USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward County, Nebraska, and reminiscenses of territorial history > Part 18
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out. We were poor as church mice. We brought all our belongings in two wagons; one of them belonged to a brother- in-law that came along to see the country. Our nearest neighbors were coyotes and they made nights hideous with their howlings; but in the spring mornings our hearts were gladdened by the booming of the prairie chickens. Snakes were plentiful and were so friendly as to make us frequent visits in the soddie. They would crawl into the walls and would remain until we disputed their claim to a residence with us. Once when we returned from Seward, our trading place, a large bull snake took possession and was snugly es- consed under the cupboard. The children left at home were scared out of their wits and dare not venture in the house until our arrival at home. It had crawled out of sight and could not be found until I went to put the milk down cellar when I found the horrible thing curled up on the cellar steps. It was about dark and I had called for a light as I was afraid of snakes, otherwise there would have been some spilled milk.
We had some terrific rain storms and once our cellar filled up with water. Everything that would float was swim- ming and things that could not swim were resting quietly under water. We had to carry the water out with buckets.
OUR OLD DOG MIKE STOLE THE MEAT
H. A. BRISBIN
MILFORD, NEBR., JUNE 6, 1905.
W. W. Cox,
Seward, Nebr.
Your letter reminding me of promising to write up the greaser incident received.
Will fulfill that promise now.
The present generation living in Seward county, can hardly realize that thirty odd years ago the question of bread and butter was a serious problem to be solved.
Ninth tenths of the early settlers were almost penniless upon their arrival here. Your humble servant had put 50
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cents. Thousands of others were equally as poor. Today every farm carries from 20 to 100 heads of hogs. Pork in its various forms is on every table once a day at least, but a generation ago it was a luxury. I well remember my first investment in pork in '70. Mrs. Brisbin and Mrs. Biggs had become joint owners of one or two pounds of pork. The pork was used to grease bread pans and pan-cake griddles, and was used back and forth as occasion demanded.
It was safely guarded from all possible harm. "But the best laid plans etc." applied to this piece of pork.
A very large dog of the hound and mastiff breed had followed me from Iowa. In color was a dark brindle, and in size would tip the beam at 150 pounds or more, owing to the condition he was in. He responded to the name of Mike. He was noted for two things, size and digestive ability. The former quality was a terror to strangers and the latter to his owners. With head erect, eyes glistening, tail wagging, and drools running, he would watch that pork as my wife greased the bread pans.
The sod house door (made of slabs, hung with leather hinges, and fastened with wooden latch) in pleasant weather was always open, and the doorway was Mike's favorite place of resort.
Watching one day as usual my wife preparing the dough for the oven greasing the pans with that commercial piece of pork, Mike saw the chance of his life. As Mrs. Brisbin laid the pork on the table and carried the pans of dough to the oven. Mike seized it, and one gulp and my investment in pork was lost.
A terrible commotion was raised. I was called to the house and Mike's sin was related, and the dark ominous fut- ure was portrayed. but there was no help for it. We were short on pork and long on dog. The event was told Mrs. Biggs and the hang tail expression of Mike for a week after- wards gave evidence that he was the recipient of unusual attention.
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VILLAGE OF BEE
E. H. NOXON
The village of Bee, lying seven miles north and two miles east of Seward on the Northwestern railroad on broad and commanding ground, was purchased by the Pioneer Townsite Company and platted in the spring of 1887.
A postoffice was established with Miss Minnie Dunigan, postmistress. The first passenger train carrying mail ar- rived Sep. 20, 1887. The first grain elevator was built in the summer of 1887 by the late Luke Agur. Other buildings followed quickly. John Low built a store building and a hotel; M. Dunigan, a store building: Allen Price Lesse, the first store to open for buiness in 1887. Two churches, the United Brethren and the Christian were soon built, and res- idences sprang up in all parts of the little city. January 20, 1902, the village was incorporated with A. J. Gumbel, O. C. Bedford, H. Moler, A. Terwillinger, and E. O. Drake, trustees, with A. J. Gumbel, chairman, and G. L. Bedford, clerk. Bee has a fine two story high school building costing $2500, and a Modern Woodman camp of over one hundred members owning their own hall. The postmaster, E. H. Noxon, appointed June 15, 1889 under President Harrison's administration, although seventy-four years old, still hands out mail.
