USA > Nebraska > Fillmore County > Pioneer stories of the pioneers of Fillmore and adjoining counties > Part 10
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About two months after he came to the country he had been busy at the Ramsdell home, and the return help was to be given at his place. Mr. Ramsdell had gone to secure the services of Mr. J. K. Barber, and Mr. Stephens was coming towards his home with "Uncle" Jim Horne, and were travelling in a north westerly direction when they saw a herd of twelve deer coming in a north easterly direction. Snow was falling at the time, the ground being covered, but neither men nor deer changed their course; with the result that they met within twelve feet of each other. The deer seemed quite tame and the men not attempting to interfere with them they walked quietly away. This was one of the most interesting and pleasing; experiences of their prairie life, but such pleasures are of the distant past.
In these days the Ramsdell's were living in the Henry Eberstein house; the same house wherein they had the snowstorm experience already men- tioned. On this occasion it was spring time and instead of the snow find- ing its way into the house it was a large rattle snake that found an entrance and like many others of its tribe was careful to find the bed, where it was found under the bed tick, much to the discomfort of the household. There was only one thing possible for such visitors, and it went the road of its kind.
One of the worst wind storms even experienced in Nebraska by Mr. Stephens was when he tried to make his way from Camden, to a place near Crete, where he had previously camped. He failed to reach the place, and had just crossed the railroad track, and unhitched his team, when the storm came up, such was its violence that he had to use lariet ropes and chains to keep his wagon in place.
It is worthy of note that only two of the homesteaders of Liberty Township now live on their homesteads. Mr. Stephens and Mr. Patrick Murphy carrying that honor. There are two or three other homesteders who still own their land, but they live in town.
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JOHN S. BEARDSLEY.
John S. Beardsley was born in Ohio, but was brought by his parents to Iowa in the year 1856, where he grew up to manhood. He came to Ne- braska in April 1870 and secured a homestead, it being the south west quarter of Section 22, Town 7, Range 1 west. He then brought his wife
and family to Crete, coming from Iowa with a wagon and team of horses, having also with them a saddle horse, a spare horse, three cows and a heifer. Mrs. Beardsley bringing along her sister, Miss Knox.
Mrs. Beardsley has had two experiences of pioneer life, being among the pioneers of Iowa, and remembers when there were only three families of white people in their neighborhood. Her playmates were mostly Iowa Indian children, and she could as easily converse with them in their own language as she could talk English with her own people at home.
She remembers her father selling a fat pig to an Indian named "Sepick" which he killed on the farm. After he had given the pig its death blow from which it quivered, the Indian said, "that is just the way my squaw did when I killed her." When asked if he had killed a squaw? he said, "yes! when I got tired of the first one I killed her!"
Mrs. Beardsley's grandfather, "Knox," a Scotchman, started the first Dry-goods store in Sigourney, Iowa.
Mr. Beardsley received his education in the Finlay Congregational School; which was at that time a branch of the Oberlin and Harvard Col- leges. He studied Mathematics and Natural Philosophy under Prof. Mc- Kee, studying as a text book Prof. Cumstock's Philosophy, but missed his diploma as a result of his coming to Iowa to see after the land nis fother had bought, the School term being finished when he got back to Ohio. He afterwards taught school in lowa and Nenrasla.
On their arrival in Crete, they found that a house was unobtainable, so they had to use their wagon for sleeping purposes and arranged a kitch- en outside of Colonel Doane's house. Here their first supper was prepared and when everything was ready, a dust storm came up which. soon had everything covered with dust, then it was the children asked the mother, "Have we to eat dirt and all ?"
Mr. Beardsley started a nursery right where the Crete Depot now stands, and lived in the town one and a half years. In 1871 he farmed the land belonging to Colonel Doane, the founder of the Crete College. In the fall of that year they moved onto their homestead which was at that time a fine grazing ground for antelopes, elks and deer, many of those early inhabitants of Nebraska were still to be seen. Farming was commenced with great earnestness; three acres a day being often broken with a horse team and plough. An orchard of 600 apple trees was planted, besides a grove 16 acres in extent containing many kinds of favorite trees, and the pity of it is, these are nearly all dead.
