USA > Nebraska > Dakota County > Warner's history of Dakota County, Nebraska, from the days of the pioneers and first settlers to the present time, with biographical sketches, and anecdotes of ye olden times > Part 1
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CT
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
OLD "SPRING GROVE" PIONEER LOG SCHOOL HOUSE IN DISTRICT NO. 14.
( From a Pencil Drawing by Julia O'Connor, in an Autograph Album of the Author.
WARNER'S HISTORY
OF
DAKOTA COUNTY, NEBRASKA,
FROM THE DAYS OF THE
PIONEERS AND FIRST SETTLERS
TO THE PRESENT TIME,
WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, AND ANECDOTES OF YE OLDEN TIMES, BY
M. M. WARNER,
DAKOTA CITY, NEB.
PUBLISHED BY
LYONS MIRROR JOB OFFICE. 1893.
1243315
DEDICATION
TO THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER AND MOTHER. MR. AND MRS. COL. JESSE F. WARNER:
IONEERS of Dakota county, through whose public spirit, untiring energy and sociability greatly aided in the public and social affairs of early times -the former by his remarkable gift of oratorical eloquence, was ever on the alert to lift up his voice for right and justice, for truth and moral- ity, and for the public good and welfare of Dakota county-to them this volume is reverently dedicated by the author.
PREFACE.
O fierce has been the mighty conflict between advancing civilization and the wild abo. rigines of the West, that for many years these border lands were one vast graveyard, strewn with the bleaching bones of unburied heroes.
Behold the wonderful changes wrought by the resistless arm of Time since the advent of the pioneers to Dakota county! It seems but yesterday that these daring men crossed the Missouri river and laid the foundation of all the wealth and prosperity of to-day. Pioneers are generally individuals or families of limited means. As population increases, all the wealth and luxuries of life fall into the hands of the rich, who wisely determine to enjoy the comfort of their old homes among friends they have grown up with, and leave to others less fortunate the task of opening up new roads and subjugat- ing new countries. It requires considerable nerve and force of character to do this, and none but the bravest and 'stoutest hearts can
XII
PREFACE.
muster up courage to undertake the daring ex- periment. In after years when the impartial historian shall chronicle the rise and progress of this, the greatest country the sun ever shown upon, no grander tributes, no higher monuments will ever be reared to any individual or class than to those who shouldered their axes and ri- fles, and with families and the little they could gather around them, bidding a sad farewell to friends and the home of their birth, plunged he- roically into the wild west and drove back the hordes of savage foes that lurked in the way. Here they built rude cabins, reared stockades, and with such improvised fortifications with- stood the hardships and privations and won vic- tories over opposing forces that justly entitles them to the world's highest consideration. The wealthy seldom emigrate. But in all thickly populated countries there are those possessed of proud spirits and unconquerable energy, who, rather than remain and battle with a consuming poverty they can never hope to shake off, seek new homes where land is cheap and fertile, and where they may hope to reach independence and a respectable standing among their fellowmen. It matters not whether this year or in the years to follow, when you chance to look over this beautiful valley and the beautiful bluff lands, covered with thrifty farms and happy homes, with school houses and churches, with railroads. thriving towns and villages, pause for one brief moment to give praise unto the daring pioneers to whom you are greatly indebted for the bounti- ful blessings which you to-day enjoy, and whose
PREFACE.
names and the record of their heroic struggles appear in this book.
The task of writing this book has, indeed. been no easy matter. It covers a period of more than five years of work in collecting data, inci- dents, etc., which has brought me face to face with every old settler of the county, of whom I have gathered, from their own lips, the material contained in this history. One by one the pio- neers are passing away, and my object was to collect from each one facts which in a few more years would have been buried with them in the grave and forever forgotten. I hope the children of the pioneers will preserve this record and keep forever green the memory of our county's early settlement.
M. M. WARNER.
Dakota City, Neb., December 25, 1893.
EULOGISTIC.
ONOR to the pioneers! Honor to their ho- ble wives, who had the courage to share alike with their husbands the trials and hardships of early times. People are apt to make light of the assertion that the pioneers were brave men, but brave men they were, and who can ever truly deny it? They went forth in the springtime of their years-in the morning of their lives, and after penetrating the "far west" beyond the borders of civilization, finally stood as embattled heroes upon the wild primeval prairies of Dakota county. Heroic men, they marched with dauntless courage as veterans in the cause of civilization-as vangnards at the head of that vast army of emigrants which sub- sequently rolled across the rich and fertile plains of the west. Behold the scenes that met the gaze of this sturdy race of men thirty-seven years ago; no beautiful farms and pleasant homes; no thriving towns, schools and churches. The land was enveloped in rank prairie grass and wild jungles-it was, indeed, one vast wil-
XVI
EULOGISTIC.
