USA > Nebraska > Fillmore County > Pioneer stories of the pioneers of Fillmore and adjoining counties > Part 6
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In April 1869, the first sermon ever preached to the pioneers of York county was delivered by the Rev. Wm. Worley of the M. E. Church in the Anderson home. Another of the early preachers who held services there was the Rev. Colwell of the U. B. Church, a full cousin to Mrs. John H. Anderson, he came on horseback from Swanton, Saline county. Another preacher of that day was Reuben Manning of the Disciple Church, he was a soldier and homesteader, but would preach in the Armstrong sod school house. His chief characteristic was the wearing of a blanket over his shoulders instead of a coat, which he would lay off in the middle of the service.
The social side of life in those days was well developed, and though things were more of the rough and ready order, the people were undoubtedly happy helping toward each others comfort. Mr. Anderson lived for a time near McCool and came to Exeter in 1899, where he is well known as the "dray man." His son, William, works in the Fillmore County News office, and has charge of the Linotype Machine and makes the type for the setting up and publishing of these stories.
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Job Hathaway, Willard Payne and Elma Wilcox came together in the spring of 1871, from Greenwood, Ill., making the journey with covered wagons. They settled on section 30, one mile west of town, the other quar- ter of the section was taken later by the Rev. Ingham. In due course Mrs. Hathaway came west, and was met by her husband at Lincoln, coming from there to Exeter in a covered wagon.
Mr. Payne built a frame house in the middle of the section, so that a portion of it was on each claim, and they all lived in the one house; each homesteader having his particular corner, and in this way met the require- ments of the law by sleeping on his own land. This house ultimately be- came the property of Mr. Hathaway.
On one occasion a man came up to the house on horseback and asked for a night's lodging. Mr. Hathaway was away from home and Mrs. Hath- away did not like the idea of having the strange man in the house, so she asked Mr. Payne what he thought about it, and he, looking the man over, thought it would be all right as the man looked respectable. The man slept with Mr. Payne, and sometime during the night, Mrs. Hathaway was alarm- ed to hear that Payne was receiving a good pounding and shouting to the man, " you donned old fool." The fight seemed so real, that Mrs. Hathaway jumped through the bedroom window; but leaving the baby behind her in bed, and was making her way to the neighbor's when she heard the call "come back lady! come back lady!" It appears that the strange man had been dreaming about a fight, and in his sleep had commenced to let fly at Mr.
Payne. Needless to say, the man was full of apologies for the unhappy event, but it hindered Mrs. Hathaway from ever again taking a stranger into the house.
Another homesteader of the neighborhood was named Clark, he had been a shipbuilder in England, but having read in newspaper advertisements a glowing account about this country being a "Land of Eden;" had made his way hither with his wife and two sons. They are described as a cultur- ed people, having moved in good society, and had received on leaving Eng- land some very valuable presents including a Silver Tray beautifully en- graved and bearing their name. Their experience here was undoubtedly a rough one and certainly not in keeping with their past associations. The con- ditions of life were entirely different from what they had expected, and they knew little about farming, and especially pioneer farming. During the win- ter, owing to the severe weather, and the scarcity of their farm improve- ments, they kept a cow in the house to help'keep it alive. They had a sis- ter who came to them, she was met at the Depot by Mr. Payne who had taken along for her convenience a hayrack. The young lady on seeing the kind of conveyance awaiting her, said; "that's the queerest chaise I ever saw!"
This young lady and one of the sons soon died, and are buried in the Exeter Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Clark who were getting along in years, felt they could not meet the demands of the new conditions at their time of life, and the remaining son had a desire to follow the sea as a profession; so they sold out after remaining here about two years and returned to Eng- land. It is believed that the son who returned with them eventually went to sea and was drowned at the West Indies. Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway moved to Lincoln some years ago, where he for a time was a chief in the City Po- lice, a position which he honorably filled, and which he liked. He passed away ten years ago and Mrs. Hathaway still makes her home in Lincoln.
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MR. AND MRS. W. C. WOODWORTH.
Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Woodworth came to Nebraska from Wisconsin in 1872. and homesteaded on a farm 3 miles north and half mile west of Exeter. When settling on their land they were anxious to have everything in as good order as possible, so they spent their ready money on improvements, but that year's farming did not turn out to their expectations and soon they needed the money for food which had been expended on a house, barn, and well. It therefore became necessary to go to Lincoln for credit, when the Farmers Grocery Stores readily allowed them $5 worth of provisions until a wheat crop was forthcoming to pay for them.
There were 11 antelopes that ran on their claim for about six months after they located, and hunters would ride over the land in every direction. About that time Mrs. Woodworth was very sick, and failing to get hired help had the work to do herself as best she could. One day a huntsman, worth said, "Lady you look sick, can I get you some water ?" The man
worth said, "lady you look sick, can I get you some water ?" The man was kind enough not only to get a pail of water, but went out and shot a prairie chicken which he gave her, expressing the hope that the lady would soon get better, thus the stranger passed again out of her life after show- ing this unexpected kindness.
Some neighbors named Crooker living on the Indian Creek had a seige of measels, there were six of the household stricken down at one time, so someone sought help of Mrs. Woodworth seeing there were two women in her house, herself and her mother, and probably one might be spared. Mrs.
Woodworth very willingly went down to the Crooker home, hardly expect- ing to find conditions as bad as they were, and for three nights and three days she never rested in her efforts to help them through, but one girl died in spite of all the care put forth to save her.
Some time after this Mrs. Woodworth was very sick with Typhoid fever, a trained nurse was an impossibility in those days, Miss Crooker, a school teacher, called one day and on seeing the condition Mrs. Wood- worth was in, went home and sent her mother and father up to look after her, they remaining and took care of the invalid until she was better.
The Horton school house was the place of worship for their neighbor- hood, and they were members of the "Church of God" who worshiped at that place. In those early days men would attend the services barefooted and dressed in overalls; while the women wore large sunbonnets. In later days "Father" Green of the U. B. church, a native of Lancashire, England, a homesteader of York county came often to preach and in fact was the only preacher there for a long time. True to his native country character- istics and training he was a very "deep" preacher, and of great fervor in his devotions. He was always careful to kneel when he prayed-he was not ashamed to bow himself before his God-and would spread a large red handkerchief on the floor; evidently to save his best trousers, though the newness had long since departed. But, "There were giants in those days" men mighty in faith and prayer, their treasurers were not to be measured by their earthly possessions or dress, they realized the value of the unseen world and had treasurers more abiding than earth can give. What days these would be if their successors with the increased value of the land had increased proportionately in their faith and religious devotions! The King- dom of God and the brotherhood of man would be much nearer than it now is. "Father" Green was a man who believed in the incoming of better things, by trusting in God, and was much disappointed as were others; when, after praying on the Sunday of the grasshopper plague, that the plague might be taken away, and the congregation dismissed to find that the grass hoppers were actually rising in clouds and moving onward; that some should wonder and ask, "What started them going?" He died some 20 years ago loved and respected by all, having lived to a good old age- somewhere over 80 years, and is buried in the Exeter Cemetery. Many there are in the neighborhood who with Mrs. Woodworth are glad to keep green and fragrant the memory of the man of God named Green, the man who was good and upright in all his ways and died as he had lived, praying and singing.
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WILLIAM RAMSDELL
William Ramsbell is a native of Michigan. His first visit to Nebraska was in 1865 when he came in the service of the Government because of the depredations committed at that time by the Sioux Indians. He, with his Company arrived at Forth Levenworth, Kansas, on the 17th of June, and then made their way to Fort Kearney, Nebraska, from which point they crossed the State to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. As soon as the Indians knew of the presence of the Government soldiers they wanted peace. It will be remembered that the Sioux Indians had taken advantage of their opportunites, in the lack of soldiers in the West; to try and drive out the white people and secure their ancient hunting grounds.
Peace being restored he was soon able to return to Michigan, arriving there in December of the same year, and without being favorably impres- sed with Nebraska as a possible home. During their journeyings from June to November; they never had enough rain to wet through their shirt sleeves.
In March 1871 he returned to Nebraska and inspected the land, and came to the conclusion that he would settle in the State, where there had leen great changes during the five years from his first visit; so he went back for his family and returned in July and lived till November near the Walnut Creek.
