USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 69
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 69
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the ownership of a claim. The same year Glenvil precinct claimed the pioneers, Daniel Fitch, the trapper, J. W. Small, and Leroy S. Winters. B. F. Hocket constructed a sod house on Section 2, Township 7. Range 7. in May. 1871, his contemporary settlers being W. H. Chadwick, J. D. Moore and L. J. Starbuck. C. D. Moore and M. L. Latham arrived shortly after, and when the precinet was organized in 1875, the name Lynn was given to it. Sutton pre- cinet claims Luther French, an Ohioan, as its first settler, in 1870. He built a dugout on the northwest quarter of Section 2, Township 7. Range 5, and soon after was visited by Capt. Charles White and Nellie Henderson, who rode from the West Blue in pursuit of an antelope, which they captured. H. W. Gray, his son and G. W. Bemis arrived May 4, 1871; William and Henry Smith, I. S. Schermerhorn, James Vroman, the Angbergs, Holingsworths, Brownells, Evans and Maltbys eame about this time.
Leicester precinct was settled early in the winter of 1871-72, by Joseph Rowe, Stephen Brown, William Woolman and A. Woolman. With William Woolman was his adopted child, Miss Truelove Tibbles, who was drowned in April, 1876. G. W. Briggs and George MeIntire were the first settlers in Scott
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
precinct, and in 1871 John P. Scott was the solitary occupant of Lone Tree precinct and the only settler for some time between School Creek and Spring Ranche, while Elm post office was presided over by him from the fall of 1871 until its removal to Fairfield, June 27, 1873. Reuben Peachy erected a house for general mercantile purposes in 1870, and was the first postmaster appointed in Clay County. After the re-establishment of the mail service, Richard Bayley, a blacksmith, located at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, followed by HI. J. Higgins. In 1871 a water mill was constructed near the Liberty Ranehe, by Al. Mills. Sheridan precinct was settled in 1872, by John Yates, Patrick Nagle, R. Hilliard, R. M. Mariner, T. R. Elder and Dennis Lahane. Logan precinct was first settled by Albert Curtis, March 7, 1871. Within a short time Riley Thurber, John Yandle, Wright Stacy, E. M. Isham, Nathan Tucker, A. Christison, Fletcher Page and the Pasealls arrived. J. B. Dinsmore came in May, 1872. The first settlement in Marshall preeinet was made in July of this year by Flavius Northrup, followed by W. S. Addison and Warner Randall, J. Prawl and William Tolle. In November, 1871, J. K. Sanborn arrived in Edgar pre- cinet as its pioneer, followed by the Carrs. Jacob Ritterbush eame in 1872 and was appointed postmaster in June, and the same month the Jones family arrived.
JAMES BAINTER
The history of the early years of this division of Nebraska is based largely upon the relations of James Bainter, just as the early history of Adams County is told by Bill Kress, and of Hall County by William Stolley. Mr. Bainter. writing in 1889, for the Fairfield News, gives the following sketches :
"After arriving here I found a man named Lenard, who owned the ranch. having bought it of the Roper boys, whose unele had built it in 1860. I traded for it in January, 1864, and moved my family in February. There was then no settlement in Clay County, except at Pawnee Ranche, and a stage depot at Liberty Farm. During the fall of 1863, 1 hunted and tended the raneh. Emigration west was very heavy the entire year, principally men dodging the draft and going to Pike's Peak or any place where they could escape the war. During this year there must have been an average of nearly 300 teams daily. The Pony Express had been discontinued, and stages were used and running one each day. There were plenty of buffalo, elk, antelope and thousands of wild turkeys; but the latter nearly disappeared after the big storm of April, 1873.
"The profits of the ranch business were wonderfully good ; everything sold by the pound ; potatoes sold for five eents per pound, the same for hay and other things in proportion. There were many Indians around in the summer, prin- vipally the Pawnees and Omahas-all friendly.
