USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward County, Nebraska, and reminiscenses of territorial history > Part 27
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Jan. 30th-The heaviest snow storm of the winter oc- curred last Saturday.
Feb. 6th-Mrs. S. B. Clark, an old time resident died Feb. 1. Advent church dedicated last Sunday. Robert Mc- Crossin, an old time settler of Seward county, died at the Soldiers' Home last Sunday.
Feb 20th-Alf. Melick was accidentally shot and killed at Pleasant Dale last Friday.
Feb. 27th-Farmers' Institute, just closed at Tamora, was a grand success. Forty-seven new members just re- ceived into the Workman lodge last Tuesday.
March 13th-Judge J. W. Dupin died last Saturday. He was an old resident, coming to Seward in 1870. He had oc- cupied many official positions in the county; county clerk, county judge, postmaster, etc. Joseph D. Woods, father of Wm. Woods, died at Stromburg last Sunday. He was years ago a resident of Seward. Mrs. Carrie Nation was at Sew- ard and demolished Judge Holland with her little hatchet.
March 27th-Judge Geo. W. Lowley died. Had been a resident of the county for thirty-two years. (see sketch on another page) Mrs. Anna Skeede was found dead this morning. She had wandered away in a delirium.
April 17th-Wm. Schluckeber died April 10, near Goehner. A. P. E. O. society was organized at Seward last Tuesday evening.
May 8th-Good rains breaking the drouth is noted. The new telephone to Staplehurst and Tamora from Sew- ard are completed.
May 22d-The remains of Oba Gibb were found in the river near Staplehurst last Monday.
May 29th-Three hundred University Cadets visited Seward yesterday.
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June 5- The decoration exercises were attended by an immense crowd May 30. The 20th high school commence- ment occurred last Thursday evening. Eight graduates.
June 19- Grocers and butchers of Lincoln had a picnic at the Fair grounds last Tuesday. 950 of them came on two trains. Mrs. Maria Konkright died in Seward last Friday. Mrs. F. L. Remington died June 12. Great Sunday School convention was held last week at Beaver Crossing.
June 26-The double tragedy occurred at Seward in which John Haud is shot to death and Alex Lange shoots himself and died yesterday afternoon Notice account of tragedy on another page.
July 3-Luke Agur died last Friday at Exeter and was brought to Seward for burial. Mr. Agur was an old citizen of the county, came to Marysville and built a mill in 1875. S. Adler, an old time merchant, died at Hot Springs, South Dakota.
July 10-Celebration at Seward on the Fourth was a success.
July 31-Big A. O. U. W. picnic was held at the Fair grounds last Tuesday.
Aug. 14 -- The city was looted by a gang of roughs, fol- lowing the races. Last night seven houses were robbed, the amount stolen aggregates $994.80. John Cattle. Jr., died in England yesterday. One of Seward's bankers for many years. Micheal Auwender, a carpenter fell from Becktel's barn and broke his neck last Friday. Dr. Leland Walker of Utah, the first doctor that ever faced the winter storms of Seward county, is here on a visit.
Sept. 5-Mrs. F. C. Shoemaker, an old resident of the county, died near Staplehurst on Saturday last.
Sept. 7-German Evangelical church at Goehner dedi- cated.
Oct. 16-A bad wreck on the B. & M. near Boyes mill last Monday night. Two freights collided. Eight cattle were killed and the cars were badly demolished. One fire- man bruised. Dr. James H. Woodward the pioneer doctor of the county died Oct. 8. Had been a resident in the county since the early seventies. A man of wide research and experience in his profession.
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Oct. 23-Mrs. Jennie, wife of Dr. Cummins died Oct. 14. Nov. 5-No rooster up although election is over.
Dec. 11-Money on deposit in banks of Seward county is $1,000,000.
Dec. 18-Seward city has made second payment on bonds of $1,000.
Dec. 18-Mrs. H. L. Davie, a long time a resident of Utica died at Seward last Friday, Jan. 1, 1903. The I. D. gives a large illustrated edition of the paper.
Jan. 8-Mrs. May A. Hubbard of Utica was found dead in her bed last Monday morning. Yesterday the Burlington had 106 cars of Milford ice on track at Milford.
Jan. 15-A fire in Diers block last Monday morning. Narrow escape for the whole block. Thanks to the firemen.
Feb. 5-Miss Jessie Kortges' death occurred last Sun- day evening under very sad circumstances.