UGLY BACHELOR JUMPED OUR CLAIM
MR. AND MRS. M. S. McCALISTER
My father, Ira McCalister, and family landed in "L" precinct, three and one-half miles south of Utica, in Decem- ber, 1872. He had visited the locality at a previous date and filed his claim. , His time for settlement was about up, and upon arrival with the family he found an ugly bachelor waiting to jump his claim. The neighbors rallied to father's assistance, and they chopped and dug in the frozen ground and made a dug-out about 8x10 ft., perhaps 10x12 ft .; just
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room for wife and two children to crawl into, and when the bed, stove and table were placed they were pretty thick. Father and a brother-in-law spent the night there just in time to save the claim. John E. Fouse sold father a ridge pole for two dollars, and with some small poles, hay, and shingles made of dirt, served for a roof. A crude door in the south with one window giving light! Precious light.
These small quarters served the family as a home dur- ing the winter and next summer, and small as the home was they had to make room for me when I appeared on the scene the following July. I was rather small but took up lots of room in that dug-out. Father hired a small patch of ground broken as a garden patch, and he spent the summer at car- penter work.
When I was old enough I started to school in a little soddie on the site of the McNiel school house. The lit- tle old soddie had two small windows and a rough door. Pegs were driven into the walls and rough plank placed on them for seats. Later a small frame schoolhouse was built, and then a great prairie fire came sweeping by and burned it up; then we had to take another soddie. This was re- placed in later years by the present commodious schoolhouse.
I was a farmer boy at work by the month when the bu- gle notes of 1898 called to arms. I hurried to Lincoln and enlisted in Troop K, 3rd U. S. Volunteer Cavalry, known as Grigsby's Rough Riders. The third day we were ordered to Chickamagua Park, Georgia. We arrived in camp May 25, and there met the remainder of our regiment who were mostly from the Black Hills. We were drilling every day and expecting orders at any time to sail for Porto Rico. There were sixty thousand in camp and a jolly crew we were, but in the heat of July the typhoid fever met us; we would rather have met all the soldiers of Spain than this enemy. August 6, Willis M. Powell of Beaver Crossing proved the first victim of our company; he died at the camp hospital. We laid him to rest in the national cemetery at Chatanooga. Our next victim was Claud D. McNichols of Seward. He died Aug. 20, 1898, in the camp hospital and was also laid to rest in the Chatanooga cemetery. First Sergeant Wm D. Smith of Milford returned home to die of fever contracted in
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Camp Thomas. I was taken sick August 1, and remained in the hospital until discharged, October 15, 1898.
I returned to the old home and found my girl that I had left behind me awaiting my coming. We waited a while however, when Miss Alta Frink, also a native of Seward county and I concluded a bargain. We are making our home in good old "L" precinct, to each of us the dearest spot of all the earth.
DEMOCRATIC PAPERS IN SEWARD COUNTY
W. H. SMITH
The first democratic paper to be established in Seward was in 1876, when Samuel J. Tilden was the idol of the par- ty and the candidate for president. Wm. Haw, a Baptist minister and Missouri democrat, was the editor. After a two years' struggle, however, the paper was suspended, and from 1878 until 1884 the county seat was without a demo- cratic paper. But in the latter year H. E. Mcclellan came on from Wisconsin and started the Seward County Democrat, which he conducted until 1888, when the plant was sold to M. Meehan, who came to Seward when the Northwestern Ry. was built into the town the year before. he being the time-keeper. Mr. Meehan ran the paper until 1891 when he changed the name to the People's Rights, and espoused the doctrines of the people's independent party. But the democrats were not long without a paper, for P. C. Carpen- ter. who had been in the printing business at Beaver Cross- ing, was induced, the same year, to locate in Seward and start an organ for the democracy. About the same time Duncan M. Smith, a Seward boy, started the Seward County Independent, which was also run as a people's independent paper. In 1882, however, he sold his business to Mr. Mec- han, who consolidated it with his People Rights, and the following year the latter sold his plant to the Independent Publishing Co., which was composed of prominent populists of the county, among the heaviest stockholders being Geo. W. Fuller, D. D. Remington, C. M. Gordon, C. J. Wright
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and W. A. Brokaw. While this company owned the plant it was leased to various parties.