"In 1863, I was at Haekney Station, kept by a German named Myers, when a Pawnee came without an arrow. He said that two Sioux had chased him from the Solomon, and would soon overtake and kill him unless he could get some arrows. Myers had a lot of them, but would not loan him one. He started to leave when the Sioux rode up, shot him dead, and after scalping him, rode off. "The winter of 1863-64 was rough and cold, but the travel continued good. In the spring I planted ten acres of corn which promised well. This spring,
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the Sioux, in great numbers, made their appearance on a hunting trip. They continued to come at intervals until August, paying for their goods in pelts or cash. Their camp at this time was down, or in, the Indian Territory. About the first of August, I began to notice a change in their demeanor. They seemed sulky and ill-natured, so that I became uneasy. I sent word to the ranchmen along the route to look out for them, and also wrote to Fort Kearney, inform- ing General Heath of their actions. He replied that there was no danger, and that the Indians were friendly. I continued, however, to prepare for them. On the morning of August 9 I was going north of the ranch, and while riding along saw an Indian coming toward me. As we approached each other he suddenly left the path and descending a ravine, was at once lost sight of. Something in his manner aroused my suspicions, and getting off my mule, I eantiously approached the place where he disappeared. Presently I saw him, dismounted and stretching his neck to see me. Twice I drew my revolver and could have easily shot him, but they had always been friendly, and I would not be the first to kill. While debating this question he discovered me, and leaping on his pony, rode off, lying on one side of the pony, as Indians usually do when in danger of being fired upon. I knew now that business had begun. He deseended the ravine into Pawnee Creek, where he was joined by two others. I then rode as fast as possible to my ranch and told my wife to get ready for an attack. My son and hired man had gone to Pawnee Ranche that morning, so my wife and I went to work, she to moulding more bullets and I to trimming them. Soon we heard the clatter of horses' hoofs, and my son and hired man rode in very much excited, saying the Indians had attacked Pawnee Ranche, and had killed and scalped Burke, a freighter. They described the Indians and I was satisfied, from the description, that they were the ones I had seen together. That day and the following night passed without further disturbance. The stage had failed to arrive that night so in the morning I mounted a race mare which I owned, and started up the Blue to see what had become of it. I met it about three miles up the river, with several passengers, among them being the stage agent at Lone Tree, and his wife. They reported that the Indians had surrounded the stage the night before, but that toward morning they had withdrawn. The morning before a man named Smith, from St. Joe, passed my ranch in charge of a train Ioaded with provisions and two threshing machines. The stage people did not meet Smith nor his train. I suspected his party were either killed or captured, and so followed along the river to where I supposed they would camp for dinner, about six miles from Spring Ranche, now (1889) White's farm. There a fear- . ful sight met my gaze. Every man of them, six in all, had been killed and all scalped except a red-haired Hibernian, who was shot in the temple and above the hip with arrows, and was still breathing. I pulled the arrow out of his temple, and went to a pond of water to obtain drink for him. 1 filled my boot with water, but when I returned the man was dead. There was the appearance of the desperate fight he made. The wagons were all gone except the ones on which were the machines; the flour was scattered around and the bacon piled up. I returned to my home; the Indians could be seen approach- ing. Knowing that my ranche could be successfully defended I loaded my family in a wagon, while my two hired men (the Rev. C. W. Wells, of the
Vol. 1-39
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Methodist Church of Davenport, Neb., and his brother) mounted horses, and all made for Pawnee Ranche, which was located one mile east of Joseph Mee- han's present farm. Richard Wells was riding a fractious horse, and when approaching Pawnee Ranche the horse reared and threw him. The hammer of his rifle caught the horn of his saddle and it was discharged, wounding him severely. He called out that he was shot, and running to him, I picked him up, threw him into the ereek, washed his wounds, drew a silk handkerchief through them, cut out the bullet with an ordinary pocket knife, placed him in "the wagon and proceeded to the ranch, where we found the coach with three or four men and a woman. There were now fourteen persons on the ranch, among whom were 'California Joe' and Joe Roper, father of Laura Roper, who arrived by a stage that morning. The Indians could now be seen, near the Llewellyn farm, approaching from the east. 'C'alifornia Joe' pro- posed to reconnoiter and, mounting the best horse, went forth. I stayed on the house top to support him, should he require assistance. He had ridden about eighty rods when I noticed that the Indians were about to cut him off. He was busy watching them, but soon saw my signal and retreated, pursued by two Indians. When one Indian came within ten paces, Joe turned and fired, hitting the Indian. He also received a hit in the arm, the other men going to Joe's relief. The savages came on in force. Seeing that the whites would be overtaken, I signalled them to dismount, which order was carried out, when the Indians went to cover, leaving the venturesome whites time to return to the ranch. The Indians lost three warriors, the chief and two others shot east of the ranch. That night their bodies were removed by the tribe.
