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 13
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ANDREW JOHNS was born 1834, in Ohio, and came to Dakota county, July 13, 1856, settled in Blyburg, where his wife died leaving two sons-George W. and Joseph H .; three daughters- Mrs. Wesley McPherson. Mrs. Cora Stubbs and Mrs. Sarah A. Harris. P. O. St. James.
D. W. GRIFFY in company with W. C. McBeath followed an old Indian trail from Omadi to Covington in the summer of 1856, and along their journey they saw no signs of civilization. D. W. Griffey was born June 24, 1834, in Kentucky. Was married a second
time to Florence McConnell. Has one son, Martin W. Was one of the first party that ever reached Pike's Peak, in 1858. Enlisted in the war for the Union, in 1st, and 2nd. Colorado Cavalry, and fought the "bush-whackers" of Missouri. Postoffice, Dakota City.
THOMAS CURRAN Was born in Tipperary Co., Ireland, December 23, 1823, where he was married, and came to Dakota county, in the summer of 1856. Kept the first store in St. Johns. Ilis wife died in 1861 leaving three children-John, James and Maggie. He inar- ried a second wife, who died in 1877. leaving two children-Thomas and Mary. He died at his residence in Summit precinet, March 21, 1890, of Inng fever.
HENRY F. SHULL was born November 1. 1840, in DeKalb county, Indiana. Moved to Iowa in fall of 1855, and on the 13th day of August, 1856, stood for the first time upon the soil of Dakota county, in com- pany with his father Daniel Shull. Was employed as
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cook at the Shull and Hartman shingle mill in Omadi, and afterwards cooked in Henry Ream's hotel. Bought a claim on Fiddlers Creek, and moved there with the Shull family in the fall of 1856, where he still resides three miles west of Homer. Married Jannary 17, 1882, to Olive Taylor, a daughter of Wmn. Taylor. Hlas three daughters-Hattie, Nellie and Effie.
PATRICK RYAN was born in Tipperary county Ireland, 1827, and came to Dakota county. September 8, 1856. Took a claim in what is now known as Sum- mit precinct, and soon afterwards built a comfortable residence. Was married to a daughter of Wm. Hogan shortly after coming to Nebraska. Was a hard work- ing man, accumulating considerable property on his
farm, and elected County Commissioner .on the Demo- cratic ticket, November 6, 1877, but died January 18, 1880, before the expiration of his term of office. Ilis wife having died October 11, 1871, leaving three child. ren. one daughter and two sons, who are still living --- one, Win. H. elected sheriff in 1889. The danghter died February, 1872.
JOHN JOYCE took his first tramp in Dakota county from Covington to the old town of Logan, on the morning of November 26, 1856, and as he plodded along he had ample opportunity to view the wild land which everywhere met his gaze. He little dreamed of the vast changes which a few fleeting years would bring to this uninhabited country as well as to his own financial standing. Lived in Logan in the winter of '56 and '57 and made rails and cut saw logs. The snow was over four feet deep in the timber and the weather intensely coll, but still he worked on, and to- day as you drive by his pleasant country home, four miles west of Dakota ('ity, just remember how he' got his start in the world. Took a claim in Brushy Bend timber and afterwards bought the farm where he now lives of Horace Dutton. There was another wise thing
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he did to get a start on the road to fortune, and that was to marry Miss Phobe Wigle, sister of Jesse Wigle, November 14, 1861. The wedding took place at the residence of the bride's brother, which stood on what is now known as the Capt. O'Connor lane, Rev. Turman officiating. They at once moved to his farm where they have ever since resided, and witnessed the settling up of the wild land around them. Have adopted three children and celebrated their silver wedding, November 14. 1886. John Joyce was born June 5, 1837, in Duchess county, N. Y .; was educated in the public schools. At the age of 12 years went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in farming. Left Wisconsin in the spring of 1856 for Iowa and thence to Nebraska.
PATRICK AHERN Was born in 1827, and came to Dakota county in 1856. Lived in the western part of the county until his death, April 7, 1874.
