USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > Progressive men of Nebraska; a book of portraits > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
18
OFNEBRASKA
00
G F
PROGRESSIVE MEN
cedar shingles made by Mr. Kittle from logs floated down the Platte river from a point now the site of the Elkhorn railway bridge, and for a frontier town the house presented a highly aristocratic appearance. It stood on the corner of Broad street and Military Avenue. In this build- ing was also the first general trading carried on by Mr. Kittle who had brought from his store in New York state a lot of goods which he sold to the new comers to the town of Fremont. The first real business en- terprise in the mercantile line was established by James G. and J. Towner Smith, who commenced their business in a "dugout," soon erecting and occupying a log store.
EARLY DAY HARDSHIPS.
The trials of the early settlers were severe. The winter of 1856- 57 was one of great hardship for all who were in the little colony. Snow was deep and the cold terrible. Blizzards made it hard for the men to even venture out to secure fuel to keep fires going. There was not an over-supply of food in the town, and in all the hardships were such as to remain firmly fixed in the memories of the ones now living and who passed through the bitter experience. The following spring an effort was made to plant crops, but the autumn found a scant harvest, except of squaw corn, of which many acres were grown, and starvation stared many of the residents of the new town in the face. These pioneers were not of the stuff that becomes easily discouraged. They had come from sturdy stock and were determined to win in their new homes in the West. The women as well as the men possessed the greatest fortitude, and industriously set to work to make homes for themselves. Barrenness spread over the land, excepting here and there along the Platte river little growths of timber. Soon as the townsite was surveyed and the streets defined, the work of planting trees was commenced, and to this fore- sight of these people are the generations of to-day indebted for the hand- somely shaded streets which are such a source of pride to the city of Fremont.
While the first months of 1857 found not more than a dozen heads of families in the new town of Fremont-named for General Fremont-
19
OF NEBRASKA
E
00
PROGRESSIVE MEN
few of them had removed their wives and families to their new homes. The first home established in the town was that of Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, his wife and two daughters, who located in the town in October of 1856 and occupied the house heretofore mentioned as erected by Robert Kittle. This good man, who for some years has been at rest from earthly toil, did much to lighten the burdens of the pioneers and cheer them on their way to success in their frontier town. In the early part of 1858 the Pike's Peak excitement was the means of enthusing new life into the new town of Fremont, it being one of the stopping places on the trail toward the Rockies.
TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS.
According to the most reliable authorities, the following named persons, outside of Fremont and North Bend, were the first to settle in their respective townships. Matthew S. Cotterell, James Humphrey, Alexander Morrison and John M. S nith came from Ohio in 1857 and brought into the county the first steam sawmill. Mr. Cotterell claimed a half section of land, upon which the town of North Bend now stands, while a little later his companions settled in Union township. In Union township the first settlement was made by a small colony, which con- sisted of Robert Miller, John Miller, George Young, and George Mc- Naughton and their families. In Elkhorn township, the first settler was Thomas Lee, who in 1856 located on the northwest quarter of sec- tion 19. A year later Albert Johnson settled near by him. In Cuming township, the first settler to permanently make a home for himself was B. B. Moore, who with his family settled near what was known as "Dead Timber" in 1856. In 1859 James B. Robinson located in the same locality, and later became one of the first grist mill proprietors in Dodge county, and for some years was owner and operator of the Peb- ble creek mill.
In Everett township the first settlers were Gerhard Monnich and Herman Monnich, his son, who took squatter's claims in the northern part of the township. They were the first of a number of enterprising farmers who have made this township one of the best in the county.
20
OF NEBRASKA
00
D
F
Y
PROGRESSIVE MEN
In Hooper township the first settlers were Hiram II. Ladd and Mrs. Denslow, the latter the mother of Jerry Denslow, now a promin- ent banker of Hooper. Mr. Ladd settled on section 30-where he has since lived-in 1856, and there he built the first house in the Elkhorn Valley, north of Fontanelle.
The first extensive settlement in Logan township was made by the colony of Scandinavians, who took up land there soon after the
RESIDENCE OF R. M. ALLEN, NEAR AMES.
close of the war. The first settler, as far as known, was Mr. Theodore Uehling, who in 1860 settled on section IS, township 19, range 9.
