USA > Nebraska > History of Nebraska > Part 20
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JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
a party of thirty men, commanded by Captain Patterson, a young lawyer of Fontenelle, started up the river on the east side in order to protect the few settlers in the vicinity of De Witt, where B. B. Moore resided. The whites saw eleven Indians approaching, and conceived the idea of taking them prisoners. Accordingly the party moved into the kitchen, where Mrs. Moore and daughter were preparing dinner, with a view of decoying the Indians into the sitting room, which was divided from the kitchen by a light board partition. The Indians came to the house and entered the sitting room, whereupon a part of the whites passed out of the kitchen and took a position near the south door to prevent their escape. Soon after, firing commenced, by which party is unknown, and then followed a scene which beggers description. With a wild war whoop the Indians rushed out of the house, dashed through the lines of the whites, and ran towards their camp on the opposite side of the river, followed by a deadly shower of leaden hail. The battle ery sounded by the retreating Indians was answered by their comrads across the Elkhorn (a distance of two miles or more), and as the echo and re-echo of the terrible war whoop found its way along the river and over the prairie, consternation filled the breasts of all who heard it, and many of the settlers were panic-stricken. Just how many Indians were killed is not known, but members of the tribe afterwards admitted that only three reached their camp, and that one of them was mortally wounded. One Indian was left dead at Moore's house, and two others were left badly wounded. They were put in a wagon when the party started for West Point; one died on the way, and the other was supposed to be dead and thrown into the river at the Dupray place. He proved, however, to have been playing "possum," and struck out for the shore, but never reached it. An ounce or two of lead caused him to sink to rise no more. The only white man wounded was a Mr. Peterson, of Fontenelle.
Immediately after the fight everybody left for West Point. A rumor being started that several hundred Indians were preparing to swarm down upon the little band of settlers to avenge the death of their fallen braves, caused a panic such as the citizens of West Point have never witnessed since. During the excitement a con- sultation was held, and the majority determined to abandon West
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Point and go to Fontenelle. Messrs. Neligh, Crawford, McClellan, Babbitt, Schadaman and Thomas, who were opposed to the move, remained behind to secret what goods they could. There were only two persous left in the County, A. L. Ward and Casper Eberline, both of whom were several miles above De Witt at the time of the fight, in blissful ignorance of the stirring scenes being enacted.
On the 4th of July a party was organized at Fontenelle to go to De Witt, consisting of J. D. Neligh, J. M. McKiralan, J. C. Crawford, Jno. McClellan, A. Clemens, J. B. Robinson, Thos. Parks, Jno. Shoer, Wm. Keys and others for the purpose of seeing what the Indians had been doing. Arriving at Moore's house they found a dead Indian lying on the kitchen floor with a bucket of water beside him, a pan of unbaked biscuit on the stone hearth, dishes broken, feathers strewn on the floor, and bureau drawers broken and contents strewn about. While the party was viewing this picture of disolation and death, from without came the startling cry of, "Indians! Indians! Indians!" and in an instant all was in commotion. A general rush was made for the wagons in which their arms were lying, and in the excitement which followed, a gun was accidently discharged, its contents lodging in Mr. Shoer, kill- ing him instantly. The alarm was discovered to have been a false one, and soon after the sad accident the party started for Fonten- elle, where they arrived the same evening, bearing with them the lifeless body of their unfortunate comrade.
A month or so later peace was made with the Indians, and a majority of the settlers returned to their claims. Late in the Fall (1859) J. D. Neligh and J. C. Crawford erected a frame building, which has since been remodeled into a hotel, known as the West Point House.
Early in the Summer of 1860, seven families, with nine teams, under the escort of J. D. Neligh, arrived at West Point.
The first patent issued upon land in Cuming County, was to Patrick Murry, on the 3d day of July, 1860, giving a title to the northeast quarter of section twenty-one, township twenty-two, range six, east.
The first marriage license was issued by the Probate Judge in the Summer of 1861, the parties being John Pilger and Miss Harriet Arlington.
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The valuation of all taxable property in the County in the Spring of 1863, was-personal, $4,654; real estate, $2,635; total, $7,289.
The first homestead entry was made by Benjamin B. Moore, February 16, 1863.
A. E. Fenske opened a small store at West Point in the Sum- mer of 1865. This was the first mercantile establishment in the County.
