USA > Nebraska > Nebraska history and record of pioneer days, Vol. III > Part 4
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The Journal of the 22d says that the first train from the west reached Lincoln on the 21st. Ed. A. Church, for many years manager of the theater in Lincoln, was among the passengers. He had been visiting his family at their home near Hastings, where he was snow-bound for a week. Within two sections in the neighborhood twelve horses perished. Often roofs of stables were blown off, and then the snow filled the build- ings, smothering the stock, On Sunday afternoon a man who lived near Red Cloud was visiting a neighbor two miles from his own home when the storm eame, preventing his return. Fearing that lie had been lost, the next morning his wife started for the neighbor's house with her little daughter. They were found dead within ten rods of their own house. One farmer in that vicinity lost seventy-five cattle. The Journal of April 24 complained of continued winter weather. Ac- cording to the accounts, the storm was much severer in Seward county than in Lancaster.
Charles B. Letton, now a justice of the supreme court of Nebraska, was keeping house all alone in a dugout, about seven miles north of Fairbury, at the time of the storm. He relates that the spring was very forward and that the weather was extremely pleasant on the fatal Easter Sunday when a fierce northwest wind, with rain, came suddenly. On Monday morning there was a howling snowstorm and the snow had so nearly filled his stable, that two of the animals were smothered before he could dig them out. He was obliged to shelter some of the stock in his house ,and this was commonly done by settlers in the vicinity. Many people whose houses were unroofed or who had sought protection in ravines were frozen or smothered to death.
Under the head, "The Storm in Platte County," The Platte Journal of April 23, 1873; said that no human being perished in the county dur-
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Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days
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ing the "fearful sterm" but a thousand head of cattle and a few horses, mules, sheep and chickens suceumbed. The ratio of losses of cattle was not greater than in other parts of the path of the storm. E. A. Gerrard & Co. erected a temporary fence above the original fence of their corral, on the side where the snow got up to the top of it, and thus kept the cattle from getting out and drifting to destruction with the storm; and notwithstanding that there was no shelter in the enclosure, they all survived. There were no losses where good care was taken. The Journal called it "the terrific storm of April 1-1th, 15th and 16th." It also copied from the Kearney Press a statement that a woman who lived fifteen miles northeast of the town, whose husband was absent at Grand Island, perished in an attempt to reach a neighbor's house after the roof of her own fell in. A boy about fifteen years old started from the office of the Lone Tree Sentinel en an errand to a place only twenty rods away. He was found dead in the Platte River a mile and a half distant. Heavy losses of stock were reported from Colfax county.
The Sioux City Journal reported that the storm was very severe at Yankton. On April 25, 1872, Captain John Mix of the Second Cavalry, commanding at Omaha Barracks, made an official report of the storm, which was printed in The Platte Journal of May 7.
He started from Omaha on a scouting expedition after a band of In- dians who had stolen horses on the North Loup. His command com- prised Company M and five soldiers of Compauy C. It traveled by rail- road to Grand Island and then marched across country. At Loup City it was caught in a hurricane of wind and rain followed by suow. The men were saved only by shelter provided by citizens in the neighbor- ·hood. The storm lasted from sundown on the 13th to six o'clock in the afternoon of the 16th. Twenty-five horses and five mules perished, and many men lost their blankets, boots and shoes. Some of the men were badly frost-bitten and some so chilled that it was very difficult to revive them. Though the horses were only sixty yards away they could not be reached. A sentinel was buried in snow from three o'clock in the morning until the next noon. The command managed to march eight miles to Oak Creek on the 17th, and on the 18th it. followed down the creek ten miles to settlements, where food was obtained for men and horses and wagons for the disabled soldiers. The snow was very deep and the weather very cold.
The record of temperatures kept at Plattsmouth makes the following showing:
On the 13th, 7 a. m., 56; 2 p. m., 63; 9 p. m., 54 14th, 7 a. m., 50 ;. 2 p. m., 47; 9 p. m., 28 15th, 7 a. m., 31; 2 p. m., 37; 9 a. m., 29 16th, 7 a. m., 37; 2 a. m., 42; 9 a. m., 38
The precipitation on the 14th was rain, 2 inches; on the 15th, rain and snow, 3 inches. The lowest temperature at Denver during the storm was 18 degrees above zero.
Copy of notes made by the Smithsonian Institution Observer, at Santee Indian Agency, Nebraska, relative to the severe storm, April 13- 16, 1873.
