23304. Rev. Jonathan Stickney Haskell
Otoe County Pioneers
A Biographical Dictionary
By Raymond E. Dale
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1963Jonathan S. Haskell, or J. Stickney Haskell as he was often called, was first mentioned at Nebraska City in October, 1859, when it was stated that he was preparing to build himself a fine house. Eighteen months later he was called "formerly of Mt. Pleasant, Illinois." He was probably a recent arrival, for he seems to have been in the news whenever he was in town. He was a Methodist minister. Before the end of the year he appeared in the news three more times; he delivered a lecture on "Self culture" early in November; he preached the Thanksgiving sermon at the Methodist Church; and he gave an elecutionary program late in November.
Jonathan S. Haskell was born at Newburyport, Massachusetts, Aug. 15. 1820, being one of the children of Noah H. and Judith Stickney Haskell. He moved with his parents to the vicinity of Cleveland, Olio, where his mother died soon afterwards. His father had very little property, so he clerked for a short time in a store. Then he joined a circus and traveled through the South. He received very little money and was generally broke. He married April 9, 1840, in Fulton County, Illinois, Harriet N. Loomis. She was born in Medina County, Ohio, June 7,1823, and was a daughter of Job and Zilpha (Hannum) Loomis, both natives of Massachusetts. He was only nineteen years of age at the time he married and he continued his life with the circus a number of years. At least some of the time his wife acccmpanied him. In 1856 he drifted into a revival meeting in St. Louis and joined the Congregational Church He then went to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, as pastor of the Congregational Church and later preached at Des Moines and Council Bluffs, before coming to Nebraska City in 1859. In the federal census of 1860, Mr. Haskell was called a Methodist minister. He owned a ten acre plot of ground at Nebraska City valued at $1,500.00 besides $500.00 worth of personal property, This included a horse and a milk cow. There were two daughters in the family, Maria L., aged 19, born in Illinois, and Caroline L., 13, born in Alabama. According to the territorial census, of 1865 the .younger daughter was born in Georgia.
When Mr. Haskell settled at Nebraska City he held a number of agencies; McCormick reapers and mowers, nursery stock, rattan chairs, organs and oLodeons. In all of those activities business was probably very light. In connection with the McCormick agency Noah D. Haskell, apparently a brother, was employed as a salesman for a short time. Mrs. Haskell was an agent for sewing machines and during her husband's frequent absence advertised the nursery stock for sale. Mr. Haskell went out as a lecturer, at every opportunity. His style is best described by Rev., Amost. S. Billingsley of Brownville: " We had a prayer meeting at 10 today which was led by Rev. Haskell of Nebraska City, who preached five sermons here since last Wed. He is very theatritcal, striking', antic (sic), diverting, often irreverant in his manner, he didn't pray much with us."
He has been a theatrical performer for 24 years. A good clean fellow. Early in December he appeared twice at Brownville and the editor of the Advertiser remarked that he was one of the best lecturers in the county. In March 1860 he gave a lecture at Belvidere, Illinois. As a result of Mr. Haskell's lecture tour, interest in the Methodist Church at Nebraska City was aroused in the East and the local organization received many donations. Was now assigned as the financial agent of the local Methodist organization and made at least one lecture tour in the East as its representative. Eventually influential members of the church became dissatisfied with the results and acused Mr. Haskell of dishonesty. Meanwhile he continued his Lecture tours. Meanwhile the First Nebraska Regiment was being recruited, Rev. J. Stickney Haskell, as he was called, was a candidate for chaplain. This position was given to a minister at Peru, Nebraska. However, he was appointed a Mustering and Disbursing Officer for the United States army with a captain's commission. In January 1862 he was buying pork for the army and recruiting for a Kansas Regiment. In February, the month following,, a number of charges were brought against him and he was retired from the army in disgrace. These charges may have. been modified later, for in September 1862, the local newspaper remarked that it was not known whether he would remain in the Army or not. He continued to be called Captain Haskell however. He then went to New York where he ran a hotel.
In January 1864 Captain Haskell arrived from New York and a few months later it was said that he intended to remain for some time. The editor remarked that he drove the finest carriage team in the Territory. Early in May 1864 Haskell & Burgert opened for business as commission merchants. They handled groceries, boots, shoes and liquor. They were also agents for wagons. Apparently George Burgert, who was a son-in-law of Haskell withdrew from the firm. In th Summer of 1864, Captain Haskell puttup tons of hay for wich he found ready sale. In December 1864 he was called an auctioneer and commission merchant. At this time he had added what was then called a gift enterprise to his business. He probably closed it out by February 1865.
