USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 47
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 47
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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
HAMLET OF FLETCHER
Fletcher was platted in section 32 a number of years since and now has a country store and a shop, but has never grown to much importance, yet a useful hamlet for the community about it.
VILLAGE OF HERMAN
Herman is situated in southeast quarter of section 30, township 20, range 11, east, within a half mile of the northern line of Dodge County. It was platted in 1871, by the railroad officials of the old Omaha & Northwestern Railroad Company, and is a prominent station point on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha division of the Northwestern railway system. In 1910 the population according to the United States census reports was 328, but since then it has greatly increased, but the present-year census reports have not as yet been made public, hence cannot be quoted here.
MUNICIPAL
The only clear and available village records begin with 1905 and show the following to have served as chairmen and clerks of the village to the present date :
1905-Chairman, Dr. A. J. Cameron ; clerk, F. Van Volin.
1908-Chairman, Ross Harper ; clerk, F. Van Volin.
1909-Chairman, Dr. A. J. Cameron ; clerk, O. H. Godsey.
1910-Chairman, Dr. A. J. Cameron ; clerk, O. H. Godsey.
1910-11-Chairman, William Meadors; clerk, O. H. Godsey.
1911-Chairman, E. P. Hanson ; clerk, R. G. Allen.
1912-Chairman, C. J. Kruse ; clerk, R. G. Allen.
1913-Chairman, C. J. Kruse ; clerk, R. G. Allen.
1913-14-Chairman, Wm. Shafersman ; clerk, L. B. Hugelman.
1914-Chairman, Wm. Shafersman ; clerk, L. B. Hugelman.
1915-Chairman, Wm. Shafersman ; clerk, Henry Truhlsen.
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1916-Chairman, Wm. Shafersman; clerk, Henry Truhlsen.
1917-Chairman, Henry Truhlsen ; clerk, E. C. Burdic.
1918-Chairman, Henry Truhlsen ; clerk, E. C. Burdic.
1919-Chairman, L. V. Ackerman; clerk, E. C. Burdic. 1920-Chairman, R. P. Rasmussen ; clerk, E. C. Burdic.
The 1920 village officers are as follows: Chairman-R. P. Ras- mussen ; clerk-E. C. Burdic; with trustees-Messrs. Waldo, Hancock, and C. E. Johnson.
The village first installed a system of water works in 1889, just before the terrible cyclone swept through the village and nearly wiped it from the face of the earth. The standpipe was blown down and other mate- rial damage done by the storm. The system is now excellent. The
(By Courtesy of Blair Tribune)
HIGH SCHOOL, HERMAN
village has a block of ground really a park-on which the pumping plant and fire department buildings are situated. From the center of this high elevated city park the steel water tower or standpipe stands, while shaded trees ornament the grounds and the surroundings can be made a place "beautiful."
1920 BUSINESS INTERESTS
In the month of June, 1920, the commercial and professional affairs in Herman was made up as follows:
Banking-Herman State Bank, Plateau State Bank.
Cement Contractor-R. P. Rasmussen.
Clothing-A. H. Smith.
Cream Buyers-David Cole Creamery Company, Fairmont Creamery Company, Farmers Union Co-operative Company.
Drayage-O. L. Hilsinger.
Drugs-The Johnson Drug Company.
Elevators-Crowell Grain & Lumber Company, Holmquist Grain & Lumber Company, Latta Grain Company, Roberts & Rose, Woods- Updike Grain Co.
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Garages-Ed Olson, Louis Rasmussen, R. J. Schenck, West Brothers. General Merchandise-L. V. Ackerman, H. P. Dulaney (Fletcher), Gray & Gossard, Nels Rasmussen (Spiker), Mrs. E. A. Wachter.
Hardware-Truhlsen Brothers.
Hog Breeders-W. C. Cameron, H. O. Williamson.
Hotel-The West Hotel.
Implement Dealers-C. H. Blanchard, Hancock Implement Company. Jewelry-O. H. Godsey.
Lumber Dealers-Herzog Lumber Company.
Meat Market-J. B. Jensen.
Newspaper-The Herman Record-see Press chapter.
Oil Dealers-C. H. Blanchard, C. W. Ford, Hancock Implement Company, Standard Oil Company.
Physician-Dr. A. J. Cameron.
Pantatorium-Fern West, proprietor.
Plumbing-Frank J. Kastl.
Restaurant-L. E. Nelson.
Schools-Broderson School, Herman Schools, Hillcreek School, New England School.
