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 6
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97
GOODWIN, NECORA AND COBURN JUNCTION.
bard and eight miles north of Emerson. Its postinas- ters have been: John G. Hibbs. James L. Mitchell, Monroe Minter and James Knox.
COBURN JUNCTION
Is situated about five miles due west of Dakota City. on the C., St. P, M. & O. railroad, at the junction of the Ponca branch. There is neither a settlement nor post office at this point.
NECORA,
Which was formerly called Simon's Siding, is located seven miles south-west of Hubbard on the main line of the C., St. P., M. & O. railroad, and a post office was established there in 1892 with Henry Danker as post- master.
GOODWIN
Is located on the Pacific Short Line, about ten miles south-west of Jackson, and was established in 1892 by John C. Duggan, who conducts the only general store and is postmaster.
SIOUX CITY, IOWA.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY, NEBRASKA.
CHAPTER VII.
PRODUCTS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
The first wheat raised in the county was in 1856. A. H. Baker sowed one acre of this grain on weed land, east of his present farm and south of where D. C. Dib- ble now lives, in section 30. He did not thresh it, but it was estimated to have yielded twenty bushels, which constituted the entire wheat crop of Dakota county for that year. What a contrast to the crop of 1874, with 113,150 bushels, threshed by D. Y. Hileman, Henry Shull, Theodore Haase, Dutton Lane, James Mitchell, Asa Rathbun, Jos. A. Jackson and S. Guetzer.
In 1892 Dakota county contained: 3,910 horses, valued at $62,737; 13,644 cattle, valued at $56,494; 339 mules, valued at $6,285; 59 sheep, valued at $34; 11,331 hogs, valued at $13,387; 1,144 carriages and wagons, valued at $5,796; and railroad property valued at $288,525. These are the taxable values which are one-third the actual values.
Here are the "as-
sessed total valua-
tions" of the county,
that of 1855 and '56 being estimated :
1855. $ 2.000.00
1856.
10.000.00
1865
280.046.00
1867 330.682.00 1868. 380.917.00
1869 393.445.00 610.730.00
1870
1871
653,384.00 5 1872
734,163 00
1873
721.180.00
1874
676.822.00
1875
637.665.00
1876
801,018.00
CORN PALACE OF ISS7.
99
PRODUCTS.
13 77
840,047.86
1878
834,700.00
1879
720,780.50
1880
775,485.00
1881
759.712.41
1883
834,562.00
1883
999,917.30
1884
1.076,139.85
1885
817,731.76
1886
1,048.923.00
1887
1,217,383.50
1888
1,374,974.70
1889
1.744,861.50
1890
1,859.427.50
1891
1,916,234.50
1892
1,682.158.34
1893
1,544,803.00
Dakota county has
500 farms, valued at
CORN PALACE OF 1888.
$1,000,000, and the machinery and implements $75,000.
PRIZES AND MED- ALS .- At the second national Corn Palace in Sioux City, Iowa, September 24th to Oc- tober 6, 1888. Dakota county was awarded first premium on corn, and second on fruit, and also second on best general exhibit. Then again, at the third Corn Palace at the CORN PALACE OF 1889. same place from Sep- tember 23rd to October 5th, 1889, it won first prize on "best general exhibit of corn, grasses, grass seeds, vege- tables and fruit," $300; second prize on "best separate exhibit of corn," $25; the first prize of $50 on fruit was divided between Dakota county and Monona county, Iowa.
Dakota Co. also took prizes at the first Corn Palace, which opened October 3rd and closed October 8th, and at the Palace for 1890, (Sept. 5th to Oet. 4th,) and 1881
100
WARNER'S HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
The county com- missioners in session September 11, 1890, appropriated $250 to defray the expenses of collecting the county exhibits for the Corn Palace of that year.
Tader
In 1889, at the great Universal Ex- position in Paris, France, Dakota county was awarded an hon- CORN PALACE OF 1890. orary diploma for her exhibit of corn, selected and for- warded by a committee, of which A. T. Haase was chair- man. The following letter was sent to Dakota county: THE GOLDEN BOOK OF MEMORIAL DIPLOMAS OF THE UNI- VERSAL EXPOSITION, OF 1889, PRESIDENT, M. J. BERKIN, 15 ST. SULPICE STREET, PARIS.