derness, where the birds of the air and the wild animals of the forest lived unmolested .- Here they lived to endure the hardships and priva. tions of pioneer life, to fight the battles of ad- versity, to meet and overcome the trying obsta- cles which everywhere obstructed their path. way, until these once wild and uninhabited prairies were transformed into waving fields of grain, dotted here and there with happy homes, They are truly bricks inter woven in the founda- tion and general make-up of Dakota county cemented with a spirit fit to conquer a wilder- ness and prepare for you and your children the fairest land on earth. The pioneers of Dakota county are, as they richly deserve to be, not only the representative men of their own locality, but of all Northern Nebraska. Although some of them are well advanced in years, their might and influence still sways the course of enterprise and progress throughout this region, and the effect of their remarkable activity will continue to live and be felt long after they will have passed away. The changing years passed on, the pioneers conceived the idea of holding an- nual reunions, and it is truly a beautiful sight to see gathered together in one assemblage be- neath the shades of pleasant groves, those once sturdy pioneers of other days-the founders and builders of all this magnificent country, and to see them meeting and shaking hands with each other, and talking over the bygone times of more than a third of a century ago. And let them talk it over and over again, for those were heroic times in a heroic period of our county's history,
EULOGISTIC
and the stories of their fortitude. untiring eu- ergy and triumphant battles in subjugating the wild and uninhabited lands of the west will be told and retold to coming generations. I1: memory they live again a few brief hours of the past, and with the flight of imagination chce more they behold Dakota county in its primeval state, covered with dense jungles and rank werd; and prairie grass. They were then in the prime of their lives, but now they meet with locks whitened by the frost of years, to talk over these thrilling scenes of the days that are no more. in which they were once actors, and to renew their allegiance to the friendship formed in pioneer times, which death alone can sever. Praise to the pioneers! Build them a monument, and let it be reared aloft from some high peak as a fit- ting tribute in commemoration of the grand victory they have won. And may their honored names forever shine upon the fairest pages of our county's history, and be chanted in song by coming generations long after the last gray- haired veteran shall have filed down the silent aisles to the River of Death and pitched his tent, lighted his campfire and taken up a new claim in some other and better and grander "far west" beyond the gulf of Eternity on the shores of everlasting time.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Old Spring Grove Pioneer Log School House 6
Primeval Scene. 16
Dakota City Lutheran Church. 60
Sioux City, Iowa, and South Sioux City. Nebraska 97
Corn Palace of 1887 98
Corn Palace of 1888 and 1889 99
Corn Palace of 1890 and 1891 100
102
Proposed Corn Palace (never built) 118
Blyburg Lake
Seal of Nebraska 121
Col. Charles D. Martin 207
Gen. Joseph Hollman 211
Col. Jesse F. Warner. 227
Mrs. Hannah M. Warner .. 229
Judge Kelly W. Frazer
247
Residence of William Taylor and family
259
Dr. E. J. De Bell. 291
Capt. William Luther
305
Mrs. Capt William Luther 307
Col Warner's Wild West Wire Stretcher 361
Adam Wenzel's Corn Planter 362
Engene B. Wilbur. . . 369
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Earliest Explorers. 31
Lewis and Clarke Expedition 32
Death of Sergeant Floyd. 38
CHAPTER II.
Territory of Louisania and Missouri 411
First Steamer to Reach this Point 40
Other Adventurers 41
Treaty with the Omahas
CHAPTER III.
Territory of Nebraska 43
Dakota County Organized 48
Advent of the Pioneers .. 44
CHAPTER IV.
Geology .. .
47
Natural Resources.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
Extinct Towns
. .
49
Omadi
49
Logan
52
St. Johns
53
Pacific City .
54
Franklin City
54
Blyburg
54
Verona
54
Randolph
55
Lodi .
55
Emmett
55
CHAPTER VI.
Dakota County Towns
56
Dakota City
56
Covington
71
Jackson
78
Homer
83
Hubbard
88
Emerson
89
South Sioux City
92
Elk Valley .
97
Coburn Junction
97
Necora
97
Goodwin
CHAPTER VII.
Products and Improvements 98
Prizes and Medals 99
Cheese Maker's Association 101
Farmers Club
101
Bridges and Roads 101
Railroads 103
CHAPTER VIII.
Indians
106
CONTENTS. XXI
"The Logan War" ... 108
CHAPTER IX.
Population
110
CHAPTER X.
Crimes and Casualties
..
111
CHAPTER XI.