In Maple township the first settlers were Stedman Hager and sons, Eli and Seneca Hager, who came to the county in 1856 and locat- ed upon land in section 20 and later duly entered the same. Rev. Jacob Adriance located near what is now known as Jamestown in 1858, and during the next few years numerous others settled in the same locality.
21
6
OF NEBRASKA
F
PROGRESSIVE MEN
In Nickerson township the first land holder was Henry Depew, one of the earliest lawyers to locate in Nebraska, and he in 1857, pur- chased from the government a quarter section of land in section 13. Upon this tract he failed to pay taxes, and the land reverted to the government, and in July, 1859, was acquired by Michael Herman and subsequently it became the site of the village of Nickerson. Michael Herman, the purchaser of this land, has the honor of being the first ac- tual settler in what is now Nickerson township, though as early as 1855 J. H. Peters, who was one of the Fontanelle colony, claimed the tract upon which he at present resides and cultivated a part of the same.
In Platte township, the first settlers were the Beebe and McNeal families, who were also among the earliest settlers in Dodge county. They located upon the land two miles west of the present city of Fre- mont.
In Pebble township Daniel Beckwith, it is claimed, was the first settler, locating on land there in 1868; the same year W. T. Cohee, John Herder, and Fred Molle located in the same township.
In Pleasant Valley township the first settlement was made by a Scotchman, James Ferguson, who settled on section 24, in the fall of 1868. During the next few years there was a large number of settlers located upon land there, including John Ross, Henry Ross, Jacob Long- acre and numerous others.
In Ridgeley township the first settler was Frank M. Tillman, now living in retirement at Hooper. He settled in section 26 in June, 1868. The same year V. Banghart, Henry Banghart and a few others located in the same township. The next year James M. Cruickshank, Frank C. Scott, Henry Sievers, A. L. Holbrook and a number of others located upon land in this township. As early as 1868 a post-office had been established called Ridgeley, and A. L. Holbrook was its first post- master.
In Webster township there was no permanent settlement made until about 1869, when a number of Bohemian settlers located there.
EARLY INDUSTRY,
For the first two years the settlement of the country about Fremont
22
OF NEBRASKA
O
50
20
F
PROGRESSIVE MEN
and North Bend was slow. Little attention paid to agricultural pur- suits, each homesteader devoting only small portions of holdings to the growing of corn and other crops essential to his own needs, at that time there being no near market. Freighting was beginning to be an im- portant industry across the plains, and both Fremont and North Bend were benefited by the numerous caravans that passed on their way be- tween the Missouri and the Rocky Mountain country. In 1858 and 1859 the Pike's Peak excitement caused a healthy growth in the freighting industry, and numerous ones who had made for themselves homes in both Fremont and North Bend entered that strenuous and hazardous business. Some small settlements were made upon Maple creek, others as far north as Pebble creek. In 1859 there were not more than forty inhabitants in the new town of Fremont. The heads of the families can here be enumerated: £ Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kittle, Mr. and Mrs. George Turner, Mrs. Margaret Turner, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Hazen, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Flor, Mrs. E. H. Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Reynolds, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Moorland, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Smith and Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Pierce, and E. H. Barnard and John A. Koontz, who still occupied their cabin on the site where now stands the Congregational church. The town was one of log houses. In the vicinity of the site of the little town of Ames there were a few settlers, and they were the first to become permanent land holders in the section now Dodge county. There settled Henry P., Chauncy C., John, Martin and Charles Beebe, then young men who had come from Wisconsin in May of 1856, with their mother, and their brother-in-law, Abraham McNeal and family. In September, the family of Henry P. Beebe moved into the country. The same year Eli Hager, Seth T. Marvin, Charles Waldo and George Peck all settled west of Fremont and in the vicinity of Ames. Between 1856 and 1858 a total of about fifty famil- ies settled in the country about Fremont and North Bend.
The first white children to be born in the county were twin girls, born to Mr. and Mrs. Abraham McNeal, July 8th, 1856. In November following the first male child was born to Mr. and Mrs. George Young, near the town of North Bend.
