USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward county, Nebraska, together with a chapter of reminiscenses of the early settlement of Lancaster county > Part 2
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As the Union armies regained the rebel strongholds of Missouri, great numbers of rebels found it convenient to find other quarters, and many of them seemed to have the idea that salt would save their bacon, consequently hordes of them would congregate at the basins, and frequently they would show their rebellious spirit in acts and words that it was very unpleasant for Union men to endure. At one time they became so insolent and threatening that the Union men of the valley thought it necessary to organize for self-defense. Our Missouri friends came to the wise conclusion that "discretion was the better part of valor," so nothing very serious occurred.
Elder Young preached the first sermon of the locality at our house,
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
on the Sabbath following the 4th of July, 1862, to a fair-sized con- gregation. A Sabbath-school was organized very soon afterwards,. and was of great value to the youth of the little community. This was the first Sunday-school between the Missouri river and the mountains. Religious services were held quite frequently under the leadership of Elder Young, Rev. Dr. Mckesson, and Rev. Peter Schamp, and other ministers that chanced to stray so far into the wilderness.
As a general rule the settlers enjoyed themselves very well, and. were reasonably prosperous, but it was not always so. Sometimes. winter storms would shut us off from communication with the world at large, and provisions would get short, and we would be driven to. desperate straits. We have known families to live on boiled corn or- wheat for a week at a time with no seasoning but salt. The winter of 1863-64 was a most desperate one. The cold was extreme. The- last day of December, 1863, was a memorable day for the intensity of the cold. We had no thermometer except our own blood, and that told us that it was the most bitterly cold of any day of our life. We afterwards learned that at Burlington, Iowa, the thermometer indi- cated thirty degrees below zero.
That winter was one of much suffering. Salt had declined: materially in price, and the demand had fallen off; while wood for- boiling it had become scarce, and the weather was so severe that it seemed as if all things conspired against the people, and for a time the whole settlement was on the verge of starvation. The spring of 1864 found the settlement in rather a dilapidated and impoverished condition, but hope soon revived. Immigrants began to arrive in goodly numbers and began opening up farms, and that gave new life and hope to all. Settlements began to extend westward, and all the people began to have more faith in Nebraska. It may be well here to relate a common saying of those days, just to show how absurd the expressed views of many people were in regard to this country :
If an incoming immigrant talked of going over to the Blue valley to look for a location, he was told at once that it was of no use to. look at that country, for it never rains west of Salt creek. That fool notion had become so thoroughly embedded in the minds of many of the early settlers that we expect some of them firmly believe it to. this day.
2
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
It has been claimed that F. Morton Donovan was the first white child born in this locality, but this locality was rather large, for the fact is he was born on Stevens creek, ten miles distant. The first white child born at the basin, or in the immediate vicinity of the present city, was a son born to Joseph Chambers in the winter of 1862-63. He died in infancy. Our son, Elmer Ellsworth Cox, was born March 3, 1863, and was the first white child born in the im- mediate vicinity who is now living.
There were some exciting and almost ludicrous scenes in the courts at the basins. Milton Langdon and J. S. Gregory were the two prominent attorneys, and in all matters of a judicial nature they were arrayed against each other. They were both of them keen and tricky, ever on the alert to catch the enemy napping, and they had some high old times. Occasionally a case would arise that tried the mettle of the court, attorneys, and officers. A rough customer, who it was said had graduated in the rebel army, put in an appearance, and made some violent threats, in which he promised to kill some citizen. An information was filed, and a warrant was issued and placed in the hands of the sheriff. A crowd gathered at the court-room, and it 'soon became known that the culprit refused to surrender to the sheriff. All became excited, and while the court was giving some directions to the citizens about assisting the sheriff, the fellow came stalking into the court-room, carrying his rifle in a position for im- mediate use. The sheriff followed at a convenient distance of prob- ably ten rods. The court invited the man to take a seat, which was promptly declined, but he took a careful survey of the court and all the surroundings, and with the rifle ready cocked and finger on the trigger, he began a retreat, and all hands seemed ready to stand out of his way. The justice remarked to the sheriff and posse, "You will be justified in taking that man, if you have to kill him to do it," but they didn't take him ; he backed off with drawn weapon, and bid defiance, and no one was willing to take the risk of his capture. He was bent on vengeance, and had no intention of leaving until he had wreaked it on somebody. He became angry at the justice for saying take him dead or alive, and during the next morning, while his honor was busy at his salt furnace, he happened to observe the sneaking scoundel creeping up a small ravine in the rear, with a view of getting a sure shot at him, but finding that his victim had
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
observed him, he started off at a rapid pace across the basin. His honor quickly halted him. He instantly cocked his rifle, but sternly and most emphatically his honor commanded a truce, and marched straight up to the fellow, who curled down like a whipped cur, re- ceived a court blessing in the open air, and then took his final departure to parts unknown. Had it not been for a good degree of firmness on that occasion, it is quite probable that some other writer would have had the honors of this occasion, instead of us.