Feb. 26-Fifty new members were initiated in the Work- man lodge last Thursday night.
March 5-$2000 county bonds are paid. Rev. C. E. Phinney of Utica died today, aged seventy years. He was a pioneer preacher of that region. Last Thursday night a severe sleet storm occurred.
March 12-Simon Johnson of Milford died last Friday.
March 19-Otto Holstein was run over and killed by a B. & M. train northwest of the city yesterday morning.
April 2-Mrs. W. C. Hartman of Staplehurst died last Saturday.
April 16-The death of John Roberts Sr. occurred last Friday. He was a Seward county born boy.
April 30-The school board begins figuring on a new high school building.
May 28-Nineteen deaths occurred in a cyclone in Ne- braska last week.
Mrs. Harriet Swan, an aged lady, died in Seward last Saturday. Jessie Moore was accidentally shot and killed near Staplehurst last Friday night. A little cyclone last Friday near Germantown.
June 4th-Nine graduate at the high school last Thurs- day evening. Thirteen inches of water fell during May.
June 11th -- $8,000 county bonds paid last Tuesday.
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New strawberries received from Beaver Crossing last Sat- urday.
June 18th-Wm. C. Fallet died in Seward June 12. He had been a resident near Beaver Crossing 33 years.
June 25th-A heavy hail storm visited the southwest part of the county last Friday doing much damage to crops. John Englehauft of Milford died last Saturday. Had been a resident of Milford twenty-three years and prominent in bus- iness.
July 9th-Dan Tophan fell off his wagon and was killed on his way home from Staplehurst last Thursday. Phil Bridenbough of "N" precinct committed suicide last Monday, cause dispondency.
July 16th-The electric proposition carried by a vote of five to one. Dr. D. D. Potter's house was robbed of a gold watch. A bad hail storm passed over the west part of the county last Sunday and destroyed the crops in its wake.
July 23d-The last $2,000 of county bonds are paid and Seward county is free from debt. Mrs. Harriet I. Jones, widow of Claudius Jones, died last Saturday. Claudius Roberts, a Seward boy, was accidentally shot and killed at Ogden, Utah, July 20.
July 30-H. Webermier of "N" precinct was killed by ac- cident in the harvest tield last Saturday.
Ang. 20th-The old settlers enjoyed a fine picnic at Beaver Crossing. Seward County Telephone Co. organized at Beaver Crossing. Capital stock $5,000.
Aug. 27th-The A. O. U. W. picnic at the park was a big affair on last Tuesday.
Sept. 3d-County fair now in session and large attend- ance. W. C. Forster of Staplehurst died last Fri lay.
Oct. 1st-German picnic at the park was an immense affair.
Oct. 8th -- Gus Babson, prominent business man of Se- ward died last Tuesday. Near Goehner last Saturday F. Shultz accidentally cut off the feet of his little daughter with a mowing machine.
Oct. 15th-A very destructive fire at Milford yesterday destroyed seven business houses.
Nov 5th-The big rooster is up and crowing because
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Baker, Calder and Bemis are elected. The rest of the ticket is republican.
Nov. 19th-Burglars got in their work at the North- western depot last Sunday night, but got no money.
Nov. 26th -- 35,000 sheep are being fed in the county. Patrick Reynolds, eighty-seven years old, died in the north- ern part of the county last Tuesday.
Dec. 3d-Mrs. M. J. Ruby, an old time citizen of Se- ward, died in Oklahoma last Thursday. She was nearly ninety-eight years old.
Dec. 7th-It is noted that Milford is on the boom.
Dec. 17th-Helmer Hiteman loses a hand in a corn shel- ler. The coldest wave of the season passed over us this week.
Jan. 14th, 1904-Gen. Victor Vifquain died last Thurs- day.
Jan. 21st-Mrs. J. H. Vance, one of the pioneers of the south part of the county, died last Monday.
Feb 4th -- Mrs. Harriet Ritche died at Seward last Tues- day. She was an old settler in "D" precinct.
Feb. 11th-Mrs. E. A. Rodman, an old settler near Goehner, died on the 5th inst. The Seward electric lights have been running a week with entire satisfaction.
Feb. 18th-Mrs. Susan Roberts, one of our pioneer mothers, died last Friday.
March 3d-S. C. Langworth, president of the First National Bank of Seward. died on the 2nd inst.
