Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties, Part 91

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820

USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 91
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 91
USA > Nebraska > Hall County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 91
USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 91

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Some years later a party of Canadians moving across the plains reported unfavorably on the country. It appears that this party was made up principally in Middlesex County, Canada, and in- cluded, among others, one of the notorious Allen family. This Allen assaulted a squaw, and the Indian woman dying soon after as the result of his assault, was buried by Allen. The Indians missed the woman and coming down to the Cana dian camp, asked for explanations. The members of the party pleaded ignorance, and the red chief

gave them thirty minutes to give up to them the murderer of the red woman. Allen was given up and, in presence of his friends, was skinned alive and the quivering body burned.

This act of justice was described otherwise; the cause being withheld and the savage execution of Allen given as an every-day occurrence. Such stories retarded settlement, so that the pioneers of this central section of the State did not venture in until 1857.

William Stolley, writing in centennial year, states: It was in the winter of 1856-57 when A. H. Barrows, of the branch bank at Davenport, Iowa, of Chubb Bros. & Barrows, of Washington, D. C., called upon me to participate in the loca- tion of a town somewhere in the central portion of Nebraska, in the Platte valley. Mr Barrows alleged that influential and worthy parties, and among them members of Congress, would back this enterprise, with the expectation that sooner or later a railroad must be built up the valley of the Platte, crossing the continent, and that event- ually the National Capitol would have to be re- moved from Washington to a centrally located point. The object of these speculators was to lo- cate a town as near the center of the continent as practicable, there to secure a large tract of land and attempt, in the course of time, to have the capitol located here. They contemplated sending a surveyor and five others to locate and start the town. The surveys did not extend west of Colum- bus, and the country on the north side of the Platte had but recently been ceded by the Paw- nees to the United States, while the Sioux claimed to be the owners of all lands on the south side of the river and along the Blues and Republican. While I declined to become a partner in the town company, I agreed to participate in making the settlement, and considering the dangers to which the pioneers would be exposed, I proposed that in addition to the four or five persons referred to, a body of twenty or thirty able-bodied men be en- gaged by the town company for self protection in case of Indian attack. This proposition was ac- cepted by A. H. Barrows, W. H. F. Gurley and B. B. Woodward, who empowered me and subse-

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HALL COUNTY.

quently also Fred Hedde, to engage the number of men proposed. The condition of engagement was that the pioneers should claim and hold 320 acres each wherever the company's surveyor would direct, and the company was to furnish funds for the final payment of the land-the consideration being that the settlers should deed one-half of their claims to the town company. Persons who had no means were to be supplied with provisions dnr- ing the first year, but were to re-imbnrse the com- pany so soon as circumstances would permit.

The first settlers comprised twenty-five Ger- mans and Americans. The Germans were Fred Hedde, William Stolley, W. A. Hagge, Christ. Menck, Kai Ewoldt, Henry Egge, Cornelius Alex- son, Hans Wrage, Anna Stier (nnmarried), Peter Stuhr, Detlef Sass, Johan Hamann, Fred Vatge, Fred Doll, Marx Stelk, Nicholas Thede, * William Stier, * Henry Schoel* and Henry Joehnk, * all of Holstein, Germany; Christian Andreson, * of Schleswig; Herman Vasold, of Thüringen; Theo- dore Nagel, of Waldeck; Fred Landman, of Meck- lenburg; Henry Schaaf and Matthias Gries, of Prussia; R. C. Barnard, surveyor, and Lorens Barnard, of Washington, D. C .; Joshua Smith, David P. Morgan and William Seymour, of Dav- enport, Iowa. The surveyor's party consisting of R. C. Barnard, all the Americans, Fred Hedde and Christ. Menck, left Davenport a few days ahead of the main party with one mule team. William A. Hagge and Theodore Nagel were detailed to pro- ceed by river to St. Louis and purchase a supply of provisions, fire-arms, ammunition, blacksmith tools, etc., and have them shipped np the Missonri River to Omaha in time for the arrival of the main party there.

May 28, 1857, five heavy loaded teams drawn by sixteen yoke of work oxen, and with the re- mainder of the parties named, left Davenport in charge of William Stolley. After a pleasant trip, the train arrived in Omaha, on June 18, 1857, and from this the expedition proceeded westward, June 19, except William Stolley, who was compelled on account of business to return to Davenport. The

little train passed Fremont June 23, which town had ten log houses, arrived at Columbus, with eighteen log houses, on June 26; crossed the Loup River June 27, at Genon, uhont twenty miles np stream from Columbus, and on July 2. Wood River was reached over the wild prairie np the valley, where the pioneer train of Hall County made the first wagon trail. After reconnoitering the country for one day, the surveyor located the place on July 4, the train retracted abont seven miles, and on July 5, stakes were driven as well for the town-sites as for claims. The town-site covered partially the present town-site of Grand Island, but the greater part of it was located due south and southwest from where the present town of Grand Island is located and between this and the north channel of the Platte.

