USA > Nebraska > Dakota County > Warner's history of Dakota County, Nebraska, from the days of the pioneers and first settlers to the present time, with biographical sketches, and anecdotes of ye olden times > Part 10
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dora, Harden county, Iowa. Started westward in search of a home in 1855.
GEORGE T. Woons, in company with a Frenchman and two Blackfeet Indians, rowed across the Missouri river to Nebraska in a skiff on the 1st day of July, 1855. He had come over to look at the country; went afoot to the Col. Baird binffs, had wild turkey for din-
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ner: thence southward to what is now known as the Tim Murphy place, and here on the afternoon of July 1, 1855, he drove down the first claim stake ever driven into Dakota county soil. There were no impressive ceremonies or eloquent "corner- stone" speeches on the occasion, although it will ever stand out as a very im- portant step in the history of the county. On the 1st of September Chancey A. Horr and Moses Kreps crossed the river with him, and they began building a log cabin where Omadi was afterwards located. This is supposed to have been the first house erected in the county. They were getting ready to build a saw mill on Omaha creek. Mr. Woods foresaw the coming of future events; he reasoned that a human tide would soon roll across the fertile prairies of Nebraska, and a great quantity of lumber would be required to satisfy the demand. While they were at work a band of In- dians came along and took all of their provisions and everything else they could get their hands on, inclnd- ing their boat, "and," says Mr. Woods, "they came very nearly taking our scalps." They were now left with- out a monthful of provisions and without any means of reaching the Iowa shore. They found a dead hawk, which was all they had to eat for three days, when a Frenchman happened to come along with a boat and took them across the river. But this little drawback did not keep them from returning to Nebraska and completing the saw mill, which was put into operation on the 1st of April, 1856. Sold lumber at $30 per 1,000 feet. The first lumber sawed by this mill and sold to the settlers was used to build Gideon Warner's old house. Began running a steam saw mill in Omadi November, 1856; was also engaged in the butchering business in the fall of 1856, killing as high as four beeves in one day, on certain occasions, to feed the hungry travelers who were pouring into the country. In the meantime, he had abandoned the Tim Murphy claim and had taken what is now known as the old
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Charles Bliven place, as the latter was much nearer to where he was at work in the saw mill. February 27, 1857, he started for Colorado, came back the next fall. Was married to Catherine Ream, sister of Henry Ream, September 23, 1860, in Omadi, by Elder Sinith. Moved on the D. Y. Ilileman place in 1861, having previously purchased the same of George Fangley. En- listed in Company I, Second Nebraska Cavalry, October, 1862; mustered out November 19, 1863. Engaged in farming until 1864, when he commenced building the Oak's mill. situated one and one-half miles north of Homer. He has from time to time been engaged in brick burning-made the brick used to build the court house, the industrial school building at the Winnebago agency, and many other buildings in the county. Hlas since been engaged in farming, general merchandising, etc. Was first president of the old settlers' association. Has never lost his residence in Dakota county since his first settlement here. To Mr. and Mrs. Woods there were born four children -- Ida, Fannie, Robert; one son died.
George T. Woods was born February 23, 1831, in Chautauqua county, New York. March 9, 1854, went to McHenry county, Illinois; remained there the fol. lowing summer and then went to Delaware county, Iowa, and engaged in wagon making. Came to Wood- bury county, Iowa, May 3, 1955.
HENRY REAM, as has been before stated, crossed the Missouri river to Dakota county on the 15th day of May, 1855. Before him stretched one vast wilder- ness where the tread of civilization was yet unknown .. Hle made his way afoot to the high bluffs where Col. Baird afterwards located. The grass and weeds were more than ten feet high, and it was, indeed, a weary journey. But long before he again reached the Iowa. shore, the marvelous richness and fertility of the soil had been fully determined by him. To himself he kept repeating over and over again: "Upon this fair-
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land I will settle, and it shall ever more be my home." This was more than thirty-eight years ago, and Henry Ream is still living up to his promise, on his farm ad- joining Homer on the east.
