USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward County, Nebraska, and reminiscenses of territorial history > Part 22
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The farms in the valley are the highest priced farms in the country, the flowing wells tell the story. It is the great potato field of Nebraska. This precinct has become im- mensely rich and prosperous within a few years.
N PRECINCT
Town 9, range 2, east of 6th principal meridian is old historic ground. It was crossed by the old freight roads. The first one that was opened via old Camden in 1860 and later in 1864 by the steam wagon road via Milford. These roads made their intersection at or near Walnut creek ranch.
262
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
The first settlers to make permanent homes were Jesse R. Johnson and David Barton in 1864. Samuel Englehaupt also homesteaded that year. At first "N" precinct was a part of Walnut creek precinct. In 1865 the Campbell fam ilies homesteaded, also a Mr. Cooper. In 1869 P. J. Good- rich and Hiram Brisbin took homesteads. The first lumber used in the construction of a house was by P. J. Goodrich in 1870 on what is now the Roth farm. He hauled lumber from the Missouri river and sided up a log cabin. Mrs. Goodrich taught the first school in 1870 on the home farm. The first school meeting was held in Hi Brisbin's sod house in 1870. That is now district No. 23.
The first and only post office in the county was named Norval and as near as we can learn, was established on a Star route in about 1872. The precinct now has no post of- fice, but is well covered by rural routes from the various stations in close proximity. The South Blue river cuts the precinct, and its broad valley is beautiful and rich. It contains many flowing wells. The first flowing wells of the county were on what was known as the Chris Lezenby farm on section 8. As near as we can learn, the second well obtained was on the W. W. Pierce homestead just a short distance to the south of the river and near what is now known as the flowing well school house in district No. 24. The precinct is a most excellent agricultural region, and well covered with nicely improved farms. Walnut creek
cuts the northwestern portion and in that region the land is somewhat broken, but the mass of the territory is slightly undulating prairie with sufficient drainage. There are two hundred and sixty-six farms or sub-divisions of land. There are six substantial frame school houses with an enrollment of 303 scholars. Present population is about 1500. The pre- cinct has no village or railroad, but is situated so that ship- ping points and places of trade are handy to all the people. Those of the eastern portion have Milford right at the door. The western portion is handy to Beaver Crossing and Goeh- ner and the southern portion has Dorchester and Friend close at hand, while Seward is not far away, with excel- lent roads. Altogether "N" is a rich and prosperous pre- cinct. Nearly every farm has its orchard. Every modern
263
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
convenience of farm life blesses the homes of most of the peo- ple; the mail box at the door and the telephone is a fixture with the masses of the people. On the old Samuel Engle- haupt farm is an old historic elm tree, probably one of the largest on the South Blue river. This old tree was made noted in 1860, when Uncle Tomy West first came to the county. He lived some iniles down the river. The Indians had fallen out with Uncle Tomy and captured him one even- ing and tied him to this great tree and for some reason un- explained, left him tied for the night. The old man ex- pected to be burned or massacred in some way, but some how he got loose and made good his escape in the darkness and thus spoiled the play. It was our fortune a short time ago to gaze upon that tree and as the mind wandered back over the years and the many incidents that transpired in that region, we felt that we were treading upon holy ground.
For many thrilling scenes that occured in that locality, the reader is referred to I. M. K. Johnson's letter on another page.
O PRECINCT
Town 9, range 3, east of the 6th P. M. is peculiarly his- toric ground, but as many of the stirring events of the early settlements have been fully noted on other pages of this. work, there remains but little to be said here of its first set- tlement. However it may be noticed that the first families of the county found homes within its borders, namely, the Wests. It has been the scene of thrilling incidents. The first great freight road via Camden crossed the precinct in 1860, but there was no ranch planted within its borders un- til the steam wagon road was opened in 1864 by that prince of frontiersmen, J. L. Davison, which is fully noted else- where.