"During our fight at Pawnee, Joe Roper was on the ranch. He was rather fond of fire-water, and had indulged freely that day. I had placed a ladder against the house, and would occasionally go up on the house to see what the Indians were about. Joe Roper also concluded to look around, saying: 'I'm going up to see the posish.' I told him he had better stay down or he would get a posish, but he went up. As he was about to step from the ladder to the house, White Antelope sent an arrow after him which grazed his cheek and parted the hair on the side if his head. Joe, like a bear, let go all holds and dropped. The Indians made a great racket, as they supposed Joe to be dead; but they were as surprised as the whites to see him up again as sober as a judge. After several months a company of United States troops carried away the skeletons of the murdered whites. The next morning, about 10 o'clock, we sent Mrs. Metcalfe and the two wounded men to Fort Kearney on the stage coach, and the others of us went with them as far as Hook's Ranche, ten miles east of the fort, where we met a company of United States troops going after the Indians, Heath having learned at last that they were not as friendly as he thought. On our way we stopped at my ranch. Nothing remained but the smoking remnant of my property. All my stock was killed, except one poor team, and my total loss was $5,872.50, for which I have a claim before Congress. "We remained at Hooks all night, and in the morning Metcalfe and wife returned, and we took the trail for Nebraska City. Following the Blue, we struck the location of the Beatrice, where I left my family and returned to bury the dead and gather up my stock. At Big Sandy, near where Alexandria now stands, we found a few men who were not molested by the Indians. About
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seven miles above that we came to the claim of two Germans, and found their bodies minus the scalps; buried them and went on to Hackney Station (Holi- day's), which was destroyed. At Yulick's Ranche, six miles below Oak Grove Ranche, we found the two German owners dead and scalped. We found Kiowa Station burned, and near by the body of Joe Urbanks, who formerly had charge of Little Blue Ranche. He was shot by arrows and scalped. Oak Grove Ranche was destroyed, and near it lay the bodies of Kelly and Butler, the former a part owner of Pawnee Ranche, and the latter a farmer from near Beatrice. At this point the men resisted the Indians, but lost the two men named. Hurrying on to Urbank's Ranche, kept by Urbank & Son (not Joe Urbank who was killed), we found the remains of the old gentleman, his three sons and his daughter, aged eighteen years. She was a feeble minded girl, but this did not save her from the vengeance of the savages. Her body was horribly mutilated. The body of the youngest child, a boy about five years old, was found some distance from the house with seven arrows in it. The Indians scalped him, taking all his hair. Mrs. William Urbanks, her two small children, and Laura Roper were captured and carried away. At the Narrows, a water place on the Blue, Mr. Canada's body was found. He was lying on his face grasping a rifle, and the savages fearing him, did not approach to get his scalp. A short distance away we found two men and a boy dead and scalped. Close by were two wagons, one robbed of the team, and the other having the oxen attached, one of which was killed, and the other unable to stand from starvation. Up the Little Blue we came to a train of twenty wagons. There was no stock visible, and nothing was left of the wagons but the irons. Beyond this about a mile we found a number of bodies of men and boys. I have for- gotten how many. This was near Little Blue Station, which was also burned. From this point onward we found many wagons either burned or ransacked, but no dead bodies. Buffalo Ranche, at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, southeast of Fairfield, on Thomas Shaw's farm, escaped injury, and was afterwards used as a stage station. Liberty Farm Station, near Deweese, was burned and never rebuilt. Mr. Royce used some of the logs in his new house of 1869-the same which was burned in 1888 or 1889. The next point was Pawnee Ranche, which we found about as we left it after the fight, except that a large quantity of provisions had disappeared, probably at the hands of the soldiers, who were pretty tough men, most of them having been captured from John Morgan in his raid on Ohio. The next morning we went on to my place, having buried forty-eight bodies on our way up. The following morning we started down the river and found nearly 1,000 head of cattle, fifty of which, found at the mouth of Elk Creek, were claimed by the Eagle Gold Company as belonging to their wagon train. We found horses and mules with harness, bridles and saddles on ; but they were so wild that it was almost impossible to get near them. This stock was all taken to Big Sandy, advertised and distributed among the surviv- ing owners, my share for labor being ninety dollars. After this I took my family to Missouri, but returned in a few weeks with my brother, only to find Capt. Flagg's troops at Pawnee Ranche. Next day I accompanied the troops up Thirty-two Mile Creek; found Lone Tree Station, the first above Spring Ranche, burned, and buried the six men whose bodies we discovered the morn- ing after the first fight. We found Elm Creek Station destroyed while George
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Comstock's Station at Thirty-two Mile Creek was undisturbed, the owner having fled to Beatrice before the attack was made. Returning to the ruins of Spring Ranche, I found the station at Pawnee re-established and immediately began the work of rebuilding Spring Ranche. In the spring of 1865 I brought my family from Missouri, and found Metcalfe and family at Pawnee Ranche. We each carried a small stock of goods. My store goods destroyed cost $1,600. After this it was considered safe to leave the place, and the consideration was acted upon.
