USA > Nebraska > Sherman County > Loup City > The trail of the Loup; being a history of the Loup River region > Part 14
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timber claim, caused the travelers to name the valley "Lee's Park." Here then this settler dwelt, year after year, in solitude-farming, planting trees, and doing his sewing, cooking and washing. He tried to get others to lo- cate, but no one volunteered. Nearly four years had passed by, and his courage, which had remained firm for years, began to wane, and he at last decided to leave his beautiful half section of land.
"About this time, however, Frank Wright offered to locate in the park, providing Mr. Lee surrendered to him his pre-emption, on which was his house and well. This Mr. Lee agreed to do, and soon after, Mr. Wright started to claim his new possessions. On his way he fell in with some land seekers who seemed to be headed for Lee's Park, so they went together and on arriving at Mr. Lee's, Wright asked for the papers, which were im- mediately surrendered. S on after, however, this Mr. Wright sold the place for $25 to F. E. Morrison. These land lookers were William and Jos- eph Murray, who, in February, 1878, took claims in the park, and their families arrived in May the same year. Soon after this, in March, Benja- min Knight located in the Park. and returned to his Wisconsin home to claim the hand of his "best girl," and together they journeyed to their frontier home. From this time on, settlers flocked in rapidly, and James Lee, no longer alone, decided not to leave. His pre-emption right, how- ever, being gone, he proceeded to the extreme end of the park and filed on a 160-acre piece as a homestead, on the bank of the little stream after- wards known as "Lee's Creek."
"In July Messrs. Overton, Chandler True, Jay Hamlin, George Hanı- lin, Jr., E. Stephens and William Vanalstine settled. In August, T. J. Johnson and Amos Smith; then followed Parish Freeman and his son Charles; William Hall, Joseph Peacock, and James Thompson. In 1879 Edward Knight, Phillip Lynch, James Wisely, N. Mehrhoff, Nelson Pot- ter, Sam Minchell and Mr. Abel located here. In 1890, David and Archie Todd, F. E. Morrison, James Bradford. and Thomas, John and Sam Ber- ridge arrived. Next year J. L. H. Knight settled permanently here with his father, Edward Knight, who had arrived two years prior to this.
The early settlers of Lee's Park underwent many hardships and priva- tions. Corn stalks and willows were the main reliance in those days for fuel. The mail service at first was not very good; for a while their post- office was at Loup City, a distance of twenty-two miles; afterwards there was an office established at Wescott, which was twelve miles distant, but shortly it was arranged to have an office on Clear Creek, four miles west of the park. This was quickly followed in the fall of 1878 or '79 with Uncle Sam's locating one in Lee's Park.
"During the fall of 1878, the first district school meeting was held in Lee's Park, which was then organized as Joint District No. 11, of Custer and Valley counties. This meeting was held at the house of Parish Free- man, and it was decided to build a sod school house, which was completed the following spring. During the summer of 1878, a Sunday School was organized with Benjamin Knight as superintendent. It was held from
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THE MIDDLE LOUP AND ARCADIA
house to house, and occasionally Father Cook, a Baptist minister living on the Middle Loup, came over and preached. After the schoolhouse was built the Sunday School and preaching was held there. This sod school. house was occupied for years, until it was declared unsafe, when a sod building was rented of F. E. Morrison, to hold school in. During these years, the school district being large, and in two counties, caused much dis- agreement. Some wished it divided, while others wished it to remain as it was. Finally the south end was allowed to go off with District No. 91. This, however, did not settle the matter, and school meeting after school meeting was called, which finally resulted, in 1889, in dividing the district on the county line. The following summer, these districts built new frame schoolhouses, one in Custer county, and one in Valley county.