The township is most happily situated so that it takes in a large sweep of both the north and the south forks of the river, furnishing it most ample water power and a large stretch of valley land with quite an amount of natural tim- ber and most beautiful scenery. From the start the pre- cinct enjoyed quite a rapid growth. The first mill of the
1
264
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
-
county was erected at West's Mills, which was a joy to all the people of this vast region. The township may also be noted as having the first permanent village of the county, and for many years had the largest pupulation of any in the county, and also that it enjoyed having the county seat four years. It also enjoys having at the present time a block of farms in its western portion which are noted far and wide as the best lot of farms in the western states in one solid block.
The township may also be noted for having two promi- nent state institutions. There is but a very limited amount of railroad track but it enjoys a station where an immense amount of business is transacted. It has one of the largest cereal mills of the state. Milford, its village, is carefully discussed elsewhere. The greater part of the township is located upon the great plateau. Between the two rivers and this region is a vast garden full of orchards and lovely homes where peace and plenty dwells. The township contains two hundred and thirty-four farms or sub-divisions of land. It has seven school districts with six commodious frame buildings and one two-story brick with one first class graded school with a total enrollment of 566 scholars.
The banks of the Blue are a vast play ground where thousand of people spend their outings every summer, ram- bling in the shady dells, bathing in the waters, boating on the great pond, fishing in the streams and drinking of the medicinal waters and enjoying the hospitality of a noble people.
It is a feast for the soul to stand upon an eminence and view the beautiful valley with the windings of the grand river as it sweeps by the Queen of Beauty that nestles in the shade of the ten thousand trees planted by the hand of man.
Milford has much to be proud of, and if her wide-awake people will grasp the opportunities within her reach she will have a grand future.
P PRECINCT
Town 9, range 4, east of sixth principal meridian, is the southeast corner precinct of the county. It is one of the old
265
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
historical spots of all this western region. Just by the con- fluence of the north and south rivers at the county line a bridge was built in 1860 by Nebraska City enterprise and the great overland freight road was opened. That saved freight- ers and emigrants to the mountain region many weary miles of travel as previous to this they had to follow the windings of the Platte around the great ox bow bend. The first set- tler so far as we can learn was J. L. Davidson. He opened a ranch half a mile west of the bridge in the spring of 1862, and some time in the same summer A. J. Wallingford opened one at the bridge just by the county line of Saline county. Victor Vifquain had made settlement some time previous, and also Mr. Stanton had located in the edge of Saline coun- ty. A little later old Mr. Bingamen and James Johnson located in the neighborhood.
The great trains of ox and mule teams with their burdens of freight and the tens of thousands of emigrants swarming across the plains made the Camden bridge a place of great note.
The most gifted pen has never yet been able to fully describe the motley mass of humanity that traversed this great highway of traffic.
At times, and the times were frequent, when looking to the eastward a vast throng of people with all sorts of convey- ances would be winding their way down the great hills and sweeping past the ranches and stretching away to the west- ward just as far as the eye could reach. It is not overstat- ing the case to say more than a thousand teams of one kind and another would be within sight at a time. The great freight trains of oxen, six yoke to the wagon and twenty-six great prairie schooners in a train would be the central figure. Then would come a great mule train with six stalwart well coparaisoned mules to a wagon, with from eight to ten thou- sand pounds of freight to the wagon. Then the innumerable throng of emigrants with all sorts of vehicles from an ox cart or cow team and old wagon to the gilded carriage. Folks on horseback and many on foot, with an occasional caravan of Mormons, with all their wierd and curious belongings.
Generally at night immense camps of these people would be gathered at the ranches and trade in food stuffs, grain
.