Mr. Carpenter continued to conduct the Democrat which he had established, until 1896, getting out his last edition just before the election that year. The following February the writer came to Seward from Iowa, purchased the plant and resurrected the paper, the first issue appearing on March 11th, 1897-eight and one-half years ago. The fol- lowing June the Independent Publishing Co.'s plant was also purchased by the writer, and the two papers consolidated under the name of the Seward Independent-Democrat.
Of the men whose names are mentioned as publishers in the foregoing Mr. Haw, who was quite old when he came to Seward, has been dead for a number of years. Mr. Mc- Clellan is a resident of Denver, Mr. Meehan a resident of Concord, N. H., where he is the editor of the Patriot, and Mr. Carpenter resides at Shawnee, Okla. Duncan M. Smith, the founder of the first Independent, is employed as a writer for the editorial page of the Chicago Daily News.
ORCHARDS AND TREE PLANTING
ELISHA KINNEY
The first bearing orchard in this vicinity was on Mr. Jackson's farm on West Blue, Saline county. Joseph Lam- son, Sec. 28-9-4; J. W. Lowrie, 31-9-4; A. Burlingame, 34-9-4; A. H. Vance, 19-9-4; P. J. Hooker and myself, 29-9-4; W. C. Hooker and L. Chaddock, 18-9-4; Henry Wortendyke, Chas. A. Smith and others, 12-9 3; John Hammel, James Johnson, Henry Kemper, Wm. Stanton, Dan Wheeler and a few others in Saline county each planted fruit and forest trees. A few cotton-wood trees are 18 inches in diameter and 40 or 50 feet high. Many of the groves were cut down. There is now only about 5 per cent of the cotton-wood left. Ash, box-elder, soft-maple, walnut and bur-oak have stood the changes- drouth etc-better. Honey locust stands the climate, but don't plant it as it is a spreader and cannot be killed without great labor. The oldest evergreen here is on Sec.
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31-9-4 planted by J. W. Lowrie about 1871. In 1873 I planted a few apple trees; they are all dead now but we are all having good success with trees of all kinds that are suitable to the climate, since the 1880 drouth did not kill a very great per cent of fruit trees but was hard on cotton-wood, soft maple and willow. Mr. W. W. Cox will tell of Camden school dis- trict No. 1 and first post office in the county. He will not tell about school distret No 1, Saline county (Star school house) as that is in Saline county.
There are many small orchards now in this vicinity, apple, peach, plum, cherry and a few pear. Small fruits, gooseberry, raspberry, strawberry, etc., do well here. But eternal vigilance is the price of success in orcharding and forestry as well as in many other kinds of business. The early settlers had but little time to devote to tree planting whilst opening their farms. Many of the orchard and small fruit trees are from Crete nurseries. One orchard of 112 trees had 108 in full bearing a few years ago (trees furnished by Crete nurseries).
FRUIT
S. J. WELCH
We came to Nebraska in Aug. 1878 and settled on the West Blue about two and a half miles south west of Camden. In the spring of '79 we broke the prairie where we intended to build, and after plowing the ground a foot deep in the spring of '80 we set about 3000 box-elder and maple trees, and although the season was rather dry we lost less than half a dozen of the trees. I think that it was the same year that we planted about 30 apple trees and a few years later some cherry trees. The forest trees suffered considerable during the drought years in the '90s and some of the orchard trees died; but some of the apple trees and most of the cherry trees have been good bearers. I set out an orchard of 50 apple trees in '88 that are mostly all living and bearing nicely now; besides that I have set out later some cherries, mul- berries and peaches that have done nicely and some plums
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that have not done so well. Pears came into bearing last year producing nice fruit, and grapes are doing fairly well.
Among the earlier planters in this vicinity in Seward county were: Mr. J. Samson who had quite a grove, orchard and vineyard when we came here. His orchard did well and his vineyard produced an abundance of nice grapes. Mr. Aug. Goldhammer also had a large grove and orchard in good growing order when we came here. Mr. Goldhammer has been very successful with his orchard, he has kept his trees well pruned paying particular attention to keeping the crowns well open.
Other orchards that were growing in 'Seward county when we came here were: Mr. Wortendykes four miles north of here, most of the trees bearing yet. Mr. C. Smith's, east of Milford one mile, a fine grove and orchard. Mr. Stutzman's, two miles west of Milford. Just across the line on the West Blue in Saline county were the orchards of Gen. V. Vifquain, Mr. James Johnson, John Jacobson and Oscar Jacobson.
