USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward county, Nebraska, together with a chapter of reminiscenses of the early settlement of Lancaster county > Part 3
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The old Camden bridge was built in the summer of 1860 by Ne- braska City enterprise, and to secure a shorter and better route for the overland traffic. Wm. E. Hill was the builder. Prior to this all the travel across the plains went via what is now Ashland and the Platte valley. Job Reynolds and Samuel Long located on the North Blue in the spring of 1863; also C. J. Neihardt and T. L. Rogers. Jesse R. Johnson and David Barton made settlement on the South Blue in 1864.
Robert T. Gale made the first homestead entry on the 2d day of January, 1863, and the second day that homesteading was fashiona- ble. The homestead law took effect January 1, 1863. His entry was No. 7 in this land district, and comprised a portion of section 21, township 11, range 3 east, and is partly occupied by the eastern por-
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
tion of the city of Seward. Mr. Gale, however, was not able to make his permanent home on his claim until the spring of 1864. Mr. Gale is entitled to the honor of being the first permanent settler in this portion of the county, where he resided until his death, which occurred in the spring of 1867. Mr. William Imlay and his father, David Imlay, Sr., and their families, made their settlement in the same spring. A Mr. William Wymore and a Mr. Olmstead win- tered in this neighborhood the previous winter, but vacated in the early spring.
The first entry of public lands was made in the summer of 1861 by E. L. Ellis, a part of section 18, township 11, range 3 east. Mr. Ellis did not make his settlement until the spring of 1865.
John Scott made the first permanent settlement at Oak Groves in the spring of 1864.
During the cold and dreary winter of 1863-64 the writer and wife were in a deep study to know just what to do. The salt business had completely played out, and they found "their occupation gone," an ever-increasing family on their hands. Sickness had blighted their home, and it was a question of deep solicitude as to what could be done to secure a competency for the future. After discussing the pros and cons of a life on a homestead, we made the firm resolve to try and build for us and our children a permanent home.
It was an earnest struggle, for we knew but little about farming, and the long siege of sickness of the wife for nearly a year had so impoverished us that it would have taken a full dozen like us to make one respectable shadow. But the resolve was taken, and one bright morning in February, on foot and alone, the writer started to look up a claim. At that time timber was deemed a prime necessity, and it was so. Be it remembered that there were no railroads to bring lumber and coal. The settler must have timber.
We took Mr. Greeley's advice and went west. Our way led across the Middle creek hills and the great plains to the west, and just as the bright sun was sinking behind the western hills, there opened to our view the grand valley of the North Blue, with its long lines of timber stretching far away to the southward and northward, and the diverging lines of Lincoln creek and Plum creek. Oh! to us it was a grander view than Moses had from Pisgah's top. It was an en- chanting, rapturous scene. We said in our heart, "this is the place
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
we long have sought," and we will go and possess it. As we stood gazing at the meandering streams converging to the common center, we saw a city in the future crowning that beautiful plateau by the eye of faith. That faith was with us from that moment " like an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast." It's right there, and a magniti- cent little city it is. Shortly after this we secured our choice of claims by purchasing of a prior claimant, and we struck for Ne- braska City on foot to file our papers on our new home.
We are happy to say that we still own that old homestead, and while we have not lived on it for fourteen years, the nine years' residence with the joys and sorrows has made it to us the dearest spot of all this earth. It was our privilege and pleasure to guide some others to our- chosen home, among whom were Hon. William Imlay and his father, Grandfather Imlay, as we called him, and his family, and others. We had a tedious preparation to make before it was possible to move, and the Indian troubles of that summer were ever before us like a horrid nightmare. After our return from the last stampede, we vis- ited our new home to put up our hay for winter, and a pathetic inci- dent occurred, the story of which we quote from the History of Ne- braska, to which the writer contributed it some years ago.
Father Dunaway, as he was familiarly called, settled on his home- stead in section 3, township 11, range 3, about three miles north of the site of Seward, in July, 1864. His family had not yet arrived. He had made a small lumber shanty and was making other improve- ments. In the month of September, the writer, being yet a resident of Lancaster county, was here putting up hay preparatory to moving later in the fall.
