-in-law, Mary J. Abbey (age 74) born in Illinois to Indiana and English-born parents.

Mary J. (Unknown) Abbey died after 1930 in Nebraska.