Stock Buyers-Burdic Brothers.
Veterinary Surgeon-Dr. C. V. Weeces.
The village is surrounded by a very fertile country and its farmers are a thrifty, intelligent class of people, of many nationalities, but generally speaking, are truly thoroughgoing American citizens, who are good citizens and great home builders and appreciate the country in which they reside.
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CHAPTER XXII
FONTANELLE TOWNSHIP
HISTORIC LOCATION-CORRECT SPELLING OF NAME-BOUNDARY-POPU- LATION-STREAMS, SOIL-IMPROVEMENTS-VILLAGE OF FONTANELLE -TALBASTA-REMINISCENCES BY EDA MEAD-EXTRACTS FROM BELL'S HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY IN 1876-DEATH AND BURIAL OF LOGAN FONTANELLE.
Fontanelle Township and village of this county is the background for much pioneer history and personal experience had by men and women who must have possessed iron constitutions and hearts of steel, yet full of human kindness. In order to be correct the writer has con- sulted the relatives of old Indian Chief, Logan Fontenelle, and learned that the name was spelled FONTENELLE, and not with an "a" -Fontanelle, as so many Nebraska historians, even historical societies of the state, insist on spelling the name of the old honored chief for . whom this township and village were named back in the '50s.
Fontanelle Township is situated on the west side of Washington County, and is eight miles from north and south by five miles from east and west. It is bounded on the north by Sheridan Township, on the east by Grant and Lincoln townships, on the south by Arlington Township and a small portion by Dodge County. On its west it is bounded by Dodge County of which it was once a part.
The streams coursing through this township include Bell's Creek, Brown's Creek, and the Elkhorn River, with many smaller streams. This part of the county is one of Nature's real garden spots and man has made it one of beauty and intrinsic value by tilling its fertile soil, erecting its many handsome farm houses and constructing its scores and hundreds of wagon-bridges and culverts after modern specifications. To be a landowner in this township is to be known as an independent, contented and happy person who should be thankful that his lot was cast in such a goodly place.
POPULATION
In 1890 this township had a population of 803; in 1900 it was 759 and in 1910 it was only 766. The returns for the present (1920) enum- eration have not as yet been made public by the department at Wash- ington.
FIRST SETTLEMENT
The account given of the first settlement of the Village of Fontan- elle, in 1854, by the Quincy (Ill.) Colony, is in fact the history of the pioneer settlement in Fontanelle Township, as will be discovered by the following account of that event:
The colony organized at Quincy, Illinois, in 1854 was for the pur- pose of securing for its members, homes for themselves and their families in the then new Territory of Nebraska. The style of the company was "The Nebraska Colonization Company." In July that year, Rev. W. W. Keep, Jonathan Smith, J. W. Richardson, Jared
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Blanset, C. Bernard, William Flach and James A. Bell (the father of the John T. Bell who wrote the small, but reliable history of Wash- ington County in 1876) came to Nebraska in order to "view the land," and locate the colony on behalf of the company. They crossed Iowa in wagons, as there was then not a foot of railway track west of the Mississippi River. They camped out on the way and in due time reached the small city of Omaha which had then just been platted by the Nebraska & Council Bluffs Ferry Company.
Historian Bell continues his narrative as follows: Passing beyond the bluffs of the Missouri and its tributaries, the Quincy pilgrims found a section of country which for agricultural and grazing purposes has no superior on this continent-or any other. Arriving in the vicinity of the Elkhorn, in their northwesterly course, they came to a stream of considerable size, over which it was necessary to throw a temporary bridge, in order to cross it. To do this someone had to "coon it" across the stream on a log, and this task was undertaken by James A. Bell. Before reaching the other shore, however, he heard something drop into the stream below, and was surprised to find that it was himself. He was at once fished out and spread on the grass to dry. In consequence of this little episode the party immediately christened the stream "Bell Creek," the name it still bears. Crossing the creek the colonization party pursued their way to the banks of the Elkhorn, and were so pleased with the surrounding country that they decided to locate there, and the townsite of Fontanelle was laid out, claims made by the party, etc., who then proceeded to the camp of the Omaha Indians -in honor of whose chief, Logan Fontanelle, the town was named, and held a grand pow-wow with the tribe for the purpose of securing its good will. They also paid Fontanelle the sum of $10 each, with the understanding that he was to protect their interests until members of the company could be sent out and establish their new town, and then return to Quincy.
