Everetts, Newell H.

EVERETTS, MCMILLAN, HARKNESS, EVERTS, ROBINSON

Posted By: Barry M. Dahl (email)
Date: 2/17/2011 at 13:42:01

From the Decorah Public Opinion of Thurs., Sept. 19, 1935.

Several People of Advanced Age are Residents of the "Little Village of Hesper"

Newell Everetts, Civil War Veteran.

Newell Everetts, soldier, traveler, adventurer, was born in Sutton, Upper Canada, August 20, 1843, but came to Swanton, Vermont, when only three months old. His parents brought him east with them when he was four years old and the family home was established in Maquoketa, IA., for a time. three years later they moved to Pleasant Grove, Minn., where they lived for 16 years. At this time the Civil War broke out, and Mr. Everetts enlisted in the Union army at Rochester, Minn. He fought under General A.J. Smith for over three years, and was in the last battle at Mobile, Ala., before General Lee surrendered. Terrific fighting took place in the battle, during which the Northerners took Spanish Fort and Blakely. The battle lasted 14 days and the loss of life was over 100 per day with a great many more wounded. As Mr. Everetts said, "The bullets flew pretty lively around there for a while."

Mr. Everetts was honorably discharged from service in August, 1865, at St. Paul, Minn., after which he wandered around in the middle west for some years, working at many different occupations. One of his most pleasant memories in his life was with a circus which he joined at Chatfield, Minn. He was with the circus for six weeks or over and during his stay was one of its star performers.

At the age of 24 he married Elmira Harkness at Newburg, Minn., one daughter, Cora, preceded him in death last year. being born to the union. He and his wife and child came to Hesper where they resided for several years, but the love of adventure called Mr. Everetts again, and with his family, he left by train for Denver, Colo. The family lived in and around Denver for nearly twenty-years during which time Mr. Everetts farmed in the mountains, and prospected for gold. His wife died there in 1909, after which he came back to Hesper, where he has lived since, with the exception of occasional trips back to Colorado.

In 1913 he married again, his bride being Elizabeth McMillan of the Hesper vicinity, and who lives with him in their Hesper home.

Mr. Everetts is in remarkably good health for his age and is up and around every day. He takes delight in recalling his early experiences and travels, and has the appearance of a man who has never been idle in his life, and enjoyed every minute of it.

Asked to what he attributed his good health and long life, he answered, "To the fact that I have used tobacco since I was two years old. It's the only thing that has kept me alive."

Note: Some documents state his name as Everts or Everetts, and Elizabeth McMillan's, maiden name was Elizabeth "Lizzie" Robinson.