USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 47
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 47
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After breakfast they arrange the work for the day. The women look after the children and do the sewing. Their clothing is made of cheap calico or of bnek- skin, the latter being sewn with sinew taken from the backbone of the larger animals. Beadwork is done in the same way, the beads being strung on a sinew thread as a shoemaker handles his wax ends. While the women get to work, each man saddles his favorite pony and goes out to herd the range ponies. The Indian man's time is largely taken up with his pony. They are a worthless set of horses, usually, as very few of them are fit for heavy work, but they answer the riding purposes. They keep one pony tied near the camp to use in rounding up the others. It is hard for them to give up their horses. The man in whose family I lived had about forty. As they have no corrals, the ponies graze wherever they can find grass.
The children go out and play. When there is snow on the ground they slide down hill. Sometimes they have little darts to slide along on the ice. The young men practise arrow throwing. Three or four get together with arrows about fonr feet long-not the kind that they use for shooting, but an ornamental kind for throwing. One of them throws the arrow as far as he can, and then the others try how near to where the first arrow is sticking in the ground they can lodge their own.
About the middle of the day they have dinner, which is about the same as breakfast. In the afternoon, if not too cold, the women take their work outside the tipi. After sewing perhaps an hour or so, they think it is about time to play, and so they start up the awl game. They play this game mostly in the water. Upon the grass they spread a blanket, which has certain lines marked all around the edge, and a large flat stone at its center. There are four differently marked sticks, each one of which has a special name. They throw down all four sticks at once upon the stone and count so many tallies according to the mark- ings on the sticks as they turn up. Each woman has an awl and as she counts a
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tally she moves the awl up so many lines along the blanket. It sometimes happens that she scores a tally which brings her to the central line, when she is said to "fall into the river" and has to begin all over again. In this way they play until the game is finished, sometimes until early sunset when it is time to think about supper.
They usually have supper, when there is anything to eat, rather late and after dark. It is about that time when the Indian day really begins. When supper is nearly ready the old grandfather, sitting inside the tipi, which is open at the top, announces by raising his voiee so as to be heard outside, that he invites certain of the old men to come and smoke with him. The announcement is carried all through the eamp. Then the old men who have been invited get out their pipes and start for the first man's tipi, so that by the time supper is ready there are three or four old men of the tribe gathered together for the evening, all of them full of reminiscenses and stories.
The father of the family-not the old man, but the father of some of the children-usually takes that time to give some of the children a little moral instruction. It is not generally known that the Indian father ever teaches his children about their duties, but he does, and it is usually done in that way and at that time, without addressing himself to any child in particular, and without any conversation in particular. Sitting there with his head down, without look- ing around, he begins a sort of recitation, telling the boys what they must soon be doing, and as men what might be expected of them. At another time the mother will tell the girls something to the same effeet-what is expected of them now that they are growing old enough to know about these things.
Supper is a little more formal than the other meals, especially when there are visitors. During the mealtime not very much is said, but after it is over the old man who has invited his guests gets out his pipe and tobacco pouch, and they get out their tobacco and light their pipes. The ordinary Indian pipe is of red stone. It has a long stem, and there is a projection below the bowl, so as to rest it upon the ground, because when the Indian smokes he is sitting cross legged upon the ground, therefore the pipe is just the right length for this purpose. He lights his pipe and then raises it in turn to each of the cardinal points. On one occasion I remember one of the old men in our camp holding the pipe to the sky, and saying "Behabe, Sinti" (Smoke, Sinti), addressing a mystic triekster of the Kiowa tribe, of whom they tell many funny stories and say that at the end of his life on earth he ascended into the sky and became a star, so they offer their pipe to him in smoking at night. Immediately after saying this he raised his pipe to the sky again, and said, "Behabe, Jesus." (smoke, Jesus). When the pipe is lighted it is passed around, and each man takes a whiff or two and hands it on to the next, and so it goes around the cirele. After it has gone a round or two they begin to tell of the old war times, just as grand army men tell stories of their war days. There are myths and fables, stories concerning warriors who have been noted for their bravery, and humorous stories which are told, usually by the old men, to amuse the children. Stories are told by the old men and games played by the children until late in the night, and then, one after another, they retire. Those who remain are assigned their places for the night and others going back to their own tipis, each one saying goodby, simply "I'm going out" and so closed one of the winter nights.