On the morning of August 20, 1862, there was a heavy frost, which killed all the corn on the lowlands throughout Nebraska.
During the spring of 1863, J. S. Gregory built the first frame house in the vicinity of the basin, and made quite extensive im- provements. Mr. Eaton, of Plattsmouth, an uncle of our friend Gregory, became quite well acquainted with him during these years, and their fraternal relations are spread upon the court records of Lancaster county for many years.
Settlements increased rapidly during the spring and early summer of 1864, but took a serious set-back later in the season, on account of the Indian troubles, so that the number wintering here in the winter of 1864-65 was hardly greater than in the winter previous.
The first term of the district court was held on the 8th day of No- vember, 1864 (the day Lincoln was elected to the second term), in Jacob Dawson's double log cabin, and was presided over by his honor, Judge Elmer S. Dundy, with the same diguity as is manifest in these days in the great government court-house. Members of the bar present were Hon. T. M. Marquett and Judge Pottenger, of Platts- mouth. Uucle Jake's cabin stood just where the Commercial block now stands. Uncle Jake was put to straits to properly entertain the judge and the attorneys. We remember that he came over and bor- rowed all the store coffee at the basin. As if to add to the pleasures of the occasion, we enjoyed a regular blizzard of whirling, drifting snow.
The judge appointed Pottenger prosecuting attorney, and friend Pott, as we called him, drew up one indictment against one Pember- ton, for shooting into a Bird's nest. The charge was malicious assault with intent to kill. His honor allowed Pottenger seventy-five dollars. Marquett defended Pemberton for ten dollars, and quashed the indictment, and Pemberton skipped the country before other pro-
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
ceedings could be had. The story of the crime is as follows: Old man Bird had some difficulty with Pemberton about the chickens> and one of the young Birds (a pullet) sung some unsavory songs for Pemberton's benefit. Pemberton met the old Bird one morning at the door and demanded satisfaction, and finally drew a revolver and shot, the ball missing the old Bird, but passing through the door and lodging in the wall just above a bed full of young Birds. Then he hit the old Bird a lick on the head with the butt of the revolver. The old Bird flew to the justice's office, all covered with blood, just as his honor was being seated with his little family at the break- fast table, and, of course, a little scene occurred, which we will not relate.
In the summer of 1864, the whole West was very easily excited after the horrible massacre in Minnesota. Wild rumors were afloat continually, and the scattered settlements were harassed with fears throughout the whole summer and fall. The most trifling circum- stances were magnified as they were related by the panic-stricken people into general massacres, or wholesale slaughtering of some neighboring settlement. The impression prevailed that the rebel government at Richmond was inciting the red-skins to a merciless warfare all along the frontier. Tomahawks and scalping knives of the red devils were vividly pictured in all our dreams. We knew this much, that the dark hours of the war presented a grand oppor- tunity for them to clean us out, root and branch. We also knew that they were in no friendly mood ; or, in other words, we were quite sure they were thirsting for our blood, and all that kept them back was their fear of a terrible retribution ; and further, the fire we saw was not all fox fire. There were people murdered by them in Nebraska, and not a few. At Plum creek of the west, on Turkey creek, on the Little Blue, there were murders and kidnapping, such as make our blood boil to this day as we think of them. We had just cause to fear, and it would have been foolhardiness to be other- wise than on the alert.
