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Gc 978.201 B86ba v.1 1385505
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01103 2858
BUFFALO COUNTY
NEBRASKA
AND ITS PEOPLE
A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement
BY SAMUEL CLAY BASSETT
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME I
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1916
INTRODUCTION
NEBRASKA-A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY
For centuries the supremest praise possible to bestow upon any land has been, "A land flowing with milk and honey." Were some modern Moses to send out spies in this our generation, in search of a promised land, and were these spies to traverse this our land, in the fall of the year, when the harvests are ripe, what possible phrase could those spies invent which would briefly and more fittingly express its richness and fatness, its home-making and nation- making qualities ?
For the purpose of this toast and this occasion let us consider as "this land of ours" the twelve states lying in the valley of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and of which states our own Nebraska is by no means the least in importance.
1385505
"A land flowing with milk and honey."
A land fertile and fruitful, a land abounding in running waters, sweet and wholesome, a land having a healthful climate has been the supreme desire of all people, of all nations since time had a beginning. To possess such a goodly land, to enjoy it as a heritage and to transmit it to posterity, mankind, in all ages, have labored and endured, have suffered toil and privation, have fought, bled and died.
Where, let me ask, in this wide, wide world, can you find a valley of like area so fertile and so fruitful and of such producing capacity? Where a climate more healthful and invigorating? Where a land whose waters, sweet and wholesome, are more abundant and unfailing ?
And where, let me ask, can you find a rural population of 16,000,000 souls having so small a percentage of illiteracy, so small a percentage of poverty, so small a percentage of wretchedness, so small a percentage of vice and crime ?
Where can you find a people among whom you would prefer to make your home, to have for your neighbors and friends, among whom to do your life work and to enjoy the fruits of your labor? A people whose character, whose enterprise, whose public spirit, whose customs, whose habits, whose form of government, whose traditions, whose religious beliefs, together with the goodly land which they inhabit, you would rather leave as a heritage to your children and your children's children?
This land of ours.
The heart of a continent.
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INTRODUCTION
The bread basket of the world. The desire of all the earth.
A land to be enjoyed and by us transmitted as a heritage to our children and our children's children.
A land flowing with milk and honey.
S. C. BASSETT.
A DREAM-LAND COMPLETE
Dreaming, I pictured a wonderful valley, A home-making valley few known could compare, When lo! from the bluffs overlooking Wood River I saw my dream-picture, my valley lies there.
Miles long, east and west, stretch this wonderful valley; Broad fields of alfalfa, of corn and of wheat; 'Mid orchards and groves the homes of its people- The vale of Wood River-a dream-land complete.
Nebraska, our mother, we love and adore thee : Within thy fair borders our lot has been cast ; When done with life's labors and trials and pleasures, Contented we'll rest in thy bosom at last.
Gibbon, Neb., 1913.
S. C. BASSETT.
PREFACE
A lot of people never take time to read the preface of a book, seemingly thinking it don't amount to anything and is put in because it is a customary thing to do. Now, if the readers of this history-real students of history- will take the time to read this preface they will better understand the idea, the plan, the purpose, which the editor has constantly kept in mind in compiling this history of Buffalo County and the achievements of its people.
First-Much time and effort has been given to gathering a history of the organization of the county in 1855 and up to the reorganization in 1870; that period in which no official records seem to have been kept, at least preserved ; that period in which it seems that the people who dwelt in Buffalo County under- stood little and cared less about legal methods of doing county business; that period in which, while the county retained its name and boundaries and in some sort of a way elected county officers, that the County Commissioners of Hall County levied the taxes, the county treasurer of Hall County collected them, keeping such taxes in a separate account, and the commissioners of Hall County audited and authorized the payment of claims against the County of Buffalo. There seems no warrant of law for so doing the county business, but it was so donc. The county, once organized and its business conducted in accordance with legal provisions, there is little in that feature of its history of special or unusual interest.
Second-Let us turn to the achievements of its people, which are of absorbing interest to a student of history and ought to be of intense interest to every citizen of the county.