It seemed at that time it was harder to keep an orchard growing in the bottom than on upland, as a number of the orchards in the bottom had to be replanted several times before a fair stand was obtained and the trees are dying off sooner than those on the upland. I think some of the nicest orchards in this county are west and north west of Milford ranging from fifty to several hundred trees but as I am not much acquainted there I can give the names of only a few, viz: J. W. T. Miller, J. Burkey, Joe Stauffer, Jacob Muir, orchard and vineyard. I think you are correct as to Camden being the earlier settled country.
MY SUCCESS WITH FRUIT
J. B. COURTRIGHT
The county is yet in its infancy so far as fruits are con- cerned, but it can be readily seen that it compares favorably with other counties of the state. We have a good climate, our winters are not so cold as many of the older states of
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our latitude, and the fruits already raised are of better flavor and more free from specks than in Illinois, Iowa or many of the more eastern states. It is true that many of our present varieties are not as hardy here as in the eastern states. How- ever, they had many failures there until they learned what trees were adapted to their climate, and we must learn by their experience, and not plant such as have been proven to be worthless. Hardy trees of apple or plum will do well here if the proper varieties are selected and properly cared for. I have seen as fine apples raised here as I ever saw anywhere. We cannot grow an orchard in one or two years: it takes time and watchful care, but when grown, there is no- thing that an enterprising man feels more pride in than showing his orchard to his friends. Then, what is more de- licious than a finely flavored apple, or a nice bunch of grapes, or a fine peach.
We think that he who plants and prunes an orchard is a true benefactor, and no citizen of Seward county can do a more praiseworthy act than by planting an orchard and doing his part in making Seward the best fruit county of our noble state. If we only do our duty we will soon have plenty of both large and small fruits. The following varieties we have found to be hardy and prolific: For summer apples-Red Astrachan, Duchess of Oldenburg, Early Penuock, Early Harvest. I would recommend as fall apples-Snow, Maid- en's Blush, Bailey Sweet, Hass, Roman Stem, Cole's Quince, Fallsware. And for winter-Ben Davis, White Pippin Wine- sap, Rawle's Genett, Jonathan, and Mann apple. There are many others that will do well.
There are a few varieties of tame plum that do very well, but I have succeeded best with wild varieties. I hardly ever fail of getting a good crop the third year from planting the pits, and they have always proved to be of an excellent quali- ty. I have had but partial success with tame plums.
Have succeeded well with strawberries, goose and rasp- berries, and grapes. In fact I have never seen a failure here. I think the grape merits a more extensive cultivation in our county. The grape rot is unknown with us. The Concord and Clinton are the leading varieties. Have seen
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Catawbas do well, but they are not as hardy as some others. I prune in February.
Peaches are very uncertain, but have had some to meas- ure seven inches in circumference. I get a crop every few years, which pays me well for all my trouble. I think the trees and buds kill in the fall, as they grow too late and they have too much sap in the tree. I had peaches this year, and they grew on the topmost limbs, with none on the lower branches. The fruit was from ten to fifteen feet from the ground, and of course in the most exposed condition. Some of the fruit was very nice.
I am hopeful of the future. I found my hope in the belief in the old adage, "What has been done can be done again." Orchards planted by the early settlers have done well, and are producing good results in both quality and quantity. Care should be taken in procuring healthy trees, and then good judgment in setting and pruning, and also planting at proper distances, say from 25 to 30 feet apart; and last, but not least, secure of the hardy varieties, and on- ly experiment with other and more costly kinds than those mentioned.
We predict that in a few years our people will be feast- ing on apples of the best quality, the products of our own soil. Considering everything, the outlook is most encourag- ing, and the observer can see a marked improvement in the interest manifest in starting and caring for orchards. The exhibit at our fair in September last, and the two previous years, would put the blush to the cheeks of our sister coun- ties in the eastern part of the state.
Notwithstanding the frequent warnings, unprincipled and irresponsible agents-"tree peddlers" -- are from year to year beating people out of thousands of dollars, that are virtually thrown away, by getting worthless stock. But for all this we are making progress and no one familar with the business can doubt that our county can become a very successful fruit county. Very many orchards have been so loaded that it was necessary to prop the branches.
