USA > Nebraska > Custer County > History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time > Part 5
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44
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
sent notice to Mr. Park at North Platte, so that he could correct his line.
I had a partial acquaintance with Mr. Park in 1869, in Omaha, had been in his camp and had seen him at work in the field. In the Civil war he was lieutenant colonel of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, which captured Jefferson Davis, and therefore came to the state with political and military prestige. His first connection with the surveys of the public lands that I find in the records is his contract number I, dated July 2, 1867. In the same party with me in 1869 were two men who were with Park in 1868, in Howard and Sherman counties, and 1 heard a great deal about him, so l was anxious that Mr. Daugherty should join me in the examination of the parallel for his individual and moral support.
Park, Daugherty, and myself were called in conference in January following, when it was agreed that Mr. Park should correct the line in early spring and correct our closing corners to alignment on the new line and report the same to us. I never received any report, but I notice in my notes that my figures, in black ink, are corrected, in red ink, by the surveyor general's office.
A LAME OX AND THE REMEDY
. In early September one of the oxen became very lame in one of its hind feet, by reason of the wearing through of the sole of the hoof. Various schemes were tried without re- lief and it became a question of turning it loose in the brush along the river. when it was bethought to try shoeing it with hoop iron. A heavy hoop was taken from a water barrel and a shoe cut out to fit the toe. The ox was tied up along the side of the camp wagon with the foot strapped down on top of the hub. We were unable to drive the shingle nails through the edge of the dry hard hoof. The holes were drilled and the burned nails driven and clinched. We had no further trouble and the shoe remained for several months.
NAMES OF CREEKS
I gave the name of Rock creek to the little stream of water flowing into the deep river
at the south edge of the oak grove, in town- ship 18, range 17, on finding rock in the bot- tom of the river at its mouth; the name of Lillian to the stream on the south side of the Loup in township 19, ranges 18 and 19, and Victoria in townships 19 and 20, ranges 20 and 21, after two nieces living in Indiana.
FOOLING THE COOK
During all my previous years on the plains, I had heard it claimed that the antelope was a species of the sheep family, and especially the pilgrim plainsmen maintained they had the odor of sheep. that the meat tasted like sheep and they were sheep. So it was with nearly all of my party in Custer county, and the cook was so very positive that they were mutton that his stomach rebelled when he cooked the meat. To bring matters to a test, a bet was made of an oyster supper for the entire crew that he could not distinguish the difference blindfolded. So one forenoon by good luck a deer and antelope were killed, and the saddles and sirloin cut out. In the evening the cook fried in separate pans cuts of sirloin of each. so that he knew he would have a square deal. When blindfolded he was given a piece of the deer and then the antelope and failed each time. It was tried in various ways and finally he was given one kind several times in suc- cession, then the other. He guessed it cor- rectly once and his stomach never rebelled af- ter that. Antelope and sheep are of an en- tirely different and distinct species.
GOVERNMENT SURVEYS
The act of congress, approved July 22, 1854. created the surveying district of Kansas and Nebraska territories.
John Calhoun, of Springfield. Illinois, was appointed surveyor general, by President Franklin Pierce, August 15. 1854, with head- quarters at Leavenworth, Kansas.
The first contract for surveys was awarded to Professor Jonathan P. Johnson, November 2, 1854, for the first sixty miles of the Base line on the fortieth parallel of north latitude.
On March 1, 1867, Nebraska territory was admitted into the Union as a state and the
45
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
surveying district was changed, Kansas being consolidated with Wisconsin, and Nebraska with Iowa July 28, 1866, under the title of "Iowa and Nebraska," with the surveyor gen- eral's office at Plattsmouth. Phineas P. Hitch- cock, of Omaha, for surveyor general, was appointed by President Andrew Johnson in April, 1867.
While the two territories constituted the sur- veying district 233 contracts were awarded for surveys in the two territories, but in the new district contracts began with number 1.
The first survey of the public lands which affected Custer county was the establishment of the southeast corner of township 13 north, range 17 west, or the third initial point of the second guide meridian west, by H. C. F. Hack- busch, 1866.