266
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
and hay would be brisk. The surface of "P" town is unlike that of its western sisters. North Blue river cuts the south- western corner, but the south river does not touch the pre- cinct while it empties into the main stream within a few rods of its borders. It has but a small corner of valley land. In the northwest corner there is a broad plateau between the Blue river and Middle creek brakes, which is covered with nice attractive farms, but to the eastward and south ward the land is cut by Middle creek and the land is rolling and with many stony points. Notwithstanding this there are many excellent and valuable farms. Some years ago gold was dis- covered on the farm of J. S. Dillenbeck. This for a time created much excitement. Mr. Dillenbeck spent much time, energy and money in investigating and developing this find and claims to have demonstrated the fact that there was vast sums of gold there, but by any present known means, from lack of water it cannot be made to pay the cost of obtaining it. So the mine is destined to remain unworked until some future genius determines the way of developing it. In the eastern part of the precinct there are quarries of stone with springs of excellent water and many running brooks. It is excellent pasture and meadow land. There are many groves of native timber along the streams. There are about four miles of railroad in the precinct, but no village or station at present, although it was the home of one of the oldest villages in the county. Camden on the Blue at one time as- pired to be the principal city of the Blue valley. The Burl- ington company had made their first survey of the Denver line through it and it was expected that Camden would be a city. Parker and Roper erected a flouring mill and a very good one in 1866 and laid out a town site. William Buchanan opened the first store there of the county and was honored by being our first postmaster. The village grew apace and was a quite lively little town, but fates were against it. The railroad abandoned their survey. High waters washed away the mill dam. The owners became discouraged and aban- doned the property, and Camden with all its bright prospects became a thing of the past. Hopes were revived again about seventeen years ago, when the Burlington folks secured the right of way and graded a road from Milford to Crete, but
267
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
somehow the company ran out of rails or something was the matter. The road was not completed. Precinct "P" had the first postoffice and about the first village and now has neither. The people are however all handy to market towns, Milford, Pleasant Dale and Denton are within easy reach and rural routes furnish the mail at nearly every door. At old Cam- den is one of the best water powers on the river, with good rock bottom. It seems sad that so many bright prospects which this historic field possessed, should be blighted. There are within its borders two hundred and fifty farms or sub-di- visions of land.
They have seven school districts including No. 1-each with creditable frame buildings with an enrollment of 226 scholars.
PERSONAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT
In order to get an approximate value, these figures must be multiplied by five.
Seward, Neb., July 22, 1905. MR. W. W. Cox,
Dear Sir:
Enlosed you will find total assessment by pre- cincts and town.
A precinct
$28,608 00
B 40,469 00
C
43,107 20
D 37,392 00
E יי
39,095 30
F
40,969 00
G
86,127 00
H
42,447 00
I
39,014 00
J
53,621 94
K
55,617 00
L 66
36,074 00
M
44,181 00
N
41,656 00
O
52,917 00
P
66
37,386 00 .
268
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Towns and Villages
Beaver Crossing 38,360 00
Cordova 15,458 47
Tamora 15,938 00
Utica 45,679 11
Staplehurst 17,651 00
Milford 36,683 00
Pleasant Dale. 20,882 00
Germantown 22,460 00
Bee .
13,802 51
Seward City 217,418 00
$1,164,993 36
Raised by Equalization Board 8,305 00
Personal Total Assessed Value $1,173,298 36 Report furnished by H. E. Baker, County Assessor.
CHAPTER XV.
Diary of E. L. Ellis-Diary of Hon. Thomas Graham-Money paid teachers in 1887-Directors of districts and money paid teachers in 1904-Location of districts and school houses of county-Water and . water courses and latitude-Fourth of July 1868 at Seward-Fourth of July 1876, at Seward-First white child born in county-Politics of the county-Indian episode.
