Jeremiah Shumway, one of the very first settlers of Portland Prairie, died at his home at Lyons,
Neb. Nov 25th, at the age of 94 years. Mr. Shumway came to Portland Prairie in 1854 and resided
on the farm now owned by Alfred Albee until 1881, when he moved to Lyons, Neb. He was a brother
of the late Rufus Shumway of Portland Prairie.
Obituary of Jeremiah Shumway; clipping headed Vol 39 No 4 12-1-21
Jeremiah Shumway, "being old and full of days," passed to his eternal Reward Friday, November 25th.
He was born October 15th, 1827 at Oxford, Massachusetts on the old Peter Shumway farm, and
there grew to manhood. At the age of fourteen he was employed at a salary of $50 per year
with the privilege of attending school three months during the winter, and at the age of nineteen
years took up and learned the carpenter trade, receiving $5 per month and his board. On July 24
1852 he was married to Mary Maria Paine who was born in Burrilville, Rhode Island and to this union eight
children were born.
In 1854, two years after his marriage, he with his wife and four relatives left their native home
for the West, travelling by stage as far as the Mississippi River, by boat to Lansing, Iowa, then
by ox team to Houston Co, Minnesota where he and his family settled on a squatter's claim of
160 acres and resided until the year 1881, when they disposed of their Minnesota land and
moved to Lyons, Nebraska. During his residence in Minnesota he passed through the hard
times and "wild cat money" of 1857 and also the uprising of the Sioux Indians in 1862 at which
time his wife and children were sent east to the Mississippi River for safety. In 1864 he enlisted
in Co A 5th Minnesota Regiment and participated in the battles of Nashville under General
Thomas, the subsequent pursuit of Hood's Army, and in the capture of Mobile, serving until
the close of the war.
On settling in Lyons he engaged in the lumber, farm machinery and coal business which with
his sons he continued during his lifetime. He was a member of the Methodist Church for over
fifty years and contributed much financial aid and assistance in the building of our home
church and in its necessary maintenance and support. He was always an active member
of the G.A.R. Post at Lyons and for many years its commander; in 1908 he was honored
with the appointment as colonel on the Staff of the Department Commanders by Governor
Mickey. His wife departed this life August 19, 1898 and since that time two of his sons,
H.P. Shumway and Edmund E. Shumway have passed away so that Mr. Shumway left surviving
him five children, thirty-one grandchildren, and twenty-four great grandchildren. The funeral
services were held Sunday afternoon at the M.E. church under the direction of the
G.A.R. Post, the American Legion and the Woman's Relief Corps with Rev Webster of Omaha,
Mr. Shumway's former pastor and who had also conducted the funeral services of Mrs
Shumway, officiating, the scripture lesson being from the Second Chapter of Second Kings.
At the time of his death Mr. Shumway had been a resident of Lyons for forty years and
it might truthfully be said of him that
"None knew him but to love him - none named him but to praise." Of an extremely quiet
gentle nature yet where a principle was involved he was immovable. His was a practical
Christian life- and as such was felt and acknowledged by all who came in contact with him
in either a business or a social way. His trust in God and his hope of a resurrection was deep
and abiding and as he neared the end his mind and heart seemed to reach out to the great
beyond where he knew his beloved wife and children awaited him.
He suffered no pain but was confined to his bed for some weeks by an increasing weakness.
He made no complaint but to those who attended him it was manifest that his spirit was poised
for flight and that he longed for release from the detaining body. His last audible words,
"Oh. let me go!" were evidence of this and as he closed his eyes on the scenes of earth one
could not doubt that already the longed-for reunion had taken place.
And so ended a strong, beautiful life and as his casket, borne by his six soldier grandsons
in the khaki of their late service, was lowered to its final resting place, the burden of the "taps"
blown, above that sacred spot seemed a fitting and beautiful farewell.
Enlisted in 1864 Co. A 5th Minnesota Reg't, participated in Battle of Nahville under Gen. Thomas.
Private in 5th Minnesota in Civil War (11/19/1864 to 9/6/1865] - was a coal & lumber dealer and a farmer.
In the spring of 1881 J. Shumway and family moved to Nebraska
Who is this family member?