USA > Nebraska > Dixon County > History of Dixon County, Nebraska > Part 18
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Philo Graves was also one of the carly residents of this township. His father. Willard Graves of Illinois. in the spring of 1868. located 40 sections of land (25,600 aeres) in Cedar and Wayne counties and in the southern part of Dixon county, and in the following year brought here his family
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
and a colony of people, a large share of whom bought farms in Wayne county. A few. however, became residents of the present townships of Wakefield and Logan.
The first school ever taught in Wakefield township was by Miss Lucy Morey, who commenced January 7th, 1875. The children of Mr. Barto constituted the whole school. He was director. C. I. Blake was moderator and Philo Graves treasurer. The three were about all the heads of families in the district, and as the moderator and treasurer were unable to furnish scholars for the school, that duty devolved en- tirely upon the director as above stated. In those early days settlements were far apart. The great valley of the Logan, now thickly settled and rich in farms and improvements, was then nearly as wild as when under Indian sway. The few white people who came, had a lonely life, which for many years was almost unbroken.
In 1881. the railroad which was being built from Sioux City to Norfolk was completed through the town, and the station, Wakefield, was established. Immediately the sleep- ing valley was awakened to new life, and the few people who had ruled the township year after year, soon saw their number grow. Land which in past days of discouragement and home-sickness had been offered at less than government price, and could not be sold at any price, suddenly rose into notice and demand. Mr. Dixon, who for twenty years had a farm near where the village of Wakefield is, told us that he had tried time after time to sell his land at one dollar per acre. Rich and beautiful as was the valley, as long as its ocean of tall grass was undisturbed by a railroad, few want- ed it. Finally the road came and with it came a great tide of ambitious and enterprising settlers.
WAKEFIELD VILLAGE.
The village of Wakefield was incorporated in the summer of '83. having at that time more than two hundred inhabit- ants. The prime movers in the incorporation were Philo Graves the town site proprietor, and George W. Waite, at that time manager of the flouring mills, and a leading busi- ness man of the town, but now a live stock dealer in Sioux City.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Wakefield, like most western towns situated in a good level country, and which followed the completion of a line of railway and the establishment of a station, has had a. steady growth, and for the most part her citizens have prospered. Many of her business men have obtained a start. here, and gone to other places to continue a successful career. Others who have remained, are now the substantial men of the town.
The C., St. P., M. & O. railroad reached Wakefield late in the summer of 'S1: but ere its arrival the first enterprising comers were already erecting buildings. The town site was surveyed by Engineer Wakefield of Sioux City, whence the town derives its name, as well as from its wide awake people.
The first store was running in the fall of 'S1 and the building was put up by John T. Marriott, who owned and conducted the store. It was a medium sized, frame structure and stood opposite where the post office is now located.
George Childs also had a hardware store which stood a few lots south of Marriott's store. Both of these men are still in business in Wakefield.
In the summer of 1884 most of the brick buildings were erected from brick made at the Wakefield yards. The build- ing of the Wakefield and Hartington line about this time. gave the town considerable impetus and her business sub- stantial gains.
The first county seat town of Wayne county, La Porte. was mostly moved to Wayne, but three of the buildings were moved to Wakefield.
There have never been any fires of importance in the town, and now there is a complete standpipe system of water works, affording ample protection.
From a population of 200 in '83, Wakefield has increased to nearly 1,000 in '95, with every prospect of becoming in as much more time (a dozen years) a prosperous town of from 2,000 to 3,000 people. There are about fifty business houses or lines of business represented.
There are five churches: Presbyterian, Methodist. Chris- tian, Swedish Lutheran and Swedish Mission.
The public school has 200 pupils enrolled, with five teachers in charge. The main building is brick. and a frame
HON. H. P. SHUMWAY. (See page 261.)
Y
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
building was erected this year at a cost of $1,000 for the primary department. There is no school debt.