On the 1st day of May, 1856, he moved his family from Sergeant Bluffs to old Omnadi, and lived in a tent while he was constructing a residence. He opened up the first hotel, and was the first postmaster. Settled on the farm where he now resides in 1864, but his wife soon afterwards died and he moved to Dakota City. where he took charge of the Bates House. Was mar- ried a second time, to Mrs. Almeda Hirsch, widow of Abraham Hirsch. Mrs. Hirsch was one of first pio- neer women to reach Dakota county, and the second child that died in the county was an infant daughter of hers. She had two children by her first husband- Frank and Luella. Mr. Ream has five children by his first wife-Marcellus M., Charles, John, Mrs. Mary R. McBeath and Mrs. Fannie Easton. By their second marriage they have four children-Nina M., Mabel, Leon and William. Moved back to their farm in 1871. Henry Ream was born in Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, in 1822, and came west in 1853.
A. H. BAKER came strolling along through the west and crossed over the river to Dakota county August 23. 1855. He was "young and full of vim," and went to work building a saw mill on Omaha creek, near the town of Omadi. Besides himself there were interested in this mill, Jacob Hallock, Geo. T. Woods and Chauncey A. Horr. It was one of the finest mill sites ever seen in this part of the country. Omaha Creek at that time made a square angle about a mile south of where is now located the Gideon Warner farm, and turning southward until it reached the bluffs, thence east to the river below Blyburg. But during the flood in the spring of 1857, when a great volume of water broke over the river bank above old St. Johns, and rushing down along the bluffs past Col. II. Baird's
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place into Omaha Creek, so great was the pressure of this vast amount of water that it ent a channel straight through to the river. It was in the summer of 1855 when he, in company with George T. Woods, William Cheney and others, crossed the Missouri river and went on a claim-hunting expedition. They crossed over at Omadi, went south to the bluffs through high grass, jungles, mad, water, creeks and the wildest looking country ever seen by mortal eyes in the west. Went eastward along the bluffs to Blyburg, struck across the hills to Squaw Creek, where Samuel Rymell lives, then to where Homer now stands and on up to Col. Baird's place. Here they crossed and re-crossed the creek. Every time they came to a bend in the stream they sup- posed it was another creek and would plunge in and swim across. They thought they had never before seen such a country for creeks. It was night when they reached their boats at Omadi, and a more weary, hungry and foot-sore crowd had never before or since been seen in Dakota county. To show the reader what a trip they made that day we will state that the same journey can hardly be made to-day by the strongest person, when he would have the advantage of good roads. The winter of 1855 was extremely cold, the merenry never getting above the freezing point from the 23d of December until spring, and the snow was eighteen inches deep most of the winter, never drifting in the least. These sturdy pioneers worked away at the saw mill, and by spring had it ready to go to saw- ing lumber. They sold the mill and bought a steam saw mill in the town of Onidi. Here Mr. Baker worked about seven years. Was electedl county com- missioner at the first election held in Dakota county, in November, 1853. In the summer of 1858, while he was commissioner, the question of submitting a propo- sition to the vote of the people in regard to changing the county seat from Dakota City, which had been lo- cated there by an act of the legislature passed January
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23, 1856, to some other point, came up before the board for action. The affirmative was represented by John Taff, negative by Wm. Lockwood, Taff opening the dis- cussion. He wanted the county seat moved to Omadi. Loud was his voice, and defiantly did he "saw the air" with his long arms. Lockwood replied with a still more fiery speech, and it looked at one time as if there would be a mortal combat between the two men. Taff, who was afterwards called to congress from this state to appear before the nation's wise debaters, won his point, and the commissioners allowed the people to vote on the proposition August 2 of that year. Dakota City came out victorious. Mr. Baker was afterwards elected probate judge for Dakota county. But let us tell you what he had done in the meantime. He was not contented with three partners in the milling busi- mess; another partner seemed essential in the running of that mill. Now, Jacob Hallock had a sister, Miss Rose, who promised to be Mr. Baker's partner to the end of life, and accordingly on the 20th of September, 1857, they were married, and have three danghters- Mrs. William Eckhart, Mollie and Nellie.
In 1863 he removed to Decatur, worked at the mason trade about two years, then returned to Dakota City; run a saw mill, which stood in the southwestern part of the town, two years, then removed to the Winnebago agency, ran the saw mill there abont two years, then returned to Dakota City, and resided there until 1884, when he was appointed miller and sawyer at the Winnebago agency under Agent Wilkin- son. Ile has also been member of the Nebraska legis- lature and held various other offices. Was one of the partners who built the Emmit mill at Jackson.