PARIS, 8 December. 1889.
SIR-The administration of the Golden Book of the Universal Exposi- tion has dedicated to you a memorial diploma of the Universal Exposition of 1889.
In conferring on you this diploma, imperishable symbol of the labors you have imposed on yourself, we wish to perpetuate the memory of the legitimate rewards earned by your products in the immense international concourse in which all the nations of the universe have taken part Please accept with the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.
CORN PALACE OF 1891.
J. BERKIN, President. The Dakota
county agricultural society was organized at Dakota City, N. T., March 11, 1865, with David Boals, presi- dent, and Thos. L. Griffey secretary. At their third meeting. April 22nd, J. H. Williams was chosen as chairman and T.
101
SOCIETIES.
L. Griffey secretary, when the following officers were elected for the ensning year: Alfred Elam, president; Barnabas Bates, vice president; Wm. Adair, secretary; John Smith, sr., treasurer; Wmn. Hogan, J. H. Williams, James Stott, Henry Ream, Simon Dewitt and l'eter Myers, directors; C. D. Martin and Win. H. James, corresponding secretaries. This was the first agricul- tnral society of any kind organized in Dakota county. Among its members not before mentioned were: C. F. Eckhart, John Naffziger, Samuel Whitehorn and James Maloney.
THE MERIDIAN CHEESE MAKER'S ASSOCIATION OF DAKOTA COUNTY .- Was organized at the residence of Leonard Bates, June 1. 1875, electing the following of- ficers for the ensuing year: George Boals, president; C. II. Brown, vice president; John Joyce, secretary ; Henry Wood, treasurer and salesman. The factory was located on Bates' i. rm and did a thriving business, but the price of butter advanced and the cheese enterprise was finally abandoned.
The first cheese manufactured in the county, how- ever, was by Jesse F. Warner, on the farm now owned by George Leamer, in 1858, where a large quantity of cheese was made.
FARMERS CLUB .- This society was organized in 1886 and held a great "Farmers' Institute" in a grove near Homer, July 30, 1887. Its principal members were Pius Neff, D. C. Dibble, G. W. Wilkinson, Sam A. Combs, Nelson Cowles, Will C. Dibble, Dennis Ar- mour, Thos. L. Griffey, Wm. Armour, Asa Rathbun, Wm. Holsworth, Thos. Ashford, Capt. C. O'Connor, Wm. Nixon, C. B. Bliven, A. T. Haase, J. O. Fisher, Wm. Taylor, Harlon Baird, J. F. Warner and Henry Ream.
BRIDGES AND ROADS-Dakota county has expended thousands of dollars in the construction of bridges and grading roads, the county commissioners having pur- chased a road grader in 1886, and today the public
ACE.
5Sept 2040178
1898%
PALACES
DA xx
103
RAILROADS.
highways throughout the county are in excellent con- dition.
The first public thoroughfare established through the county was the old Platte river and Runningwater military road, surveyed by Col. Sites, employed by the government in 1858, from Omaha via Dakota City to the month of the Niobrara river, (then called Running- water. The road entered the county from the south at the identical point on the line of the Winnebago Reser- vation where James Biggs kept an Indian trading post. This old road is still visible at places and can yet be seen as it winds np Pilgrim Hill, on the old Col. Warner place, two miles east of Homer. The first good . bridge built in the county was on this road across Omaha creek near Omadi.
An act of the Territorial legislature was approved June 22, 1867, appointing John F. DeBorde, Peter Myers and Marten Stnefer as a board of commissioners to locate a publie road from Covington to West Point in Cuming county. An act was also approved February 18, 1867, appointing James Clark, John Boler and Patrick Twohig as a board of commissioners to estab- lish a road from Jackson to intersect a road leading from Ponca to West Point.