In the beginning our lands were in a state of nature, our resources wholly unknown.
What were and have been the ideals of our people in the civilization we have striven for?
What have we, as a people, achieved, as we have labored and struggled, suffered and endured to accomplish the purpose in mind ?
The first concern of our people has been to establish a home, this our highest ideal. In the beginning, in 1870, there was not within the borders of the county any place, any habitation, worthy to be called a home; today there are in our county more than four thousand homes, where abide a happy, contented, pros- perous people.
The assessed valuation of the property of the people of the county for taxa- tion purposes (not including the assessed value of railroads) in 1870 was $23,668. A like valuation of the property of the people (not including railroads) in 1912 was $6,186,707, the real value being quite seven times the assessed value. This
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PREFACE
represents in a measure what we have achieved in the development of our resources, in the accumulation of material wealth.
Next to the home the highest ideal of our people in civilization has been the public school. From the very beginning our people have taxed themselves to a reasonable limit of their resources in support of the public school. In the begin- ning there was one school district, comprising all of what is now Buffalo and Dawson counties. Today there are within the borders of Buffalo County 120 school districts. In the year 1914-15 more than five thousand school children were enrolled, the payroll of teachers exceeding eighteen thousand dollars cach school month. The people of the county are now (1915) expending, approxi- mately, one-fourth of a million dollars annually for support of the public school; have expended for this purpose alone more than eight million dollars since the year 1870. This is why there is a public school in easy walking distance of every child of school age in the county.
This is why our children, reared in the county, educated in our public schools, have gone forth into the world, into states too numerous to mention, yes, gone to the uttermost parts of the earth, and made good; achieved success not only in a material way, but far better, in being largely useful in the world, helping to advance the cause of a higher civilization.
It will be noted that in the very beginning the settlers in the county began the organization of churches, the charter membership being in many cases as few as four, six or eight. . It will be noted that church organizations have increased each year in number, the membership increasing many fold, so that in the year 1915 there is a church organization and a church building within easy reach of every family in the county.
One of the ideals of our civilization has been to provide organizations for social purposes, where people might meet on common ground, having a common purpose, and enjoy each other's society.
Such societies as the Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Workmen, Woodmen, Knights of Pythias, Grand Army of the Republic, Woman's Relief Corps. Woman's Club, the Grange and others too numerous to mention. It will bo noted in this history that as early as 1872 there was organized a lodge of such a nature, and from time to time other like organizations. These have continued in existence, increasing each year in membership, so that such social, beneficial, and fraternal societies are within the easy reach of our people, and have proven a most important factor in our civilization.
In the beginning there were no established highways, not a stream bridged; transportation and communication slow and tedious.
Our people have established highways, convenient, accessible, all over the county; all streams are safely bridged, and people readily pass from place to place, quickly and in case, comfort, if desired in luxury.
In the early days the isolation endured by many was distressing, almost intol- erable to endure. When the telephone was discovered our people, living on farms, at once made use of it. On their own motion, by means of the labor of their own hands and the limited means at their disposal, there began the con- struction of farmers' telephone lines, and today the county is covered with a net- work of such farmer lines, and a telephone can be found in practically every
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PREFACE
home in the county. The isolation of the farm home is gone, is a thing of the past, never to return. This achievement of our people is of great interest to students of history ; its value and importance can hardly be estimated.
As the people of the county developed its resources there came a higher standard of living, a higher ideal in civilization. Public libraries have been established, higher grades established in our public schools, woman's clubs for the study of music, art, literature, household economics. The best of current literature is found in great abundance in the homes of all our people, and there is available much more of leisure for the enjoyment of life. The achievements of the people of Buffalo County since the year 1870 have been marvelous, and we as a people do not appreciate the manifold blessings we thus enjoy. It has been the steady purpose in compiling and editing this history to illustrate, record, magnify if you please, the achievements of the people of the county; not of individuals, but of us, the people. For there is not one who has been a resident of the county for a considerable number of years who has not contributed in some measure to the remarkable achievements which have here taken place.