WILLIAM GRIBBLE Was born in 1828, in England, *and came to America about 1834. settling in Dakota county in 1856. Took a claim in Brushy Bend. Mar- ried to Lorinda Logan about 1855. Died in 1881 at Sioux City, Iowa, leaving a wife and four daughters.
DAVID SHULL was born in Indiana, in 1848, and came to Dakota county October 14, 1856, taking a claim on Fiddlers Creek, January 1, 1857, where he has remained continuously to the present time. When Samnel Watts came along in 1857, surveying the county he found that ont of the entire male population along this creek, thirteen in number, all were fiddlers but David. Watts immediately named it Fiddlers Creek. Was married to Anna Winkhans, March 13, 1879. He established "Hillside Dairy" on his farm two and one- half miles west of Homer, in 1881. Died in July, 1891, leaving a wife and one daughter.
AMos LAMPSON while in the prime of life turned his face westward and crossed the Missouri river into
COL. CHARLES D. MARTIN. (See page 201.)
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Dakota county, October 25, 1856. He had come to see for himself if the wonderful stories he had heard of Nebraska were true, and he was not long in coming to the conclusion that he had found a land in which he wished to spend the remainder of his days. He moved his family to Dakota county in November of the same year. Early in the month ice began run- ning in the river and everything indicated that an ex- tremely severe winter was at hand. He is one of the few who still live to tell abont that ever memorble cold and stormy winter of '56 and '57. He lived in Omadi that winter. Hearing about the wonderful rushes around Blyburg lake where stock were successfully wintered without hay or grain, he tried the experiment, but be- fore winter was half over he lost every head of his cattle. The following spring moved down to Blyburg and opened up two wood yards on the bank of the river. Those who had occasion to visit Blyburg in early days will remember the big bend in that locality-it was a few hundred yards by land across the neck, but a num- ber of miles by water. Well, at the lower end of the bend he had a wood yard, also one at the upper end, and he generally wooded up a steam boat from his first yard, then in the afternoon or the next day would step across the narrow isthmus and sell wood from his other yard to the same boat, which had been a day or so in getting around the big bend, filled with ugly snags and treacherous sand-bars. So you see this is the way Mr. Lampson utilized the crookedness of the "old muddy" and made "piles of money" thereby. This was one kind of "erookedness" that was "straightforward." In Oc- tober, 1861, he joined the army against the Indian foes; served until May, 1862. Can remember when Blyburg was all prairie except large elm trees next to the lake and river, and the grass grew to a great height. While riding on a large horse through the grass, was wet to the shoulders with the dew, so the reader can easily imagine how tall the grass must have been. Amos
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Lampson was born July 24, 1815, in Byron, Genesee county, New York. At the age of twenty-one moved to Wisconsin and built a bridge across Fox river. Hewed every stiek of the timber, planks and all. Worked in a mill in Missouri five years and was married to Anna Jackson, of Clark county, Missouri, in 1843. Moved to Lee county, Iowa, then to Clark county, and in Oc- tober, 1856, started for Nebraska. His wife died in Homer, September 5, 1888, leaving nine children- four sons, Albert, George, William and Frank; five daugh- ters. Mrs. Lorenzo Whitehorn, Mrs. Caleb Lane, Mrs. Elias Shook, Effie and Florence.
GEN. JOSEPH HOLLMAN Was born in Williamsport, Washington county, Maryland, April 29, 1825. At- tended Jefferson college, Pennsylvania, and afterwards studied law at Hagerstown. He caught the "western fever,' and leaving his home January 19, 1846, jour- neyed to Lee county, Iowa, where two years later he was elected prosecuting attorney. Was appointed by President Pierce as United States district attorney for Nebraska territory, and settled in Dakota county on May, 1856, on his pre-emption adjoining Dakota City, which he still owns. He returned to Lee county. Iowa. in 1859, where he was elected as state senator. After remaining there for a few years he again came to Da- kota county, where he has ever taken an active part in all public affairs pertaining to the welfare of the peo- ple. It is not necessary to give further sketch of his life here, as a full account is given in different parts of this book.
