Page 919
MARCUS R. ABBOTT, one of Hall County's representative men for many years,
an early settler near Wood River and a dependable man in every relation of
life was born at Hatley, Province of Quebec, Canada, February 15, 1844, and
died in Hall County, Nebraska, May 4, 1912. He was the third in a family of
seven children born to Abiel B. and Sabra (Young) Abbott, the others being:
Edward K., Othman A., Mrs. Luella Stokes, Ai H., Mrs. Martha North, and
Edgar P.
The parents of Marcus Riley Abbott moved from Canada to Illinois in his
boyhood and he completed his education at Belvidere, in Boone County, where
he was graduated from the high school. He served through three years of the
Civil War, and was a corporal in Company G, Ninety-fifth Illinois volunteer
infantry, that participated in the battles of Shiloh and Vicksburg, and was
distinguished with his comrades for many exhibitions of personal bravery.
In 1867 he accompanied his brother, Othman A. Abbot (sic), to Hall County,
the latter locating in Grand Island. Marcus R., however continuing farther
west and for a time worked on a ranch in California. In 1872 he returned to
Hall County and took up a homestead situated four miles south of Wood
River, which property, many times enhanced in value, belongs to his
surviving family. In those early years of occupancy, Mr. Abbott added to
his income by working as a clerk at times in the general store of James
Jackson, in Wood River, and also taught school in District No. 5, where old
Wood River was started in 1867. For thirty-five years Mr. Abbott remained
on his farm, having developed and improved it until it is one of the most
attractive and valuable properties in the county. He continued to add to
his acreage until he owned four hundred and eighty acres of fine land, a
tribute to his industry and business judgment. He was widely known and was
always identified with the worthy enterprises that proved beneficial to
this section. He was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge in Wood River.
In her father's home, four and a half miles southwest of Wood River, on
November 26, 1876, Mr. Abbott married Miss Carrie E. Weldon, who was born
in Oswego County, New York, July 5, 1859, third of four children born to
James m. and Jane (Irving) Weldon, who had two other daughters and one son:
Fidelia and Adelia, twins, and James M. The father of Mrs. Abbott served in
a heavy artilley (sic) regiment from New York during the entire period of
the Civil War, and escaping all its dangers, continued a soldier in the
United States army two years longer. Mrs. Abbott was liberally educated.
Prior to coming to Hall County in 1873, she was a student in the high
school of Sand Creek, New York, afterward attending school in Grand Island
during the fall of 1873 and the spring of 1874. During the fall of 1875 and
spring of 1876, she taught school in district 27, four miles southwest of
Wood River, further teaching experience being interrupted by her marriage
in November of the latter year to Marcus R. Abbott. For thirty-five years
Mr. and Mrs. Abbott resided on their homestead, as mentioned above, but
since Mr. Abbott's death she has occupied her attractive, comfortable
residence in Wood River. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Abbott, a
daughter and a son, Sabra J. and Roscoe C. The former, principal of the
Wood River high school, is a graduate of this school and also the Baptist
College, Grand Island. She resides with her mother and both are prominent
in the city's church and social life. The latter, a graduate of the Wood
River high school and of the Nebraska State University, has been instructor
in chemistry in the university for the last four years. He married Miss
Hazel Gooden, a daughter of Albert L. and Emma (Fee) Gooden, and they have
one daughter, Barbara.
Mrs. Abbott is a member of the Eastern Star and during two terms was worthy
matron. During the past two years she has been a faithful, indefatigable
worker in the Red Cross movement, being chairman of the organization at
Wood River, which may well be proud of what it has accomplished in the
great and merciful work in which is (sic) has so patriotically engaged,
there being to its credit 2,000 hospital garments, 1,800 knitted articles
and 8,000 surgical dressings. Both she and daughter are active members of
the Presbyterian church and their benefactions to many charities will never
be wholly known.
History of Hall County
by Buechler, Barr, & Stough (Published 1920)
Transcribed by Larry Coates