The great distinguishing feature of this month was the great snow storm of the 14th, the most destructive in its effects of any which has occurred in this Section for some years. It might properly be said to have commenced on the 12th with a very strong wind from SW and south which continued without interruption through that and part of the succeeding day. On the morning of the 13th about 10 a. m. a heavy cloud was seen to the South, accompanied by several reports of distant thunder; towards noon the wind veered round to NW and by night it blew strongly from the North. Abont 4:00 p. m. it commenced raining and continued until daylight when the snow commenced to fall and con- tinned uninterruptedly nntil the afternoon of the 16th the wind mean- while blowing a perfect hurricane, The horses and callto that were ex- posed were driven before it into ravines and bypluces where they were covered by the drifting snow and hundreds of them perished. It was impossible to ascertain the average depth of snow with accuracy but in placing it at 20 inches I think I have under rather than over estimated it for this first of May snow drifts can be found more than 2 feet in depth. Bazile Creek, which in ordinary times runs a stream of water 40 feet in width from 1 to 3 feet in depth and which is here dammed for milling purposes was completely dried up by the accumulated snow so that no water passed over the dam for more than a week and for sev- eral days there was none in the pool above it. The Eastern limit of this storm about 40 miles east of this place is said to have been clearly defined as though made with a line. The mean temperature of the ther- mometer during the snowfall was 28.11 degrees which produced a wet snow and in great measure was the cause of the wholesale destruction of animal life as it adhered to their bodies and impeded their move- ments until exhausted they sank nuder it and were smothered in the drifts.
Copy of "Daily Journal", Omaha, Nebraska, April 13th to 17th, 1873. 13th-Barometer still gradually falling. Light rain began 10:30 a. nı., ended at 1:30 p. m., 0.34 rainfall. All communication with the West was cut off, after the 6:20 a. m. report. A violent storm began in the West. From Officials of the U. P. R. R. it was learned that a great deal of damage was done by the extraordinarily high winds. A large num- ber of lives were lost.
14th-No communication can yet be had with the West, the lives of both: telegraph companies being down and buried in 15 feet of snow. The storm still rages with nnabated violence in the West, although at this point nothing more serious than heavy rains are as yet felt. Bar- ometer quite low, Cor. 29.46, wind N., weather Lt. Rain.
15th-Rain changed to snow during the night falling very heavy,
wind N., barometer rising, weather, Hy. Snow.
16th-Snow changed to rain during the night continued fallin day. Wind N., steady at 20 miles per hour.
17th-Rain ended during the past night. Storin still raging 01 line of the U. P. R. R. As near as can be determined, the storm an area of 500 miles East and West, and about 75 miles being the tanee over which it has raged' in its greatest fury. This evening first trains came in since the 12th instant. Passengers report tha suffering of the emigrants must have been terrible, cut off from all plies of every description, many have starved to death, while o! have become blinded by the fury of the storm, and in consequen this have wandered from the course and frozen to death. The in' of emigration to this State during the present year, has been unu large, and many who had just arrived at the points selected for fi homes, had only temporary shelter, consisting principally of t These, being composed of such light fabrics, the gale tore to sl almost instantaneously leaving them (the Emigrants) without sh of any kind. The snow which has fallen during the prevalence of fearful storm, has not been of the ordinary large flakes, but fine al as sand, filling the air so perfectly, as to make it impossible to ser hand, when held out at arm's length. In the village of Grand Is: men were lost in crossing the street, and the bodies found three i away, on the banks of the Platte River. Houses, that were sup] to be strong enough to withstand the heavy gales that the count subject to, were lifted up bodily and dashed down with violence t ground, at which they were completely demolished. The track o: road has been completely covered in 18 feet of snow at numerous pi ever since the storm began. Its equal has never been seen nor fc the inhabitants of this portion of the country, and the U. P. Offi say it is the most severe that has ever occurred on their road. ] quantities of stock has been lost both at the farms and on the Out of eight car loads of hogs at Laramie, not enough remained the storm to fill one single car, and the devastation has been propor ally large among the other species of stock on the road. Full repor this storm will be obtained and forwarded to the Chief Signal Off'i
Notes from the observations made for the Smithsonian, Post pital and other weather observers in Nebraska, with regard to a s storm that occurred in that State during the period April 13 to 17,
Sidney Barracks-Min. Temp. 10º on the 15th, no remarks e: snow and rain on the 13th. This record believed to be in error. } ably 100.
Ft. McPherson-Min. Temp. 22º on 16th. Rain and snow 13 to De Soto-Rain and snow 13th to 16th. Lowest observed 31° on Emerson-Rain and snow 13th to 16th, amount .60, lowest ten ature observed 24°.