Surveyors whose work in any way affected Custer county were :
1-H. C. F. Hackbusch, Leavenworth, Kansas ;
2-J. B. Park, Omaha ;
3 - Nicholas J. Paul, Omaha, now St. Paul ;
4- John F. Burch, Omaha ;
5 - Robert Ilarvey, St. Paul ;
6- Joe E. North, Columbus ; 7 - John W. Daugherty, Fremont ;
8- James L. Slocum, Falls City ;
9-D. V. Stephenson, Falls City ;
10-Zadok Stephenson, Falls City ; 11-S. C. McElroy, Falls City ;
12 - H. C. Campbell, address not known.
Of the above list of twelve surveyors, only numbers 3, 5, and 8 are known to mie to be now living.
An abstract of the history of the gov- ernment survey is given in the following tables :
TABLE I
Lines Designated
By Whom Surveyed
Date of Contract
No. of Con- tract
Miles
Chains |
Links
When Sur-
3rd Standard Parallel.
J. B. Park.
July
2, 1867
1
48
1866
3rd Standard Parallel.
Wm. J. Allason ..
April 29, 1869
17
6
1869
4th Standard Parallel.
J. B. Park.
July
2, 1867
1
39
03
1867
4th Standard Parallel
| J. B. Park
Oct.
16, 1868
14
48
1868
4th Standard Parallel.
Wm. J. Allason .. Nicholas J. Paul.
June
6, 1868
7
16 40
43
1868
5th Standard Parallel.
J. B. Park.
May 10, 1872
53
48
1872
5th Standard Parallel.
J. B. Park.
May . 10, 1872
53
5
19
34
1872
2nd Guide Meridian.
J. B. Park.
July
2, 1867
1
24
1867
2nd Guide Meridian.
Nicholas J. Paul.
June
6, 1868
7
24
1868
3rd Guide Meridian.
J. B. Park.
Oct
16, 1868
14
24
1868
3rd Guide Meridian.
J. B. Park.
May
10, 1872
53
24
257
35
70
EXTERIORS-Township Boundaries.
Tps. 13 and 14, Rs. 17 to 24. . . | Nicholas J. Paul.
Tune 11, 1869
21
179
70
53
1869
Tps. 15 and 16, Rs. 17 to 24. ..
[ Robert Harvey .. .
June 20, 1872
54
126
15
29
1872
Connecting Lines ..
Robert Harvey ...
Tune 20, 1872
54
63
70
1872
Tps. 17 to 20, Rs. 17 to 24 ..
Robert Harvey ...
June 20, 1872
54
317
35
98
1872
Connecting Lines .. .
Robert Harvey .. .
Tune 20. 1872
54
74
45
1872
Tps. 13 to 16, Rs. 17 to 24. ..
IJ. B. Park.
June 11, 1869
21
179
70
53
1869
Connecting Lines ..
J. B. Park.
April 29, 1869
18
16
90
1869
Tps. 17 to 20, Rs. 17 to 2 4. .
|H. C. Campbell ..
April 11, 1873
70
41
78
57
1873
Connecting Lines ..
H. C. Campbell ..
April 11, 1873
70
19
3-1
1873
Total
709
58
93
Table I includes the standard parallels, guide meridians, township lines, and connect- ing lines, names of the surveyors, date of con-
tract of survey, number of contract, lengths of lines in miles, chains, and links, and the year when the survey was made.
90
1869
5th Standard Parallel.
April 29, 1869
17
5
1872
Total
veyed
46
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
TABLE 11
Townships Designated
By Whom Surveyed
No. of Con- tract
Date of Contract
Miles
Chains
Links
When Sur- veved
Tp. 13, Rs. 17 to 24 inc.
T. F. Burch
20
June 3, 1869
479
77
44
1869
Tp. 14, Rs. 21 to 24 inc.
J. B. Park
53
May 10, 1873
239
66
1
1873
Tps. 14 to 16, Rs. 17 to 20 and 15 and 16, Rs. 21 to 24 inc ..
J. E. North.
55
June 22, 1872
1204
13
47
1872
And Connecting Lines
1
16
41
1872
Tp. 17. R. 17.
Robert Harvey ..
54
June 20, 1872
60
3
80
1872
Meanders
Robert Harvey ..
54
June 20, 1872
75
10
Tps. 17 to 20, Rs. 17 to 24 inc, and Tp. 17, R. 21.
. W. Daugherty
64
July 22, 1872
959
70
44
1872
Meanders
J. W. Daugherty
64
July 22, 1872
32
25
Connecting Lines.
