USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 43
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 43
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
Abbott, Aubry E.
Abbott, Mons E.
Ackerman, Floyd
Alexander, Hyman E. Ames, Charles W.
Bates, William C. Beck, Wilhelm
Cannon, Cornelius Vanderbilt Capps, Stanley M.
Anderson, Alfred C. Anderson, Christian
Carmichael, Walter
Anderson, Dean D.
Carpenter, Evan Henry
Anderson, Gustav L.
Carpenter, Henry W.
Anderson, John E.
Carpenter, Eric G. Carter, Charles J. Christ, John E. Christensen, John
Christensen, Francis
Christensen, Harry
Christensen, Calvin C.
Christofferson, Fred Christofferson, Morse
Chubatai, Fred Clasen, Henry Clasen, Lewis Claycomb, James
Arp, Henry O. Aubury, Henry L. Auch, Gustav
Bandert, Edward W. Bradley, Raymond Banbarger, Charles A. Colden, Archie J.
Calger, Frank
Calger, Thomas L.
Collea, Angelo
Compton, Allen
Cornelius, Frederick
Autzer, Johannes Axtell, Leonard E. Bandor. Joseph Barr, Clarence Barry, John L.
Brennan, Fred T. Brinkman, John M.
Burt, Merle S.
Burgess, John A. Bustein, Louis L.
Caldwell, Earl C. Cameron, M. Leo Cameron, Whit
Berry, Charles L. Berry, Leslie T. Bergman, Bernard Bick, August Bilberdorf, Leonard Bierman, Otto C. H. Biffar, Lonnie Blackhall, Rowland Blackstone, Robert C. Blockenbeckler, Archie Blackenfeld (Corp.) Bollin, William Bowman, Fay Bowman, Virgil Clare Antrim, Wallace ElwoodBoss, Ralph
Anderson, William C. Anderson, Roy A. Anderson, Ruthven C. Anderson, Silas C. Anderson, Clayton Anderson, Everett E. Andrews, Charles W. Antrim, Archie Arthur Antrim, John Lewis
Barry, James F. Bartlett, William H. Barton, Arthur L.
384
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Cornelius, James Cornelius, Nils
Gustason, Vetre Gutchow, Walter
Jensen, Leslie Jensen, Martinus
Jensen, Oscar H.
Cummings, James E. Crouse, Lorenzo
Dockson, Fred P. David, Mckinley (Deceased)
Dennis, Charles E.
Dennis, Ottis C.
Hall, Wilber D.
Debal, Anders C.
Halstead, Roy
John, Ralph C.
Denton, Frank R.
Hansen, Hans
Johnson, Albert
Dennison, Fred L.
Hansen, Edward B.
Detlef, Harry William
DeWitt, Walter G.
Hansen, Hans K.
Hansen, Herold
Johnson, Harvey B.
Dickmeyer, Frederick
Hansen, Rasmus P.
Johnson, Hugo
Dixon, Arthur E.
Hansen, Thorvald H.
Johnson, Martin Luther
Dixon, Gifford
Dixon, William B.
Dixon, Curtis L.
Hartung, Elmer G.
Jones, Richard W.
Dolan, Warren E.
Dolan, John J.
Hastings, Glenn A. Hawes, George F. Healey, Anthony F.
Kudsk, Ben Jens
Dunn, Willis G.
Hedelund, George T.
Kruse, Paul W.
Eakin, Samuel
Helmsing, Fred E.
Kruse, Victor
Edwards, Earl
Hemphill, William, Dr. Kruse, Louis
Eistrup, Peter T.
Henningsen, Herbert
Kruger, Eli F. Kroger, John
Erickson, Emil B.
Hindley, George D.
Krause, William
Farr, Howard E.
Hineline, Charles
Krause, Otto
Farnburg, Lewis C.
Hineline, Rupert
Krause, Earl G.
Frick, John W.
Hilgenkamp, William H.Kramer, Albert
Flake, Henry
Hoenemann, Will H.
Krollman, Gust
Fleege, George
Holeton, Ora V.
Krajicek, Berj
Frankson, Chris R.
Holtman, Adolph
Krajicek, Lewis
Frederickson, Hans E.
Hoover, John E.
Korshoj, Chris
Frederickson, Erick French, Earl D.
Hossman, Everett M.
(Deceased)
Fuhrhop, August G. Gaines, Clyde
Hull, Wyatt T,
Knott, Floyd H.
Gaylord, Fred H.