On one occasion, when the writer was at Nebraska City with a load of salt, we had arranged to help Jacob Dawson haul a steam saw-mill out from Little Wyoming, which was a few miles north of the city. While we were yet loading the boiler, word was current that there had been murders at Plum creek. Now there were two Plum creeks,
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
and we all feared it might be the Plum creek in Seward county. However, it proved to be the other. But it answered the purpose of getting up a big scare. We were uneasy and hurried up all we could with loads. We reached Stove creek ranch, thirty miles east of salt basin that night at about eleven o'clock, and had it not been that we dare not attempt the crossing in the night we probably would have traveled all night. In the morning it was raining and we could not cross until about noon. We were eating dinner when we saw a long train of teams coming over the hills from the west. We knew mischief was to pay. We hailed the first that approached us to learn what we could.
"Oh, all the people on Blue river are killed, aud all the settle- ments of Salt creek have fled from their homes and are at Shirley's ranch on Stevens' creek." "Do you know anything about my fam- ily," asked the writer, hurriedly. " Yes, they are at Shirley's ranch with the rest." Hurrah, boys, now for Shirley's ranch on a double quick.
We tumbled the engine out of one wagon, unhitched from the boiler and put four yoke of oxen on an empty wagon, and if ever ·oxen traveled it was there and then.
There was four of us, and we took turns whipping, and the won- der is that we did not kill the oxen, for it was extremely hot. We reached the ranch just after dark, and a motley crew we found; at least a hundred people were there, men, women, and children. They were well over their scare, but were well along in the mad state. Everybody was cross almost to ugliness. Shirley had built a new house, but had not moved into it. This was stowed full above and below. His old house was full and the yard was full. The clothing was all wet and also the bedding. Many were suffering with hun- ger. We found wife and babes stowed away up-stairs in a bed that was wet as wet could be. The story of their panic was told, and was as follows: The night before word came to the neighborhood that the settlement on the Blue were all murdered, and to all appear- ances the red-skins would bounce on the Salt creek settlers that night; it was then nearly dark; wife and children were at the mercy of some good neighbor, as they had no team. Uncle Peter Bellows came nobly to the rescue. With his broad German accent he said, " Mrs. Coax, you shall go wid us." Blessed be the name of Uncle
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Pete forever! But Uncle Pete had his peculiarities. He was a great hand to gather up things, such as old log chains, old plowshares, broken pitchforks, horseshoes (he hadn't a horse in the world), ox yokes, and all sorts of old irons ; he was rich in old irons. Well, in packing up to go Uncle Pete had to take the last one of his old irons, but in his hurry he forgot to take any provisions for the family. When he comes for wife he says: "Mrs. Coax, ve takes you and de childern, but ve can't take noting else ; vell dot is so, hurry up. Mine Cot, the Ingins is coming shure enough."
Wife protested that she must take something to eat and some bedding, and finally persuaded him to take a sack (50 lbs.) of flour and a ham of meat and a bed, if she would walk herself. We then had three children, aged respectively, a girl five years, a girl three- years, and a boy sixteen months old.
The oldest girl walked, the second one was perched up on the load of goods ; wife carried the babe on her right arm and with the left hand carried one end of a trunk a mile and a half. The babe she- carried the full ten miles that dark stormy night. Wild with fright they went pell-mell. Imagine if you can the terrors of that awful night-the rolling thunder, the lurid lightning, with a mortal dread of the savage foe. Weary and fainting they arrived at the ranch late in the night. In the morning it developed that that sack of flour and ham of meat were all the provisions in camp for a hundred hun- gry souls, except some green corn purchased of Shirley. But they had plenty of old irons.
It further developed that there were no hostile Indians within less- than a hundred miles. By the morning after we arrived in camp the panic had entirely subsided and all were ready to return to their homes.
Within the following two weeks things were quiet. The writer had a quantity of salt that it was necessary to haul to market. Our bread and butter for the coming winter depended on it. It was per- ilous to leave home. It was certain starvation to stay at home. We must go and take our chances.
