Source:  The Hastings Tribune...Date Unknown

The grave of the famous caravan scout, Indian fighter and foster father of notorious Wild West figure Calamity Jane, Phillip Rover Landon or Parson Box, is located on the Little Blue River two miles southeast of Angus.  Parson Bob spent his entire life on the Great Plains and had such a powerful affliction for Nuckolls County, he chose to be laid to rest here.
    Though everyone agrees Landon was born April 15, 1846, there is a dispute concerning the location of his birth.  Some say he was born on Goat Island in the Missouri River near Decatur, Neb., others believe he was born in an Indian camp.  Landon's mother died when he was a few months old and his father left him to be raised by local Indians.  The Indians taught the white child their language, horsemanship and prairie survival skills.  He was returned to his own people at age 10.
    Landon's scouting career began when he was 16 years old in 1862.  This was period of heavy overland stage traffic across Nebraska. Landon was a government contract scout for 14 years.  His knowledge of the physical features lining the Oregon Trail was legendary.  He escorted travelers from the Nebraska-kansas line to Fort Casper, Wyo.  Landon established a lookout encampment near Angus, using it from 1870-1880.
While fighting with Gen. George Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876, Landon was wounded in the arm and lost its use.  During his scouting career he was wounded 11 times and his body was filled with scars from arrows and bullets.
Although Landon's reputation as Parson Bob lasted because he was known for being and evangelist on the trail and a man of high moral character, his nickname developed for preaching one sermon and saying one prayer during a tragedy.
    A boy in his teens, Landon found himself giving a funeral sermon for a young woman killed during an Indian raid.  He had no preaching experience, but no one else was available for the duty, so Landon performed the service.
    The woman had been married to a soldier who had brought his wife to Fort Laramie against the military's wishes.  The soldier was discharged and forced to leave the fort.  A baby daughter was born a short time later, named Martha Jane Burke.  At the time of the raid, the baby was hidden away and was left unharmed.  When the slaughter was discovered, someone looking at the body of the dead mother and the baby nearby said, "What a calamity!"  The nicknames given to those who were part of the tragic affair endured.  The baby was known there after as Calamity Jane, Landon as Parson Bob, these events are said to be documented by military records.
    Landon was so taken with the baby, he cared for her as his own, giving her clothes and taking her wherever he went.  At the age of 86 in 1933, while standing atop his lookout point in Nuckolls County, Landon told Oak resident , Eugene Follmer, "here was the happiest time of my life, I had my little girl with me, my little Calamity Jane.  I loved her as a father loves his daughter.  Yes, she was a good woman whatever men may say."
    landon was friends with many famous Wild West characters including, "Wild Bill" Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody and "Diamond Dick" Tanner.  He lived at Sterling, Neb., for 34 years.  Described as tough but not rough, Landon looked the part of a typical frontiersman.  he wore long straight hair, a mustache, goatee and heavy clothing made of hides or thick cloth.  It is said Landon never drank alcohol and refused to sleep indoors, preferring a tent.
    In his later years,. Landon often visited his beloved lookout point near Angus and was acquainted with many area residents.  Those who knew him said he hadn't forgotten anything about the area, clearly remembering places, names and events.  Landon was a member of the national council of Boy Scouts of America and enjoyed taking youngsters on campouts and nature hikes.  Despite his advancing age, those who attended the campouts said Landon did not walk but trotted a fast pace through the woods and streams.
    Landon requested he be buried near Angus just prior to his death, Nov. 22, 1933.  He died in his room at Dana College, Blair,  where he had been doing research on area indians and lecturing to students on Nebraska pioneer life.  An official government burial was given for his years of service and for shedding light on the story of  Calamity Jane.  Area BOy Scouts had erected a memorial surrounded by an iron gate at the spot Landon requested he be buried.  At the time of his death, a key to the gate was found in Landon's pocket.
    It is thought Landon was the last surviving government caravan scout.
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