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CHAPTER XVII.
Tribute to Wives and Mothers-Clothing of Pioneers, Manner of Living -What Kind of a People are we ?- Old Settlers' Reunions-Address at a Reunion-First District Court-First Marriages-Snow Storms -Well Behaved Winters-High Waters.
TRIBUTE TO WIVES AND MOTHERS OF THE PIONEERS
The mothers and wives of the pioneers are justly enti- tled to kind remembrance. They were devoted and self sacrificing beyond measure. The labor they performed and the hardships they endured should live in the hearts of the people to the remotest generation. Here is a picture not overdrawn: A young bride of twenty has left her father's home of comfort and luxury in the East, and with her young husband has turned her face toward the setting sun, with the determination to assist in hewing out a new home in the wilderness of the West. With no capital except a strong resolution to win, and strong faith in the future, they bid adien to friends and kindred, and with a steady eye fixed upon the star of empire they penetrate the wilderness. A little log cabin, or a sod house, or a dug-out has been has- tily built for shelter. A parlor, sitting room, kitchen and bed room are all combined in one. The bare walls of the rude home are brought in contrast in the mind of the young wife with the beautiful home of her childhood; but in her young breast, "hope is like an anchor to the soul." When the first Sabbath dawns, she may listen in vain for the sweet chimes of the church-going bell, but looking out on the broad expanse of prairie, all is solitary. Sometimes with heaviness of heart she labors on and on, and cheers the faltering heart of her husband in his endeavors. The little means that they have brought are rapidly melting away be- fore any return for their labor is in sight. The beautiful garments of her youth are fading and becoming tattered. By and by she becomes a mother, and while the beautiful
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gift of heaven may bring joy and gladness, yet in the same train it brings anxieties and sorrows, a constant care by day and by night. The young father must sometimes go long distances from home, to be gone days at a time, to a mill fif- ty or a hundred miles away, or to a city far away, and the young mother and her darling must stay weary days and long nights in the lonely home, with no protector but her God. And now comes a strolling band of hungry Indians to frighten and annoy her, and while the child is screaming with fright, she must stand in the door and face these ferocious wild men. She must frequently leave her child to cry, while she goes long distances after the cows, or to a distant spring for water, or carry the baby on her arm and a heavy bucket of water with the other. Then again, the harvest time comes, or something else occurs, when several work hands must be provided for when with scanty means at command she must perhaps carry the babe on her arm and with the other do the work of cooking for the hands. And again when night comes, she must divide her bed and make beds upon the cabin floor for the men, and as her husband keeps a "free hotel" for all strangers, she must deny herself and little ones ease and comfort to wait upon strangers, and frequently make her children wait at meal time while stran- gers eat their bread, and the mother and children make their meals from the scraps. This is no fancy sketch; it has oc- curred ten thousand times, of which there are plenty of liv- ing witnesses.
Oh! who but a mother can tell of the weariness of a mother's life on the frontier; so often struggling to keep the wolf from the door, so often beset with dangers, so often overworked with slavish labor, and so often overwronght with anxious care. No wonder that untimely gray hairs ap- pear, and that her cheeks are furrowed while she should yet be in the prime of her womanly strength and beauty.
Young men and maidens of Nebraska, you that have such pleasant homes today, will you please remember what it has cost your parents in the years gone by, to prepare these homes for you. In your grateful hearts will you in a becoming manner reverence and love them? If you can fully realize in your imagination what they have done for you, it
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will surround their gray heads with grace and beauty, inter- mingled with a halo of holy light.
THE CLOTHING OF THE PIONEERS
During the first years of the settlement, this should per- haps receive some notice. It must be borne in mind that clothing was extremely high in price from 1863 to 1868. The commonest calico was worth from forty to fifty cents per yard. A pair of brogan shoes cost five dollars; common domestic was worth from seventy-five cents to one dollar per yard, and all articles at about the same rate. Fine cloth- ing was entirely out of reach of the common people, and was unseen in this country. The men were usually pro- vided with a (condemned) soldier's overcoat, which were the cheapest garments in the market. Condemned soldiers' blankets were also used to a considerable extent. We have seen them made into overshirts, and then used for under- shirts. We have also known them to be made into pants. Our hats and caps were just what happened to come handy -sometimes caps of coon or badger skins; at other times some old garment would be ripped up and made into a cap; occasionally a chip hat was seen, but usually in a weather- beaten condition. and frequently it was minus a large part of the rim. A gray horse blanket frequently served as a coat. Mittens were made rudely of skins of animals -- elk, coon, or whatever came handy; sometimes they were made of odd bits of cloth, and faced with pieces of old meal sacks; and meal sacks were frequently converted ito pants. Strips of bed ticking furnished us with suspenders. Our feet, per- haps, had the hardest time of it, as they were brought more directly into contact with frost and snow. The man who had a good pair of cowhide boots was fortunate; but he was an exception. We improvised moccasins, which at times we were fortunate enough to trade for with the Indians; then we would make them ourselves out of elk hides, or of cloth, or sheepskins. Our poor feet were often in a sorry plight.