23
OF NEBRASKA
F
PROGRESSIVE MEN
PAWNEE INDIAN TROUBLES,
As heretofore stated, the Pawnee Indians until about 1860, occu- pied the bluffs south of the river opposite Fremont. There were four bands of them and variously estimated in number from three to five thousand. From the very commencement of the town of Fremont, the settlers were in dread of these Indians, whose attitude at different times threatened disaster to the small settlement. West of Fremont Mr. and Mrs. Seth P. Marvin built for themselves a small log cabin where they resided until a better home could be provided in the new town. While the pioneers of Fremont were cutting timber for the homes they were about to build for themselves and families the attitude of the Indians became such as to cause more than ordinary alarm. The Red Man seemed not to look upon with favor the encroachments of the Pale Faces. During the absence of Mr. Marvin from his home, a number of Indians surrounded his house, severely frightening his wife and children by the threats they made. Those of the community who were cutting logs for their houses were summoned, and Mr. Kittle and a few other men went to the Marvin home armed with guns and with the determination to have an understanding with the Indians, who numbered some two hundred. Mr. Kittle was the spokesman for the party. He asked the chief the reason why his braves and himself were there. Was it to frighten the woman and her two little sons? The chief in charge of the Pawnees was known as How-E-Tat, and he was also head spokesman, having for his interpreter "Pawnee Rogers," who had the distinction of having attended the mission school at Bellevue. To Mr. Kittle's interro- gation, the chief replied, "What are you Pale Faces here for, cutting our timber and grasses? We want you to stop at once and leave the coun- try or pay for our lands, which we have owned ever since this broad river ran or the grasses have grown here. Why do you come here and take our land? You may all stop your work here and leave in three days, or we will burn you out or kill and drive away your cattle and horses and your people." Mr. Kittle, who had informed himself as to the treaties made by the government with the Indians and knew that they had no right to the land, answered the chief thus: "You can come
24
OF NEBRASKA
10
300
50 50
E
PROGRESSIVE MEN
here in three days and you will find the people building their houses and cutting hay. (Woo-Woo!) We know very well there are enough of the Pawnees to kill and eat our few white people here, but shall we be cowards and not speak the truth to you? You never owned the land on which we are making our houses; you never owned the land on which the Pawnee house stands. The Omahas gave you the land to build your home on-your allies-for reasons that you might be near them, and because you were afraid to live on your own lands so near the Sioux. The Great Father at Washington bought this land from the Omahas by treaty and you never owned a foot of it."
This speech of Mr. Kittle's was greeted with exclamations of dis- approval by the Indians, who with "Woo-Woos!" interrupted him, but with the only effect of making him more determined to impress upon them the fact that if a single settler was molested the powers at Wash- ington would send a large army of Pale Faces to wipe from the face of the earth every living Pawnee. It was sundown ere the interview was closed. Many of the Indians had left and gone to their tepees across the river. Young Spotted Horse, a chief thought to be friendly to the whites, was one of the last to leave and when about to take his depart- ure said that he would give the Pale Faces three days to leave their lands, but he was careful to make no threats. All the Pawnees then returned to their village, but of the attempt made by the reds to intimidate the whites there was no repetition.
After the return of Mr. Kittle and companions to Fremont, they told of the threatening attitude of the Indians and a council of the settlers was immediately held and steps taken for the protection of themselves and families. There was a scarcity of fire arms and ammunition in the settlement, and it was decided to immediately send to Omaha, and not alone secure the needed arms, but inform the territorial authorities there and if possible secure volunteers to assist in protecting the small settle- ment. James G. Smith made the trip to Omaha, going by night and returning the second night, accompanied on his return trip by two boxes of muskets and a few volunteers. A partially completed log shanty, which had a cellar was used for a fortification. The next morning, the Indians from the bluffs on the opposite side of the river could have seen
25
OF NEBRASKA
0
000
D
G E
200
PROGRESSIVE MEN
a number of men marching and counter marching in front of the impro- vised fort. These guards, while expecting trouble and while in readi- ness to meet their adversaries, saw no Indiams until along in the afternoon, when three mounted braves rode from out the timber. Upon beholding the gleaming bayonets in the hands of determined men, they seem to have wavered in what might have been their intentions and turning, rode toward the timber. One member of the guard called them back. After some hesitation, one of the number came forward. He was Young Spotted Horse, who had give the whites three days to leave their land. He appeared friendly, shook hands with the guard and in reply to the question whether the Indians were coming to fight the whites, said "no," and quietly departed for the council house of his tribe. Thus was ended the first threatened Pawnee Indian war. Though the Indians never again attempted to molest the whites, they nevertheless enter- tained an unfriendly attitude, and quite often members of the different bands resorted to petty plunder and killing stock. Throughout the stay of the Indians in the country, there was more or less trading between them and the whites.