On August 27. 1885, the county commissioners let a contract to Macritchie & Nichols, of Chicago, for draining the "swamp" which was caused by Elk and Pigeon creeks being dammed up by beavers. It cost $10,846.50, and was a great benefit to the county, in- creasing the value of land in the vicinity from $1.25 10 $20 per acre. There were 46,952 yards of earth re- moved.
RAILROADS -- At a special election held in Dakota county. March 25, 1872, to vote on $65,000 bonds for Northern Nebraska & Central Dakota railroad com- pany, there were 375 votes "for" and 186 "against" bonds. The company failed to build any road and re- leased payment of the bonds January 7, 1883.
104
WARNER'S HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
A special election was held February 10, 1873, to vote on $73,000 bonds for the St. Panl & Nebraska railroad company, at which time there were 289 "for" and 187 "against" bonds. The proposition was defeated.
On December 27, 1875, a special election was held to vote $95,000 bonds for the Covington, Columbus & Black Hills railroad company. There were cast at this election 486 votes "for" and 94 "against" bonds. Preparations were at once made for building the road and on the 24th, day of June 1876, at 9:30 A. M , Judge Hubbard drove the first spike on this road, which was also the first ever driven on any railroad in Dakota county and on the 29th, the first engine brought to the county, "Dakota No. 1," was crossed over the river at Sioux City. The road was soon completed through the county from Covington via Dakota City and Jackson, a distance of twenty-two and a quarter miles and bonds were issned to the railroad company. It was a narrow guage, be- ing three feet and six inches wide. This company also did considerable grading on the Omaha branch to Em- erson, but did not complete the road. The Chicago,St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad company having- purchased the Covington, Columbus & Black Hills rail- road, changed it to a standard guage in 1880 and built the road through the county to Emerson via Hub- bard, and now has over forty miles of railroad in the county valued at $190,000.
A first-class steel railroad bridge was built across the Missouri river between South Sioux City and Sioux City in 1888, at a cost of $2,000,000. This railroad and bridge property has passed into the control of the Chicago & Northwestern system.
In 1889 the Sioux City & Ogden Short Line com- pany graded a railroad bed through the county from Sonth Sioux City, passing north of Dakota City, thence to Jackson and up the valley of Elk Creek, and a winter bridge was completed and engine No. 374 crossed over to Covington January 27, 1890.
105
RAILROADS.
A number of railroad surveys have been made through the southern part of the county by different companies by way of Homer, but as yet no railroad has been constructed, although the route from Dakota City up the Omaha creek valley to the Logan river is one of the best to be found in this section.
The first projected railroad in the county was the Sioux City & Columbus, organized in 1867. The first survey was made in 1868 and was surveyed by Wil- gosci, surveyor, James Stott, J. F. Warner, William Adair, C. F. Bayha, Gideon Warner and John G. Ogden. The ronte they surveyed is the exact location of the rail- road now built to Emerson. It was intensely cold weather and a great snow storm overtook the party, freezing some of them badly but not seriously. J. F. Warner was sent to Washington to get a "restoration of the Union Pa- cific land grant" to apply on this road, but congress failed to do this and the Sioux City & Columbus road was not built.
CHAPTER VIII.
INDIANS -- "THE LOGAN WAR."
Dakota county has had very little trouble with the Indians since its settlement by white people.
In September, 1855, twenty-one Sioux Indians came upon a small company of settlers on the Omadi town site, stealing everything they had, including their boat, which was their only source of reaching supplies on the Iowa side; but fortunately, after fasting three days they found a half decayed hawk, with which they appeased their hunger, until a Frenchman happened to come along with a boat.
During the summer of 1855 Adam Benners, with his family settled in the northwestern part of the county, and one day while Mr. Benners was absent three Ponca Indians came along and after ransacking the house en- tered the room where Mrs. Benners lay sick in bed, with her new born babe by her side. They pulled the feather bed off onto the floor, the woman and child with it, which so frightened her that she died from the ex- posure and shock of the fright, who was survived but a few days by her babe. The three Indians were delivered up to Gen. Harney, at Ft. Randall, tried, condemned and executed for the crime.
