Sometimes it is difficult to know more than dates and dry information about our ancestors. Fortunately, there are some documents which reflect on the life of my great grandfather, Alonzo Milton Custer.
Alonzo Milton Custer
Alonzo Milton Custer was born April 11, 1857. Melissa Custer was born October 3, 1854. They were united in marriage November 12, 1907 (after the death of his beloved wife, Serena Jane Duncan Custer). These devoted, trusted, and honored servants of the Lord were killed instantly when their sedan car was struck by a Missouri Pacific fast train at a crossing near Sheridan Lake, Colorado, July 28, 1927.
The writer (Rev. A.J. Springston) became acquainted with these noble servants of the Lord when he became pastor of Mannington Charge, West Virginia Conference (United Brethren) in 1895, and while serving for four years on that charge, and the following three years the Peoria Charge of the same conference. He learned to appreciate them, as they were always ready to respond to every call of duty.
Brother Custer's home was always open to the itinerant, and many times did the writer find a ready welcome there. At that time Sister Custer was a widow, and former pastors will remember her as Melissa Cunningham. Brother and Sister Custer located on a homestead near Akron, Colorado, in 1910, and for a number of years I was their pastor. A few years ago they moved to Sheridan Lake, and as we have no church there they were affiliated with the Methodist church, Brother Custer at the time of his death serving as Sunday-school Superintendent and church steward, Sister Custer teaching in Sunday school.
Brother Custer leaves a son and one daughter, and sixteen grandchildren. One son preceded him about a year ago. Sister Custer leaves a daughter, a granddaughter, and a grandson.
The Telescope was a regular visitor to the home of these loyal servants of the Lord for a half century or more.
(The following letter was written to his daughter, Nellie Custer Copenhaver, April 29, 1927 just a few months before the deaths of Alonzo and Melissa Custer July 28, 1927.)
(Sheridan Lake, Colorado) Well Nellie just received your letter. Charles (Nellie's son, Charles Custer Copenhaver born 1904) sent me his April check the 21st. So that makes $40. all told, but you said to let the first $10. you sent go on interest. So there is only $30. paid on the principle. The note is $65. given Sept 15, 1924. So that would leave $35. due yet so if he pays $10. a month till all is paid the $10. you paid will settle all interest. Do hope he does pay each month. I just received a voucher from the head clerk signed by me and 2 witnesses. I sent it back yesterday to the clerk of the Woodman Lodge at Madison, SD. He will send it with the policy to Chicago. They will send a check to the clerk of Woodman Lodge at Madison. He sends it to the bank at (Eader?) Colorado. So if it is filled out all ok it may get around by May 15. Hope so for we will be moving back to our house soon after school is out and will have to buy furniture and chicken feed. It is high.
Charles asked me how much was back on the note. I told him the amount of note, also date, and $40. paid. Left it for him to figure interest which would be more than the way I offered you in the above.
Have 11 hens sitting. Hope to have some chickens to move up home. Have had one fairly good rain. Got my potatoes planted and some garden made in town this week. Am Sorry D.E.(Nellie's husband) lost out on part of his road work. Hope he will raise a good corn crop as you seem to have plenty of rain.
Has been very warm this week. Been sleeping with doors wide open at night. Am sorry the frost got your fruit,but do hope you will have plenty for home use. I sowed about 1/4 acre of oats for chicken pasture this week. Want to sow some millet and sedum grass in 2 or 3 weeks on my lots in town. There is about 3 acres all told, but the house and barn takes out part of it.
My garden is the best I ever saw it. A good job of plowing and harrowing is the secret of it all. I can only work 1/2 day at a time. That is very slow to what I use to do. We make as few trips to the barn as we can for every trip tells on us, but we are as happy as any one family that I know of for all are scarce of money. I want to go up to repair fence around the garden this afternoon.
Write often. We are glad to hear from you.
(In a letter written January 16, 1926 Alonzo Milton Custer tells his daughter Nellie about a vivid dream he had about the grave site of her mother, Serena Jane Duncan Custer.)
(Edmond, Oklahoma) Well Nellie as I had a view of the new fence around the cemetery at Uncle John's last night in a dream, I would just like to know if it is fenced. I dreamed that Uncle John, Uncle Henderson, the Savior, and myself walked up to the cemetery. I was to select the music. So we sang in a low tone as we climbed the hill an old song that brother Blackburn Hall used in our protracted meeting climbing up Zion Hill.
We went around the new fence to the west, saw the beautiful sunset, and sang my latest - Sun is sinking fast. My race is nearly run. My strongest trials now are past. My triumph has begun.
Then walked northeast to near Mommie's grave and sang - The light of Salvation we trust which hangs like a lamp in the tomb - I saw the inner part of the grave just as I saw it 19 years ago- Uncle John only spoke once on the trip. He looked down on the creek bottom and said that is good soil. Uncle Henderson told him he ought to be thinking of heaven. We then walked down the hill to the road - all singing. How Firm a Foundation Ye Saints of the Lord.
When I awoke I was praising the Lord for his wonderful free and full salvation. What does it all mean?
I only recall the last few words of the next stanza - The light of salvation we trust which hangs like a lamp in the tomb - It never seemed so sweet to me before I saw the light in Momma's tomb in my dream - The Savior is the light of the world. Let us walk in the light that our light may shine to lead souls out of the darkness into the light of the gospel.