"On my return in 1870, I found my elaim jumped by Tom Smith, of Marys- ville, Kansas. I stopped at Hackney Station and raised a erop while I defended my claim, and succeeded in obtaining possession of it. My buildings were nearly all ruined. John Crossman and John Holmes were living in one of my pilgrim houses, a small building used at ranches for pilgrims or immigrants to cook in. I found Lou Thayer, Robert Cargill and D. W. Evans on homesteads south of the Blue. They had settled there in the spring and summer, and in the fall assisted me in repairing my buildings. William Kress and Joe Fouts lived two miles farther up the river, on the edge of Adams County. John Llewellyn had his claim, but had not moved on it. G. W. Noble, Cyrus Griffith, F. M. Lewey, or Lucy, and wife, L. F. Fryar, B. R. Royce and W. S. Work resided at Liberty Farm. At this time I made it a business to locate people on claims up the river into Franklin County, but could not induce any to settle on the upland until all the bottom lands were sold."
Mrs. Bainter (Elizabeth Schultz) died suddenly from heart disease, March 7. 1885. She was the companion of James Bainter while in the army, and was present with him in many of the affairs here at home, told by him in his reminiscenees.
OLD SETTLERS
An Old Settlers' Association was founded October 8, 1880, at Sloat's Hall, in Harvard. The object of this association was to place on record the happenings of all the years since the beginnings of settlement. I. N. Clark, of Sutton, was elected president ; George Noble, of Fairfield, and C. J. Martin, of Clay Center, vice-presidents; M. J. Hull, of Edgar, historian; A. E. Goodall, of Lynn, seere- tary; D. N. Nettleton, of Spring Ranche, treasurer, and T. R. Elder, officer of the day. The executive committee comprised J. B. Dinsmore, of Sutton ; J. J. Walley, of Edgar: L. Brewer, of Fairfield ; Samnel Sloat, of Harvard; and L. N. Bryant, of Spring Ranehe.
WHAT BECAME OF THE EARLY SETTLERS
To those of the second and third generations of Clay County residents who may not happen to be sons or daughters of families represented in the roster of first pioneers, or who may have moved into the county within the past quarter-century, a most interesting question is the one, What became of these early pioneers who braved the hardships of the initiatory days of the county's existence to lay its foundations? The year 1921, some 64 years after the arrival of John B. Weston, and some 45 to 51 years after the arrival of most
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
of the other pioneers named, is a rather late date to scout around for this infor- mation. But Robert G. Brown of Sutton was able to account for the death, removal or later course in the careers of most of the very earliest settlers of the various communities of the county.
Of the early settlers of School Creek, most of whom have already been mentioned. Peter Norman sold out and moved away about 1876; John Kennedy went to Dakota late in the "seventies"; Albert K. Marsh, deceased, one of the first county commissioners, lived until a few years ago. A. A. Corey has been deceased about two decades. J. Steinmetz, since deceased, was appointed receiver of the M.Cook Land Office, while a resident of Clay County, during the first Cleveland administration. Ballzer boys moved away, later living in Okla- homa. F. M. Brown, for many years editor of Sutton Register, died about two years ago. He served as the first county elerk. Charles Brown, for many years a farmer and later in the real estate business, died about eight or ten years ago. George Brown moved from Clay County to Sargent, Nebraska. Robert G. Brown is still in hale and hearty activity at Sutton, and to him may be attributed most of this section of discussion of the course and exit of the worthy pioneers, heretofore discussed in this chapter. Robert Brown came to Sutton, that is, came in from the homestead, with the advent of the railroad and stayed with the town. He built the first frame house off Saunders Avenue, used as the pioneer court house. His homestead was a mile south of the town in Sutton precinct.
W. Cunning died after his removal to Colorado. R. L. Garr moved to Kansas long before his death, and W. E. Bemis lived until about three years ago.
Orrin Conant was killed : William Conant and T. Van Tress moved away. Robert G. Brown relates that he was a member of the coroner's jury that held the inquest over the remains of Orrin Conant and helped in the prosecution of Smith. The dispute had arisen over a elaim. After indictment for man- slaughter, and a trial, Smith was discharged.