This is the only killing of white people, by Indians, in Dakota county, although the Winnebago Indians have killed several white men in this vicinity. C. S. Munson was killed in 1870 by five Winnebagoes on the
107
INDIANS.
western border of the Reservation, and Holly Scott, a Winnebago, killed Geo, Skinner near the Winnebago Agency in May, 1879, and another white man was killed there abont this time. Scott was sentenced to ten years in the state penitentiary, but died before his time had expired.
Dakota county is bounded on the south by the Omaha and Winnebago Reservations, (now Thurston county,) and contains about 1,200 Winnebagoes and 1,100 Omahas. The U. S. Indian Agents have been for the Winnebagoes: St. A. D. Balcomb, who in 1864 came with them from Crow Creek, in Dakota Territory; Charles Matthewson, appointed in 1865; Howard White, in 1869: Taylor Bradly, in 1874; Howard White, again appointed in 1878; Arthur Edward, in 1880; Dr. G. W. Wilkinson, Oct. 17, 1881; Charles H. Potter, Ang. 7, 1885; Gen. Josoph Hollman, appointed in 1886, but failed to take cl ... rre; Col. Jesse F. Warner, Nov. 1, 1886; Robert T. Ashley, Sept. 16, 1889; Captain W. H. Beck, Jnne, 1593. Agents for the Omahas: John Hepner, appointed in 1854; John Robertson, in 1856; William Wilson, 1858: W. E. Moore, 1859; Geo. B. Graff, 1860; O. H. Irish, 1861; Robert W. Furnas, 1863; William Callon, 1866; Edward Painter, 1869; T. T. Gillingham, 1873; Jacob Vore, 1876; Howard White, 1878; since which time one Agent has had charge of the affairs of both tribes of Indians.
Another chapter was added to the history of Da- kota county when three Winnebago Indians were called upon to take their seats in the tribunal of justice as jurymen at the March term of the district court, 1889, and there, in the presence of their paler brothers, wielded the power confided to a jury in behalf of right and jus- tice. Surely the world doth move, while the vast and rapid strides of civilization goss sweeping onward. A few years ago the Winnebago Indians decked in war paint sent forth a war-whoop in the terrible "Minnesota Massacre" which will go on sounding down through the
108
WARNER'S HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
years, reviving in the minds of coming generations the most cruel and cowardly drama to be found throughout all the pages of history. And today, three members of this self same tribe are chosen as jurymen to decide in the court room the fates of members of the race whom a few short years ago they slew with the tomahawk.
Below we give a short sketch of the first three In- dian jurymen ever chosen in Nebraska:
DAVID ST.CYR .- Was born on Christmas Day. 1864. at Crow Creek, D. T .; was eldest son of Mitchell St.Cyr, who died at Louis Jopp's place in 1889. David attended the Hampton Indian School, Virginia, three years, where he received a good common school education. Here he also learned to be a first- class penman and for this reason was chosen as one of the clerks of election for Winnebago precinct. After all the poll books had been received at the court house, it was the general comment that David St.Cyr had sent the neatest and most complete poll book of any polling p'ace in the county.
PROSPER AMELL .- Was born March 14, 1845. at Four Lake Madison, Wisconsin. Came with the Winnebago Indians to Nebraska in 1865, and located on the north boundary of the reservation near Omaha Creek, where be has resided to the present time, except three years when he was a cow boy and with "the cow boys stood." along the Elkhorn and Logan rivers. He has a fair education and can talk both the Indian and English languages.
ALEXANDER PAYER-Was born March 18, 1820, at Mil- waukee Wisconsin. Moved to Nebraska with the Winnebago Indians and has acted as U. S. Indian interpreter, captain of police and heid various other offices at the Winnebago Agency. Has a fair education -- talks both Indian and English. Is a good carpenter by trade. Now living on a farm near the agency. Was one of the judges of election in 1889 for Winnebago precinct.
"THE LOGAN WAR."