In the compilation and preparation of the copy for this history the editor has received the most hearty encouragement and assistance on every hand, from friends it is not possible to here name or number, for all of which he hereby expresses appreciation and most hearty thanks. Where parties have kindly con- tributed special articles due credit is given, and hearty thanks and appreciation here expressed. There are some who have given in generous measure of their time and talent and to whom the editor here makes public acknowledgment of appreciation and thanks greater than mere words can express, to Mrs. George L. Prouty, Mrs. Max A. Hostetler, Joseph Owen, Shelton ; C. B. Bass, C. A. Clark, Mrs. Herbert Smith, Ravenna; J. C. Mahoney, Poole; F. L. Grammer, Pleasan- ton; F. D. and Ross Brown, Miller; L. A. Wight, Gibbon; John N. Dryden, Mrs. C. V. D. Basten, Robert Haines, Prof. C. N. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. . George Bischel, Dr. M. A. Hoover, Mrs. F. G. Hamer, Mrs. E. R. Holmes, Mrs. C. O. Norton, Hon. J. E. Miller, F. J. Switz, J. H. Dean, county clerk. T. N. Hartzell, city clerk, of Kearney, and L. B. Cunningham, Glenwood, Iowa.
The compiling, the writing, the editing of this history has been a labor of love, made possible by reason of encouragement and kindly assistance of dearly loved friends dwelling in all portions of the county. May this, our united effort, as it goes forth into the world, prove of some use, some benefit to those who come after us.
S. C. BASSETT, Editor.
Echo Farm, Gibbon, Neb., February 14, 1916.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
BEFORE THE WHITE MAN CAME-NAMES OF INDIAN TRIBES INHABITING NEBRASK.\ TERRITORY-BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PAWNEE INDIANS-FAITIIFUL TO THEIR TREATY OBLIGATIONS-REMOVAL TO INDIAN TERRITORY IN 1876-ASSIGNED LANDS IN SEVERALTY IN 1892-A PATHETIC INCIDENT-IN 1915 THE PAWNEE I MAKING GOOD, BECOMING USEFUL CITIZENS
CHAPTER II
FORT KEARNEY-DATE WHEN ESTABLISHED-BOUNDARIES OF MILITARY RESERVA- TION-BLEW THE BUGLE-REFERENCE -- HISTORY OF FORT KEARNEY BY ALBERT WATKINS, HISTORIAN OF STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY-SERGEANT MICILAEL COADY-A SOLDIER OF THE MEXICAN AND CIVIL WARS-SERVED AS CLERK OF BUFFALO COUNTY-CHARTER MEMBER OF FIRST I. O. O. F. LODGE INSTITUTED IN THE COUNTY-CHARTER MEMBER OF FIRST MASONIC LODGE INSTITUTED IN 5 THE COUNTY
CHAPTER III
BUFFALO COUNTY ; HALL COUNTY-IN TERRITORIAL DAYS HALL COUNTY OFFICIALS TRANSACT THE FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF BUFFALO COUNTY-EQUALIZE ASSESS- MENT OF PROPERTY; LEVY TAXES; COLLECT TAXES; AUDIT AND PAY CLAIMS AGAINST BUFFALO COUNTY-COPIES OF DUPLICATE TAX RECEIPTS-LIST OF TAX PAYERS IN BUFFALO COUNTY WHO PAID THEIR TAXES TO THE TREASURER OF HALL COUNTY
CHAPTER IV
BOUNDARIES OF BUFFALO COUNTY, ACT OF THE TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE NEBRASKA CENTRE THE SEAT OF JUSTICE ( COUNTY SEAT )- ORIGINAL SURVEY OF THE COUNTY-NEBRASKA CENTRE, ITS EXACT LOCATION-CENTRALIA AND NEBRASKA CENTRE PRECINCTS-TERRITORIAL ELECTION HELD IN 1859-POL.L .- BOOKS AND ELECTION RETURNS-THE EARLY SETTLEMENT IN THE PLATTE
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CONTENTS