Father Erlad, a Catholic missionary, organized the St. An- tonius Church at St. Charles, in 1866. In April, of this year, Rev. Louis Janney, of the M. E. Church, was sent to the De Witt Mission. The first Quarterly Meeting was held on June 29 and 30, at Mr. Moore's residence, at which time the first Methodist Society in the County was formed.
The first warranty deed recorded in the Clerk's Office was given December 17, 1867, to Catharine B. Neligh by Mattias Schmacker.
On the 24th of July, 1870, Rev. Sheldon Jackson perfected the organization of the Presbyterian Church at West Point. Rev. Mr. Peebles, of the Presbyterian Church of Decatur, had preached here in the Spring of 1867.
The Catholic Church at St. Charles, erected in the Spring of 1867, was the first Church building in the County.
In 1868 Bruner & Neligh completed a grist mill at West Point, and people came here to mill from fifty miles around. In the Summer of this year the organization of the German Evangeli- cal Church was effected.
West Point was incorporated on the 17th of May, 1869. In June, of this year, the U. S. Land Office was located here, and in the fall a splendid bridge was completed over the Elkhorn. In the spring of 1870 the town site of West Point was re-surveyed- In June a Masonic Lodge was organized. The Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad was completed to West Point on the 25th of November, of this year, and on the 28th trains commenced running regularly. The value of improvements at West Point from December, 1869 to December, 1870, was estimated at $129,- 000, exclusive of the depot and other improvements inade by the Railroad Company. The first number of the West Point Repub-
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lican was issued November 18, 1870; E. N. Sweet, editor, M. S. Bartlett, publisher.
Early in the Spring of 1871 a Company was organized by the stockholders of the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Rail- road, known as the Elkhorn Land and Town Lot Company. A tract of land was purchased in Elmont Precinct, on the line of this road, upon which a town site was surveyed, platted and named Wisner-in honor of S. P. Wisner, at that time Vice President of the F., E. & M. V. R. R. Company. On or about the 20th of July, the railroad was completed to this point, and on the 26th following, town lots were sold at auction, the proceeds netting $8,130. Im- mediately after the sale of lots the erection of business houses and dwellings was begun. The first work commenced was by George Canfield, upon the Wisner House, and the first building completed in the town was a warehouse and office, by John W. Pollock. A depot was built by the Railroad Company, and during the sum- mer and fall, several business houses were opened.
In the meantime improvements were being rapidly made in and around West Point. In 1871 a brick Evangelical Church was erected; Bruner, Neligh and Kipp built a brick bank building; a Teachers' Institute was organized; a Lutheran Church was erected in Bismarck precinct; a hook and ladder company was organized, and also a County Medical Association, of which Dr. Alex. Bear was chosen President, and R. J. Mulhern, Secretary. In 1872 the contract for the building of a brick Court House was let, and in 1874 the building was finished at a cost of about $40,000. January 9, 1873, the brick hotel, known as the Neligh House, at West Point, was completed. In March, of this year, the West Point Land Office was removed to Norfolk. September 11, the Second Annual Fair of the Cuming County Joint Stock Agricultural Society was held at the Fair Grounds at West Point.
In the spring of 1874 an iron bridge was constructed over the Elkhorn, at West Point, at a cost of $7,000; an Odd Fellows Lodge and a Fire Company was organized. On November 4 of this year, the West Point Manufacturing Company was organized. The business to be transacted by this Company was the manufac- ture of flour, paper, woolen goods, agricultural implements, etc. In 1875 machinery for a furniture factory arrived and a two story
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building was erected in which to put up and operate the same. In May, 1876, machinery for a paper mill and a foundry arrived from the East, and work was commenced on a race at West Point, capable of operating immense manufacturing establishments, During the Summer of 1876 the structure for the paper mill. 60x120 feet, two stories high, of brick, was completed, and the machinery set up in the furniture factory. These enterprises are now in successful operation. In 1876 a lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and a Literary Club were organized at West Point, and a very fine Catholic Church erected.
SCHOOLS .-- The first school district was organized on the 11th day of April, 1864, and embraced all the territory in the County on the east side of the Elkhorn River. Sixty dollars was voted at the same time toward building a school house. Mrs. J. C. Crawford taught a private school at her residence in Bismarck precinct, in the Winter of 1865, and had fourteen scholars. This is said to have been the first school opened in the County.