In order to protect themselves against "ont-side claim jumpers" the pioneers organized claim clubs, one at Omadi and one at Logan. In the spring of 1857 there was a difficulty at Logan, growing ont of a claim contest. Joseph Conley had jumped another man's claim and on the 16th. of April the quarrel reached to something like a riot-Conley was besieged in a house guarded by Harlon Baird, John W. Virden, Alfred Elam
109
"THIE LOGAN WAR."
and others, who were marching around the building with their guns. Some time previous to this, during the day, a few shots were fired by each side in which Joseph Conley was shot in the shoulder, and by evening, things assumed a war like appearance. The Omadi club was appealed to, to quell the disturbance, late in the night, and in less than an hour thirty armed men were march- ing through the darkness to the scene of the conflict. ·led by the courageous Deputy Sheriff, Tom Ryan. It was after midnight when they halted at the Chihuahua House in Dakota City, where Col. Bates was indulging in his first sleep in Dakota county. He was aroused from his slumbers, and looking out of the second story window he beheld the war-like scenes below, and won- dered what kind of a country he had gotten into, where armed men met in such boisterons conclave in the dark- ne-s of the night. In that mass of defiant faces he saw Geo. T. Woods. A. H. Baker, Henry Ream. Moses Kreps, John Taffe, John B. Arteaux, Jacob Hallock. Tom Ryan, Robert Alexander, Charley Morse, Abra- ham Hirsch and W. C. McBeath. Here the sheriff, Geo. W. Williamson took charge of the "warriors" and gave the command, "forward," and they hurried away to Logan, arriving there just as the first rays of light were peeping over the eastern hills. At first the rioters showed signs of resistance, but the brave and fearless sheriff, knowing the fighting qualities of his supporters demanded peace and ordered Conley turned over to him. which was immediately complied with. Thus quiet was restored without bloodshed, and the prisoner taken to Omadi for protection.
CHAPTER IX.
POPULATION.
In 1854 there was not a single white settler in whatis now Dakota county; the wild animals roamed with freedom over the prairies; the winding streams coursed down to the rivers nnobstructed by the hand of man, and the sun shone upon a primeval land. The following figures show the growth of population since 1855:
1855
86
1876. 3006
1856
646
1877
3192
1860
819
1878 3107
1869
1598
1879 3108
1870
2040
1880
3216
1874
.2759
1890 5599
The census of 1890 divides the population in the different precinets as follows: Dakota 1,677, Cor- ington 1,028; St. John's 676; Emerson 434; Omadi 1,028; Hubbard 385; Pigeon creek 359; and Summit 399.
CHAPTER X.
CRIME AND CASUALTIES.
There have been very few tragic deaths within the borders of Dakota .county, compared with those of other localities. The first death of a white person here was that of Mrs. Adam Benners, who lived in the northwestern part of the county. It was in the summer of 1855. during Mr Benners absence, three Ponca Indians en- tered their house and ransacked it generally, frighten- ing Mrs. Benners to such an extent that she died in a short time afterwards.
In Ang. 1856 Moses Bacon, a brother of J. M. Bacon, formerly of Sioux City, Iowa, was drowned while attempting to cross the Missouri to Covington in a small boat, whichr ran upon a snag and was capsized.
William Tucker came to Dakota county in 1856 and took a claim which is now Thos. Ashford's meadow. In the spring of 1858 he was killed in the Omadi saw mill by being caught in a belt and carried around between it and the fly wheel. . A. II. Baker and J. H. Bliven were eye witnessess to this sad accident.
John Fitzpatrick was shot by Geo. Griffey in a saloon at Covington in Aug. 1857. They were quarreling about a claim at the time. Fitzpatrick died almost instantly.
John Murdick was drowned in a well in Omadi pre- einct August 22, 1868.
John Dunn, a nephew of Patrick Monahan, was
112
WARNER'S HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
drowned while bathing in Crystal Lake, August 15, 1871.
Archey Peasley was drowned in a freshet on Elk Creek, while trying to save a bridge, in June, 1874.
A ten year old son of Geo. E. Ironsides was drowned in the Missouri at Covington, July 6, 1874.