If our wives were fortunate enough to have two calico dresses in one year, they were truly thankful. Sunbonnets of calico were commonly worn to church, as well as the
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faded shawls of other years. Cloth slippers frequently served for shoes or moccasins. We have known the old chests to be rumaged and old bedspreads, such as the dear old grandmothers wove, brought out as a last resort and made into skirts and worn. In summer, men, women, young men, and maidens went barefoot to a great extent.
Such clothing as we wore. even the best of us, would now be a laughing stock for you all, but then, it was no laughing matter; now it's no matter how much you laugh. Should you see one dressed in the usual garb of 1864 and 1865. you would certainly think it to be a scarecrow, yet we were powerless to have it otherwise. We all felt the sting of the situation. We had many of us been used to better fare. We had just as noble aspirations as any of our pres- ent people. We all wanted to do better, and just as soon as it was possible, we did do better.
Our food was usually plain and healthful. We used as matter of necessity a great amount of corn bread and lye hominy. We generally had a good supply of wild fruits, such as plums, grapes, gooseberries, alderberries, and rasp- berries. We made sorghum molasses for sweetening. Our new ground produced melons in grand profusion, and when we were fortunate enough to keep the Indians from stealing them, we enjoyed eating melons such as a king might admire. Our wives were almost universally good cooks, and they would come nearer getting up a good dinner out of poor ma- terial than most women do out of a well supplied larder. At times our tables were supplied with delicious meats of ante- lope and wild turkeys, frequently of elk, and occasionally of buffalo. Then again we would have to depend upon smaller game, such as prairie chickens, rabbits, squirrels, etc. Af- ter the first year, pigs began to accumulate, also domestic fowls, and occasionally a beef would be slaughtered, and al- so vegetables were produced, and the skies became brighter.
Later comers usually brought a little money, and we proved a blessing to them, as we usually had something to sell them that they most needed, such as grain, hay, poultry, a pig, a cow perhaps, some potatoes for seed, and we wel- comed them heartily, for they brought us some money, which we sorely needed, and they brought us society, which
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we had longed for so patiently. They brought us hopes of school and church privileges, for which we were hungry in- deed. We began to renew our dilapidated clothing and live more like folks, and our lives were brighter and more cheer- ful for their coming.
Visiting on the frontier was a feature worth noticing. With all our poverty, we enjoyed visiting one another. We made no fashionable calls, just to show what fine clothes we could wear. We were all ragged alike. When we went, we aimed to put in the whole day, and took the whole family, and we invariably had a good time. One feature of these vis- its was that our good wives all knew one another's circum- stances. If the neighbor to be visited was out of butter or meat, or any other article necessary to make a square meal, it was never an offense to look the cupboard over and take such things along as would supply the deficiency. That would now be considered an insult. Then it was the most common thing to take a roll of butter, a piece of meat, a few eggs, or anything that parties were fortunate enough to have, and that was known to be lacking at the place to be visited. People were always welcome at their neighbor's hearths. We did not stop to ring the doorbells or send in our cards to learn if we were welcome.
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE WE?
Our citizenship is made up of a mixed multitude. All the eastern and northern states east of the Missouri are well represented. Illinois and Iowa have furnished the largest quotas, but Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Wis- consin and Michigan are not far behind. We have quite a sprinkling from Missouri, Kentucky, and other southern states. Of the foreigners, the Germans have the lead. They are here in great numbers and they came to stay. The great majority had been in America long before they came to Sew- ard county. The had halted some years in the other states, and had "worn the green off;" nearly all of them had learned our language and had become conversant with our institu- tions. They have proved apt scholars in learning American ways. 1 They do not forget the fatherland, but they came to
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this country to find better homes, and they are loyal to the flag and institutions of their adopted home.