J. W. Daugherty
64
July 22, 1872
1
34
55
1872
Tps. 18, 20, R. 21 ; Tps. 17, 18, 20, R. 22; Tps. 18, 20, R. 23; Tp. 19, R. 24.
Jas. L. Slocum
73
May 14, 1873
480
68
68
1873
And Connecting Lines.
Jas. L. Slocu
.. .
>
50
19
1873
Tp. 19, Rs. 21, 22; Tps. 17, 19,
D. V. Stephenson
73
May 14, 1873
300
44
39
1873
D. V. Stephenson
74
May 20, 1873
182
78
13
1873
Connecting Lines ..
S. C. McElroy
1
18
59
1873
Tp. 18, R. 24; Tp. 19, R. 25.
Z. Stephenson.
74
May 20, 1873
120
1
51
1873
Tps. 13 to 15, R. 25.
J. B. Park.
18
April 29, 1869
180
21
86
1869
Tp. 16, R. 25. .
J. B. Park
47
June 16, 1871
61
13
93
1871
Connecting Lines
J. B. Park
1
19
30
1871
Tp. 17, R. 25.
H. C. Campbell. 70
April 11, 1873
1
59
77
69
1873
Total
4384
33
05
Note: The connecting lines are the distances from the closing corners to the nearest corners on the parallels, owing to the convergence of meridians and not to errors of surveys.
Table II is the subdivision of townships into sections and gives the numbers of the town- ships. names of the surveyors, date and num- ber of contract, lengths of lines in miles, chains, and links, and year when survey was made, and includes the length of the right bank of the Loup river and all connecting lines. See note above in table II.
TABLE I11 RECAPITULATION
Miles
Chains
Links
Standard Parallels,
161
35
70
Guide Meridians,
96
Township Lines
707
44
54
Section Lines.
4329
60
38
Meander Lines
42
58
35
Connecting Lines
14
8
71
Total
5351
47
68
Table 1HI is a summary of the different kinds of lines and their lengths.
TABLE IV
LAND AND WATER AREA
Range
Land Area
Water Arca
R. 17
183 250|49 Acres
1|051|18 |Acres
18
183 650 08 Acres
[550|96|Acres
19
183 835|80|Acres
568|41 | Acres
20
183 245|74 Acres
1524 681Acres
21
183 319 95 Acres
575|77 Acres
22
184|056|94 Acres
23
183|453|58 Acres
24
183|893|02|Acres
25
184 |358|43 Acres
1653|064,03 Acres
3|270|77 |Acres
Total number of Acres.
1.656.334.80
Land Area. 2579.7875 square miles
Water Area. 5.1106 square miles
Total
2584.8981 square miles
[August 24, 1919,-Robert Harvey.]
Table IV is a tabulation of the land and water area of the county by ranges. These data by townships are very instructive and useful,
Meanders
Jas. L. Slocum. . .
9
38
25
R. 23; Tp. 20, R. 24 inc ....
1
15
28
1873
And Connecting Lines ..
Tp. 17, R. 24; Tps. 18, 20, R. 25| S. C. McElroy.
-
47
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
but would occupy about three pages and there- fore are omitted.
The Middle Loup river having been mean- dered, the water area is deducted from the public lands. The south branch was not me- andered and its area was sold as a part of the land area and is therefore not included in the tabulation.
I always employed a full crew of men, consisting of a cook, teamsters, two chain- men, two cornermen, and one flagman. In Custer county I had altogether twelve men; two were discharged at the begin- ning, for mutiny, and two discharged af- ter the destruction of the camp by fire in August ; three remained throughout the work, six were accessions. Only five are known to be living.
CUSTER COUNTY WEATHER
No detailed description of climatic condi- tions in Custer county is necessary. It can be truthfully stated that the climate is much the same as in other parts of the middle west, and admirably adapted to stock-raising and agriculture. It has always been a very health- ful climate.
Through the courtesy of G. A. Loveland, meteorologist in charge of the United States Weather Bureau, at Lincoln, Nebraska, the following tables showing precipitation in the county covering a range of thirty-six years and temperature covering a period of seventeen years are given.
The earliest reports come from Sargent and the following tables in the order of their es- tablishment, are submitted.