Fires
115
CHAPTER XII.
Great Storms and Blizzards
119
CHAPTER XIII.
Public Schools.
122
CHAPTER XIV.
County Officers and Date of Their Election
127
County Clerks .. . 127
County Treasurers
128
County Sheriffs.
128
County Judges
129
County Superintendents
130
County Surveyors
131
County Coroners
131
County Attorneys
132
County Commissioners
Board of Supervisors.
133
Justice of the Peace- Omadi 135
Justice of the Peace-Dakota. 135
Justice of the Peace - St. Johns. 136
Justice of the Peace - Covington . . 137
Justice of the Peace -Pigeon Creek. 138
Justice of the Peace -- Summit. 138
132
County Registers 132
XXII
CONTENTS.
Justice of the Peace-Pender 13
Justice of the Peace-Hubbard 139
Justice of the Peace-Emerson 139
County Assessors 140
Assessors - Omadi .. . 140
Assessors-Dakota City 141
Assessors-St. Johns
141
Assessors -Covington
142
Assessors -Hubbard.
Assessors -- Pigeon Creek 143
Assessors -Summit. 143
Assessors - Emerson 143
Assessors - Pender 144
County Vote for Presidents. 144
Members of the Territorial Legislature 144
State Representatives ... 145
Members of the Territorial Council 145
State Senators
146
CHAPTER XV.
Special Offices 147
Census Enumerators 148
Other Elections. . .. 148
District Court Judges. 148
Organizing the Precincts. 150
CHAPTER XVI.
Public Cemeteries 153
Public Libraries 154
Holidays. 155
Bottom Disease 157
Lost Steamer Nugget 158
Base Ball. 158
Camp Meeting 159
Berger Poor Farm 159
Soldiers' Relief Commission 160
Brass Bands 161
CONTENTS. XXIII
CHAPTER XVII.
Biographical Sketches. 163
CHAPTER XVIII-
Pioneers and Old Settlers Association 312
CHATPER XIX
Anecdotes and Stories of Ye Olden Times 344
CHAPTER XX.
Dakota County Inventions and Patents
361
CHAPTER XXI.
Miscellaneous-County Seat Fight -- Election of 1893, etc. 365
CHATPER XXII.
Additional Biographical Sketches 368
HISTORICAL.
CHAPTER I.
EARLIEST EXPLORERS --- LEWIS AND CLARKE'S EXPEDITION AND THEIR SOJOURN IN THIS VICINITY,
THE BEGINNING.
ROBABLY the first white men. except fur traders. who ever gazed upon the rich and fertile prairies of Dakota county, were those of the Lewis and Clarke expedition, although Father Marquett, on a map drawn in the year of our Lord, 1673. traced the Missouri river at this point very accurately, and it may be that he trav- ersed the very soil where one hundred and eighty-two years afterward was organized Dakota county. And it may be barely possible that Gen. Coronado, a Spanish cavalier, who is said to have reached the present limits of Nebraska in his expedition from the city of Mexico in 1541, also beheld Dakota county in that year. Among other things, Coronado in describing the conn- try says: " Here I found plums, such as I have seen in Spain, walnuts and excellent ripe grapes." Now the fact that Dakota county contains the oldest and largest
WARNER'S HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
walnut trees in Nebraska, makes it appear plausible that Coronado and his 1,100 men actually stood upon what is to-day the banner corn county of the state of Nebraska, three hundred and fifty-three years ago. As a number of walnut trees cut down in this county have been found to be three hundred and eighty years old, Coronado could have gathered walnuts from any of them when they were thirty-one years old.
In May, 1699, Iberville, a French officer, planted a colony on the Bay of Biloxi, within the present limits of the state of Mississippi, and took all the country be- tween the Alleghany and Rocky Mountains in the name of France. This region was called Louisiana, and although what is now Dakota county was a small portion of it, nevertheless, it was under French rule until November 3, 1762, when the Province of Louisiana was ceded to Spain. This region was then under Spanish control for thirty-seven years, when the Province of Louisiana was re-ceded to France. and about three years later, on the 30th of April, 1803, it was ceded to the United States. Thus, for the first time, the soil on which we stand was under the ownership of our own country.
THE LEWIS AND CLARKE EXPEDITION.
On the acquisition of this vast territory to the United States, the president, Thomas Jefferson, planned an exploring expedition to ascertain the courses and sources of the Missouri river and most convenient water communication thence to the Pacific Ocean. Captains Merriweather Lewis and William Clarke, both army officers, were placed in charge of the command, which consisted of nine young men from Kentucky, fourteen soldiers of the United States army, who volunteered their services, two French watermen, an interpreter and hunter and a black servant belonging to Captain Clarke. All these, except the last, were enlisted to serve as pri- vates during the expedition, which began ascending the
33
LEWIS AND CLARKE EXPEDITION.
