Charles Nettleton Strevell
From birchyHistory
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Charles Nettleton Strevell, was presumably born in 3 June 1858 to Zelus H. Nettleton (possibly Z. N. Nettleton, one of the founding fathers of Pontiac, Illinois) and Elizabeth Butler Kelly in Pontiac, IL. His parents had two other children before him: John & Mary. When his mother was pregnant with him, his father died (late 1857). In 15 August, 1858, his mother married local founder [[Jason W. Strevell]]. Strevell was a lawyer who also operated hardware stores. When Charles was 10 years old, Strevell adopted him, although it required a special act of the legislature to do so. At this time, his father was a legislator and Charles was a page. | Charles Nettleton Strevell, was presumably born in 3 June 1858 to Zelus H. Nettleton (possibly Z. N. Nettleton, one of the founding fathers of Pontiac, Illinois) and Elizabeth Butler Kelly in Pontiac, IL. His parents had two other children before him: John & Mary. When his mother was pregnant with him, his father died (late 1857). In 15 August, 1858, his mother married local founder [[Jason W. Strevell]]. Strevell was a lawyer who also operated hardware stores. When Charles was 10 years old, Strevell adopted him, although it required a special act of the legislature to do so. At this time, his father was a legislator and Charles was a page. | ||
| − | In 1969, when Charley was about 11 or 12 years old, | + | In 1969, when Charley was about 11 or 12 years old, his older brother John Nettleton went on a [[Nelson Buck massacre|surveying adventure]] that almost cost him his life. Three years later, John sued his stepfather for the inheritance and received all the property plus a share of the farm's proceeds for the previous 15 years. He then married and soon left the county. |
When he was about 21 or 22, his parents moved to the new frontier town of Miles City, Montana in 1879 (3 years after Custer's Last Stand and 2 years before the railroad reached town). Those seeking a fortune were getting into the open range cattle business as the Native Americans were subjugated and the bison herds decimated. Charley's father combined livestock and law in the new town. Charley's younger sister married the nephew of the town's namesake and top military officer. George M. Miles followed his uncle Nelson A. Miles to the new post and started a business selling things to the soldiers. Soon he and the Strevells had gone into the hardware store business together ("Miles & Strevell", then "Miles, Strevell & Ulmer", which later was just "Miles & Ulmer"), as well as founding a local Presbyterian church together. | When he was about 21 or 22, his parents moved to the new frontier town of Miles City, Montana in 1879 (3 years after Custer's Last Stand and 2 years before the railroad reached town). Those seeking a fortune were getting into the open range cattle business as the Native Americans were subjugated and the bison herds decimated. Charley's father combined livestock and law in the new town. Charley's younger sister married the nephew of the town's namesake and top military officer. George M. Miles followed his uncle Nelson A. Miles to the new post and started a business selling things to the soldiers. Soon he and the Strevells had gone into the hardware store business together ("Miles & Strevell", then "Miles, Strevell & Ulmer", which later was just "Miles & Ulmer"), as well as founding a local Presbyterian church together. | ||
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“Right after that is where we lost the trail of John,” he added. | “Right after that is where we lost the trail of John,” he added. | ||
| − | “Mrs. Eckstrom was able to tell us John packed up his family and moved to the Joliet-Plainfield area. Now we are researching the family lines from there.” | + | “Mrs. Eckstrom was able to tell us John packed up his family and moved (60 miles NNE) to the Joliet-Plainfield area (SW of Chicago outskirts). Now we are researching the family lines from there.” |
However, before they left Pontiac, John and his wife, Olive, welcomed a son, Wilson Nettleton, who was born in 1871. Wilson Nettleton and his wife, Millie Steffenhagen Nettleton, are Joyce Eckstrom’s grandparents. | However, before they left Pontiac, John and his wife, Olive, welcomed a son, Wilson Nettleton, who was born in 1871. Wilson Nettleton and his wife, Millie Steffenhagen Nettleton, are Joyce Eckstrom’s grandparents. | ||