SARGENT
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Ann'I
1883
0.40
0.90
2.75
3.90
6.65
2,98
2.95
4.17
0.51
0.00
0.30
1884
0.33
1885
0.08
0.15
1.58
2.92
6.23
3.32
3.01
3.14
2.15
1.00
1.50
0.25
26.03
1886
1.52
1887
0.25
0.29
0.35
2.61
1.51
2.09
5.17
4.15
0.01
0.60
0.42
1889
1.00
0.17
0.78
1.50
1.03
4.18
4.76
1.28
1,02
0.39
0.72
0.00
1891
0.75
1.18
2.67
1.90
0.41
7.46
3.28
6.18
0.87
0.28
0.20
1.10
26.28
1893
2.04
2.59
3.49
2.08
0.81
0.60
1894
0.91
2.02
0.30
3.50
2.29
0.68
1.67
1.44
1895
0.91
4.31
2.01
3.97
3.09
0.42
2.25
2.20
1.29
ลข
1908
.30
1.05
.62
2.54
1.83
5.75
2.12
1.57
.90
.80
1910
.70
.20
1.82
3.21
1.40
6.47
1.40
.15
T
.75
.1911
.75
.10
.20
1.99
2.55
.58
5.49
4.65
2.11
4.04
T
.59
.58
.99
2.33
2.59
3.57
3.56
3.40
1.64
1.31
.51
.68
21.75
ANSLEY
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April | May
June
July
Aug. | Sept. |
Oct.
|Nov.
Dec.
Ann'l
1888
T
0.59
1889
0.30
T
2.20
0.50
1.30
2.93
8.90
1,23
0.40
0.60
0.80
T
19.16
1890
0.40
0.20
1,20
3.50
3.40 | 2.60
1.00
3.00
1.10
2.60
0.75
T
19.75
1891
T
2.00
2.05
6.30
1.90
1 8.19
4.57
1.22
0,80
1,14
0.00
1.25
29.42
1892
1.70
1.30
1.42
3.03
6.90
1.66
3.03
3.43
0.18
| 1.82
0.20
1893
0,25
0.80
1.80
0.82
2.39
| 2.34
1.40
0.44
1.64
1.06
T
0.12
9.30
1895
0.05
| 1.37
1 0.32
2.76
1 2.59
1 5.90
1.08
2.63
2.78
0.45
0.91
0.10
20.94
1888
2.27
2.31
8.30
3.02
5.63
2.97
1.62
0.83
0.00
1.35
1890
0.55
0.76
2.55
3.12
1.25
4.20
2.65
0,09
0.32
0.10
1.65
3.64
0.71
1.24
0.49
1.67
1892
1896
.52
.05
1909
1,20
0.00
T
1894
1.38
0.92
1
48
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. NEBRASKA .
CALLAWAY
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Ann'1
1892
0.13
1.55
0.13
0.37
1893
T
0.29
1.67
0.94
2.53
2.79
1.36
1.28
0.60
0.39
0.05
0.79
12.69
1894
0.20
0.15
0.80
0.81
0.18
2.74
2.38
0.40
0.40
1.00
0.00
0.00
9.06
1895
0.30
1.65
0.12
3.15
2.35
9.03
0.38
6.35
1.40
0.05
0.90
0.03
25.71
1896
0.25
0.05
1.33
5.69
1.53
3.58
1.93
1.95
2.20
1.00
0.20
19.71
1897
0.35
0.48
1.28
5.30
0.30
4.95
0.70
1.78
1.15
5.00
0.30
0.95
22.54
1898
0.45
0.15
0.60
2.35
4.45
2.98
2.60
6.85
1.50
T
0.65
T
22.58
1899
'T
0.55
T
0.55
2,21
5.65
1.40
1.85
0.75
0.45
1.65
0.63
15.69
1900
T
1.57
0.47
4.50
2.90
0.95
3.50
4.70
1.90
1.25
0.50
0.35
22.59
1901
0.17
1.01
3.13
3.35
2.15
8.30
1.33
3.85
6.65
1.90
1.15
0.67
33.66
1902
0.70
0.35
1.30
0.90
6.25
3.95
4.40
1.35
3.95
0.95
0.10
0.95
25.15
1903
0.45
1.53
0.10
2.05
5.45
2.25
7.70
4.28
0.30
1.10
0.55
T
25.76
1904
0.64
T
T
0.51
4.24
2.97
6.32
5.89
1.83
1905
1.35
0.50
0.61
3.50
7.70
6.21
3.10
0.66
1.02
T
1906
0.50
0.34
1.00
8.88
1.06
1.32
2.50
3.72
4.17
4.73
1.10
0.96
30.28
1907
0.45
T
0.18
T
4.93
3.87
2.11
1.13
2.73
.59
2.28
1.12
1911
.59
.75
. 65
4.14
2.61
.60
3.58
4.48
2.58
.05
.. 55
1913
.15
1.04
1.75
2.87
1.03
2.27
1.68
.23
1.80
2.04
1914
.29
1.55
2.05
2.61