The number of school districts in the County, in 1879, was forty-five; number of school houses, forty-two; children of school age, 1,836-males, 983; females, 853; total number of children attending. school during the year, 1,137; number of qualified teachers, fifty-seven-inales, thirty; females, twenty-seven; wages paid male teachers, $6,174.55; paid female, $3,633.62; value of school houses, $24,308; value of school house sites, $2,259; value of books and apparatus, $1,225.50.
TAXABLE PROPERTY .- The taxable property, as returned for 1879, was as follows: Number of acres of land, 300,053; average value per acre, $2.12; value of town lots, $120,942; money used in manufactures, $2,854; money invested in merchandise, $120,942; number of horses, 2,298, value, $43,524; mules and asses, 173, value, $3,969; neat cattle, 5,772, valne, $33,559; sheep, 5,694, value, $4,032; swine, 8,902, value, $4,739; number of vehicles, 714, value, $6,461; moneys and credits, $12,345; mortgages, $3,225; furniture, $1,467; libraries, $205; property not enumerated, $9,188; railroads, $76,048; telegraph, $855; total valuation, $987,286.50.
POPULATION .- In 1856 the County had a population of eight; in 1860 it had increased to sixty-seven; in 1875 it was 6,152; in 1878, 7,744, and in 1879 it was 9,095.
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WEST POINT,
The County Seat, is beautifully located on the Elkhorn River, and is a fast growing, brisk business place of 1,000 inhabitants. The Elkhorn affords it unusually fine manufacturing advantages, and various enterprises, such as flouring mills, paper mills, furniture factory, etc., as before stated, are now in successful operation here, and others will soon follow. Being situated on the Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad gives it direet communication with Omaha, and makes it a shipping point of a large grain and stock region. It has neat Churches and splendid school houses, good hotels, large lumber yard, brewery, carriage and wagon manufac- tory, several grocery and dry goods stores, and all the business places and trades usual to a place of its size. Three weekly news- papers are published here-the Republican, Progress and Staats Zeitung, all well sustained, prosperous sheets. A fine iron bridge spanning the Elkhorn at this point, attracts the trade from the western part of the County.
WISNER,
Containing about 850 inhabitants, is located on the Elkhorn in the northwestern part of the County, and was for several years the terminus of the Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad, which gave it a substantial growth and large trade. It was incorporated on the 14th of May, 1873. Among the first to locate in the town were John W. Pollock, E. M. Clark, (deceased) and George W. Canfield. In June, 1873, an excellent iron bridge was completed across the Elkhorn at this place, which added greatly to its business. The Elkhorn River is here capable of propelling mammoth manufac- tories and is susceptible of easy control. During the present season the railroad was extended from Wisner westward to the County Seat of Stanton County. Wisner is certainly one of the best busi- ness points in this part of the State, and has enjoyed for several years past the almost exclusive shipping trade of the adjoining Counties to the north and west. Business in every line is well es- tablished and the school and Church advantages are all that could be desired.
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CLAY COUNTY.
Clay County was established in 1867 and organized in Octo- ber, 1871, by proclamation of Acting Governor William H. James. It is located in the southeastern part of the State, in the fifth tier of Counties west of the Missouri River, and is bounded on the north by Hamilton, east by Fillmore, south by Nuckolls, and west by Adams County, and embraces 576 square miles, or 368,640 acres, at an average elevation of 1,775 feet above the sea level.
WATER COURSES .- The Little Blue River is the most important stream in the County. It waters the southwestern townships and furnishes ample water-power for flouring mills and other manu- facturing enterprises. School Creek, a fine large tributary of the West Blue River, flowing from west to east, waters, with its nu- merous branches, the central and northern portions of the County, and also furnishes a sufficient volume of water for mills. Big Sandy Creek, a fine tributary of the Little Blue, waters the south- eastern townships. Springs are abundant along the Little Blue and School Creek.
TIMBER .- There is very little native timber in the County. The Little Blue River and School Creek are tolerably well timbered in places. Few Counties in the State, if any, excel Clay in the matter of tree planting. In 1879 she had 2,160 acres or 3,114,828 forest trees under cultivation, many of the groves being from three to twenty acres in extent, and well developed. There are forty-six miles of hedge fence in the County.
FRUIT .- In 1879 there were 14,249 apple, 652 pear, 36,416 peach, 10,640 plum, and 3,074 cherry trees, and 2,643 grape vines under cultivation in the County, promising in the near future an abundance of the choicest fruits.
STONE .- A good stone for building and lime abounds on the Little Blue.