I am unable to give the entire list of names belonging to this colony, as it was formed in Illinois, but it is certain that these were among the membership: Jonathan Smith, president; Rev. W. W. Keep secretary ; J. W. Richardson, J. C. Bernard, treasurer ; O. C. Bernard, H. Metz, John Evans, J. Armor, H. G. Mauzey, E. M. Davis, W. H. Davis, Jared Blan- sett, G. Williamson, J. McIntosh, Rufus Brown, Root and James A. Bell.
In the fall of 1854, the company sent out Judge J. W. Richardson as their agent, to occupy the town site on behalf of the company. Judge Richardson was accompanied by his wife-later Mrs. William Kline. At Council Bluffs they were joined by Col. William Kline and Colonel Doyle, of South Carolina, who had been recently appointed marshal for the new territory. In December, Dr. M. H. Clark was elected council- man, and Colonel Doyle and Judge Richardson representatives to the Territorial Legislature, from Dodge County, in which Fontanelle was the only settlement.
FONTANELLE WANTED THE TERRITORIAL CAPITAL
Judge Richardson was instructed by members of the colony to put forth every effort possible to insure the locating of the capital of Nebraska Territory at Fontanelle. But Omaha won the coveted prize. They did succeed, however, in getting a charter to establish a college for Fonta- nelle; and to be run under the auspices of the Baptist Church; also a town charter and a ferry charter, the latter in favor of Colonel Kline.
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.
The County of Dodge was organized and the county seat was designated as ' Fontanelle. During the territorial session of that winter a bill was introduced chartering the Platte Valley & Pacific Railroad Company, and February 16, 1855, Doctor Clark, chairman of the committee on cor- porations, submitted his report, showing clearly the object of this rail- road bill and during his speech remarked:
"In view of the wonderful changes that will result, your committee cannot believe the period remote when this work will be accomplished, and with liberal encouragement to capital which your committee are disposed to grant, it is their belief that before FIFTEEN YEARS have transpired, the route to the Indies will be opened and the way across this continent will be the common highway of the world."
Fourteen years and three months from that day the golden spike which completed the world's highway was driven on the summit of the Rockies.
PIONEER SETTLERS
Prior to the autumn of 1856 the following had become settlers in Fontanelle, with those already mentioned: Judge and Mrs. Richardson,
(By Courtesy of Blair Tribune)
HIGH SCHOOL, FONTANELLE
John W. Pattison, Chris Leiser and family, Colonel Kline, Samuel Whit- tier and family, Rev. J. M. Taggart and family, Miss Ellen Griffith, Willis Carr, Eli Harlow, Edward Carpenter, Isaac Underwood and family, Mrs. Denslow and family, B. L. Keyes and family, William M. Saint, John Beaty and family, John Evans and family, Rufus Brown and family, Henry Sprick, John K. Cramer and family, Christy Archilles and family, Morris Wogan and family, Arthur Bloomer, John Bloomer, David Bloomer, Thomas Fitzsimmons and family, Sam Francis and family, William H. Johnson, Henry C. Lemon and family, George Hindley, Jared Blansett, William Flach and Family, Charles Osterman, J. M. Hancock and family, Jacob Canaga and family, John Ray and family, Deacon Searle and family, John and Silas Seeley, Pomeroy Searle, Sam Wil- liams and family, Hiram Ladd and family, Sumner D. Prescott, William
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R. Hamilton and family, Henry Brinkman and family, William Hecker, Sr., Orlando and Pierce Himebaugh, William C. Hecker, Julius Brainard and family.
IMPORTANT EVENTS
In 1856 a college building was erected by the Congregational people, to whom the Baptists had assigned their charter elsewhere named. A flourishing school was here kept alive a number of years, Professor Burt being the first instructor. This building was used for public meetings, lyceums, etc. Annual festivals were held and bounteous suppers were held in the college buildings about New Year's day, until the close of the Civil war, to which festivals the settlers for many miles around came regularly, bringing well-laden baskets and when the contents of these baskets were distributed over the tables the only reason they did not groan was because they were not of the groaning kind!
In the winter of 1858-59 Fontanelle became a part of Washington County, in consequence of reorganization of county lines.
The first school was taught by Miss Emily Strickland in 1856-57.
The first stock of goods in the settlement was kept by William H. Davis in 1855, he also had the first hotel-a double log-called the Fontanelle House.
A town lot was offered by the company to the parents of the first child born on the plat and much rivalry ensued, for it is known that two children were born the same night, although Mattie, daughter of Samuel Francis, born October 2, 1855, was by a few hours the earlier.