Missouri river from its confluence with the Mississippi. May 14th, 1804. Three sergeants were appointed among them, and besides the above named crew, there were a corporal and six soldiers, also nine watermen who were engaged to accompany the expedition as far as the Mandan nation. They had three boats or barges, tak- ing with them necessary stores and presents for the Indians, while two horses were led along the banks of the river to be used in hunting.
The expedition reached what is now Dakota county. Monday, August 13, 1804, and passed up through what is now Blyburg lake, (then the Missouri river) to a point opposite the old George Smith place, where they found the month of a stream which they called Maha creek. This was Omaha creek, and the old settlers re- member when it emptied its waters at the above named point. They moved on, passing over the very place where, in recent years, Amberry Bates and others, raised crope of corn -- then the middle of the river, and camped that night at a point on the river north of the old Sam- nel Dearing place, (now owned by Andrew J. Parker), opposite a large island, which included the Wm. Alte- mus farm and what used to be known as the "George Woods Timber." The river at that time extended around sonth of D. C. Dibble's farm and out as far as A. H. Baker's farm, thence south and then east to Parker's place, as above stated. Here they remained in camp for several days treating with the Indians and ex- ploring the adjacent country.
Soon after they had halted on the 13th, Sergeant Ordway and four men were detached to the Maha village. which extended from the IIeniy ream place near Homer. to the old Moses Kreps place, now owned by David Waterman. They started southward and traveled down a portion of what for many years has been known as the Rathbun lane and came to Omaha creek, at a point west of the Gideon Warner farm, where the guide
34
WARNER'S HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
meridian crosses that stream, thence west along its bank to where the Oak mill was built. Here they crossed the Elk creek, which they called "the north branch" and started south up Omaha creek, passing over the land now owned by Tim Murphy, D. Allen and John Braunt. Here is the diary for the expedition after they crossed Elk creek:
"The walk was very fatiguing, as they were forced to break their way through grass, sunflowers and thistles, all above ten feet high and interspersed with wild pea. Five miles from our camp they reached the position of the ancient Maha village; it had once consisted of 300 cabins, but was burnt four years ago, soon after the small pox had destroyed 400 men and a proportion of women and children. On a hill, in the rear of the village, are the graves of the nation, to the south of which runs the fork of the Maha creek ; this they crossed where it was about ten yards wide, and followed its course to the Missouri river, passing along a ridge of hill for one mile and a half and a long pond between that and the Missouri: they then re-crossed the Maha creek and arrived at the camp, having seen no tracks of the Indians nor any sign of recent enltivation."
Although the above narrative was written eighty- nine years ago, the exact extent of their wanderings can readily be determined. As has been above stated they left their camp on the river somewhere north of Par- ker's place, August 13th, going southward came to Oma- ha creek, thence west along its bank to Elk creek, which they crossed and proceeded, south to where Homer now stands. Here in the vicinity of Homer they eamped that night. and the next day, the 14th, they explored the ruins of the ancient village of the Omaha Indians. They then crossed Omaha creek at a point near where Henry Ream's house is now situated. The creek was then thirty feet wide and the water stood almost level with the banks. and this branch, or rather arm of Oma-
35
LEWIS AND CLARKE EXPEDITION.
ha creek run from Homer south-east along the foot of the high bluffs through what is to-day known as the Ream, Ashford, O'Connor and Warner farms, a distance from Homer of about two miles and a half, where it again connected with the main stream. Of course the water of this portion of the stream would be stagnant except in high water, when it would become a running stream. It appears that they mistook this for a regular branch of Omaha creek. The party then climbed to the top of the bluffs at the Henry Ream place, where they found the graves of hundreds of Omaha Indians. who had died of the small pox. These graves can be seen to this day. They followed along the top of the bluffs back of the present site of Ashford's and O'Con nor's residences and descended to the base of the bluffs near Pilgrim hill, thence along Omaha creek to where it emptied into the Missouri; here they again crossed the creek and turned to the north-west, passing over what used to be the Isaac Lamoreaux place and thence north-west to their camp 1212315
On the morning of the 15th they saw a large smoke ascending from the forest to the north-east in the vicin- ity of the "George Woods timber." Some men were sent to ascertain its cause and found that a small party who had lately passed that way had left some trees burning.