Norfolk-Rain and snow 18th to 16th, amount 1.15. Lowest obse temperature 24°.
Omaha Mission-Rain or snow 13th to 16th, snow melted. Lo temperature observed 34º.
Papillion Valley, near Bellevue-Rain and snow intervals, 13t 16th. Lowest temperature 32º.
Plymouth (near)- Snow storm on 15th with a strong wind from Snow drifted to the depths of 6 feet in the draws and behind st. and fences. Had no instruments to take temperature or amour melted snow. The temperature was above freezing or stock would suffered.
Red Clond-Min. temperature 26°. The 13th of this month the rain (excepting slight sprinkles) fell in six months. It soon tu to snow. The storm continued three days without abating, incre: in severity and attended with very high winds. A number of pr perished being out in the storm. Horses and cattle were drive the storm into the river and perished. Houses being constructed demolished and dwelling houses partially unroofed.
Harlan, Republican City, P. O .- Rain and snow 13th to 15th, 6 il snow. Lowest temperature 27° on 16th. Tornado 4:00 p. m. 13tl rooted trees, blew down houses and blew cattle into river and dro them.
West Point-Snow and rain 13th to 16th. (Amount uncertain, ; ably mostly melted as it fell.)
After consulting the report of the storm by the chief signal offir the U. S. army, Mr. Goorgo A. Loveland, matooralagist of this weather bureau at Lincoln, agrees with my opinion that the fore; statement of the damage along the Union Pacific railroad is exa: ated. The storm was most destructive in Texas.
ALBERT WATKIN
First Capital of Red Willow County
A historical sketch entitled The Beginnings of Red Willow Co printed in volume XIX of the publications of the Historical So contains an account of the struggle for the county, seat between dianola and Red Willow. Senator John H. Cordeal supplied val material for the history, obtained from the county records. The tion for locating the county seat and for choosing the first count ficers was held on May 27, 1873. The canvassers found in favor c dianola, both in respect to the county seat and the candidates for co offices nominated by the partisans of Indianola; whereupon the Willow faction brought suit in the court of George W. Colvin, a ju of the peaco at Arapahoe, then tho county seat of Furnas county, 1 ing for a reversal of the count of the canvassers. On August 1, the justice found for Red Willow, but the decision was appealed to district court, whereupon the Red Willow party gave up the co records and yielded the offices to the appellants. Quite recently
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Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days
NEBRASKA SOCIETY DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
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Memorial Fountain and Seat in Antelope Park, Lincoln, erected by Deborah Avery Chapter.
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The National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, organ- ized in Washington, October 11, 1890, with a charter membership of 818, now numbers more than 102,000. The dream of the pioneers of this organization has come true in a manner exceeding the hopes of even the most optimistic. Memorial Continental Hall, the home of the society in Washington, is one of the show places of the capital. It is valned at more than one million dollars and is held under charter granted by the United States government the only one of its kind granted to any patriotic society, and is free from taxation by special act of Congress because of the aims and purposes of the society in promoting ideals of public service and patriotism. Memorial Continental Hall is unique because it is a memorial by women to the men and women of the stirring revolutionary times. Many of the most important meet- ings in Washington for the advancement of historical research, scien- tific investigation and sociological study are held in Continental Hall.
The Nebraska Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Le- C22 8 MARY M. A. STEVENS First Regent Deborah Avery Chapter, Lincoln
had its beginning when Deborah Avery Chapter was organized May 15, 1896, at Lincoln and chartered by the National Society on June 17. The Omaha chapter was formed on June 29th and chartered by the National Society on October 1st of the same year. Mary M. A. Stevens was the first regent of Deborah Avery Chapter and Mrs. Laura B. Pound, ap- pointed in May, 1835, was the first state regent for Nebraska. Mrs. Frances Avery Haggard of Lincoln was elected state regent in 1898 and was followed by Mrs. Elizabeth Towle of Omaha. In 1901 Mrs. Pound was again elected and served two terms. She called the first state conference in October 1902 which was held in Lincoln at the home of Mrs. Addison S. Tibbets. The main purpose of the conference was to arrange for celebrating the centennial of the Lewis and Clark ex-
pedition. The anniversary of the council of Lewis and Clark with tho Oto and Misscuri Indians was observed August 3, 1904, and a Nebraska boulder was dedicated at Fort Calhoun with appropriate exercises, par- ticipated in by the Sons of the American Revolution and the Nebraska State Historical Society. This was the first historical event commem- orated by the Daughters in Nebraska,
Through the efforts of the Nebraska Daughters $2000 was appropriated by the legislature in 1911 "for the purpose of assisting in tho pro- curing of suitable monuments to mark the Oregon trail in the state of Nebraska."