PHYSICAL FEATURES .- The surface of the country consists al- most entirely of nearly level prairie, a small portion being rolling, but none is too rough to prevent tillage, except, probably, in occa- sional places bordering the Little Blue and at the sources of the creeks. There is a gradual slope all through the County, west by
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north; thus while the eastern border is a little over 1,670 feet above the sea level, the western border is 1,835 feet, the rise being gradual all the way. The Little Blue has a very fine, wide valley, as have also School and Sandy Creeks, although smaller.
SOIL .- The surface soil of the uplands is a rich, black vegeta- ble mould, generally ranging from eighteen inches to two feet in depth; on the bottoms the soil is often several feet in depth. Corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley, flax, broom-corn and vegetables of all kinds do well. Corn yields from thirty-five to seventy and wheat from fifteen to twenty bushels per acre. The area in cultivation in 1878, was 73,776 acres; in 1879, 95,078 acres; increase, 21,302 acres. Spring wheat raised in 1877, 472,528 bushels; in 1878, 600,000 bushels. Yield of corn in 1877, 645,239 bushels; in 1878, 725,000 bushels.
HISTORICAL .-- The first settlement within the present limits of the County was made in 1857, by J. B. Weston, who built a house at Pawnee Ranche, on section sixteen, township five, range eight, in Spring Ranche Precinct. He was succeeded at the ranch by Fred and George Roper, who held it until 1864, at which time they were driven off by the Indians, and two of George Roper's daugh- ters captured, they being restored to their friends again in 1872 or 1873.
The general uprising of the Indians in 1864 greatly retarded the settlement of this County, and it was not until about 1870 that emigration was renewed to any extent. The settlements are here given by precincts :
SCHOOL CREEK PRECINCT .- Peter O. Norman, and brother, natives of Sweden, settled in this precinct in 1870, and built them- selves a "dug-out " on the banks of the creek.
LINCOLN PRECINCT .- F. M. Davis, Ezra Brown, and Samuel Slote were the first to settle in this precinct about the year 1870. Mrs. Add Horsington taught the first school in the spring of 1872.
HARVARD PRECINCT was first settled in the fall of 1871, by Isaac Dawson and John Hackenthaler.
LYNN PRECINCT was first settled in May, 1871, by W. H. Chad- wick, J. D. Moore, L. J. Starbuck and B. F. Hocket.
LEWIS PRECINCT was first settled in the Spring of 1870, by A.
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D. Peterson, Lewis Peterson and Jonas Johnson, natives of Swe- den. John S. Lewis, after whom the precinct was named, settled in April, 1872.
SUTTON PRECINCT was first settled in 1870, by Luther French, of Ohio. The first neighborly call after the completion of his house, was by Captain Charley White, of Indian fame, and Miss Nellie Henderson, who came on horseback from the West Blue, eight miles off, and had chased down and caught an antelope on the way.
SHERIDAN PRECINCT was settled in February, 1872, by John Yates. He was followed closely by others. A school honse was erected in this precinct in December 1872, the first school being taught by Joseph Trout, with sixteen scholars. In February, 1873, a Methodist Episcopal Society was organized, and in June a Union Sunday School was started.
LOGAN PRECINCT was first settled by Albert Curtis, on the 7th of March, 1871. In August following, a school was organized, with Josephine Reed, as teacher-salary, twenty-five dollars per month.
MARSHALL PRECINCT was first settled in July, 1872, by Flavius Northrup, from Buffalo County, Wisconsin .. Mr. Northrup brought with him a flock of abont seventy-five sheep, which were the first sheep brought into the County for permanent rearage.
LEISCESTER PRECINCT was first settled in the Winter of 1871, by William Woolman, A. Woolman, Joseph Rowe and Stephen Brown. Miss Truelove Tibbles, an adopted daughter of Rev. Wm. Woolman, was drowned in April, 1876, while attempting to cross one of the Creeks in this precinct.
SCOTT PRECINCT was first settled by G. W. Briggs and George McIntyre. The B. & M. R. R. passes through the northern part, and the St. Joe & Denver City R. R. across the northwest corner of this precinct.
LONE TREE PRECINCT was first settled in 1871 by John P. Scott, who located near the " Lone Tree," from which the precinct derives its name. The St. Joe & Denver R. R. crosses the south- west corner of this precinct.