VALLEY-DOBYTOWN AND THE FAMOU'S TOM KEELER RANCHI-DAVID ANDERSON SPLADS THREE DAYS AT THE BOYD RANCH-TELLS OF AN ELECTION HIELD THERE IN FALL. OP 1859-WITNESSES TESTIFY AT CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION AS TO LOCATION OF NEBRASKA CENTRE-LETTER FROM JOSEPH OWEN 13
CHAPTER V
HUNDEMAN'S ICHO, FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN BUFFALO COUNTY-COPIES ON FILI. IN LIBRARY OF STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY-SKETCH OF JOSEPH E. JOIN- SON, NEBRASKA'S FIRST EDITOR-ACCOMPANIES EXPLORERS WHO LOCATE LINE OF UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD- BUFFALO DESTROY MR. JOHNSON'S GARDEN AND CROPS-GRASSHOPPERS DESTROY CROPS IN BUFFALO COUNTY IN 1860-BUILDING OF TELEGRAPH LINE TO FORT KEARNEY IN 1860-STAGE LINE MAKES A RECORD TRIP, FORT KEARNEY TO OMAHA, 33 HOURS-MR. JOHNSON VISITS PAWNEE INDIANS WINTER 1800-01-A SAW MILL IN OPERATION AT WOOD RIVER CENTRE -A ONE-HORSE GRIST MILL IN OPERATION-GRAIN AND VEGETABLES GROW TO PERFECTION-FIRST POSTOFFICE IN BUFFALO COUNTY. . 21
CHAPTER VI
ORGANIZATION OF BUFFALO COUNTY-RETURNS OF AN ELECTION IN BUFFALO COUNTY IN 1858-NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT OF AN ELECTION OF COUNTY OFFICERS IN 1860-BUFFALO COUNTY ORDERED TO ENLIST SOLDIERS IN 1862-AN ACT OF THE TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE THE ORGANIZATION OF BUFFALO COUNTY, 1866-COUNTY CLERK OF BUFFALO COUNTY, NEBRASKA TERRITORY, USES A COUNTY SEAL .. 28
CHAPTER VII
BUFFALO COUNTY IN 187O-RE-ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY-TRADITION RELAT- ING THERETO-PROCLAMATION OF GOVERNOR DAVID BUTLER-RETURNS OF SPECIAL ELECTION JANUARY 20, 1870-FIRST REGULAR ELECTION OCTOBER II, 1870 .32
CHAPTER VIII
PROCEEDINGS OF FIRST MEETING OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS-DIVIDE COUNTY INTO THREE ELECTION PRECINCTS-SALOON LICENSE FINED AT $25- JOHN OLIVER APPOINTED SHERIFF-FIRST SCHOOL TAX LEVIED-W. H. PLATT EMPLOYED AS COUNTY ATTORNEY-W. II. PLATT EMPLOYED TO COLLECT DELIN- QUENT TAXES; FEE ONE-HALF OF AMOUNT COLLECTED; PLATT'S CLAIM. $2,148 -O. A. ABBOTT EMPLOYED TO PROSECUTE W. II. PLATT. .35
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER IX
CIIARACTER OF EARLY SETTLERS-VOTERS VOUCHED FOR-TOOK THE SHERIFF
ALONG
. 38
CHAPTER X
REV. DAVID MARQUETTE-FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICES HELD IN BUFFALO COUNTY- JAMES JACKSON-"PAP" LAMB-GEORGE STEARLEY-CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL ORGANIZED 40
CHAPTER XI
THE BOYD RANCH, JAMES E. BOYD, OWNER ; LATER GOVERNOR OF NEBRASKA-RAISED CORN-TRAFFICKED IN OXEN -- BREWED BEER-WHISKY $20 A GALLON-THE BOYD RANCH FIRST CLAIM TAKEN IN BUFFALO COUNTY-FIRST PIECE OF DEEDED LAND IN NEBRASKA, WEST OF HALL COUNTY-PAID FOR IN LAND SCRIPT ISSUED TO A SOLDIER OF THE WAR OF 1812. 42
CHAPTER XII
ACROSS THE PLAINS IN 1853-WESCOATT BROTHERS TAKE 400 HEAD OF COWS TO CALIFORNIA-CAPT. JOHN FULLER WITH HIS COMMAND JOIN THEIR PARTY- INDIANS MASSACRE EMIGRANTS ON BANKS OF PLATTE RIVER-JOHN HODGES ESCAPES AND SWIMS THE PLATTE-PURSUIT OF INDIANS AND THIRTY-SEVEN KILLED-BURIAL OF MASSACRED EMIGRANTS-THE BOYD RANCH-TWENTY DOL- LARS FOR A GALLON OF WHISKY-THE BOY, JOHN HODGES, FINDS HIS UNCLE IN CALIFORNIA-SIXTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS PROFIT ON THE HERD OF COWS- WESCOATT BROTHERS RETURN TO IOWA.