Among the pioneers of Glenvil precinct. J. W. Small moved to York. and during his lifetime once represented Clay County in the legislature. Leroy S. Winters went to Denver.
Of the earliest settlers in Lynn precinct, W. H. Chadwick and J. D. Moore have passed beyond; L. J. Starbuck moved to Salt Lake City, B. F. Hocket moved into Harvard, M. L. Latham moved away from the county.
John S. Lewis, for whom Lewis precinet was named has been deceased for many years.
Of those who figured in the early settlement of Sutton, Luther French died long ago. He sold out the townsite to I. N. and M. V. B. Clark. H. W. Gray, as a pioneer of the town lived in Sutton for many years; J. R. Maltby, long since deceased, was the original suggester of the name of the town, with Sutton, Massachusetts, in mind. The incident of the contest of the homestead of James C. Vroman by Maltby & Way, while Vroman had been away getting a living scratched up at Kearney, is reeounted more fully in the separate story of Sutton, but Mr. Brown relates how Vroman left the country and shook the dust of Clay County from his feet when Maltby & Way "got away" with their proceedings. J. M. Gray & Co. started the first lumber-yard in the county at Sutton.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
From Scott preeinet G. W. Briggs moved to Minneapolis. John P. Scott of Lone Tree precinct, left ('lay County. Lone Tree on his homestead, was a mammoth cottonwood tree which stood in its lofty position as a sentinel of that vicinity for many years, and was finally blown to the ground a few years ago. From this tree the preeinet received its name. Scott was postmaster of White Elm office in this precinet when that office was moved to the new village of Fairfield.
The settlement of Fairfield is more fully detailed elsewhere in this narrative. Benjamin Royee, who lived nearby, and George W. Noble, who owned the Liberty Ranche, played an important part. John R. Lawhead, another prin- cipal actor, died a few years ago. Reuben Peachy is also deceased. He built and stocked a store sometime in 1870, and was the first postmaster appointed in the county after the re-establishment of the mail routes, upon a route bring- ing mail from Hebron, via Kiowa, Liberty Farm and Spring Ranches, to the stockdale at Red Cloud, on the Republican River. Richard Bayley, who had left his trade as a worker in metals to come to (lay County in 1870, and was one of the first Commissioners of Clay County and a pioneer blacksmith, with a shop on his farm at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, later went to Kansas. He is now deeeased. H. J. Higgins, who came about that time, moved away.
Recurring to early Sutton settlers: J. Longstreth moved to Ogden, Utah; A. S. Twitchel left Sutton and moved to Ong; Charles Moon is deceased; John D. MeMillan also went to Ong: and D. L. Herrick moved to Broken Bow, Nebraska. Richard Hilliard, one of the original crew of settlers in Sheridan precinct. is still living in 1921.
About the first school in Clay County, if not actually the very first school, was a "pay" school tanght by William L. Weed, a brother-in-law of Robert G. Brown, now living in Denver. This original enterprise in education was launched at Sutton, the home of so many original steps in Clay County's history.
The next school was taught by Lydia M. Tont, in Sutton and became District number two. District number one was organized from territory north of Sutton.
The balance of the townships covered territory further removed from Mr. Brown's sphere of activity and he did not dare trust his personal acquaintance and recollections covering the remainder of the county in answering, What Beeame of the Pioneers ?
CHAPTER HI
T. A. BARBOUR'S HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF CLAY COUNTY
EARLY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT-1875 TO 1890-COUNTY SEAT CONTESTS SUTTON RELINQUISHES HOPE-COUNTY SEAT LEAVES SUTTON-THE EARLY EIGHTIES-RESUME OF COUNTY OFFICIALS-LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION.
T. A. BARBOUR'S EARLY HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
In a county with as many nearly-evenly matched communities and well settled and energetically developed settlements as Clay County, it requires the composite collection of all viewpoints to evenly balance the story of the county. Having looked at the settlement and development of the county through the eyes and mental registration of early settlers of at least three other portions of the county, we will also turn to the "pen" of a faithful pioneer of the north- western corner of the county. The town of Harvard eounts among its shining lights of the past, T. A. Barbour, for many years a practicing attorney of county-wide note, who with painstaking care made a research into the early records of the county. Even at the expense of some repetition with the former portions of the story or later chapters, we can gain new points in the county's history from such excerpts as we herewith reproduce from a series of letters he prepared in 1912 for the Harvard Courier.
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