Father
(Alonzo Milton Custer 11 Apr 1857-28 Jul 1927. His first wife and mother of his children, Serena Jane Duncan Custer 09 Feb 1858-12 Apr 1907. Uncle John William Hildreth and Uncle Alva Henderson Hildreth, brothers of Serena Jane's mother, Edith Ann Hildreth Duncan. The cemetery where Serena Jane is buried is up a very steep hill from Uncle John's home place on Quaker Fork in Marion County.)
(The letter was continued later)
Well Nellie I mentioned one hymn that we used to sing 50 years ago. You may never have heard it. It was sung while the casket was lowered. It was like this: Man dyeth and wasteth away and where is he? Hark from the skies I hear a voice answer and say the spirit of man never dies - the spirit of man repeats 4 times. As the minister drops in some dirt they sing - This body which came from the earth must mingle again with the sod. This soul which in heaven had birth returns to the bosom of God - each last line repeated 4 times.
Received a letter from George before Christmas, a check, and a fine, enlarged picture of him. Oh so nice, so natural. (Alonzo's son, George Henry Custer Sr., known for his generosity and devotion to family. He adopted two of his orphaned grandchildren and took in four more who lost their mother.)
We see in Shinnston News (West Virginia newspaper) so many deaths. We often wonder who will be next. I see Emory still has two girls at home since he lost his wife. So many folks here have colds, grip, and so on, but we haven't had a cold this winter. When we feel like we might take cold we take a dose of camphor. I believe it wards off colds. It is cloudy and damp today makes my rheumatism worse. We are so thankful we are able to keep going. So far this winter hardly ever miss church and Sunday School and mid week Prayer Meeting.
Tell Marshall and Adda we think of them so often, but have so many to write to can't get around. Let them read this if you don't mind. Good by
Sunday night. It has rained all day. We stayed in. Do hope you and D.E. went to church today. I will be glad to hear from you soon to see if anyone has been taken to the cemetery that I visited in my dream. I was so glad to have the Savior with us as that is all important thing in life to live so we can feel that the Savior is leading our steps in life. Do hope you and yours are all well. How is Aunt Sarah and family? Do hope the girls all keep well so they can teach. They have been fortunate to get schools among so many teachers. When a girl teacher gets married in Oklahoma, she has to give up her school at once.
I bought 3 hogs, fed them 5 weeks, sold them. Paid for them and the feed was $15. Had $14.50 left for my work. That makes 86 dollars we have made clear of expense in 10 months. Better than doing nothing. I bought 4 dozen hens at a sale this week. Hope to raise some chickens if we keep well.--Father
Deed Book 50, Page 492. This Agreement made this the 9th day of January 1886 between Elias Heldreth of the county of Marion and state of West Virginia party of the first part and A. M. Custer of the second part. Witnesseth that the party of the first part has leased unto the party of the second part a certain parcel of land situated on Quaker Fork of Bingamon and adjoining the lands of G. W. Davis and J.L. Heldreth to contain 30 acres upon which the party of the second part is to clear in good order 5 acres a year the first two years and 3 acres a year each successive year following and to hold the same for 5 crops consisting of 2 crops of corn and 3 of wheat on the south side and 3 crops of corn and 2 of wheat on the north side. The party of the second part is to have the use of the first 5 acres until the entire lease is out. The party of the second part is to make the lease in three fields the fencing to be made 6 rails high. Witness our hands and seals this 9th day of January 1886. Attest J.W. Heldreth Signed Elias Heldreth, A.M. Custer
State of West Virginia Marion County to wit: I Jesse Shaw a Notary Public in and for said county do certify that Elias Heldreth and A.M. Custer whose names are signed to the above agreement bearing date on the 9th day of January 1886. This day acknowledged the same before me in my county aforesaid. Given under my hand this 27th day of Nov. 1890.-Jesse Shaw N.P.
West Virginia to wit: Be it remembered that on the 23rd day of December 1890 the foregoing instrument of writing bearing date on the 9th of January 1886 was presented to me Thomas B. Carpenter Clerk of the County Court of Marion County in my office and together with certificate thereto was admitted to record. Teste-TB Carpenter Clerk.
Life began for Alonzo Milton Custer in Jackson County, West Virginia in 1857. His Uncle David Custer died in 1858 and his Grandfather Mark Custer, Sr. died in 1859. Cause of death for both listed as Fever.
In the 1860 Census of Jackson County we find four year old Alonzo Milton Custer listed with his father Mark age 32, mother Mary E. age 27, and brothers Leander age 9, Theodore age 7, Commodore age 7 (twins), and Mark Henry Harvey age 8 months. His sister Susan Selina would be born in 1861.
Historian John House says simply in his History of Jackson County that Mark Custer died in 1863. This is the only record of his death found. In 1866 Mary Elizabeth Morehead Custer married Henry Sutton and by the 1870 Census the Custer children are living with other relatives. In the 1870 Jackson County Census we find Alonzo Custer age 13 listed with Ambrose B. Baker age 31, Lucy age 29, James age 9, and Charles age 4. In the 1880 Jackson County Census we find Alonzo age 23 listed in the home of his brother Theodore Custer age 25, Susan age 24, Mark H. age 3 and Clarence age 1.
On 11 Nov 1880 Alonzo and Serena Jane Duncan were married in Jackson County. Serena had been listed in the Jackson County 1880 Census as a maid in the household of George Crow in Angerona, West Virginia. Alonzo and Serena were blessed with three children: Nellie 9 Sep 1881, George 4 Aug 1884, and Hollie 6 Nov 1887.
The reflection I see of Alonzo Milton Custer is of a hard working, honest, truly Christian man.
