William Hiram Botsford

BOTSFORD, JOHNSTON, TERRY

Posted By: George W Botsford (email)
Date: 11/19/2013 at 15:35:58

WILLIAM HIRAM BOTSFORD

Farmer and harnessmaker, Palmyra Nebraska was born in Livonia, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 4, 1832, The parents of our subject were Elnathan and Zulpha (Terry) Botsford, who were natives of Livingston County, N. Y.; the father was born near Livonia and the mother near Lima,N.Y.. Elnathan Botsford was a painter by trade but died when a young man thirty-two years of age in 1837, in his native town. The family included two sons. William then at age six years was taken to Seneca County, Ohio, by his uncle; where he remained until 1848, When he then was apprenticed to the harness and saddlery business and worked in Seneca and Sandusky counties until April 16, 1855, William was married October 29, 1854, to Miss Margaret Anne Johnston, the second daughter of the late Mr. Johnston, a prominent farmer of Seneca County, Ohio, who was killed by a stroke of lightning while sitting in his house enjoying a social time with his family.

On April 22, 1855, Mr. Botsford and wife Magaret moved to Fayette County Iowa,near West Union. Where he rented a farm and turned his attention to raising a family of four children and farming pursuits until March 1, 1863, when he enlisted in Company F Seventh Iowa Cavalry and was mustered into service a private seeing duty at Military Posts in Nebraska & Colorado Territory. Serving until May 16, 1865 when discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kassas when he returned home to Fayette County Iowa, where he continued to work his farm and enjoy life with his family until May 11, 1870,

When he moved his family by two covered wagons, each drawn by 4 span of oxen, to a 40 acre farm near Otoe County Nebraska near Palmyra NE (on Section 22, Town 8, Range 9, on a homestead of forty acres), Here he made a dugout and lived with his family. All the money he had was one $10 bill, but being willing to work and having his family about, it was a necessity. He lived there until 1878, when he was able by industry and perseverance to build a neat frame house, where he lived as does his old neighbors, in the land of plenty, having made up his mind all he has to do is trust in providence with a strong arm and a willing heart.

After fully deciding to make Nebraska his permanent home he bought eighty acres more of railroad land all of which is under cultivation. He has a family of two sons (Frank & George) and three daughters (Hettie,Alice,Eva) four who are doing for themselves and a daughter fifteen years of age at home. The youngest son is in the Lincoln University, where he has been nearly three years. Mr. Botsford is a prominent member of the G. A. R., and ranks as Major and is a staunch Republican in politics. He was one of the charter members of the Mansfield Post No. 54, situated at Palmyra Nbraska.

Interrnment : Rosewood Hill Cemetery- Palmyra, NE.

WILLIAM HIRAM BOTSFORD b. Livingston County Livonia New York June 4,1832 - d.Palmyra Nebraska Dec.1,1891.. buried: Rosewood Hill Cemetery Palmyra NE.

MARGARET ANNE (Johnston ) BOTSFORD b Seneca Co. Sandusky Ohio March 25, 1832 d.Palmyra Nebraska Jan. 18, 1899