Talbot Mead Dead

>From Tuesday's daily

Talbot Mead, 96, who was one of the oldest men
in southwestern Iowa and one of the first settlers
of Fremont County, died Sunday night at the home
of his son, Frank Mead, in Hamburg, of old age.

Mr. Mead was born in Kentucky in 1826, where he grew to manhood,
and in 1853 was married to Miss Lucretia Nicewanderer.
The family lived near Payne Junction for years, where he
was very successful, owning many acres of land. He was 
a frequent visitor to this city, and was quite well known.

He is survived by twelve children: John Mead, Dunbar; James, 
Thomas, Talbot, Jr., and Samuel, of Fremont county, Ia; Charles,
of Nebraska City; Joseph Mead of Payne; Mrs. Mary McMunn Percival;
Mrs. Belle Mc Cann, Syracuse;Mrs. James Wirt, Syracuse; 
Mrs. Olla Keys, Payne.

The funeral services were held this morning at Hamburg, conducted by
Rev. S. P. Cresap, of this city.

>From the Nebraska City Weekly       September 1922


OLDEST RESIDENT OF HAMBURG DIES AT 96		

Tolbert Mead Pioneer Settler Dies Sunday After a Long and 
Useful Life:  Knew Eastport when a flourishing city

At the ripe age of ninety six years and one month, Talbert Mead 
died at the home of his son Frank Mead in Hamburg on Sunday. Mr. Mead
 was the oldest man in this community, and possibly in this section of the state.  For some time past  Mr. Mead has been almost helpless physically 
but his mentality was keen up until the time of his death.

It is given to but few men to live to the ripe old age Mr. Mead attained, and living during the pioneering days of this country he witnessed the great change which took place on the raw prairies of the middle west and helped in the large measure in the establishment of the settlement  of the west part of Fremont County and was vigorous in all movements for law and order. Mr. Mead was a member from childhood of the South M.E. church and a great student of the bible. He not only belive but lived the faith and could always be depended upon in those early days to take his stand for the betterment of the community.

In the days before and during the war, Mr. Mead lived in Missouri, near Kansas City.  When the Civil War broke out he enlisted with the Confederate army and was under "Pap" Price for six months.  While he did not believe in slavery, he was of the south and naturally for his home land. After the six months of service he changed his mind on the great conflict and decided the North was  right, and so declared himself and as the result was imprisoned for another six months.  While  still in the Southern army he was home on a short leave when a detachment of Northern soldiers  stopped at his home.  He made for the corn field where he remained until their departure, while his wife fed and entertained the visitors.

Mr. Mead was in prison at old Kansas City for six months and was the cook of the camp. He was given unusual liberty and among other things held the keys to the cellar. One day a Northern soldier Ask for the keys saying that if he could get to the cellar for a day he would make a way for all to escape.  It was a huge task that this man attempted, but with hanging only one day removed one could work with fevered haste, and at this he did with only a butcher knife to accomplish the task.  By night he had a hole large enough to permit a man to crawl through, and when morning came the prison was deserted as far as prisoners was concerned.   Then men went across the river to Kansas on the ice 
and but with this barrier between them and their former captors were perfectly safe.  Officials of the prison afterwards sent word to Mead that he need not feared death, for they expected to keep him for a time and then set him free, for he was such a good cook.

After the escape Mr. Mead split rails for twenty five cents per hundred and also had charge of a gang of colored people.  In telling of his experiences Mr. Mead would often jokingly say that he and Lincoln were very much alike especially in the rail splitting experiences.

In the fall of 1864 Mr. Mead set foot in Eastport, near Percival then a thriving city of 1700 people. Shortly afterwards the family was sent for and they took their residence in the town and land was purchased and he commenced again his work of a farmer, which he continued until he retired a number of years ago.  Eastport, from its very location was destined to be a lively city in every sense of the word. Border ruffians made the town their headquarters when necessary to hid out for a time, Indians were often camped about the town and for a distance of two and Hall miles each way from town was the "soldiers reserve" where the Union armies camped at different times.  On account of the encroachment of the Missouri River the site of the town was changed and after the war the town commenced to lose population, and the buildings were torn down or moved a few a a time until only a few remained.  Mr.  Mead purchased the Town site  and farmed there for many years, afterwards selling it to his son Jim, who now owns the tract, and is the only surviving resident of the once thriving city.

Talbert Mead was born in Big Sandy, Kentucky   August 17, 1826 and died at Hamburg, Sunday September 17,1922 aged 96 years and one month.  He was married while still living in the South, and his wife died twenty years ago 
this month.   Thirteen children were born to this union, one son, Ben dying at the age of two years. The living are Mrs. Chas. McCann of Syracuse, Nebraska;  Mrs. E. J. McMunn, Mrs. F. J. Wertz and Mrs. Ollie Keys of Percival,  Jim, Thomas, Samuel and Talbert, Jr. of Percival;  John of Dunbar, Nebraska ; Charles of Nebraska City and Joseph of Payne and Frank of this place.  He also leaves fifty six grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grand children.

The funeral services were held at the home of Frank Mead on Tuesday Morring at 11 o'clock, conducted by the Rev. S. P. Cresap of Nebraska City, and internment was made in the cemetery at Nebraska City.   The eight sons acted as pall bearers.

[NOTE ADDED cemetery called Wyuka]