This sum was expended under a commission composed of the state regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the secretary of the State Historical Society and the state surveyor. The most impor- tant places along the Oregon Trail in Nebraska have been marked be- ginning with its entrance into the state at the southwest corner of Gage county and ending with the monument near Henry, Nebraska, where
MRS. S. B. POUND A State Regent Nebraska Society, Daughters of the American Revolution
the trail crosses the line into Wyoming.
The Nebraska Society recently held its eighteentli annual conference in Hastings and reports thirty-eight chapters in the state and a uncm- bership of 1672. "Any woman, cighteen years of age or more, is eligible to membership provided she be descended from a man or woman who, with unfailing loyalty, rendered material aid to the cause of American Independence; or from a recognized patriot, soldier or sailor or Civil officer, in one of the several Colonies or States, or of the United Colo- nies or States .... " The Daughters do not consider the tracing of ancestry a fad but a family duty in order that the recollections and tra- ditions of the past may be preserved for the historian.
The Nebraska Society desires to cooperate in every way with the
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Nebraska History and Record of Pioncer Days
State Historical Society and the 17th annual conference in Hastings in 1920 passed a resolution that the Daughters of the American Revol- ution in Nebraska encourage the accumulation of data pertaining to the early history of each county and that a department for extensive genca- logical research be established and fostered in cooperation with the State Historical Society. One chapter is now at work gathering data for a history of Butler county; another is compiling a record of the names and war service of the soldiers and sailors of Fairmont and vi- cinity. Deborah Avery Chapter of Lincoln has placed in the historical library as a permanent loan a complete set of the lineage books contain- ing the family record of over 50,000 members of the organization, New volumes are added as rapidly as they are published. This chapter also maintains a valuable collection of Colonial relies in the rooms of the society. In 1916 a volume on Nebraska Pioneer Reminiscences was published by the Daughters.
During the recent war the Daughters of the American Revolution pledged themselves both as an organization and as individuals "to our country in arms for liberty and humanity." Perhaps the greatest work they are now doing is the movement toward patriotic education; the training of the heterogeneous mass of our people in the duties and privileges of American citizenship. The Nebraska Society has been especially active in the work of Americanization. Deborah Avery chapter conducted classes for better citizenship under a trained director for several years. When final papers are granted giving the rights of citizenship to the foreign born of Lincoln a representative of this chapter is appointed to attend the ceremony and present a silk flag to the new citizen.
On March 7th Mrs. Elvira Caroline Tewksbury, a daughter of a Co- lonial hero died in Plattsmouth. Her father, James Walker, served in Colonel Chase's regiment iu the Revolutionary war and under command of General Francis Smith was one of the militiamen who marched from Cornish, New Hampshire, to reinforce the garrison at Fort Ticonderoga. Mrs. Tewksbury had been a resident of Plattsmouth and Cass county since 1800. For several years she received a pension from the Daugh- ters.
CLARA S. PAINE.
First Capital of Red Willow County (Concluded from second page.)
ator Cordeal discovered the record of the judgment on the appeal in the courthouse at Beaver City, now the county seat of Furnas county.
Following is a copy of the instrument:
TRANSCRIPT OF DISTRICT COURT JOURNAL, VOL.1, PAGE 24. FURNAS COUNTY, NEBRASKA:
W. D. Wildman, Leslie M. Lawton, Royal Buck & Thomas Eaton, Plaintiff's.
Against, I. J. Starbuck, E. S. Hill, B. F. Bradbury, William Boyer, W. S. Fitch, aud G. A. Hunter, Defendants.
The above entitled action having been duly brought into this court on an appcal taken by the appellants, I. J. Starbuck, E. S. Hill, B. F. Bradbury, William Boyer, W. S. Fitch and G. S. Hunter, from the judgment rendered: on the 1st of August, A. D. 1873, by George W. Colvin, a justice of the peace of Furnas county, in the state of Ne- braska, in favor of the said W. D. Wildman, Leslie H. Lawton, Royal Buck, Thomas Eaton and L. R. Sitler, and now on this 22 day of June, A. D. 1877, comes the said defendants, I. J. Starbuck, et. al., by their attorney, W. S. Morlan, and it appearing that the said plaintiffs W. - D. Wildman et al have not prosecuted their action with diligence against the said defendants, I. J. Starbuck, et al., and after full hicar- ing of said matter and deliberation being had thereon it is now on motion of the said W. S. Morlan adjudged that the said judgment rendered by the said justice as aforesaid be and the same is in all things reversed and that this action be and the same is hereby dis- missed at the costs of the said plaintiffs W. D. Wildman et al. It is therefore considered that said defendants I. J. Starbuck et al will re- cover of said plaintiffs W. D. Wildman et al., the costs in its behalf expended, taxed at $ . and costs.