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PIONEERING IN CHILDHOOD
MISS LYDIA DILLENBECK
Although children usually look on the bright side of things, yet pioneer life to them is not all roses -- some thorns are mixed in. We well remember our first ride overland from Lincoln to our home in an old democrat wagon with one of Nebraska's most noted citizens. A dreadful storm was approaching from the northwest and was bearing right down upon us. Never will I forget the terrible grandeur of that spectacle. Long chains of lightning rent the sky, cul- minating in solid sheets of gold. We had just reached the house when the storm struck, and Oh! how the cottonwood timbers of the house creaked. It seemed that all must give way, but strangely the old house still stands. Water came in everywhere, and we were fairly drowned. We gathered up all the tubs, buckets and pans to hold the water.
That same night we had our first Nebraska supper, made up largely of wild gooseberries. I can taste them yet as they gave my mouth such a pucker. I passed them to my brother; I cannot tell why I wished to afflict him so.
My father, like all progressive men, came west to find a fortune, and his first step was to find a homestead, which he found, or rather it found him three miles east of a most beautiful village on the banks of the Blue river. We found a dug-out ready built and ready to occupy. But on close in- spection we found an occupant in a friendly rattler (an old settler). We gave him the preference, and father went to Seward and hauled lumber to build our house. It was large, 12x16 ft., and two stories high. Our neighbors all told us that it was too high for our Nebraska winds, but we had ample opportunity to test it the first night after moving in. The house was sided barn fashion-boards up and down. The north wester, or "north twister," came and the rain came through every crack and crevice. We all moved into the center and then resembled drowned rats. The next morning the sun shone out bright and clear as if nothing had happened. Our neighbors came to see if any fragments
.
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of the house could be seen. They found it right side up, and we all rejoiced.
The prairie fires of pioneer days are something that children remember. Far away on the high hills in long lines, it made a most beautiful and impressive sight. When the wind would rise, it would leap toward the sky and the heavens would be all aglow. When it was headed our way it filled the soul with horror. All the neighbors would turn out to fight the demon. The next morning after one of these prairie fires, we were out perambulating over the black sod and ran upon a colony of "rattlers" basking in the warm sunshine. That was a pleasant experience for a child to run upon a great lot of ugly serpents. I would like to spin other yarns, but must forbear, as room in your book is needed by others.
MILFORD SCHOOLS
MRS. A. C. RAWLS
Milford, situated on the beautiful Blue, in the southern part of Seward county, is a town of as much note as any oth- er town of equal rank in the state.
But it is particularly of her schools that we wish to speak, whose history begins with that of the town itself. A very small shack served as the first schoolhouse, with Geo. B. France as teacher. Then later when this building proved too small; another building used as a Congregational church was used, in which two departments were instituted by means of curtains serving as a partition. Mr. France was principal here also, and Miss Courtright, who afterward be- came his bride, was his assistant. Miss Maude Lamson also served as an assistant in the same building at a later period. A few years later we find the schools of Milford being con- ducted in the Baptist church building which was afterward bought by the village as the regular school building; the schools being under the supervision of Win. Smiley, Mrs. Ed. Healey, Miss Mitchell, and others. Then came the era of our "brick school." The energetic members of the
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school board never permitted the matter of education to lag behind other progressive movements of the town, and a sec- ond or suburban school was built across the river for the convenience of the East Milford pupils, thus giving room for eleven teachers. Prof. Van Weyman was the first to oc- cupy the new building. He was followed by Prof. Burkett, then Patterson, Oelting, Batcheler, Snare and Hendree. Then came a change in the long line' of Prof's; Miss Kate Pyott was given the principalship, which place she has oc- cupied since 1901 in a manner that has given satisfaction to all-thus showing that Milford is not blind to the apprecia- tion of woman's ability and to the efforts she is making in the development of higher education.
OAK GROVE SETTLEMENT
E. W. OLNEY
John A. Scott located on his claim on section 20, town 12, range 4 east, in the spring of 1864, and John Owens set- tled on section 28 in the summer of 1864. Asa Munn made settlement on section 2 in 1866, John Royce on section 28, J. D. Maine and J. D. Olney on section 22, Warren Brown on section 23. Royal Dart settled on section 32 in 1867, S. M. Darnall on section 22 and John Darnall on section 12, the same year.
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