LEVI N EWTON9 B USHNELL,( Daniel Milton8, Daniel7, Alexander6, William5, William4, John Jr.3 , John2, Francis1) my great grandfather and the ninth child of Daniel Milton BUSHNELL and Minerva COE, was born 24 OCT 1839 at Trumbull County, Ohio.
Levi Newton Bushnell appeared in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 Harrison, Grant, WI census.
1850 Census, E. Dist. No. 25, (Harrison), Grant, WI, pg. 113, Household 386
in the 1860 Census, Harrison, Grant, WI, pg. 203, Household 625:
and in the 1870 Census, Harrison Township, Grant, WI, pg 169, Household 173:
Levi was drafted into the Civil War 20 MAR 1865 and entered service at Camp Randall, Madison, WI. According to his military file he was born at Ohio and was 25 years old when drafted. He was 5'8" tall, had brown eyes, dark hair and light complexion. Levi saw service in Company C, 6th Wisconsin Veteran Infantry from Harrison, WI. The 6th took part in the Grand Review at Washington,DC and was shortly thereafter transferred to Louisville, KY where he was mustered out of the service 14 JUL 1865. His clothing account was settled for $47.31 and there were several comments "has received no pay."
Levi and Johanna Schaap, daughter of Jan Schaap and Hermina Bloemers, were married 18 JUN 1873 at Platteville, Grant, WI and had the following children:
1. Minnie Minerva, born 24 APR 1874 at Platteville, Grant, WI. Minnie and Fred Alonzo
Foote were married 14 FEB 1894 at Blunt, Hughes, SD. Minnie celebrated
her 100th birthday 24 APR 1974 and died four days later.
She is buried at Mountain View Memorial Park, Tacoma, Pierce, WA.
2. Lewis Daniel, born 25 DEC 1875 at Platteville, Grant, WI., died by drowning in the
Yellowstone River on 30 AUG 1900. Read the newspaper
account.
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3. Arthur John, born 03 JAN 1878 at Platteville, Grant, WI, entered the military for service in the Philipines during the Spanish-American War. He was in Company A, 1st Infantry Regiment, SD Volunteers and was appointed a musician. He was discharged 05 OCT 1899. Arthur died of TB 25 MAY 1902. The inscription is: Arthur J. Bushnell, Aged 24 years, 5 months, and 22 Days, Another loved one rests, S.W.V., Spanish American War Vetern (sic). |
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4. Inez C., born 27 MAR 1880 at Platteville, Grant, WI and died at Blunt, Hughes, SD 21 APR 1901 of TB. The inscription reads: INEZ C., Dau. of LEVI N. & JOHANA (sic) BUSHNELL, Born Mar 27, 1880, Died April 21, 1901, Rest my dear one rest. |
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5. Esther Mae, born 24 NOV 1882 at Platteville, Grant, WI, married Ray L. Grier 01 MAY 1901. She died of TB 01 APR 1916
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6. Alma, my grandmother, was born 02 OCT 1884 at Sully County, SD, and began her education in the public schools. She attended Pierre High School for three years and taught at a school on the Pine Ridge Reservation. I have not yet been able to determine the name of the school. Read a letter written to her future husband, William Phillips, about the reservation Indians and the white man's religion. Also, a letter from J.J. Duncan, the "Day School Inspector". Alma and William Roswell Phillips were married 21 JUN 1905 at Blunt, Hughes, SD. Alma died 09 FEB 1928 at Brentford, Spink, SD and is buried at the Plainview cemetary at Brentford. Alma's obituary. For Alma's children see the William R. Phillips page. |
7. George Roscoe, born 27 FEB 1889 at Sully County, SD, married Louise Weisness. George and Louise moved to the west coast.
8. Blanche Ila, born 02 FEB 1892 at Sully County, SD, married Ephram Murray Bell on 07 JAN 1907. She and Bell were divorced 18 APR 1938 at Long Beach, CA. On 11 NOV 1940 she married Clarence Whetsel. Blanche and Clarence were divorced 04 SEP 1947. Blanche died 21 APR 1977.
Levi took his family to Sully County, Dakota Territory in 1884, after the death of his mother, Minerva Coe Bushnell, and made land entry (homestead, see the Land Entry Case File) to the SE Quarter of Section 5, in Township 114N, of Range 75W, containing 160 acres. He said on his application, number 8897, that his actual date of entry was 25 JUN 1884. Levi's application was made under the "Soldiers and Sailor's Homesteads; Under Act June 8, 1872."
On 06 JUL 1889 Levi gave notice of his intent to make final proof to establish his claim. He was required to list four witnesses who could attest under oath to his continuous residence on the claim and to his improvements to the claim.