On July 7 the party feeling not quite sure of having made a judicious selection, divided into three parties and again reconnoitered. Some went over to Prairie Creek, the other on to what is known as Grand Island, and the third went up Wood River about thirty miles. By July 11 all had returned and the first location was confirmed. A meeting was then called and it was resolved that four log houses should be first built, each 14x33 feet, the inside divided by two partitions, thus making two rooms 14x15 each, and an en- trance large enough to answer the purpose of a door. At the same time the breaking of prairie land had to be attended to as the season was al- ready far advanced. Only about fifty acres were broken the first season. On July 13 the work be- gan in earnest. Some chopped logs, others hauled them ont, others prepared wood for the burning of charcoal for the blacksmith shop, and on July 23 a team was sent to Omaha for more provisions. Saturday, August 15, some of the settlers moved into their new honses, and, on the 27th, all the honses were occupied. These houses were built on the south half of the northwest quarter and north half of the southwest quarter of Section 14, Township 11, Range 9, which in 1876 was part of the Christ. Menck farm. In the meantime another town was located abont seven miles west of the first, called Mendotte.

Four houses were erected

*In the list the wives of those men are not named or counted, the only female named being Anna Stier.

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

there by David Crocker, William Roberts, M. Potts and Billy Painter. This town was aban- doned soon after, and the site was occupied by David Crocker, who later sold his claim and moved to Santa Barbara, Cal.

On September 21, 1857, four teams were de- spatched to Omaha after provisions and clothing expected from St. Louis. Water in the Missouri was so low as to detain the delivery of the goods; but they arrived and were loaded. On the return trip the ferry boat at Columbus was found want- ing, and the teamsters were detained four months there, subjecting the settlers at Grand Island to a severe spell of starvation. On November 10, 1857, a team was sent forward with hay for the provision train detained there, and arrived November 13. Two of the teamsters discovered the approaching team and crossed the Lonp at great risk. Subse- quently 2,000 pounds of flour was transported across the river and brought at once to the settle- ment, arriving here November 18, with two of the Columbus party suffering from fever. On January 25, 1858, the supplies arrived amid rejoicing. Meantime some Pawnee Indians visited the settle- ment, but seeing the destitute condition of the people left immediately. There were neither can- dles nor soap for a long time, therefore everyone went to bed early, and the washing of clothes was done with home-made lye. A few of the work oxen were killed and used for food. This meat, with the flour, saved the settlers that first winter. In June, 1858, the supply of provisions again fail- ing, the settlers had to live for some time on half rations, besides being compelled to work very hard, as the spring season demanded. One of the early settlers, now a well-to do farmer (Cay Ewoldt) was, in consequence, so reduced that he was compelled to walk by the aid of a stick. On June 24, 1858, ample supplies arrived, and on July 5, more settlers arrived from Davenport, with a train of ten teams, bringing in nearly twenty persons, twenty yoke of oxen, besides a number of milch cows and young stock.

On August 27 about 1,500 Pawnees passed through the settlement, but beyond taking some green corn and potatoes, did little damage.

The day of terrors was January 18, 1859. Three men from Florence (near Omaha), on their way home from the newly discovered gold-fields of Col- orado, threatened to burn up the Dutch settlement, and set fire to the prairie. The wind was blowing a perfect gale; the fiends carried out their threat, and in a few hours eight houses were destroyed and the entire settlement barely escaped. The miscre- ant made good his escape, taking advantage of the consternation that prevailed. The principal suf- ferers by this fire were William Stolley, W. A. Hagge, John and Henry Vieregg, C. Menck, Marx Stelk, Fred Vatge, Hans Wrage, M. Gries and Rudolph Mathieson. The citizens of Omaha sent financial help to the people, but the messenger helped himself, and was never heard of again.

In the fall of 1859 the settlers secured, through the good offices of William Stolley, a contract to supply to Fort Kearney 2,000 bushels of corn, at $2 per bushel. Prior to this time corn was shipped from Fort Leavenworth, at a cost to the govern- ment of about $4 per bushel. This new system and the trade with the immigrants and California and Colorado travelers insured a good market to the settlers-a good sized cabbage bringing 50 cents, and a water-melon $1. Gold and silver were the only mediums of exchange. Large trains passed daily, and lame cattle or young calves were bought at very low prices by the settlers.