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CHAPTER XIII
A PIONEER FAMILY, A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ONE OF THE FIRST FAMILIES TO MAKE SETTLEMENT IN BUFFALO COUNTY-CONVERTS TO THE MORMON FAITH-LEAVE ENGLAND IN 1855-FIVE WEEKS TO MAKE OCEAN JOURNEY-FIND EMPLOYMENT IN PHILADELPHIA-LEAVE PHILADELPHIA IN 1859 FOR UTAII-JOURNEY FROM FLORENCE TO UTAH ACROSS THE PLAINS WITH AN OX TEAM-DEATH AND BURIAL BESIDE THE TRAIL OF AN EMIGRANT'S CHILD-THE ARRIVAL IN UTAH-DIS- GUSTED WITH THE MORMON RELIGION-THE RETURN FROM UTAH ACCOMPA- NIED BY MRS. ALLEN-STORY OF MRS. ALLEN, A DESERTED MORMON WIFE- FORDING THE PLATTE IN HIGH WATER TIME-LOCATE ON A "SQUATTER'S" CLAIM ON WOOD RIVER-RAISE AND SELL 600 BUSHELS OF CORN FOR $600-STAMPEDE OF 1864-BABY HELEN LEFT BEHIND-THE FLIGHT TO IOWA, ACROSS TO QUEBEC
CONTENTS
AND ON 10 ENGLANDTHE RETURN TO NEBRASKA-TAKES A PRE-EMPTION CLAIM-PLANTS AN ORCHARD OF 2,000 TREES-BUILDS A HOUSE WITH ALL MODERN CONVENIENCES .51
CHAPTER XIV
THE INDIAN STAMPEDE OF 1864-NARRATION OF EVENTS BY JAMES JACKSON, "TED" OLIVER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HOPEWELL-ACCOUNT OF ATROCITIES COM- MITTED BY INDIANS AS RELATED BY CAPT. HI. E. PALMER-MRS. EWBANK AND MISS LAURA BOYER RANSOMED-SETTLERS IN BUFFALO COUNTY ASSEMBLE AT WOOD RIVER CENTER-AUGUST MEYER CHOSEN CAPTAIN-NAMES OF SETTLERS IN COUNTY AT THAT DATE-THE FLIGHT TO OMAHA AND IOWA-AUGUST MEYER AND "TED" OLIVER, GEORGE BURKE AND JOHN BRITT REMAIN 61
CHAPTER XV
ACROSS THE PLAINS IN 1860-A MILLION OF BUFFALO, HORACE GREELEY DELAYED AT FORT KEARNEY FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS BY BUFFALO-25 CENTS TO CARRY A LETTER-MINING FOR GOLD IN COLORADO-CORN $7 A BUSHEL-CORN 10 CENTS A BUSHEL-TEN DOLLARS TO WATER GOVERNMENT TEAMS-THE TRANS- PORTATION EXPENSE OF FORAGE DELIVERED AT FORT KEARNEY AND FORT LARAMIE -TEN CENTS A GALLON FOR WATER IN 1874. 67
CHAPTER XVI
A BROKEN AXLE-EDWARD OLIVER AND FAMILY EN ROUTE TO UTAH-AXLE TO WAGON BROKEN NEAR WOOD RIVER CENTRE-THE WIFE AND CHILDREN REFUSE TO JOURNEY FARTHER-SPEND THE WINTER ON WOOD RIVER-THE FATHER CONTINUES JOURNEY TO UTAH-THE MOTHER AND CHILDREN REMAIN AND ESTABLISH A HOME-MRS. SARAH OLIVER A LARGELY USEFUL WOMAN-THE OLIVERS TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN THE ORGANIZATION OF BUFFALO COUNTY. . . 70
CHAPTER XVII