Hullinger, Christopher
Klindt, Henry
Geary, Robert A. Gibbs, John
Hundahl, Raymond A. Klenk, William G. (Deceased) Klahn, Ben
Ireland, Louis
King, Ralph J.
Kiefer, Alford
Kerr, Henry L. Kelly, Paul
Kelley, Harold M.
Kelley, Floyd M.
Jensen, Dewy M.
Keegan, Francis
Jensen, Elmer B.
Kassti, Raymond M.
Jensen, Fred H.
Jensen, Fred W.
Jensen, Jacob
Kahnk, John C. La Fronz, Julius (Deceased)
Jensen, Theodore Jessen, John P. Jessen, Thomas P.
Jessen, Herald Curtis
Jesperson, Otto
John, Arthur H.
John, Perry T.
Johnson, Carl (Deceased)
Johnson, Erwin T.
DeYapp, H.
Hansen, Erke C.
Hanthone, Verne Alvin Jones, Charles
Hammang, Leonard E. Jones, Raymond B.
Jorgenson, Thorvold
Kuhre, Julius
Dowden, Ray L.
Elliott, Walter
Henricksen, Jens
Horn, Robert T.
Krudsen, Carl
Hulbert, Harold WallaceKrud, Krudsen
Jackson, Thomas R. Jacobs, Raymond N. Jansen, Ole R.
Jansen, Anton H. Jansen, Carl G.
Giesselman, Henry A. Gilbert, John T. Gilfry, Harold R. Goll, Walter R. Goreham, Charles R. Greumke, Frederick Greumke, George H. Greumke, John G. Greenle, Albert D.
Griffin, Norris Gustason, Arthur D.
Hain, Stanley Elwood (Deceased) Hall, Bernard Richard (Deceased) Hall, Lawrence
Craig, Elmer Sheridan Gustin, Orin B.
Hain, Howard Earl
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
385
Loakes, Ernest Lake, Albert Lamb, George Lang, Leo M.
Milikan, Earl S. Misfeldt, Charles Missina, G.
Petersen, Emanuel Petersen, Peter (Deceased) Petersen, Soren
Peterson, Ernest C.
Larsen, Lawrence C.
Peterson, Alfred E.
Laursen, James
Morse, George
Peterson, Leonard
Leorned, Sylvester Lewis, George Liesemeyer, Louis
Muller, F.
Peterson, Harold Olaf
Peterson, Henry
Lothrop, C. C.
Munson, Elmer C. Murphy, Stephen M.
Peterson, Lawrence
Lothrop, Grant
Nelson,, Andrew
Pfeffer, Chester
Lothrop, Norman K.
Nelson, Andrew
Pickell, George
Lottman, Charlie
Nelson, Arthur
Pierson, Otis E.
Lottman, Paul
Nelson, Carl
Pilpik, Joseph
Ludwig, Glen
Nelson, George
Plugg, Henry
Ludwig, Henry
Nelson, Hans K.
Pohlman, Albert
Ludwig, Otto
Nelson, Henning F.
Prochnow, Albert J. F.
Ludwig, Raymond
Nelson, Martin L.
Pruner, Gifford
Luebker, Fred
Newcomb, Floyd Neumann, Herman Nicoline, Louis
Rabes, Jens
Lundt, Albert J.
Niederdippe, Ezra Noeberg, John
Rask, Ernest Rasmussen, Carl
Madsen, Albert
Nielsen, Anton
Rasmussen, Esk.
Madsen, Harry
Nielsen, Chris E.
Rasmussen, Howard L.
Madsen, M. P.
Nielsen, Juul C.
Rasmussen, James
Madsen, Maurice
Nielsen, Laurite
Rasmussen, Lars
Magnusson, Rudolph Maher, Roland
Nielson, Otto Nonnamaker, Edward
Rathman, J. Reeh, Lyle R.
Marshall, Victor
Northway, Edward
Reeres, Opal
Mathews, Wilber A.
Noyes, Lisle G.
Reid, Earl C.
Maynard, Benj. McBride, Lyle E.
Nyegaard, Kay K. H. Oberg, Amel
Rhea, Don L. Richter, Harry
McCourtie, Glenn E. McCune, Samuel W.
Ogorodwick, Julius Ohrt, William H.
Rix, Howard John
McDonald, Robert
Oleson, Arthur
Rix, Ernest
McFarland, Herman
Oleson, George A.
Roberts, Lawrence
McKercher, Louis
Oleson, Jacob Neils Osborn, Charlie
Rodgers, Thomas
Meador, Aaron Meador, Wm. Howard Osborne, Thomas J.
