Applegarth, Reuben

Reuben G. Applegarth

Reuben George Applegarth was born in

Canada on November 26, 1839 to Sylvester and

Eleanor Applegarth. Reuben was the oldest of

seven children. William Henry Applegarth (1841-

1916), Adeline Applegarth (1843-unk), Edmond

Applegarth (1846-unk), Elizabeth Applegarth

(1848-unk), Clara Applegarth (1849-unk), and

Francis Applegarth (unk-unk)2. The family
moved to Lake City, Minnesota in 18584.

Reuben Applegarth and his brother

William Henry enlisted in the Union army on

August 22, 18645. The brothers were in the

Company D of the 11th Minnesota Infantry. The Eleanor Applegarth (Reuben’s mother).
regiment was stationed at Nashville and assigned Photo courtesy of Ancestory.com

to duty guarding the line of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad from

Nashville to the Kentucky Line. Company D was assigned Sandersville and

Alexander’s Bridge. Reuben was mustered out on June 26, 1865 at St.

Paul, Minnesota7.

After Reuben mustered out of the army,

he took a homestead in Platte county. He

moved to Valley County and by 1900 lived in

Scotia, Nebraska. Reuben ran a general

mercantile business in Scotia1. In 1880, Reuben

married Adaline Jane Vance. She was twenty-

five years younger than him. They had three

children: Daisy M. Applegarth (1882-1941),

Clinton Ernest Applegarth (1889-1981), and Ruby

C. Applegarth (1895-1991)3. He purchased a

furniture and mortuary shop in Ansley and the

family to there in 19051.

Reuben Applegarth died of heart failure

Reuben G. Applegarth in uniform. while at the train depot. He was leaving Ansley
Photo courtesy of Ancestory.com to attend the funeral of his brother, Henry
Applegarth in Waco, Nebraska. His son-in-law Dr.

R.P. Higgins resuscitated him and moved Reuben to the family home,

where he died a short while after arriving. He had been in poor health

fore several years. In 1915, Reuben under went a serious operation but

seemed to be doing well. He died on November 6, 1916 and was buried

in the Ansley Cemetery1.

In 1925, Adeline Applegarth moved to San Diego, California where

she resided until her death5. She died on January 22, 1960. The body was

returned to Nebraska to be buried in the Ansley Cemetery beside her

husband6.

1. civilwarindex.com
2. U.S. Federal Census – Ancestory.com
3. Find a Grave – findagrave.com
4. Reuben G. Applegarth Obituary – Ansley Herald (November 10, 1916)
5. Reuben Applegarth - Custer County Historical Society Files
6. Mrs. R.G. Applegarth Obituary – Custer County Chief (February 15, 1960)
7. Soldier Index – Ancestory.com