FROM E. L. ELLIS' DAIRY, KEPT IN 1859 TO 1861
Mr. E. landed in Nebraska on May 12, 1859, and on May 17th we find him and party on the Nemaha creek, near where Palmyra stands, which is described as a wild country with howling wolves. He finds in all that county just one deserted cabin. He says the roads leading to Nebraska City are lined with an innumerable host of returning Pike's Peakers. Was favorably impressed with the quality of lands. Party arrived at the house of A. J. Wallingford, on Salt creek, on the 17th. The party, consisting of E. L. Ellis, A. J. Wallingford, F. C. Simpson, Wm. Jones, and C. L. Barrett, visited Blue river on June 10th. Their way led across the rough land along Haines branch and South Middle creek, and except a drove of deer they saw nothing to please them until they reached the Blue valley. We infer by the time they were traveling that they struck Blue river somewhere between Old Camden and Milford. At six o'clock they reached an improvement that was commenced on the farm of A. J. Rogers, and was occupied by a Mr. Norton. The party camped at the mouth of a branch putting into the river, which we infer was Plum creek. On the eleventh they trav- ersed the table-lands east of Plum creek, and were well pleased with the country. He mentions the old town site at the junction of creek with river. Party saw one wolf and ten elk. Mr. E. says he killed one of them. They camped on ground where Mr. E. claims to have camped a year before. Mr. Ellis was left alone at camp a day without ammuni-
270
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
tion, and says it was blue enough, twenty-five or thirty miles from settlement. Three elk came within two hundred yards of camp. June 13th, worked on his claim, which is by the present iron bridge. Returned to Salt creek on the 14th, and learned that five hundred Cheyennes and Arapahoes had passed on their way to butcher the Pawnee tribe. The set- tlers at Salt creek are fearful that these Indians will rob and kill them as they return, and are preparing fortifications, and had also sent spies to watch the movements of the red- skins. This scare continued until the 19th. August 4th, Mr. Ellis rode a stray mule to Rock Bluffs, sixty miles. for a doctor, and carried cold johnny cake in his pocket to eat.
September 4th it is noted that nearly everybody in set- tlement is sick. Mr. E. visited Blue river again in Novem- ber, and he camped on Plum creek on the 3d; was hunting that day. Next we find him building a little house on his claim. The company saw, on the 6th, near three hundred elk, and killed one that netted 500 pounds.
On the 11th two men were attacked by five hundred Indians, and taken prisoners, held one day, robbed of all they had except their guns, which were given back to them, and they were charged by the brave Pawnees to never come to Blue river again.
Salt creek, Christmas day, and no snow, warm and pleas- ant, roads dusty:
On the 22th of February a few Indians came and bought twelve bushels of corn, which six squaws carried three miles without resting.
April 3d a terrible dust storm is noted. The atmosphere was fairly darkened by it. Fearful prairie fires on the 12th, damaging the settlers greatly, and came very near burning a house where a dead man lay at the time.
June 10th Mr. Ellis visited Blue river again, and had quite an experience ferrying Salt creek at the basin, as it was very high. Ferried over in the wagon box and pulled the gears over with ropes.
On the 15th killed an elk and an elk calf.
On the 16th found four head of stray cattle somewhere near the future site of Seward. The party also found an old wagon worth about $45, that had been abandoned. They
271
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
found a settlement on the Blue, where. parties had planted forty acres of corn, but the record gives no names.
On the 23d, went over to Judge J. D. Maine's, on Stevens creek, and had the stray property appraised
July 25th, killed a buck deer and tried to carry it to wagons nine miles distant, but failed.
On the 28th our party got lost on the prairie, and laid out all night.
September 3d, was again on his claim.
September 10, 1860, entered the claim. Soon after this Mr. E. returned to Missouri, where he found a wife and had some romantic experience with the intended father-in-law, who opposed the match.
FROM THE DAIRY KEPT BY HON. THOMAS GRAHAM
In July, 1858, while he was examining government sur- veys in Seward county and the counties surrounding it, we quote as follows:
Thursday, July 1, 1858-This day promises to be' rainy and disagreeable. We ran over to range line in town five, between ranges two and three, and one mile up north to town corner, which we did not quite reach on account of its getting too dark to see.