Grandfather Imlay was taking a stroll for recreation, and made it a point, as had been his custom, to call on Father Dunaway and have a chat. He went to the shanty, but the old man was not to be seen. He supposed the old man was hunting his oxen. He sat down and read a book that his eye chanced to meet. Waiting awhile, he went out and hallooed, but heard no response. He then began a search, and a little way to the south of the shanty he found the tall grass wallowed down. His suspicions being aronsed, he continued the search, and following a slight trail further to the south, he found the old man dead and cold, in the midst of a large patch of wallowed grass.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
He hurried home and told his son, David P. Imlay. Dave mounted a horse and hurried to Lincoln creek (the land that is now Lewis Anderson's farm), where R. T. Gale, William and Joseph Imlay, and the writer, were putting up hay.
What shall we do? was asked by one and all. It was suggested that Mr. Cox, being a justice of the peace for Lancaster county, would probably come nearer having a coroner's jurisdiction than any other available person, there being no officers yet in Seward county. Where can we get enough men for jurors? was the next question. Mr. Gale thought they could be found at the Morgan settlement, about six miles down the river. A venire for a coroner's jury (the first, last, and only one ever issued by this officer) was issued (in rather a crude form, we expect). Mr. Gale was sworn in as a special constable, with power to fill in names as occasion might require. All was hurry, and horseflesh was not spared, and just as the sun was setting behind the western hills that beautiful September evening, the little company arrived at the scene of the death of their friend and neighbor. Parties present were: R. T. Gale, special constable, David Imlay, Sr., D. P. Imlay, William Imlay, Joseph Imlay, Job Rey- nolds, Thomas Morgan, William Morgan, and W. W. Cox.
It was a solemn scene. A little meadow nearly surrounded by a fringe of beautiful timber, a calm autumn evening, a sad stillness in the presence of death. . With uncovered heads and uplifted hands the jury took their solemn oath, which, considering all the surroundings, made a deep impression upon all present. The inquest resulted in finding a verdict that the death of Father Dunaway was caused by cramp colic, as they verily believed.
A rough board coffin was improvised from lumber of the shanty, and we buried him beneath the waving branches of a sturdy oak, there to rest until called on the morning of the resurrection, and we returned to our homes sadly, because the death angel had so early visited our little settlement. The goods and chattels of the deceased were properly cared for and turned over to the widow upon her arrival.
On the morning of the last day of November, 1864, we loaded up the remainder of our earthly goods, assisted by our old friend and neighbor, Hon. William Imlay, and started for our new home in the wilderness, where we arrived on the first day of December. The
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
day we reached the homestead was a cold and gloomy one, and the sight of our beautiful grove made our hearts glad. We hastily built a huge fire of dry wood at hand, and while the north wind whistled around, making a melancholy sound, rustling through the timber, we rejoiced in the pleasant comfort of a good fire at our own home. Our little cabin with its huge fire-place was a home of com- fort and many pleasant memories.
We must return to Lancaster county and relate a little incident which secured to Seward county her first representative in the legis- Jature of 1865. As before stated, Seward was attached to Lancaster for judicial and legislative purposes. The writer was a delegate to the Lancaster county convention in the autumn of 1864, and we urged upon the convention the propriety of giving Seward county the float. It was conceded. William Imlay was nominated and elected without opposition. We were somewhat chagrined, however, when we learned that at the election in Seward county (held at the house of R. T. Gale) there were only seven votes cast. This election was held near the house, in a wagon belonging to Mr. Wooley. A cigar box served for a ballot box. Fred Wooley, then a lad, held the box while the men voted. They were all for Mr. Imlay, and he made a good member. The Lancaster fellows felt rather cheap that Seward county, without a delegate in their convention and only seven votes at the polls, should furnish a member to help represent them.
There were four families of us in our neighborhood. We put in the time as best we could during the winter. Mr. Imlay put in most of the winter at Omaha.
For the benefit of modern legislators we would remark, our mem- ber walked from his home to Plattsmouth and thus squarely earned his mileage.