5.73
1.39
1.49
0
.69
1915
1.10
1.34
2.71
4.60
4.23
8.23
6.74
4.50
2.98
1.59
.29
.73
39.04
1916
.53
.47
.31
1.26
3.72
2.68
2.87
2.80
1918
.80
.20
.19
1.60
6.35
2.06
1.60
2.70
Normal
0.40
0.59
0.87
2.59
3.21
3.74
2.93
3.05
2.06
1.31
0.59
0.50
22.10
BROKEN BOW
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept. | Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Ann'l
1895
0.05
0.01
2.45
6.10
2.73
4.89
7.73
2.14
2.35
0.30
0.20
1897
0.10
0.55
1.60
5.40
0.37
4.28
1.11
1.36
1.14
4.03
0.40
1.15
21.49
1898
0.70
0.10
0,00
2.54
4.71
2.49
2.03
3.55
1.38
3.90
0.22
T
21.62
1899
T
0.22
0.32
1.30
3.08
4.47
6.42
2.82
0,60
0.42
1.64
0.66
21.95
1900
0.05
1.03
0.51
6.17
2.46
1.29
4.35
4.00
1.32
1.10
0.32
T
22.60
1901
0.10
0.50
1.88
2.45
1.71
9.26
1.15
1.03
4.83
1.60
0.75
0.10
25.36
1902
0.32
0.32
0.76
1.11
5.59
2.76
6.98
2.75
3.93
1.41
0.00
0.72
26.65
1903
0.24
1.15
0.35
0.81
5.40
2.32
6.27
6.16
0.50
0.98
0.40
T
24.58
1904
0.10
T
0.20
1.47
5.06
3.73
6.50
1.97
3.66
3.92
T
T
26.61
1905
0.93
1.10
1.10
5.59
5.73
8.26
5.41
0.94
3.14
1.13
0.71
0.00
34.04
1906
0.55
0.22
0.62
9.35
2.23
1.77
5.89
4.06
2.55
3.75
1.60
1.03
33.62
1908
T
1.53
0.15
0.40
3.77
7.13
4.51
4.19
2.32
1.96
0.34
T
26.30
1909
.10
.48
.05
1.17
1,38
3.65
6.93
4.08
3.18
.81
1.07
1.44
24.34
1910
.22
.33
4.04
.64
4.31
3.74
2.25
4.66
T
.70
1912
.60
.20
2.50
2.24
.57
1.30
3.10
1.30
1.37
1.27
0
.12
14.57
1913
.07
.69
2.29
3.23
2.76
3.32
2.11
1.29
2.33
.22
1.27
5.32
24.90
1914
.10
.30
1.08
1.76
3.01
3.87
1.07
3.10
.50
.90
1915
1.00
2.37
2.87
3.12
6.85
5.91
2.96
2.54
.55
.47
1916
.18
1.16
3.61
3.24
4.12
3.16
2.71
.60
.35
.42
1917
.73
.39
1.20
2.89
6.86
1 2.80
2.09
2.55
3.43
.09
1.85
.28
25.16
1918
.88
. 36
.13
1.70
5.56
1.61
2.12
2.17
Normals
0.34
0.50
0.99
2.75
3.41
4.16
3.90
3.16
2.20
1.58
0.54
0.63
1. 24.39
T
T
1.68
T
.31
.62
.92
4.01
1.59
4.82
0
1.34
1912
.30
1.96
2.64
1.58
.53
.50
1917
.35
.80
1.07
4.51
2.21
2.69
T
T
0.38
T
1909
.25
1910
.28
0
0.40
3.95
4.70
3.88
1908
1.94
1.32
3.93
9.90
1.05
3.94
1.89
0.00
0.50
0.05
1896
0.07
1907
0.78
0.28
2.60
4.91
5.01
1.70
0.94
0.46
0.06
0.64
.43
3.12
5.22
8.40
9.89
1.92
.18
0
.75
1911
.19
.56
16.25
.22
2.30
T
49
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
MASON CITY
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Ang.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Ann'l
1906
.45
1.10
9.40
4.60
4.30
2.8
4.45
1.30
1.40
1907
.53
.65
.20
2.63
3.30
3.02
.50
.02
1.16
190S
.02
.25
.35
.30
2.03
4.83
5.47
2.10
2.77
2.50
.26
1909
.20
.45
.25
.53
1.81
1.20
4.66
2.49
1.66
1.20
1.30
1.85
17.60
1910
1.00
.05
.45
.62
3.39
4.29
1.32
5.86
1.64
0
.15
1.05
19.82
1911
.15
.60
1.04
3.48
3.32
.92
6.38
2.02
2.25
4.00
.16
.52
24.84
1912
.82
.30
2.80
1.60
1.38
3.53
1.87
3.25
.95
.10
.40
.65
5.65
22.54
1914
.10
1.02
1.23
1.92
1,42
8.23
.46
1.61
.75