In 1857 the panic swept away the Chubb Broth- ers' Bank. Difficulties sprang up between the Town Company and the settlers, and the former, after sinking $6,000 in the enterprise, surrendered it. Barrows and Gurley died years ago; B. B. Wood- worth resided at Davenport in 1876; the Barnards, Joshua Smith, David P. Morgan and William Sey- mour left the settlement within a short time after it was formed. G. Schultz died a natural death. Fred Vatge committed suicide and J. Hamann was killed by a train on the Union Pacific track while crossing in his wagon, prior to 1876. Ten mem- bers left the settlement: Fred Hedde, Chris. An- dreson and D. Sass, who returned prior to 1876; William Stier, N. Thede, F. Landmann, M. Gries, Theodore Nagel, C. Alexson and H. Vassold, who had not returned up to July of Centennial year.

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HALL COUNTY.

Fred Doll removed to Howard County, while the others continued to reside here from the beginning. Anna Stier married John Thompson; Mrs. H. Schoel died; Mrs. Doll removed to Howard County; Mrs. Joehnk and Mrs. Andreson were still resi- dents. Nellie Stier, a daughter of William Stier, was born March 3, 1858.

In 1862 the Indian troubles hitherto referred to commenced. In the summer of 1864 the Sionx determined on a raid of murder and rapine along the Oregon trail from Fort Kearney to Omaha. They attacked George Martin's ranch, eighteen miles southwest of the Platte, near Grand River, from which his two boys, Nat. and Robert, had just escaped to convey the news of the Sioux advanceto the soldiers at Fort Kearney. A party of Indians pursued the boys so closely that an arrow passed through the body of the younger boy and entered the back of the older brother. The remainder of the party killed one of Martin's men, and then moved a few miles east to massacre the Campbell family. In Adams and Clay Counties they carried on their heaviest deviltry.

The first post-office was established in the spring of 1859, with R. C. Barnard in charge. The first weekly stage was put on the Omaha and Kearney route October 1, 1858. It was changed to a tri-weekly in 1860, and to a daily in 1864.

In July and August, 1866, the United States surveys carried on work in this county. Under the act of February 13, 1869, permission was given by the Legislature to O. A. Abbott, H. A. Koenig, John Wallichs and William H. Platte, to dam the Platte River. Prior to this the river was most effectually dammed by the pioneers, who were com- pelled to cross it at intervals. On May 21, 1870, $15,000 bonds were issued for bridging the river. and the bridge built and finished in March, 1871, on Section 29, Township 10, Range 9. The first school was opened by Theodore Nagel in 1862, at a point one mile south of the present conrt- house. Six students attended. In 1860 the num- ber of inhabitants was given at 116.

In March, 1871, Charles Christiansen and Peter Mohr opened the first farms on Prairie Creek.

Game was abundant when the county was first

settled; buffalo, elk and antelope were to be found in large herds. Gray wolves, prairie wolves, red and gray foxes, wild-cats and badgers were numer ous, while deer, hare, rabbit, chicken, turkey, partridge and quail were scarce. The deer were nearly exterminated by the deep snows and severe winters of 1856-57, but continued to increase in number up to 1876, on the numerous islands in the Platte. The abundance of wild meat was a grent convenience to the early settlers, and, regularly every fall, mostly in the month of October, parties went out on a buffalo hunt and laid in a supply of meat for the winter. The rivers and creeks were well stocked with beaver, otter, mink and muskrat, while wild geese, ducks and other fowl swarmed here in the spring and fall. Large numbers of wolves were poisoned with strychnine and trapped with steel traps every winter, and the skins sold at from 75 cents to $3. In one instance I remember a party killed seventy-five wolves about his premises in one winter. One of them was a white wolf, measuring nine feet from nose to tip of tail. This party had lined his log cabin inside and outside with furs. The best of buffalo robes could be obtained nt from $2.50 to $3.00 from the Pawnees, who visited the settlements twice annually, and as the robes formed the principal bedding for most of the settlers for a number of years, there was a demand for them.

The winter of 1863-64 was very severe. Snow covered the ground from the middle of November until March. A great deal of corn was snow-cov- ered before it was cribbed and had to be left in the field all winter. Many cattle were lost on account of the severity of the winter, several parties lost limbs, and one man was frozen to death. On An gust 29, 1863, a heavy frost killed all the corn and potatoes. June 16, 1869, frost damaged the crops.

