Anna, Homer W., Frieda, and Homer L. Paxton - circa 1924

Anna, Homer W., Frieda, and Homer L. Paxton - circa 1924

Grandma’s history distilled from the book mentioned.

Samuel Paxton, born about 1726, married Mary Moore about 1754, and had one son, Samuel  A copy of his will tells to leave a plantation of 212 acres that he lives on to his only heir and son, Samuel.  Also to sell another plantation called Broad Spring, 163 acres, to pay for funeral and debts and to leave his wife money.  His well was dated August 11, 1756 and probated in November of that year.

Samuel Paxton, born in Rockbridge Co., VA in 1754, married Margaret Thompson, who was born in 1777 in Ireland.  Margaret came to America when she was 10 years old.  A letter from August 28, 1802 states that Samuel Paxton, wife Margaret and daughter Polly leave the church New Providence congregation.  A  year later we find the family in Adair Co., VA by a power of attorney authorizing James Caruthers to sell their land in Rockbridge.  Then sold by Richard Hightower to Samuel Paxton on July 18, 1810 for 100 acres of land in Giles Co, TN for $225.  Original patent issued Oct 18, 1815 to Samuel Paxton by Joseph McMinn, Governor of TN for land in Giles Co. TN.  There are some indications that he was a local attorney.  Their children:

  1. Captain Robert Paxton, born about 1780 , Rockbridge, VA, dies 1815, married to Jennie Casey 1805

  2. Thompson Paxton, born 6/23/1783 in Rockbridge C., VA, died 1818, married Cynthia Potts 1810

  3. James Paxton

  4. Mary (Polly) Paxton

  5. Nancy Paxton

  6. Betsy Paxton

  7. Margaret Paxton

  8. Malinda Paxton

  9. Jane Paxton

Thompson Paxton, born 6/23/1783 in Rockbridge C., VA, died 1818, married Cynthia Potts 1810, died 9/12/1859 DuPage Co, IL   He was a soldier under Jackson in the Creek Indian War. He removed to Crawfordsville, Indiana and thence to DuPage Co., IL then a part of Cook Co. near Chicago.  He acquired 600 acres of valuable land and by his sound judgement, independence and religious zeal, acquired large influence. He was deeply interested in the abolition of slavery and spoke his sentiments with fearlessness.  His old house in DuPage Co., still stood in good repair in 1903.  It is noted that his brothers, father and grandfathers owned slaves for generations in Virginia.  Their children:

  1. Maria Paxton b. 8/1/1811, d. 10/29/1866, m. Henry Bradley

  2. Margaret Meslisa Paxton, b. 1/29/1813, d. 9/24/1843, m. Reuben Austin

  3. Rachel Ann Paxton b. and d. 1815

  4. Elizabeth Paxton b. 8/9/1816, e. 6/12/1843, m. John Maxwell

  5. Thomas Newton Paxton, b. 4/26/1813, d. 2/19/1891, m. Eliza A. Smith (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Paxton-1132)

  6. Samuel S. Paxton, b.8/20/1820, d. 6/17/1901, m. Amelia Ella Bradley

  7. Jonathan Houston Paxton, b. 6/1/1822, d. 11/15/1887, m. Mirand Pitcher (d. 1847), m. Olive Fowler

  8. James Parrott Paxton, b. 8/19/1831, m. Emaline Mcferram

  9. Four who died in infancy – Robert, Cynthia J., Mary Malinda, Wm. H. Paxton

Thomas Newton Paxton, b. 4/26/1813, d. 2/19/1891 in Niobrara, NE, m. 12/31/1840 Eliza A. Smith, b. 3/14/1815, d. 7/30/1887 in Niobrara. NE.  Their children:

  1. Maria Melissa Paxton, b. 11/6/1842, m. 10/26/1862 Henry Sturgiss

  2. Samuel Lovejoy Paxton, b. 12/26/1845, m. 8/23/1874 Cecilia Astelford, b. 7/18/1856 in Gouverneur, NY, married at Niobrara, NE. (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Paxton-1131)

  3. James Thompson Paxton, b. 12/25/1840, d. 8/23/1865

  4. Henrietta Eliza Paxton, b. 7/5/1826, m. (1) 10/26/1869 Thomas G. Hullehen, m. (2) S. Stark, children: Mary Cora Hullehen, Thomas Shelly Hullehen, Iva May Hullehen, Velva Myrtle Eliza Hullehen. 

The first marriage in Niobrara, NE was when Maria Paxton married Henry Sturgiss.  What is now Pischelville. Performed by first county Judge Kelly Frazier.  It was about a858 tha the Wm. Lamont, C. Benner, Paxton and others arrived.  There was the store and house of T.N. Paxton (who was later county judge).  He was also a carpenter and sold boards to the Indian women to strap their babies to.

Samuel Lovejoy Paxton b. 12/26/1845, Aurora, IL, d. 8/21/1895, Omaha, NE, m. 8/23/1874 Cecilia Angelic Astelford, b. 7/18/1856 in Gouverneur, NY, d. 11/26/1925, Chadron, NE.  Both buried Niobrara, NE.  Their children:

  1. William Newton Paxton b. 4/2/1875, Niobrara, NE, d. 5/1927, m. Bessie M. Berry 11/23/1904 b. 2/23/1881, d. 2/29/1944, Omaha, NE

  2. Homer Lovejoy Paxton b. 7/30/1885 Niobrara, NE, d. 6/24/1940, Chadron, NE., m. 5/26/1915 Anna F. Kurth, Chadron, NE.  d. ??1966

  3. Ethel Mae Paxton b. 3/31/1889 Niobrara, NE, d. 10/20/1948,  Chadron, NE, m.3/24/1923 William M. Smoke b. 11/24/1874, d. 10/3/1948, Chadron, NE

Homer Lovejoy Paxton b. 7/30/1885 Niobrara, NE, d. 6/24/1940, Chadron, NE., m. 5/26/1915 Anna F. Kurth, Chadron, NE.  d. ??1966  Their children:

  1. Homer W. Paxton, b. 3/2/1916, m. 12/1942 Ruth Pont b. Marple, Neb.  9/9/1916, d. 6/4/1972

  2. Anna Frieda Paxton, b. 2/14/1920 Chadron, NE, m. 12/4/1943 Gerald Clinton Wheeler, b. 9/20/1921 Wauneta, NE.

Found on https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Paxton-996 :

Homer Lovejoy Paxton was born on 30 July 1885 in Nebraska. In 1900, Homer L. Paxton lived in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, with his widowed mother Celia, a brother and sister, and two boarders. Celia was a "boarding mistress." Brother William was a printer.

Anna F. Kurth and Homer Paxton were married about 1914, based on the birth of their son Homer. They had at least two children: Homer William Paxton, b. 1916 and Anna Freda (Paxton) Wheeler, b. ca. 1920

When he registered for the World War 1 Draft on 12 Sept 1918 at Chadron, Dawes County, Nebraska, Homer Lovejoy Paxton said he was 33 years old. He lived at 155 Maple in Chadron and worked as a car repairer for the C.&U.W. RR Co. in Chadron. His nearest relative was his wife, Anna F. Paxton, of the same home address. In 1920, Homer L. Paxton lived in Chadron with his wife Anna F. Paxton and son Homer W. Father Homer worked as a car inspector in a roundhouse. Homer Lovejoy Paxton died on 24 June 1940 and is buried at the Greenwood Cemetery, Chadron, Dawes, Nebraska.