Re: Preece family of Battle Creek, Nebraska
-
In reply to:
Preece family of Battle Creek, Nebraska
Jeanne Netherton 2/06/07
I am very familiar with all the Preeces of Battle Creek, Nebraska and their descendants. In all of my studies and research, I have never come across the name of Sam Preece. Maybe if you gave me more information on how you came across the name of Sam then I might possibly help you. The first Preece in Battle Creek Nebraska was my great grandfather Douglas (sometimes spelled Douglass) Preece who homesteaded there in 1869. He had four children, Timothy Douglas b.1868, William Eli b. 1869, John Benfamin b. 1870 and Mary Nettie b. 1872 who married Duncan Doles in 1896 in Talogo, Oklahoma. Timothy Douglas, my grandfather, died in Battle Creek. William Eli lived a great deal of his life in Oklahoma and California but died in Colorado Springs, Colorado, John Benjain died in Los Molinos, California. I have details of all of their children including, I thought, even those who died young. I have never come across the name Sam. Although this Preece family were not Mormons, there were a lot of Preeces who were Mormons and who settled in Utah and surrounding states. Maybe your Sam is with one of those families.
I have been searching for years for what happened to the father of Douglas Preece whose name was Thomas. He left his wife and sons Douglas and Alfred in Montgomery County Iowa in 1860-61 to seek his fortune in the Idaho Silver Rush. He was killed by either Indians or claim jumpers in Idaho near Boise, but we do not have any more details. His son Alfred subsequently also disappeared apparently trying to find his father, or was with his father when this happened. Douglas, my great grandfather ran away from home in 1961 and joined the 14th Iowa Infantry in the Civil War. I have his complete military record and wrote and published a book on him. After the Civil War he went to Carlyle, Illinois and married a Mary Ann Carrabine and they with her family went to Battle Creek to homestead. After having four children, Mary Ann died in Battle Creek, probably from a childbirth. Douglas never remarried. He died in a Veteran's Home in Red Bluff California. His body was taken back to Battle Creek and was buried there.