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FIRST CITIZEN SUMMONED.
ROBERT MILLER, LAST SURVIVOR OF ORIGINAL AURORA COLONY, DIES AT LONG BEACH-FUNERAL TO BE HELD HIERE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
A telegram received by C. S. Brown Tuesday morning announced the death of Robert Miller at Long Beach, California.
Mr. Miller went to California more than a year before his death. lle had been in feeble health for a long time and suffered a stroke of paralysis the pre- ceding winter that rendered him practically speechless.
Mr. Miller was probably the last survivor of the founders of the town of Aurora. At the close of the Civil war, in which he served gallantly, he returned to his home in Chariton, Iowa, with the idea of seeking a broader field further west. Ile was one of the eight men who organized a company in 1871 for the purpose of establishing a town in central Nebraska, having learned from a rail- road surveyor of a promising location. David Stone was sent out on a recon- noitering expedition in March of that year and reported favorably. He returned in April with Miller, Nathan Thorp and Darius Wilcox, who dug a cellar in the bank of Lincoln Creek near the present site of the cemetery bridge. Mr. Miller took a soldier's homestead four miles northwest of Aurora, where his son John now lives. He also pre-empted the northwest quarter of seetion 4, thereby becom- ing one of the original owners of the Aurora townsite. Others who secured title from the government to portions of this section were David Stone, E. D. Preston, Darius Wilcox and R. W. Graybill.
The following story of his early experiences, as told by Mr. Miller was printed in the Republican about two years ago :
"Mrs. Miller and two children, Margaret (now Mrs. HI. N. Bell) and John came out from lowa in October, 1871. John Tweedy had an unplastered frame shanty just east of where C. M. Sears' home is now, and as he was going back east he permitted the Miller family to occupy it until they could prepare a house of their own.
"On the sixteenth day of November a terrific storm struck which continued for three days. All who went through it agree that it was worse than the famous blizzard of 1873. Mr. Miller reached home only a few minutes before the storm struck, having completed a house for Sidney Lounsbury at Shankland's corner that afternoon. But for his timely arrival the family would doubtless have perished. They suffered terribly with the cold the first night, and when morn- ing came with no signs of the storm's abatement, Mr. Miller decided that des- perate measures were necessary. The house was drifted almost full of snow, the loose weather-boarding affording practically no protection. There was an unfinished cellar underneath and he scooped enough snow out of this to give his wife and children shelter. A campfire was built in one corner, and there they remained for two more whole days and nights, living on black coffee, bacon and corn bread mixed with water and salt. Mr. Miller declares that his army experience was all that enabled him to save his loved ones on that terrible occasion."
Here is his story of how Aurora was named :
"David Stone proposed that the new town be named Aurora as a compliment to his wife, who was a native of Aurora, Ill. Thorp and Wilcox had different
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
ideas, but each had only one vote. Stone held two proxies and Miller one. Seeing no other way of breaking the deadlock, Miller cast his two votes for Aurora and is therefore entitled to the distinction of having named the town."
In addition to the two children brought with them from Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Miller raised two sons, Z. Q. Miller of Casper, Wyoming., and R. C. Miller of Livingston, Mont. Ray, their fifth child, died in infancy.
During his long and active career in this community, Robert Miller was an honored and respected citizen. Never ambitious for preferment, his official inter- est is confined to municipal affairs, having served for years as a member of the Aurora city council. He was long engaged in contracting and building, and many business houses in this city are the products of his handiwork. He was during the almost half-century of his residence here a citizen of the highest type, a gallant soldier who bore his honors modestly, and a pioneer who did a man's full share in reclaiming the wilderness.
OBITUARY OF LANA A. BATES.