.61
0
.86
18.21
1915
1.30
2.27
2.88
4.20
4.40
8.38
7.60
2.03
3.60
.70
.52
.94
38.82
1916
.88
.40
.42
.86
2.27
2.40
1,11
.85
1.65
.90
.40
.85
12.99
1917
.58
.35
1.21
4.25
4.45
1.85
.90
.70
1.22
.10
.72
.40
16.73
1918
1.29
.60
.09
.80
Normals
.55
.66
1.10
2.64
3.42
4.06
1.65
1.65 2.77
2.56
1.61
0.48
0.97
1 24.83
1
BROKEN BOW
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec
Ann'1
Mean Temp .. . | Highest Temp.
23.8
24.9 78
34.4 85
47.8 94 9
58.8 110 19
68.8 102 33
73.5 102 40
71.8 101 36
62.8 106 22
10
-11
-- 27
-36
CALLAWAY
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Ann'1
Mean Temp .. .
24.4
24.5
36.9
48.5
58.2
68.1
73.6 106 40
72.4 103 35
62.7 102 21
51.0 95
38.5 78
27.3 74
106
Highest Temp.
66
75
87
93
97
105
Lowest Temp.
-30
-36
-10
5
21
32
-28
-36
1913
.45
1.02
2,22
1.94
1.75
2.03
2.92
1.58
2.13
.20
49.5 92
37.2 75
26.8 80
110
Lowest Temp.
78
-25
-36
-10
11
-12
1.69
50
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
[Photo by S. D. Butcher]
A MORNING HUNT ON THE MIDDLE LOUP IN CUSTER COUNTY The hunter is Mr. A. Pulliam, a crack shot, as can be seen by the two coyotes strapped behind his saddle
CHAPTER III
IN THE DAYS OF CATTLE
RANCHES ARE LOCATED - BIG PROFITS - LIFE WITH THE COWBOYS - WOMEN WERE SCARCE - A STAMPEDE - THE ROUNDUP - A ROUNDUP OF ROUNDUPS - CATTLE MEN VERSUS SETTLERS - A NEAR BATTLE - AN U'NDERGROUND RAILROAD - THE WILD WEST HAS WILD HORSES
When the white man found this location the prairies were covered with buffalo, deer, eik, and antelope, while the prairie chickens, grouse, wild duck, and goose were found in great abundance. This was nature's sugges- tion that the country was suited to stock-rais- ing and poultry production, and the demon- stration of the years since has justified the prediction. In the early days of Custer coun- ty, cattle raising was the only occupation. It indeed was a profitable industry. As early as 1869 the great advantages of this country at- tracted attention of the cattlemen of the south and east. The territory, well grassed and well watered, was very attractive.
Texas was then the greatest breeding ground for cattle and horses in the United States and probably in the world, but it was railroadless and without means of transporta- tion. Cattlemen were compelled to trail their stock across many hundred miles of prairie to find a railroad shipping point. At that time Ogallala, in western Nebraska, was the shipping point for all the adjacent plains to the south, including the Panhandle territory and all northern Texas. Cattle were brought to this point in such numbers that at times it was estimated more than a hundred thousand head grazed on the surrounding ranges, await- ing shipment. These cattle were sometimes held for months. Grass ranges were in de- mand.
