USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 9
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 9
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The original homes of the Caddoan family was on the Red River of the South. Prior to 1400, A. D., one band, known as the Skidi, branched off from the main stock and drifted to the Platte Valley. The next line of immigration is hard to decide upon, but tradition says this tribe lived as allies of the Omahas near the mouth of the Ohio River. It is not impossible that they may have followed the Mississippi River in coming to the Platte Valley, where, according to historian Dunbar, they were
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located in 1400, A. D. Prior to 1500, A. D., another branch branched off from the parent stock and drifted northward to a point near the Kan- sas-Nebraska line. Here the Wichitas turned back and went south, while the Pawnees moved northward and occupied the Platte Valley and inter- vening country. In 1541 A. D., Coronado found the Wichitas near the Kansas River and sent a summon to the "Lord of Harahey" (Pawnee) to visit him, which he did with 200 naked warriors: This is the earliest authentic record of Indians occupying Nebraska territory. This is the first time civilized man ever saw an Indian from what is now Nebraska. All history before that date is simply legendary, and legendary history is so conflicting that we may only say that it is possible for it to be true.
How far Onate penetrated in 1599 in his trip northeastward from New Mexico is hard to establish. He says he visited the City of Quivera which was on the north bank of a wide, shallow river (likely the Platte). He says he fought with the "Escanzaques" and killed a thousand. Pos- sibly this battle was in Nebraska. Penalosa also claims to have had a conflict when three brief glimpses into Spanish history are substantiated. We may be able sometime to establish more definitely the exact date of Indian occupancy in Nebraska.
THE PAWNEES
The Pawnee (proper), consisting of three main tribes-the Choui (or Grand), the Pita-how-e-rat (or Tapage) and the Kit-ke-hak-i (or Republican), emigrated to the Platte Valley prior to 1500 A. D. They held the country fifty miles wide west of the Missouri River and were eventually conquered by the Skidi band, who had come in 100 years before, and adopted it into their own tribe. Before the Pawnees came, however, a band called Arikara had drifted away from the Skidi band and established itself on the Missouri River, but out of the bounds of Nebraska. The Arikaras came into Nebraska and lived with the Skidi tribe for three years, from 1832 to 1835, when they returned home.
In 1861, just at the opening of the Civil war period, the editor of the Huntsman's Echo described the Pawnees on their Genoa reservation as follows: "The Pawnees numbered at first about four thousand souls and possibly a fraction more, and when at home live in a cluster of huts built with crotches and poles, covered with willows, then with grass and dirt, giving the appearance, at a little distance, of an immense collection of 'potato hills', all of a circular shape and oval. The entrance is through a passage walled with earth, the hole in the center at top serv- ing both for a window and a chimney, the fire being built in the center. Along the sides little apartments are divided off from the main room by partitions of willow, rush and flag, some of them being neat and tidily constructed, and altogether the lodges are quite roomy and comfortable, and each is frequently the abode of two or more families. In their villages are no regular streets or alleys, but each builds in a rather pro- miscuous manner, having no other care than to be comfortable without much regard to taste or order. This tribe is divided into five bands, each being under a special chief or leader and the whole confederation being under one principal chief. Each band has its separate habitation and is distinct from the other. Three bands live in villages adjoining and all camp in one village, the other two some little distance removed. There is considerable rivalry between the tribes or bands in fighting, hunting and other sports, and not infrequently one band commits theft upon the effects of another band."
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At the beginning of the Civil war the Pawnees had several thousand horses, but owing to the severe cold, and long winters that followed hundreds of the poor animals perished from sore tongues and other dis- order. The animals lived out all winter upon dry grass; but if the snow was too deep for them to reach it, cottonwood trees were cut down and the horses would subsist upon the bark. These horses were above the average in their "high-toned-ness" for it is said that they would not eat corn raised in civilized life, even when placed before them .. They were valued at from $30 to $60 each.
The Pawnees at this time generally took two hunts each year, and at such times all went-old and young, both sexes-and for the time their villages were abandoned, while the tribe visited the buffalo ranges. From these visits the summer months were put in in securing jerked meat and
MOVING INDIANS
lodge skins and in the autumn hunt they secured buffalo robes, furs and tanned skins ; also dried buffalo meat. These hunts were usually in the beautiful "Indian Summer" months of October and November. These Indians had a field of considerable extent, near each village, where they cultivated corn in considerable quantities ; also raised many beans. With these and a little flour and sugar they managed to eke out their existence, miserable though it was. Some seasons of the year they feasted and others almost starved.
