USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward County, Nebraska, and reminiscenses of territorial history > Part 13
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Most of the people were very poor; losing their crop was virtually losing their all. A very large proportion were homesteaders who came to the country with scanty means. Others came with just a little money, bought railroad land, and paid just a little payment. They had begun improve ments and had used up their last dollar, had run in debt for
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supplies, perhaps lumber and much machinery, and when they were brought face to face with utter destitution, there seemed nothing else to do but "get up and get" back to their wife's relation. Hundreds of people just loaded up the wife and children and what little they could carry and took their departure. Some just abandoned their lands and said goodbye to Nebraska. Some few managed to get a trifle for their places; some sold farms for three to four hundred dollars that would now readily bring ten thousand dollars.
If these people happened to owe for a plow, harvester or any other farm implement, they just went off and left it. Implement men and attorneys were busy people then, ran- sacking the prairies and looking up abandoned machinery. Oh, I don't want to tell half our experience in that field of enterprise.
All classes of personal property became a drug on the market. The best of pigs would hardly sell at $1.50 per hundred pounds. The people who had the nerve to remain, or who were forced to stay faced destitution. Want and hunger stared the people in the face like a horrid specter. Had it not been for thousands of noble men and women in the old states who came to the rescue, the suffering would have been too fearful to contemplate. Vast amounts of food, clothing, and fuel were sent from Iowa, Illinois, and other states. Right here it is proper to acknowledge the honor- able part the railroad companies had in the relief work. They hauled thousands of tons of freight free of charge to the very doors of these people. In this they earned the lasting gratitude of all concerned, as they labored unceasing- ly without money and without price to relieve want and suffering.
Is it not right to tell the whole truth in history? Then we must say that among the well-to-do people of our county we found in those dark days two distinct classes of people. One class, and the larger class, were untiring in their efforts to assist their less favored neighbors in every way possible to bridge over this disaster, and in thousands of instances they denied themselves of ease and luxury that they might divide with the needy. They organized relief societies and
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hunted up the destitute, gathered up means and did all in their power, in every way using their own money, clothing and food, and more, they used their influence with their eastern friends and secured vast stores of goods. We are glad there are so many whole souled people.
But there was another class that shall not escape our notice. They are fully entitled to remembrance, and they shall have it. They were the vultures, the cormorants that were not only blessed with plenty and should have gladly given of their bountiful store; but instead of that they were on the alert to steal from hungry children and helpless wid- ows what better people were sending them. We write what we know to be true. It was our fortune, or misfortune, to be brought into close contact with the people in those trying times in distributing relief to thousands of them. We well remember what a struggle we had to keep these vultures at bay. There were scores of them who richly deserve to have their names published that they might enjoy the just execra- tion of mankind. Their names should be covered with ever- lasting shame.
CHAPTER X
At a standstill-"In a quandary"-Homes abandoned -- A critical period -Brighter days -- Railroad extended to York-New recruits-Im- provements in 1876 -- Planting fruit trees-Great celebration-First murder-Trial an exciting one-Clough convicted-Sentence of death commuted-Changes in 1877-Utica founded-First settlers of "E"precinct-Went to market with eggs-Hawk pie-Improvements -First birth in the new town-Cattle stampede-Close call for the author
In 1875 things in country and city were at a stand still. Business men and farmers were in what the Irishman calls a "quandary," things looked blue. The railroad lands were mostly abandoned, and hundreds of homesteads had been shifted off at "any old price." Hundreds of fields bore an ex- cellent crop of weeds, and a general feeling of despondency was brooding over our fair land. A mortal dread of the re- turn of our implacable enemies was thoroughly imbedded in the minds of the people. Many of them were cogitating in their minds as to whether they had not made a fatal mistake in coming to Nebraska. Some brave souls were able to look through and beyond the gloom to brighter days when Ne- braska should be redeemed. Such did all they could to en- courage people to hold their lands. During this critical period, fair crops blessed the efforts of the faithful husband- man and hope revived and in the blessed spring of 1876 things began to move again as in other years. New people began to come forward and occupy the vacant places.