During the grasshopper time, when feeding was so scarce, he fatted his hogs on sugar cane seed, which answered the purpose admirably. He was also fortunate in having a good crop of oats, wheat, and barley; though like so many in the country he lost all his corn.
THOMAS COATES
Thomas Coates was a native of Yorkshire, England, his home being near the County line; their nearest important town was Worksop, in Nottingham- shire. The district is probably one of the most interesting in the old Coun- try, and has certainly been in all times one of the most beautiful.
In the time of the Saxons; between the eighth and ninth century, when the country was known as Mercia, this neighborhood suffered a great deal through the inroads of the Danes; those intrepid Vikings, or Norsemen who loved to roam the North sea and exploit the English and other shores.
The neighborhood is also famous because of the Sherwood Forest. and the stories of daring deeds done by "Robin Hood and his Merry Men" who
we are told was a renowned outlaw in the twelfth century, who was always popular with the rustics because he plundered the rich and gave his sur- plus to the poor. From the number of large mansions in the neighborhood, the district is known as "The Dukeries" the great parks of which were part of the Sherwood Forest. The Robinhood hills rise to a height of 650 feet, and are still the happy hunting grounds of the local. Duke's, Earls, and Gentry during the season.
It was in this historic neighborhood that Thomas Coates was born and raised, and where in July 1848 he was married to Sarah Annie Johnson. Up to the time of their leaving England, he worked in the limestone quar- ries and rented a farm which was often done by enterprising men.
They came to this Country in 1871, bringing with them a young family of seven children-five boys and two girls, arriving at Lincoln in the montn of May. The B. & M. Railroad was then just laid as far as Lincoln, so they stayed there until the track was laid as far as Crete, then they made their way west, and he bought some Railroad land on Section 18, near the Turkey creek in Saline County. They lived there until the year 1873 when he bought the homestead rights of the north-east quarter of section 2, in Liberty Township, Fillmore County, where they resided until the time of their deatn, Mr. Coates dying in 1888 and Mrs. Coates in 1911.
We are indebted to Mr. Joseph Coates, the fourth son in the family, for the following reminiscences, who remembers very distinctly the farm home in England (especially where the good Apple trees stood) as well as the ex- periences of pioneer life on the prairie.
When they came to this country there was plenty of wild game still in the neighborhood which helped to make the new life interesting. One day he came very suddenly on a large herd of antelopes lying in a ravine, when on their seeing him they made a rush which seemed to shake the earth; such was the apparent effect caused by those particular kind of animals, when starting to run. The prairie fires were the terror of their lives, the fiery monster could be seen coming for three days before it reached their place, and could be seen three days after it had passed. This gave sufficient warn- ing, and time to make fire guards, but often the fire would leap the guards, and not even Turkey creek proved a hindrance to its onward march of de- struction.
He would often visit the camp fire of the Indians, and sit in their circles watching their mode of life and listening to their old war and other songs. The Indians always seemed as happy as larks, life on a whole seemed a real pleasure, for they made the best of their conditions. They were often very poorly clad, even in the coldest of weather, and explained their ability to stand the cold by saying, "Indian all face," and of course, the white man does not usually cover his face. They were always glad to have a dead sheep, no matter what might have been the cause of its death. One day when about thirteen years of age he was out hunting rabbits, when quite unexpectedly an Indian came up to him and took the gun out of his hand. after looking it carefully over, the Indian handed it back without making any remarks and walked away, but young Coates at the time thought his end had come. On another occasion he went with a party to hunt antelopes, taking with them seven or eight dogs, but no guns. On the first day out they saw a lone antelope, and as soon as the dogs saw it they gave chase, and in a run of about eighty rods caught and killed it. The next day they saw a herd of fourteen, bunched up together, but this time the dogs would not touch them, and being without guns they could only look on with great disappointment, as the animals finally made their escape in single file.
Among the most peculiar incidents of the early years are those result- ing from the tornado which visited the neighborhood and completely des- troyed the house and farm buildings on the "Wadman" place near the
"Grandma" Coates, and Her Home in Liberty Township. Mrs. Coates Died in 1911. Mr. Thomas Coates, Her Husband, Died in 1888.