Rodman, Roland
Miesner, Richard C.
Ottomoeller, Henry Parrish, Lynn
Rosenbalm, Hayes Rosenkilde, George
Menking, Roy E.
Paulsen, Hans Paulsen, John
Ross, George
Metzler, Clyde Waldo Michaels, Walter Millner, Louis C. Miller, A. H.
Pearson, Oscar
Rurup, Henry C.
Peebles, Leland T.
Russ, Carl L. Salsberry, William
Miller, George C.
Peters, Charles
Scheffler, Orval
Miller, Harvey E.
Miller, Robert E.
Petersen, Amandus Petersen, Christ J.
Schmidt, Carl John
Schmidt, Ernest
Rask, Anton (Deceased)
Lund, Henry
Lund, Leonard
Nielsen, Andrew
Pruner, Orin
Lueninghoener, Arthur
Rabes, Chris (Deceased)
Lundt, Gustav
Malmberg, Fred P.
Nonnamaker, Zeno
Novak, Walter J.
Reid, Raymond
Rennard, Ed. John
McComb, Percy D.
Offen, Lisle Roffe
Riessem, Edward
McDonald, Glen
Robinson, Raymond H.
Rosenbalm, Floyd
Menking, Lawrence
Peters, Carl
Monson, Carl A.
Lang, Roy M. D.
Morley, N. G. (Deceased) Mortensen, Robert D.
Peterson, Ledie Ed.
Rasmussen, Sofus
386
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Schmidt, Henry
Steppat, Eddie
Vybral, Frank
Schmidt, William
Stewart, Donald
Wahlgren, Howard
Schroeder, Carl
Stewart, Guy
Waldenstrom, Carl H.
Searing, Voorhees P.
Stewart, Theo M.
Walkenhorst, August
Shinkle, Cleo
Stork, Frederick
Ward, Leland Earl
Shoemaker, Albert Short, Grove J.
Stork, Martin W. Stricklett, Cecil Victor
Waterman, August A.
Silvey, William C.
Stricklett, Gail
Waulborn, Henry Webb, Fred
Simpson, Arthur
Stricklett, J. M.
Weber, Harold De
Simpson, George
Strode, Jacob C.
Weber, Leo
Skinner, John
Struve, Herman
Wehmeyer, Walter
Skow, Walter (Deceased)
Sydod, Alfred George C.West, Ben
Smith, Grover I.
Sylvis, James
West, Elmon Dayton
Smith, Clifford P.
Taylor, Carleton S. West, Everett
Smith, Phillip Clifford Theede, William F.
Westerman, Edward
Smith, Henry Frederick Thielfoldt, John
White, David
Snowden, George W.
Thies, Sigmond
Whitford, Murray
Sproker, Ernest
Thompson, Neale
Wilcox, Marshall Ray
Sproker, Fred Henry
Thompson, Robert
Wilkinson, Clyde
Sorenson, Martin C.
Thornbert, Earl
Williams, John
Sorenson, Chris
Timpe, Karl
Wolf, Berry
Stapers, Fred
Truhlsen, Henry Wolff, Frank
Stofford, James
Utterback, John MillardWolff, Louis
Stalcup, Chester A.
Utterback, Elmer Floyd Wolsman, Detlef
Stangle, George
Vaughn, Burl B. Woodward, Lyman
Vail, Sydney Albert, Jr.
States, C.
Vesper, David
Wright, Howard
Steel, James
Vifguair, H.
Wright, William
Steel, Robert
Vig, Bennett
Wulbern, Henry E.
Stender, Emil
Von Knuth, C. H.
Zimmerman, Fred
Steensen, Anders
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Besides sending to the front, and overseas, the full quota of men called for in the several drafts, Washington County also opened up her treasury and responded liberally in the several "drives" made to sell United States war bonds and stamps; also in the work of the Red Cross. The total amount of government war bonds sold in this country, as shown by rec- ords kept in the banks, was $1,961,300.
The Red Cross funds raised in the county were far in excess of the quota demanded of the people of the county, and the several thousand dollars on hand today is being used in the various noble charities of the Red Cross Society in Nebraska. Let it be said that both men and women throughout Washington County did their "bit" as was asked by President Wilson himself early in the war when urging people to give liberally.