Much valuable improvement was added to county and city during the summer and fall. Walker's opera house with a few other substantial business structures were built, which gave evidence of new life to the city. The Midland Pacific extended their grade to York during the summer of 1875, but it was only used as a wagon road for two years. During the fall of 1876 the grasshoppers put in their appearance again in great numbers and did much damage, but fortu-
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nately they were late in their arrival and were not able to devastate the county, as they did in 1874. They left us a sufficient amount of corn to tide us over. The small grain was fairly good that year and it was secured. Vegetables were good and about all out of reach of the hungry tramps. So the people had enough to get through the winter without suffering or assistance.
The centiennial year brought great numbers of people from other states that were attracted by our cheap lands and as a rule those immigrants were men of more means than those of former years, and this told favorably on the class of improvements. They built better houses; begun to erect barns. They began to fence pastures and many began ex- perimenting with tame grasses. They brought in many herds of improved cattle and great numbers of a better grade of horses. This improvement extended to hogs, poultry, etc.
Great efforts were put forth in planting fruit and forest trees and the county began to look more like a home. The soddies were rapidly disappearing. Bridge building began again in earnest and the roads were much improved. This glad centennial year the people of the county held at Sew- ard the most notable gathering in the history of the county up to that date on the fourth of July, when more than five thousand people assembled to do honor to the occasion. The reader is referred to another page for a general description of that celebration.
Now it becomes a painful duty to record the most sor- rowful and tragic event in all our forty years history. Up to this time, May 1874, no murder had been committed, so far as was positively known and no serious event had occurred to mar our peace. Our people had thus far been noted for sobriety, industry and general good behavior although we had been drawn together from so many localities in our OV.il country and from foreign lands. With all our diversified peculiarities and antagonistic interests, no human blood had been shed in all our borders until the sad event of which we now write.
One beautiful morning in the month of May when all nature was smiling with gladness and our little city was basking in the lovely sunshine, enjoying the fragrance of
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the opening buds of spring, there breaks upon the ears of our good people the astounding news that a man (a neighbor) had been murdered. A chill of horror seized upon the peo- ple as the news rapidly spread that Nathan Clough was the victim and that he was found lying in the hay loft of the Blue valley house barn wrapped in the bloody mantle of death. Excitement ran high, a coroner's jury was hurried impaneled. Suspicion rested on several characters that harbored around the hotel and a close surveillance was kept and no one was permitted to leave the town while the jury was trying to solve the mystery. The air was filled with all sorts of wild rumors. The excitement spread as days rolled on while the jury was in session. It reached from city to country and to every part of the state and even into other states. It was the absorbing theme of conversation and discussion every- where. The newspapers were full of it. The pleasant sun- shine of that spring time was turned into a dark cloud that hung like a pall over the city.
There was apparently a suspicion among the people near and far that Warren Clough, brother of the murdered man was guilty of the deed. It seemed to float in the air without the use of a telephone. The business men of the city were wisely cautious of their words, but the women and children would indiscreetly say on the spur of the moment "its nobody, but Warren Clough that did it." Farmers coming into town would whisper their to friends, "I believe Warren did it." Traveling men on the trains would give vent to their opinion that he, was the guilty wretch. Even a correspond- ent of the Omaha Bee confidingly told his readers that Clough was most likely killed by his brother Warren. Thus suspic- ion grew till it became imbedded in the minds and hearts of the people everywhere without evidence or in advance of evidence that Warren had killed his brother. We are free to confess that this impression darted through our mind the moment our eyes caught sight of Warren, unbidden and en- tirely without evidence and fastened itself so firmly upon us that we have never been able to shake it off to this day. Why it was so is impossible to explain only in this unsatis- factory way that Warren Clough was a rough character. The jury was in session nine days and finally placed the crime
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where the people had placed it without evidence after trail- ing every shadow to its substance or till it had become lost in the mist. Just what evidence came before that jury of intelligent and honorable men the world can never know, but this much leaked out that Warren was his own worst witness by his own contradictions and evasions and guilty actions. In the preliminary hearing at Seward enough evidence or public impressions were adduced to hold him to the dis- trict court, and after a long and tedious trial with Hon. Geo. W. Lowley as chief prosecutor and Norval Bros., ably as- sisted by Hon. O. P. Masan, a former chief justice of su- preme court of Nebraska, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, and and the death sen- tence was pronounced upon him at York, Nebraska, where the trial was held on account of the prejudice of the people of Seward County.