In 1863 the second saw mill was built on Wood River; the first wind-mill in Grand River settle. ment was erected. Prior to 1876 several mills were erected-a grist wind mill, a saw wind mill, two water grist-mills, two water saw mills and three steam saw-mills. In 1876 there were only two -- one water and one steam grist mill-in the

county. In 1866 the timber on the islands was

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

fraudulently withheld from market long enough to secure it for use by the contractors in building the Union Pacific Railroad.

The first artificial grove of 6,000 trees was set out in the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 28, and on the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 29, Township 11, Range 9, in the spring of 1860. By centennial year some of the trees were from sixty to seventy feet high. In the spring of 1863 the first fruit trees were planted, producing the first cherries in 1867, first peaches in 1871, and first apples and pears in 1872.

In August, 1862, the first swarms of grass-hop- pers were noticed here. On July 15, 1864, they destroyed all the buckwheat in the county to the exclusion of other crops, reappearing on August 1, 1864. Again, on July 8, 1866, though numer- ous, they did not do much injury. In 1868 they once more appeared, and in 1869 destroyed nearly all the corn-fields. On May 22, 1873, they came with a southwest wind, but did not effect much damage. On July 20, 21 and 22 and on August 5 and 6, 1874, they came in swarms, which some- times shut off the sunlight, and ate nearly all the crops. A State aid society was at once organized, and also a State Grange relief society, subsistence and clothing were sent to the sufferers, Congress appropriated $150,000, and the State $50,000, for relief purposes. On June 24 and August 8 and 10, 1875, the hoppers did considerable damage, but some parties drove them from their fields by keep- ing up fires around their fields and using pulver- ized sulphur. It was discovered that this year a worm took possession of the hoppers, killing them.

In May, 1876, ten English sparrows were re- ceived from New York by William Stolley, with the hope that they would increase sufficiently to prey upon the hoppers. Unfortunately the birds have so increased as to be as much of a nuisance as the hoppers.

In the history of Grand Island City, many minute references to the pioneers are made. Be- sides that number are a few who escaped notice in that chapter. John W. Monroe, who in 1869 be- came a charge of Hall County, and was still sup- ported by the county in 1887, was an express

messenger between Omaha and Fort Kearney, in the early years of Nebraska; "Pap" Lamb, another old resident of Hall, being his alternate on the route. He was born in New York about 1797. Mrs. Doel, who came with her husband in 1857, and aided in opening the farm, southeast of the city, died in January, 1886. Among the pio- neers who attended her funeral were Fred Hedde, John Wallichs, Henry Joehnk, F. Stuhr, Peter Stuhr, M. Stelk, Chr. Menck, D. Sass, Henry Schoel, Kai Ewoldt and Theo. Sievers. William Stolley, though residing here then as well as now, is not named among the attendants. Hy. Schaaf, a member of the first Grand Island colony, died in January, 1885. He, with Pioneer Sass, lived for years in a dug-ont on the Egge farm, until he purchased lands three miles east of the city.

In 1866 George Francis Train became impressed with the idea that the capital of the United States should be somewhere on the Union Pacific Rail- road, in the neighborhood of Columbus. He ad- vertised the Platte valley so extensively that thousands came hither to buy his lots, which, fort- unately for the immigrants, were ouly on paper.

Grand Island became a colonizer at an early date in its history. So early as 1872-73, citizens of the village conceived the idea of settling in the middle Loup valley and acted at once on this con- ception. The great storm of April 13, 1873, caused some suffering and much inconvenience. It is related that sixty men were crowded into the little store building of Frank Ingram for three days. At this time there were only four women in the Loup valley-Mrs. Al. Brown and Misses Clara and Alice Benschoter and Lizzie Hayes, all of Grand Island.

In February, 1876, expedition parties for the Black Hills were organized at Grand Island, Wood River and other places. The Wood River party comprised Patrick Nevills, J. Nolan, C. J. S. Trout, P. Dugan, J. Dunn, A. A. Baker, J. O'Connor, George Williamson, John Lyons, Miles Lyons, Mark Lyons, J. Haverly and P. Brady. Maj. Foote, of the Grand Island party, returned in March and reported a route between Grand Is- land and the hills open and guide-boards erected.

541

HALL COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXIV .

ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNTY-TRANSACTIONS OF BOARD-SUPPLEMENTARY ACTS-APPOINTMENT OF OFFICIALS- ELECTIONS-AN INTERESTING RECORD BOOK-COMMISSIONERS AND SUPERVISORS -TAX LEVIES-FINANCE -RESUME OF POLITICAL EVENTS-RETURNS OF VOTERS-POLITICIANS OF NOTE-OFFICIAL RECORD- JUDICIAL HISTORY-A SUMMARY OF COURT AFFAIRS-ATTORNEYS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE-TRIALS OF IMPORTANCE.