Turkey creek. When the tornado struck the house, Mrs. Wadman (nee, Mary Coates) had retired for the night with her two children. They were lying on a feather bed which lay on a mattress on the bedstead, when they were carried away by the storm and afterwards found in a ravine some four rods away,, but were lying on the mattress, the feather bed and bed- stead having mysteriously gone in some other direction. The brother, John, and the hired man were also in bed when John was carried and thrown into a large pond four rods from the house, and while in the water some roof or other was pressed down upon him, the nails of the shingles being pressed into his neck and back, and then just as suddenly taken away from him. When he was found by his brothers who had come to the rescue. he lay in the cellar-all that was left of the house, and was without clothing; being left with only the neck band of his night shirt. The hired man was found with a' large cut over the eye; who felt sure he was dying, but he soon got over the shock.
To show the force and the mysterious power of a tornado, we mention the fact, that a bull-wheel of a large "header" which would have needed some time to be removed from its place by a practical machinist, was instantly removed without any other damage to the "header" and was car- ried a mile and a half over the country, being afterwards found on section 19 in Saline County.
Mr. Wadman at this time was raising white-faced cattle, and had at the time of the storm a white-faced thorough bred bull tied to a hitching post in the middle of the yard, and was therefore right in the middle of the storm, yet in spite of the sweeping away of the buildings on every hand, the bull was found the next morning in the same place quite unconcerned, and contentedly chewing his cud as though nothing had happened.
Many stories might be told about the great blizzard. and the grass- hopper plague, but these are similar to the incidents already recorded.
During those early years Mr. Coates could buy in his neighborhood corn in shock at five cents a bushel, eggs were sold at five cents a dozen and butter at five cents a pound.
Mrs. Coates, "Grandma," as she was usually called, will long be remem. bered for the great service she rendered to the families in the district, often acting as both doctor and nurse. She was ever willing to lend a help- ing hand in the time of need, and was an ever welcome visitor in every home. Her stories of the old country and its people were in great demand, the information being both interesting and instructive. She visited the old country three times, thus crossing the Atlantic seven times, no small under- taking for a woman, and especially for one who never got over that sad experience of sea-sickness. Mr. Coates crossed the Atlantic three times having visited America as early as 1865, when he came as far west as the Niagara Falls. In making that first sea trip he was sixteen weeks on the ocean, and therefore had quite a sea-going experience. Many and great were the changes from the old to the new, but they had the consciousness that the change was to their mutual advantage, and they shared in the joys of developing the agricultural resources of a new country, and helped in the making of a home for future generations.
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W. B. GRAUL
W. B. Graul came from Pennsylvania to Nebraska with his father, Levi Joseph Graul. arrived at Milford, April 1, 1871. They settled on a farm one and a half miles north west of Goehner, in Seward County, where the mother still lives; the father was killed by lightning on May 19, 1897.
Their first night in Nebraska was spent in visiting with William Bivens, the wind that evening was so strong that it upset their wagon. When the father commenced farming he had only a team of horses and five dollars, so he rented a small house; which was guaranteed waterproof if there was no rain, the rent having to be paid mostly by labor. The chief food for the family of eight people was corn meal, potatoes, and milk, and glad indeed were they that these were forthcoming to meet their daily need. Their struggles toward success were made greater by the loss, through death, of one of the horses during the first year, then having secured another horse, it was not long before the other horse died. Such discouragement caused Mr. Graul to trade the new horse for a team of oxen, and these did service for many years.
The children received but little schooling, and what they had was secur- ed after a two and a half mile walk to the school house. During the 1873 blizzard, so often referred to in these stories, the Graul's had to save their horses and chickens by bringing them into the house.
The Indians were frequent visitors to the home, and as many as three hundred were at one time camped within half a mile of their place, but they were always civil, their visits being usually of the begging kind.
W. B. Graul was married to Miss Mary Hougham and settled on a farm four and a half miles north east of Exeter. After farming one year at that place they moved to Goehner, where they lived three years; afterwards moving to Beaver City. As a result of their experiences there during the dry weather, they went back to Goehner and lived one year, then they moved onto Crane's farm two and a half miles north east of Exeter, where they lived four years, but again misfortune crossed their path, being again burnt out by hot weather, so they went to Kansas, living for two years at Olatha.
