Yuma County, Colorado
Photographs

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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

Nathan Green Melton and Emily Elizah (Stevens) Melton, Witherbee
Nathan G. Melton married Emily E. Stevens March 18, 1859 in Harrison County Indiana.

Emily was the daughter of William "Buck" Stevens and his second wife Jane W. Rankin, buried in Corydon, Harrison County, Indiana.

In 1870 Harrison County they have Eliza A. 10, William H. 8, Emma O. 3, and month-old Florence E.

In 1880 Harrison County, Indiana Nathan and Emily E. both 43, have Lada A. 17, William H. 16, Emma L. 14, and Florence E. 11, all born in Indiana.

Probably cousin to the " William G. Melton, born in Harrison County October 20, 1869, the son of James H. and Catharine (Snyder) Melton.  The father was a general farmer who died in Indiana in 1877.  There were eight children in the Melton family, of whom four are living:  Harvey B., Jonathan K. George L., of York, Nebraska,  DEUEL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY - William, Harvey, and Jonathan are farming and ranching near Lodgepole in Deuel County."

Emma L. Melton probably married George W. Conrad in 1884, and they're in Bates County Missouri in 1900.

In 1885 York County, Nebraska Nathan G. and Emily have Ella F. 15 and Wm. H. 22.

Thank you Matt and Michelle !

Florence Ella might have married Arthur Bellows in 1888, and they're in Bates County in 1900.

1888 7-43 (ten miles north of the Yuma claim) "Mr. N. Melton and daughter were visiting at Dr. Pugh's a few days this week."

Frank Willard Pugh, the only child of William Eugene and Lavina Pugh, was born near Holyoke on September 20, 1888. His father practiced dentistry here for many years.  So Nathan's brother-in-law was a dentist.

1908  "Mrs. Dr. Pugh and son, Frank, expect to start for Indiana soon for an extended visit to Mrs. Pugh’s old home."

State Herald - Holyoke Colorado - November 2, 1888 in the 'Chick-a-Dee' items, mentioning location of 7 43 (that would be a little southeast of Holyoke)  "Emily E. Melton, wife of N. G. Melton, was born April 3, 1837 in Harrison County, Ind., and died September 19, 1888 in Lamar, Chase County, Neb.  She was a faithful and true follower of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a loyal member of the Presbyterian church for sixteen years.  She was a devout wife and an affectionate mother, leaving a kind husband and three sorrowing children to mourn her loss.  May they say:

'I take, O cross, Thy shadow For my abiding place:  I ask no other sunshine, Than the sunshine of thy face: Content to let the world go by.  To know no gain or loss--- My sinful self my only shame, My glory all, the cross.'

Oct. 27, 1888   -  DAISY "

The York Republican said that "We learn from Jacob Stevens that Mrs. N.G. Melton, of Chase County....died two weeks ago." 

1889 "N. Melton, of Lamar, was the guest of Dr. Pugh several days this week."

Nathan cash-claimed a quarter in 19, 5N 42W in 1891 - next to Thomas Collins, Oliver Rankin,  and James Walker- also in 1891.

Because Emily's mother was born Jane Rankin in Harrison County, Indiana, Oliver might be a cousin or uncle.

William Harrison Melton married Emma Elizabeth Reed in Nebraska in 1885.

In 1900 York County William is married to Rud E. June 1864 Iowa, and they have four kids, all born in Nebraska.

In 1922 Edward F. Enyeart, administrator of the estate of William N. Enyeart sued John F. Barnes, Thedore (sic) E. Hall, Nathan G. Melton, George E. Clark and J. Abbot Thompson regarding ownership of that quarter.

In 1912 W.J. Melton was delinquent on taxes for a quarter in 5, 5N 46W

EMILY's SISTER

Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, October 28, 1937

HOLD SERVICES FOR MRS. PUGH
Deceased Had Been Resident Of Phillips County For Half Century

The diminishing ranks of Phillips County's pioneers were lessened by one more this week with the passing of Mrs. Lavina Dorcas Pugh, funeral services for whom took place at the Baptist church on Monday afternoon. Mrs. Pugh died Saturday morning at 6:15 o'clock at her home five and one-half miles east of Holyoke, lacking only slightly more than a month of being 82 years of age.

Cancer was the cause of her death. She had been in failing health for some time but had not been bedfast until the past few weeks.

Mrs. Pugh was a resident east of Holyoke for half a century, coming here before the county of Phillips was organized, and previous to that she had homesteaded in Chase County, Nebraska, near Lamar.

Her maiden name was Stevens. She was born November 26, 1855 at Corydon, Indiana and resided there for the first thirty years of her life. She enjoyed an enviable reputation as a singer when a young lady and was much sought after as an entertainer. She was an active member of the Presbyterian church there as well as here in later years.

After the death of both her father and mother, she came westward settling at York, Nebraska for a short time before coming on to Chase County, Nebraska, where she homesteaded. She was married to William Edwin Pugh December 1, 1887, at Lamar, Nebraska, whereupon she and her husband moved to the latter's homestead east of Holyoke. Three years later, they moved westward to the present Pugh farm which adjoins the old homestead.

One son, Frank Willard, was born to them.

Mrs. Pugh was preceded in death by her husband on January 18, 1927, at Holyoke. She was the youngest and the only surviving member of a family of 15 children.

Left to mourn her passing are her son, his wife and three children, many nieces and nephews and innumerable friends. That Mrs. Pugh held a place of affection and esteem in the hearts of a host of friends was attested to by the fact that more than 70 families called at her bedside during her final illness the past three weeks.

Rev. J.G. Bell, pastor of the Presbyterian church, officiated at the funeral services which were held at the Baptist church in order to accommodate the crowd.

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