On the same day, while the expedition was waiting for the Indians to come and meet with them in council. some of their men went down to the Omaha creek, south of the old Charles Bliven place, now owned by James Alloway,and made a kind of drag with small willows and bark and swept the creek where it was dammed up by beaver. They caught 318 fish, consisting of pike, bass, fish resembling salmon, trout, red horse, buffalo, rockfish. flatback, perch, catfish, silverfish and shrimp; here also, they found very fat muscles, and ducks and plover.
36
WARNER'S HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
The pioneers well remember when Omaha creek. instead of flowing into the Misiouri, as at present, ex- tended along east of the old Rathbun and Bliven places. and a short distance sonth of the latter the creek was merged into a large pond or lake, caused by beaver damming the creek. This is the pond mentioned in Lewis and Clarke's diary for the 13th and 14th. On the 16th they again dragged this pond and got 800 fish.
On the evening of August 17th, one of the party who had been sent back to the Otoe nation, returned with the information that the rest were coming on with a deserter and three chiefs of that tribe, who were de- sirons of making peace with the Mahas. As the Mahas had all left their village the surrounding prairies were set on fire, which was a enstomary signal in those days by traders to apprise the Indians of their arrival; it was also used between different tribes as an indication of any event which had previously been agreed to be an- nonneed in that way, and, as soon as seen collected the neighboring Indians, unless it was appreherded to have been made by enemies.
In the afternoon of the next day the party sent to Conneil Bluff's returned with Little Thief, Big Horse and six other Indian chiefs and a French interpreter. Six of them were Otoes and the other two were Missouris. It was a hot July day and Lewis and Clarke met them under the shade of five cottonwood trees then standing on what is now the Parker place. The pioneers well remember these trees, as they formed a shelter for many a camping party. In Jannary, 1890, Parker ent down the smallest of these trees, which was ninety-eight years old; previous to this he had ent another which was about one hundred and twenty years old, or thirty-four years old when this famous conneil was held beneath its shade, and five years old when the battle of Bunker Hill was fought. Before this, however, Samuel Dear- ing cut the second largest of these trees, which had
37
LEWIS AND CLARKE EXPEDITION.
withstood the storms and battles of the elements of one hundred and thirty years; and the largest of all, which was five feet in diameter, fell a prey to the Old Muddy in 1876. The following account of this council is quot- ed from their journal:
"We met them under a shade. and after they had finished a repast with which we had supplied them, we inquired into the origin of their war between them and the Mahas, which they related with great frankness. It seems that two of the Missouris went to the Mahas to steal horses, but were detached and killed. The Otoes and Missouris thought themselves bound to avenge their companions, and the whole nations were at last obliged to share in the dispute. They are also in fear of war from the Pawnees, whose village they entered this summer. while the inhabitants were hunting, and stole their corn. This ingennous confession did not make us the less desirous of negotiating a peace for them; but no Indians have as yet been attracted by our fire. The evening was closed by a dance, and the next day (August 19th) the chiefs and warriors being assem- bled at ten o'clock, we explained the speech we had already sent from Council Bluffs and renewed our ad- vice. They all replied in turn and the presents were then distributed. * * After a inore substantial pre- sentation of small articles and tobacco, the council was ended with a dram to the Indians. In the evening we exhibited different objects of curiosity. and particularly the air-gun, which gave them great surprise. These people are almost naked, having no covering except a sort of breech-cloth around the middle, with a loose blanket or buffalo robe, painted, thrown over them. The names of these warriors, besides those already men- tioned, were: Karkapaha or Crow's Head, and Nena- sawa or Black Cat, Missonris; and Sananona or Iron Eyes, Neswaunja or Big Ox, Stageaunja or Big Blue Eves. and Wasashaco or Brave Man, all Otoes. These
38
WARNER'S HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
two tribes speak nearly the same language. They all begged us for whisky.
The next morning, August 20th, the Indians were given a canister of whisky, when they mounted their horses and road away.
The expedition then set sail and passed two large islands on the north-one including the old Geo. Woods place, the other where MeHenry's saw mill is located. While they were thus passing along the sub- seqnent site of Dakota City, Sergeant Charles Floyd was writhing in the last throes of death, and died as they reached the high bluffs, about one mile south of the Floyd river. which was so named in honor of this brave soldier. Just before his death he said to Captain Clarke: "I am going to leave you,"-his strength failed him as he added, "I want you to write me a let- ter." They buried his body on the top of the high bluff, with military honors, and the grave was marked by a cedar post, on which his name and the day of his death were inscribed. The place of his burial was called Floyd's bluff. It seems that his death was caused by an attack of billions colic, brought on by eating wild honey, which the party had found either at Col. Baird's bluffs or along the bluffs east of Homer-or possibly on Honey creek. They camped that night at the mouth of the Floyd.
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