HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG3972.AM: Amos Llewellyn Gushee, 1836-1911
Papers: 1861-1892
Osceola, Polk County, Nebraska: Farmer
Size: 2 folders
BACKGROUND NOTE
Amos Llewellyn Gushee was born February 18, 1836 in Hope, Maine, the son of Almond Gushee Jr., and Elvira Drake Gushee. He later moved to Massachusetts where he enlisted in the 13th Massachusetts Volunteers at the beginning of the Civil War. In 1867 Gushee went to West Virginia where he taught school, followed by school-teaching jobs in Ohio. Gushee married Mary L. Phillips at Marietta, Ohio, in 1867 and the couple had two children, Helen E. Gushee and Albert L. Gushee. Albert died in infancy. Amos L. Gushee moved to Polk County, Nebraska, in 1873, taking a homestead near Osceola. He continued farming in Polk County until shortly before his death. Gushee died in Chicago at the home of his daughter, Dr. Helen Gushee Gregg, on April 18, 1911.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of typed copies of letters and biographical material, arranged in two series: 1) Correspondence 1861-1892; and 2) Biographical material. The letters in this collection relate to Amos L. Gushee’s service with the 13th Massachusetts Volunteers, 1861-1863; to his experiences enroute to Nebraska; and to his life as a farmer near Osceola, Polk County, Nebraska, 1873-1892. The letters were transcribed by Marie K. Hammond, South Portland, Maine.
The Civil War letters, written primarily to family members, contain interesting accounts of routine military and camp life in the Army of the Potomac, 1861-1863. The farm letters, 1873-1892, written by Gushee, his wife Mary, and daughter Helen (Daisy), reflect farm prices, livestock and crops raised, social events, weather, and other activities. Copies of obituary notices about various family members, and a news article regarding Gushee’s Civil War experiences complete the collection. A photograph of Amos L. Gushee was transferred to the photo collections.
Gift of Marie K. Hammond, South Portland, Maine, 1979, courtesy of Bernie Gissler, Stromsburg, Nebraska.
DESCRIPTION
Series 1 – Correspondence, 1861-1892
Folder
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- Letters of Amos L. Gushee, 1861-1892 (copies)
Series 2 – Biographical material
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- Obituaries and news articles about Gushee family members (copies)
ADDED ENTRIES:
Farm life — Nebraska — Polk County
Gushee, Amos Llewellyn, 1836-1911
Osceola (Nebraska) — History
Polk County (Nebraska) — History
United States — History — Civil War, 1861-1865 — Personal narratives
JEP/pjm 01-15-1980
11-09-2009 Revised TMM/tmm