Mr. Baker was born in Chautauqua county, New York, in 1834, afterwards came to MeHenry county, Illinois. In the fall of 1854 he removed to Delaware county, Iowa. Landed on Nebraska's fertile soil Aug. 23, 1855, which has ever since been his home. By his
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square and straightforward dealings with his fellowmen he has won the respect and esteem of all who know him.
ROBERT PILGRIM crossed the Missouri river at Sergeant Bluffs with his father, William Pilgrim, Jesse Wigle and others, on the 19th day of August, 1855. They camped on the west bank of the river, and the next day, August 20, proceeded to the Col. Baird bluffs, where they camped abont a week, and then moved their tents down to where John Braunt now lives. Took a claim in September two miles east of Homer, the old Col. Warner place, and built a log cabin by the spring near the Spring Grove school house, in district No. 14. Lived here during the winter of 1855-'56, lit- tle dreaming that in future years a school house would be reared upon the site of his lonely winter quarters. Was married in 1858 to Mereb Braunt, daughter of Jeremian Braunt, who then lived on the old Josiah Davis place. He went to Colorado, and on his return moved to the Lewis Blessing place. Took a claim, now owned by Barney Gribble, on Fid- dler's creek-so named from the fact that the people who lived on the creek, were all fiddlers.
Robert Pilgrim was born February 15, 1836, in Langeville, Indiana. Ile went to Illinois with his parents about 1842, and then to Iowa in 1844, where he lived until 1855, when he started for Nebraska. Ilas five sons and three daughters-Jeremiah, Will- iam H., Horatio, John R. and Ira; Mrs. R. M. Snyder, Mrs. Rosa Antrim and Melissa.
LEONARD BATES, in company with ex-Governor Wm. H. James, crossed the Missonri river at Sergeant Bluffs in a canoe to Nebraska in the fall of 1853, but finding nothing but brush and wild jungles they re- turned to the Iowa shore with the opinion that Nebraska was one vast brush patch. He again crossed the river in the fall of 1855 and wended his way westward until
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he came to the beautiful prairies of Dakota connty. Took a claim which is now owned by John Blessing and Eph Hunt. Built a log house in Logan in the summer of 1856, and the following winter sold the house and also his claim. Went to Sergeant Bluffs and remained one year, when he returned to Nebraska and took a claim in the winter of '56 and '57, where he now lives, three miles west of Dakota City. This claim was adjoining Logan on the west. Went to Colo- rado in 1859. About this time he came to the conclu- sion that he would do something that would break him of moving around so often, and accordingly was mar- ried to Miss May Weaver, February 27, 1860, in Da- kota City, by Wm. Denton, a United Brethren minis- ter. They immediately started on their wedding tour to his claim. Here he has lived to see, as it were, a vision pass before his eyes. The wild prairies disap- pear and behold the land teeming with wealth and prosperity. The town of Logan rises, falls and decays until to-day there is no trace of a town there. Has tive children living and one dead. Has been elected county surveyor four times on the Republican ticket, and was chosen as vice president of the Pioneers and Old Settlers Association at their annual re-union, August 14, 1886, and elected as president at their meet- ing September 1, 1888.
Leonard Bates was born April 5, 1833, in Winsor county, Vermont. Left there with his parents when three years old for Indiana. Went to Linn county. Iowa, in 1847, and was engaged in farming. Was edu- cated in the public schools. Started west July 18, 1852, and lan ded in Woodbury county, Iowa, August 8, 1852. Was employed by the government to survey the town- ship lines between the Big and Little Sioux rivers. One day while they were out surveying they were over- taken by a great prairie fire, such as no man will ever see again in this section of country, and one man was burned to death and others badly injured, but Mr.
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Bates, like the three men we read about in the Bible. came out of the fire unharmed. Took a claim where Sergeant Bluffs. now stands. Thus eloses the history of another "sturdy pioneer."
COL. HARLON BAIRD, on the 27th day of Septem- ber, 1855, crossed the Missoni river to Dakota county and proceeded to the bluffs, where he selected the farm on which he has lived to the present time, about eight miles southeast of Dakota City. So much has already been said in regard to Col. Baird, in this book, that to give a full biography now of his life would only be a repetition:
fis good and noble wife died June 5, 1888, leaving three children-Thomas C., Henry Clay and Emma, wife of Benjamin Bridenbaugh.