During these long waits the cattle were frequently allowed to range over the divide,
on the north into the South Loup valley, and thus the Texans and southern cattlemen dis- covered that their herds could live and keep fat all winter on the rich, luxurious grasses which they found here in great abundance. The fame of the South Loup valley spread among cattlemen. They investigated. They found plenty of grass of different varieties, among which was an abundance of buffalo grass, best adapted for winter pasture. They found hills and breaks that afforded shelter from the winter storms. They found an abundance of running water in open streams, and all these advantages combined to make it an ideal cattle country, into which cattlemen were not long in driving their herds.
RANCHES ARE LOCATED
At this late day it is almost impossible to be accurate about dates or the order in which cattlemen settled in the country. At that time all was government land and the stockmen came in and appropriated their ranges. They set up land marks and made claims for so many miles of prairie in this direction and that direction until they had assured them- selves of plenty of territory. Ranges. often overlapped, herds became mixed, but that made small difference. Some few erected fences but for the most part herds ran at large. Con- cerning dates and settlements. the following is given upon the authority of Judge H. M. Sullivan :
In the winter of 1869 and 1870 one Captain
51
.
52
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
.
.
[ Photo by S. D. Butcher]
A RANCH SCENE ON THE SOUTH LOUP - THE OLD BRIGHTON RANCH
53
HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Streeter for the first time wintered cattle in the territory now comprising Custer county. On Ash creek, a. short distance south of Bro- ken Bow, he turned out in the fall 821 cattle, of which 385 were yearlings. They were all Texas cattle ; the following spring he rounded up 819, a loss of only two head.
In 1872 E. J. Boblits came into the South Loup country, located a range on what is now known as Tuckerville and stocked it heav- ily with cattle. Boblits has since acquired the title of judge, through efficient occupancy of the office of county judge, to which he was several times elected. He is one of the few stockmen who is still in the country occupy- ing the same location. In fact, he claims the distinction of being the oldest continual resi- dent of the county. He also claims to have built the first frame house in the county.
The Boblits family is still living on part of the ranch, in a magnificent country home where generous southern hospitality is still on exhibition.
Childs B. Harrington, H. C. Stuckey, and Anton Abel located ranches shortly after this in the eastern half of the South Loup val- ley. About the same time Williams and Kil- gore and John Myers located in the same re- gion, a little more to the south.
In 1872 John Harrington came from Texas and located a ranch on the South Loup, eight miles northwest of Callaway in the region of Triumph. He brought in about two thousand head of cattle and built three cedar-log houses. These houses were built in true southern fash- ion. with the passways between them roofed.
A cattle ranch was established by Nimrod Caple and Manly, his son, in 1875, on the head of Spring creek, where bursts forth from the side of a steep hill one of the largest and purest springs in the country. Mr. Caple sold out his cattle and left in 1876. In his de- parture many a settler rejoiced, for his cattle were always doing some damage to crops. Mr. Caple always offered to pay, but invari- ably carried a fifty-dollar bill, which none of his neighbors could ever "bust." He always, in this way, got his cattle, but the farmer sel- dom got any pay.
In 1876 Edward Holway and J. D. Haskell occupied the same ranch formerly located by Harrington, and this ranch was afterwards sold to the Parker Live Stock Company of Illinois. The range claimed by those owning this ranch was the South Loup valley from Triumph west to Cedar canyon and the ter- ritory north adjoining.
The Parker Live Stock Company first came to the county in 1876. It located its head- quarters at a point about two miles west of Callaway, and claimed as its range what is now known as Sand valley and the territory lying south and west. This company began with 1,500 head of cattle, and J. J. Douglass, afterward clerk of the district court of this county, was the manager.
In 1876 Durfee & Gasman located a ranch a short distance north of Callaway on the north side of the Loup, at what is known as the Big Spring, on the farm now owned by N. M. Morgan, and they began business with 3,000 steers.
W. H. Paxton, of Omaha, in 1876, located a ranch a short distance southeast of Callaway, on the Cottonwood, with 2,000 cattle.
In 1878 Durfee & Gasman bought out the Paxton ranch and consolidated it with their ranch on the opposite side of the river. The range they claimed after the consolidation was the large valley about Callaway, the Wood River valley and the valley of the Cotton- wood.
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