One bright summer afternoon we made ready with a big load of salt and started for Nebraska City, arrived at Wood's ranch at night, turned the oxen out to grass, ate supper and went to bed. Near mid- night, Dr. Crimm, wife, and her sister, came as if Satan was after-
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
them. "The Indians are upon us sure enough this time," they shouted. "You must go for your wife and little ones or they will all be slaughtered." All was wild excitement. The writer was somewhat incredulous, but standing between doubt and fear, there was only one course to take. We must fly to the rescue. We hastily hitched up old "Nig " and " Darb," and went on the dead run for home. Just as the morning light was breaking we passed Uncle Jake Dawson's cabins, standing on the ground now occupied by Com- mercial block. There was a sleep-and-go-easy sort of fellow by the name of John Giles in the neighborhood at the time. John was standing sentinel at the west end of the cabin. We hailed him and asked what was the matter, rather derisively. We were somewhat provoked at what we thought to be a useless scare. He sharply retorted, " You'll find out before you get to the basin." We went on feeling that it was another sell out. When we reached home we found everything in dire confusion. Many had left and all the bal- ance were hurriedly preparing for flight. In the anguish of despair we said, " Wife, what shall we do?" She answered, "I will stay if others would stay, but we can't stay if the place is deserted by all the neighbors." A hurried consultation resulted in this, that we would all go to the river with the salt and remain there until matters had become settled.
Uncle Pete here appears on the scene again. Wife had gone over the hill to drive up the cow that we might take her, while we were busy loading up our bed clothing and provisions. We were talking over the situation, when all of a sudden several Indians put in an appearance. They were some twenty rods distant when first discoy- ered. We were just then sorry for our ineredulity. The dread mo- ment had come, we said to ourselves. Uncle Pete started on the double quick, but we commanded him to face about and dance to whatever music might come. "It's too late to run," we said, and at the same moment we jumped into the road ahead of the red-skins, and commanded a halt.
The leader pulled out a dirty white rag and began swinging it and hallooing that, " Me good Ingin," "me good Omaha," " me no Sioux." Oh, how our hearts fluttered just then. The Indians were about as much frightened as we were; they knew the people were wonderfully excited. "Me good Omaha" was sweet music in our ears
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
just then. We loaded up our little stuff, tied the old cow behind the wagon, loaded on the children, and pushed out for the river, leading almost a forlorn hope. The load of salt was left at Wood's ranch. When we had piled our beds, provisions, and children on top of a huge load of salt we must have presented a grotesque spectacle. It was no laughing matter then, but now it's no matter if you laugh. Suffice it to say we were welcomed by our friends in Nebraska City just as cordially as if we had ridden in a gilded carriage to their door.
When it became certain that the Union would triumph over the rebellion and there would be ample security here as elsewhere for life and property, then great numbers came. Also a further stimulus to settlement was the certainty of the building of the Union Pacific R. R. Its eastern terminus had been fixed in the fall of 1864, and the first ground was broken, and it may fairly be said that Nebraska had awakened to a new and vigorous life. During the spring of 1864, having become convinced that it occasionally rained on Blue river, we made up our mind to cast our lot with the little settlement in the neighborhood where now stands the beautiful little city of Sew- ard, and made preparation during the summer, accomplished our object, and made the removal Dec. 1st.
Thus ends our immediate connection with the struggling pioneers of Lancaster county, and there it begins with those of Seward county.
Of those good old days of pioneer life we have many, yea very many, pleasant recollections. There were some dark clouds over- spreading our skies at times, but every cloud, let it be never so dark, " had its silver lining."
Friendships there sprang up that will remain true so long as life shall last. To have been a pioneer in Nebraska in helping to open the way of civilization, we consider an honor, and looking back through the years-years of pleasant sunshine and prosperity, years of dark clouds, of danger, and adversity, we rejoice that we came to Nebraska and helped to lay the foundations of this mighty common- wealth-" our own, our loved Nebraska."
There were quite a number of the carly settlers that should have honorable mention in these reminiscences, and we can hardly forego the pleasure of mentioning some of them.
J. N. Beatty and W. R. Davis spent the autumn of 1861 in mak- ang salt. The former is now a resident of Osage, Kansas. Hon.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Wm. Imlay conducted the salt business at the little basin near the stock yards during 1862-63 and until the spring of 1864. John S. Gregory located on the north side of the big basin in 1862, and put up quite extensive improvements, and built the first frame house in that part of the county. Mr. Gregory was a unique character, and cut quite a figure for some years both in business and later in the litigation of the county, wherein a Mr. Eaton, of Plattsmouth (now deceased), was an interested party. To show the brass of some of our early citizens, we must relate that while the basin was known as the Great Salt Basin for years throughout the country, our friend thought to perpetuate his name and perhaps make it famous, secured the help of our congressman and got a postoffice under the name of Gregory Basin. The name didn't stick worth a cent, neither did the post- office. Milton Langdon (now deceased) was connected with the salt interests from the spring of 1862 to 1864, and afterwards filled the office of treasurer of the county. Dr. Crimm and a Mr. Diers, of Brownville, Nebraska, ran quite an extensive salt business during the year of 1864. Hardenburg and Linderman, of New Jersey, com- menced operations in 1866. These we believe to be the principal operators in the manufacture of salt until after the formation of the state government in 1867.