James E. Kemper was struck by lightning and instantly killed on a sand bar at Covington, March 20, 1878. A man was killed by lightning on the same spot, eight years before.
Henry Mellon came to his death by sunstroke, July 13, 1878, a few miles west of Jackson.
Domonick Beilinski shot and killed Jim Harris, a Winnebago Indian, whom he claimed was cutting a tree on his land, in January. 1878. Beilinski "jumped his bail" and his whereabouts is yet unknown.
October 12, 1878, Wiley, a 15 year old son of Christopher Irwin accidently shot himself, while hunt- ing along Crystal Lake.
Thomas Hardin, a Winnebago Indian was killed while drunk, by a load of merchandise which he was hanling to the Winnebago Agency, upsetting and fall- ing upon him, in the western part of the county, August 23, 1879.
J. B. Hoyt fell from a scaffold, while working on a granary for Jacob Heikes, and died October 19, 1879.
Michael Dorsey was shot and killed at Jackson, by Patrick Boyle, February 5, 1880. Boyle was cleared on the grounds of self defense.
Mrs. Rev. Hays was killed on Fiddler's Creek near Lonis Blessing's place, May 1, 1880, by being thrown from a wagon.
May 3, 1980, Eddie and Howard, two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Cheney were drowned in Crystal Lake. This is one of the saddest events that ever occured in the county.
Emma Biggs jumped from the ferry boat at Cov- ington, July 14, 1880, and was drowned.
113
CRIME AND CASUALTIES.
William Cunningham was drowned near Coving- ton in the high water of April, 1881.
William Hull shot and killed himself in a ravine south-east of Homer, in the winter of 1881.
Clinton Norris was shot and killed in the Chas. Curtis drug store, in Homer, Jannary 3, 1887, by Newton Purdy, who was tried and sentenced to serve a term in the penitentiary, but being granted a new trial was cleared on the grounds of self defense.
Henry Herweg was drowned in the Missouri river, below Dakota City, April 5, 1889. He had gone hunt- ing across the river, in company with M. O. Ayres and Will C. Dibble, and had shot a goose, which he was endeavoring to reach when the skiff was capsized This sad accident cast a shadow of sorrow over the en- tire county. The body was afterwards found and interred in St. Mary's cemetery, near Homer.
Mat Leagne was shot and killed by John Severson in Jackson, December 22, 1888. Severson was cleared of the charge of murder on the plea of self defense.
September 13. 1888, Williamn Crone died at the Conrt house in Dakota City, from the effect of poison- ed whisky.
Frankie, an eight year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Lucia was run over by the cars at South Sioux City, and died the next day, July 12, 1889.
Mrs. Ludwig Kipper ent her throat at her home near Homer, and died Angust 25, 1888. Ill health was the cause.
December 15, 1889, El Erwin was stabbed and killed in a saloon at Covington, by James Toohey. He was tried and convicted of manslaughter, at Dakota City. September 27, 1890 and sentenced to two years in the penitentiary.
Miss Elizabeth Lapsley, who came to Dakota county with her parents in 1870, while in company with other members of the family, was accidentally killed by an engine while they were crossing the rail-
114
WARNER'S HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
road tracks in the eastern part of Sioux City, Iowa, on November 29. 1890.
Christian Jacobson, a young farmer twenty-two years of age, son of C. Jacobson, was killed, May 22, 1891 supposed to have been kicked by one of the horses while doing the chores on his father's farm north of Homer.
Will Kelsey came to Dakota county in 1886, was drowned in Omaha creek, Angust 20, 1891.
Edward Bankoski was killed on the "Island" April 27, 1891, by being thrown from a wagon as he was re- turning from Sionx City to his home in Brushy Bend.
P. J. Keeffe was run over by a steam threshing machine in St. Johns precinct, September 24, 1891. and died from the effect of the same, two days later.
The Homer State Bank was robbed of $1,500 on the night of October 31, 1891, Herman Freese being cashier at the time. There was no clue as to who did the robbing. The county commissioners offered a re- ward of $200 for the arrest of the robbers.
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