In the middle of January 1865 he started out as a showman by giving a three nights performance at Sidney, Iowa.. He called himself "Houden" and his younger daughter who traveled with him, was called "Caroline Houden." They travelled in a show wagon and gave their performances in a tent. The program was largely a slight-of-hand entertainment. Tickets were also sold to his Gift Enterprise with drawings at the end or the Show. They continued on the road much of the time until June 1868, when they returned to Nebraska City from Michigan. This show was a great success even though his wife and his daughter Caroline each had a leg broken while suspended in mid-air.
A long spell of illness followed. In August 1871 Captain Haskell was business manager of the Atlantic and Pacific Circus. In 1875 he quit the show business and joined the Methodist Church. He spent about three years in California. In 1878 he went to New Orleans where he established a mission. He moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1882. He died at Louisville, Kentucky, of cancer of the stomach, November 19, 1883, at 63 years of age. His wife survived many years and died at Nebraska City, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Burgert, April 15, 1896 at 72 years of age. They were survived by one daughter, Maria, wife of George Burgert of Nebraska City. Caroline, wife of Lon Goodwin, of Marshalltown, Iowa, had died in February, 1883.
References:
a Nebraska City News, 1859 Oct.22, p 3 (l); Nov.5, p 3 (2); Nov.26, p 3 (1,2). .
Nebraska Advertiser (Brownville), 1861 Mar..1 p 3 (1).b Chapman, Otoe and Cass Counties, p 247.
Nebraska City News, 1883 Nov.24, p 2 (3).
Vital Records , Newburyport, Mass., 1, p 182.c Federal Census, 1860, 0toe Co., mss., Family #600, including Productions of Agriculture.
Territorial Census, Mar. 1865,
Nebraska City Pct., Nebraska and Midwest Genealogical Record, XIX, P. 16.d Nebraska City News 1860 Mar.10, p 2 (7); p :3 (1); May 5, p 2 (7); p 3 (1) j Oct .6, p 3 (3).
Peoples Press, 1860 May 4, p 5 (1); June 21, p 3 (3); Ju1. 12, p 2 (4); Aug.16, p 7 (5).e Peoples Press, 1860 May 1, p 7 (1).
f Diary of Amost S. Blllingsley, Brownville minister, mss , , 1859 Nov. 14
Nebraska City News , 1860 May 12, p 2 (4,5,6); p 3 (1).g Peoples Press, 1860 Sept.6, p 5 (2).
Nebraska City News, 1860 Sept. 8, p 3 (3); Oct. l, p 3 (1); Oct, 20, P 2 (I); 1861 Mar.30, p (2 4,5); p 3 (1).
Nebraska Advertiser, 1861 Mar.21, p 3 (l).h Nebraska City News, 1862 Jan. ll, p 3 (1) 1883 Nov.24, p. 2 (3).
Nebraska Advertiser, 1862 Jan.30, p 2 (4); Feb. 13, p 2 (6).
Peoples Press, 1862 Sept. l, p 3 (1).i Peoples Press, 1863 Mar.19, p 3 (1); 1864 Jan. 4, p 3 (1); Jan.15, p 2 (1); May 14, p 2 (1). .
j Peoples Press, 1865 May 21, p 2 (1); Mav 28, p 2 (1,2); June 7, p 2 (1); July 26, P 2 (1)
Nebraska City News, 1864 Dec. 8, p 2 (2); p 3 (1).k Peoples Press, 1865 Jan. 5, p 5 (4,5).
Nebraska City News, 1864 Dec. 8, p 2 (3,4); 1865 Feb. 15, p 2 (1)l Nebraska City News, 1865 Jan. 14, p 2 (2); Feb. 15, p 2 (1); Feb. 27, p.2 (2); Aug.5, P 3 (3); 1868 June 15, p 3 (3).
Nebraska Advertiser, 1865 Mar. 30, p 2 (6); Apr. 6, p 3 (1).m Nebraska Herald, 1869 Apr. 19, p 3 (1); May 3, p 3 (1).
n Nebraska Herald, 1871 Aug. 31, p. 4 (1).
o Chapman, Cess and Otoe Counti.es, p 244
Nebraska City News, 1883, Nov. 24, p 2 (3).
Otoe Chief (Nebraska City), 1896 Apr. 23, p 1 (6).
Cemetery Records.