In future chapters, while they will relate to the settlement of Seward county, we will have frequently to refer to Lancaster, as they are so blended in interest.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
CHAPTER II.
SEWARD COUNTY-NAME CHANGED-FIRST SETTLERS-FIRST HOMESTEAD- FIRST DEATH-FIRST BIRTH-FIRST REPRESENTATIVE IN LEGISLATURE- WINTER FLOOD-MILFORD FOUNDED-CAMDEN FOUNDED-EARNEST WORK TO SECURE SETTLERS-ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY-FIRST OFFICERS ELECTED-UNORGANIZED TERRITORY TO THE WEST-FIRST COUNTY SEAT ELECTION-IMPEACHMENT OF COUNTY CLERK-STORM OF INDIGNATION- COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARRESTED-LUDICROUS SCENES-THE WINTER OF DESOLATION, 1866 AND 1867-LOSS OF STOCK-THE CAPITAL LOCATED-IN- CREASE OF SETTLEMENT-SEWARD SURVEYED-ITS FIRST SETTLERS AND BUSINESS-SEWARD OUTGENERALED-ATEAS FOUNDED-FIRST RAILROAD BOND PROPOSITION-SECOND BOND PROPOSITION-THIRD PROPOSITION- COUNTY SEAT FIGHT AND SEWARD'S FINAL TRIUMPH-MIDLAND ROAD COM- PLETED-BLUE VALLEY RECORD FOUNDED-REPORTER FOUNDED- NEWS- PAPER WAR-CHURCHES ESTABLISHED-SCHOOLS-GRASSHOPPER SCOURGE -CLOUGH MURDER-UTICA FOUNDED-LEADING THE MORMONS-CASSLER MURDERS MONROE-HIS TRIAL AND EXECUTION.
Seward county was an attachè of Lancaster until its organization in 1865. It originally bore the name of "Greene," having been named for Gen. Greene, of Missouri, under the administration of President Buchanan. When Gen. Greene cast his lot with the rebels, the Nebraska legislature concluded that none of her fair counties should bear the dishonored name of a rebel, therefore the great secre- tary was honored by having his glorious name (Seward) perpetuated in one of the brightest and fairest of the noble counties of our beau- tiful Nebraska.
It is a matter of dispute whether Thomas West, who located on the South Blue at what is known as West Mills, or Daniel Morgan, who settled on the North Blue about four miles north of Milford, were the first permanent white settlers. We think it very doubtful if either party kept the right date of their settlement. Mr. Morgan claims to have made his settlement as early as 1858. Mr. West also claims to have made his in 1859. We think Mr. West is much nearer correct. At a very early day it was our understanding that Mr. West was the first permanent settler, and that he dropped out of the throng of gold
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
seekers that were on their way to the mountains in 1860. Tradition tells us that a Mr. McKinley and a Mr. Morton lived on the North Blue, near where Ruby station now is, for a little time in about the year 1858, and that they got into trouble with the Indians and killed two of them, and were compelled to vacate.
The graves of these Indians (or the supposed graves) have been pointed out to us on the side hill near the old Morgan settlement. J. L. Davison opened a ranch one mile west of the old Camden bridge in the autumn of 1862, and W. J. Thompson opened one about the same time near the mouth of Walnut creek.
In the same fall A. J. Wallingford also opened his ranch at the old Camden bridge, John E. Fouse at the mouth of Beaver creek, and Daniel Millspaw opened what was known as the Hole in the Ground, farther to the west and near the line of York county. The Hole in the Ground puts us in mind of a little story connected therewith. One dark night some freighters were stopping with Uncle Daniel, as he was called, and while Uncle Dau was cooking supper on his great fire-place the boys were out looking after their teams, and concluded to have some sport at the old man's expense. The chimney was very large and with an uncommonly wide mouth. The boys were pre- tending to be groping their way around in the dark, and all at once one of them purposely blundered into the great chimney mouth and came down like some fiery demon into the fire and scattered Uncle Dan's supper right and left. The old man thought Satan had come for him.
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