Lana A. Bates was born in the little hamlet of Carylville, county of Scoharie, state of New York, October 29th, 1859. Her parents were Zacheus and Polly Green. Her childhood days were pleasantly passed in rambling over the hills and through the valleys with which eastern New York is filled and her education was obtained in the little red schoolhouse under the hill.
Her personality developed into an attractive one and at the close of the Civil war she won the affections and was joined in marriage to Delevan Bates, who had won the rank of general on one of the battle fields in old Virginia. Together they came in 1873 to Nebraska and both for thirty years have worked hard to beautify what then was the native land as it came from the hands of the C'reator.
Hler husband's service in the great rebellion lead her into the work of the Woman's Relief Corps and when the Soldier's Home of Nebraska was organized she was selected by the governor of the state as one of the managing board. It was a wise selection for no pains nor expense was spared in perfecting herself in the work which in this appointment came to her.
Six different states were visited where such homes had been made to learn the best methods of management and when the Nebraska Home was opened the first rules for its government were formulated by her. For nine years she held the position of secretary or president of the managing board.
Her suggestions were never passed unheeded by the managing board and state officials always recognized her as good authority on all questions arising in regard to the home.
In other lines her opinions were also considered of value and Hamilton county can thank Mrs. Lana A. Bates for two important executive appointments during her life.
She was also appointed as one of the lady commissioners at the Columbian Exposition in 1893.
At home in private life she was ever a faithful worker in all things needed
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to ameliorate the sufferings of humanity and all she desired when death came was to be "Remembered for what she had done."
She died April 18, 1902 of a complication of diseases induced by a severe attack of tachy-eardia which was seriously aggravated by a prolonged quarantine for smallpox and which terminated fatally with cardiac dropsy.
HOW DELEVAN BATES WON HIS STAR.
ENTERED BATTLE OF PETERSBURG A COLONEL AND CAME OUT A GENERAL WITH A BULLET THROUGH HIS HEAD.
"Into the pit of death charged the black regiment."
No braver feat was performed by the immortal three hundred on the field of Waterloo than that of the fourth division, ninth corps of the United States army, under command of Colonel Delevan Bates, at Petersburg, Va., on the 30th day of July, 1864. One man out of every three who participated in the assault upon the enemy's was killed or wounded, and Colonel Bates was shot through the head, escaping death by a hair's breadth. By his gallantry in that action he won a medal of honor and the rank of brigadier-general.
To hear the story at first hand of how an untrained volunteer in two short years earned the right to wear a general's star upon his shoulder straps is an experience that cannot often be realized by the present generation. Many friends of General Bates know in a vague way that he participated in some of the most important engagements of the Civil war with great distinction, but it was only by the most persistent eross examination that the Republican secured a fairly com- plete statement of his personal experiences at Gettysburg and Pittsburg.
When the war broke out the home of Delevan Bates was in the town of Worces- ter, Otsego county, New York. He helped recruit the One Hundred and Twenty- first New York Volunteers and was mustered in with that regiment August 18. 1862, as a second lieutenant. This regiment was assigned to the Sixth Army Corps, and was in its first battle at South Mountain, Md., September 14, less than four weeks after it entered service. It soon became known as one of the fighting regiments, and during the war lost 226 of its number (almost one-fourth ) killed on the battlefield. At the accepted ratio of 3 men wounded to one killed, it is fair to assume that practically every man in this command suffered injury during his enlistment.
During General Joe Hooker's disastrous campaign of 1863, Lieutenant Bates was taken prisoner for 16 days. His capture was effected at Salem Church, just after the fall of Fredericksburg, when he and about 40 other men were sur- rounded by a superior force. Upon reaching Libby, in the city of Richmond, they joined between 3,000 and 4,000 other union prisoners who had been taken at Chancellorsville. Bates was well treated during his stay, but he was not sorry to leave when his exchange was effected after two weeks confinement. His name was the last one called in a list of several thousand prisoners, and a whole year elapsed before another exchange was made. By such a narrow margin he gained his liberty and an opportunity to win fame on the field of battle.