Among the leading business men is J. O. Milligan, proprie- tor of the Wakefield Roller Mills: Shumway, Everett & Co., lumber and farm implements, and representing the oldest established business in the town; Rawlings Bros. and A. L. Button, hardware; Wm. Harrison & Co., Ekeroth, Carlson & Co., Blotcky Bros. and D. G. Metcalf, general merchandise; C. W. Long and T. A. McKichan, druggists: C. H. Merritt, furniture: C. L. Herrington and J. F. Slinger, hotel keepers; J. D. Haskell & D. Mathewson, and L. Kimball, bankers; C. F. Howard, jeweler: Nels Lingren, gunsmith and city engineer: Noah Weaver, wagon maker; B. C. Whitaker. harness maker and contractor and builder; G. W. Green, livery: C. E. Hunter, postmaster and justice of the peace: W. S. Cook and H. Lambert, buyers and shippers of live stock and meat market: C. Hinrich, meat market; Collins & , Henry, clothing: I. M. Belknap and O. E. Martin, law and real estate; S. Osler, livery: Turner & Brenner, Peavey & Co., and J. O. Milligan, dealers and shippers; John T. Mar- riott, E. D. Smith, Nels Hansen and Jas. Malloy, real estate; H. A. Schoregge, bakery; Mrs. Frank Rice, millinery; Ed- wards & Bradford and Geo. Childs, Inmber and coal; Ole Lundberg, shoe store; Wm. Wheeler. Wakefield Republican, established 14 years ago; F. M. Bloodhart. barber shop; D. W. Walker, cold storage; Charles Foltz, ice dealer; John A. Larson and A. G. Messer, contractors and builders; A. E. Quimby, contractor; J. G. Moir, harness shop; Paul Nindel, soda water and pop factory: Robert Kneebs & Son, breeders of fine horses; Dr. B. T. Harman and Dr. Robt. Q. Rowse. physicians.
Wakefield societies: Masons, Odd Fellows, United Work- men, M. W. A., R. A. M., I. F. A., and Wakefield Building Association. All are in a prosperous condition.
One of the prominent citizens of Wakefield is Herbert Paine Shumway who was born at Caledonia, Minnesota. April 18. 1856. His father, J. Shumway, was a native of Connecticut, and his mother, Mary M. Shumway, was a native of Pascoe, Rhode Island. They moved to Minnesota in 1853, where was born to them a family of six sons and two daughters, of which the subject of this sketch is the
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
oldest son. He was brought up on a farm and attended district school in the winter until he was eighteen years old when he prepared for college at Caledonia Academy and graduated from the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis in the scientific course in June. 1882. He supported himself during his college course by teaching or working on a farm. In the following July he came to Wakefield. Nebraska. and engaged in the Inmber business to which was subsequently added coal and farm implements. But believing there is nothing like the farming lands of Nebraska he has been for the past ten years occasionally buying lands until he now has an improved farm of 1,000 acres in a body lying in the Logan valley one-half mile from Wakefield. He is somewhat interested in politics and was elected in '90 to the state senate, being one of the two republican senators elected from north of the Platte river. In '92 he was an alternate dele- gate to the republican national convention at Minneapolis. He served on the staff of Governor Crounse as colonel. In '94 he was a candidate for the nomination for lieutenant governor and received 366 votes out of 806. Mr. Shumway has been a trustee of the M. E. church of Wakefield since it was built in 1882. In Wakefield, Mr. Shumway's infinence has always been devoted to the promotion of the best in- terests of the place and citizens. ] He is chairman of the village board and is, as he has always been, prominent in advocating improvements and beneficial enterprises.
CONCORD TOWNSHIP,
Is bounded north by Clark. east by Springbank, south by Logan and west by Cedar county.
Concord township has two villages, Concord and Dixon, the first located on the Hartington branch of the C., St. P., M. & O. R. R., and the latter village on the Short Line road.
The township is generally level or slightly undulating. There are plenty of springs and streams and the Logan passes through the south half of the township. There is little native timber but nearly every farm has a good grove.
Outside of the villages the township has four school houses and good schools.
In the earlydays of thecounty there were also, as we have seen in this history. two villages named Concord and Dixon,
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
but in nothing except names were they identified in any manner with those of the present township of Concord.
One of the leading residents of Concord township is Willis Jenkins, who was born in New York: went to Illinois when 21 years old and the next year to lowa, and from Iowa in '78 came here. He was married in lowa and has a son and daughter. He has half a section and first-rate improvements. He was the supervisor of Concord in '86, being the first member from that town after township organization was adopted. When Mr. Jenkins came to the township there were not over half a dozen settlers there before him.
Wm. Cowie who came here about twenty-three years ago is now in Missouri.
W. W. Crain came twenty-six years ago, and now lives in Benton county. Ark .. where he removed four years ago.
Henry Thompson. (the father of the supervisor of '95) was in the township when Mr. Jenkins came. Mr. Thompson has a farm of 200 acres and is well fixed in every way.
G. O. Acres came and settled on a homestead in 1878. A sketch of him appears in connection with that of Concord village.
H. D. Hall came here eleven years ago, and has a well improved quarter section of land. He was supervisor in '91 and '92.
P. A .. C. J. and C. H. Nelson. from lowa, and Mike Carroll and John Gillan, from Wisconsin, came nine years ago and have good farms, from one-fourth to one-half a section apiece.