FONTANELLE OF TODAY
After a wonderfully romantic and somewhat strange history, the once flourishing Village of Fontanelle has dwindled down to a few houses and the few inhabitants trade at a small store and get mail from the little country route. The most of the village platting is now doing good service as excellent farm land, yielding up its annual harvest.
THE PASSING OF CHIEF LOGAN FONTENELLE
No more appropriate farewell can be given to the reader of this chapter than to give what S. T. Bangs of Sarpy County said in his Cen- tennial History of Sarpy County in 1876:
Logan Fontenelle was a half-breed, his father being French. He was educated in St. Louis; spoke English fluently and was at this time about thirty years of age, of medium height, swarthy complexion, black hair and dark piercing eyes. In the middle of the summer of 1855, a procession might have been seen wending its way toward the old home of Logan Fontenelle on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River and above the stone quarries of Bellevue. It moved slowly along, led by Louis San-so-see, who was driving a team with a wagon in which was wrapped in blankets and buffalo robes all that was mortal of Logan Fon- tenelle, the chief of the Omahas. On either side was Indian chiefs and braves mounted on their ponies, with the squaws and relatives of the deceased showing their grief in mournful outcries. His remains were taken to the house he had left a short time before and now desolate and afflicted they related the incidents of his death. He had been killed by the Sioux on the Loup Fork thirteen days before, while on a hunt with
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the Omahas. Having left the main body with San-so-see in pursuit of game and while in a ravine that hid them from the sight of the Omahas, they came in contact with a band of Sioux on the warpath who attacked them. San-so-see escaped in some thick underbrush while Fontenelle stood his ground fighting desperately and killing three of his adversaries, when he fell pierced with fourteen arrows and the prized scalp-lock was taken by his enemies. The Omahas did not recover his body until the next day.
It was the wish of Colonel Sarpy to have him interred on the bluffs fronting the house in which he had lived and a coffin was made which proved to be too small without unfolding the blankets which had enveloped him, and as he had been dead so long this was a disagreeable task. After putting him in the coffin his wives who witnessed the scene uttered the most piteous cries, cutting their ankles until the blood ran in streams. An old Indian woman who looked like a witch of Endor, standing between the house and the grave, lifted her arms to heaven and shrieked her maledictions upon the head of his murderers. Colonel Sarpy, Stephen Decatur, Mrs. Sloan, an Otoe half-breed, and others, stood over his grave where his body was being lowered, and while Decatur was reading the impressive funeral service of the Episcopal Church, he was interrupted by Mrs. Sloan, who stood by his side, and in a loud tone told him that "a man of his character ought to be ashamed of himself to make a mockery of the Christian religion by reading the solemn services of the church." He proceeded, however, until the end. After the whites, headed by Colonel Sarpy, had paid their last respects, the Indians filed around the grave and made a few demonstrations of sorrow. The whites dispersed to their homes and the Indians to recite their own exploits and the daring of their dead chief-Fontenelle.
ANOTHER HISTORY OF FONTANELLE
A few years since, Mrs. Eda Mead, in "Nebraska Pioneers," wrote the interesting story of the rise and fall of the Village of Fontanelle, Nebraska. These facts, as she avers, are largely from her own obser- vation and memory, she having been reared in the vicinity herself. It is believed that no better account of this defunct village can be given at this time than the one she gives, and from which we take the liberty to quote freely, that the story may be preserved in the annals of the county :
When Nebraska was first organized as a territory, a party of people in Quincy, Illinois, conceived the idea of starting a city in the new terri- tory and thus making their fortune. They accordingly sent out a party of men to select a site.
These men reached Omaha in 1854. There they met Logan Fon- tenelle, chief of the Omahas, who held the land along the Platte and Elkhorn rivers. He agreed to direct them to a place favorable for a town. Upon reaching the spot, where the present village is now situated, they were so pleased that they did not look further, but paid the chief $100 for the right to claim and locate twenty square miles of land. This consisted of land adjoining the Elkhorn River, then ascending a high bluff, a tableland ideal for the location of a town.
These men thought the Elkhorn navigable and that they could ship their goods from Quincy by the way of the Missouri River, Platte River and the Elkhorn.
Early in the spring of 1855 a number of the colonists, bringing their household goods, left Quincy on a small boat, the "Mary Cole," expect-
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ing to reach Fontanelle by the way of the Elkhorn; and then use the boat as a packet to points on the Platte and Elkhorn rivers.
But the boat struck a snag in the Missouri River and, with a part of the cargo, was lost. The colonists then took what was saved overland to Fontanelle.