"In April, 1884, the town of Lee Park was laid out in Custer county on the town line, and the same year, the Lilly and Houder addition to Lee Park was laid out, adjoining the original town, and in Valley county, with the postoffice in Valley county. Then came quite a boom for the new town. A general merchandise store was built by Lilly & Houder. to which the postoffice was removed; then followed a blacksmith shop, a hotel, a wagon shop, and a feed stable. This little town was progressing finely when the B. & M. railroad concluded to outdo the U. P. railroad, and so built past Loup City, the terminus of the U. P. railroad, and stopped at Arca- dia, five miles from Lee's Park. The little town held out for a while, but the railroad town of Arcadia took away its vitality, and after some strug- gles, the town of Lee Park was no more. All the buildings were torn down or removed, and an attempt was made to take away even the post- office. The attempt was nearly, or quite successful, as the office was actu- ally removed to Arcadia, but prompt action was taken by patrons of the office, and an order came for its return, only a day after its removal. The postoffice was afterwards removed from Valley county across the line into Custer county, where it still remains. The fact that originally the post- office was in Valley county, and is now in Custer county, has caused some Confusion as to the real location of Lee Park, some thinking it in Valley and some in Custer county. The name of the town and postoffice has also been confused with the name of the valley. Originally the postoffice had the same name as the valley, but Jay Hamlin, while postmaster, had the name of the office changed to Lee Park, consequently the name of the post - office is Lee Park, and the name of the valley is Lee's Park.
"The farmers of Lee's Park are honest and industrious, and are not of the shifting kind. Most of the old settlers are still residing here. and seem to have no idea of soon changing their location. This makes it difficult to purchase a farm in Lee's Park, and when one is sold, it is at good figures."
The Further History of Garfield County.
CHAPTER XIII.
Everywhere is the grasping hand.
An eager adding of land to land. And earth, which seemed to the fathers meant
But as a pilgrim's wayside tent. A nightly shelter to fold away When the Lord should call at the break of day.
Solid and steadfast seems to be.
And time has forgotten Eternity! Whittier. the Preacher.
T HE story of the first comers to Garfield county has been touched upon in a former chapter. It remains for us to tell, in the passing, some- thing further about their frontier experiences-for be it kept in mind, they were now the extreme outpost on the north. The Battle of Pebble Creek, Jan. 19, 1874, was distinctly their fight. It was fought practically in their midst and one of their number lost his life in the fray. Then relief came with the building of Fort Hartsuff. For two years the Indians kept to the hills and were rarely seen. But the great "Indian year"-1876-was at hand, growing out of the gold discovery in the Black Hills and the conse- quent expulsion of the Red Man from those favorite haunts. Everywhere the Sioux were on the war-path. Even now it is doubtful whether there would have been any trouble in the valley had not the settlers themselves precipitated the trouble.
The story, in brief, of the last encounter between the settlers and the Sioux Indians -the socalled "Battle of the Blowout"-is as follows: A small band of Indians was discovered in the hills near Jones' Canyon. The settlers, aided by local trappers and gold seekers on their way to the Black Hills, immediately took the trail and, after a running fight of several miles, brought the redskins to bay in a large blowout above Pebble Creek. A messenger had meanwhile been sent post haste to Fort Hartsuff for rein- forcements. A young and inexperienced lieutenant by the name of Hyle led a squad of soldiers to the battleground. In a ridiculous and unwarranted charge upon the blowout First Sergeant Dougherty fell mortally wounded. The besiegers now realized the folly of trying to drive the Indians out of their excellent retreat, and accordingly settled down to a siege. But, strange as it may seem, that very night the Indians escaped under cover of darkness. and this in spite of the cordon of men surrounding the blowout.
Mr. C. H. Jones has written his version of the battle, which I cannot
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THE FURTHER HISTORY OF GARFIELD COUNTY
forbear repeating here. He has retold the story so often to appreciative listeners these thirty years past that it has inadvertently become somewhat enlarged. His personal prowess especially seems to be greatly overdone. But this touch of egotism may be readily overlooked in the face of the fact that the story is very interesting :
"In the spring of 1876 the Sioux were on the war-path. One morning Tom Hemmett came down the canyon from his claim just as we were eating breakfast, and coming to the honse asked me 'what those bareheaded men were doing up there on the hill?' I asked, where did you see any baro-
The North Loup River near the Old Mill. Burwell. ( By the Courtesy of Mrs. Anna Johnz.) headed men?' 'Right up there,' looking over the top of the hill about 350 yards from the house. 'Bareheaded men, h-}! they are Indians,' I yelled, and grabbing my gun went around the point on a double-quick. I went up a 'pocket' and peeked over very carefully but they were gone. I went to the spot and discovered tracks and followed the trail until I saw they were headed for the west canyon. Running back to the house I sent Tom down the valley to get out the boys and have them meet me at the forks of the west canyon.