When the war broke out he, with Maj. McBeath, Mat Patrick and Billy Curl, were among the first in Nebraska to offer their services for the country's good. They enlisted in August, 1861, in the Nebraska cav- alry, a batallion raised in Omaha. This was after- wards consolidated with troops from Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri and an independent regiment formed and assigned under the state of Iowa, and by special order was made the Fifth Iowa Cavahy. It was more widely known as "Curtis Horse" cavalry. They were known throughout the war as one of the pluiekiest and hardest fighting regiments on the ground. He mustercd in as a private, was selected as a captain by his company, and by promotion soon received the honor of colonel. He to- day suffers from wounds received while fighting for his country. He was discharged from the service July 27, 1865. When Nebraska was first admitted as a state Col. Baird was wisely gelceted by the people of Dakota county to represent them in the legislature, and. he did much work in helping to frame and adopt the constitution. It was at this session that the great fight was for the removal of the state capital, Columbus and Lincoln being the two leading points. Atter it
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was found that Lincoln had a majority of the votes all those who had voted for Columbus had changed their votes to Lincoln but the colonel, and if the records are correct, his vote alone will be found standing there in favor of Columbus. IIe believed Columbus to be the proper place for the state capital, and he intended to stand by his belief. He has always been an unswerv- ing Republican.
CHARLES ROULEAUX was an Indian trader in Da- kota county in 1855. Took a claim, which was subse- quently the town site of Omadi; afterwards laid out the town of Rulo in the southern part of the state. where he died.
JUDGE THOMAS L. GRIFFEY was standing on the east bank of the Missouri river, some three miles below where Sioux City is now located, in the fall of 1851. and saw several deer come down to the water on the opposite side to drink. He was just as fond of hunt- ing then as he was all his life, and forthwith he pro- ceeded to cross the river on a hunting expedition. which was the first time he had ever touched the soil
of Dakota county. "At this time," said Mr. Griffey, "there was the most dense timber and the largest trees between where Dakota City and Covington now stand that I ever saw in my life." T. L. Griffey was born June 28, 1827, in Alexandria, Campbell county, Ken- tneky; went to Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, in March, 1849; was on his way to Colorado, but was taken sick and postponed. the trip indefinitely; first stepped upon the soil of Nebraska territory in 1850; started up the Missouri river from Council Bluffs in the fall of 1851 with a load of groceries to trade to the Indians for furs; established a trading post where Woodbury is now located; was married August 7, 1853, to Mary I. Brown, daughter of Rev. Samuel Brown, a Methodist minister, who lived near Council Bluffs. In the fall of 1853 was employed by United States Indian
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Agent Hepner to escort a delegation of Omaha Indians of whom the Fontenelle boys were leaders, up the river to look at a tract of land above where Ponca was after- wards located, and f they chose to do so the govern- ment gave them the right to select land there in lien of the reservation on which they are now living. They concluded they would select the latter for their home. The first night the party camped on what was after- wards to be known as the Col. Baird farm. When they awoke the next morning they found a bee tree di- rectly above their tents, from which over fifty pounds of honey was obtained. After the party had returned from up the river they proceeded to the mouth of Wood creek, where the town of Decatur was afterwards built, and began selecting a tract of land to contain abont 300,000 acres, which is now called the Omaha reserva- tion. Mr. Griffey drove down the initial stake about a hundred yards from the bank of the river, immediately north of the forty-second parallel of north latitude. They then surveyed about twenty-four miles due west, eighteen miles north, and thence east to the Missouri river below Blyburg. In 1954 helped to frame the territorial government of Nebraska, named all the northern counties, including Dakota county, which at that time was spelled Dacotah. He organized Wood- bury county, appointed a full set of county officers and located the county seat near the grave of Sergeant Floyd, below Sioux City, and named the town Sergeant Bluffs, which was afterwards moved to a point opposite Dakota City and called Sergeant Bluffs. In 1856 took a claim within the present limit of Sioux City, which to this day is known as the Griffey addition; sold his entire interest in the land which had been in litigation for many years by the Iowa Falls and Sioux City rail- road company to S. T. Davis, of Sioux City, for more than $25,000. Was admitted to the bar in Sioux City in 1856, and went into the law and real estate business. Located in Covington in 1857 and moved his family