In July of 1859 the Pawnees were menaced by the Sioux, long their enemy, and moved to the north side of the river. The following day, their village on the south bank was burned, including the great council house, which was some 60 feet in diameter. The Pawnees proceeded towards the north, hoping to meet the Omahas, their allies, somewhere on the Elkhorn river, thus to strengthen their forces should it be neces- sary to enter into combat with the Sioux. On the 28th of July, the Pawnees camped near Cuming creek. In this neighborhood Thomas S. Parks had located upon land which he had stocked with fine cattle from the east. This herd was valued at more than $1,000.00, and upon it the Indians made a successful raid, running off a number of head and killing and wounding many of the remainder. This action incensed the settlers of the county and word was sent to Governor Black, advising him of the depredations and asking him for protection. A volunteer company of twenty-five men was raised and started out upon the track of the Indians. This small company was put in the field just in time to prevent more serious depredations by the Indians, who had planned to
26
OF NEBRASKA
E
€100
0
PROGRESSIVE MEN
C
F
TO
O
VIEW OF THE SUGAR FACTORY AT LEAVITT, FROM THE SOUTH. nono
27
OF NEBRASKA
PROGRESSIVE MEN
D
D
G E
0000
00
make a raid upon the settlers of the little town of De Witt, some five miles north of West Point, in Cuming county. There an engagement took place in which three Indians were killed, and one of the volunteers, James H. Peters (in 1902 living near Nickerson, at the age of 82 years ) was wounded in the arm. This little engagement caused great excite- ment, not alone in Dodge county, which had supplied all its available male population able to carry arms, but caused considerable agitation in Omaha. Major General John M. Thayer was ordered by Governor Black to Fontanelle and to the call for volunteers, Fremont responded with a noble company, North Bend supplied forty men, and along Maple creek another considerable force was gathered for service. These men were gathered together and under charge of General Thayer started on the trail of the Indians, whom they at last overtook, but the wily red man unfurled the stars and stripes and Skarrarrar-de-Sharra, the head chief, threw down his bow and arrows and informed his would be captors that he did not want to fight. The cannon carried by the volunteers seemed to terrorize the reds and the Indian war came to an end, with no other bloodshed than the killing of the three Indians and the slight wound received by Mr. Peters. There was an understanding that the Indians would cease their depredations, and so long as they remained in Nebraka Territory, they gave settlers but little trouble.
COUNTY SEAT AFFAIRS,
The first Dodge county election was held December 12th, 1854, at Fontanelle, as designated in the act of the territorial legislature that pro- vided for the organization of Dodge county. Eight votes were polled upon this occasion and Doctor M. H. Clark was elected a member of the territorial council and Judge J. W. Richardson and Col. E. R. Doyle, were elected members of the house of representatives. The first county officers elected were chosen in the fall of 1856. They were as follows: Probate judge, James G. Smith; county treasurer, Henry P. Beebe: sheriff, J. M. Hancock; county commissioners, W. E. Lee, Thomas Fitzsimmons, and L. C. Baldwin. Sumner D. Prescott was chosen as the first county clerk. At that time there were three precincts
28
OF NEBRASKA
0
VODZŁY
PROGRESSIVE MEN
E
in the county, Fremont, North Bend and Maple Creek. Fontanelle was made the seat of justice by the territorial act and remained such until 1860, when the boundaries of Dodge county were changed and the county seat selected by popular vote. Three candidates entered the field for county seat honors. At the election which ensued Fremont received 62 votes, the other two candidates, Robinsonville and Black- smith's Point, receiving total of three votes, the former two, and the latter one.