Read and approved
WILLIAM GASLIN, Jr. Judge. June 22, 1877, Dismissal for want of prosecution.
16 W. D. Wildman,
J. G. Eaton L. K. Sitler and Royal Buck, ys LLLL
I. J. Starbuck,
E. S. Hill, B. F. Bradbury, William Burger
W. S. Morlan and W. S. Fitch, Deft.
At an election held on August 2, 1891, a majority of the voters de- cided to remove the county seat from Indianola to McCook, but a dispute over the vote of Coleman precinct was kept in the courts until 1896, so that the removal did not occur until that year.
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county seat was located at Arapahoc, but at the election h October 14 of the same year, Beaver City captured the prize a held it ever since. Just as in the case of Red Willow, ther two small factions in the county, one of Arapahoe , the other of City. ALBERT WATK
Passing of the Nebraska Pionec
Elisha McGuire, pioncer Nebraskan, 1857, died in Tel March 27th; was a stage driver in 1850-60; served eleven mo: the Civil War, in Company B, Second Regiment Nebraska ( Volunteers.
Christopher Brinkman, soldier of the Civil War, pione braskan, in 1866, died at Newman Grove, March 29th.
Hans Obermiller, who settled in Grand Island in 186: March 29th.
George Grant, resident of DeWitt since 1858, died Marcel Hans Obermiller, resident of Nebraska since 1862, died i well, about March 31st.
Elijah Filley, resident of Gage county since 1867, died atrice March 31st. He was a member of the House of Repr tives in the legislature of 1881, and a senator in the legislat 1883; and was active in agricultural organizations.
Jack Peniska, Ponca Indian scout, veteran of the Civi buried March 31st on the Ponca Indian Reservation. Milita vices were held by the Niobrara post of the American Legion which the tribal ceremony was conducted by the Indians.
Mrs. E. K. Brosius, born at St. James, Nebraska, in 185 at Rapid City, South Dakota, March 29th.
George E. Grant, pioneer of 1858 in Gage county, died 30th.
Nathan Albert Wickham, pioneer of Richardson county il died at Salem, April 1st.
Preston Keiser, resident of Nebraska since 1865, died in boldt, April 2nd.
Alexander Hamilton Baker, resident of Dakota county fo. five years, died April 2nd at his home near Dakota City; 1 Chautauqua county, New York, December 22nd, 1835; set: Omadi in 1855.
Jesse Davis, who came by ox team to Nemaha county in died in Weeping Water, April 3rd.
Mrs. Eunice Bennett Griffith, who settled on a farm i county in 1807, died in York April 10th.
Mrs. James Monroe Parker, who came to Nebraska te with her husband by prairie schooner in 1863, died in Omaha 11th.
Ellen Beardshear, resident of Dakota county since 1858, Dakota City April 13th.
Mrs. Elizabeth Spence, who came to Nebraska in 18GG, her home in Glendale precinct April 13th.
Victor (William Miller, resident of LaPlatte since 185. April 14th.
Philip Bindernagel who came to Nebraska City by ox t. 18GG died on April 15th at Beatrice where he had lived sine William Henderson Moore, resident of Otoe county in I85 in Plattsmouth, April 15th. At the age of fourteen he was h. Majors, Russell and Waddell as a bullwhacker and made some trips across the plains.
Sidney Herbert Stebbins, a resident of Pawnee City sinc died April 16th.
Mrs. Gratzie Stuhr, who settled in Douglas county in the died in Omaha, April 1Sth.
Mrs. L. J. Griffith, pioneer of Cass county in 1867, dice 19th. Auguste Quante, pioneer and freighter, resident of No since 1866, died in Brock, April 23rd.
Thomas Newton Tolle, resident of Nebraska City since died April 23rd.
William Granville Cunningham, a freighter across the pl the early sixties, died at Blair April 24th; had been a resident braska since 1860.
Francis X. Dellone, noted Catholic pioncer of Omaha sine died April 26th.
Timothy Murphy, Dakota county pioneer since 1867, ( Dakota City April 26th. Mary Dolan, who homesteaded near Wahoo in 1858, Plainview on April 30th. Thomas C. Kimsey, resident of Nemaha county in 1857, Benkelman on April 30th.
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