Eustace Families Association

Percy Sprague Eustis

1857-

Seldom is there a traffic jam in Eustis, Nebraska. With apopulation of around 460 rush hour does not even exist.

But you can find Eustis on the map ... its a few miles south ofCozad. There's even a sign on busy Interstate 80 to help you getthere.

But how did Eustis get its name ? It was the newspaper publisherHorace Greeley who offered the advice “Go west youngman, gowest!" One who heeded Greeley's call was PercySprague Eustis.

P.S.E. as he was called by friends and business associates hasbeen referred to as the outstanding passenger traffic official ofthe American railroads. His career with the Burlington Railroadspanned half a century.

Percy Sprague Eustis was born in Milton, Massachusetts onFebruary 16,1857. His parents were Alexander Brooke and Aurora (Grelaud ) Eustis. He briefly attended a private school but leftto begin work in Philadelphia at the age of 14.

In the Summer of 1876, he met William Forbes who was in theprocess of building the C. B. and Q. Railroad. Forbes hired 19year old Percy Eustis and asked him to report for work in Omaha,Nebraska November 4, 1876 at a salary of $40.00 per month.Eventually Percy became Passenger Traffic Manager for the entireBurlington system and held this position until retirement on June1, 1927. During his 50 years with Burlington he watched theAmerican frontier grow and develop into an economic giant.

Percy Sprague Eustis married Elizabeth Russell Griffiths in 1883.They were the parents of 1 daughter, Norah who married James S.Knowlson III and has 4 children.

Percy Sprague Eustis was grandson of Brig. General Abraham Eustiswho served the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War and in theSeminole War.

The above-Information is condensed from THE EUSTACE FAMILIESIN THE UNITED STATES, Vol. II, by Warner Eustis ( 1970)