Our judges, like our laws, were rude and plain. - Cowley.

S established by the act of November 4, 1858, Hall County extended from the northeast corner of Town- ship 16 north, Range 9 west, south to the southern bank of Platte River; west along the river to the west line of Range 12 west, north with that line to the northwest corner of Township 16, Range 12, and east with the line of the fourth parallel to the beginning. The act did not consider the county seat or its location. On February 24, 1864. the boundaries were re defined, but the act was repealed on February 15 fol- lowing. On March 1. 1871, a third act received approval, which established the territory comprised in Townships 9, 10, 11 and 12 north, in Ranges 9, 10, 11 and 12 west, as a county under the title of Hall.

Under date, Omaha City, Neb., December 9, 1858, Sec. and Acting-Gov. J. Sterling Morton advised Hon. Richard Barnard of the appointment of officers for Hall County, under the act of No- vember 4, 1858. Such appointments were Richard C. Barnard,* county judge; Herman Vasold, sheriff;

Theodore F. Nagel, recorder; William A. Hagge, justice of the peace; Isaac Thomas, treasurer; Frederick Hedde, Daniel B. Crocker and Hans Vieregg, commissioners; George Shultz and Chris- tian Menck were the constables.

The first reference of elections is made under date November 8, 1862, when Johannes Wallichs, elected justice of the peace October 14, 1862, Joachim Selken, chosen constable and Theodore F. Nagel, commissioner, qualified before Frederick Hedde, justice of the peace. The first pages of Book A, commissioners' record, are occupied by Frederick Hedde's docket. The first case in bis court is entitled Philip Feldman vs. John Wind. olph, the former demanding $75 from Windulph for opening a letter belonging to plaintiff and fail- ing to forward it. On July 10, 1863, Jacob Weidig charged Charles Peterson with threatening to kill, but witnesses failing to prove such charge, the de- fendant was set at liberty. In October, 1863, Charles Boehl sned John Verges for $48.25, con- sideration for mowing and raking hay as employe of Verges. This was the great law case of the period, the hearing of which occupied the attention of the court for three days, and resulted in a judgment for plaintiff in the sum of $39.20 and costs. On October 30, 1863, Henry Giese was asked to de- liver to Charles Walker a wagon, which the latter had sold to the former. Justice Hedde ordered that

*William Stolley, in his Centennial sketch, states that Fred Hedde was probate judge.

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

the contract be carried out or $15 damages be paid. Justice Hedde was engaged in more public affairs than common law covers, for on November 12, 1863, he solemnized marriage in the case of James Har- rison and Lucinda Shoemaker on a license issued by the county clerk. On March 1, 1864, Henry Schoel and Mary Becker were united in matrimon- ial bonds by Justice Hedde, who is found, a few days later. engaged in hearing a second charge against Charles Peterson for threatening to kill John Windolph. Peterson made an abject apology, which was accepted, and further proceedings were stopped. On March 20, John H. Staats and So- phia Wilson were joined in the bonds of marriage. William Wasmer and Fred. Bohnsan complained that their fences were destroyed and posts carried away by certain unknown parties. Several suits for small debts were tried in 1869. On May 15, 1864, the pioneer justice is found at Mr. Knapp's house on Wood River, engaged in giving legal countenance to the marriage agreement between Cornelius Hurley and Mrs. Elizabeth Owens. On November 4 he performed the ceremony in the case of Johannes A. Wallichs and Gretje Sahn, and soon after signs his name for the last time as jus- tice of the peace in this record book. In April, 1865, W. Behrens performed the marriage cere- mony in the case of Hascall Skinner and Mary J. Mitchell, and on May 26, in that of Marx Stelk and Antje Ruger.

The first record of the commissioners is dated Grand Island, January 7, 1867, when the county was divided into three precincts. William Hagge was appointed assessor for precinct No. 1; John Wallichs for No. 2 and William Eldredge for No. 3; Dr. Joseph Rease was appointed county attorney at $100 per annum; a license fee of $25 for every dealer in liquors was ordered to be collected and the proceeds applied to the school funds. Licenses were issued to seven persons for the sale of liquor and an eighth dealer ordered to take out one. The commissioners at this time were: Hans Wrage, Dr. A. Thorspecken and Chris. Wasmer, with Fred. Evans, clerk and W. H. Platt, deputy clerk. In July the total valuation of the county was $144,793, on which a county tax of 6 mills was ordered to

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Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 820

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820