SAMUEL WHITEHORN was born in Rutland connty. Vermont. Went to Yates county at the age of seven- teen, where le learned the tailoring trade. Next moved to Ontario county, and thence to Seneca Falls in 1837. where he worked at his trade two years. Came to Da- kota county November 20, 1856, and settled in Logan, where he kept a boarding house. Moved to Dakota City
BENEDICT
GEN. JOSEPH HOLLMAN.
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the following year and opened up a brick yard, manu- facturing the first brick made in Dakota City. In 1872 located on a farm three miles west of Dakota City, where he lived until he moved to the state of Washington. En- listed in 1862, in Co. I, 2nd Nebraska Cavalry and served thirteen months. Married. October 17, 1837. to Mary Beach of Seneca Falls, New York. She died June 11, 1846, leaving two sons -- Leander and Lor- enzo, and a daughter who is dead. £ Was married a second time to Sarah A. Evans, of Seneca Falls, New York. Has three children living by his second wife- one son and two daughters, George C., Mrs. Ralph Goodwin and Nelhe. flis danghter, Emma F., who was loved and respected by a large number of friends died August 21, 1889.
ALANSON BAKER came to Dakota county, Novem- ber, 1856, and helped Father Martin to manufacture shingles near Covington. Married to Lizzie George- a sister of Mrs. E. L. Wilbur. Has one son and two daughters, Alanson, Sarah and Avis. Postoffice, Ak- ron, Iowa.
CRITTENDEN MCDONALD came to Dakota county November 20, 1856, was afterwards badly hurt by fali- ing from a tall cottonwood tree, where he had climbed after an eagle's nest, and soon afterwards went east.
WILLIAM H. COLLINS came to Dakota county in 1856, lost a lot of cattle that winter. At that time owned the Adam Sides farm, enlisted in Co. I., 2nd Nebraska cavalry. Hle afterwards went to Missouri where he died.
ALEXANDER FORD came to Dakota county in the fall of 1856. Lived in Omadi, afterwards moved to Dunlap, Iowa. where he now resides. Has two chil- dren, Charles S. and Mrs. Julia Pease of Dunlap, Iowa.
CHARLES S. FORD was born June 17, 1847, in Buf- falo, N. Y .; came with his parents to Dakota county in
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the fall of 1856 and helped his father put up hay near Omadi. Attended the first school ever taught in the county, at Omadi, by Miss Putnam, afterward- attended school at the same place taught by Dr. G. W. Wilkin- son. His parents moved to Sergeant Binffs and soon afterwards returned to Nebraska, locating on the Tim Murphy place, north of where Homer now stands. From here they went to Des Moines, Iowa. Chas. Ford again returned to Dakota City in 1867 and was em- ployed in the Bates House. Taught school in a little old school house that stood near Col. Baird's old house; went to Ponca and taught two terms of school in 1869. In 1870 opened up a general store near the Oaks' mill, and in the fall of 1871 he and Sum A. Combs bought the Frontier Mills. Here in connection with the mill- ing business he operated a general store near by. Was married to Harriett Myers, September 17, 1872, at Jackson, Neb. Sold his share in the mill to Col. Baird in the fall of 1873 and moved to Ponca where he bought ont Samuel Gamble's store and remained in this busi- ness until 1881, when he moved to Bancroft and opened np a general store. In 1883 he sold out and again moved to Ponca and built a large skating rink 36x110 feet, with a gallery on all sides. This was said to have been the finest skating rink this side of Omaha. The "roller skate eraze" became very dull and he sold the building. In the spring of 1888 started the first hard- ware store in Homer with Hugh Myers, under the firm name of Ford & Myers. He soon afterwards bought Myers' share. Hlas five children, four sons and one daughter. Mr. Ford has been an eye witness to most of the improvements which we behold in Dakota county to-day and is now located and doing business within three miles of the place where he first lived in the county more than thirty-five years ago. Was appointed postmaster at Homer in 1893.