July 4th-We are spending our 4th to-day in Sec. 1, town 5, R. 3 east. We have mulberry pie for dinner, which tastes nice. Day sunny and warm.
July 13th -- Camped in Sec. 34 or 35, town ten, range 3 east. [This was probably about a mile from Milford. ]
July 14th-Spent the day examining town nine, range three. [This is O precinct. ]
July 15th-Examining town 13, range 3 [J precinct, ] and discovered a small settlement on the east bank of the Blue, where we got some milk for supper.
[Mr. G., we regret to say, fails to give us the names of the settlers, but we suppose it was the McKinly and Morton families spoken of in another chapter of this work. It is barely possible that it was the Morgans.
July 16th-Raining. Went up to T. 11, R. 3 [G precinct ], and up as far north as T. 12. [The balance of this day's rec-
272
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
ord is so badly effaced that we can not read it, but we de- cipher the word creek, which we understand to be our Plum creek. ]
Sunday 18th-Spent the day fishing in the Blue. [Sorry friend G. would fish on Sunday. ]
Mr. Graham tells us that he remembers that there were some towns site stakes near the mouth of Plum creek, but knows nothing of how they came there. These same stakes and two foundations were yet visible in February, 1864. They covered the slope in what is now Moffitt's pasture, north of the B. & M. road, and extended west to near the river at Boyes' mill.
Later in the season we find Mr. Graham and party again in Seward county, and at that time they heard of the French settlement being formed at the forks of the Blue, but did not visit it. This was Vifquain settlement, just below the Saline county line. If Mr. G. had supposed that Seward county had so many honors in store for him, his notes would have been more elaborate, but we are thankful for small favors.
SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY
Below is the amount of money paid teachers in Seward county for the year ending July 11, 1887:
Dist.
Amount
Dist.
Amount
1
$160 50
18
265 00
2
220 00
10
215 00
3
120 00
20
320 00
4
388 00
21
180 00
5 (Milford)
1985 00
22
210 00
6
304 00
23
425 00
305 00
24
305 00
8
180 00
25
307 00
9 (Seward)
5561 00
26
275 00
10
195 00
277 50
11
280 00
28
340 00
12
210 00
29
265 00
13
220 00
30
195 00
14
360 00
31
247 50
15
315 00
32
240 00
16
210 00
33
218 00
17
210 00
34
233 00
278
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Dist.
Amount
Dist.
Amount
35
180 00
62
180 00
36
250 00
63
200 00
37
240 00
64
190 00
38
195 00
65 142 00
39
300 00
66
210 00
40
333 00
67
210 00
41
335 00
68
130 00
42
350 00
43
259 00
20
180 00
44
330 00
71
260 00
45
105 00
72
245 00
46
315 00
73
197 00
47
290 00
24
175 00
48
221 00
75
84 00
49
254 00
76
160 00
50
210 00
77
200 00
51 (Malcolm P. O.)
531 00
78
198 50
52
280 00
78
260 00
53
260 00
80
210 00
54
270 00
81
305 00
55
227 50
83 (Staplehurst)
735 00
56
235 00
84 .
257 50
57
225 00
85
210 00
58
294 00
86
245 00
59
304 00
87
265 00
60 (Utica, all female
88
156 00
teachers)
1395 00
89
150 00
61
265 00
90
417 50
The teachers employed are fully three-fourth ladies, and outside the city of Seward the wages are fully equal to that paid gentlemen.
Following is a complete list of the directors of the sev- eral districts with the number of scholars and the amounts of money received from state apportionment in the year of 1904. Disbursements. May, $6649.92; December, 4003.21.
Dis. Director.
Pupils. Amt.
1 C. Siedhoff
32 $ 76.47 two disbursements
2 A. J. Kremer
42 82.87 two disbursements
3 B. F. Bremer
51 99.15 two disbursements
4 Geo. L. Borden
266 406. 55 two disbursements. Beaver Cr.
