Person:Steward Mahon (1)

"Steward B. Mathon was one of the early settlers of Custer county, Nebraska, being of the very first to locate on West Table, and has passed through the various phases of Nebraska's history since that time, being widely known in his part of the state. He was born in Pennsylvania, November 26, 1849, the third born of the eleven children of John and Rebecca (Corey) Mathon, both natives of Pennsylvania, and the father born in Washington county. The father was of Irish and the mother of German descent and both died in their native state. The only two of the children living in Nebraska are Milton, of Grand Island, and Steward B., of this article, but several of them still live in Pennsylvania. Mr. Mathon was reared on a farm in the state of his birth, receiving his education in local schools. In 1878 he went to Warren county, Indiana, and engaged in farming there, and on December 23, 1880, married Evangeline Shankland, of Indiana, a native of that state, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Shankland, the former of whom died in Indiana in the sixties, and the latter in Custer county, Nebraska, in May, 1907. Mrs. Mathon has one brother, George W., in Eureka valley, and a sister in Missouri. For one year after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mathon resided in Warren county, and in March, 1882, came to Hamilton county, Nebraska, where for four years they engaged in farming. In 1887 they located in Custer county, taking a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section thirty, township eighteen, range twenty-three, which is now the home place. He pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land, and has made various improvements in his land, so that he now has a well developed stock and grain farm and is a prosperous and successful farmer. He has a good home and other suitable buildings on his place and has always shown a keen interest in the conditions and changes going on around him, giving his time and influence in furthering the development and upbuilding of his county and state. He is well known on West Table, where he has passed through the various stages of Nebraska history from the time of the pioneers. He was obliged to undergo hardships and tribulations before he could bring his farm under cultivation and realize a fair remuneration for his work, but has persevered in his efforts to bring his estate into creditable shape. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mathon, of whom only two now survive: Rebecca E., wife of Delbert Lewis, of West Table, has one child, and John J., who lives at home." {"Compendium of History, Reminiscence & Biography of Nebraska", <http://www.rootsweb.com/~neresour/OLLibrary/Comp_NE/index.htm 1912>}

 In the 1880 census for Steuben, Warren Co., Indiana, 'Stwart Nathon' is a farm laborer, age 24 from Pennsylvania, living in the R. A. Chandler household. {p.53a, NARA T9-0320}
 In the 1900 census for Cliff, Custer Co., Nebraska, 'Steward B. Mathon' is 50 born Nov 1849 in Pennsylvania (parents same), married once for 19 years, farmer on own farm; with wife (Suerene?) E. 46 born Indiana (parents Kentucky), with 2 of 6 children living; daughter Elizabeth R. 16, b. July 1883 and son John J. 11, born Dec 1888 -- both born Nebraska (father PA, mother IN). {ed 63, sh 2?, p. 70}
 In the 1910 census for Cliff, Custer Co., Nebraska, 'Steward B. Mathon' is 60 born Pennsylvania (parents same), married once for 29 years, farmer; with wife Thurene E. 46 born Jan 1854 in Indiana (parents Kentucky), and son John J. 21, born Nebraska (father PA, mother IN), 'labor on home farm.' {ed 73, sh 5a, p. 96}
 There is a picture of Steward Mathon and family in front of their sod house in 1892 at the 'American Memories' website {'Prairie Settlement: Nebraska Photographs and Family Letters, 1862-1912',  <http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S?ammem/psbib:@field(SUBJ+@od1(Mathon,+Steward+B+))>,1892, by Solomon D. Butcher }
 Steward is buried at Cliff Cemetery, west of Merna in Custer Co., Nebraska.  The headstone reads "Mathon, Stewart B., "Father",  1849 - 1943;  'Thurene E.', "Mother", 1854 - 1935,  "Pioneers of Custer Cty in 1883"  {Custer Co Nebraska USGenWeb, <http://www.rootsweb.com/~necuste2/Cemeters/cliff.htm>}