Inasmuch as we were to blame for his election he required of us that we should do his chores, chop the firewood for the family, etc. We did it like a little man. Indians were strolling thr ugh contin- ually, and were a great annoyance. They were intolerable beggars. During the early part of the winter the first white child was born in this settlement to Mr. and Mrs. Gale, viz., Miss Clara Gale, now a resident of Oregon.
March 16, 1865, our son, Lincoln W. Cox, was born, and was the first boy born in the north half of the county.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
In the month of February, just after Mr. Imlay had returned from Omaha, there came a heavy winter rain, which raised the Blue river to a then unprecedented height. Messrs. Imlay and Gale had each built their cabins on low ground, as they never once dreamed that the river would get on such a bender. On the second night of the rain the river flooded all the bottoms and caught the people napping.
Mr. Gale discovered water rushing into his cabin, carried his wife and young babe to the roof of his cabin, wrapped up as best could be done with bedding, and himself waded out and reached Father Imlay's house, where a team was obtained and the family rescued from a most perilous situation. A few hours more nothing was to be seen of the cabin, as the wild waters rolled entirely over it. Mr. Imlay's family were awakened by a child crying that was sleeping in a trundle bed. Mr. I. jumped out of bed to attend to the child, and to his horror he stepped into water knee deep. He rushed to the door, opened it, and a flood of water rushed in. The family made their escape by crawling out of a window at the rear of the house, where the ground was much higher. The family took refuge on a hay stack, and were entirely surrounded by water, where they were compelled to remain four days and nights. They were on the west side of the river and beyond the reach of human help. Were it not getting in too much of self we could relate how we struggled to rescue them from their perilous position and came very near losing our life in two unsuccessful attempts in their behalt. Mr. Imlay may tell you about that. After spending four nights of suffering with cold and hunger, we, i.e. Mr. Imlay and myself, succeeded in making a foot crossing by cutting tall trees on each side and inter- locking their branches. We carried the children over, and happy they were to get to a warm fire and a good breakfast.
During the winter Lewis Moffit visited the settlement and entered the townsite of Seward, and filed papers on a homestead near what is now Marysville, on Lincoln creek. Mr. Moffit moved his family to the neighborhood in the following July.
Lincoln creek received its name about the first of March, 1864, the time of the second visit of the writer to this locality. In com- pany with William and David Imlay, we were exploring the valley of Lincoln creek and admiring the beauty of the stream, and all at
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
once we happened to remember that the stream had no name, and we christened it then and there with the name immortal (Lincoln).
In the early spring of 1865, Richard Sampson, Thomas Skillman, John Roberts, Jr., and John Durland, together with their families, arrived from Illinois, and each made settlement on their present farms. The family of Mr. Dunaway, deceased, also came and took possession of the homestead. The first sermon preached in the neighborhood was in the month of June, 1865, by Rev. Dr. Mc- Kesson, in a grove near the residence of the writer. The second by Rev. E. L. Clark, during the autumn, at the house of the writer. Mr. Clark joined our settlement in October, 1865.
In the summer of 1864 Thomas West erected a saw-mill and attached a corn burr and was prepared to grind a little corn for us.
Milford was founded by J. L. Davison in April, 1864, and then the long struggle commenced between the people of the south part of the county and those of the north part as to whom the prize of county seat should belong. Milford had many advantages over its. rival (Seward). The southern part had by far the most settlers, and Milford had the great steam wagon road with the overland traffic passing through it. Besides it had a very superior water power. It also had such men as the irrepressible John Cadman and William Fields to back it and render it great assistance by pointing out to in- coming immigrants its superiority over other localities on the Blue ; and, by the way, J. L. Davison was no slouch in making the best of an opportunity. He was always ready for any enterprise.