One writer who traveled extensively among the Indians wrote of this tribe: "The females are the working bees of the hive; they dig up the soil, raise and gather the crops, cut timber, build lodges, pack wood and water, cook, nurse the babies, carry all the burdens, tan the skins and make the robes, as well as all moccasins. The lord of the other sex reclines by the fire or sits in the shade, kills the game, and their enemies, does all the stealing and most of the eating, wears the best ornaments and plays the dandy in their way to a scratch. They are a tall, graceful and athletic figure, as straight as an arrow and as proud as a lord, while the squaws are short, thick, stooping, poorly clad, filthy and squalid. Parentless children and the very aged are left behind or at the wayside where they perish and die, as useless creatures."
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EXPLORER PIKE AMONG THESE INDIANS
Pike in his exploring expedition tells of his visit to the Pawnees in 1806 and says they dwelt near the south line of the present state until about 1812, when they journeyed to the rest of the band north of the Platte River. Dunbar gives the location of the various tribes in 1834: The Choui band resided on the south bank of the Platte River, twenty miles above the mouth of the Loup; the Kit-ke-hak-i lived eighteen miles northwest, on the north side of the Loup; the Pita-haw-e-rat, eleven miles farther up the Loup and the Skidi five miles above those last named. He says they changed their villages every eight to ten years. In 1833 the Pawnee ceded the territory of Platte to the United States. In 1857 they ceded the territory north of the Platte (except their reser- vation in Nance County). The territory ceded is said to have been embraced in the central one-third of present Nebraska State. The reser- vation just named was ceded in 1876 and the Pawnees were then taken to the Indian Territory, where they still enjoy their reservation.
OTHER TRIBES
The various branches of the Sionan linguistic stock have come to this state at five different times. The first were the Mandans, whose coming is not certain as to date, but very far remote at any rate. Catlin. the greatest Indian portrait painter and traveler among the North American Indians, is said to have traced their earthworks and habitat down the Ohio River and up the Missouri. Another authority states the Siouan family began to cross the Appalachian range of mountains a thousand years ago. The Mandans were the first to break off from the parent stock and the only excuse we have for including them in this history is the probability that they crossed our borders on their way up the Missouri River some time prior to the coming of the Skidi band in 1400 A. D.
In 1500 A. D. the Omaha tribe was located near the mouth of the Ohio River, so its advent in central Nebraska was certainly after 1500. Their trail is traced quite accurately up the Missouri and Des Moines rivers to its present home in the northeastern part of Nebraska. The Osage tribe branched off and remained at the Osage River. The Kansas tribe came on to the Kansas River and there established its present habitat.
The Omahas and Poncas remained together until 1650, when the latter moved northward and occupied the country from the mouth of the Niobrara west to the Black Hills. By the treaty of March 16. 1854, the Omahas ceded the northeast third of Nebraska to the United States, excepting that part north of a line drawn due west from the mouth of the Aoway River. That tongue of land which was added to Nebraska in 1890, by authority of congressional act dated March 28, 1882, and which lies between the Niobrara, Keya Paha and Missouri rivers, was ceded by the Poncas in 1858, except a small reservation. In 1877 the Poncas were moved to the Indian Territory.