The witnesses were Francis P. McCamley, 71, of McCamley, DT, Henry Kuntsmann, of McCamley, DT, Albert L. Sauvage, of Turley, DT, and Isaac Sauvage, 28, of Turley, DT. The witnesses actually testifying were Francis McCamley and Isaac Sauvage.
Levi and his two witnesses appeared before J.H. Gropengieser, Judge and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Probate court, on 06 SEP 1889.
In his testimony Levi stated he was a farmer, a native born citizen and had previously lived in Grant County, WI. He further stated the land had no mineral value, no timber, and was prairie land best suited for agricultural purposes.
Levi said he commenced building a frame house 22 MAY 1884. He described his house as "Frame - 12X20 feet - shingle roof - addition 8X10 feet - Sided and sodded up on outside and papered on inside, 3 rooms, 3 doors, 2 windows and good floor and cellar having a value of $50.00. He said he had broke(plowed) 30 acres having a value of $90.00, and dug a well 28 feet deep and "stoned up" to which he assigned a value of $75.00.
Levi said he had a 1/2 interest in a mower and hay rake, a wagon and some small farm tools. He had two horses and "4 head of cattle."
The family consisted of Levi, his wife, Johanna Schaap Bushnell, and seven children and their personal property was, " beds and bedding, chairs, sewing machine, bureau, cupboard, cook stove, cooking utensils, dishes, etc."
Levi stated he had been continuously in residence on the claim except for the time between 16 NOV 1888 and 22 APR 1889 when he resided in Blunt for the purpose of educating his children.
Levi said he had raised crops five years consisting of wheat, corn, oats, and flax, and had a garden each year. Levi worked around the neighborhood at carpentering and harvesting and paid taxes in Sully county and last voted in Sully county on 14 MAY 1889.
At the Land Office at Huron, DT on 10 SEP 1889 the Commissiner of the General Land Office, James McDowell, signed Levi's Certificate entitling him to a Patent on his claim. Patent issued 24 JUN 1890.
Levi mortaged his land on 28 SEP 1889 to William H. Leighty for $250.00 payable in 5 years with interest at 10%. The mortgage was recorded 30 SEP 1889 in the office of the Register of Deeds of the County of Sully, in Book 4 of Mortgages, on page 521. No payments were made and on 23 DEC 1893, after Levi had died, the sheriff, Alvin Erb, did offer for sale on the court house steps the claim of Levi Newton Bushnell.
Levi, on 03 OCT 1891 applied for a military pension numbered 995692. He said he had contracted Dyspepsia and Fistula in the army and had suffered from both diseases since 1876 and that the diseases were not due to "visious habits".
On 25 NOV 1893 his application was returned to the "Commissioner of Pensions" with the notation to examine all records as to diseases, wounds, or injuries incurred by Levi while in service. The medical records showed he had made no complaint while in service.
All of this was, of course, much ado about nothing, as Levi had died 04 JUL 1893. He was buried at Blunt, Hughes, SD on 05 JUL 1893. See levi's obituary.
So, Johanna found herself a relatively young widow at 40, with seven children and no place to call home. The 1890's in South Dakota were difficult at best and many left their claims. There are reports of grasshoppers flying so thick "they would blot out the sun" and drought caused dust storms where the land drifted like black snow. Crop failures were ordinary and it is likely these conditions were factors in the Levi Bushnells being unable to pay their mortgage. In addition, although Levi's pension claim was apparently going nowhere, it is reasonable to assume because of his death at a young age, 54, that he was not in good health. I don't know the cause of his death but three of his eight children died of TB and another, my grandmother, Alma Bushnell, died young.
In 1892 the parents of Johanna, Jan Schaap and his wife, Hermina Bloemers, moved to DT. Both are buried at Blunt, Hughes, SD and Hermina was a witness in Hanna's Widow's Pension application. Johanna moved back to WI, and on 07 May 1906 married Issac Hillary, divorced him, and eventually, I believe, was able to claim a small widow's pension. Hannah died 14 Jan 1940 at Yakima, WA.
From the Silverton Appeal-Tribune, Friday 26 January 1940 the following obituary: "Mrs. Mina Foote received word of the death of her sister, Mrs. Johanna Bushnell, Jan. 14, at the home of her daughter in Yakima, Wn. at the age of 86 years and six months. She leaves two daughters and one son, 23 grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Foote to mourn her loss. 'Auntie' Bushnell, as she was known here, lived with her sister, Mrs. Foote, for four years in Silverton. She returned to her daughters home three years ago. Her cheerful, Christian spirit won her many friends everywhere."
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