In due time all preparation was made for the execution, all motions for a new trial being overruled, but on the even- ing before the execution was to take place, Governor Garber commuted the sentence and Clough was given a life sentence in the penitentiary at hard labor. Clough served fourteen years of his sentence and had behaved himself well. Many efforts had been made through the years to secure his pardon, but to no avail. Public opinion was too strong against him, but finally a last effort in the early winter of 1892 was suc- cessfully made and good old Governor J. M. Thayer made him a New Year's present of his freedom. Many people found fault with the govennor, but considering the fact that the prisoner had been convicted on purely circumstantial evidence with unbounded prejudice aiding the prosecution, and it being hard to tell just what weighed most with the jury the evidence or general prejudice, we deem the pardon highly proper in as much as the defendant had sufferd four- teen years of prison life, it seemed to be the proper thing to do, to give the old man his freedom for the few remaining days or years of his life. Any one objecting to this pardon is kindly referred to that grand sentiment so beautiful expressed in "Pope's Universal Prayer:" "That mercy I to others show that mercy show to me."
The year 1877 brought many important changes and
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marked a new era in the development of the county. This year the Midland Pacific railroad company passed into the hands of the B. & M. company and the rails were laid to York, and the town of Utica was founded.
Among the very earliest settlers on that great prairie was the Hon. Geo. A. Derby who homesteaded land to the north and west of where Utica now stands, in 1872. Mr. Derby made some very creditable improvements for that early day, and his house was the genial home of many a weary traveler, as it was the only stopping place between Seward and the new town of York. He was a wide-awake man, and as soon as the building of the projected railroad was assured, he made haste to lay out the town of Utica. He saw at a glance that the broad acres of rich farming land surrounding the place must of necessity have a trading place, and he went to work with that energy and determi- nation which usually bring success, and the present flourish- ing, bustling, business town of Utica is the result. Mr. Derby was a most useful citizen in his day. We always found him at the front in every enterprise that would tend to advance the interests of that part of the county. He spent the best energies of his life for the development and advancement of his locality.
Utica has grown and prospered with the years. What was then an uncultivated expanse of wild prairie is now a perfect checker board of beautiful farms with residences that will compare favorably with any of the older portions of the state; and when we say that, it means any part of the farm- ing country of the great Republic.
Utica is at this writing the third town in the county in point of business and population. Of its business interests we will speak fully in another chapter.
Howard M. Coleman was one of the first homesteaders who broke sod on that wild prairie. The date of his settle- ment was May, 1871. Mr. Coleman had much to do with the improvements and progress of Utica. We well remember when he had to haul wood from the Blue river to keep the family from freezing in the old pioneer days. But things changed and in his later years he did not have to haul wood fifteen miles.
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Geo. Liggett. who took up a homestead on Lincoln creek in 1869, commenced the grain trade in the new town when the station was first established. Mr. Liggett only enjoyed the pleasures of a farmer's life one year, when he moved to Seward where he tried his hand at harness making for a time when he thought he saw glory or wealth in Antelope county and removed to that locality. He soon secured all the glory he needed and gave up the idea of wealth, and like a sensible man he returned to Seward and here he studied the art of buying grain. After graduating among the grain men of Seward, he went to Utica and there com- menced the practice of his profession with remarkable suc- cess as his ample possessions demonstrate.