They came back to Exeter and settled on a farm four and a half miles North east of town where they lived six years, moving into town eleven years ago. He afterwards bought the W. C. Woodworth undertaking busi- ness which he has carried on successfully for nine years. Now after a varied experience and the opportunity of living in so many places, he says that Exeter is, when all things are considered, the best place in which to live that he knows (5.
WILLIAM DOWNEY
William Downey was a native of New York State, and went with his parents to Michigan, where he grew up to manhood, living in Kalamazoo and St. Joseph Counties. He came to Nebraska in May 1871 along with Messrs. Ramsdell, Stephens and Krader, the latter settling in Dodge County. They travelled all the way with wagons and teams, and were six weeks on the road. Mrs. Downey and the children stayed near Lincoln about nine months. Mr. Downey and Mr. Stephens came to this district and sought claims, Mr. Downey homesteading in July on the west half of the north east quarter of section 2, town7, range 1, west, but did not go onto the claim until June, 1872.
A sod house was built in which they lived for some time without a floor, their frame house was built fifteen years later.
When they were on their way to Nebraska they would camp over the Sunday in some suitable place, Mr. Downey being careful not to travel on Sundays. One Saturday they camped near a wood in Iowa where the women did a good washing, but they were told that the place would not be a suitable one in time of a storm, so they decided to travel on Sunday against the protests of Mr. Downey. After traveling twelve miles, they
The Old Downey Home, And the Last "Soddy" in Fillmore County, Neb.
Picture of Turkey Creek, South-East of Exeter, Nebraska
camped about three o'clock in the afternoon near a large wood just pre- vious to the coming of a storm, which they could not see coming owing to the surrounding trees. A spring wagon in which was Mrs. Krader and her twins was placed between two large trees, and they had just got out of the wagon when a large limb fell from one of the trees, and another tree fell over smashing the wagon. Mr. Krader was able to repair the damage, but the time lost for the repairs, (to say nothing of the danger to life and limb) was more than they had tried to gain by their Sunday travelling.
On one occasion a bed had been made on the floor of the sod house, using a buffalo robe, on which was placed the bedding. On the following morning when the bedding was taken up a rattle snake was found among the clothes, which had evidently come into the house through a mouse hole in the sod wall. Needless to say that snake did not make a second visit, Mrs. Downey proving quite able to settle that part of the business.
During the great blizzard, having only a sod chicken coop, they found it necessary to bring the chickens into the house, all of which were carefully placed under the bed. Mr. Downey died on March 30, 1901, since then Mrs. Downey has made her home with her son, Herman, and spending some of her time among the other members of the family.
JOHN E. FOUSE.
John E. Fouse was a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and was a son of Ezek- iel Fouse, Professor of Languages in the Philadelphia College. The father had no less than seven languages at his command. John E. married Isabella Mc- Michael who came from, Belfast, Ireland, in 1851, settling in Philadelphia. She was of delicate health at the time she made the memorable ocean voyage of six weeks on board the little sailing vessel "Tonawanda" so much so, that her friends hardly expected she would see America, but she not only survived the ocean voyage, but has passed through the experiences of a ranch keeper's life; has had a family of twelve children, and now in the eighty second year of her age, she has favored us with a few of the reminiscences of Nebraska's early days.
They left Philadelphia and came west to Page county, Iowa, where they lived through one winter. Mr. Fouse then set out with a wagon and team for Denver, and when crossing the Nebraska plains was induced to buy some land for which he gave his horses with wagon and load, and, in the year 1865 commenced the famous Fouse Ranch. It was situated between the forks of Beaver Creek and the Blue river, "Minne-to-wank-pala," near what is now Beaver Crossing, in the south west corner of Seward county near the York county line, and therefore on the old trail of the western route crossing the Beaver Creek.