During the summer of 1856 Hon. H. W. Parker made settlement at Camden, near the old bridge, and commenced the erection of a grist-mill. Camden for a time had the promise of the B. & M. rail- road, and it aspired to become the principal city of the Blue valley. It was in the best settled portion of the county, near the junction of the North and West Blue rivers, and seemed to be on the great na- tional highway. Parker was wide-awake and full of business pluck. He put up a fine flouring mill for that day, and by his own energy succeeded in building up quite a little town. Camden aspired to be the county seat, but its geographical position forbid that, and the mo- ment she discovered it to be impossible to gain that prize, she deter- mined to throw her votes and influence against Milford and in favor of Seward, and from an early date Camden and Milford were at war. 3
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Seward and Camden were fast friends. Thus Milford was between two fires, and they were pretty hot ones at that. Seward had secured the friendly aid of the Lancaster folks, and had quite the advantage in being more centrally located in the county. Her friends were ready to dare and do any work to secure the coveted prize. For the years of 1865, 1866, and 1867 the principal public business was to secure set- tlers for the various localties. In that line there was lively work. The lands were equally good north and south, and it would be most amusing at this day to see the strategy resorted to to catch settlers and get them located. Every cabin was a free hotel, "the latch string was always out." We would drop all holds and go a mile or five miles to meet a prairie schooner and invite them to stay all night. We would just make the immigrant think we were the best folks in all the world. We made no charges for showing land. We all had the story of the coming grandeur of our locality thoroughly learned, and when we had finally secured our new made friend to our neighborhood, he at once became so interested in the coming struggle that he would willingly sacrifice all his wife's relation to secure an advantage for his pet locality. Each party made free use of the press of the territory in setting forth the special advantages and beauties of their neighborhood. Some of their articles were quite spicy reading. Each writer was careful to im- press the reader with the central idea that his was just the place above all others in the Blue valley to locate. These newspaper articles helped to rally to the county many intelligent citizens. They also helped to inflame the people to impassioned zeal to work and win or die in the harness. Thus matters stood prior to the organiza- tion of the county. The lines were as sharply drawn between the north and south as in national affairs.
During the summer of 1865 the preliminary steps were taken to effect a partial organization, and at the territorial election that year first county officers were elected. The board of county commission- ers elected were three men that were thoroughly representative in their make-up. They were each of them identified with the interests of the people. All had the benefit of a long residence in the terri- tory. Two of them had served terms in the territorial legislature (Sirs Parker and Imlay), and Mr. Thompson was a business man of more than ordinary ability. Mr. H. W. Parker represented the in-
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
terests of the Camden people, W. J. Thompson those of Milford, and Wm. Imlay those of Seward. While each of these gentlemen were thoroughly in earnest in matters pertaining to the interest of their own particular constituency, they were truly loyal to Seward county.
Thomas West was honored by being elected county clerk; C. J. . Neihardt, treasurer; J. L. Davison, probate judge; and - Chapin, sheriff. The first meeting of the commissioners was held at Thomp- son's ranch, on Walnut creek; afterwards they met at Thomas West's, and at C. J. Neihardt's, on the North Blue. Our commis- sioners at this time had jurisdiction over an immense scope of unor- ganized territory, including York, Hamilton, Adams, and a part of Hall counties.
We notice buried up, as among "the ancient and forgotten lore" of the county clerk's office, a petition asking to have a precinct formed and a justice of the peace appointed for the following described ยท district of country : Commencing at a point on the Platte river at the north-east corner of township eleven north, range seven west of the sixth principal meridian; thence south to the south-east corner of township eight; thence west to the east boundary line of Kearney county ; thence north to the Platte river ; thenee eastward to the place of beginning. Please examine the map and trace the boundaries of that precinet. You will find that it includes the southern portion of Hall and the northern portion of Adams counties. We find that the first tax levy was six mills on a dollar, and it would produce, if it was all collected, $423. This was for the general county fund. At this time there were no legal roads in the county, no school-houses, no bridges except on the old freight road at Camden, Walunt, and Beaver creeks, all of which were built by private enterprise. Also a low water bridge on North Blue, on the farm of Wm. Imlay.