Rejoining his regiment just before the battle of Gettysburg, he participated Vol. 1-25
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in a forced march in the raee with Lee and reached Little Round Top during the second day's fight, just before Longstreet charged that position. When the rebels canght sight of the Greek cross which was the battle flag of the Sixth Army Corps, they halted and never renewed the assault. From his vantage point on Round Top, Lieutenant Bates had an excellent view of Pickett's famous eharge. He declares that Rothermal's painting, made for the state of Pennsylvania at an expense of $30,000, a copy of which may be seen at the Aurora public library, is a wonderful accurate reproduction of that terrible fight. A promotion to first lieutenant came to him at Gettysburg.
In 1864 congress passed a resolution to accept colored volunteers, but pro- vided that their officers must be white men who had seen service in the field. Lieutenant Bates was examined for an appointment in February, 1864, and received his commission as colonel of the Thirtieth Regiment, United States colored troops, Mareh 1st. On July 30th came the battle described in the accom- panying paragraphs.
For weeks the Union forces had unsuccessfully assaulted the rebel works around Petersburg. Finally a tunnel was dug under the entrenehments and a plan was made to explode several tons of gunpowder. Through the gap thus made in the rebel line the works were stormed. The eolored division of which Colonel Bates' regiment was a part was first ehosen for its important duty, but the plan was changed on account of a fear that if the assault failed the commanding general would be censured for "sending the niggers into such a place." The weakest division in the eorps was chosen by lot, and when the explosion gave signal for the assault it was repulsed. Bates' division was then ordered forward, and as ranking colonel he led the first regiment into "the crater" made by the explosion. This hole was about the size of a city block and was the grave of 250 men.
Several hours delay ensued in preparing for the second attaek, and the enemy had recovered to a considerable extent from the almost complete demoralization which immediately followed the explosion. The black soldiers drove them out, however, and kept them out. . Just as they were sitting down to rest a staff officer rode up to Colonel Bates with an order from General Burnside to charge a rebel battery on a nearby hill which was doing considerable damage to the union forces. In forming for this eharge Colonel Bates gave his men the usual instruc- tions to pay no attention to the wounded who fell until after the battery was taken. If that order had been obeyed his life would surely have been lost that day.
Just as the colored troops swept across a ravine they encountered a galling crossfire from 5,000 enforcements under General Mahone, and Colonel Bates fell with a 58-ealibre Enfield ball through his head. The bullet entered his right cheek and passed out just behind the left ear. The variation of a hair's breadth in its course would have meant instant death. But worse danger was coming. Bitter prejudice existed among the confederates against colored soldiers and especially against their white officers. The confederate congress had, in fact, declared that no mercy should be shown them. Wounded officers in such cases were invariably killed by bayonet. But for the heroism of Bates' black soldiers, who carried him to safety, he would undoubtedly have met that fate.
October 11th he returned to duty and was given command of a brigade with
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the rank of general, also a medal of honor for the work he did at Petersburg. In January 1865, his brigade was sent to North Carolina, where it joined General Sherman's army, General Bates' brigade remained at Beaufort, N. C., during the period of reconstruction and was mustered out in December, 1865. The distin- gnished veteran has for many years been a prominent citizen of Aurora, a familiar figure on the streets to many with little knowledge of the dramatic career through which he has passed, here briefly reviewed.
THE BLACK REGIMENT.
(The following poem was written by George H. Baker as a tribute to the courageous services rendered by the Thirtieth regiment, United States eolored troops, at Petersburg. Colonel Delevan Bates, who had command of the colored troops, received a medal of honor and the star of a general for what his regiment did in this battle).
Dark as the clouds of even, Banked in the western heaven, Waiting the breath that lifts All the dread mass and drifts : Tempest and falling brand
Over a ruined land : So, still and orderly, Arm to arm, knee to knee, Waiting the great event, Stands the Black Regiment.
Down the long dusky line Teeth gleam and eyeballs shine, And the bright bayonet, Bristling and firmly set, Flashed with a purpose grand, Long ere the sharp command Of the fierce rolling drum Told them their time had eome, Told them what work was sent For the Black Regiment.
"Now," the brave colonel eried, "Though death and hell betide, Let the whole Nation see If you are fit to be Free in this land, or bound Down like the whinning hound, Bound with red stripes of pain In your old chains again. Oh, what a shout there went From the Black Regiment.