JOHN W. VERDEN came to Dakota connty in 1856
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and began operating a saw mill iu Covington, October, 1856. Afterwards run a saw mill in Brushy Bend. Went to Colorado and built another saw mill. He also had three brothers, Frank, Thomas and Daniel, all early settlers of Logan.
STEPHEN ULLERY came to Dakota county in 1856 and engaged in the mercantile business in Omadi. Afterwards moved on the old Charley Eckhart farm two miles south of Dakota City. Moved to Omaha and then to Missouri; was in Ohio when last heard from.
COL. JOHN PLYEL arrived in Dakota county in 1856, and founded the town of "Plyburg," afterwards called Blyburg. The town was named after its founder, and located in the southern part of the county. Some claim that this man's name was John Bly, but this is a mistake. He afterwards operated a drug store in the town of Omadi, went to Odell, Iowa.
BENJAMIN TRUSDALE, Buckwalter Bros., John Tulo, Win. Burnett, Thomas Prior and others came to Da- kota county in 1856, forming a coal company, and went to prospecting for coal along the high bluffs in Bly- burg. This was the first "coal excitement" the county ever had, but as they did not find anything but a ten inch vein they soon abandoned the project.
URIAH NICKERSON came here in 1856, and was engineer in the Omadi steam saw mill; owned a large tract of timber in Blyburg, where his wife died and was buried. Went to Woonsocket, R. I., and died there.
JOHN HOMMELL came to Dakota county in 1856, worked at the carpenter trade, owned a farm in Bly- burg where his wife's father, John Fisher, died and was nearly eaten up by hogs before any one knew of his death. Moved to Omaha.
ALFRED ELAM came to Dakota county in 1856 and pre-empted the place now owned by Jacob Leamer. Went to Ft. Scott, Kansas.
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WARNER'S HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
WILLIAM SILENCE came to Dakota county in 1856; was six feet and two inches in height and built for a fight- ing man, but one of our leading pioneers who is still living in the county gave him about all the fight he wanted one summer day in 1858. Silence lived on the Win. Taylor land and his opponent lived in Omadi. They were to meet half way, each one to be accom- panied by his seconds, judges and friends. They met somewhere on the bottom north of where the Oaks mill was built, and it was not long before a great crowd assembied to witness the exciting conflict. Peo- ple could be seen coming across the prairies from all directions ---- from the hills and vallejs --- from Omadi. Logan and Dakota City. Silence married Ziber Mil- lage's daughter and afterwards moved to Missouri and then to Nebraska City, Neb.
ZIBER MILLAGE came to Dakota county in 1856. and lived on the Wi. Taylor place. Afterwards moved to Missouri where he died.
JOSEPH IMHOFF came to Dakota county in 1856; went into partnership with C. C. Bliven in the carpen- tering business at Omadi. Afterwards went to Ne- braska City, and then to Lincoln, where he became pro- prietor of the Commercial House.
SETTLERS OF 1857.
JOHN W. HAZLEGROVE was born in Kentucky, in 1842 and began pioneer life in Dakota county March 10, 1857. Was married to Margia Officer near Dakota City, November 30, 1862. Has three sons and four daughters, William I., Charles E., John L., Mrs. Fanny Gray, Rose M .. Mary H. E. and Georgia B. lives on a farm west of Dakota City. Mr. Hazle- grove says: "the first year I was in the county I mowed my hay with a scythe and cut my wheat with a cradle. There was not a mowing machine nor a
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reaper in the county. I operated the first reaper ever used on Elk Creek Valley. I cut grain for Hogans. Beacom, Jones, Ryans, McCormick and for several others on the bottom.
WILLIAM ARMOUR, in March, 1857, crossed over the river to Dakota connty and camped on the present site of Ponca. When he returned the following day he found the bottom all covered with water from the melt- ing snow and the ground still being frozen prevented the water from escaping. He supposed the whole bot- tom was one vast swamp and at that time had no use for it. But during that year when the water had sub- sided he again ventured to the county, and has lived thirty-seven years on this supposed "swamp," five miles southwest of Dakota City. Married in 1864 to Jennie Garner. Has five sons and three daughters, Leander, William, Henry, George, Marvin, Lucy G., Jeannette and Nellie.