CIVIL WAR MONUMENT
At the northwest corner of the public or Courthouse Square, in Blair, stands a fine granite shaft at the intersection of the two streets. It was erected to the memory of the Civil war soldiers who lie buried in Wash- ington County soil. Its north face bears the inscription : "1861-1865-To
Stanley, Walter
Soverkrubbe, Albert Wentworth, Forest
387
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
the Memory of the Union Soldiers Buried in Washington County, 1 Nebraska. 1898."
The heavy and numerous granite bases and shafts are surmounted by a life-sized statue of an infantryman soldier holding his musket. The monument was erected by subscription among the citizens of the county and city, while the statue just mentioned above was purchased of the rail- road company in Omaha for the freight charges held against it, the bill being only $60. The total cost of the monument was $1,160. It is now enclosed by a neat iron fence, built in a substantial manner.
CONCERNING FORTS CALHOUN AND ATKINSON
[The following are notes furnished by W. H. Woods, of Fort Calhoun, in the month of September, 1920, especially for use in the volume now in your hands. These statements may be safely relied upon, as he has made the subject a special study many years and has a larger number of valuable and interesting documents and relics from the foundations of the old fort and surrounding buildings, perhaps, than any other living man. His narrative is as follows :}
There were perhaps forty cellars and foundations visible at the old fort before the lands were plowed up into fields and wagon roads made. There was a fur-trading station here and it was guarded by a dozen or more soldiers, a thing that we never quite understood why the Govern- ment would protect private interests in that expensive manner. When we commenced investigating the subject of this fort, we asked the Government authorities about this feature and were simply told that the fort was established in 1820 and abandoned in 1826. We attempted to get a history of this fort to please Governor Furnas, and make a school history of it. A few years later the State Historical Society found a lot of papers in the hands of the grandson of Colonel Atkinson, and at great expense and much time, the click of typewriters was heard for more than ten days in compiling from such papers and other sources the story of the fort. The writer had much to do in assisting in this work. Only a few years ago the grandson of Colonel Atkinson and one of his sons from Fort Crook were here. The Government sent him and another son from New York to our 1919 centennial celebration at Fort Calhoun. Fine portraits of the various members of the Atkinson family were donated to us here and suitably framed. These were given to the public schools. It has been definitely learned that Atkinson and sons came here in 1819 and left in 1827. The Government has changed their dates to correspond to these dates.
The powder house of this fort Lieutenant Dudley saw in 1854-a building eight by ten feet of limestone walls two feet thick. This the pioneers later burned into lime and we found the big padlock belonging to the building, in August, 1920. The flagstaff, a number of my neigh- bors told me, was for several years standing, but only a few feet high. It stood in front of the powder house, but was later destroyed entirely.
Jacob Miller, a Mexican soldier, told me most of the stone hearths were also collected for lime, or taken away for various uses, and that he himself took the brick from over twenty cellars and sold them to farmers and others. Probably twenty cellars and foundations can still be found in this September (1920), also hundreds of buttons and gun flints are still to be found. September 23, 1920, a man found a brass gun trigger. Cupboard latches, wagon irons, wrought hand-forged nails are to be picked up now by the dozens, after many hundreds have been taken away
388
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
from the foundations. In the '50s it was learned that the officers were buried on the hill west of town. The owner of the land then wanted to plow and came to me and together we dug up the remains of two that slept in my corncrib for over a year till the Government sent me an officer from St. Louis, when we removed three more from the grounds and shipped all to Fort McPherson to the State Military Cemetery.
Only a few years ago more bodies were discovered in our very streets, and they were buried in the city cemetery and the government sent me a fine tombstone for them, bearing the inscription "Unknown American Soldiers."
They made 90,000 brick the first year the fort was established; these were produced about a half mile west of the fort.
On October 23, 1822, two men on horseback met a steamboat and started for a trip of 780 miles to St. Louis for Peruvian bark (quinine) for 720 sick men in camp at Fort Calhoun.
In March, 1823, men were ordered to build the Council House, half a mile west of the fort, on the hill. This was a large two-story log cabin with a shingled roof, plank floors and brick chimney.
No large bodies of Indians could come near the fort proper.
In September, 1822, they reported four hewed log buildings, shingle roof and brick chimneys in all making eighty-eight rooms. The officers were to have windows nine feet long.
In October, 1823, a new term of school was commenced. January, 1822, they sent for blank music books. They sent $500 to Philadelphia for books to come via New Orleans.
Lime was made and stone quarried at Long's camp, at old Fort Lesa, now known as Rockport, four miles down the Missouri River.
The courtmartials and punishments were something wonderful.
Lewis and Clark camped in 1804 one mile north of the fort. The duel grounds were a half mile south of that famous camp of Lewis and Clark.