During the period that Fontanelle was the county seat all official business was transacted at private houses, the homes of the different officials. Upon the removal of the county seat there was contention over which county, Washington or Dodge, should retain the public records. For ten years after Fremont became the county capital, the county offices were maintained at the homes of the different officers, and in leased apartments. The question of building a county court-house was dis- cussed at various times, but it was not until during the January session, 1866, of the county commissioners court, that definite action was taken upon the matter of providing a county court-house. The commissioners at that time were George Turner, J. E. Dorsey and George Young. J. J. Hawthorne, one of the extensive property owners of Fremont, do- nated to the county the block known as number 96, as a building site for the county building. His donation was accepted, and bids for a wooden court-house were advertised for, the building to be 30 by 60 feet, two story. In October of the same year, the plan of erecting a wooden building was discarded and a decision made in favor of a brick structure. The following year-1867-the contract for the erection of this building was awarded to John Ray at $4,950 00, by Commissioners Christopher Knoell, George Turner and George Young. This building was com- pleted early in the autumn of the year and duly accepted by the county commissioners on September 3rd, 1867. In 1871, the building was repaired and remodeled. July 3rd, 1884, a wind storm damaged it and on December 31st, 1887, a portion of it was burned along with the records of the clerk of court's office. The building was again repaired and was used until I888, when the question of building a new court- house and issuing bonds in the amount of $50,000.00 for same was sub-
29
8
OF NEBRASKA
00000
0ODZFX
PROGRESSIVE MEN
mitted to popular vote. The proposition carried. The city of Fremont also voted bonds to the amount of $10,000.00 to assist in its building under the proviso that the city have the use of three rooms in the court- house building for municipal purposes. Bids for the construction of the building were advertised for and the successful bidder out of sixteen was Seeley Sons & Co., of Fremont, the contract price being $50,533.50, not including furniture. This building is an ornament to the city and is one of the best constructed public buildings in the state for its cost to the county. The building was dedicated to public use October 4th, 1890, upon which occasion Hon. E. F. Gray delivered an eloquent address.
The first jail of the county was in the first court-house. Prior to that, prisoners being kept in improvised cells in the buildings of the town. In 1874 a jail was built of brick at a cost of $9,832.00, and the same is still in use.
In 1884 a farm which had been rented for several years as a poor farm was purchased by the county, and since then numerous improve- ments have been made upon it. Fortunately, the pauper population of the county is small and is maintained and supported at a minimum cost to the taxpayers.
RAILWAYS AND TELEGRAPH.
Without railroads, the West would be, no doubt, almost the barren, uncultivated country it was half a century ago. While there were some good settlements made prior to the advent of the railroads, they were made with the firm conviction that roads would be built. The telegraph line, now part of the Western Union system, was constructed some four years before the Union Pacific was built into Dodge county, and Fre- mont was the most important town on the line. The matter of a trans- continental system, or line of railroad had long occupied the attention of the people and the government. Senator Tom Benton, of Missouri, early as 1825 urged upon congress the importance of the building of a road across the continent, and "a communication for commercial pur- poses between the Pacific and the Mississippi, and to send the lights of
30
OFNEBRASKA
F
PROGRESSIVE MEN
science and religion into Eastern Asia." Benton's vision was wizard- like, as at that time, railroads as they are to-day were of a dreamy exist- ence, and not a dozen miles of track in all the United States. Even as early as 1778, years when Thrivetheck and Stevenson were struggling with the problem of steam railroads, Jonathan Carver prophesied that the time would come when the great expanse between the Atlantic and Pacific would be traversed by steam carriages. In 1835 Rev. Samuel Parker, who made a trip across the continent, recorded an opinion that there was no insuperable obstacle in the way of building a railroad across the great Rocky Mountains. A year later, a Welshman, John Plumbe, Jr., who was a naturalized American and who lived at Dubuque, Iowa, commenced under personal supervision and at his own expense a survey for a railroad to run from Lake Michigan to the Pacific. He in 1838, succeeded through Hon. George W. Jones, in procuring an appro- priation from Congress to defray the expense of the first division of his line. Many far-sighted and progressive citizens agitated the matter of a trans-continental railroad, which at last resulted in the passage of the laws allowing and directing the building of the Pacific railroad. Each state and territory of the West took up the question. The support it received was unanimous. Dr. M. H. Clark, the first representative from Dodge county to the first territorial legislature, in a lengthy report to that body favored the construction of the Pacific railroad-now the great Union Pacific. Nearly a dozen years passed before the road was built to Dodge county and to Fremont, the date of its completion to the town being January 24, 1866. A few weeks later it was built to the western limits of the county following the Platte River for twenty-five miles. Immediately upon the construction of the road there commenced an era of prosperity and growth, that has ever since continued, interrupted only by a few seasons of drouth and the grasshopper plague. This great road was built by the general government without cost to the peo- ple of the county, other than the donation of right-of-way and grounds for depots. The road has done much to encourage settlement, and the upbuilding of industries in the county. Under its present management it has become one of the greatest and most prosperous of American rail- roads, and in general equipment, roadbed and conservative yet progress-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.