FAIRFIELD PRECINCT .- The settlement of this precinct com- meneed at Liberty Farm Ranche, at the mouth of Liberty Creek, on the Little Blue. This ranehe was for a long time an important
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station for the overland mail and Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Pony Express. It was kept in 1858 by James H. Lemon, who was suc- ceeded, in 1867, by Benjamin and John Royce, from Illinois.
EDGAR PRECINCT was first settled in November, 1871, by J. K. Sanborn, who built himself a good log house. The flourishing town of Edgar is in this precinct.
The pioneers of the County were more or less harassed by Indians up to as late as 1868, especially in the valley of the Little Blue, on the overland stage road, where the ranches were repeat- edly destroyed, and the inhabitants driven from the country or murdered.
James Bainter, who succeeded a Mr. Metcalf at Spring Ranche, in 1862, had a store stocked with about $5,000 worth of provisions and merchandise. A friendly Pawnee brought him the news one day that the Sioux were coming in force, and had attacked the ranches above him. Bainter immediately sent his family to Pawnee Ranche, about a mile to the east of his, then kept by the Ropers, and mounting a fast horse rode up the river to reconnoiter. He met the Indians about nine miles off, coming rapidly toward his place, so hurrying back he loosed his stoek, and hastened to his family at Pawnee Ranche. In a short time he saw the smoke ascending from his store and dwelling, and very soon thereafter Pawnee Ranche was attacked by abont 200 Sionx. Pawnee Ranche was a strong sod building, with pallisade around it, and contained at the time of the attack, four men and several women and children. This courageous party, small as it was, managed to keep the enemy at bay, the women assisting the men in watching and loading their guns ; and for three days the attack was con- tinned till finally Bainter succeeded in killing the Sioux Chief, when the Indians withdrew from their immediate vicinity. A large party of friendly Pawnees came up at this juncture, and with their assistance the Sioux were driven off for the time. Not long after this however, the Sioux again attacked the ranches all along the Little Blue, and Bainter and all the settlers were compelled to leave the country, the stage line was broken up, and many of the drivers and passengers killed. A large wagon train was captured at the crossing of the overland road on Big Sandy Creek, and about sixty persons slaughtered.
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JOHNSON'S HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.
The organic election was held on the 14th of October, 1871, at the house of Alexander Campbell, on section six, town seven, range six. Eighty-nine votes were polled, fifty-six of which were cast for Sutton, making it the County Seat. The following County officers were elected : Commissioners, A. K. Marsh, P. O. Norman, and A. A. Cory ; Probate Judge, John R. Maltby ; Clerk, F. M. Brown; Treasurer, J. Hollinsworth; Sheriff, P. T. Kearney ; Sur- veyor, R. S. Fitzgerald; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. S. Schermerhorn; Coroner, J. Steinmetz.
The first session of the Board of Commissioners was held on the 4th of November, 1871, at which time the County was divided into three equal districts, designated as Commissioner and voting precincts, and named respectively, Harvard, Little Blue and School Creek. The Commissioners' precincts remain, but the vot- ing precincts were increased to sixteen, in 1875.
The Burlington and Missouri River R. R. was built through the northern portion of the County in 1871. Length of the road in the County, twenty-four and eighty-seven one-hundredths miles.
The St. Joe and Denver City R. R. was built through the southwestern portion of the County in the spring of 1872. Length of road in the County, twenty-two and fifty one-hundredths miles.
The Clay County Agricultural Society was organized on the 15th of April, 1872. A fair is held regularly every year at Sutton.
The people of Clay County were great sufferers by the grass- hopper invasion of 1874. In July, of that year, these insects came from the northwest in such countless numbers as to make the sunlight dim; and so swiftly did they destroy the crops that a forty or an eighty acre corn field would not last more than two hours. The rank, growing corn would literally bend to the ground with the weight of the insects. Potatoes, vegetables and crops of all kinds, except wheat and barley, which had already been har- vested, were swept out of existence all over the County in the short space of two days. Not a bushel of corn was gathered in the County, whereas the year before settlers burned corn, it being worth only fifteen cents a bushel.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS .-- In 1870 there were sixty-nine School Dis- tricts in the County, sixty-seven school houses and 3,041 children
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of school age, 1,553 being males, and 1,488 females; total number of children that attended school during the year, 2,089; number of qualified teachers employed, 117-males, forty-two; females, seventy-five; wages paid teachers for the year-males, $4,486.35, females, $7,289.95; total, $12,776.30; value of school houses, $36,347.89; value of school house sites, $2,684.00; value of books and apparatus, $1,712.35.
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