Robert Delay came about eight years ago from Iowa and has 200 acres.
All those mentioned have good houses and most of them orchards and groves.
Wm. B. Hall also came from New York 11 years ago and has a valuable 160 acres.
J. W. Thompson was supervisor for Concord in '93. '94 and '95. His portrait appears elsewhere. He is an intelli- gent and successful farmer and stock raiser, and was an ex- cellent supervisor. In mentioning Mr. Thompson in the list of supervisors on page 136 we have written his name as Wil- liam Thompson. It should have been J. W. Thompson, as appears by his signature below his portrait.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
H. D. Hooker came from New York nine years ago and bought an improved half section. He died a few years ago. His family still reside on the farm.
John B. Lysle. John Eckert, Wm. Haberman, Mr. Bosse and Wm. Shilling. came from lowa nine years ago and have good farms and are successful farmers.
Royal Thompson located here about 20 years ago. He now lives in Concord village.
James Barnhill first came about 14 years ago. Has been absent part of the time since. He farms on a quarter seetion.
Joseph Classman, from Minnesota, has been here six years. He has a farm of 120 acres and is fortunate in busi- ness.
John Newman is another enterprising farmer. Came from lowa eight years ago and has 160 acres.
Thomas Long has been here eight years. He owns the old Royal Thompson farm of a quarter section.
John Mills came here a year ago and bought Porter Dewey's farm of 80 acres.
Jerry Sullivan lives in Dixon village where he moved from Clark a year ago.
Mr. Trow has been here four years on his farm of 320 acres.
C. W. Gurney. the proprietor of the Hesperian Nurseries of Concord, came from lowa about 14 years ago. He bought 200 acres on which he has since had a large nursery busi- ness. He recently removed to Yankton.
Concord village contains about 150 inhabitants and has not been incorporated. The two villages, Concord and Dixon, are only two miles apart. Both are good business points.
Geo. O. Acres, a leading citizen of Concord village, built, the first house in that vicinity and ferried all the lumber across the river at Sioux City with which to build it. Mr. Acres was born in '55 at Manchester, lowa, and came to Nebraska in '78 and settled on a homestead in what is now Concord township, where he lived until the fall of '89, when he bought out the Inmber and coal business of Shumway & Everett at Concord village. He sold lumber, bought live stock and grain until 1893. and was interested in all improve- ments in Concord. In '90. when the Concord State Bank
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
was instituted, he was elected a director and was an active worker. helping to make it one of the best banks in north- eastern Nebraska. In '93 he became cashier, which posi- tion he now holds.
The village of Concord has now two good stores of which Messrs. Clark and Kemp are proprietors and Mr. Clark is the postmaster of the place. H. Shilling deals in hardware: Dr. McColm has a drug store: R. N. Smith. harness shop: John Brannaman. billiard hall: G. O. Acres, lumber yard, and Mrs. Foote has a hotel. There is also a grain buyer there in the interest of the Peaveys. The Concord State Bank does a good business under the cashiership of Mr. Aeres.
Concord has a good school and one church. (Swedish ) a fine building and well attended.
Dixon village was incorporated May 16. 1893, and now has a population of 250. A good steam grist mill is in operation here, owned by Keil Bros .. and does a successful business. An energetic creamery company has built and operates a large creamery. It is an establishment of much benefit to the town and surrounding country. Among the business men and houses, we notice C. Stimson. banker: O'Flaherty Bros .. mer- chants. stock dealers and grain buyers (and really a large share of the life of the town): A. E. Sparks. general merchant; J. C. Ecker. druggist: D. Carroll, hotel. grain buyer, etc .; G. P. Wright, hardware: E. W. Clawson. agent of the Edwards & Bradford Lumber Co .: Isaac Brannaman, furniture: W. H. Gibson, postmaster and grocer: J. Nichols and David Ayers, restaurants: G. W. Holder, market: C. Brannaman. livery: F. Wiedenfeldt and G. W. Hayn. blacksmiths. and one interesting and well supported newspaper, the Tribune. Dixon has a first-class school and teachers. The school house, a fine. new building, was burned a few months ago, and another will soon be completed to take its place. There are two churches, the Catholic and Christian, each of which has a good building. Dixon has also lodges of Modern Wood- men. Good Templars and Knights of Pythias, all in a flour- ishing condition. Dixon is a pleasantly located young busi- ness place. it has good buildings and its citizens have the right kind of push and energy to make their town grow.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
PORTRAITS OF DIXON COUNTY TEACHERS.