GOVERNMENT LANDS-RAILROAD LANDS-SPYING OUT THE LAND-LOADED RIFLES CARRIED ON ALL UNION PACIFIC TRAINS-FIRST TASTE OF ANTELOPE STEAK- THE BOYD RANCH-CARRIED A BUTT OF A CORNSTALK BACK TO OHIO-WELL PLEASED WITH THE APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY AND OF PROPOSED LOCATION OF COLONY 73
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVIII
SOLDIER'S FREE IIOMESTEAD COLONY-ORIGIN OF COLONY-CERTIFICATE OF MEM- BERSHIP- REDUCED RATES TO COLONISTS-ITINERARY OF COLONY-ARRIVAL AT COUNCIL BLUFFS-CROSS MISSOURI RIVER ON A FLAT BOAT-NEBRASKA LAND- CHECKING BAGGAGE-OMAHA IN 1871. 76
CHAPTER XIX
SOLDIER'S FREE HOMESTEAD COLONY, CONTINUED-TO THE LAND OF PROMISE-THE COLONISTS ARRIVE AT GIBBON-FIXING UP QUARTERS-VIEWING THE LAND- HOLD RELIGIOUS SERVICES 80
CHAPTER XX
SOLDIERS' FREE HOMESTEAD COLONY, CONTINUED-AN APRIL BLIZZARD-BOX CARS TO LIVE IN-THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY OF THE PLATTE- THE FIRST MEETING HELD BY THE COLONISTS-DRAWING LOTS FOR CLAIMS-LOCATING THE CLAIMS -FILING ON HOMESTEADS-SIXTY-ONE CLAIMS FILED UPON APRIL 17 AND 18, 1871-NAMES OF THOSE TAKING CLAIMS. .83
CHAPTER XXI
SOLDIERS' FREE HOMESTEAD COLONY, CONTINUED-OFFICIAL LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE COLONY-A HABITATION-A PLACE TO LIVE-RANGE OF PRICES-FIRST CROPS GROWN-CONDITIONS CONFRONTING COLONISTS-INSECT DEPREDATIONS -LACK OF MOISTURE-LIVE STOCK CONDITIONS-GROWING SMALL GRAIN- WIIEAT AND OATS-THE QUESTION OF FUEL. 88
CHAPTER XXII
A COLONIST'S TRIP TO OMAHA-$250 FOR A YOKE OF OXEN-OPENING UP FOR BUSINESS . ...... .95
CHAPTER XXIII
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL-THE COLONISTS AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL-COLONISTS LIVING IN THE CARS ORGANIZE A SCHOOL DISTRICT- COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT-STATE- MENT OF C. PUTNAM MADE FOR RECORD-ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS- ERECTION OF SCHOOLHOUSES-REPORT OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT, JANUARY, 1872-LIST OF LICENSED TEACHERS, 1871-76. .98
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXIV
INCIDENTS IN A WEDDING JOURNEY ACROSS THE PLATTE IN 1869-FORD THE PLATTE AT FORT KEARNEY-TWO PRAIRIE DOGS AND A BOX OF MEDICINE-THE WAGON UPSETS-RESCUE OF THE BRIDE-THE BRIDE'S MOTHER ENJOYS A SMOKE-ALL ENDS WELL . 103
CHAPTER XXV