The spring of 1866 brought many new-comers to all parts of the county, among whom were John Roberts, Sr., Joseph Sampson, Rev. E. W. Johnson, James A. Brown, E. B. Shafer, Roger Cooper, George Rogers, and Wm. Cooper, who settled in the Seward settlement; and the Milford settlement had a goodly number of valuable acquisitions, among whom were William Reed, Abram Courtright, Henry Wor- tendyke, Samuel Brown, and others. Milford Mills were built by Messrs. Davison & Reed, and the nucleus of the town of Milford was formed. The county seat question was agitated during that year, but
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
as the settlements were so sparse, it was deemed inexpedient to submit the location of it to a vote until another year. The southern portion of the county was anxious to have the matter brought before the peo- ple at the earliest possible date, but the northern portion of the county thought there would be luck in leisure. They knew that they were gaining steadily, and it would only be a question of time when . they would be able to more fairly cope with them single-handed. It was finally agreed that the county seat should be voted for at the October election of 1867. Milford, Camden, and Seward contested for the prize. We very much regret that we find it impossible to get from the records the number of votes cast at that election. The returns of the election of that year seem to have been entirely lost. We remember that Milford led and Seward was second, with Camden in the rear, having about thirty votes; and we also remember that the whole vote cast did not much exceed one hundred. A special election was then called, and Camden from that time threw her votes in favor of Seward.
W. H. Reed here comes upon the scene, and cuts a very important figure. He was elected county clerk at the October election, conse- quently at the special county seat election he had an important part in the canvass of the votes. He chose the canvassers, and so arranged that Milford's interests should be well cared for. Seward had a clear majority of the votes cast of ten votes, but our friend Reed was not to be trifled with. So he, together with his canvassers, concluded to go behind the returns and throw out such votes as they found or thought to be illegal. They found a sufficiency, of course, and threw out twelve votes, which left Milford two majority.
At the next meeting the commissioners and clerk wrangled over the matter, and it is very hard to tell just what they did do. Two of the board, Imlay and Parker, assert one thing, and Thompson and Reed assert to the contrary. The clerk, however, made a record of the fol- lowing import: "It was resolved that the county clerk be instructed to post notices of the location of the county seat in the various pre- cincts."
At the next meeting of the board Mr. Imlay offered the following: "That so much of the record of December 2 as relates to posting notices of the location of the county seat be expunged from the record."
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Imlay and Parker supported the motion, and insisted that no such resolution had been passed at the meeting above stated. Mr. Thomp- son voted in the negative, and the clerk also assumes to record his vote in the negative in the language following: "And so saith the county clerk."
Articles of impeachment were filed against the clerk for falsifying the record, and then commenced a long, tedious litigation that assumed different shapes at every change of the moon, and continued for four years with varying successes. Interested parties threw their whole soul and lots of their money into the contest. Reed's trial lasted un- til late in the winter. Much bitterness was manifested on the part of partisans of either side. The first session of the court of impeach- ment was held at Seward, in the old log school-house, and the jury of course disagreed.
The second trial was held at Camden, and resulted in a verdict of acquittal. There were numerous arrests of commissioners and clerk at different times during the next year, first on the one side, then the other. Every court in the county and in Lancaster county was brought into requisition at various stages of the game. One fracas we must relate, it being so full of fire and vinegar that it ought not to be lost to the children. Warrants had been issued by Judge Cad- man (then a probate judge in Lancaster county) for the arrest of Messrs. Parker and Imlay, on some charge-we forget what. Officers, under the guidance of Lawyer P., of Lincoln, and in company of that gentleman, went one dark night to the residence of H. W. Parker, in search of him. Mr. Parker had smelled a rat and was not there. Lawyer P. was very anxious to secure his game, and believing Parker was in the house, rushed into the bedroom and stripped the clothing off the bed in which Mrs. Parker's hired girl, now Mrs. Dan. Harris, was sleeping. This raised a storm of indignation at Camden and Seward that would have cost the sleek young lawyer his life had he been seen at either place before the blood was cooled.
Parker came to Seward neighborhood and put Imlay on his guard. It seems that one object was to hinder these commissioners from attending a suit that was to take place at the office of Judge J. D. Maine, at Oak Grove, the following day. Parker and Imlay evaded the officers and posse and made their way to Judge Maine's office. Court was duly opened, and the trial of the case was in progress,
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