Charles Henry Bligh was born on July 7, 1841 to William Bligh and Margaret Couse at Lenox, Madison County, New York. He was left an orphan at an early age. He enlisted in Company E, 27th Massachusetts Infantry on September 25, 1861 at Camp Reed, Springfield, Massachusetts.
On February 9, 1874 he married Sarah Jane Bowdish, daughter of William Bowdish and Sarah Mason. While residing in Massachusetts, twin daughters were born; Etta Sarah who died young and Ella Margaret. Charles was captured by the Confederates in 1864 and imprisoned.
After the war he returned to Massachusetts until 1867 when he moved to Janesville, Wisconsin where they lived for two years. Their son, Willie, was born there. I
n 1879 the family moved on to Nebraska and took up a homestead in
Antelope County. He was appointed
postmaster for the Royal post office in July 1880 and held the office until
1890. He operated a dray service from
Neligh to Niobrara. Willie was the
first blacksmith at Royal. He married
Sabina M. Thurston on September 18, 1912 and they had ten children.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in June 2007