The third detachment of the Siouan family to occupy Nebraska consisted of three tribes-the Otoes, Missouris and the Iowas. The Otoes and Iowas have always been closely related. They were first seen at the mouth of the Des Moines River by Marquette in 1673. They are said by tradition to have sprung from the Winnebagoes. It is stated that in 1699 they went to live with the Omahas. The Missouris have
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had a very checkered career. They were first seen in 1670 at the mouth of the Missouri River. Soon after 1700 they were overcome by the Sacs and Foxes and other tribes. Most of their number joined another tribe, but a few went with the Osage and others united with the Kansas tribe. They have never ceded land to the United States, except in com- pany with the Otoes, but they have been a party to every transaction of the Otoes. For all practical purposes the Otoes and Missouris have been one tribe during their occupancy of Nebraska domain. The Otoes and Missouris ceded the southeast portion of this state in 1833 to the United States ; this cession embraced the land south and west of Nemaha. The remaining portion of the land which they claimed lay between the Nemala, Missouri and the Platte rivers, reaching as far west as Seward County. The last tract was ceded in 1854, when they returned to their reservation south from Beatrice. In 1881 they relinquished this domain and now abide in Indian Territory. Most of the Iowas remained east of Nebraska soil until 1836, when they were given a tract of land along the south bank of the Nemaha. This land they retained in part in indi- vidual allotments, but remained under the Great Nemaha Agency. This tribe of Indians was always closely associated with the Otoes, but was never under the same tribal relations as an organized body of Indians, as was the Missouri tribe. All three tribes belonged to the same branch of the Siouan family as the Winnebago.
The council gave the United States title to the east two-thirds of the domain in Nebraska. The earliest treaty by which they acquired title to land in Nebraska was made with the Kansas tribe in 1825; by this treaty the Kansas tribe ceded a semi-circular tract along the south line. reaching from Fall. City to Red Willow County and almost as far as Lincoln. So it appears that the Kansas tribe at least laid claim to part of the territory now called Nebraska.
The next detachment of the great Siouan family to invade Nebraska was from the northern branch of this tribe which dwelt along the Great Lakes. The Assiniboins had separated from this branch as early as 1650, and according to McGee, were near the Lake of the Woods in 1766, so they had not long wandered over Nebraska when the white man's history began here.
THE PONCAS AND OMAHAS
The Poncas and Omahas joined in repressing the advance of the northern tribes and held them back from the great waterways for many years, but they hunted on the headwaters of the Platte and Republican rivers and even went as far to the south as the headwaters of the Smoky Hill and Solomon rivers. The Crows were doubtless the first to encroach on the Platte Valley; they drifted to the Black Hill country in a very early day and hunted on the Platte from the northwest. The Blackfeet, a branch of the Saskatchewan tribe, came later. The Yankton, Santee, Brule, Sisseton, Teton, Minnistaree and parts of the tribes from the headwaters of the Platte frequently hunted and fought in the valley of this stream. They united in ceding the northwest part of the State of Nebraska to the United States in 1868, reserving for themselves a com- mon hunting ground right, which, however, in 1875, they relinquished. They next were numbered in the various reservations of Dakotah and Indian Territory.
The Winnebagos were the last tribe of the great Siouan family to come hither. They were moved from Minnesota to a part of the Omaha
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reservation in 1862, and there still reside. Schoolcraft says in his Indian history that this tribe once lived on a branch of the Crow Wing River, Minnesota. Some of the Santee Sioux were moved to Nebraska at the same time, but many of both tribes came across the country before.
THE ALGONQUIAN FAMILY
To this family belongs the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Astina, who wan- dered over the western part of Nebraska, as did the Sac and Fox tribe, which had a reservation in the extreme southeastern part of this state from 1836 to 1885. The Algonquian family once occupied the greater portion of the Mississippi Valley. At a very early date the Cheyenne drifted westward through Dakota and gave their name to one of the important streams. Later, they drifted southward. Explorers Lewis and Clark mention this tribe as occupying a portion of the Cheyenne Valley in 1804, while Long in his 1819 expedition found small bands which had seceded from the main stock on the Cheyenne River and had roamed with the Arapaho along the Platte River. Gen. J. C. Fremont made a record which states that this tribe was found on the Platte above Grand Island in 1843. They ceded the southwest portion of Nebraska in 1861.
SAC AND FOX PURCHASE
The United States purchased all of Missouri north of the river, most of the State of Iowa, and a portion of Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota from the Sac and Fox tribe. They seem to have been the original own- ers of the Mississippi and Missouri fronts and the Siouan tribes as they departed went westward doubtless had these Indians to contend with. The Sac and Fox gave up their holdings and settled on a southern reser- vation, excepting a band who took up a reservation on the Great Nemaha River, party in Nebraska and a part of which is in Kansas.
