My Genealogy Hound

J. A. MASTERS is one of the early settlers and representative men of Union township, Phelps county. He is a native of Kentucky and was born September 23, 1846. His father, Wesley Masters, was a native of Kentucky, and lived the quiet and uneventful life of a farmer. He died in 1887. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Marthena Masters, was also of Kentucky birth, and came from Virginia stock. She died in 1882.

J. A. Masters left home before he was sixteen years old and engaged to drive a supply wagon for the Army of the Cumberland. He continued in this capacity for two years, when, in March, 1863, he enlisted in the Seventh Kentucky cavalry. He participated in many a lively skirmish, especially at Hopkinsville, Ky.; Franklin and Columbus, Tenn.; Resaca, Ga.; Selma and Montgomery, Ala. He was with the Wilson raiders from East Port, Miss., to Macon, Ga. He saw plenty of hard fighting and endured many hardships. He was mustered out in September at Louisville, Ky. At the close of the war he farmed one year and then emigrated to McClellan county, Ill., where he remained one year. His next move was into Brown county, that state, where he remained from 1867 to 1879. Mr. Masters came to Phelps county, Nebr., in the fall of 1879. After prospecting about for some time he selected a homestead in the western part of the county, in what has since been called Union township. Being one of the first settlers in this section his neighbors were few and far between. He built a sod house, but had to go six miles to find a well of water. One team and $3.50 was all he had when he settled, but he has been an industrious and hard-working man, and is now one of the well-to-do citizens of the township.

Mr. Masters was married November 24, 1870, the lady whom he chose to share his fortunes being Miss Addie Minium. To this union have been born eleven children — Julia (deceased), Estella, Martin, Florida M., Marida, Lena, Klida E., John W., Riley S., Elsie P. and Jennie B.

Mr. Masters has been town treasurer and collector for several years, and is a member of the Farmers’ Alliance. He has two hundred and forty acres of splendid land and is a prosperous farmer. He has always affiliated with the republican party.