"I went back, took up the trail and followed the Indians. They knew they had been seen and had stopped just over the bank of a canyon half way between the east and west canyons and were lying down watching the back trail. Instead of following the trail I trotted up the west canyon. I went up very cautiously, knowing almost exactly where they would cross i !. Every point I approached very carefully, looking through the grass at the top, and lucky I did so, for at the last one I found them, not more than 100 yards distant and on the lookout over the back trail. My heart thumped so
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THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP
loud I was afraid they would hear it, but I guess they didn't, for in about twenty minutes they moved west. I waited a few minutes, then went up the bank and peeked again. They were in plain sight, six of them well armed and watching everything. I kept to the left towards the canyon so that I could see the boys when they came up. The Indians finally went down into the south pocket of the west canyon and I circled around expect- ing them to come out at the head of it, but after waiting a long time I made up my mind that they had slipped out toward the valley, so I started back on the north side of the pocket, keeping a sharp lookout. Finally I discov- ered just a little smoke in the canvon, and slipping along peeking over cau- tiously, I discovered them around a little fire eating a turkey they had stolen
Original Log House Built by Mr. William Draver South of Burwell in the Early Seventies.
the night before from Dolph Alderman. How I wished for the boys then ! But there was a misunderstanding. Instead of coming where I told them to they mounted their horses and went up the valley to head them off.
"When I got home and found out why the boys had not shown up, I sad- dled my pony, went back and found that the Indians had gone and then pulled out for Pebble Creek, to the north of the canyons, looking for their trail. Just as I neared the head of the creek I saw some of the trapper boys com- ing and two of them came over to where I was. They had gone four miles beyond, and seeing nothing had turned back. I told them the Indians were hidden somewhere in the canyons near Pebble Creek and they went to looking. During this time others had joined us, most of them on foot, however. Two of us remained north of the canyons to see whether they
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THE FURTHER HISTORY OF GARFIELD COUNTY
would appear again and, sure enough, in about thirty minutes the footmen routed them out of Pebble Creek, but no shots were fired. As soon as they came out we gave the alarm and went for them. After about a mile of hot chase the Indians threw away everything except guns and ammunition. When I came up I dismounted and picked up a cartridge belt of Indian manufacture with 16 44-calibre empty shells in it. The belt I wanted as a memento, and I have it yet after nearly 30 years. After joining the ad- vance it became evident that we would have to throw out flankers, as they would stop over every hill and let fly a couple of shots, but they could not hit a barn after running as they had.
"In our party were four mounted trappers and three young men who were en route to the Black Hills, -James Flint, Elmer Raymond, John Mc- Nutt, and myself (C. H. Jones). The trappers and strangers took the flanks and left us the center. There had been only Live or six shots fired by our side when we lost the Indians in the sand hills just to the north and east of the head of Dry Creek. We knew they were somewhere, therefore we commenced looking in the blowouts and in so doing our party became scattered over a mile of territory. Some of the trapper boys were to the northwest. the rest cast, and my party to the west and southwest of the blowout where the Indians were. Will Wirtz and two of the Black Hills men were about 300 yards to the north and a little west. Steve Chase and his partner were about 200 yards east and a little north. Dave Shroyer and George Baker were southeast 100 yards. McNutt and I were south 175 yards, Jas. Flint was 200 yards south west and Elmer Raymond had stopped on a knoll 200 yards west. Now I will go back and bring up the reserves.
"When the trapper boys started to head them off above Pebble Creek and left me alone with the Indians. Newt. McClimans mounted a horse and made for the Fort, yelling 'Indians!' as he went. He dashed into the Fort and told Capt. Coppinger and immediately thereafter the bugle sounded 'boots and saddles.' In less than 15 minutes after McClimans got there Lieut. Hyle dashed out at the head of 15 mounted men and went flying up the valley. The Indians were about two miles from the Calamus valley. These troops rode up the Calamus above where we were, but scout 'Buck Shot' being with them and having a powerful glass was taking advantage of the high places to look over the country and discover us.