We have quite a goodly number from Sweden and Den- mark and they are "true blue" Americans as well as the Irish and English, of which we have many. If you want to pick up a row with an Irishman, just say one word against our flag and you will be readily accommodated.
These foreign born citizens, we take it, are from among the best their several countries afford. Many of them are scholars of a high order, and men of broad views. Some of the most thoroughly trained minds in our county and state are to be found among the foreign born citizens. We find such among every nationality except the Bohemians; of them we know but little as they have but lately invaded our coun- try. Some of the brightest scholars are Frenchmen. Un- fortunately. we have but few of them. It would be a great blessing to us if we had many more of them.
We have a large settlement in west "O" and "N" pre- cinets known as Amish Menonites who migrated from the western borders of Russia. They are of German descent or origin. They are a prodigy as farmers. We must say in all our travels in the northern states (nearly every one of them from the Atlantic to the Pacific) we have never seen such a beautiful block of farms anywhere as may be found at the Amish settlements in Seward county. These well-behaved, energetic and thrifty people have done much to enrich and beautify our land. This has been largely the case with all our' foreign born people. If they are not the best Europe can afford, they must have some mighty good people over there; but we think we got the best they had.
We are rapidly becoming a homogeneous people. The children of these people are just the same as our American boys and girls. You could not tell the difference.
We have but few families of colored people. The older ones of these were born and raised slaves. They are all in- dustrious and well disposed people, and it speaks well for them and is certainly to their credit that under such dis- couraging conditions they have come to such a high stand- ard of citizenship.
The Americans, of course, preponderate in numbers,
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and nearly all of them are progressive and intelligent, and generally prosperous. There are hundreds that came to the county with bare hands, except they generally had plenty of children; but now they are well to do, with pleasant homes and a great abundance of this world's goods. Their children have grown intelligently and the old folks are enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life.
We have a great number of old soldiers in all parts of the county, and we take great pride in testifying that they are nearly all universally respected and honored for the part they had in saving for us a home and a country, and for their many sterling qualities as citizens. Long live the sol- dier boys. We are so glad that our Nebraska has provided such a beautiful home for such as are so unfortunate as not to have homes of their own.
OLD SETTLERS' REUNIONS
The first meeting of the reunion of old settlers was held in the public square in Seward in October 1884, with W. W. Cox as president. The meeting was not largely attended, but was of great interest. Many touching incidents of early times were related. In 1885 there was no meeting, but in October, 1886, the society was re-organized and placed on a more permanent basis. Officers elected were: W. W. Cox, president, Geo. A. Merriam, secretary, and Mrs. Thos. Gra- ham, treasurer. The society that year opened a registry of the old settlers, giving name, time of settlement, where lo- cated, age, etc. Great numbers availed themselves of that privilege. A very large and enthusiastic meeting was held in Roberts' grove west of the city. The officers for 1887 were: J. H. Culver, of Milford, president; George A. Mer- riam, secretary; Mrs. Thos. Graham, treasurer. In October, 1887, the annual meeting was held at Milford and was very largely attended, and a very enjoyable meeting was held. Gov. Thayer made the address of the day. Many new names were added to the registry. Officers elected for 1888 were: W. R. Davis, president, and George A. Merriam and Mrs. Graham were again re-elected, and Seward was chosen as place of the meeting of 1888. These meetings bid fair to
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grow in interest from year to year, and in long years to come the registry will become of priceless value.
The four counties of Butler, Polk, York, and Seward have held conjointly three reunions at Lord's grove, near the four corners, where vast numbers of people from these four counties have held very profitable meetings.
At the meeting in 1886 it was estimated that over four thousand were present. The meeting of 1887 was postponed on account of a heavy rain storm, and the meeting adjourned with the same obstacle when it was determined to defer the meeting to the summer of 1888.
By some unaccountable reason these meetings were dropped. We very much regret to record this fact. They should be revived and kept up. They would be pleasant and profitable, helping to keep up old friendships, and assist in renewing old acquaintance, and it would be a great help in preserving historical data. As the old people die off, many incidents of their lives which it would be profitable to pre- serve for those who come after is buried with them and can never be known.
ADDRESS AT A REUNION
The following is an extract from an address delivered at the old settlers' reunion at Lord's grove, near the four corners of Butler, Polk, York and Seward counties in 1886:
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