One of the principal engravings near the title page of this book presents a group of ninety or more of the teachers who attended the Teachers' Institute at Ponca in August. '95. The engraving is from a photograph taken at the time by Mr. Hamilton, and a list of the names of those whose por- traits appear there has been kindly furnished by Miss Mary Schroer. the popular school superintendent of the county. The following is the list:
Estella Forney.
Mabel Fero.
Daisy Herrick.
Charlotte Wasson.
Dora Kavanaugh.
Ada Phillips.
Julia McQuillen.
Rosa Kingsbury.
Stella Wilcox.
Minnie Thompson,
Mrs. J. V. Pearson.
Mertie Cummings.
Evalena Rohan.
Hunter Brown.
Mrs. Hetta Surber.
C. Wright, Anna Walbeck.
Isa Ward.
Lizzie Cavanaugh,
Mary McKinley.
Anna Doyle,
Mrs. J. M. O'Connell.
Jennie Robinson,
Clara Gordon.
Ella Kingsbury.
Stella Brown.
Geo. Beith,
Anna Sheffel.
Katie Byrne.
Anna Wenstrand,
Kate Bones.
Lillie Busby.
Jessie Bailey.
Mrs. B. H. Culver.
Eliza Park.
Elizabeth Everett,
Emma Anderson.
Ethel Duncan.
Jennie Bovee,
Jessie Scott. Swain Olson.
Attie Acres,
Edna Hamilton.
Irene Boekenhauer.
Albia Brown.
Minnie Beers.
Irene Stover.
Rosa Reising.
Will O'Connor.
Lizzie O'Connor.
Kate Sullivan.
Vida Palmer.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
L. M. Powers,
John McClusky,
Mary Keegan, Evelyn Palmer.
J. V. Pearson, Maud Jones,
Adda Martell.
Lillie Shellington,
Cassie Mckinley,
Kate Marron,
Carrie Harper, Ida Lockwood.
Gertie Grosvenor.
Hallie Bennett.
Carrie Stewart.
Frances Stimson,
Minnie Beardshear.
Myrtle Weaver,
Minnie Sheffel.
Lettie Heikes.
Rose Hughes.
Myrtle Foget.
Lizzie Armstrong,
Clarissa Flageolle.
Minnie Mills,
Lucy Flageolle,
Gertie Culp.
Rosa Byrne,
Jessie Gibbs.
Maggie Malone,
Anna Leggett,
Mrs. C. E. Davis,
Bert Brown.
Prof. H. E. Kratz,
Cora Scott.
Mary Schroer. Co. Supt.
Mamie Dewitt.
Prof. F. M. Harding,
Lottie Cassavant.
There were a few on the picture when it was first taken which do not appear there now. In order to fit the engrav- ing to the size of the book, a small part had to be taken from the sides of the picture. and by so doing the following teachers were unavoidably left off:
Thuie Poff. Maud Woodward, Mrs. H. J. Caulfield. Dennis Kinnaman, Mamie Jones,
John Richards,
Mrs. May Porter.
Florence Busby.
PART SECOND.
NOTE.
Legends, stories, adventures, every day incidents, etc., etc. All relate to Dixon county in the past or present. Some of them are true in every word and others are, in a greater or less degree, founded on facts. But whether fact or fiction, we trust they will be found interesting. and with that hope we dedicate them to friendly perusal.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
AMONG THE INDIANS.
ADVENTURES IN THE DIXON COUNTY COUNTRY IN 1810.
In the spring of 1810, more than three-quarters of a cen- tury ago, two young and energetie men who were ascending the Missouri in a canoe, landed at the mouth of the stream known at present as Aoway Creek, about four miles east of where Ponca now stands. Thus commences a story related to us twenty-five years ago by a venerable hunter and trap- per who had passed nearly his whole life among the Indian tribes of the northwest.
The two men above mentioned were Scotchmen, lately from their native country and who. instigated by love of ad- venture had wandered off into this region. then so remote from civilization and society, a country whose reputation was most dreary and repulsive.
The names of these hardy adventurers were Alexander Mackenzie and Donald Campbell. The first was many years later in the employment of the Northwestern Fnr Company. while the latter. Campbell. became afterward celebrated among the tribes along the upper Missouri and Yellowstone under the name of I-och-e-gah. or White Chief, as one of their most distinguished and successful warriors.
Our adventurers, as they coasted along the muddy, turbu- lent river. saw the little stream debonching through an open- ing in the hills, and were glad to rest from the wearing labor of urging their canoe against the rapid current, by landing and camping under the shade of the trees upon the bank. At a short distance to the right and left they beheld rough, high hills, and were struck by the wildness and rugged grandeur of the scene.