"At about this time I had located the Indians in a blowout and yelled to Raymond. But he, having sighted the soldiers, paid no further atten- tion to me. Dave Shroyer heard me and asked me where the place was, - Dave was in the valley between the parallel ridges and about 150 yards from me. I pointed north and he turned and dashed up the hill to the very edge of the blowout, in fact the horse's head was over the edge. Just then a shot rang out and Dave's horse wheeled and plunged down the hill, blood spurting from his neck. Immediately after an Indian jumped out of the hole and shot again, then started down the hill after Dave. Then another Indian joined the chase. I jumped off my horse and told McNutt to hold him but he had skipped down the slope about 30 feet. I yelled at him to
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THE TRAIL OF THE LOUP
stop, telling him that I would shoot him if he didn't, and then ran down the hill and gave him my horse and told him to stay there, and ran back just as the last Indian was getting out of the hole. I dropped down, rested my gun over the top of the hill, took sight and fired. The Indian threw up both hands and fell with a yell backward into the hole. The other Indians looked around in time to see him disappear and just then George Baker opened tire. The Indians immediately broke for the hole again and went in much quicker than they came out. I got another shot at them just as the last one went over the edge, but not being a good wing shot I missed him. I then fired a couple of shots into the hole. The Indians now made an attempt to escape by the north side but three shots from the Wirtz party put them back. Steve Chase was standing on the hill to the right and shortly after two shots in quick succession came from the Indians and Steve dropped out of sight. I left Fling and Raymond and went around to see what had become of Steve, I found him lying on the slope out of range with his partner holding the horses. I asked him if he was shot and he said 'no. but I don't see how the d-I that Indian shot on both sides of me at once.' He said the balls didn't miss him on either side over five inches. I told him two Indians fired at the same time. I gave my horse to the man holding Steve's and we crawled up to the top of the hill, one to watch while the other shot. A shot or two was tired. Then the Indians replied, the first shot striking just between us. We moved a little and then be- gan a fusillade. It wasn't long till the Indians ceased firing. Then we hol- lowed to Dave and George to come out. They were behind a little knoll just large enough to cover them, but too low down to fire from at the blow- out. They came out and everything was quiet for awhile. Then the In- dians raised a rag on a gun and shook it. I afterwards thought they wanted to parley but at the time of it I didn't think a black flag denoted anything but blood, so I let drive a shot and the flag disappeared. (The fact of it was, they didn't have any white cloth, but I didn't think of it at that time. ) Now, I never felt just right over this mitter for I believe that the Indians either wanted to surrender unconditionally or else get us out from under cover and shoot one or more of us to even up the score. But we will never know just what their intention was. At all events that was the last shot for awhile.
"Dave Shroyer suggested when he joined us that perhaps they wanted to surrender when they made the signal. But I told him that I thought they had adopted the wrong course in raising the black flag, so the only consolation I have is to blame the government for not furnishing their good Indians with white handkerchiefs to use when they got into a hole and chances were desperate.
