John Willard Newell

John Willard Newell received his education in the public schools of Massachusetts, and on completing his training began to assist his father, who was in modest financial circumstances. Times were hard in Massachusetts at that time, however, and the youth, finding that he was making no progress, decided to try his fortunes in the West. To do this he had to rely upon his own resources, for his capital was decidedly small, but he possessed the optimism of his years and is self-reliance was great. After getting as far as Quincy, Illinois, he took a boat for St. Louis, and with but $30 in his pocket embarked for Leavenworth. The times were troublous (sic), as passions were inflamed due to the controversy arising from the unsettled conditions that were to eventuate in the Civil war. When he arrived at Leavenworth he found the town crowded, and his first night's bed was the floor of a bar room,. His money now being spent he went to a Kansas farm where he worked for two weeks and secured $10, then returning to Leavenworth he took a boat up the river. Omaha was the destination of Mr. Newell and a young companion, but after sleeping on the floor of a heavily-overladen and unsafe vessel, the partners agreed that traveling by land was more desirable, and accordingly, after giving the porter 50 cents to unload their trunks at Omaha, they left the vessel a Brownsville and made their way by foot from that point to Omaha, where they arrived weary and footsore three days later. Mr. Newell, upon his arrival at that city, was possessed of just ten cents, but soon found employment digging a ditch, and after two days' work received $2. For two or three days thereafter he worked in a brick yard, but while thus engaged was unfortunate enough to contract mumps and measles and had to give up his position. Nest he hired out on a farm, on which he worked during the summer and followed the trade of shoemaker in the winter. In 1858 he and his partner rented a farm and raised a crop of corn that brought them $400 in gold, and in 1859, during the gold excitement, went to Pike's Peak, Colorado, making the journey by wagon. Camping at clear Creek, the youthful associates traded with the people that were going and coming from the gold diggings and remained there until 1861, when they sold out and returned to Omaha. There they divided, Mr. Newell settling at Omaha and his former partner going to Kansas. They had the distinction of being the first settlers in Polk County, Colorado. After his return to Omaha, Mr. Newell built a barn, but sold out and purchased a baker, in connection with which he had the first cracker machine in Omaha. During 1862 he ran this establishment both night and day in order to supply the demand, but in 1863 disposed of his interests. Mr. Newell had some experience in freighting to Denver, Colorado, and Nebraska City, Nebraska, and during this period had many adventures, both exciting and interesting, the Indians being numerous, and occasions, very troublesome. Leaving Omaha May 10, 1863, with a party of fourteen or fifteen, in ox-teams, he arrived at Bannock City, Montana, in September, and then went to Virginia City and engaged in getting out drift timber and in freighting from Virginia City, Utah, making three trips in one year. While on this journey to Montana, his party was attacked by a large band of hostile Indians, who were driven off only after they had killed three of Mr. Newell's freighting companions. Mr. Newell returned to Omaha in 1864, and in 1865 made a trip to Denver with a load of whiskey. His last freighting trip was made to California in 1866. In February, 1868, he came to Washington County and for two years had a store at Cummings City, following which he resided on a farm near Herman for nine years. He then moved to a farm in the vicinity of Blair, on which he made his home and centered his activities for fifteen years, after which he engaged in the flour and feed business at Blair and was the proprietor of this establishment until he sold out to his son-in-law, since which time he has lived in comfortable retirement. Mr. Newell was married in the fall of 1865 to Miss Mary E. Wait, who was born in Rhode Island, and to this union there were born two children: Mrs. John McKay; and John Willard, Jr., proprietor of an electrical supplies store at Blair. Mr. Newell has the distinction of being the only charter member of Omaha Lodge of the Odd Fellows fraternity now living and is one of the few living charter members of Blair Lodge of that order, having been an Odd Fellow for fifty-eight years, in 1920. In the year mentioned he was given a piece of jewelry by his lodge emblematic of long service and containing twenty-three jewels. In politics republican, Mr. Newell has taken an interest in local affairs and for three or four years occupied the position of township treasurer. During his long, honorable and successful career, he has attached to himself many friends, and his life is one in which the value of the homely virtues of honesty, perseverance and fidelity has again been demonstrated.

Source: History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska And Their People, Volumes 1 and 11, pages 651-653. Ed. Rev. William H. Buss, Fremont, Thomas T. Osterman, Blair. The American Historical Society, Chicago, 1921.