Oscar Ragan, one of the very first inen to embark in business in the new town and has made quite a succes was a Lincoln creek pioneer who had quite a rough and tumble ex- perience in the early days. He homesteaded in 1867. He had a pretty hard time for a while to keep the wolves from his chicken coop as well as to keep them from the door. It was no uncommon thing for the settlers to become desperate- ly hard up, but Oscar had experiences that take the rag off the bush. He had one faithful old hen and for a time she was the main dependence of the family. Oscar lived only sixteen miles from Seward, and one day he concluded to go to town for some groceries. Of course like all thrifty farm- ers he gathered up the produce to take along to pay the bills. By using a little extra exertion in chasing the old hen she was induced to lay that morning before Oscar start- ed. So when an invoice of stock was taken it was found that there were five eggs all fresh and in the best condition for the market. Oscar did not have a spring carriage to carry his eggs to market. When he got to Seward he walked into Beatty & Davis' store proud of his hoard of fresh eggs think- ing of the good things he would buy. He handed his bucket of eggs to Pap Davis to count; but when the bucket was opened, behold the consternation! Three of the eggs had broken, and so was Oscar's heart. Just imagine how Oscar and Pap Davis looked just then. Well, Oscar's trip was not entirely lost, as he got one cent's worth of salt and one cent's worth of matches.
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Oscar had a bit of experience one time in Seward trying to borrow some money. He approached a money man and asked to borrow a hundred dollars. "Oh, yes! all right, Mr. Ragan, you can have it. Please how long do you want it, one or three years?" remarked the cash man. "Oh, I guess I might just as well take it for three years," says Os- car, thinking he had "struck it rich." "Well," says the gentleman, "it is our rule to collect the interest in advance." "All right," says Oscar, "how much will it be?" "Interest is three per cent. per month and three times thirty-six is $108. Please sign this note of $100 and give me $8 and we are even and no harm done."
Oscar has a little more experience that is worth telling. Meat was a scarce article among the pioneer settlers, and frequently they went hunting to get some game to help out, and Oscar concluded to try his hand. So he took the old rifle down and cleaned it up and went in pursuit of game. The buffalo and elk had all disappeared. The antelope were shy. Oscar tramped all day long and the only living thing he saw to shoot was a chicken-hawk. He downed it. He looked at it, turned it over and said to himself, "Wonder if it's good to eat?" He had oft times heard of politicians eat- ing crow and had heard no complaint. "Guess it will do." So he takes it home and tells the good wife that on the mor- row they will have a feast. The wife made all things ready and a nice hawk pie was prepared. Oscar being a generous soul invited some of his neighbors to help enjoy the feast. The guests were all seated with Oscar in his proper place at the head of the table; all being served with a portion of the dainty dish they all commenced eating at the proper mo- ment. One mouthful was partly swallowed when Oscar with a heaving breast found it necessary to find his way to the door. The hawk showed signs of great discontent at going into Oscar's stomach. Oscar was quickly followed by his guests-but they did not go to see what was the matter with Oscar. They each had serious business of their own to look after. Since that eventful day and dinner experience he has wondered how it can be that politicians can eat crow without wincing as so many do. He certainly has never since had a hankering after hawk pie.
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Thomas Standard and Joseph Jones have the honor of erecting the first building on the town site and opened the first stock of merchandise in the month of August, 1877. These enterprising gentlemen were homesteaders and settled on lands in close proximity in 1870. We remember Mr. Standard at an early date as a standard thresherman of the county. These wide-awake men did their full share in help- ing on improvements in the new town, and are certainly en- titled to kind remembrance by those who got credit at their store when hard pressed for something to eat.
George Goodbrod erected a small hotel also in August, and the weary traveler could then find a place of rest.