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"Charge." Trump and drum awoke, Onward the bondmen broke, Bayonet and saber stroke Vainly opposed their rush, Through the wild battle's erush, With but one thought aflush,
Driving their lords like chaff,
In the gun's mouth they laugh, Or at the slippery brands,
Leaping with open hands, Down they tear man and horse,
Down in their awful course,
Tramping with bloody heel Over the crashing steel,
All their eyes forward bent, Rushed the Black Regiment.
"Freedom." their battle cry. "Freedom" or leave to die. Ah, and they meant the word Not as with us 'tis heard, Not a mere party shout, They gave their spirits out : Trusted the end to God, And on the gory sod, Rolled in triumphant blood,
Glad to strike one free blow, Whether for weal or woe, Glad to breathe one free breath, Though on the lips of death, Praying, alas, in vain, That they might rise again So they could once more see That fight for Liberty. This is what "freedom" lent To the Black Regiment.
Hundreds on hundreds fell, But they are resting well, Scourges and shackles strong Never shall do them wrong. Companions, he just and true : Oh, to the living few Hail them as comrades tried, Stand with them side by side, Never in field or tent Shun the Black Regiment.
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WHERE ARE THE OLD SETTLERS?
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT EARLY DAYS COMPILED BY ONE WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH THE SUBJECT. (Published in Aurora Republican 1918.)
At a recent meeting of the Old Settlers' Society of West Hamilton County, Mrs. Lora 1. Russell read a paper which attracted much attention and many re- quests for publication. She sent it to an old friend, Mrs. F. C. Putnam, in California, who in turn submitted it to N. P. Spafford, one of the few surviving original settlers. Mr. Spafford immediately wrote Mrs. Russell a letter of appre- ciation in which he said :
"We want to thank you, oh, so much, for the pleasure it has given us to go over the names and sketches of those old, never-to-be-forgotten days. What a world of work you must have put on that paper to get it ready. During the four years, 1874-8, that I was in the Aurora post office I became personally acquainted with practically every settler in the west part of the county. I do not wonder that you wish to preserve this manuscript, for in the years to come it will be almost priceless to you and yours. I only regret you did not have it published in some or all of the Aurora papers. I am almost sure the Hamilton County Register would be glad to publish it even now, for it is of great general interest to all the pioneers of the county and their descendants.
"Just think, many of those incidents oeeurred when I was but 21, and now I am an old, white-haired man of nearly 68 years. The writer was in 1870, when the Spaffords eame to the county, '19 but a month ago,' 'there was red on his cheek and down on his chin,' 'for he was only a boy, you know.'
"The writer dug the first well in the west part of the county for Charley Tompkins and really inducted Jeffers, his brother-in-law, into the well-digging business. I also dug a number of other wells for pioneers between there and Aurora.
"The wife I married was the third white child born in the then territory of Nebraska. Our marriage license was the first ever issued to a Nebraska-born child in Hamilton county. The wife, Fannie L. Giltner, was the daughter of that old pioneer Presbyterian minister, Dr. II. M. Giltner, who came to Nebraska in 1855.
"I must tell you of the last time I saw Major Skelton. It was on the interur- ban train, returning from Nebraska state pienie at one of the beaches. We had a very pleasant ehat with him. Thought at the time he would not be able to attend many more; this was his last pienie.
"Again thanking yon for the very great pleasure we have derived from the perusal of your work, and with the hope that you will allow it to be published, I am very gratefully yours, "N. P. Spafford."
Mrs. Russell's paper follows :
In the year 1884 a band of pilgrims met together in the park at St. Joe for a day's outing. St. Joe was an inland town in the early '80's on the northeast corner of Seetion 9, Town 10, West Range 8. St. Joe was large enough to boast of two general stores, a post office, a blacksmith shop, a hotel of five rooms and
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a town hall built by the people of the community. This hall was the meeting place for all publie gatherings, from dances and political meetings to Sunday school and church services. There were several dwellings and at times other places of business.
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