5 W. R. Trimble
250 390.81 two disbursements. Milford
6 J. A. Diven
68 121.62 two disbursements
Fred Trahert
60
118.16 two disbursements
210 00 69
82 (Germantown)
345 00
274
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Dis. Director.
Pupils. Amt.
8 N. W. Heimer
38
$ 77.07
two disbursements
9 Dr. F. A. Marsh
70
1027.62
two disbursements, Seward
10 J. W. Figard.
19 56.17
two disbursements
11 H. L. Sampson
18 58.28 two disbursements
12 B. M. Hickman
38
89.25
two disbursements
13
Carl Sheeper
44
105.96
two disbursements
14
Neils Bjerrum
76
134.79
two disbursements
15
C. E. Cassey
34
80.21
two disbursements
16 R. W. Stull
139
87.84
two disbursements
17
R. G. Banks
27
73.76
two disbursements
18
J. W. Conrad
33
82.33
two disbursements
19
John Stehlick
43
81.55
two disbursements
20
Israel Kesler
34
63.70
two disbursements
21 E. J. Newton
77
133.56
two disbursements, Pl's'nt Dale
22
James Leger
33
74.37
two disbursements
23
M. J. Eicher
75
128.08
two disbursements
24
W. M. Severns
60
114.63
two disbursements
25 Thos. Moulding
36
76.87
two disbursements
27
Geo. Bowr, jr.
107
186.05
two disbursements, Goehner
29
Sep Gibson
42
85.43
two disbursements
31
Aug. schulz
40
85.24
two disbursements
32
Jacob Koch
21
61.68
two disbursements
33
Geo. Sass
46
89.38
two disbursements
34
J. F. Ficke
49
90. 12
two disbursements
35
James Jensen
28
69.90
two disbursements
36
Gus Irmer
41
81.35
two disbursements
37
Phil Kinneman
23
70.72
two disbursements
38
H. H. Lezatt
36
80.41
two disbursements
39
Geo. Nelson
25
69.16
two disbursements
40
Geo. Gribble
25
61.20
two disbursements
41
John McGinness
75
133.37
two disbursements
42
A. C. Muir
44
98.89
two disbursements
43
H. P. McCortney
43
80.67
two disbursements
44 Grant Gore
59
118.51
two disbursements
45
Elisha Pool
51
104.45
two disbursements
46
R. J. Jeary
55
111.92
two disbursements
49
Jabez Berry
69
126.58
two disbursements
50
E. M. Lingstrath
37
83.33
two disbursements
51
John Beckman
60
115.51
two disbursements
59
HI. II. Beckman
57
115.66
two disbursements
53 J. W. Hannah
41
84.89
two disbursements
45
Wm. Mould
51
106.21
two disbursements
26 D. L. Francis
39
87.34
two disbursements
28 P. A. Terwilliger
37
83.60
two disbursements
30
Lewis Berry
34
28.45
two disbursements
47
E. H. Strayer
45
100.32
two disbursements
48
J. S. Dillenbeck
45
95.02
two disbursements
275
HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Dis. Director.
Pupils. Amt.
70
$133.31
two disbursements
Ole P. Peterson
41
88.43
two disbursements
51
105.33
two disbursements
Carl Eberpacker
64
122. 12 two disbursements
58 59 60 61 62 63
H. C. Wolfe Chas Swartz J. L. Blanchard
67
116.07
two disbursements
211
359.09
two disbursements
W. D. Lewis
38
87.68
two disbursements
Henry Dickey
18
58.28
two disbursements
Fred Ihde
48
98.41
two disbursements
64 65 66
F. L. Sterns
28
66.36
two disbursements
Henry Campbell
35
78. 10
two disbursements
67
Elias Knight
21
61.67
two disbursements two disbursements
68 69 Albert McGrew 70 Harvey Gannon 71 Martin Willers 72 M. O. Tingsted
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