By the first of May, 1855, there were sufficient colonists on the site to hold two claims. Then each of the fifty members drew by lot for the eighteen lots each were to hold. The first choice fell on W. H. Davis. He chose the land along the river, fully convinced of its superior situation as a steamboat landing. The colonists then built houses of cottonwood timber, and a store and a hotel were started. Thus the little town of about 200 inhabitants was started with great hopes of soon becoming a large city.
Land on the edge of the bluff had been set aside for a college build- ing. This was called Collegeview. Here a building was begun in 1856 and completed in 1859. This was the first advanced educational insti- tution west of the Missouri River.
In 1865 the building was burned. Another building was immediately erected, but after a few years' struggle for patronage, they found it was doomed to die, so negotiated with the people of Crete, Nebraska, and the Congregational organizations (for it was built by the Congrega- tionalists) in Nebraska. It therefore became the nucleus of what is now Doane College. The bell of the old church is still in use in the little village. The first religious services were held by the Congrega- tionalists. The church was organized by Rev. Reuben Gaylord, who also organized the first Congregational Church in Omaha.
In Fontanelle the Congregationalists did not have a building but worshiped in the college. This church has long since ceased to exist, but strange as it may appear, after so many years, the last regular pastor was the same man, Rev. Reuben Gaylord, who organized the church.
There was a little band of Methodists, about fifteen in all, who formed the Fontanelle Mission. In 1857 an evangelist, Jerome Spillman, was sent to take charge of this little mission. He soon had a membership of about threescore people. A church was organized, a church and parsonage built. This prospered with the town, but as the town began to lose ground the church was doomed to die. The building stood vacant for a number of years but was finally moved to Arlington.
The settlers found the first winter of 1855-56 mild and agreeable. They thought this was a sample of the regular winter climate ; so when the cold, blizzardy, deep snow winter of 1856-57 came, it found the majority illy prepared. Many were living in log cabins which had been built only for temporary use. The roofs were full of holes and just the dirt for floors. On awakening in the morning after the first blizzard, many found their homes drifted full of snow; even the beds were cov- ered. The snow laid four or five feet on the level and the temperature was far below zero.
Most of the settlers lost their stock. Food was scarce, but wild game plentiful. Mr. Samuel Francis would take his horse and gun and hunt along the river. The settlers say he might have been seen many times that winter coming into the village with two deer tied to his horse's tail trailing in the snow. By this means, he saved many of the colonists from starvation.
Provisions were very high priced. Potatoes brought four or five dollars a bushel; bacon and pork could not be had at any price. One settler is said to have sold a small hog for $45; with this he bought
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eighty acres of land, which is today worth $300 per acre. A sack of flour then cost from $10 to $15.
At this time many who had come just for speculation left, thus only the home-builders or those who had spent their all and could not return remained.
Then came trouble with the Indians. In the year 1859 the Pawnees were not paid by the Government, for some reason. They became des- perate and began stealing cattle from the settlers along the Elkhorn around Fontanelle. The settlers of Fontanelle formed a company known as the "Fontenelle Mounted Rangers," and together with a company sent out by Governor Black from Omaha with one piece of light artillery, started after the Pawnees who were traveling west and north. They captured six persons and held them bound. While they were camped for rest, a squaw in some way gave a knife to one of the prisoners. He pretended to kill himself by cutting his breast and mouth so that he bled freely. He then dropped as if dead. Amidst the confusion the other five, whose ropes had been cut by this same squaw, supposedly, escaped.
As the settlers were breaking camp to still pursue the fleeing tribe, they wondered what to do with the dead Indian. Someone expressed doubt as to his being dead. Then one of the settlers raised his gun and said he would make sure. No sooner had the gun been aimed than the Indian jumped to his feet and said, "Whoof ! Me no sick!" They then journeyed on to attack the main tribe. When near their camp the set- tlers formed a semicircle on a hill, with the artillery in the center.
As soon as the Indians saw the settlers they came riding as swiftly as possible to make an attack, but when within a short distance and before the leader of the settlers could call "Fire !" they retreated. They advanced and retreated this way three times. The settlers were at a loss to under- stand just what the Indians intended to do ; but decided they did not know of the artillery until near enough to see it, then were afraid to make the attack, so tried to scare the settlers, but failing to do so, they finally advanced with a white rag tied to a stick.
The Indians agreed to be peaceable and stop their thieving if the set- tlers would pay for a pony accidentally killed, and give them medicine for the sick and wounded.
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