He secured a claim in Liberty Township, on section 2, town 7, range 1, being 3 miles south and 3 miles east of Exeter. On November the 14th, he went up to his claim to build and make ready for settlement. Mrs. Ramsdell was left behind and was living in a log house; it was "chinched" but not mudded or plastered.
The evening of that day saw a change of weather, when it began to snow, and snowed all the next day and the next night; the snow drifted into the house and was soon under and over the bed, until it lay 16 inches deep on the top of Mrs. Ramsdell who could not move from her unhappy con- dition for some time. She was finally liberated by the help of her brother. During this storm the brother had to go and look after the cattle; they were busy digging a well on the place, and owing to the snow storm lost its location. It was found afterwards that the brother had nearly walked into the well on his way to feed the cattle, which, had it happened could only have one result. Many indeed are the dangers in life both seen and unseen, from which we are often providentally saved.
The cost of boring a well in those days was $1 per root, but had the cost been only 10 cents a foot the Ramsdells could not have undertaken it on their farm at that time because they had no money. He had to draw his water from the Turkey Creek, a distance of two miles; he also went 14 miles to seek firing, and could see only one house in all that distance.
The Ramsdells have but two children; both sons and both doing well. Deyo, the eldest, was in the first Graduation class of the Exeter High School, and is now a physician in Kansas City, Mo. Glen as an optician in Moline, Ill.
Mrs. Mary Borman, the wife of another homesteader whose land corner- ed with J. K. Barber's, and who remained here only twelve months, is a sis- ter to Mrs. Ramsdell. There was born to them on January 8, 1872, a baby girl named Gertrude; believed to be the third white child born in Fillmore County. They soon afterwards sold out and returned to Michigan where they are now living.
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JAMES HORNE
James Horne was a native of Low Coats, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was therefore a native of the same County as the illustrious Doctor David Livingstone; Blantyre the home of Livingstone being only seven miles away.
Mr. Horne worked as an engineer on the Caledonian Railway, and came to America in 1853, finding employment on the Hudson River RailRoad, and remained in that employment for sixteen years.
In the year 1858 he visited the old home, and was then married to Miss Jenny Miller, and soon the happy couple bid farewell to Scotland to make a home in America.
Farewell to the land of the bonnie brown heather,
Farewell to the land of the true and the brave,
Long may the rare beauties commingle together,
And long may the thistle in innocence wave.
E'er long I shall hear the rough voice of the ocean,
E'er long I shall plough the wild waves of the sea;
But while I have breath I will breath in devotion, Success to the land of the bold and the free.
It is not the wealth distant lands may afford me, It is not the joys they to me may impart;
Can make me one moment to cease to adore thee, Or make thy name Scotland less dear to my heart. Land of the brown heath I will love thee for ever, Naught can thy dear name from my memory dispel;
Though now from thy old rugged shores I must sever,
And breath; but in fondness a long fare thee well.
Arriving safely in America, they made their home in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., living there about eleven years. They then moved to Illinois where Mr. Horne was employed on the Illinois Central Rail Road, and resided in Amboy; living there five or six years. He had already purchased ninety acres of land in Illinois; so that, when the "Western Fever" broke out he readily caught the infection and farming became the chief thought, so he determined to try out the prospects of the land. His first tour of inspection was to Cana- da, but that was before his famous countryman, Lord Strathcona, had suc- ceeded in completing the Canadian Pacific Railroad, or had opened up for homesteading the great North West. The Canadian prospects not being encouraging he went to Kansas, but not liking the looks of the land in that state, he tried Nebraska, and was so favorably impressed with this new country that he decided to try his fortunes on Nebraska's virgin soil.
Returning to Illinois he sold out his interests there and then came and took up a Pre-emption, it being the south west corner of Section 34, Town S, Range 1, West; settling in the year 1870. Little indeed was his knowledge of farming, or about the things connected therewith, it was necessary for him to ask how to unhitch a horse, and this in spite of his having come from the Scottish County noted for its "Clydesdale" (a superior heavy working horse) he had been trained to the building, driving, or the taking to pieces of the "Iron Horse," but, by his persistent energy and untiring de- termination he succeeded not only in hitching or unhitching a horse; but in making a home, and a reputation as a farmer of no mean ability.