CHAPTER XV MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
POPULATION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-HARD WINTER OF 1856-57- ORIGINAL VILLAGE PLATS-MARKETS AT VARIOUS TIMES-DAYS OF MOURNING-GARFIELD, GRANT AND MCKINLEY.
POPULATION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
At various periods the population in Washington County has been as follows : In 1855 it had a total population of 207; in 1860 it had reached 1,249; in 1870 it was 4,452; in 1880 it was 8,631. The last three United States census returns gave Washington County the subjoined figures, by townships and villages :
1890
1900
1910
Arlington Township
1,167
1,378
1,380
Blair Township
1,443
1,011
645
Cuming City Township
665
638
613
De Soto Township
277
370
313
Fontanelle Township
803
759
766
Fort Calhoun Township
1,187
1,495
1,447
Grant Township
926
866
775
Herman Township
827
996
978
Lincoln Township
856
850
791
Richland Township
1,000
1,179
1,292
Sheridan Township
649
575
546
Blair City
.2,069
2,970
2,584
Arlington Village
412
579
645
Fort Calhoun Village
346
324
Herman Village
319
321
345
Kennard Village
275
319
Totals
11,869
13,086
12,788
The returns for the 1920 United States census are not yet made public by townships and precincts, hence cannot be given in this connection.
ORIGINAL VILLAGE PLATS
Since the organization of Washington County the following original village plattings have been executed, a number of which have long since been defunct:
DE SOTO, platted in section 27, township 18, range 12, by an act of the Legislature, March, 1855, having been surveyed out the autumn before by Dr. John Glover, Gen. J. B. Robinson, Potter C. Sullivan, E. P. Stout, William Clancy.
FORT CALHOUN was platted in sections 11 and 12, township 12, range 17. See its village history elsewhere.
COFFMAN, platted in section 31, township 17, range 13; it is a siding on the "Omaha " railway line, but not a place of importance.
WASHINGTON, platted in section 32, township 17, range 11, and is now an enterprising town and important station on the Northwestern Railway.
389
-
390
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
KENNARD, platted in section 5, township 17, range 11, is an excellent town today.
BLAIR, platted in sections 11 and 12, in township 18, range 11. It was platted by the officers of the Northwestern Railway Company (old F. E. & M. V.).
TYSON, platted in section 15, township 19, range 11; it is simply a railway siding.
HERMAN, platted in section 30, township 20, range 11, and was the result of the construction of the railway.
DALE, platted in section 26, township 17, range 10. Today there is a siding and a grain elevator at this point.
BOWEN, platted in section 14, in township 17, range 10.
VACOMA was platted in section 7, township 19, range 10. A county store is now located at that point today.
FLETCHER, platted in section 32, township 20, range 10. This also has a general store at this time.
TALBASTA, platted in sections 26 and 27, in township 19, range 9, It is a small hamlet with a store.
FONTANELLE, platted in sections 8, 9 and 17, by the old Quincy Company, is situated in township 18, range 9. It now has a postoffice and store.
ADMAH, platted in section 34, township 20, range 9.
ARLINGTON, platted as Bell Creek, in section 12, township 17, range 9.
ORUM, platted in section 10, township 18, range 10.
CUMING CITY, platted in sections 34 and 35, township 19, range 11. A large part of this village plat has been vacated.
HUDSON was another early platting, in the extreme northeastern part of this county. It was one of the early paper towns and had much pioneer notoriety. It was heavily advertised in the East, and many lots sold at good prices. Even to this day, it is related, there are now and then inquiries from the far East about the town which has long since been in the midst of excellent farms. No trace of a village is to be seen-corn and wheat fields are there to be seen today.
The location of this much-talked-of "Town" was in the north half of sections 26 and 27, township 20, range 11, now within Herman Civil Township. It was platted and offered for sale by one William E. Walker, a schemer of the Eastern States.
MARKETS AT VARIOUS TIMES
The following will show the reader of history the prices that prevailed in this county at various dates, beginning when they were about at the lowest ebb since the settlement of the county-in 1889:
Blair Quotations: Wheat-No. 2, 55c; No. 3, 55c ; corn, 20c ; barley, 35c; oats, 15c; rye, 30c.
Butter, 15c to 20c ; eggs, 15c; new potatoes, 20c; onions, 25c; hogs, $3.40 to $3.55 per cwt., live weight ; steers, $2.50 to $3.50; cows, $1.50 to $2.00; chickens, per dozen, $1.50 to $2.00.
