Kit Carson County, Colorado
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Kit Carson County Pioneers:

George F. Pulsifer, 9 South 50 West



"ELMER BENNETT was born in Fairfield Township, Cumberland Co., N.Y., Nov. 27, 1805. He is a son of William and Esther (Elmer) Bennett. Nathan Bennett, an ancestor of our subject, was a son of Samuel Bennett, one of the first settlers of Western New Jersey, and the first to erect a saw and grist mill. He was a native of Holland, and reared a large family, among whom were Jonathan, and Samuel, the great-grandfather of our subject. Nathan married Sarah Bateman, who bore Nathan, William, Samuel, John, Josiah, Sarah, Abigail, Ruth and Rhoda, all married in New Jersey. Jonathan Elmer, the maternal grandfather, was a prominent man in that State, and for many years was a civil engineer in that country. He surveyed and made a deed from the State to Samuel Bennett of several sections of land in that State, at the nominal price of five cents per acres. After Bennett's death the land was divided between his heirs, none of whom are present owners.
In the spring of 1836 the Bennett family moved to Shelbyville, Ind., and in 1838 came to the State of Iowa, locating on Brush Creek in Des Moines County. Our subject states that letter postage was then twenty-five cents, and that their mail was obtained at Burlington, then a little town which had not a frame building, and there were but two brick houses in it. The post-office was kept in a small log house on the river bank. The first land sale was held in Burlington, at which he was present, and at that date his father and Rufus both purchased an 80-acre tract in Des Moines County, and 120 acres besides. William Bennett and his wife were the parents of nine children, all born in New Jersey, and all came to Iowa. Our subject was the only one married at that time, his wife being Lucy A. Jaggers, born May 17, 1811, who was he mother of three children before they had located in Iowa. Emily was the wife of Alexander Neal, and Caroline the wife of Charles Berg, born in New Jersey, and Rufus, husband of Mary F. Moore, was born in Shelbyville, Ind.
Our subject was a very poor man in a financial sense, and his first land was purchased not with money, but by splitting for Terry, 14,000 rails, for which he was given a deed to sixteen acres of timber land, which was afterward traded to his brother Rufus for forty acres on section 28, on Crooked Creek, Elmer also giving a yoke of steers. His brother Rufus had taken a claim of 160 acres now owned by our subject, but after a trial in the new and undeveloped country, traded the claim to Elmer for a trifle, and helped him build a log cabin, about 1840, and during that spring Elmer moved his family to their new home. The land was entered about 1843, he purchasing it from Hon. John H. Gear, of Burlington, for $110. The patent from the Government is still in his possession, and the land has never been owned by any other man. Every improvement on that farm has been made by Elmer Bennett. Mary, the wife of Thomas Maxwell, was the first child born to them in Iowa, followed by the births of Frank F., husband of Margaret H. Maxwell, who were both born in Des Moines County; Violetta, the wife of John A. Alexander, and Robert, were born on the ancestral farm in this township. All are living except Robert. Thomas Maxwell was a soldier during the late war, and Jesse Berry, first husband of Caroline Bennett, was killed at the first assault before Petersburg. Both were brave soldiers and honorable men.
The Bennetts were Free-soilers in New Jersey, but were ardent members of the Republican party after coming to Iowa, being among the organizers of the part in this State. Elmer Bennett has grown from a very humble beginning to be one of the wealthy men of this township. Honest, energetic, a kind father and liberal neighbor, both himself and family have endeared themselves to the residents of
their county in every way. Their children were all well educated, and Mary was a teacher of merit in the State of Ohio. Rufus, the eldest son, was for three years a soldier, and served in all the memorable battles of the war. The aged father and his wife celebrated their golden wedding in 1882, and take rank among the oldest, if not the very oldest, married couples in the county. After the death of Dr. George Pulsifer, first husband of Mary Bennett, their son Frank was adopted by our subject, and is as dearly loved by them as their own children. His father was a talented man, highly educated in medicine and dental surgery, and an accomplished gentleman. Mr. Bennett has served as Justice of the Peace, and for many years was supervisor. Both himself and wife have been members of the Congregational Church for fifty years, but both were reared in the Presbyterian Church.
Elmer Bennett is perhaps the only man residing in the township who was personally acquainted with the noted Indian chief, Black Hawk. He is also an intimate friend of ex-Governor John H. Gear, present Member of Congress of this district, from whom his first land was purchased, and who, in his visits to this part of the country, never fails to call upon his old and honest friend. No family deserves more especial mention than that of Deacon Bennett, who for more than half a century has been a Deacon in the Congregational Church. Two of his daughters have been contributors to several of the leading magazines and papers, and have shown more than ordinary ability in literature, and had they endeavored to make themselves known in the literary world, might have ranked among the most illustrious, especially the eldest and youngest daughters, Carrie and Lettie. "The Conflict is Over," with many others of note, composed by Carrie, won meritorius praise throughout the State, and "Apple Blossoms," composed by Lettie, is by many eminent critics ranked second only to "Gray's Elegy;" showing the same style of expression, and is a rare production. Competent judges have decided that their poems rank even higher than those of the noted Cary sisters. In a series of articles written for an Eastern magazine, she displays a degree of humorous talent rarely equaled. In each and all of this family no thought of self has been fostered; charity and love for all is the maxim that binds them together, and in possession of gifted intellects, they stand far above many who have become more widely known. Their household cares were not neglected while engaged in literary work, and while soothing their children, many of their brightest poetic gems were created. An excellent portrait of Mr. Bennett accompanies this sketch."



December 1887 Thomas County, Kansas, North Pole items " R. B. Yocum and G. F. Pulsifer are digging a well, and building and otherwise improving Bob Mintier's farm."