"When 'Buckshot' saw Raymond's signal he dashed down the hill, joined the soldiers and led them on a gallop over the country to our posi- tion. As the soldiers came over a point about 250 yards from the blowout the Indians fired two shots at them. One of the shots cut the mane of a horse, next to Lieut. Hyle. After Hyle had asked a few questions he told
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THE FURTHER HISTORY OF GARFIELD COUNTY
us that this was no way to fight Indians. . Why didn't you go up in a body and take them out?' he asked. You may believe I was somewhat taken aback as I thought we had done very well. Hyle then told us that his ex- perience of three years with the Apaches was to go right after them and keep them going. By this time I had gotten my wind. . Lieutenant,' I said, 'they're in the blowout; go and get them.' After a little parleying seven of our party took a position on the top of a knoll to keep the Indians from firing on the soldiers as they advanced, and the soldiers with Lieut. Hyle on the right and Sergt. Dougherty on the left, advanced up the hill. Sergt. Dougherty got to the top first and came in sight of the Indians. He stepped back, motioned to Hyle that they were there; then, with gun ready, stepped back to the edge of the blowout when an Indian fired, shooting him through the heart. This threw the soldiers into a panic. They squatted down holding their guns over their heads and fired into the hole without effect- all except Lieut. Hyle. He deliberately stepped to the top, took aim and fired but missed, and the Indians fired three shots at him but missed him. After the soldiers fired they all ran down the hill and when Hyle stepped back to reload he found himself alone. He could not get any of his men to go up after Sergt. Dougherty's body. Bill Wirtz and one of the Black Hills men finally joined the lieutenant and recovered the body. The lieutenant stood and looked at the body of the dead sergeant and then at his cowardly squad of men without saying a word. Finally one of the strangers spoke to him and he roused up, and sent one of the soldiers to the Fort after more men and the ambulance. It was then sundown. Pickets were put around the hole. James Flint and one or two others and I left for home. The reinforcements arrived about midnight and at daylight another advance was made, but the Indians were gone.
"In about three weeks we got word from the Rosebud Agency that our party of six had come in almost naked and that one of them had a bad wound, being shot across the breast from right to left and that the bone on the right side was splintered. I knew then that he was my Indian and that if I had shot two inches farther to the left he would have been a good Indian."
As an immediate result of this brush with the Indians, a number of famihes feeling themselves insecure in life and property abandoned their claims and left the frontier. Thus the settlers McNutts, Harpers, Ray- monds, and others set their faces southward, away from the settlement.
Mr. Jones, nothing daunted, constructed an almost bulletproof fort at a short distance from his house, and placed Tom Hemmett in command. Under him was a garrison of two. The ruins of this fortification are yet traceable on a sharp ridge, at some 85 to 90 yards distance from the old Jones cabin.
But the Indians had gone to rally around Sitting Bull and other chiefs in a vain hope to drive back the regulars which General Miles was begin- ning to hurl against them.
Aside from the Indian troubles just narrated, life in the upper settle-
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ment was much akin to that of the lower settlements. The "Gillespie Star Route" was at an early date extended as far as Willow Springs on the north side, and to The Forks on the south of the river. Truman Freeland carried the mail, in 1874, from St. Paul to the "Springs," via the Spring. dale-Calamus route. That same year Henry Maxon opened the first post- office at The Forks, that being the northern limit of the route extending from St. Paul, through Cotesfield, North Loup, and Ord.
Here too were the settlers jealous of the education of their children. In the summer of '75 a very neat, shingled loghouse was erected and Almira J. Freeland installed to teach the first school in the county.
But, all considered, the settlers experienced some fearfully hard years;
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Plat of tbe Defunct Cedar City, First County Seat of the Original Wheeler County.
and yet, as was said of the early New England Pilgrims, not a one of the real settlers lost heart and wished himself back to the flesh-pots of the East. Neither loss of crops by grasshoppers and hail, with consequent shortage in bread, nor winter storm and summer drought could dishearten them, and they lived to see their part of the valley bloom like a rose-great farms, well stocked with choice cattle, and growing marvelous crops. Carefree, with larder well filled and good balances in the bank, they may now take the well-earned rest which is theirs. They opened the Trail of the Loup. and those who came after do them honor.
For more than eight years after the first nucleus of pioneers has reached what we now know as Garfield county, that part of the state con- tinued as "Unorganized Territory. " For judicial purposes and for pur- poses of taxation, all that portion lying immediately north and west of Val- ley county was attached to the latter county. But this condition of things was never satisfactory; accordingly a new county, Wheeler, was organized.
CEDAR
NANCE
JOHNSON
STOCKTON
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THE FURTHER HISTORY OF GARFIELD COUNTY
This took place on the 11th day of April, 1881. The act provided for the organization of a territory forty-eight miles east and west, by twenty-four miles north and south, comprising the present counties of Wheeler and Garfield.
J. F. Cummings was elected County Clerk and for some time he kept the county records at Cumminsville on Beaver Creek, which may therefore
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