Here they camped, and determined to rest a few days, and perhaps explore and hunt game in the grim regions indi- cated by the forbidding hills surrounding them. In the little clump of timber where they pitched their tent they saw no
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
sign of life, and as the gloom of the approaching night fell upon them, made ten-fold worse by the deep shadows of the bluffs and the sighing of the wind through the ravines, it seemed to them that they had entered the kingdom of solitude. Here they built their fire, ate, drank, and in their blankets slept undisturbed.
In the morning they arose invigorated, and after a hearty breakfast started westerly along the south bank of the creek, determined to explore the interior of the country. A weari- some tramp through brush and marsh and further west along a wide and level tract, brought them where several valleys converged: a spot which by its beauty and the splendor of its scenery, fully compensated them for all their toil. Here. no longer within the dominions of solitude, they beheld life and animation at every turn. The grass gaily decorated by a wilderness of brilliant flowers formed a rich acd enticing carpet for their feet. As they advanced. the joyful music of countless songsters of the wood and prairie greeted them. Along the neighboring hillsides they saw herds of buffalo, while in the distance they beheld a large and popu- lous Indian village.
Startled by finding themselves in the neighborhood of an Indian town, and not knowing whether their reception would be friendly or hostile. they nevertheless hesitated not to go forward as coolly and apparently as unconcerned as though among their native Scottish hills. As they approached the village, its inhabitants, most of whom had never before seen a white man, came out to meet them, and received them with kindness and honor, so greatly did they admire the un- daunted yet evidently peaceful bearing of their two visitors.
So kind a reception determined Mackenzie and Campbell to remain several days and learn the ways of Indian life. The pipe of peace was often smoked around the council fire. The best lodge. the softest bed of furs and the choicest game was dedicated to them. They on their part showed their new-found Indian friends the mysterious workings of their guns, which, speaking with voices of thunder, could kill a buffalo at a great distance. Such weapons had never before been seen by the tribe. and were a source of great astonish- ment and awe to them.
HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
After a few weeks of this luxury, most fascinating to the frontiersman, the Scotchmen proposed to depart and resume their journey up the river. But the Indians, who it seems, had made up their minds that their guests should stay with them always, objected. and with various excuses refused to let them go. Once they stole away at night, and had nearly reached their canoe, when through the brushwood rushed a horde of Indians in hot pursuit, who seized them and triumphantly bore them back again
Thus time passed on. the greatest kindness was lavished upon them, so great indeed that feeling their bonds as a chain concealed beneath garlands of flowers, their captivity was in a measure bearable.
Soon they became acquainted with the language of their entertainers, who took much pains to teach it to them. They went with them on their visits to other villages of the same tribe, of which there were several within a day's journey, and they twice assisted in beating off the raids of a band of desperate warriors. Arapahoes, under the redoutable Mish- tenewah, who had a town in the valley now known as the Daily. Mishtenewah's tribe seemed to be at enmity with all the others along the river. He was a most cunning, indomitable old scoundrel in whose vocabulary any word signifying "peace" had been utterly blotted out.
Finally, in one of his forays, he was so far successful as to take several prisoners, and among them was Campbell. Mishtenewah did not stand long on ceremony after getting back home, but burned the Indian prisoners at the stake without unnecessary delay. The white man, however, was a curiosity he had never seen before, and he reserved him for further investigation. Campbell. on his part, took the scrape he was in philosophically. and explained to the grim Indian king who he was and where he hailed from. He also caused Mishtenewah to expand his massive jaws into a grin of delight, as he showed him the skill with which he slangh- tered game with his wonderful gun, the like of which the chief had never heard of before.
So Campbell's life was spared, and he was formally in- stalled as one of the tribe. He was taken to the lodge of an ancient squaw and informed that she had adopted him for her son, her own son having been recently killed in battle.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Mishtenewah, besides being great in war, had other an- bitions of a more peaceful character. He had a large number of wives already, but his harem was like an omnibus, in that it could always hold one more inmate. especially if she was youthful and good looking. In the village was a young and very handsome squaw named La-sha-na, upon whom the chief cast a longing eye. and was determined to take her to wife. The girl was, however, averse to the royal honor offered her. She had seen and admired the good looks and brave demeanor of Campbell. and they had fonnd such a mutual attraction in each other that they often wandered away together, and looked and talked love as they sat beneath the council tree of the village. (This is said to be the great tree long noted as the Lone tree of the Daily valley. It is some three feet in diameter and its trunk is indented with the numerous ents and carvings of the tribe which flourished around it.)
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