George F. Pulsifer claimed 80 acres in section 1, 8S 35W (Thomas County, Kansas, about 80 miles east of Flagler) in 1889.

March 1889 Colby, Kansas, "G. F. Pulsifer, Seibert, Colo., was visiting his Thomas county friends last week."

George claimed a quarter in section 11, 9S 50W in 1891.

In 1900 Washington County, Iowa, Geo. Pulsifer is a farm laborer, 39, born in Iowa, Anne M, Bennett 84 Aunt, born in New Jersey.

1907

In 1920 Crawford, Washington County, Iowa, G. F. Pulsifer is 58, born in Iowa, a laborer, single.

Frank Pulsifer BIRTH 27 Apr 1861 Washington County, Iowa, USA DEATH 8 Jun 1938 (aged 77) Washington County, Iowa, USA BURIAL Crawfordsville Cemetery Crawfordsville, Washington County, Iowa, USA MEMORIAL ID 66892838

In 1860 Washington County, Iowa, E O Bennet 35 Laura A Bennet 33 Charles S Bennet 4 Julia E Bennet 3 George S Pelsifer 29.

G. "S." Pulsiver and Mary E. Bennett married on September 26, 1860 in Washington County, Iowa.


His mother:
"Mary Elizabeth Bennett was born in Spring Creek, at Burlington, Iowa November 2, 1839 and died Nov. 20, 1914 at the Home of Soldier’s Widows at Marshalltown, Iowa. No word has been advanced concerning her last hours yet she lacked no comfort or care in her declining days save that which came from sweet ministries of near relatives and dear friends.
In January 1846 she came with her parents to Washington County, Iowa. In 1860 Miss Bennett was married to Dr George S Pulsifer, whose death April 29, 1862 was as sudden as it was sad. She then spent some time in the profession of teaching which was her occupation before her marriage. July 5, 1871 Mrs. Pulsifer was married to Thomas W. Maxwell at Washington, Iowa. In 1885 they moved to Clearfield and in August 1887 to Lenox, Iowa where she lived until a short time before her death. She was the mother of two children, George F Pulsifer who still survives and was at the funeral services and Miss Sherlie L Maxwell, a bright beautiful young lady who met an untimely death May 28 1897 by drowning in Storm Lake and whose funeral was the largest attended in the history of Lenox. Miss Maxwell was a general favorite. Her mother never got over the terrible shock of her death. Sorrow was added to a burdened heart when Mr Maxwell died about a year later, April 23, 1898. Mrs. Maxwell is survived by two brothers and two sisters: Rufus E. Bennett of Newkirk, Oklahoma; Frank T. Bennett of Garden City, Kansas; Caroline E Bergh of Wayland, Iowa; and Emily Neal of Keota, Iowa.
In early years she united with the Congregational church in Crawfordsville, Iowa. In 1875 she became a member of the United Presbyterian church of Crawfordsville and afterwards was a member of the same church in Clearfield and Lenox. Mrs. Maxwell will long be remembered for her many good qualities. She was intelligent and kind, active in the church and devoted to her Lord the Savior. The funeral was held at 10:30 o’clock Tuesday morning. December 1, 1914. The pastor, Rev. A. L. Davidson was assisted in the exercises by Rev. N. R. Miles. The text of the sermon was Eccl. 12:7; "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." The interment was in the new cemetery alongside of the husband and the daughter, where the body will await in peace the trumpet call on the morning of the resurrection "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.”"


NOT LIKELY



"Married, in Georgetown June 28th, 1893, at the residence of the bride's parents, Miss Gertrude Nash, to Mr. Geo. Pulsifer, Rev. E. H. Fence officiating. The wedding was a very quiet one, none but the immediate relatives of the family being present, nevertheless the happy bride and groom were the recipiants of many costly presents. The happy couple left on tho afternoon train for Denver. The Miner wishes Mr. and Mrs. Pulsifer, a long and joyous life."

" George Pulsifer died suddenly Tuesday night, Feb. 23d, 1897 of hemorrhage of the lungs. About half past ten o'clock, after the departure of a card club that had spent the evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Pulsifer, Mr. Pulsifer went to a shed for some coal, where he was taken with a hemorrhage. He returned to the porch where Mrs. Pulsifer heard him coughing. She opened the door and saw her husband leaning against a post and an enormous stream of blood issuing from his mouth. After assisting him into the house she summoned a near neighbor who went for a physician, but before his arrival Mr. Pulsifer was dead. He probably did not live five minutes after the hemorrhage came on, and died in his wife's arms, who was literally saturated with blood. The only words he uttered were "Good bye, girlie."
In the death of Mr. Pulsifer, Georgetown loses a good and upright man, whose name will always stand for integrity, honesty, helpfulness of purpose and kindliness of heart towards his fellow man.
Mr. Pulsifer was 41 years of age. He was born in Nova Scotia and came to Colorado from Musquadoboit in 1876. He has followed the vocation of mining, and with the exception of a short time spent in Mexico, he has always made Georgetown his home. He was married on June 28, 1893, to Miss Gertrude Nash, daughter of H. H. Nash of this town, and leaves a lovely and bright little daughter, two-and-a-half years old, who scarcely realizes her great loss. His mother and several sisters reside in Boston, and his brother, Joseph, formerly a resident of Georgetown, is in Arizona. Mr. Pulsifer contracted a severe case of gripp last fall, since which time his health had been failing very fast, and he was contemplating a trip to Arizona, seeking relief.
He was a member of Georgetown Lodge No. 48, A. F. & A. M., under whose auspices he was buried yesterday. A beautiful floral design was from the members of the Nonpariel Club, in token of their regard."

"The marriage of Mrs. Gertrude II. Pulsifer, formerly of Georgetown, to Mr. Orlando T. Diehl of Victor, at the latter city Wednesday, February 12, 1902, has been announced."

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