OTHER INDIAN TRIBES
It is certain the Comanches roamed at will over Nebraska soil at one time, and probably the "Padoucas" once had their home and hunting ground here ; at least North Fork of the Platte River was known in early days as the Padouca fork. Historian Mooney, in one of his early reports, says: "In 1719 the Comanche were mentioned under their Siouan name of Padoucas living in what is now known as the western part of the State of Kansas. It must not be overlooked that five to eight hundred miles was an ordinary range for plains tribes and the Comanche were equally at home on the North Platte or on the Chihuahua (Mexico)."
The Comanche and the Kansas Indian tribes were closely connected for over 150 years, at least. There is no record that the Comanche . ever ceded any part of this state to the United States Government.
THE KIOWAN FAMILY
This tribe of Indians migrated from the northwest and took up a resi- dence near the Black Hills. From that point they were driven by the bloodthirsty Sioux tribes and Lewis and Clark mention them as residing on the north fork of the Platte in 1805, in all they had seventy-five tepees.
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They slowly drifted southward until they occupied the south side of the Arkansas River country. As this particular tribe seldom lived long away from the mountain countries, it is most likely that they had not been long occupiers of Nebraska domain.
THE HALFBREED TRACT, ETC.
There was a halfbreed tract situated between Neosha and Missouri rivers. It was set apart in 1830, intended for the home of civilized Indians belonging to the Omaha, Iowa, Otoe, Yankton and Santee Sioux halfbreeds.
The Pine Ridge and Rosebud agencies are located just to the north of the Nebraska line in South Dakota and the Indian title to a narrow strip adjoining this state was until recent years not yet extinguished. The only Indian agencies in Nebraska at this date (1920) are the Santee, near Niobrara; the Ponca, the Omahas and the Winnebagos in Thurston County.
In 1890 United States census returns give the number of Indians in this state as being 3,322. There are three Indian schools in the state conducted by the Federal Government-one on the Santee reservation ; one on the Omaha-Winnebago reservation, while a boarding school is run at Genoa, Nance County.
TRIBAL LANDS, ETC.
All tribal lands, except a small part of the Omaha reservation, have been allotted and all Indians are taxed as citizens of the state. The Omahas in 1904 numbered 1,200 and the Winnebagos 1,100 souls. The Omahas are of a much higher type of Indian citizens than the Winne- bagos, and are by far the more industrious, taking great pride in becom- ing good agriculturists. They also pay strict attention to their marriage vows, whereas the Winnebagos pay little attention to such matters.
INDIAN CHARACTER AND RELATIONS WITH SETTLERS
W. J. McGee, in his report of the Bureau of Ethnology, remarks: "They were ceremonious among themselves and crafty towards enemies, tactful diplomatists as well as brave soldiers, shrewd strategists as well as fierce fighters; ever they were skillful readers of human nature. Among some of the tribes every movement and gesture and expression the male adults seems to have been affected or controlled with the view of impressing spectators and auditors, and through constant schooling the warriors became most consummate actors.
"The best developed industries were hunting and warfare, though all of the tribes subsisted in part on fruits, nuts, berries, tubers, grains and other vegetable products, largely wild, though sometimes planted and even cultivated in rude fashion. The southwestern tribes, and to some extent the eastern remnant, grew maize, beans, pumpkins, melons, squashes, sunflowers and tobacco, though their agriculture seems always to have been subordinate to the chase."
In manners and customs the Indian was very different from the whites. For this reason the two did not come to understand one another as they did years later. An interesting thing in which this is true was the idea that the greatest man always gave away most things. On this account, nearly always the chiefs were very poor in this world's goods.
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IMPLEMENTS AND WEAPONS
Stone, wood, horn, bone and antler were usually used for imple- ments and weapons. The domestic utensils were made from wood, crude pottery, basketry, bags and bottles of skin. Their apparel consisted of breech clout, moccasins, leggins and robe, usually of dressed skins. The prairie tribes had for places of abode earth lodges for winter, buffalo skin tepees for summer. Their horses were of Spanish origin. The new enterprise of catching wild horses made a great difference with their mode of living. They had for their amusements- races, wrestling matches, games of chance; sports for boys, making bows and arrows, playing hunt, etc .; of girls, dolls, play-house, etc. The organization of tribes was very complicated. Their property regulations were strictly observed; common land; much individual possessions in other things, but a great deal of entertainment of friends in the family lodge. Tepees belonged to the women. Food was not owned in common.