Fritz Beckard started a lumber yard the same month. In September Fred Goehner and Wilkins opened the second store, and C. C. Turner built a blacksmith shop and com- menced pounding iron. Win. Alexander opened a grain house in the fall, and there were other improvements in- augurated which gave the village quite an appearance as a business center. From the start Utica enjoyed a large grain and stock trade, and what is rather peculiar, these dealers were in a marked degree successful.
Rev. C. E Phinney was the first minsiter to invade this wilderness. He located on a homestead in 1874 and im- mediately set to work and organized a protestant Methodist church. However, a class of the M. E. church had been or- ganized at the Kinkaid schoolhouse as early as 1872. This was three miles east of the present town. It was organized by the Rev. A. J. Folden. This class was later re-organized by Rev. G. M. Couffer of Milford, and in 1878 it was perma- nently established at Utica. The little class grew and pros- pered and in 1881 they built a creditable frame church edifice. They had previously built a parsonage.
A United Brethren church was organized at the Oliver schoolhouse in 1873 by Rev. E. W. Johnson, a young minis- ter that came from Fulton county, Illinois, and found a home three miles west of Seward. Later he became an honored presiding elder of his church.
In 1880 Rev. Father C. J. Quinn established a Catholic mission and later built a neat house of worship.
So it will be seen that Utica was not neglected by those
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laboring in the Master's vineyard. The church and the schoolhouse, the two great civilizers of men, were built side by side in this new land.
Miss Clara Derby taught the first school in that vicinity in the spring and summer of 1873. The schools of Utica have kept pace with the other interests, and they now have a fine building with a well equipped graded school.
At the head of the great train of children born at Utica, Miss Clara Goodbrod came first to cheer the hearts of her parents. She was born Oct. 16, 1877. She is now the wife of a Seward county boy, Homer J. Stolz.
For many years Utica commanded the trade of a large area of excellent territory, it being the most accessible railroad point for the north half of "M" precinct, all of "L" and "E," the northwest part of "N" and part of "K," and from the north it took in a part of "C" and about all of "D" and also it took trade from the east row of townships of York county. The rich valley of Lincoln creek. settled by a thrifty class of Germans, poured their wealth into the little village lavishly. Business was brisk for the first ten years of its existence, or until the F. E. & M. V. road was built in 1887.
The lands were soon all occupied in all the western por- tion of the county, the amount of grain and stock marketed was immense, and many of the dealers accumulated handsome fortunes in those palmy days.
Will the reader kindly bear with the author while he tells of his first visit to this great prairie wilderness when there was not a sign of human habitation between the Blue river and the Platte river north of the overland freight road running through the neighborhood of old Camden and west- ward through the southern portion of this and York counties and on to Fort Kearney. In the early part of the summer of 1864, while we were yet a resident of Lancaster county, although much interested in Seward county, a project was set on foot by Jacob Dawson of Lancaster (now Lincoln) to open a great freight road from the Missouri river through Lancaster and prospective Seward, and westward to a point on the old overland road somewhere west.
Uncle Jake, a man of nerve and unbounded energy, went
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down to Wyoming, about six miles north of Nebraska City, and held a conference with the Mormon leaders. That little place was the Mormon outfitting point for the great journey to Salt Lake. An agreement was made and Mr. Dawson was to lead a great freight train across the wilds to break a road. When the train reached the Salt Basin, Mr. Dawson secured our services as a guide through the wilderness. We followed up the great divide leading to the plain at the future Germantown, thence to Plum Creek and down the valley to its mouth. By the time the train had reached this point, all the neighborhood along this part of the Blue val- ley was aroused. There were only three families, viz: R. T. Gale, Grandfather Imlay, and William Imlay, also two young men, David P. and Joseph Imlay. Now an earnest search began to find an easy place to ford the river. None could be found. The next thing to do was to bridge the river. We gathered all the axes in the train and in the community and downed a hundred or more trees and snaked them together with the oxen, and before night we had a substantial bridge, the first ever built on the upper Blue.
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