It should be stated that merchandise purchased at the stores at the date above given was as low in proportion-calico, 5c to 7c; grain sacks, 25c each ; good factory cloth, 9c per yard. Sugar was retailing at twenty pounds for the dollar. Farm machinery was never sold at a lower rate than between 1888 and 1893.
391
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
PRESENT (1920) PRICES
Eggs, 40c ; butter, 60c to 70c; hogs, $14 to $15; cattle, $14 to $15.60; wheat, $2.51 to $2.54; corn, $1.56 to $1.59; oats, 71c to 76c; potatoes, $3.00 per bushel; beans, $7.00; chickens, per pound, 30c; sugar, 29c; coffee, 50c to 66c ; grain sacks, 90c; calico, 35c ; factory cloth (good), 38c. Farm machinery was never higher in price than at this date. The same is true of shoes and clothing, fully three times as high as in 1889. But on the other hand, in 1889 land in this county was not over $100 an acre but today it sells from that figure up to $300 and even $400 per acre, when it will be parted with at all.
HARD WINTER OF 1856-57
A local writer thus describes that never-to-be-forgotten winter :
"The winter of 1856-57 found the settlers of Washington County little prepared for its hardships. The winters of 1855 and 1856 had been remarkably pleasant and mild and it was supposed by the few white residents of the county at that time that that was a fair sample of the Nebraska winters. The houses were generally of a temporary character, many of them having been built the summer before of new cottonwood lumber, which material makes beautiful "open work" after a few days' exposure to the sun, rendering the building cool and airy for summer use, but not so pleasant for winter. Little or no shelter had been prepared for stock and as there was a dearth of feed cattle were allowed to wander here and there through the small patches of breaking finding an occasional stalk of sod corn with which to astonish their stomachs. No one was provided with wood for more than a few days' use. Provisions were very scarce and money scarcer. Such was the condition of things when the sun went down on the evening of the thirtieth of November, 1856. A light snow was falling and had been for an hour, but the air was mild and pleasant with a light wind. During the night the wind increased to a terrific gale ; the weather grew intensely cold and the air was filled with a driving snow which was forced into the houses through a thousand and one crevices, covering beds, chairs, tables, stoves, etc., with a cold mantle of white. The day dragged by with the wind surging and roaring and the air so thick with cutting, blinding snow that one could not see a house five feet distant ; thus rendering it impossible for the stock to be fed, as a man could not find his way back to the house after leaving it. Several made the attempt and perished in consequence, their bones being found when the snow melted the next spring, in some instances within short distances of their homes. Night settled upon the country cold and dreary and another day of suffering dawned and passed without the least prospect of relief.
A second night and third day passed by during which the wind seemed to have lost none of its fury while the snow seemed to come from some inexhaustible source, whirling, eddying and driving; piling and drifting in the houses to a depth of two or three feet. As the evening of the third day came on the anxious settlers were rejoiced to find that the storm was gradually losing its force. Another miserable night passed and the fourth day dawned. The wind had gone down and the sun rose bright and clear upon a brilliant, glistening, dazzling sea of snow stretched away as far as the vision extended, covering the ground to a depth of three or four feet on the level, while in the ravines it was drifted in places to the depth of twenty feet. Snow was found as late as June 1st
392
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
the next spring. The storm having subsided the settlers turned out to care for their stock. In many places stables were built down in the ravines and were so completely covered with snow that some time elapsed before they could be found and the horses they sheltered-and very effectually, too-dug out. Great difficulty was also experienced in gath- ering together the roaming cattle, and many perished in the storm."
DAYS OF MOURNING
Every county has its seasons of deep mourning over the death of some honored citizen, or for some state and national character claimed by death in some exceptional manner, as was the cases when Presidents Garfield, Grant and Mckinley passed from earth's shining circles ; two by the hand of an assassin and the other by a dreaded, incurable disease.
Some interest always clusters around the ceremonies of memorial services held for the nation's departed, and the facts as chronicled at the date should be preserved that our children and children's children may know of these days of sorrow upon the part of a civilized, Christianized people.
ON THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD
Tuesday following the receipt of the sad news of the death of Presi- dent James A. Garfield, September 19, 1881, Mayor Perkins issued the following proclamation at Blair, this county :
"Great calamity has befallen the nation. The assassin's bullet has accomplished its mission and James Abraham Garfield. is no more. He died last evening at 10:05. As the chief magistrate of a great people, it is proper that due respect should be shown the illustrious dead.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.