The Hornes lived for a time in a sod house, but were afterwards able to build a commodious frame dwelling. Their nearest trading point in the early days was Pleasant Hill. The country was one vast plain with noth- ing to obstruct the view, so that, when the Woodard house loomed up over the prairies, it proved quite a surprise, no such house had been anticipated on the wild plains. Mr. Horne died eleven years ago at this writing, in his seventy fifth year, well respected in the community.
He came to Nebraska when it needed courage to face the new condi- tions of life, but he had faith in God, faith in himself, and faith in Nebraska soil. He believed he was providentially led to this new undertaking, and if work was the hand-maid to faith (faith without works is dead) then, that would be forthcoming without stint.
We read that "Lo; the poor Indian" could work some, and trust in the "Great Spirit" for success, and would with thanksgiving sing :-
Hi-chiya naiho-o! Let us begin our song,
Let us begin, rejoicing, Hitciya yahina-a.
Let us begin our song, let us begin, rejoicing,
Singing of the large corn, Hitciya yahina-a;
Singing of the small corn, Hitciya yahina-a.
And would with confidence sing their prayer for Rain :- Hi-ilo-o ya-a -! He who sees everything
See the two stalks of corn standing;
He's my younger brother, Hi-ilo- ya-a-a!
He who sees everything sees the two squashes;
He's my younger brother, Hi-ilo-o ya-a-a!
On the sumit of Ta-atukam sees the corn standing;
He's my younger brother, Hi-ilo-o ya-a-a!
And no less willingly would the Scottish, Engineer-Yeoman work and trust in his God as he sang the praises of thanksgiving which he had learn- ed from the Psalms in his childhood :-
"Thou crownest the year with thy goodness, and thy paths drop fatness, Thou visitest the earth and waterest it, thou greatly enrichest it,
Thou preparest them corn, thou hast so provided for it.
Because thy loving kindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise thee, thus, will I bless thee while I live,
I will lift up my hands in thy name,
And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips."
We are indebted to Mrs. Horne for the few reminiscences here recorded. Having heard through a Lincoln Lawyer that a Scotch family had located somewhere near their home; they decided to pay their respects, and offer their kind wishes to the strangers from over the sea. This would be no great difficulty providing an opportune time presented itser; for, "A Scot, ye ken, is no verra shy about approaching anyone; leave alone a brither Scot." So they decided to make that visit on July Fourth, and across the prairies they went, taking with them their two boys to celebrate in the Alexander home. The details of this incident are recorded in the Alexander stories, but we may add here, that the visit proved to be the forerunner of many visits; this one was distinctly welcome, and through "The cup that cheers, but does not inebriate," and that "Oatmeal" the principal article of Scottish food; there came about that cheering and steading friendship which has proved abiding throughout the years. Their thoughts are ever true to those of their Poet, Burns,
Blind chance, let her snapper and stoyte on her way,
Be't to me, be't frae me, e'en let the jade gae;
Come ease, or come travel; come pleasure or pain.
My warmst word is: "Welcome and welcome again!"
Some gentlemen came from the east to hunt buffoloes just about the time when the meeting to organize the County was called to meet in the sod barn on the Horne place. The hunting party had evidently the stronger pull on Mr. Horne, for he with Ben Herrington, a neighbor, set out with the party. While on this trip a huge buffalo was seen making its way straight towards the men with savage intent; when Herrington fired, and brought the
animal low. This provided a good supply of meat which they dried. It was sometimes necessary to make pontoons and bridges to get their horses and wagons across the rivers, but in spite of all difficulties they were favored witn success. The party returned with great satisfaction bringing with them plenty of buffalo and deer meat, besides turkeys and other game.
Their experiences during the great blizzard were much the same as their neighbor's; their horses had to do without food or water for three days. It was auring that storm that Henry Morgan, an employee of Dr. Smith's, and in whom the Hornes were greatly interested was away soutn seeing nis sweetheart, and could not get back, the Doctor having to do most of his own chores as a result. One thing in particular which he had to do is well remembered. The family cat had in someway or other been left out in the storm, and when the doctor found it the poor beast was completely covered with ice, a large dish pan full was taken off of poor pussy.