DENNIS ARMOUR was born March 29, 1838, in Delaware county, N. Y., and landed in Dakota county at Omadi, on the steamboat, "Asa Wilgns." That summer raised a crop on the John Braunt farm, and took a claim in 1858, where he now resides. four miles southwest of Dakota City. Went to Colorado in 1860 and engaged in freighting. Enlisted in Co. I, 2nd Ne- braska Cavalry, in the war of the Rebellion. Was mar- ried to Miss Mary E. Hileman on Christmas day, 1872, Rev. J. Zimmerman officiating. Has six children, three sous and three daughters.
JAMES O. FISHER stepped npon Dakota county soil from a flat boat at Covington, April 4, 1857, and gazed upon the wild country around him, wondering what the future had in store for him. He went to Logan where he lived about five years engaged in farming; took a claim of 160 acres about five miles west of Dakota City. where he is now residing. Was married to Mary Dut- ton (a sister of Horace Dutton,) on the 25th day of No-
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vember, 1858. Mr. Fisher was elected county commis- sioner on the democratic ticket in 1859, serving three years, and represented Dakota county in the 9th terri- torial legislature, which convened at Omaha, Jannary 7th, 1864. Has been connected with the school board in his district for more than twenty years, and has al- ways taken an active part in the promotion of public schools, as well as all other projects looking to the ad- vancement and stability of the general welfare of Dakota county, and has lived to see the wide Missouri valley gradnally transformed from wild prairies to a thickly settled community teeming with life and activity. Has been a witness to every movement and every step of progress in the county, from the building of fences to the erection of the court honse; from the breaking up of the prairie to the rise and flourish of towns and villages, and from the old time "fords" to the building of costly bridges, grading of highways, and the tri- umphant march of lines of railways across the country. On the 26th of August, 1882, was appointed by the Pioneers and Old Settlers' Association to represent Dakota precinct on the Committee of Arrangements. Hon. E. K. Valentine attended their first meeting in Baird's grove, September 23, 1882, and some of the politicians wanted him to make a speech. The matter was referred to Mr. Fisher, who then and there barred out the introduction of politics into the society, and no one since has dared to broach the subject of politics in public at their annual reunions. "No, gentlemen, said Mr. Fisher. "we want one society, at least, in the county free from politics." Many censured him at the time for this remark, but as the years pass on, all will adunit that he was right. His wife died November 19, 1889, leav. ing seven children-three sons and four danghters. Ir- ving, Henry, Oliver, Mrs. Etta Vosburg, Mrs. Myra Taylor, Currence and Mary. James O. Fisher was born in Blackstone, Mass., and raised in Connectient. He went to California in 1852, returned to Connectient in
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1856, and the following year made the most important move of his life-came to Nebraska, "and grew up with the country."
