William McCurdy Cubbison: Two Families

William McCurdy Cubbison was born in Indiana in 1872.  He married Nellie Hadley, a Quaker, in 1893.  They lived together in Burr Oak Kansas and had three boys; John Franklin Cubbison “Frank”, Albert Jennings Cubbison “Matt”, and James Funston Cubbison.  According to the Census, they were living together in 1900 in Burr Oak, Kansas.  By 1907, the following article appeared in a Nebraska newspaper.  And thus, my search began….

In order to find additional information, I had to look for court records.  I reached out to Platte Valley Kinseekers, in Columbus, Nebraska and asked them for assistance.  Carol Jacobs agreed to assist me.  She went to the court house, copied the records and mailed them to me.

My great-grandmother, Nellie, was an incredibly strong woman.  She was notified of the circumstances with her husband on June 27, 1906.

Mrs. Wm. Cubbison,

Dear Madam,  Mr. W. Cubbison is keeping company with a lady friend of mine.  He claims that you left him and I have heard that he left you in destitute circumstances with three children to suffer and is not divorced.  You would do a great favor to this lady and also myself as her friend if you would write me giving the true state of affairs.

Respectfully, J. A. Canfield

At some point, Nellie Hadlie sent her brother-in-law, Arthur Garmon (married to her sister, Flora E. Hadley), to Nebraska to see if what she was hearing was true.

The witnesses in the case against Mr. Cubbison were, Nellie Hadley, John Regan, Mrs. John Regan, and Nellie Regan.  William McCurdy Cubbison left his wife and children and went to Nebraska.  He married another woman, Nellie Regan, in St. Joseph’s Church on Oct. 14, 1904.   Mr. Cubbison and his wife Nellie Regan had a daughter named Maureen Irene Regan who was born in 1907.  My family shares DNA with descendants of Maurine Regan.  She is my grandfather’s half-sister.

Nellie Hadley was a witness and provided many letters written to her from her husband.  In those letters he wrote,

September 11, 1901

Dear wife I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know how we are getting along.  We are about 101 miles from Burr Oak at this writing.  Talk about their not being any corn in the country.  We have traveled ever since yesterday at 3 o’clock in corn.  That will make from 25 to 50 bushels.  And wheat made from 30 to 40.  I tell you wife this is a nice country.  We have traveled since yesterday noon.   You can see for 25 miles where we are at now if it was not for the timber planted around the farm house, you could see that much further….

Raleigh, Nebraska, Oct. 29

Dear wife, I will write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope that these lines will find you well and the baby the same.  How is my baby boy?  I would like to see him. (much more)

Nellie Hadley and Mr. Cubbison reunited after his release from jail and they had a 4th son, Richard “Jack” Cubbison in 1912.  On June 26, 1916, my grandfather was born in Milford , Nebraska.

William McCurdy Cubbison did not settle down.  My grandfather never knew his father.  William McCurdy Cubbison died in Sundance Wyoming, alone, in 1929.  Nellie Hadley is buried with three of her sons in Sundance Wyoming.  She was a wonderful grandmother to my father and left him many wonderful memories.