A Sunday School was started in the sod school house near Den Song- ster's place, Mrs. Morgan (the above sweetheart) did a great deal to help on the work, she provided at her own expense the school supplies, which were secured somewhere in Iowa, but like many of the early efforts of this kind, it necessarily ceased owing to changed conditions.
The Horne home was only once visited by Indians, when two called on a winter's day begging, and after being helped went peacefully away.
JOHN ZISKA
John Ziska came from Bohemia in 1853, bringing with him his wife and family. In the old country he had been a coachman for a Baron; who in ap- preciation of his faithful services promoted him to the position of an over- seer over the serfs on his estate. Owing to the doing away of serf labor and the unsettled condition of things in Bohemia he decided to come to America, and after a six weeks sea voyage arrived safely in this country, and then made his way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When looking around for a location and something to do; a Jew who was known to Mr. Ziska advised him to buy fifteen acres of swamp land near Milwaukee, he could then cut the wood and sell it for a living. The suggestion was anything but accept- able at that time, and was therefore declined, but that same land is now the center of the city which shows that it would have been a good investment.
He bought 120 acres of land about thirty miles south of Milwaukee on the Fox river in Racine County, and farmed it for ten years. Some friends at that time visited the Ziska farm from the St. Louis coal fields, and the reports given by them regarding the work and wages there seemed so much of an improvement on farming; that he decided to sell his farm, stock and impliments and try mining. He made his way to the coal mines where he worked for seven years, at the end of which time he had made no progress but was in fact, financially poorer as a result of his venture. In the spring of 1869 he came up the Missouri river on a steamboat to Nebraska City, and was nine days on the trip. He then bought two yoke of oxen, an old government wagon, besides other things and started out west. He had met a fellow-countryman in Nebraska City from whom he received information about the country, and having left his family near the Blue River he made his way west on foot, and secured some land on the county line in Fillmore County. Having returned after his family they came to the new location on the tenth day of May 1869, renting an old dugout on the other side of the line in Saline County until their own dugout was ready. He soon com- menced breaking, and had twenty five acres ready for sowing; when he went to Lincoln for provisions, and while there he filed for his eighty acres
on Section 24, Town 7, Range 1 West. They moved onto the claim in September, and on the night of their re- moval there was a great flood, the Turkey creek became half a mile wide causing the loss of much property and many cattle. One poor woman lost her cow and calf which were all she possessed, so the Ziskas and other neighbors helped her over her troubles. Two years later this same woman whose husband was a carpenter and was away working at Nebraska City, had her cow stolen, and was given help by these friends.
There was another neighbor for whom Mr. Ziska ploughed some land and sowed it to wheat without making any charge so as to help him along, but who, when Mr. Ziska needed the loan of a plough and asked him for this favor refused, saying, "He did not wish to have his plough dulled." How often it is that people fail to learn that "One good turn deserves an- other."
The last buffalo killed in Fillmore county was in 1868, two Indians followed him down the Turkey creek and killed him where what afterwards became the Ziska homestead.
Dan Dillan who homesteaded in 1868 on the same section as Ziska, was the only white man they knew of in Fillmore county when they came. Mr. Ziska had put in fifteen acres of buck-wheat, and then went to Lincoln leaving Fred at home to drag the land. Dan Dillon had a pair of Texas cattle and two other large oxen, and these came over and hooked the Ziska cattle very badly which scared Fred very much. His mother was advised by the neighbors to get some turpentine to put on the injured oxen, so she sent him a journey of eighteen miles on foot to get twenty-five cents worth. He reached home again about nine o'clock at night, and was so stiff and sore that he could not get out of bed the next morning. The remembrance of this experience has always prevented his forgetting the time when he was fourteen years of age, and that his mother needed turpentine for the oxen.
In 1869 the Shawnee Indians made a raid through the country; they had reached Hebron and it was reported they were coming down the Little Blue, everybody in the district had packed up ready to make an escape; when some of them went over to investigate the matter, and found that the Indians had gone home after killing some men and stealing thirteen head of horses. This was the last raid made by the Indians in this part of the country.
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