COL. BARNABAS BATES drove up to Luther Wood- ford's residence in Sergeant Bluffs on the 16th day of April, 1857. Leaving his team there he proceeded to cross the Missouri river to Dakota City in a skiff. About this time preparations were being made by the "Town Company" for the building of the large hotel "Bates House," which for so many years stood in the northeast portion. of Dakota City, and he was employed to go to St. Louis to purchase the necessary material, returning July 12th. He invested $1,000 of his own money in the enterprise. In the fall of 1857 went to get a load of lime to be used in the building, at the time kiln up the ravine west of Col. Baird's honse. Slept on the ground and killed a night hawk and cooked it over a fire for breakfast. The hotel was finished in June, 1858, at a cost of $16,000. In the fall of 1859 was elected to the territorial legislature on the demo- cratic ticket and went to Omaha and served during the winter of '59 and '60. Was appointed by President Bu- chanan as postmaster at Dakota City and served seven years. In 1858, in company with Elbridge Lampson, -a brother of Amos Lampson,- E. F. Mason and Stephen Ullery went on a twenty days' hunting expe- dition along the Elkhorn river. Camped right where Norfolk is now located. They saw thousands of elk and soon loaded a four horse team with elk meat. In those days. this was, indeed, a wild barren looking country. The last house on the Elkhorn was eight miles up the river from West Point. Was married a second time in 1860 to Mrs. Hannah Nevell, at Ft. Cal- honn, Washington county, Nebraska; soon after rented the Bates House and kept hotel there for two years. In the summer of 1862 moved to his residence in Dakota City where he has since resided. Here his daughter Helen kept the postoffice for a number of years. About
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this time built a brick school house in Sergeant Bluffs which is still in use. In the fall of 1861 was re-elected to the lower honse of the territorial legislature. In 1865 built the Dakota City brick school house; 1868 A. II. Baker's residence: 1871 the Charley Eckhart store -- afterwards owned and used by M. O. Ayers as a drug store, and helped to build the court house and the Methodist church-all in Dakota City. Has served as notary public and coroner of Dakota county for a num- ber of years; was also deputy clerk of the district court for the northern district of Nebraska. In the fall of 1866 was elected on the democratie ticket as member of the territorial council against Col. Il. Baird. In those days there was a society called "Sons of Malta." which was not overburdened with religions and moral teachings. To illustrate the tendency of its workings the initiation of Col. Bates into the society is here given: It was while he was serving as member of the territorial council at Omaba that his friends induced him to join the society. After taking him through all kinds of ridiculous performances they gave him a paper to sign which purported to be the constitution of the society. Then a grand rush was made for the nearest restaurant where all partook of a hearty supper. Loud was their laughter and jolly indeed was the crowd as if some good joke was abont to be perpetrated on some one, and sure enough this was the case. Just as they had finished their supper the proprietor stepped up to Col. Bates and presented to him the paper he had signed supposed to be the constitution, but instead it was an order on the restaurant for anything the mem- bers might wish. It cost him just $40. The "Sons of Malta" organized a society in the Bates House and had "oceans of fun" ont of it, as many of the pioneers well remember, as well as a number of the leading men of Sioux City. Every man that signed the "constitu- tion" had a restaurant bill to pay. His wife died Feb- rnary 15, 1879, leaving two danghters and one step
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daughter. On the 6th of July, 1881, started from Sioux City for Ft. Assinaboine, Montana, to work on the fort, afterwards went to Ft. Peck, M. T., and built several buildings for school purposes, also built a saw mill. Returned to Dakota City, October, IS83. Has been chief marshal of the Old Settlers' Association for the years '83, '84, '85, '86, and '87. In the early days teams were very scarce and people often wanted to go to Omaha and do their shopping He had abont the only team to be had in all this section and many were the trips he took to Omaha and back. There was a spring on the old military road near the line between the Omaha and Winnebago lands. Here the travelers in those times would stop to feed and get dinner. On one occasion he noticed a large number of bees on some cobs and watching them take their flight soon found their home in a large leaning burr-oak tree, just over the brow of the hill to the north. He expected to cut it that fall but when he went down he found that some one had been ahead of him and taken the honey away, after hiving the bees in a box where they were busily at work. It was Henry Ream and his son Marcel who had cheated him out of his honey, but this fact he did not know until the lapse of nearly thirty years, and, of course, it was not worth while quarrelling about it then. Henry Ream now has a large number of stands of bees and could easily return the borrowed honey with thirty years interest thereon. Col. Bates has always taken an active part in politics, ever casting his weight and in- fluence with the democratic party. He was employed to assist in the gathering in of colored corn for the great Corn Palace inaugurated in Sioux City on the 3rd of October, 1887, and continued until the 8th of the same month. Col. Barnabas Bates was born De- cember 15, 1817. in Chautauqua county. New York, received his education in the district school of Sheri- dan. New York, lived on a farm until eighteen years of age. Learned the mason's trade and carried on
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