Notes from
Herbert BassettIn the Book "Hands Up" by D. J. Cook (published in Denver 1897)., he wrote that.B. Haskell was a special agent in Denver and that they investigated the murder of August Gallinger (late 1866) together. The suspect was George Corman
adopted
Benjamin Haskell was a dry goods merchant.
23319. Samuel Spring Haskell Jr.
Samuel Spring Haskell was a clerk.
The Saint Paul Pioneer Press
March 5 & 8, 1896Frank Haskell died after falling down a freight elevator shaft.
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Ramsey County Probate Court
File # 8313
Petition for Letters of Administration
14 March 1896
Probate CourtIn the matter of the estate of Franklin L. Haskell, deceased
To the probate court of said cityThe petition of Frank Haskell of St Paul in the County of Ramsey and state of Minnesota respectfully shows that he is the eldest son of Franklin L. Haskell, deceased that said deceased departed this life at
St Paul in the County of Ramsey and state of Minnesota on the 5th day of March 1896 without leaving any last will and testament to his knowledge, information, and belief, that said deceased was at or immediately previous to his death a resident of the County of Ramsey and State of Minnesota and that said deceased died possessed of certain real estate and personal property in the County of Ramsey, state of Minnesota, that the names, ages, and residence of the heirs of the intestate so far as known to your petitioner are as follows:Name Age Relationship Residence
Frank Haskell 19 son St Paul
Adele Haskell 17 daughter St Paul
Edwin A. Haskell 15 son St Paul
Agnes Haskell 13 daughter St Paul
Louise Woodly 22 adopted daughter St PaulThat the probable value of the personal property of the estate is $100 and that the probable value of real property of the estate is $1,000 and its character is as follows:
1st-Town or City property improved value $1,000
Your petitioner therefore prays that Letters of Administration of the estate of said intestate be granted to Edward C. Mitchell of St Paul in the County of Ramsey, state of Minnesota.
Frank Haskell
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Ramsey County Probate Court
File # 8313
Oath of Appraisers and Inventory and Appraisment
8 June 1896State of Minnesota
County of Ramsey
Probate CourtIn the matter of the estate of Franklin L. Haskell, deceased
Oath of appraisers signed by Matt Jensen and Edward Dahl, dated 8 June 1896.
Inventory and appraisement
Class # 1 Real Estate
Lot # 3 in Block # 190 in Irvine's Addition to West St. Paul $900.00Class # 2 Personal and household goods:
Dining room table 3.00
Two stoves 5.00
Two bedroom sets 10.00
Sewing machine 20.00
Chairs 1.50
Kitchen utensils 5.00
Two cupboards 2.00
Cot, trunk, commode, and stand 2.50
Bedding 3.00
Bedding 1.00
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53.00
Edward C. Mitchell, Administrator
St. Paul and Minneapolis Pioneer Press
December 29, 1884Haskell -- In St. Paul, Dec. 27, Adele, wife of Franklin L. Haskell, aged 34 of malarial fever.
23324. William Orne Haskell Jr.
Patent 115733 - William O. Haskell - Improvement in inkstands
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Newsletter of the Haskell Family Society, Vol 4 # 1, Page 13Mr. William O(rne) Haskell, age 43 and a news editor for the Boston Herald, died of consumption on 27 February 1888 at his residence in Clarendon Hills, Massachusetts. He was born in Chelsea on 24 May 1844, son of William Orne and Sarah Spiller Haskell of that place and grandson of Nathan and Anna Haskell of Newbury. At age 19 he had gone to Chicago to work in a banking house for a year and a half. Returning to Boston he entered his father's business, the manufacture of schoolhouse furniture (firm of William O. Haskell & Son), where he remained until 1876 when the business closed. He then turned to newspaper illustrating and caricature drawing, for which he had a natural taste and ability. Subsequently he entered journalism. When the Evening Star was established in Boston in October 1880, Mr. Haskell became a staff reporter, and in 1881 he became its city and associate editor. Later the same year he joined the Sunday Budget and Manufacturers Gazette as editorial writer. He relinquished the latter post to join the night desk of the Boston Herald, where he continued until his illness.
While living in Chelsea, Mr. Haskell took an interest in most of the social and literary societies organized there prior to 1870. In 1881 he moved with his family to Clarendon Hills, where he resided until his death. In 1868 he had married the eldest daughter of the late Dr. William Rimmer, artist and anatomist. Mr. Haskell's wife and their five children survive him. A man of many accomplishments and a versatile journalist, Mr Haskell was highly respected by all who knew him.