PIONEER MERCHANDISING IN CENTRAL NEBRASKA-LOCATION AT LOWELL IN 1872 -SETTLEMENT OF SOUTIIWEST NEBRASKA-EPIZOOTIC AMONG HORSES-MANY MERCIIANTS FAIL-BUYING FURS OF TRAPPERS-FOUR TONS OF BUFFALO HAMS -STRYCHNINE AND STEEL TRAPS FOR TRAPPERS-A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF GOODS SOLD IN TWO YEARS IO5
CHAPTER XXVI
HOMESTEADERS IN BUFFALO COUNTY-A LIST OF 1,265 PERSONS TAKING HOMESTEAD AND PRE-EMPTION CLAIMS IN BUFFALO COUNTY PREVIOUS TO 1880-ARRANGED BY TOWNSHIP AND RANGE, GIVING YEAR OF FILING ON CLAIM. ... . IIO
CHAPTER XXVII
FIRST FOURTH OF JULY PICNIC, 1872-HELD IN DUGDALE GROVE-SUNDAY SCHOOLS FROM BUFFALO AND HALL COUNTIES PARTICIPATE-500 CHILDREN IN ATTEND- ANCE-SAMUEL B. LOWELL, PRESIDENT-COL. H. D. NILES DELIVERS THE ORATION -PROF. D. B. WORLEY IN CHARGE OF MUSIC. . 120
CHAPTER XXVIII
TIIE COUNTY SEAT-TIIE FIRST COURTHOUSE-HAULING WOOD FROM THIE LOUP RIVER-FIRST TERM OF COURT-LIST OF GRAND AND PETIT JURORS-OFFICERS OF THE COURT-BOUNDARIES OF JUDICIAL DISTRICT-REMOVAL OF COUNTY SEAT- BUILDING A SECOND COURTHOUSE-USING TUE OLD COURTHOUSE-ACADEMY AT GIBBON-BAPTIST COLLEGE-UNITED BRETHREN COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE-COM- MERCIAL COLLEGES-FARMER'S INSTITUTE I22
CHAPTER XXIX
BRIDGING THIE PLATTE AT GIBBON AND KEARNEY JUNCTION-CONTRACT PRICE FOR GIBBON BRIDGE, $16.50 PER RUNNING FOOT-CONTRACT PRICE FOR KEARNEY BRIDGE, $8.50 PER RUNNING FOOT-"IT IS THEIR SKUNK AND THEY MUST SKIN
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CONTENTS
IT," WRITES THE EDITOR OF THE BUFFALO COUNTY BEACON-MUCH BITTERNESS IN THE FACTIONAL FIGHT OVER THE BRIDGE QUESTION-DRIVING THE FIRST PILE FOR THE KEARNEY BRIDGE. .I30
CHAPTER XXX
THE SAXON COLONY -- CAME FROM SAXONY IN 1873-MADE SETTLEMENT IN BUF- FALO COUNTY IN FALL OF 1873-CROPS DESTROYED BY GRASSHOPPERS IN 1874 -REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF ENDURANCE ON PART OF SAXON WOMEN . . .. 133
CHAPTER XXXI
THE APRIL STORM OF 1873-NOT POSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE ITS FURY-EXPERIENCE OF A MISSIONARY MINISTER. .141
CHAPTER XXXII
THE GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE-GRASSHOPPERS DESTROY CROPS IN 1860 -- THE RAID OF 1874-TIIE RAID IN 1875-IIOPPERS LAY EGGS. . I43
CHAPTER XXXIII