HOSTILITY TOWARDS THE WHITES
The associations between the two races-the red man and the white man-made up one continual warfare, at least this was true from about ยท the commencement of the Civil war period, when it has been suspected by northern radical thinkers, that they were greatly influenced by the men at the head of the Southern Confederacy, in order to weaken the strength of the Northern army. This was proven in a number of instances, among which was the uprising at New Ulm, Minnesota, in 1862, when a thousand settlers were ruthlessly massacred by the blood- thirsty Sioux. But be that as it may, the histories of the counties that have been compiled of the part of the country in which Lincoln County and Nebraska in general were situated are replete with accounts of bitter feelings, hostilities, cattle and horse stealing, and some loss of life, too. On the other hand it must be admitted that the Indians were ill treated by them. Not by the sturdy actual settler, but by the roving band of traders and rougher element that is ever found on the frontier of any country. The Indians resented any personal injury and took vengeance upon all whites alike.
When cattle were stolen by the Indians large companies of white settlers would band themselves together and overtake the offenders. Punishment was meted out without trial and without delay. A marked change was noted with the commencement of the Civil war. Then it was that Indian hostilities increased rapidly. Not only did they attack and murder small parties and raid settlements here and there, but the spirit of enmity caused many bands of savages all through the great Northwest to combine in attacking settlements.
August 7, 1864, occurred one of the worst Indian raids the true pioneers of Nebraska ever suffered. At about the same hour of the same day and month all the homes except two along a route of 200 miles were surrounded and burned. The inmates who could not escape were killed, and their provisions and goods were carried off. This state of affairs continued to some extent after the close of our Civil war which ended in April, 1865.
One writer of Nebraska history relates that in the neighborhood of Lincoln County the attacks of Indians continued for five years. As late as the time the Union Pacific Railroad was constructed through this county the company's property and men had to be guarded and pro-
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tected by United States soldiers, who as late as 1869-70 also stood guard for the Government surveyors who were then quarter-sectioning this county.
INDIAN WAR OF 1890-91
The last trouble between the Indians and whites in Nebraska occurred in 1890-91, in which case, as usually before, the United States (shame to such deeds) failed to keep good her word with the Indians. If the Government authorities were innocent (which is doubted) at least they winked at the unlawful acts committed by Indian agents, who did not have at heart the good of all concerned, but wished only to make what they could out of trading with the ignorant Indians. Many of the Indians at the commencement of that noted outbreak were literally starving to death, due to the shiftless policy of the Government.
CHAPTER IV
EARLY SETTLEMENT
FONTANELLE SETTLEMENT - THROWN INTO WASHINGTON COUNTY - FIRST HOUSES-FIRST LAND BROKEN-EARLY CROPS-MILLING- MARKETS-TOWNSITE PROJECTS-NORTH BEND-FREMONT-FIRST BIRTHS-DEATH-HARD WINTER 1856-57-PAWNEE INDIANS-1857 PANIC-1857 SETTLEMENT-PIONEER HIMEBAUGH'S EXPERIENCES- SIXTY PER CENT INTEREST-PIKE'S PEAK-IMMIGRATION DAYS- UNION PACIFIC.
The reader will bear in mind that Fontanelle was at first within Dodge County, but two years after the settlement of this part of the state it was thrown into Washington County. Then in Fontanelle was the first settlement-made by the "Nebraska Colonization Company" from Quincy, Illinois. But the first regular settlement in what is now Dodge County was effected by John and Arthur Bloomer, near the mouth of Maple Creek, early in April, 1856. During the first part of the next month, they broke out twenty-five acres of prairie which was the small beginning of agricultural pursuits in Dodge County now so famous as a farming section. Mr. Bloomer spent his last years at the Soldier's Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
May 25, 1856, Mrs. Wealthy Beebe, with her children and Abram McNeal, her son-in-law, with his family, located two miles west of Fre- mont-then unknown as a settlement. The following month, George Emerson took a claim five miles west of the present site of North Bend, built him a shanty and broke out eight or ten acres of prairie land. July 4th the North Bend Colony, attracted by the promises of the townsite company, arrived and settled permanently. (See details in North Bend History.)
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