The house was made of logs with a dirt roof, thirty-six by sixteen feet, near which was an underground stable, the entrance which faced the creek was somewhat hidden from view, there being also a trap door communication from the ranch which provided a way of escape by flight in case of an attack from Indians. The ranch was a favorite stopping place and station for the overland stage coach. It was a lonesome and yet busy life; Mrs. Fouse fall- ing in for a large share of the work, but there were no near neighbors for several years, and the only women she saw were those travelling over the country, or the Indian Squaws.
Every alternate day there was no sleep for the keepers of the ranch, for the stage on that day arrived at midnight, when the hungry travellers looked for the hospitality which was never denied them by "mine host."
One night an extra stage arrived and eighteen hungry men and women
who had been without food for thirty-six hours wanted a meal, there was no meat in the house and nothing was ready. As a result of their pleading, Mrs. Fouse said she might get something gathered up provided they would! help; so with the assurance of their assistance she proceeded to the chicken house and secured three chickens, these were prepared and after some pa- tient waiting the hungry travellers were fed. In appreciation of the kindness shown not one paid less than fifty cents: some refusing to take any change: out of what they laid down. The "Greenbacks" were new then, and one man, a southerner, laid down a dollar bill, saying: "I do not want any change out of than Lincoln skin!" we are assured that the travellers calling at the Fouse tanch were always very courteous and kind.
The men were one time up the Beaver making hay when they received word that 500 Sioux Indians were on the war path and coming down the country. Mr. Fouse who kept the stage horses, got one of them and providing himself with his rifle (the Sioux name is 'Ishtahbopopa') went out to meet. them, and when within shooting distance. he pointed his 'Ishtahbopopa' at the Indians at which they all threw their 'Ishtahbopopas' on the ground, say- ing, "We good Indians," meaning they were not the "Toka abe do!" i, e, the enemy.
At another time Mr. Fouse had just returned from Nebraska City where he had been to meet Mrs. Fouse's sister; when he found the whole country side in agitation over a threatened invasion of the Sioux Indians. Many peo- ple were leaving for places of safety in the east, so Mrs. Fouse and her sister were sent back with instructions not to stop until they were safe in Iowa, When they reached the Walnut creek many of the party were so filled with whisky which they had brought along that they could not proceed, but the wagon in which were Mrs. Fouse, her sister, and another woman with three children who had begged to go with them, was hastened on to "Tommy West's," and then on to Milford. When three miles from camp they saw what looked like a band of Indians, which seemed to head them off which ever way they turned, besides this; their horses refused to go, and great was the alarm of the women, but when the party came up with them they were found to be white people. They reached Milford, and when the stage arrived from the west it brought word from Mr. Fouse for the party to return as everything was now quiet.
There was a party of five hundred Pawnee braves camped near the ranch and Mr. Fouse provided them with a generous supply of watermelons much to the delight of the dusky warriors; these were soon eaten up "slick and clean." One evening a party of two hundred Pawnees, who were return- ing from a buffalo hunt, camped in the grove, and Mr. Fouse for the amuse- ment of his guests played a little joke on the Indians. Gathering together all the shotguns he could find he ran excit dly over the grove crying "Souix !. Sioux!" and handed the guns to the Pawnees presumably for their protection. They soon scattered themselves over the prairie feeling sure that their worst enemies were about to pounce upon them. After a while they found out the joke and returned to camp saying, "Ugh! John no good, heap lie!" They failed to hear the Sioux war cry, "Hi! yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-hi-yah!"
One fall a party of Pawnee braves were in camp, and purchased a large dog from a settler that they might hold their preparatory feast and war dance. The sacrifice of a dog was one of their important religious observanc- es, and if possible a white dog was always secured, which was an old time custom; having the significence of sinlessness, the idea is supposed to have descended from the ancient tribes of Israel.
They returned sometime afterwards having several of their number shot and wounded, they built a large fire in the shape of a circle, and sat around it for two days and nights without partaking of food, evidently mourning
the result of their expedition. When questioned as to the cause of their misfortunes they replied, "Heap Sioux."
In giving the following Pawnee Chant, called the "Day Song" let us say first, that this is the only known Pawnee song in Chant form, and second, in trying to understand its meaning we must remember that their lodges were always built with the entrance facing the East. Thus it is that the Sun shines in the lodge and then passes around and then in its rising shines down the chimney, and then passes on to the West to pass from sight.
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