SHELTON-KNOWN AS WOOD RIVER CENTER FROM 1860 TO ABOUT 1873-COUNTY SEAT OF BUFFALO COUNTY-FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICES HELD IN 1870-AN OFFI- CIAL DOCUMENT IN THE HANDWRITING OF PATRICK WALSH-OLIVER BROTHERS ESTABLISH A STORE IN 1871-AN OFFICIAL NOTICE TO THE POSTMASTER GENERAL NOTIFYING HIM OF CHANGE IN THE NAME OF THE POSTOFFICE-LIST OF PHYSI- CIANS AND SURGEONS-THE FIRST DENTIST-SHELTON FLOURING MILLS-THE FIRST GRAIN ELEVATORS-ALFALFA MILL-THE SHELTON CLIPPER-TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB-FIRST TERM OF SCHOOL IN COUNTY BY LICENSED TEACHER- SHELTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS-PUBLIC LIBRARY-BANKS-CHURCHIES-FRATERNAL AND BENEFICIARY LODGES
145
CHAPTER XXXIV
GIBBON-NAMED IN HONOR OF GEN. JOHN GIBBON, U. S. A .- WILSON AND STAATS TIIE FIRST SETTLERS-WILSON DROWNED IN THE PLATTE-FIRST DEEDS TO LOTS PROHIBITED THE SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS-I. N. DAVIS DONATED TEN ACRES FOR TOWNSHIP PARK-LIST OF POSTMASTERS- LIST OF PHYSICIANS- FIRST NEWSPAPER, BUFFALO COUNTY BEACON-GIBBON REPORTER-RIVERSIDE CEMETERY-AN INCLINE GRAIN ELEVATOR-THE GIBBON CREAMERY-INCOR- PORATION OF THE VILLAGE-FIRST BOARD OF TRUSTEES-GIBBON COMMERCIAL
CONTENTS
CLUB-THIE GIBBON CHAUTAUQUA-THIE PUBLIC SCHOOL-THE FIRST WINTER TERM OF SCHOOL-WOMAN'S STUDY LEAGUE-GIBBON TOWNSHIP LIBRARY- BANKS-CHURCHES-FRATERNAL AND BENEFICIARY LODGES. . 162
CHAPTER XXXV
KEARNEY-KEARNEY JUNCTION TIMES-CENTRAL NEBRASKA PRESS-KEARNEY IIUB-KEARNEY DEMOCRAT-KEARNEY ENTERPRISE-NEW ERA STANDARD- KEARNEY MORNING TIMES-WATSON RANCH-CITIZENS WIIO HAVE GAINED OF- FICIAL STATE DISTINCTION-FOUNDING OF KEARNEY-INCORPORATION OF TOWN OF KEARNEY-NEWSPAPERS-EARLY REMINISCENCES-SCHOOL ESTABLISHED SOCIETIES-CHURCHIES-BANKS-ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 7 KEARNEY-ORGANIZATION OF FIRST CHURCH IN COUNTY-ORGANIZATION OF W. C. T. U. IN COUNTY-VISIT OF MISS FRANCES E. WILLARD, NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF W. C. T. U .- ORGANIZATION OF WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY-PRE- SENTED WITHI A DEED OF FIRST LOT DISPOSED OF IN ORIGINAL TOWN OF KEARNEY JUNCTION 178
CHAPTER XXXVI
RAVENNA-FORT BANISHMENT-ERASTUS SMITH, THE FIRST SETTLER-BURLINGTON RAILROAD COMPLETED IN 1886-INDIAN RELICS-VILLAGE OF RAVENNA INCOR- PORATED IN 1886-VILLAGE OFFICERS-WATERWORKS INSTALLED-SEWERAGE INSTALLED-POSTOFFICE ESTABLISHED IN 1878-LIST OF POSTMASTERS-LIST OF PHYSICIANS-CEMETERY ESTABLISHED IN 1886-THE PUBLIC SCHOOL-RAVENNA NEWS-TIIE RAVENNA CREAMERY-THE DAIRY INDUSTRY IN BUFFALO COUNTY- THE RAVENNA MILLS-CHURCHES-BANKS-FRATERNAL LODGES. 259
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