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there in the spring of 1858. In the spring of 1859 went to Pike's Peak and returned in the fall. Ilis family had the ague, so he concluded to get up on higher ground and moved to Cedar county in 1860. Moved to Dakota City in 1861; was deputy county clerk in 1862 under Dr. G. B. Graff. In 1862 he en- listed in Company I, Second Nebraska Cavalry, under command of Gov. Robert W. Furnas. Marched up the river to Fr. Sully and fought in the battle of White Stone Hill against the Indian warriors. Was orderly sergeant, and was mustered ont November, 1863. Served in territorial council from 1864 to 1866; was elected on the Democratic ticket in a strong Repub- lican district against Hon. Ex-Governor William HI. James, and was appointed on the committee ou schools, where he did much hard work to shape and mold the school laws for Nebraska. Was county attorney for seven years. In 1875 was elestel judge of the Sixth judicial district of Nebraska on the Democratic ticket, against Hon. E. K. Valentine, Republican. Served on the bench more than a year, when he was connted out by a Republican legislature which decided that Valentine had been decte I by 2 an 1 21-100 votes. On the 26th day of May, 1882, was stricken with apoplexy, which rendered his left side useless. Up to this time he was enjoying one of the largest law practices ever acquired by any one man in the county before or since. Ilis wife died in October, 1885, leaving four children, of which three are dead. Was for years one of the heaviest tax payers of the county, and ever took a deep interest in the agricultural advancement of Dakota county. Was the first president of the Dakota County Farmers' Institute, organized in 1886. In 1885 moved on his farm a short distance northeast of Dokota City, built a substantial residence, good barn and other com- fortable out buildings for stock. It is a strange coin- cidence that he settled near the spot where in the fall of 1851 he crossed the river to Dakota county, long be-
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fore there was a solitary white man there; when there was no Sioux City and the county was wild and in its primeval state. How marvelons it must seem to a mian to have seen this country in its uninhabited condition and then look upon it in its present, wonderful, pros- perity. He died at his home in Sioux City, lowa, January 1, 1892.
JOHN B. ARTEAUX, in company with Charles Rou- leanx, crossed the Missouri river in a canoe to where Omadi was afterwards founded, and selected his claim September 5, 1855, which is situated west of the Gideon Warner place on Omaha creek. He visited Dakota county prior to this, June 6, 1851, while employed by the American Fur company, and in 1853, when be camped on the subsequent town site of Omadi. Ile lived in Dakota connty until 1884, when he moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where he has since resided.
B. M. Przy was born in England, and visited what. is to-day Dakota county in April, 1850. He was Sioux City's pioneer stage driver. Afterwards settled in Da- kota City, where he now resides. Was married to Miss Mary Pinkerton, a pioneer school teacher of the county .. in September, 1864. Has two sons-Alfred and Paulding.
MOSES KREPS came to Dakota county in the fall of 1855. Took a claim in Omadi precinct, now ownel by David Waterman. He is now living in Dakota City.
HORACE DUTTON rode on a horse across the unin- habited lands of Iowa in July, 1855. There were no. roads, and he lost his way and for two days did not see a human being. Finally he reached. Woodbury, Iowa, where he remained until December 6, 1855, when he crosse l over the river to Dakota county and took a ciaim where John Joyce now lives. Spent that winter in the Covington timber hanling wood to Sioux City. Enlisted in Company D, Fifth Iowa Cavalry. in. November, 1861 and served four years. Married to-
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Sarah Saulsberry in 1867 and settled on a farm five iniles west of Dakota City, where he resides at present. They have two daughters-Mand and Ruth.
SQUIRE DETTON came to Dakota county with his brother, Horace, December 6, 1855. Settled in Logan. Died at his home in Pagosa Springs, Colo., December, 1885, leaving a widow and two sons.
JOHN J. TRECY was born in Ireland in 1827. Emi- grated to America with his parents in 1833, and located in Lancaster, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania; in 1854. with the family moved to Dubuque, Iowa; in the sum- er of 1855, in company with his brother, Father Trecy, who was then looking for a location to establish a colony, drove across the state of Iowa, locating in what is now called Old St. Johns. In 1862 was married to Miss Elizabeth MeLanghlin, and moved to Huntsville, Alabama, returning to Dakota county in 1870. In 1881 they moved to Wayne, Nebraska, where they now reside. They have five children-Francis S., Augustus J., Raymond J., Mrs. Minnie Frazier and Mrs. Annie Kohl. He was one of the first commissioners of Da- kota county, being re-elected October 11. 1859.
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